Sony FE 50mm F1.8 vs FE 85mm F1.8: which to buy?

Sony's two low-cost F1.8 primes for full-frame E-mount. The 186 g FE 50mm launched at about $250 in 2016; the 371 g FE 85mm, with a double linear motor, 9 rounded blades and a dust and moisture resistant design, launched at about $600 in 2017.

Sony FE 50mm F1.8 lens standing upright on a white surface, with FE 1.8/50 printed on the barrel — **Sony FE 50mm F1.8**186 g · launched at about $250 in 2016Photo: Commonists via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 (resized)

A black Sony FE 85mm F1.8 lens on a white background — **Sony FE 85mm F1.8**371 g · launched at about $600 in 2017Photo: Sony Europe via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0 (resized)

Side-by-side specs

	Sony FE 50mm F1.8	Sony FE 85mm F1.8
Format	Full-frame E-mount	Same
Aperture	F1.8; 7 blades	F1.8; 9 blades
Optics	6 elements in 5 groups, 1 aspherical	9 elements in 8 groups, 1 ED
Autofocus	DC motor; front extends when focusing	Double linear motor; focus hold button
Stabilization	None in the lens	None in the lens
Closest focus	0.45 m; 0.14x	0.8 m; 0.13x
Filter	49 mm	67 mm
Sealing	Not listed	Dust and moisture resistant design
Size and weight	68.6 × 59.5 mm; 186 g	78 × 82 mm; 371 g
Launch price (US)	Sony: Launched at about $250 in 2016 (US)	Sony: Launched at about $600 in 2017 (US)

Specs from our FE 50mm F1.8 and FE 85mm F1.8 reviews, which cite Sony specifications; US launch prices from Sony (March 29, 2016 and February 7, 2017). ✓ = advantage; blank = tie or not directly comparable.

Sample photos

Six photos taken with the FE 50mm F1.8 on a Sony a7 III and six with the FE 85mm F1.8 on a Sony a7R II, shared on Wikimedia Commons under open licenses.

Sample photo 1 of 12 taken with the Sony a7 III — Taken with the Sony a7 III. Photo: Joydeep Chakraborty via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 (resized)

Sample photo 2 of 12 taken with the Sony a7 III — Taken with the Sony a7 III. Photo: Joydeep Chakraborty via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 (resized)

Sample photo 3 of 12 taken with the Sony a7 III — Taken with the Sony a7 III. Photo: Joydeep Chakraborty via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 (resized)

Sample photo 4 of 12 taken with the Sony a7 III — Taken with the Sony a7 III. Photo: Joydeep Chakraborty via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 (resized)

Sample photo 5 of 12 taken with the Sony a7 III — Taken with the Sony a7 III. Photo: Joydeep Chakraborty via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 (resized)

Sample photo 6 of 12 taken with the Sony a7 III — Taken with the Sony a7 III. Photo: Joydeep Chakraborty via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 (resized)

Sample photo 7 of 12 taken with the Sony a7R II — Taken with the Sony a7R II. Photo: Jules Verne Times Two via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 (resized)

Sample photo 8 of 12 taken with the Sony a7R II — Taken with the Sony a7R II. Photo: Jules Verne Times Two via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 (resized)

Sample photo 9 of 12 taken with the Sony a7R II — Taken with the Sony a7R II. Photo: Jules Verne Times Two via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 (resized)

Sample photo 10 of 12 taken with the Sony a7R II — Taken with the Sony a7R II. Photo: Jules Verne Times Two via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 (resized)

Sample photo 11 of 12 taken with the Sony a7R II — Taken with the Sony a7R II. Photo: Jules Verne Times Two via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 (resized)

Sample photo 12 of 12 taken with the Sony a7R II — Taken with the Sony a7R II. Photo: Jules Verne Times Two via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 (resized)

Who should buy which

Get the FE 50mm F1.8 if

You want one small, light standard prime: 186 g and a 49 mm filter.
You want the lowest price: about $250 at launch vs about $600.
You shoot close: 0.45 m minimum focus vs 0.8 m.

Get the FE 85mm F1.8 if

You shoot portraits and want tighter framing from a comfortable distance.
You want quicker, quieter focus from the double linear motor, plus a focus hold button.
You want 9 rounded blades and a dust and moisture resistant design.

See our full FE 50mm F1.8 and FE 85mm F1.8 reviews.

Where to buy

Sony FE 50mm F1.8

FE 50mm F1.8 · lens (new)

Sony: Launched at about $250 in 2016 (US)

Check price
Read the full Sony FE 50mm F1.8 review

Sony FE 85mm F1.8

FE 85mm F1.8 · lens (new)

Sony: Launched at about $600 in 2017 (US)

Check price
Read the full Sony FE 85mm F1.8 review