Went for a brief (very cold) walk last week with my a77 and CZ1680. As I bought my a77 with the 2.8/16-50 I've been thinking of letting go of the CZ zoom. Don't care much about the extra reach from it but I can't help feel that it gives me a little something extra in the IQ department specifically for nature/landscape.
It is contradictory because obviously I didn't intend to write it like that. I want it to write "I wouldn't sell it". I was on the ipad at time and, if you're not careful, things like that happen. Sorry for the misunderstanding.
twelveish wrote:
Went for a brief (very cold) walk last week with my a77 and CZ1680. As I bought my a77 with the 2.8/16-50 I've been thinking of letting go of the CZ zoom. Don't care much about the extra reach from it but I can't help feel that it gives me a little something extra in the IQ department specifically for nature/landscape.
Thanks, I'm glad you like them. Yes, the CZ 16-80 often gets a bad rap for build quality, but in IQ it's certainly one of the best zooms I've used. Other than the DOF control it's almost like having prime IQ territory in a zoom lens. Then again, I mostly use primes, so what do I know. I had to pull back the highlights quite a bit in #2 but I agree it did retain the details well. Yeah my lens isn't going anywhere. I guess I'll keep both zooms after all. A constant 2.8 definitely also has it's place and uses.
twelveish wrote:
Thanks, I'm glad you like them. Yes, the CZ 16-80 often gets a bad rap for build quality, but in IQ it's certainly one of the best zooms I've used. Other than the DOF control it's almost like having prime IQ territory in a zoom lens. Then again, I mostly use primes, so what do I know. I had to pull back the highlights quite a bit in #2 but I agree it did retain the details well. Yeah my lens isn't going anywhere. I guess I'll keep both zooms after all. A constant 2.8 definitely also has it's place and uses. ...Show more →
CZ 16-80 isnt good at wide-open but stopped down its really nice lens. Best probably around f8-11. I would consider it as variable lenght landscape lens. But for that its actually really good..
The partner uses an a77 and has the 16-80 glued onto it, with aperture stuck at f8, except for rare shifts to f11 or wide open for dark interiors.
It's a high impact lens, very colourful and bright, no bokeh monster but lots of detail retention and still capable of subtlety. A lot of serious shooters kept it after the 16-50 was released, despite the 1-2 stops speed diff. Another lens that benefits from the giant strides made by Adobe lately.
The mirror loss is not too much of a hit, Sony are refining the SLT idea, this is of course the NEX7 sensor. I'd say the 16-80 is a good match also for the next gen 24Mp APS-C Sony sensor, due out soon. If they get the noise ceiling up another stop (likely) this will be a fine upgrade, to offset slow lens speed.
SS works very well with the combo also, of a77/16-80, even at the long end. Very nice photos.
Jan 13, 2013 at 04:36 PM
