Archive 2013 · Sony A7 - first impressions and some tests
p.1 #1Sony A7 - first impressions and some tests
My A7 has arrived 
Because it is 9pm local time it is dark and all i can do is shooting some test charts to get a first impression of how my lenses perform.
edit: some clarification: My test target is about 40cm by 60cm so especially the wide angle lenses are tested close at their minimal focusing distance. An infinity test will follow later.
my results so far aren't too convincing.
Sony_FE_2870_28mm_SonyA7 by reevedata, on Flickr
CarlZeissBiogon_28mm_f28_SonyA7 by reevedata, on Flickr
Minolta_MD_28mm_f28 by reevedata, on Flickr
Sony_FE_2870_35mm_SonyA7 by reevedata, on Flickr
Minolta_MD_35mm_f28_SonyA7 by reevedata, on Flickr
Vivitar_35mm_f19 by reevedata, on Flickr
Edited on Nov 20, 2013 at 04:14 PM · View previous versions
Because it is 9pm local time it is dark and all i can do is shooting some test charts to get a first impression of how my lenses perform.
edit: some clarification: My test target is about 40cm by 60cm so especially the wide angle lenses are tested close at their minimal focusing distance. An infinity test will follow later.
my results so far aren't too convincing.
Sony_FE_2870_28mm_SonyA7 by reevedata, on Flickr
CarlZeissBiogon_28mm_f28_SonyA7 by reevedata, on Flickr
Minolta_MD_28mm_f28 by reevedata, on Flickr
Sony_FE_2870_35mm_SonyA7 by reevedata, on Flickr
Minolta_MD_35mm_f28_SonyA7 by reevedata, on Flickr
Vivitar_35mm_f19 by reevedata, on Flickr
Edited on Nov 20, 2013 at 04:14 PM · View previous versions
Nov 19, 2013 at 02:20 PM
p.1 #2Sony A7 - first impressions and some tests
Phillip, I guess you didn't get the FE 35 2.8? It looks like it may be a requirement to get the most out of the A7r at 28-35mm's. It would probably be shocking to see it's result alongside these.
Nov 19, 2013 at 02:25 PM
p.1 #3Sony A7 - first impressions and some tests
Tariq Gibran wrote:
Phillip, I guess you didn't get the FE 35 2.8? It looks like it may be a requirement to get the most out of the A7r at 28-35mm's. It would probably be shocking to see it's result alongside these.
I am worried that you are right and this will become a really expensive endeavor
Phillip, I guess you didn't get the FE 35 2.8? It looks like it may be a requirement to get the most out of the A7r at 28-35mm's. It would probably be shocking to see it's result alongside these.
I am worried that you are right and this will become a really expensive endeavor
Nov 19, 2013 at 02:27 PM
p.1 #4Sony A7 - first impressions and some tests
Thanks for the results Phillip - looks like terrible performance with these lenses.... Mind you, if you could just make a huge crop to include just the center - they would look great! 
Nov 19, 2013 at 02:27 PM
p.1 #5Sony A7 - first impressions and some tests
Hi Phillip. This may not be relevant to resolution, but I'd be interested in seeing how the native lenses work with the contacts taped. This could help illustrate what sort of PP corrections the camera is applying for known lenses.
(Thanks for these test so far.. very informative!)
Edited on Nov 19, 2013 at 02:32 PM · View previous versions
(Thanks for these test so far.. very informative!)
Edited on Nov 19, 2013 at 02:32 PM · View previous versions
Nov 19, 2013 at 02:31 PM
p.1 #6Sony A7 - first impressions and some tests
Phillip Reeve wrote:
I am worried that you are right and this will become a really expensive endeavor
Sorry, I thought that was the A7r. The zoom is a no brainer I guess with the kit price and the A7.
Tariq Gibran wrote
Phillip, I guess you didn't get the FE 35 2.8? It looks like it may be a requirement to get the most out of the A7r at 28-35mm's. It would probably be shocking to see it's result alongside these.Sorry, I thought that was the A7r. The zoom is a no brainer I guess with the kit price and the A7.
Nov 19, 2013 at 02:32 PM
p.1 #7Sony A7 - first impressions and some tests
Phillip, thank you for this test, kit zoom performance is still a missing piece in reviews and this is filling the gap.
