Chris_88 Offline Upload & Sell: Off
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philip_pj wrote:
It's quite delicious reading/hearing reviews of the L85 by regular (i.e. non-enthusiast) reviewers. Lost for 'faults' to fill their clueless reviews with, they fall back on the old faithful - it's too slow! Uh, for what, may one ask? Such reports are formulaic lens reviews for a formula-driven audience; it's a match made in cookie cutter heaven, lol.
Another big L85 win is no need for profiles - distortion is a mild 1% pincushion, vignette is also good at 52% illumination - for comparison, other lenses include: Summarit 90/2.5: 37%, Batis 85/1.8: 45%, Summ 90AA: 46%, Otus 85/1.4: 30%, Zeiss 100MP: 36%, Milvus 85/1.4: 27% - all wide open, higher figure means less vignette.
So that's another big benefit of 'ready for action wide open' slower portrait lenses, but the real killer is its f2.4 performance will squash many faster lenses at f2.4, where many are still wrestling with unruly aberrations. Apertures starting with a '2' happen to be where many sensible photographers shoot portraits, if they (like me) prefer more woman and less blur. Slower portrait lenses also deliver 'informing bokeh' - well-outlined image elements to provide context, rather than the massive blur outs the fast 85s deliver WO.
dig, I like that the (very traditional) lens extension is quite minimal down to average portrait distances (3-4m), and the (well-flocked) hood is very protective - unlike say, the GM 24-70, which looks like the monster in Alien just before it whacks its next victim:
http://www.photozone.de/sonyalphaff/997-sony2470f28gm
Batis 85 is very strong but has some outer frame curvature of field which settles at f8 or so; and has weaker outer frames @f2.8@ than L85 @f2.4, but with a stronger center; it suits many users, but overcooked 11/8 complex design, lots of moving parts (OSS/AF) - might not last so well. I would not want to drop the L85 on my foot, handle with care! A little known secret of the ZE/F 100MP is its very even cross-frame IQ, this Loxia is quite similar but at a much higher level; the L85 is almost exactly as strong @f2.4 as the 100MP is @f4 (the $$$ glass at work). ...Show more →
Philip, I don't know what reviews you are referring to exactly, but when reading customer reviews on Japanese websites I sometimes get annoyed when people bash a lens they just bought, because it's too big/too slow/too whatever. It's not as if they bought a jack-in-the-box without knowing whether the jack that comes popping out is black or white. To blame the Loxia for being "only f2.4" is weird, when there are faster alternatives available.
However, may I disagree with you on one point? I do think it's important to keep in mind that we all have different preferences, needs, expectations and budgets. From I can tell, you have a strong dislike for the GM lenses. On the other hand, plenty of people need/want a 24-70 2.8 or an AF 85 1.4, and going by Roger's comparison, the GM lenses seem to hold up well to the Canikon competition.
As for the 85/90mm focal length, I don't doubt that the Loxia 85 is the best solution outside the Otus, assuming you can live with f2.4 and MF. I don't shoot portraiture, so I have no clue, but I'd think that those who are willing to pay the price in money and weight for a 85 1.4 will use it wide open or may be at f1.6 or f2. That need for speed coupled with the need/want for AF means the Loxia won't be the right choice and hence this person may prefer a Batis or GM 85, irrespective of whether the Loxia is in many ways (MTF, distortion correction, etc.) the superior lens. Personally, I can live very well with my little Elmarit 90 2.8.Is it inferior to the Loxia? Definitely, but for my purposes, it works just fine. I just don't use the 85/90mm often enough to justify spending all that money on a Loxia.
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