Does any one know what the deal is between the contax G lenses that start with a 7 vs 9 on their lenses? Are the ones starting with a 9, do they have better autofocus?
The color issue you're seeing might actually be the lights you are shooting under. Are they fluorescent bulbs? The color temperature can cycle, and higher shutter speeds can get different parts of the frame catching different temperatures in the cycle. Slower shutter speeds let them blend together.
Try shooting outside, or under different lights, and see if you have any problems.
formula4speed wrote:
The color issue you're seeing might actually be the lights you are shooting under. Are they fluorescent bulbs? The color temperature can cycle, and higher shutter speeds can get different parts of the frame catching different temperatures in the cycle. Slower shutter speeds let them blend together.
Try shooting outside, or under different lights, and see if you have any problems.
You're right, it was the ceiling light; problem solved.
Thank you for the tips on a possible 135. After looking at options I think I will sit tight for an FE version from Sony/zeiss. The most currently appealing is probably the a-mount zeiss with lea-4 but that sounds heavy and expensive.
Here is a pic with the 55fe wide open. It was a "mistake" (I was shooting portraits of friends on a pier and forgot to change aperture). No polarizer and a foggy day so it is a little blown out. Yet the sharpness through the frame is staggering at 1.8... I can peek at all of these little shapes all the way to the horizon. So impressed with this lens.
Nicolas M wrote:
Thank you for the tips on a possible 135. After looking at options I think I will sit tight for an FE version from Sony/zeiss. The most currently appealing is probably the a-mount zeiss with lea-4 but that sounds heavy and expensive.
It is far from a small and light package but it handles quite fine on the A7 and it is a superb lens. Sony borrowed me a copy for a month and I really thought about buying one for myself despite the high price.
There are three reasons why I didn't get it in the end:
I am not sure about the future of the A-Mount, so I am reluctant to invest in any expensive lens.
The ZA 1.8/135 has a screw driven AF drive which has to be uncoupled for manual focusing and the manual focusing ring has a little play.
while sharpness is great the lens has rather pronounced bokeh fringing.
So if I was in the market for a >1000€ 135mm lens I would probably save for two more month and get the Zeiss 135 APO which is absolutely future proof.
here are my favorite pictures with it, more can be found in this set
I bet your shutter speed was above 1/200. Under those artificial lights any camera will do that. Try shooting less than 1/200 and it should go away.
Orfeaus wrote:
Hey, I'm not sure this is the correct place to post these photos, so please feel free to direct me elsewhere. I received my Sony a7 Friday and last night when playing around in Shutter Priority I realized that once I cross the 1/160th threshold, I begin to see substantial yellow shading on my photos. At first I thought it was just an issue with the viewfinder, but upon importing the photos to Lightroom I see that the discoloration persists.
What's strange though, is that when I'm looking through the viewfinder, I can actually see the bands of yellow moving slowly upward through the viewfinder, like waves of heat. Sometimes it requires a half shutter press to see, and other times it does not.
I have tested with a CV 35/1.2 a OM 24/2.8 and the Sony FE 55/1.8 - issue is observable in each case:
Nicolas M wrote:
Curious of your suggestions for a good 135 for the A7r ? I used to get some great pics on the nex 7 with a rokkor MD 135 (I paid $15 for the rokkor and It made many large format prints!) but after seeing what I get with the fe lenses on the a7r it, um, does not quite seem to compete at that level! Are there some "affordable" gems in hiding out there?
You made me realize that I hadnt tried the CZ Jena 135/3.5 on the A7 yet. It is small and not too bad. Especially given that the price is not much more than your average drawer rubber guy. It is actually quite sharp and no significant corner deterioration. But it's not like todays refined, almost clinical 1000€+ lenses.
No match for Phillips images above, but bare with these thin shots from today in boring light conditions. I also forgot to shoot faster than 1/focal length so much became trash. It has a bit damped almost rusty colors (not only due to the weather) and got no fancy T*-stoff. For being a 135mm it is one of the smallest around I guess. Plenty of versions available incl. various F/4 versions. This is a Zebra edition.
Lens and rubber guy.
Handheld @ F/8. Can you spot the fake medieval building that was bult in the 1920's?
Not too shabby 100% crop from above, close to corner. Screendump from ACR with basic RAW sharpening. Handheld and hazy weather.
@wfrank: that doesn't look too shabby. I should probably dust off my Minolta MD 2.8/135, but my Canon FD 4/80-200L ist quite a bit sharper and has much better CA control so I usually choose the more versatile Canon over my Minoltas.
Philipp and Wfrank - thank you!
Gorgeous indeed Philipp. Which mount did you pick for your cz 135 ?
Wfrank - that corner crop looks great. thank you for sharing that info. going to peek at ebay for these and see what I find!
I think the main weakness on the MD 135 2.8 is probably the coating, contrast is low and colors are soft - altho that can be used advantageously for certain atmospheric looks or for gentle portraiture.
