p.3 #1 · Issue with the Sony Zeiss 55/1.8 FE or A7
Jochenb wrote:
This exactly the same with 2 copies of this lens. This must be the camera. I'm getting sick and tired of Sony. I've NEVER got a good copy of their cameras the first time (RX1, RX100 and now probably the A7 too).
Interesting... Lloyd and my lens also tilted to the same direction as yours (focus plane closer on left). Mine is tilted less than yours, didn't bother enough to replace the lens for this. In my case it's the lens, since happens with A7 and A7r (or both of them are tilted and all other lenses/adapters tilted to other direction to compensate). As far as I have been reading Lloyd, I have not seen him to notice it with other lenses, but I'm not 100% sure in his case.
p.3 #2 · Issue with the Sony Zeiss 55/1.8 FE or A7
Interesting comments Arne (I'm sorry to hear that you also have all these problems) and Samuli.
This makes it more complex again. Maybe there's something weird with the lens after all. Everyone with issues noticed them on the left side. Just like me.
I wish I had other lenses to test the camera.
photoArne wrote:
Both the FE 35mm and the FE 55mm show the same behaviour, so this is probably normal.
p.3 #3 · Issue with the Sony Zeiss 55/1.8 FE or A7
Yes, but I should mention that it is a *very* slight (on the order of 1/10 mm or so) straight sideways movement. I don't think it can explain the problems we're discussing here.
I wish you luck with changing the body, hopefully that will resolve the issue.
p.3 #4 · Issue with the Sony Zeiss 55/1.8 FE or A7
photoArne wrote:
Yes, but I should mention that it is a *very* slight (on the order of 1/10 mm or so) straight sideways movement. I don't think it can explain the problems we're discussing here.
I wish you luck with changing the body, hopefully that will resolve the issue.
Thank you. I'm not sure about what I'll do now. Too many similar reports of the 55/1.8. If I knew it's a lens issue I could maybe live with it... but I just need to be sure that the camera is fine to use some adapted lenses on in the future.
p.3 #5 · Issue with the Sony Zeiss 55/1.8 FE or A7
Jochen, don't exclude field curvature too quickly from your list of suspects. I found massive problems with my Summilux 50, until I concluded it was FC. It was conclusively proven by 3-d Kraft. Yet the 'Lux is not known for FCC on the M9... Also in this direction, there was a thread questioning whether the A7/R did indeed "cause" FC. It was started by Fred M, IIRC. Keep it in mind...
p.3 #7 · Issue with the Sony Zeiss 55/1.8 FE or A7
philber wrote:
Jochen, don't exclude field curvature too quickly from your list of suspects. I found massive problems with my Summilux 50, until I concluded it was FC. It was conclusively proven by 3-d Kraft. Yet the 'Lux is not known for FCC on the M9... Also in this direction, there was a thread questioning whether the A7/R did indeed "cause" FC. It was started by Fred M, IIRC. Keep it in mind...
This actually was my very first thought when I started noticing the issues Philippe. Especially because the right background is in focus, even wide open. A question for the technical people here: can field curvature be "random" across the frame? I mean not symmetrical on the left and right of the center of the focal plane.
Btw, another theory might be field curvature in combination with some peripheral focus shift because like I said... sometimes the left edge of a distant scene even gets more out of focus when stopping down a littlebit (compared to the same shot wide open). Normally this could be an indication of some kind of focus shift. Or a change in field curvature as you stop down.
*edit: I just also saw a report of a user that notices field curvature and focus shift in the 35FE. Link
Look at what he says: "The focus shift and field curvature that develop in this image on stopping down is very distance related. It can be virtually non existent shooting close by or at infinity." That's exactly what I've also mentioned in this thread earlier. I know, it's about a different lens but it's interesting.
I'm sorry Wilhelm. I hope my thread doesn't scare the happy users.
p.3 #8 · Issue with the Sony Zeiss 55/1.8 FE or A7
Jochenb wrote:
A question for the technical people here: can field curvature be "random" across the frame? I mean not symmetrical on the left and right of the center of the focal plane.
A well-assembled lens is symmetrical about the optical axis. Hence the resolution is a function of the distance from the axis. There is no difference between left or right.
When there is a difference between left and right, there is something wrong with the lens, the camera, or both.
p.3 #9 · Issue with the Sony Zeiss 55/1.8 FE or A7
Toothwalker wrote:
A well-assembled lens is symmetrical about the optical axis. Hence the resolution is a function of the distance from the axis. There is no difference between left or right.
When there is a difference between left and right, there is something wrong with the lens, the camera, or both.
That's what I also thought and how I always spotted my decentered copies of lenses. It's just that I've never seen such weird behavior in any of my lenses before. That's also why this is the first time that I started a thread about it. I've now been looking at a lot of photos from this lens on the web and I'm actually noticing similar things I see in my shots. This and the reports of some others make me think that there's still a chanche that there's something strange about this lens in general.
To know that it's not the camera I need to try a different lens. I ordered a metabones adapter and lens so I should be able to test this tomorrow. The adapter and that lens can also be bad (I need some luck, for once), but even then the chanches of getting the same results are small. If I still see the same things I can really blame the camera.
p.3 #11 · Issue with the Sony Zeiss 55/1.8 FE or A7
Jochenb wrote:
That's what I also thought and how I always spotted my decentered copies of lenses. It's just that I've never seen such weird behavior in any of my lenses before. That's also why this is the first time that I started a thread about it. I've now been looking at a lot of photos from this lens on the web and I'm actually noticing similar things I see in my shots. This and the reports of some others make me think that there's still a chanche that there's something strange about this lens in general.
