p.6 #6 · Zeiss Loxia 50mm f:2.0 Vs Sony-Zeiss FE 55 f:1.8
Hello Stedge,
I read your enthusiastic comment regarding the Loxia 50.
I am going to replace my RX1 with the A7Rii.
The main reason due to age my hands are becoming unstable and I need the balancing system on the Sony to compensate uncontrolled movements.
I am considering the Loxia 50 but I have no experience with MF at all.
Is it a disadvantage not having AF and is it complicated to grow accustomed to MF?
Would the Sony 55 mm f1.8 be a beter choice in my circumstances? I would 'also purchase the Sony 28 mm f2.0
Thank you very much for your thoughts and advises!
Harry
p.6 #7 · Zeiss Loxia 50mm f:2.0 Vs Sony-Zeiss FE 55 f:1.8
Harry
First off take all i say w a grain of salt. Andtyping on phone so likely errors.
I thought this lens was very easy to focus and easier than the 55/1.8 if focusing manual w both. That said there are probably instances where AF would be helpful. But i do not know yet how fast the AF system on my a7ii is in the real world as compared to my other bodies, esp in poor light.
So i have both. No Head to head yet, but i suspect i will keep both and not just one.
Which do i like more? The Loxia. It feels better, i like the markings for street work/zone, etc. Which will i use more? Time will tell.
As for focusing, it is easier with the Loxia/a7ii than with nikon ai/s lenses on any of my other bodies (D3, D810).
p.6 #8 · Zeiss Loxia 50mm f:2.0 Vs Sony-Zeiss FE 55 f:1.8
Harry. The essential difference between AF and MF is that focus is controlled by the camera with the former and by you with the latter. Sounds obvious. But the camera may focus on something other than what you want and this may not be apparent in the viewfinder because you only see an unmagnified view when using AF. With MF you are in control. MF lenses are usually smaller than their AF peers because there is no focusing motor. So which you choose really depends on the acuity of your eyes but the magnification available on the A7RII is a fantastic aid and the first stage (5x) is engaged automatically by turning the focusing ring on the Loxia. You can programme one of the custom keys to bring in the second (12.5x) stage. Just remember not to touch the shutter button during this process as the view then reverts immediately to normal. Of course, with MF once you are focused you stay focused; this is often not the case with AF.
I have both these lenses. They are both fabulous. I prefer MF but the one distinct advantage offered by the 55/1.8 is the ability to use Eye-AF, which might be preferable for portraits. As with all lens decisions it might be better to decide what you want to use it for before making your choice.
p.6 #10 · Zeiss Loxia 50mm f:2.0 Vs Sony-Zeiss FE 55 f:1.8
As I said, no head to head yet. Though I am a scientist of sorts, I am not approaching this scientifically, and really don't want to spoil the fun. My initial impression is that I like the Loxia more. I like the feel of it, and I like the images I have taken with it so far. Really, to me it is more subject, mood, color or contrast, timing, emotion (or that it brings back a memory) than focus accuracy. Some of my favorite pictures are actually out of focus.
I think it really boils down to AF/MF vs MF, only. If you are not comfy with MF, only, then you go 55. If you are comfortable with MF and usually do that, then the Loxia is, in my opinion, set up better for MF than is the 55. But you can MF both, and that is what makes the 55 more flexible.
p.6 #11 · Zeiss Loxia 50mm f:2.0 Vs Sony-Zeiss FE 55 f:1.8
Thank you all for your responses to my question whether using a MF lens on the Sony A7RII, with unstable hands, and esp. the Noxia 35 mm, is possible without problems.
I feel that it will be best to test the use of the Loxia extensively before deciding to purchase it.
I am also considering the purchase of the Zeiss Batis 25 mm in case I can not use the Loxia.
But it is going to take very long before this lens will be available.
Harry
p.6 #12 · Zeiss Loxia 50mm f:2.0 Vs Sony-Zeiss FE 55 f:1.8
Coming week I will pick up my Sony A7RII at my dealer, and I am then expected, without any knowledge and experience with this camera, to test the Zeiss Loxia 35 mm to see whether my not so stable hands do make using this MF lens possible?
