SOAB9 SEL50F14Z
Delivering a classic widescreen look, this 50mm T2.1 anamorphic lens produces natural horizontal flares and signature oval bokeh on full-frame Sony E-mount cameras. Its ultralightweight, weather-sealed build and selectable autofocus make it practical for fast-paced gimbal and drone work where manual cine lenses are cumbersome. This lens is best for solo video shooters and cinematographers needing an affordable, compact anamorphic option for run-and-gun projects.
Snapshot
The 30-Second Version
Price shot up 56% while the score tanked to 53. Newer, cheaper competitors from Sigma, Tamron, and Nikon have left this lens in the dust. Don't buy it.
Pros & Cons
Pros
Cons
- Massive 56% price increase with no performance gain
- Overall score dropped 20 points to 53
- Outclassed by newer Sigma and Tamron superzooms
- No longer competitive on value or image quality
What owners think
How owner sentiment changed over time
ExclusiveBased on when customers actually wrote their reviews - so you can see whether early praise held up.
- Q4 2019100/100
Buyers praise this lens as a versatile 50mm prime with macro capability, excelling in portraits, street scenes, and weddings.
- Versatile 2-in-1 prime and macro lens
- Fast autofocus and subject tracking with a7rIV
- Excellent for street, portrait, and wedding photography
- Macro capability adds creative closeup shots
- Q2 201885/100
Buyers praised the lens for sharpness, macro performance, and portability, but noted slow macro autofocus and advised avoiding AF-C mode.
- Excellent sharpness and resolution for macro photography.
- Versatile as both a macro and standard lens.
- Macro autofocus is slow and hunts, especially in AF-C mode.
- Autofocus performance varies; phase-detect works, but contrast-detect is slow.
Based on 26 dated customer reviews, grouped by calendar quarter. Period analysis is in English.
The proof
Performance
Specifications
Full Specifications
Optics
| Type | Prime |
| Focal Length Min | 50 |
| Focal Length Max | 50 |
| Elements | 14 |
| Groups | 11 |
| Aspherical Elements | 2 |
| ED Elements | 1 |
| Coating | Nano AR Coating II |
Aperture
| Max Aperture | f/16 |
| Min Aperture | f/1.4 |
| Constant | Yes |
| Diaphragm Blades | 11 |
Build
| Mount | Sony E |
| Format | full-frame |
| Weather Sealed | Yes |
| Weight | 0.5 kg / 1.1 lbs |
| Filter Thread | 67 |
AF & Stabilization
| AF Type | XD Linear AF Motors |
| Stabilization | No |
Focus
| Min Focus Distance | 410 |
| Max Magnification | 0.16x |
vs Competition
The competitive landscape has shifted dramatically. The Sigma Contemporary 16-300mm f/3.5-6.7 DC OS now sets the standard for superzoom versatility with better stabilization and sharpness. Tamron's 18-300mm f/3.5-6.3 Di III-A VC VXD delivers faster, quieter autofocus and superior weather sealing. Even Nikon's Z 28-400mm f/4-8 VR, despite its slower aperture, offers a more useful range for wildlife and travel. The Panasonic Leica 50-200mm and Canon 18-135mm round out a top five that all outperform this lens in either sharpness, build, or value. This product has been pushed out of the conversation entirely.
| Spec | Sony G Master SEL50F14GM 50mm | Nikon NIKKOR Z 17-28mm f/2.8 | Tamron Di III 28-75mm f/2.8 VXD G2 | Sigma Contemporary 10-18mm f/2.8 DC DN | Panasonic Leica DG Vario-Elmarit H-ES12060 | Canon RF 28-70mm f/2.8 IS STM |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Focal Length | 50mm | 17-28mm | 28-75mm | 10-18mm | 12-60mm | 28-70mm |
| Max Aperture | f/16 | f/2.8 | f/2.8 | f/2.8 | f/2.8 | f/22 |
| Mount | Sony E | Nikon Z | Sony E | Sony E | Micro Four Thirds | Canon RF |
| Stabilization | false | false | false | false | true | true |
| Weather Sealed | true | true | true | true | true | true |
| Weight (g) | 516 | 450 | 540 | 260 | 320 | 495 |
| AF Type | XD Linear AF Motors | Stepping Motor | VXD | Autofocus | linear motor | STM |
| Lens Type | prime | zoom | zoom | zoom | zoom | zoom |
| Compare | Compare | Compare | Compare | Compare |
| Product | AF | Bokeh | Build | Macro | Optical | Aperture | User Sentiment | Versatility | Social Proof | Stabilization |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sony G Master SEL50F14GM 50mm | 54.6 | 48.1 | 68.5 | 31.5 | 78.8 | 45.8 | 63.3 | 33.6 | 87.9 | 38 |
| Nikon NIKKOR Z 17-28mm f/2.8 Compare | 87 | 88.1 | 73.6 | 86.3 | 87 | 85.8 | 90.8 | 68.1 | 64.6 | 38 |
| Tamron Di III 28-75mm f/2.8 VXD G2 Compare | 54.6 | 88.1 | 67.2 | 87.3 | 87.8 | 85.8 | 80.4 | 78.2 | 83.1 | 38 |
| Sigma Contemporary 10-18mm f/2.8 DC DN Compare | 54.6 | 83.5 | 87.3 | 93.3 | 81.6 | 85.8 | 80.4 | 69.1 | 68.8 | 38 |
| Panasonic Leica DG Vario-Elmarit H-ES12060 Compare | 98 | 88.1 | 83.1 | 50.4 | 90.2 | 85.8 | 44.2 | 93.1 | 63.5 | 83.2 |
| Canon RF 28-70mm f/2.8 IS STM Compare | 87 | 25.9 | 70.2 | 80.4 | 85 | 22.6 | 98.1 | 77.2 | 87.9 | 98.5 |
Price
Value & Pricing
At $698 to $265,899, this lens has jumped into a pricing bracket that's tough to justify. The 56% price hike lands hard when the overall score has slipped to 53. You're now paying significantly more for a product that objectively performs worse against its peers. Unless you have a very specific, non-negotiable use case that only this lens solves, the value proposition has evaporated. There are sharper, more versatile options from Sigma and Tamron that deliver better results for less money.
Amazon.ca 1 offer From CA$1,698
Price History
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Verdict
A steep price increase paired with a 20-point score drop makes this a hard pass for most people. The new competitive field, led by the Sigma 16-300mm and Tamron 18-300mm, offers better optics and more practical zoom ranges at friendlier prices. This lens now feels like a relic that got more expensive instead of better. Skip it unless you're locked into a system with no alternatives.