Could you do similar shots at 50FL comparing to known reasonably sharp slr 50/1.4s (OM/FD/Takumar/etc)? Also if you have FD 35/2, could you throw this into the test?
Could you do similar shots at 50FL comparing to known reasonably sharp slr 50/1.4s (OM/FD/Takumar/etc)? Also if you have FD 35/2, could you throw this into the test?
Nov 19, 2013 at 02:48 PM
p.1 #8Sony A7 - first impressions and some tests
rera wrote:
Phillip, thank you for this test, kit zoom performance is still a missing piece in reviews and this is filling the gap.
Could you do similar shots at 50FL comparing to known reasonably sharp slr 50/1.4s (OM/FD/Takumar/etc)? Also if you have FD 35/2, could you throw this into the test?
I am developing those right now
Phillip, thank you for this test, kit zoom performance is still a missing piece in reviews and this is filling the gap.
Could you do similar shots at 50FL comparing to known reasonably sharp slr 50/1.4s (OM/FD/Takumar/etc)? Also if you have FD 35/2, could you throw this into the test?
I am developing those right now
Nov 19, 2013 at 02:57 PM
p.1 #9Sony A7 - first impressions and some tests
Phillip Reeve wrote:
I am developing those right now
Be sure you get the agitation right!
I am developing those right now
Be sure you get the agitation right!
Nov 19, 2013 at 03:06 PM
p.1 #10Sony A7 - first impressions and some tests
Phillip Reeve wrote:
Could you do similar shots at 50FL comparing to known reasonably sharp slr 50/1.4s (OM/FD/Takumar/etc)? Also if you have FD 35/2, could you throw this into the test?I am developing those right now
You don't have a Jobo automatic processor?
Rich
rera wrote
Phillip, thank you for this test, kit zoom performance is still a missing piece in reviews and this is filling the gap.Could you do similar shots at 50FL comparing to known reasonably sharp slr 50/1.4s (OM/FD/Takumar/etc)? Also if you have FD 35/2, could you throw this into the test?
You don't have a Jobo automatic processor?
Rich
Nov 19, 2013 at 03:10 PM
p.1 #11Sony A7 - first impressions and some tests
So is Minolta 28 f2.8 a bad lens or it just looks that bad on A7 all of the sudden?
I guess many "decent" lenses will be exposed badly on a highrez sensor, but that looks really terrible.
We might not only have trouble using rengefinder glass on A7/A7R but even find a good SLR wide lens too...
I will test my A7R with Leica 28R v2 as soon as I have the camera, but found a getdpi thread
where guys were testing 28mm lenses on D800E and apparently my 28R v2 is the best. I hope it will
be good on A7R...
I guess many "decent" lenses will be exposed badly on a highrez sensor, but that looks really terrible.
We might not only have trouble using rengefinder glass on A7/A7R but even find a good SLR wide lens too...
I will test my A7R with Leica 28R v2 as soon as I have the camera, but found a getdpi thread
where guys were testing 28mm lenses on D800E and apparently my 28R v2 is the best. I hope it will
be good on A7R...
Nov 19, 2013 at 03:12 PM
p.1 #12Sony A7 - first impressions and some tests
snowboarder wrote:
So is Minolta 28 f2.8 a bad lens or it just looks that bad on A7 all of the sudden?
I guess many "decent" lenses will be exposed badly on a highrez sensor, but that looks really terrible.
We might not only have trouble using rengefinder glass on A7/A7R but even find a good SLR wide lens too...
I will test my A7R with Leica 28R v2 as soon as I have the camera, but found a getdpi thread
where guys were testing 28mm lenses on D800E and apparently my 28R v2 is the best. I hope it will
be good on A7R...
I think it is a bad lens by todays standards. http://artaphot.ch/sony-nex/altglas/330-nex-5n-und-28mm-objektive
So is Minolta 28 f2.8 a bad lens or it just looks that bad on A7 all of the sudden?
I guess many "decent" lenses will be exposed badly on a highrez sensor, but that looks really terrible.
We might not only have trouble using rengefinder glass on A7/A7R but even find a good SLR wide lens too...