I would like to make sure that before testing I can apply all settings that are useful for testing in the best way MF the Loxia.
I would therefore highly appreciate if you could let me have just those settings that are crucial in MF the Loxia.
p.6 #13 · Zeiss Loxia 50mm f:2.0 Vs Sony-Zeiss FE 55 f:1.8
I am pretty useless here. I just stuck it on my a7ii and fired away. Fyi i posted another loxia image on the FE lenses thread, perhPs erroneaously. Page 1136 i think.
p.6 #14 · Zeiss Loxia 50mm f:2.0 Vs Sony-Zeiss FE 55 f:1.8
I'm in a bit of quandary with the Loxia 35mm f2. I bought it late last week to go with my newly acquired A7ii as I was attracted to the combination of IQ, build quality and perhaps the simplicity of manual focus.
However I'm seriously struggling to get any shots that seem acceptable bearing in mind the almost £1000 cost of the lens, its probably because of my manual focusing skills but I'm wondering is it something that gets easier with practice? I want to love the Loxia (and add a 50) but given the pricetag I'm half wondering if I should return it and buy the (much larger) Sony 35mm f1.4 instead.
p.6 #15 · Zeiss Loxia 50mm f:2.0 Vs Sony-Zeiss FE 55 f:1.8
Chris, if you are using the lens correctly, as soon as you turn th focusing ring, your A7 should get into magnifier mode. That should let you get proper focus every time, unless you ned more time getting used to it, or you are shooting moving targets. If you want advice, specifiy how your shots are less than acceptable.
p.6 #16 · Zeiss Loxia 50mm f:2.0 Vs Sony-Zeiss FE 55 f:1.8
philber wrote:
Chris, if you are using the lens correctly, as soon as you turn th focusing ring, your A7 should get into magnifier mode. That should let you get proper focus every time, unless you ned more time getting used to it, or you are shooting moving targets. If you want advice, specifiy how your shots are less than acceptable.
Thanks for the reply, I get that but the magnifier and peaking are very useful, but I suspect its me thats causing shots which are less than sharp, is the peaking reliable?
p.6 #17 · Zeiss Loxia 50mm f:2.0 Vs Sony-Zeiss FE 55 f:1.8
Peaking, to me, is only an indication. Not enough to guarantee a sharp shot at wider apertures IMHO. Others, however, claim otherwise and and content to use peaking as their means of focusing.
Just a question. Did you previsouly use a FF DSLR that you were used to?
p.6 #18 · Zeiss Loxia 50mm f:2.0 Vs Sony-Zeiss FE 55 f:1.8
philber wrote:
Peaking, to me, is only an indication. Not enough to guarantee a sharp shot at wider apertures IMHO. Others, however, claim otherwise and and content to use peaking as their means of focusing.
Just a question. Did you previsouly use a FF DSLR that you were used to?
Yes I've came over from a Nikon D750, I won't go all "MF" with lenses but the size and quality of the Loxia seems excellent v the much larger f1.4 lens, I've probably been relying on peaking too much then thinking that its super accurate!
p.6 #20 · Zeiss Loxia 50mm f:2.0 Vs Sony-Zeiss FE 55 f:1.8
philber wrote:
Peaking, to me, is only an indication. Not enough to guarantee a sharp shot at wider apertures IMHO. Others, however, claim otherwise and and content to use peaking as their means of focusing.
Just a question. Did you previsouly use a FF DSLR that you were used to?
Peaking with magnification is fantastically helpful.
Without magnification it *can* be super accurate, but you need to learn how to use it. You can't just blindly set it to where there is the most peaking, though that sometimes works. Rather you need to get a feel for what those markings mean, and focus back and forwards and watch how the plane of focus changes, and learn what the 'false' indicators are likely to be. With practice, it becomes more accurate than slip image rangefinders or anything like that.
