Yongnuo 50mm f/1.8 is thrifty fifty prime lens for Sony mirrorless cameras

Yongnuo YN50mm F1.8S DA DSM
(Image credit: Yongnuo)

Yongnuo has announced its first lens for the Sony mirrorless cameras. The Chinese budget accessory specialist already products a number of highly-affordable prime lenses for Nikon and Canon DSLRs... but now has produced a 50mm f/1.8 'nifty fifty' lens for use on Sony E-mount APS-C-format cameras.

The Yongnuo YN50mm F1.8S DA DSM is designed to be used with the popular Sony A6000 mirrorless camera, and other more recent Alpha A6*** series models. As such the effective focal length becomes a 75mm, creating a lens that will be ideal for portraiture.

Unlike other low-cost options, the Yongnuo prime offers autofocus operation, using a digital stepping motor (DSM) that promises "fast start and stop response, high focusing accuracy and quieter focusing action".

The lens is constructed from eight elements in seven groups, with a seven-bladed diaphragm, and weighs just 146g (5.1 ounces).

(Image credit: Yongnuo)

Specifications

Mount Sony E
Autofocus Yes
Full frame No
Image stabilization No
Lens construction 8 elements in 7 groups
Aperture blades 7
Minimum aperture f/16
Closest focus distance  0.45m
Maximum magnification 0.14x
Filter ring size 49mm
Dimensions 64×58mm
Weight 146g

Pricing and availability for the Yongnuo YN50mm F1.8S DA DSM has not yet been announced, but it is rumored to cost under $100. Sony's own 50mm f/1.8 currently retails for around $248/£179 – although this is also compatible with full-frame Sony mirrorless cameras.

Read more
The best Sony lenses in 2020
The best mirrorless cameras in 2020
The best lenses for the Sony A6000 cameras 

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Chris George

Chris George has worked on Digital Camera World since its launch in 2017. He has been writing about photography, mobile phones, video making and technology for over 30 years – and has edited numerous magazines including PhotoPlus, N-Photo, Digital Camera, Video Camera, and Professional Photography. 


His first serious camera was the iconic Olympus OM10, with which he won the title of Young Photographer of the Year - long before the advent of autofocus and memory cards. Today he uses a Nikon D800, a Fujifilm X-T1, a Sony A7, and his iPhone 11 Pro.


He has written about technology for countless publications and websites including The Sunday Times Magazine, The Daily Telegraph, Dorling Kindersley, What Cellphone, T3 and Techradar.