Brightin Star has launched a new fully manual 50 mm prime lens for full-frame L mount, Sony E mount, Canon RF mount and Nikon Z mount cameras. The headline features are a wide maximum aperture of F1.05 and a budget-friendly price.
Design
The Brightin Star 50mm prime is a compact lens, measuring around 2.8 inches (70 mm) in diameter and 3.3 inches (84 mm) in length. It’s also relatively lightweight, tipping the scales between 21.4 ounces (606 g) and 22.3 ounces (632 g) depending on which lens mount you choose.
Brightin Star says that the lens is made from a “high-end aviation Aluminium material” and uses a “CNC anodizing process.” The manual aperture ring sits at the front of the body of the lens, and the manual focus ring is closer to the camera body. Filter thread size is 58 mm.
F1.05 aperture
The Brightin Star 50mm prime lens has very fast maximum aperture of F1.05. That makes the lens nearly a full stop faster than an F1.4 lens. As a result, the 50 mm lens will perform well in low light scenarios. You will also be able to get a razor-thin depth of field. Wide open at 6 feet (1.8 meters) from your subject, the depth of field will only be around 3 inches (8 cm). In addition, the 50 mm lens has an iris with 15 blades to deliver a beautifully smooth round bokeh. The lens’s minimum aperture is F11.
Optical construction
The Brightin Star 50mm prime lens has 10 lens elements in 8 groups. These include two high refraction lens elements and 2 low dispersion lens elements. Brightin Star also says that the lens uses HOYA optical glass to control axial chromatic aberration.
Additionally, the 50 mm lens uses a multi-layer IMC coating technology to reduce glare and ghosting. This results in high-contrast images and overall light transmittance up to 99.8%. The close focus distance is around 1.9 feet (0.57 meters).
What we think
50 mm closely approximates the field of view and perspective of the human eye on a full-frame sensor. As such, a 50 mm lens is seen as an essential addition to anyone’s camera kit. On an APS-C crop sensor camera, a 50 mm has the same field of view as a 75 mm lens on a full frame camera. Brightin Star’s new 50 mm prime lens is priced very competitively and also features a super wide maximum aperture. Low light and shallow depth of field fans will love this lens. However, as it’s a fully manual lens, your focus pulling skills will need to be on point. The Brightin Star 50mm prime lens might not deliver the same image quality as more expensive glass, but it could be a fun addition to your lens arsenal.
Pricing and availability
The Brightin Star full-frame F1.05 50mm prime lens retails at $299, but it is currently on offer at $269 if you order direct from the company.
