Home · Register · Join Upload & Sell

Moderated by: Fred Miranda

New fredmiranda.com Mobile Site

New Feature: SMS Notification alert

New Feature: Buy & Sell Watchlist

FM Forums | Leica & Alternative Gear | Join Upload & Sell

3 4 5 end

Archive 2015 · Loxia 50mm

Jorge Torralba
Offline
• • • •
Upload & Sell: On

p.2 #1 · p.2 #1 · Loxia 50mm

Loxia rocks. But the 55 is a stand out lens.

55mm 1.8 on A7M2

http://www.sonyalphaimages.com/gallery/4/med_U4I1432944671.SEQ.0.jpg

Oct 26, 2015 at 11:44 AM

Phillip Reeve
Offline
• • • •
Upload & Sell: Off

p.2 #2 · p.2 #2 · Loxia 50mm

I prefer the optics of the FE55 but I like the handlling of the Loxia a lot better. For my use a classic 50mm lens for a fraction of the price is good enough but if I felt I needed one normal lens with modern coatings I would chose the Loxia over the FE.

Here is my Sony FE 1.8/55 review and here my Zeiss Loxia 2/50 Review

Oct 26, 2015 at 12:27 PM

Fred Miranda
Offline
Admin
Upload & Sell: On

p.2 #3 · p.2 #3 · Loxia 50mm

Here is a DXOMark comparison (FE vs Loxia)

http://www.dxomark.com/Lenses/Compare/Side-by-side/Zeiss-Carl-Zeiss-Loxia-50mm-F2-Sony-FE-on-Sony-A7R-versus-Sony-FE-Carl-Zeiss-Sonnar-T-STAR-55mm-F18-on-Sony-A7R__1400_917_1252_917

Oct 29, 2015 at 12:42 PM

GMPhotography
Offline
• • • • • • •
Upload & Sell: On

p.2 #4 · p.2 #4 · Loxia 50mm

Have a hard time arguing this one. Had them both and I would say the 55 is sharper. But of course DXO never gets into character of the lens. To me the Loxia 50 just has a smoother look. Both great lenses and no surprise to me this test.

Oct 29, 2015 at 12:46 PM

inglis
Offline
• •
Upload & Sell: Off

p.2 #5 · p.2 #5 · Loxia 50mm

Nice to see. Thanks much.
wonder how many have both.

Oct 29, 2015 at 12:50 PM

Steve Spencer
Offline
• • • • • •
Upload & Sell: On

p.2 #6 · p.2 #6 · Loxia 50mm

GMPhotography wrote:
Have a hard time arguing this one. Had them both and I would say the 55 is sharper. But of course DXO never gets into character of the lens. To me the Loxia 50 just has a smoother look. Both great lenses and no surprise to me this test.

The tests are deeply flawed, but no surprises here. The FE 55 looks a little (not much) sharper in the corners, and the Loxia has a bit (very small amount) less CA also in the corners. Test one copy of the lens only close up under even lighting and using a test chart isn't really even close to adequate, however.

Oct 29, 2015 at 12:51 PM

GMPhotography
Offline
• • • • • • •
Upload & Sell: On

p.2 #7 · p.2 #7 · Loxia 50mm

Well Im not going by DXO to be honest but my own experience with both these lenses. I would say DXO matches my testing instead of the other way around.

Both these lenses are gems , I had a very hard this time around chosing between them last week but I went AF this go round.

Just to be clear . I pretty much despise DXO testing, especially with cameras. Honestly I don't like any of these tests but to go out and do them for real in the wild.

Oct 29, 2015 at 01:02 PM

stedge
Offline
• • •
Upload & Sell: Off

p.2 #8 · p.2 #8 · Loxia 50mm

I have both and to me, the Loxia is more satisfying to use. I can't tell you which is a better lens, though, as they are both excellent.

Oct 29, 2015 at 01:41 PM

GMPhotography
Offline
• • • • • • •
Upload & Sell: On

p.2 #9 · p.2 #9 · Loxia 50mm

stedge wrote:
I have both and to me, the Loxia is more satisfying to use. I can't tell you which is a better lens, though, as they are both excellent.

