p.64 #1 · Official: Sony A7 and A7R Fullframe Mirrorless
I see your logic Charlie but I'm allergic to zooms whether it makes sense or not.
As I'm not holding on to a big investment in M mount or other alt glass other than my Contax lenses bought in the 1980s, I feel more inclined to experiment with the AF native primes as I'm encouraged by what I've seen so far on the A7 and A7r. If I do make a move away from them I'll chalk up the difference between bought and sold as rent and be ok with it.
A tiny good lens is what I want for walk-around needs; the FE35 is tiny and AF and a good performer to the edges even wide open. Did I mention AF? Over the past couple of years I've discovered that I do like having a few AF lenses to lean on for some purposes.
If there was a 35 showing a nice rendering close in and great edge performance that was also fairly compact and light I might rethink my decision but I'm not sure such a thing has been identified as yet... and complicating matters more I want all that on the A7r.
At any rate, good plan or not, I'll be checking out the FE35 and the FE55, and shooting C/Y Zeiss to fill in gaps. f the A7r proves to be really good at supporting manual focus, for me, I'll be more adventuresome no doubt.
p.64 #4 · Official: Sony A7 and A7R Fullframe Mirrorless
I don't know if it has been brought up, but Zeiss has announced a line of MF lenses for the a7's - like they do for Canon and Nikon.
Since these lenses are actually manufactured by Cosina, it might well be that the latter will join the arena as well with some native FE Voigtländer lenses.
p.64 #5 · Official: Sony A7 and A7R Fullframe Mirrorless
uhoh7 wrote:
A questionable investment unless you have alot of disposable income, IMHO.
The first native I'd get would be the 2470---if it's as good as it should be.
that plus a 2300 body is plenty of money to spend.
Once we have the cameras out to good hands we will see many primes working well with them, I'd wager. In addition Zeiss will announce the new line of MF primes in early 2014 most likely.
I'd guess the FE 35 and 55 will be seen on the used market for at least 20% below retail by this time next year, and there will be alot of competitive options.
How one disposes of his/her income is an individual choice. Whether or not buying both the 35 FE and the 55 FE qualifies as "a questionable investment" surely depends on a variety of parameters.
Will the 24-70 be "as good as it should be"? Perhaps not, given the lackluster response to the Zeiss Vario-Tessar E 4/16-70.
What if you're looking for a small and light walk-around combination with AF (and 35mm is one of your favored focal lengths)? Then the FE 35 is a no-brainer.
In addition, "a 2300 body is plenty of money to spend" only if you have just $2300 to spend. If you have more to spend, picking up either or both of the FE primes might be a very attractive option.
If the FE 24-70 was instead a 35-70, I might be tempted. But it's not, and I have an Elmar-R 35-70/4 for the times I might want to use a zoom (which is rarely).
When I was thinking about ordering an A7R, my initial thoughts were that I'd get just the body and use alt lenses. But, as the favorable reports on the performance of the FE 35 and FE 55 started to roll in, it occurred to me that they could serve as reference lenses, making it easier to decide which legacy M-mount and SLR lenses were worth keeping.
I wholeheartedly agree with Jeff Kott that renting the FE 35 and/or the FE 55 for $200 each per year is not a bad deal at all. Particularly since the performance of these AF lenses might offer valuable clues about the rendering of the MF FE lenses Zeiss has promised for late next year (which many FMers are already pining for).
p.64 #6 · Official: Sony A7 and A7R Fullframe Mirrorless
Albi86 wrote:
I don't know if it has been brought up, but Zeiss has announced a line of MF lenses for the a7's - like they do for Canon and Nikon.
Since these lenses are actually manufactured by Cosina, it might well be that the latter will join the arena as well with some native FE Voigtländer lenses.
I wonder which name will use Zeiss for those full frame MF E-mount lenses.
ZE ? No, it's already taken by the Canon mount series
ZA ?. No, it would clash with AF lenses for Alpha mount.
ZN ? (for Zeiss NEX ) It would be misleading with E lenses for APS-C sensors
ZM, ZS, ZK, ZF are also out of question.
ZFA or ZFE maybe ?..
p.64 #10 · Official: Sony A7 and A7R Fullframe Mirrorless
uhoh7 wrote:
A questionable investment unless you have alot of disposable income, IMHO.
The first native I'd get would be the 2470---if it's as good as it should be.
that plus a 2300 body is plenty of money to spend.
Once we have the cameras out to good hands we will see many primes working well with them, I'd wager. In addition Zeiss will announce the new line of MF primes in early 2014 most likely.
I'd guess the FE 35 and 55 will be seen on the used market for at least 20% below retail by this time next year, and there will be alot of competitive options.
I don't see photo equipment as an in investment, but, either way, if I were buying an A7/R, I'd sell some of the photo gear or lenses that I currently have to pay for the FE 35 and 55, if money was a problem. I'm almost starting to see the FE 55 as a reason to buy the system in the first place.
p.64 #11 · Official: Sony A7 and A7R Fullframe Mirrorless
douglasf13 wrote:
I'm almost starting to see the FE 55 as a reason to buy the system in the first place.
