What focal length do you prefer? I am thinking of a 28mm or 35mm. I already have 50mm, but would like a wider lens for a slightly different perspective.
ebookman wrote:
These are shots from this morning taken after a rain shower which put a bit of a gloss on the landscape. A7RII with FE 35/2.8
Awesome captures, Dale! Really impressive!
40Driggs wrote:
For all you street shooters out there...
What focal length do you prefer? I am thinking of a 28mm or 35mm. I already have 50mm, but would like a wider lens for a slightly different perspective.
It is a personal preference, I would say. If you can or want to take only a single lens, I would use a 35mm, which is a nice focal length for me. Most of the time though, I take two lenses, a 28mm and 55mm. They are small and portable enough to be taken out both actually.
Holy Cr&P! I can't believe how many pages I've missed over the past couple of days.
My local camera store had in stock both the LE-EA3 and the Tamron 150-600. In the store the AF on the A7rII was really quick (bad light, high ISO). I even put the camera on a tripod to test for sharpness and seemed pretty good. So, with 30 days to return it, I brought it home.
These are all handheld in diminishing light and by no means form a conclusive test. But here are a few first images.
Membler wrote:
Boy I agree! I recently picked up a used FE35/2.8ZA and really love it. The size is nice and small and this lens does great on my A6000 too.
Argh, you guys are gonna end up putting another dent in my budget! :-)
40Driggs wrote:
For all you street shooters out there...
What focal length do you prefer? I am thinking of a 28mm or 35mm. I already have 50mm, but would like a wider lens for a slightly different perspective.
My feeling is that the wider the lens, the more difficult-- particularly for PJ or in the street. Not only is there more to deal with in terms of light and composition, but you have to get closer to your subjects.
That said, getting closer to your subjects-- in my perspective, which has been shared by some legendary pjs-- makes for stronger, more felt images. You know: "If your photos are good enough, then you're not close enough." -- RC
Fifty makes for nice portraits, but it's borderline too distant for me when it comes to telling a strong story.
Twenty-eight works really well when you get close and change your perspective (get down towards the ground, get behind something that partially blocks your view, get into tighter quarters), but it's just wide enough that sometimes distortion is too high on the edges of the frame and you have to get so close that it can lose its oomph.
Thirty-five is my favorite focal length for this kind of thing. It's wide enough that you have to get close enough to really feel. It's not so wide that you can almost ignore WA distortion. It's great for in-situ portraiture, with background and context, but without being so far away you lose the environment.
So, for me, the resounding answer at one lens is 35mm.
If I have a second camera/lens, I'd keep an UWA for the 10-15% of shots where getting REALLY close opes up a hidden world. Beyond that, a 50-ish or more like 60/70 for the 2-5% of shots where I want a dedicated, close, portrait. I'd guess that if I went out with 17mm, 35mm, and 55mm... I'd leave the 35mm mounted 9/10 times all day with no lens switch. Which is why I'm pleading with Sony to give us a sharp at f/2, 35mm f/2 halfway in size and price between the f/2.8 and f/1.4. Bonus if it has an aperture ring; I'll take a non-G, non-Zeiss though at $500-800, like a 28mm f/2 with a little more FL and a little more w/o sharpness.
ebookman wrote:
Thanks! Actually the FE 35/2.8 is something of a relief to me. I sold my excellent FE 55 because I already have a variety of old 50's that I really like and I would prefer my new lens investment to be in the 35mm format. The lens is better than my expectations. The image quality is great. The size and weight swayed my attention off the 1.4.
I hear ya, Dale. I've been starting to collect alt 50's to play with even tho I have the 55. Heck, I'm not even a huge 50 fan but there's just something fun about trying new stuff and getting out of my comfort zone with the Sonys (and the focus peaking just makes alts so darn easy). I find 35 one of those "in between how I see" focal lengths and think it'd be fun to try it out. I've got the 28 but it's not really calling to me - I'm more of a 20 guy. The 35 looks like it'd be great fun tho. And man, your results show its potential. The 35 f/1.4 would just be more cash and more lens than I'm interested in at the moment. The 35 f/2.8 is a different beast all together.
Thanks for all the "likes" and the discussion. It does help you think about what you are doing.
Getting in close with the FE 35/2.8 0n the A7RII This is a wide-open F/2.8 shot at minimum focus distance. In other words, there is no where to go beyond here except a faster and heavier chunk of glass, perhaps an "M" mount lens and a lot more money. I am still trying to decide whether I want an F/1.4. It's less costly to just use a fast alt 50.
Dale, congrats on your new 35 FE and your two truck shots are gorgeous!. One of the few lenses I have seller's remorse over. But I am so rarely changing lenses even between the 3 in my bag right now, that owing more means I will ener, ever shoot them. Too lazy, I guess...
René, your "toro" shot is awesome, as are your two Malaga shots. And Helena, and Mike, and....
Hello everyone! I'm new here. I love your images!!
Here's my first share: Waterfall in the Jing'an Temple in Taipei, Taiwan. Shot with the Sony A7Rii + Zeiss 1,4/35 ZM at f8 with a B+W ND filter. Held steady on a pillar, very carefully!
philber wrote:
Dale, congrats on your new 35 FE and your two truck shots are gorgeous!. One of the few lenses I have seller's remorse over. But I am so rarely changing lenses even between the 3 in my bag right now, that owing more means I will ener, ever shoot them. Too lazy, I guess...
René, your "toro" shot is awesome, as are your two Malaga shots. And Helena, and Mike, and....
More 135 APO
Thanks Philippe . Your Zeiss 135mm pictures here are amazed
akclimber wrote:
Wow Dale, great images. Love the truck. You're making that 35 f/2.8 awfully tempting....
The little 35mm f2.8 is certainly a very sharp lens. Now it's even better that I am getting an A7II with the stabilization. Now I need to figure out how to use a CPL on this lens with the odd lens hood.