Have to agree , I love the focusing action and build of the Loxia. Outside the 55mm abilities it does not turn me on actually using it. Its a feel thing

Oct 29, 2015 at 01:52 PM

waterden
Offline
• • •
Upload & Sell: Off

p.2 #10 · p.2 #10 · Loxia 50mm

I have both. Here is a cross post from another thread

I have both the Loxia 50 and Sony FE 55. Both are fantastic. I prefer the Loxia for controlled outdoor photos because you can nail focus exactly where you wish it to be and run no risk of the camera's AF deciding to focus on something else. This happened to me last week with the Sony FE 55 - the model was throwing leaves in the air and the camera focused on one of those rather than her face on several occasions. There was no time to change focus because the shot's composition depended on split second timing. This would not have been a problem with the Loxia. Conversely, I have found that AF works better in a studio, where light levels are low and you are using a small aperture (f/8) - in this situation MF is less reliable. So in my experience it's "horses for courses" - both are fabulous lenses but shine in different circumstances. I will say, though, that I prefer using the Loxia as it feels great in the hand, is a dream to focus and also has an aperture ring! Hooray!

Oct 29, 2015 at 03:10 PM

joshinthecity
Offline
•
Upload & Sell: Off

p.2 #11 · p.2 #11 · Loxia 50mm

xwing15 wrote:
Are all well in FE Tread. is a great lens! when you come clear with MF. Buy!
Oh.. I lave a LOT of MF glass.. Just no Loxias. (yet ;-)

Nov 17, 2015 at 06:53 AM

stonejoint
Offline
•
Upload & Sell: Off

p.2 #12 · p.2 #12 · Loxia 50mm

My problem with this lens is aperture ring is so close to body. Well I don't change aperture much but this is being a problem for me when you can't use ergonomically such a great lens. Other than that, this lens is fantastic. I have only one lens and this is loxia 50mm. But if I find something manual with this quality and proper aperture ring position. I may start thinking selling my Loxia.

Nov 17, 2015 at 06:58 PM

DougVaughn
Offline
• • • •
Upload & Sell: On

p.2 #13 · p.2 #13 · Loxia 50mm

The location of the aperture ring doesn't bother me, but when changing lenses, there's almost no fixed area to grab, and the lens is pretty snug. I find the focus ring and aperture ring twisting while I try to remove or attach the lens. Gotta get your fingers on that little 1/4 strip of metal that doesn't twist.

Nov 17, 2015 at 09:46 PM

Viramati
Offline
• • •
Upload & Sell: Off

p.2 #14 · p.2 #14 · Loxia 50mm

I have just bought mine and got a good deal on a used one. After 2 years of use I have noticed my FE55 is ever so slightly decentered (picked this up on getting the high resolution A7rII) and anyway I wanted a manual focus lens for street and landscape work and I have to say my initial reaction is WOW. As good as the excellent FE55 is the Loxia seems to have a certain delicacy and transition to OOF areas the the Zony doesn't have and focus action is superb. I look forward to bonding with this lens and keeping the FE 55 for people and more action orientated documentary work

Nov 20, 2015 at 12:55 PM

GMPhotography
Offline
• • • • • • •
Upload & Sell: On

p.2 #15 · p.2 #15 · Loxia 50mm

certain delicacy and transition to OOF areas

You said a mouthful. Great description

Nov 20, 2015 at 12:58 PM

Fred Miranda
Offline
Admin
Upload & Sell: On

p.2 #16 · p.2 #16 · Loxia 50mm

Viramati wrote:
I have just bought mine and got a good deal on a used one. After 2 years of use I have noticed my FE55 is ever so slightly decentered (picked this up on getting the high resolution A7rII) and anyway I wanted a manual focus lens for street and landscape work and I have to say my initial reaction is WOW. As good as the excellent FE55 is the Loxia seems to have a certain delicacy and transition to OOF areas the the Zony doesn't have and focus action is superb. I look forward to bonding with this lens and...Show more →

I have tested the Loxia 50/2 against the Sonnar 55/1.8 and currently own both.
I agree that both are very close regarding bokeh performance but here are a couple points:

* The Sonnar 55/1.8 @f/2 isolates the focused area better at any distance: The focused area is very sharp and the background is rendered smooth in close and mid distances. The transition is "fast" between the areas creating a 3D pop.