+1
If I were to take the plunge, I would keep my RX1 and add the FE 55 and an alt medium tele Macro (I think Sony really needs a native medium tele Macro for this system pronto!). In fact, the lack of a native AF Macro option is one big reason I will probably wait as that's what I use with a lot of paid work (and I have no interested in adding an A-mount contraption for compatibility to the front). I guess I'm also curious to see how native primes wider than 35mm pan out for this system. That's another HUGE hole imo.
p.64 #12 · Official: Sony A7 and A7R Fullframe Mirrorless
What do you guys think about these 2 alpha mount lenses: ZA 135/1.8 and ZA 24/2
On A7r they might be too big perhaps, especially the 135/1.8, though they will phase detect on it so thats great.
p.64 #13 · Official: Sony A7 and A7R Fullframe Mirrorless
Yeah, my photography over the last 5+ years has primarily been with either a 35mm or 50mm lens (or equivalent,) so the lens options that Sony decided to start with are right up my alley, but I'm not sure that I want to muddy the waters...at least not yet. I'm enjoying being rather optionless with the RX1, since I'm only shooting for myself. That and I'm enjoying the use of various OVFs on the camera.
p.64 #14 · Official: Sony A7 and A7R Fullframe Mirrorless
Tariq Gibran wrote:
+1
If I were to take the plunge, I would keep my RX1 and add the FE 55 and an alt medium tele Macro (I think Sony really needs a native medium tele Macro for this system pronto!). In fact, the lack of a native AF Macro option is one big reason I will probably wait as that's what I use with a lot of paid work (and I have no interested in adding an A-mount contraption for compatibility to the front). I guess I'm also curious to see how native primes wider than 35mm pan out for this system. That's another HUGE hole imo. ...Show more →
Just curious: what sort of paid work are you shooting where you would trust AF at macro distances?
p.64 #15 · Official: Sony A7 and A7R Fullframe Mirrorless
I am thinking of converting my Sig 35/1.4 F mount to A mount. Apperantly with Nikon lenses the aperture control is not possible with Metabones smart adapter.
p.64 #16 · Official: Sony A7 and A7R Fullframe Mirrorless
douglasf13 wrote:
I'm enjoying being rather optionless with the RX1, since I'm only shooting for myself. That and I'm digging the various OVFs on the camera.
That's a good point. I have to say that I was dramatically reminded just how much I like the RX1's silent operation and silky controls when doing some side by side tests the other day with my still relatively quiet K3 (probably the quietest focal plane shutter put into a digital camera). I just know the first time I hear an A7r shutter go off and feel the less than silky operation, it's going to be a disappointment.
I keep going back and forth with the RX1 + EVF, particularly after using an OVF, I realize how god-awful EVF's look in bright daylight shooting situations. Probably moving to an optical finder on the RX1 as well (yet another negative for the A7r for me).
p.64 #17 · Official: Sony A7 and A7R Fullframe Mirrorless
alwang wrote:
Just curious: what sort of paid work are you shooting where you would trust AF at macro distances?
I use a medium Tele Macro for copying art work (2D and 3D). The distances are usually at least 10-20ft and when I'm shooting smaller 2D work on a copy stand, AF is accurate (though I check with LV of course). I'm never shooting 1:1 or even 2:1. I use a Macro because, of course, they are so well corrected.
p.64 #18 · Official: Sony A7 and A7R Fullframe Mirrorless
douglasf13 wrote:
I don't see photo equipment as an in investment, but, either way, if I were buying an A7/R, I'd sell some of the photo gear or lenses that I currently have to pay for the FE 35 and 55, if money was a problem. I'm almost starting to see the FE 55 as a reason to buy the system in the first place.
SAR reports that stopped down it's as sharp as the OTUS. Of course, so are lots of lenses. The whole point of the OTUS is wide open performance.
If one loves AF and uses that primarily, then the formula changes and I'd agree both primes are attractive. I hate AF, and use it only when the circumstance demands.
Which brings another reason I have no GAS for the 35 and 55, native MF is abysmal compared to a nice MF lens.
Certainly the whole issue is a matter of personal preference. Both the native primes seem like nice sharp lenses, and they autofocus. But I'll try what I like first.
p.64 #19 · Official: Sony A7 and A7R Fullframe Mirrorless
uhoh7 wrote:
SAR reports that stopped down it's as sharp as the OTUS. Of course, so are lots of lenses. The whole point of the OTUS is wide open performance.
If one loves AF and uses that primarily, then the formula changes and I'd agree both primes are attractive. I hate AF, and use it only when the circumstance demands.
Which brings another reason I have no GAS for the 35 and 55, native MF is abysmal compared to a nice MF lens.
Certainly the whole issue is a matter of personal preference. Both the native primes seem like nice sharp lenses, and they autofocus. But I'll try what I like first.
That's my point. It's looking like the FE 55 could be the highest performing standard lens this side of the OTUS and 50 AA, which is a remarkable feat, considering the cost and/or size differences.
I think, ultimately, that is going to be the beauty of the FE system. I know that everyone is clamoring to figure out which small M lenses work the best on the sensors, which I've done in the past, as well, but the really interesting thing about the FE mount is the ability to build these new, high quality lens designs that aren't restricted by a mirror, yet don't have to be uber small like M lenses.
Sony is gunning for the DSLR market with these cameras, and lenses that are just a bit smaller than DSLR lenses, but have much higher performance across the board, will be interesting to many.
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