To know that it's not the camera I need to try a different lens. I ordered a metabones adapter and lens so I should be able to test this tomorrow. The adapter and that lens can also be bad (I need some luck, for once), but even then the chanches of getting the same results are small. If I still see the same things I can really blame the camera. ...Show more →
Jochenb, I did a few quick tests this morning. I didn't have time upload them yet, but from what I see in screen by zooming, I'd say I don't notice any unsymmetrical behavior in DOF. And I realize the effect is hard to quantify as parallel along the frame edge checking focusing not necessary guaranty those line are in the same distance to your camera. shooting at f1.8 will complicate thing as well Thus, I took quite a few shots at all distance try to qualify the behavior. I will upload for you later to let you play with them.
If I pay hard attention, I think I might see what Marten said about edge seems more in focus. but it is symmetric and hard to qualify, Marten could be right or might be FC of lens.
Now look back your first full size sample,I see the same thing, but I am not sure I can draw conclusion as you described, as the house obviously not in the same focus plane, right side is closer. The 'bigger' difference in DOF between left and right might be well within design target of DOF transition of certain lens. I am not an expert, but I believe the reason Leica always publish their DOF table for a given lens in their DATA sheet means it is not only depend on distance, aperture and focal length, but also depend on lens design. At least, over the years, I found the lens DOF transition behavior is very different even with same focal length and aperture.
Your beach shot at left side show typical bokeh of this lens,(right seems slightly better though) which I never a big fan of it
If you are sure about conclusion then I would lead to believe you have fault camera.
BTW, today, I push hard 55FE sideway or up/down, it did have a tiny play. so I guess that is normal as well.
p.3 #13 · Issue with the Sony Zeiss 55/1.8 FE or A7
I've done som further tests with my FE 55 and it is clear that the whole left hand side from the edge and about 10-15 % of the field is rather blurry. The rest of the image, including the right side is OK, although the right hand side is not quite up to central sharpness either. We're talking infinity or close to and stops up to about f 7,1, after which it becomes decent. However a lens of this caliber shouldn't need f8 to become reasonably sharp at distance. Awaiting a second copy. In the meantime I'm using the 60mm Macro-Elmarit which is gorgeous on the a7r.
Btw., I can report that my second copy of the FE 35 mm is good, with gradual, gentle symmetrical (!) falloff towards the edges as one would expect. Even the corners are OK. So that's a relief.
p.3 #14 · Issue with the Sony Zeiss 55/1.8 FE or A7
Thanks for the reports Michael and Arne.
Very quick update. I received a Metabones adapter and Zeiss 50/1.4 ZF.2 planar today. A lens which I loved when I was still using a DSLR. So far I don't see asymmetry between the left and right side, which should indicate that it's the 55/1.8 which behaves weirdly.
However, I have the impression that this camera exaggerates field curvature.
When I focus at infinity in a deep scene all is sharp, but not the center foreground (the left and right foreground edges/corners are). I've never noticed such strong field curvature from this lens on my Canon cameras in the past.
p.3 #16 · Issue with the Sony Zeiss 55/1.8 FE or A7
carstenw wrote:
Yes, a few people have made this observation. The theory is that it has to do with the cover glass.
Yes, Philippe also mentioned it. I found the thread of Fred now and I can only say that I notice the same.
Hmm. I was willing to accept the sensor flare issue, but all this makes it more difficult. I now have the dilemma to try to return everything and wait for a newer generation A7 (if they improve these things) OR accept these flaws and try to make the best of it.
I can be pretty sure that I want to get rid of it, until I start looking at my photos with the 55/1.8 FE. The images without issues (or just when not pixelpeeping in general) look so good. Microcontrast, color, clarity,... all very nice. There's a "presence" in almost every photo. Pff.
p.3 #17 · Issue with the Sony Zeiss 55/1.8 FE or A7
I must be a lucky one to have gotten a faultless lens. The impression I have from reading the comments on this thread is that Sony might have a problem somewhere in the assembly line, that tends to produce a certain decentering, perhaps in one particular element, and in one direction. Maybe a faulty machine or a faulty operator
p.3 #18 · Issue with the Sony Zeiss 55/1.8 FE or A7
I decided to go for a full refund and think it all over again. Maybe try another one soon... or wait for the next generation... or nothing. Even though I love my RX1 I'm not happy with Sony. They have real quality control issues and the A7 sensor assembly isn't OK (flaring + exaggerating of field curvature).
p.3 #19 · Issue with the Sony Zeiss 55/1.8 FE or A7
Jochenb wrote:
I decided to go for a full refund and think it all over again. Maybe try another one soon... or wait for the next generation... or nothing. Even though I love my RX1 I'm not happy with Sony. They have real quality control issues and the A7 sensor assembly isn't OK (flaring + exaggerating of field curvature).
I fully understand your decision. Eventhough I was very lucky to get faultless FE 35 and 55, there is no doubt there are problems for me. The FE 35 is too slow, the sensor issues with flare and FC (that makes it useless for my RF lenses), and the whole menu and ergonomics in general didn't make much sense to me.
That is why I sold my A7 and lenses and went back to Leica.
Like you, I will be willing to give Sony another chance when I feel that the product is a mature one.
p.3 #20 · Issue with the Sony Zeiss 55/1.8 FE or A7
Jochen, this lens looks to have strong field curvature at distance like the zf 25/2.8.
If I remember right from when I had Diglloyd subscription, he showed how the FC changed depending on subject/focus point distance from camera and aperture.
On top of that there seems to be decentering or mount problem causing difference in sides like you see. Maybe the strong FC of this lens amplifies the decentering or mount problem where the two sides are different. How does a different lens perform on this camera at these distances?
Any difference in sides?
Thus, I took quite a few shots at all distance try to qualify the behavior. I will upload for you later to let you play with them.