* The Loxia 50 @f/2 has cleaner bokeh balls because of its planar design and lack of aspherical elements but the ball edges have a moderate bright line causing harsher background rendering at mid distances. On the other hand the Sonnar 55 bokeh balls shows onion rings in certain conditions.

For bokeh and performance wide-open, I much prefer the look of the Sonnar 55/1.8.

For landscape photography, I will always pick up the Loxia 50/2 for its great manual focus feel and weather seal. It's excellent from f/5.6 and up with great sharpness uniformity. Stopping down to f/8 makes the extreme corners excellent. I really like the rendering, colors and contrast. It beats the Sonnar 55/1.8 for its beautiful 10-point sunstar (similar to heliar 15/4.5), good flare control, low vignetting and great color aberration control.

Nov 20, 2015 at 04:12 PM

Viramati
Offline
• • •
Upload & Sell: Off

p.2 #17 · p.2 #17 · Loxia 50mm

Fred I'm sure you are right as you have done a lot of testing and I have only had the lens for a short time. As it is I have bought it mostly for landscape and Urban work and the FE55 will be used more for people and documentary work so that would fit pretty well with your findings

Nov 20, 2015 at 06:34 PM

Frederico
Offline
•
Upload & Sell: Off

p.2 #18 · p.2 #18 · Loxia 50mm

Any one can also compare Loxia 50 with Summicron 50/2 (current version)?

Nov 20, 2015 at 07:27 PM

charles.K
Offline
• • • • • •
Upload & Sell: Off

p.2 #19 · p.2 #19 · Loxia 50mm

Frederico wrote:
Any one can also compare Loxia 50 with Summicron 50/2 (current version)?

There are test results by Lloyd and others demonstrating that there is an improvement with the 50 Cron Asph and 50 Cron AA with the Kolari mod. This would suggest if you are looking for peak performance either opt for a M body or Kolari mod. I have the 50 Cron IV (Mandler) and this lens truly shines on the A7s and A7rII. Maybe due to its different optical design this lens is a surprise package.

The Loxia 50 is an amazing lens, and for landscapes is probably one of the best choices. For portraits, the FE 55/1.8 is superb wide open for near to mid distances. The FE 55/1.8 is really beautiful matched for the A7s IMO.

Shots previously posted with the A7s/A7r and FE 55/1.8, and last with the A7II and Loxia 50

Nov 20, 2015 at 08:49 PM

Fred Miranda
Offline
Admin
Upload & Sell: On

p.2 #20 · p.2 #20 · Loxia 50mm

Viramati wrote:
Fred I'm sure you are right as you have done a lot of testing and I have only had the lens for a short time. As it is I have bought it mostly for landscape and Urban work and the FE55 will be used more for people and documentary work so that would fit pretty well with your findings

Both Loxia 35/2 and 50/2 are excellent across the frame from f/5.6 and have beautiful color and rendering. Together with the new Loxia 21/2.8 we have 3 compact lenses capable of capturing beautiful and detailed landscape images.

I only tested the Loxia 35/2 for a couple days but was impressed by its distortion level. It's zero or very close to it.
Vignetting is a world better when comparing to the Sonnar 35/2.8 and it's optically superior at smaller apertures. This time, I believe the Loxia 35/2 has an edge when it comes to bokeh when comparing to the Sonnar.

Both Loxia 35 and 50 are sharp in the center at wider apertures but sharpness is only evenly distributed across the frame at smaller apertures starting at f/5.6. This is due to field curvature which is more pronounced at close distances. The effect is less intense when focusing at long distances.

Nov 21, 2015 at 12:07 AM

1 2 3 4 5 end
FM Forums \| Leica & Alternative Gear \| Join Upload & Sell 1 2 3 4 5 end

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.