Gunzorro wrote:
Thanks, Samuli -- Your explanation may well have something to do with the negativity I've read or heard about.
My approach is probably a little different from many users buying somewhat "exotic" equipment, and in this case lenses. I can see why some might be disappointed if their paradigm for a Zeiss lens is bokeh related (not that I've found this an issue with the Loxia 35, but some might). I'm more interested in finding the f-stop range for best overall sharpness, color, and contrast, and that is usually outside the "Bokeh Zone" of close focus and wide open aperture. Nothing wrong with people enjoying blowing out backgrounds (I love what Bob and Helena are doing with unusual lenses and directing the view through softness to a central subject or design), I've used that technique and have a few lenses for it, but it's not my usual approach (and honestly, I'm not as good at pre-visualizing as some of these brilliant folks!).
I'm curious what other photographer on the forum would adopt as their mission catch-phrase. I'm mostly in the "f/8, and be there" camp, with a leaning toward the "f/64" club in a moderately casual way. And maybe that is the simplest way to describe why these lenses appeal so much to me....Show more →
Greetings.
I'm also from the "F8.0 and be there" school but perhaps will graduate from it one day.
This thread has simply opened my eyes to new techniques, experimentation with different lenses, and so on.
Gentle suggestions and criticisms have also helped. Can an old dog learn new tricks? Possibly one or two.
However, when I see some of the shots from Venice (you know by whom) or Iceland or Norway (you know by whom),
I realize that there are not-far-off limits for me. This helps me enjoy seeing and studying those great photos; pure admiration and no envy.
But I also like seeing not-so-great shots when I feel my approach to a particular scene could have been better.
So thank you all for having created such a great thread.
Henryk
Wow! The last couple of pages how been pretty awesome.
Ronny...taking up portraits now! Love them...
Jim...The Loxia 21 is awesome. Love the statue bust portrait! And I have to agree with you on the Loxia 35. First time around, was as Samuli said. Now this time around as second ownership, I've learned to use f8-11 and this lens is superb!
Derek...I like seeing you experimenting with other lenses. Love your style and eye. And your little man is getting big!
Joshua...^^^^Very nice.
Jack^^^^ Super super wow!
Gregg
A couple while sitting in the back of our car as a passenger...
A7rll and FE 50 1.4 ZA @f2.8
Literally hung the rig out the window for this grab!
Looking at a boulder covered with mosses and lichens, leaves, and the forest
Tripod mounted Cambo Actus camera with A7r and Rodenstock 50mm f2.8 Apo Rodagon N Enlarger lens
ISO 200, f11, 1/25 second
Exposure corrected by +0.48 Stops; processed in LR6.10
4 degrees of tilt
October 24, 2016
At a Trail Head next to a Parking lot not far from Skyline Drive, Shenandoah NP, Virginia
Greggf wrote:
Wow! The last couple of pages how been pretty awesome.
Ronny...taking up portraits now! Love them...
Jim...The Loxia 21 is awesome. Love the statue bust portrait! And I have to agree with you on the Loxia 35. First time around, was as Samuli said. Now this time around as second ownership, I've learned to use f8-11 and this lens is superb!
Derek...I like seeing you experimenting with other lenses. Love your style and eye. And your little man is getting big!
Joshua...^^^^Very nice.
Jack^^^^ Super super wow!
Gregg
A couple while sitting in the back of our car as a passenger...
A7rll and FE 50 1.4 ZA @f2.8@ ...Show more →
Thanks so much Gregg!
You know, after my little speech, then seeing yet another of Joshua's triumphant FE 35/1.4 shots, maybe we need the Loxia 35 for some smaller f/stops, and then the Sony for the wider apertures? Nothing a small fortune won't resolve! That's some beautiful imaging he provides and a strong argument for a different lens approach based on different subjects.
AGeoJO wrote:
Yup, she and her husband became our good friends, Jim. Thank you!
I was there late last year and I love your images from the Getty Center!
K-H., thank you so very much. I am very flattered...
Here is another one of the same model but with a friend this time around
Thanks Joshua! I remember well your view (with the Voigtlander 12mm, right?) looking up at the Getty sunroof -- I think you captured the more exciting shot, although I'm happy with this one too.
And you make a very strong case for needing two 35mm lenses, as I mentioned to Gregg! You make wonderful use of the fast FE 35/1.4 on people and scenes at wider apertures. Then, my Loxia 35 could be my smaller aperture use. So simple! (And of course I'd need two bodies! Ha-ha! )
**********************
A couple variations of the two dramatic bougainvillea sculpture groups at the Getty gardens.
You know, after my little speech, then seeing yet another of Joshua's triumphant FE 35/1.4 shots, maybe we need the Loxia 35 for some smaller f/stops, and then the Sony for the wider apertures? Nothing a small fortune won't resolve! That's some beautiful imaging he provides and a strong argument for a different lens approach based on different subjects.
Ha! Funny, Joshua and I have pm'd back and forth about that! His portraits with the FE 35 1.4 are absolutely incredible. Ive thought about trading my FE 50 for one...but I just can't get rid of it. So I'd have to rent or buy one. The only thing is the copy variation is supposedly bad. We'll see...
