Sigma takes the honours

The Sigma 50mm f/1.4 DG HSM | A leads the pack

For outright image quality and top-drawer construction, along with superb handling and all-round performance, the Sigma 50mm Art lens is currently our favourite standard prime on the market. It’s not completely perfect, as it lacks weatherseals and is quite big and weighty, but it’s an epic lens. The Zeiss delivers similarly sublime image quality and adds weatherseals, but many won’t like the lack of autofocus – and, in the UK at least, it’s nearly twice the price of the Sigma. For Canon and Nikon DSLR shooters who are determined to stick with own-brand lenses, the Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 STM and Nikon AF-S 50mm f/1.4G are best buys. The Tamron 45mm is an excellent alternative, however, and adds the bonus of optical stabilisation. For a top-quality Sony full-frame E-mount lens, the Samyang is a great performer and very good value. With a choice of two colours, Fujifilm’s XF50mm f/2 R WR is beautifully turned out and, despite having the slowest aperture rating in the group, delivers superb performance and image quality.

The Panasonic 42.5mm f/1.7 Power OIS is another lens that’s very impressive but, if you have a Micro Four Thirds body with sensor-shift stabilisation, the less expensive Olympus M.Zuiko Digital 45mm f/1.8 is better value.