Brightin Star MF 50mm F0.95 APS-C

The Brightin Star MF 50mm F0.95 APS-C is a very fast manual focus standard prime for cropped sensor cameras. It is sold for Sony E, Nikon Z, Canon RF (RF-S), Canon EF-M, Fujifilm X and Micro Four Thirds. On APS-C the 50mm focal length behaves like a short telephoto of about 75mm in full frame terms, which makes it a portrait and low light lens. Brightin Star calls it the "Night God" lens in its shop.

Optical design

According to the manufacturer manual the lens has 7 elements in 5 groups, a maximum aperture of F0.95 and a minimum of F16. The angle of view is 32 degrees. The design includes four high refractive and two low dispersion elements. The diaphragm has 13 blades, which Brightin Star says gives smooth background blur. The manual gives 0.5 m as the closest focusing distance.

Focusing and handling

Focusing is manual. The aperture ring clicks, and the lens has retro engraving, an all metal body and a retractable hood. The focusing and aperture scales glow in the dark, which helps when working in the dark. There are no electronic contacts, so the camera records no aperture data. Focus peaking or magnification is recommended in the manual because F0.95 leaves very little depth of field.

Build and size

The lens measures 68.45 mm in diameter and 66.62 mm in length and weighs 443 g. The filter thread is 62 mm. This is heavy for an APS-C standard lens, but the all metal construction explains most of it.

Where it fits

Within the database the closest competitors are the TTArtisan 50mm f/0.95, available for E, X, RF, EF-M, MFT and Z, and the Mitakon Zhongyi Speedmaster 50mm f/0.95 III, which targets full frame. The TTArtisan covers the same mounts as the Brightin Star. For a less extreme aperture there are the TTArtisan 50mm f/1.2 and the 7artisans 50mm F1.2. Brightin Star also sells a lighter 50mm F1.4 III for APS-C.

Pros and cons

Pros

• F0.95 aperture for low light and strong subject separation
• 13 blade diaphragm
• All metal body with retractable hood
• Six mounts including EF-M and Micro Four Thirds

Cons

• Manual focus only
• 443 g is heavy for an APS-C lens
• 0.5 m closest focusing distance
• Very shallow depth of field makes accurate focusing demanding
• No image stabilization

Verdict

The MF 50mm F0.95 APS-C trades size and weight for light gathering and a shallow depth of field. It suits portrait and night street work for photographers who accept manual focusing, and it is a lower cost way into f/0.95 on a cropped sensor.