I recently had the opportunity to test the AstrHori 50mm F2.0 manual lens. It is one of the cheapest lenses I have tested but it still surprised me positively.
Manual lenses are quite specific. Especially if you are a photographer in a fast-changing environment like the street. And the AstrHori 50mm is one of them.
It is a very basic lens. And yet it offers quite a lot for the price of $63 (as of December 27, 2024).
In a world full of automation and AI, being able to interact with older technology is priceless. AstrHori 50mm encourages you to be more respectful of your camera and its settings.
And this is a good thing.
Let's go basic
What's more, you're not limited by a particular brand of camera, as this lens is available for many popular mounts. Among them Sony E, Nikon Z, Fuji X, etc.
When using manual lenses you want to stop for a while. And this stimulates your creativity because you don't run through the city like a maniac but wait for your chances.
That's exactly how I felt.
I would stop every few meters or so and, choosing the right settings on my camera, I waited for that perfect moment.
AstrHori 50mm F2.0 works perfectly with full frames. Therefore, you can count on making full use of the aperture from F2.0 to F12. Focus starts at 0.5m.
Built quality
It's not the lightest lens I've used. It weighs 310 grams, but it's certainly very well-built.
It was produced in two color versions. Unfortunately, the gray version is very hard to get. Rumor has it that it is a heavily limited version.
With the right settings, we can get a really great bokeh effect. This is due to the 12 diaphragm blades used in this lens.
What about image quality?
In terms of image quality-to-price ratio, I would give a strong 8 out of 10 here. The pictures look very good even at higher zoom.
I haven't tested the quality on prints.
Photos are sharp as low as F2.0.
However, several times I noticed strong flares coming from brighter light sources like a street lamp.
Summary
The AstrHori 50mm F2.0 is a decent manual lens for reasonable money.
Ideal for anyone starting to play with photography. But also a good option for someone more advanced who would like to slow down a bit and contemplate the surroundings.
Minor flaws are sure to be forgotten thanks to the low price we will pay for it.
Enjoy the video.