Greggf wrote:
Wow! The last couple of pages how been pretty awesome.
Joshua...^^^^Very nice.
Gregg
A couple while sitting in the back of our car as a passenger...
A7rll and FE 50 1.4 ZA @f2.8@
Thank you, Gregg!
Hey, stop taking pictures of my car, will you ? Great images there, buddy!
Gunzorro wrote:
Thanks so much Gregg!
You know, after my little speech, then seeing yet another of Joshua's triumphant FE 35/1.4 shots, maybe we need the Loxia 35 for some smaller f/stops, and then the Sony for the wider apertures? Nothing a small fortune won't resolve! That's some beautiful imaging he provides and a strong argument for a different lens approach based on different subjects.
Than you, Jim! I agree, the two compliment each other indeed. There is not much difference in speed and it seems to be more in the rendition. I enjoy using that lens even at wide open but sometimes, I stopped it down a little to get more depth-of-field.
Greggf wrote:
Ha! Funny, Joshua and I have pm'd back and forth about that! His portraits with the FE 35 1.4 are absolutely incredible. Ive thought about trading my FE 50 for one...but I just can't get rid of it. So I'd have to rent or buy one. The only thing is the copy variation is supposedly bad. We'll see...
Gregg, both are worth having, I meant, using, of course WRT the copy-to-copy variation, I got a hunch that mostly it has to do with expectation. You simply don't expect a fast semi wide-angle lens to render everything sharp from corner to corner at wide open but some folks apparently do or did. There seems to be also a field curvature that may be at play here. The way I look at it, if I put the main interest in the ⅓ area to the left/right and it is rendered sharp at wide open then it passes the muster. Now, centering is important though. I would to get the same rendition whether I put the target on the left or on the right without having to think I have to shift further in on one side over the other.
Here is another image taken with that lens.... Look ma, no mask, no mask!
Hey, stop taking pictures of my car, will you ? Great images there, buddy!
Than you, Jim! I agree, the two compliment each other indeed. There is not much difference in speed and it seems to be more in the rendition. I enjoy using that lens even at wide open but sometimes, I stopped it down a little to get more depth-of-field.
Gregg, both are worth having, I meant, using, of course WRT the copy-to-copy variation, I got a hunch that mostly it has to do with expectation. You simply don't expect a fast semi wide-angle lens to render everything sharp from corner to corner at wide open but some folks apparently do or did. There seems to be also a field curvature that may be at play here. The way I look at it, if I put the main interest in the ⅓ area to the left/right and it is rendered sharp at wide open then it passes the muster. Now, centering is important though. I would to get the same rendition whether I put the target on the left or on the right without having to think I have to shift further in on one side over the other.
Here is another image taken with that lens.... Look ma, no mask, no mask! ...Show more →
Definitely "Pretty in Pink"!
Here's very nice Japanese family I met at the Getty who asked me to take their photo with their camera -- I asked if I could take a quick shot of them with mine too, and email to them. This is the result. Who knew Rembrandt was part of their family? This is cropped about 40%, but the 21mm still works decent for this sort of thing on 42MP sensor. I was surprised how many times people solicited me to take their photo using their camera or phone -- at least four or five. I was honored!
Kierzkow wrote:
Greetings.
I'm also from the "F8.0 and be there" school but perhaps will graduate from it one day.
This thread has simply opened my eyes to new techniques, experimentation with different lenses, and so on.
Gentle suggestions and criticisms have also helped. Can an old dog learn new tricks? Possibly one or two.
However, when I see some of the shots from Venice (you know by whom) or Iceland or Norway (you know by whom),
I realize that there are not-far-off limits for me. This helps me enjoy seeing and studying those great photos; pure admiration and no envy.
But I also like seeing not-so-great shots when I feel my approach to a particular scene could have been better.
So thank you all for having created such a great thread.
Henryk
That's the spirit, Henry! I don't know whether you saw the poll a few months ago about the different age groups of Sony users. I am definitely up there age-wise. I am still learning and trying to improve and we are all in there together. We simply don't stop doing that until we kick the bucket.
Here's a few from Westminster station with the Voigtlander 12mm (on a7r)
Captured Westminster perfectly! I was there last summer and really regretted not having a wide enough lens to capture the architecture what you got here.
That's some beautiful imaging he provides and a strong argument for a different lens approach based on different subjects. 
WRT the copy-to-copy variation, I got a hunch that mostly it has to do with expectation. You simply don't expect a fast semi wide-angle lens to render everything sharp from corner to corner at wide open but some folks apparently do or did. There seems to be also a field curvature that may be at play here. The way I look at it, if I put the main interest in the ⅓ area to the left/right and it is rendered sharp at wide open then it passes the muster. Now, centering is important though. I would to get the same rendition whether I put the target on the left or on the right without having to think I have to shift further in on one side over the other.
This is cropped about 40%, but the 21mm still works decent for this sort of thing on 42MP sensor. I was surprised how many times people solicited me to take their photo using their camera or phone -- at least four or five. I was honored! 