I will test my A7R with Leica 28R v2 as soon as I have the camera, but found a getdpi thread
where guys were testing 28mm lenses on D800E and apparently my 28R v2 is the best. I hope it will
be good on A7R...
I think it is a bad lens by todays standards. http://artaphot.ch/sony-nex/altglas/330-nex-5n-und-28mm-objektive
Nov 19, 2013 at 03:15 PM
p.1 #14Sony A7 - first impressions and some tests
snowboarder wrote:
So is Minolta 28 f2.8 a bad lens or it just looks that bad on A7 all of the sudden?
I guess many "decent" lenses will be exposed badly on a highrez sensor, but that looks really terrible.
We might not only have trouble using rengefinder glass on A7/A7R but even find a good SLR wide lens too...
I will test my A7R with Leica 28R v2 as soon as I have the camera, but found a getdpi thread
where guys were testing 28mm lenses on D800E and apparently my 28R v2 is the best. I hope it will
be good on A7R...
Hopefully that 28R works well for you on the A7 Andrew. It is such stellar performer...
So is Minolta 28 f2.8 a bad lens or it just looks that bad on A7 all of the sudden?
I guess many "decent" lenses will be exposed badly on a highrez sensor, but that looks really terrible.
We might not only have trouble using rengefinder glass on A7/A7R but even find a good SLR wide lens too...
I will test my A7R with Leica 28R v2 as soon as I have the camera, but found a getdpi thread
where guys were testing 28mm lenses on D800E and apparently my 28R v2 is the best. I hope it will
be good on A7R...
Hopefully that 28R works well for you on the A7 Andrew. It is such stellar performer...
Nov 19, 2013 at 03:28 PM
p.1 #15Sony A7 - first impressions and some tests
The incompatibility with older rangefinder lenses is even worse than I was expecting given what samples we have so far. But what's troubling me more is the amount of moire.
Nov 19, 2013 at 03:30 PM
p.1 #16Sony A7 - first impressions and some tests
New toy hurray!
Nex-7 battle?
Nex-7 battle?
Nov 19, 2013 at 03:34 PM
p.1 #17Sony A7 - first impressions and some tests
Phillip, thank you for doing this. Could you post an overall shot of the whole target, as well?
Nov 19, 2013 at 03:40 PM
p.1 #18Sony A7 - first impressions and some tests
Ouch, those results are pretty shocking. Make sure to do some horizon-testing tomorrow morning. Perhaps the close testing distance is skewing the results.
Nov 19, 2013 at 03:44 PM
p.1 #19Sony A7 - first impressions and some tests
Lee Saxon wrote:
The incompatibility with older rangefinder lenses is even worse than I was expecting given what samples we have so far. But what's troubling me more is the amount of moire.
I started having serious doubts when Huff clearly avoided the subject. He mentioned how great it is, but he didn't post any shot with a Leica lens wider than 50mm, he only posted a couple of CV shots and then started claiming he "covered" the subject extensively. Something smelly for sure....
I will be fine if I can use my 28R, 50 Lux, 90 APO and 135 Telyt on it + CV 125 APO and a couple of other R lenses.
I will later replace my wider M lenses with a native Zeiss "solution" and I will be all set.
The incompatibility with older rangefinder lenses is even worse than I was expecting given what samples we have so far. But what's troubling me more is the amount of moire.
I started having serious doubts when Huff clearly avoided the subject. He mentioned how great it is, but he didn't post any shot with a Leica lens wider than 50mm, he only posted a couple of CV shots and then started claiming he "covered" the subject extensively. Something smelly for sure....
I will be fine if I can use my 28R, 50 Lux, 90 APO and 135 Telyt on it + CV 125 APO and a couple of other R lenses.
I will later replace my wider M lenses with a native Zeiss "solution" and I will be all set.
Nov 19, 2013 at 03:44 PM
p.1 #20Sony A7 - first impressions and some tests
Gary Clennan wrote:
Hopefully that 28R works well for you on the A7 Andrew. It is such stellar performer...
I know, it's really unique. 28 Cron is great too and it sucks if it's not good on A7...
Hopefully that 28R works well for you on the A7 Andrew. It is such stellar performer...
I know, it's really unique. 28 Cron is great too and it sucks if it's not good on A7...
Nov 19, 2013 at 03:47 PM