Fred Miranda wrote:
Another point is that with a push of a button, we have a 135/2 in crop mode.
For portraits, I would not mind having 18MP files at 1.5x.
I do it all the time . Really don't need more than 18mpx. I have been doing it with the Batis 85 with nice results so this should be great. I'm getting a A6300 this weekend so that's 24mpx if I want .
Fred Miranda wrote:
I already can tell from ecarlino's images, which one is which. They have a very distinctive draw but the give away is the bokeh balls.
My initial take-away is that i wish i would have shot the Batis at f/1.8 and the Sony at 1.7. They both can handle that.
I'd also say that 50% of the time (based on what is in the scene, etc) at f/2 they are similar (I suspect they continue converge the more they are stopped down) and that 50% of the time you can tell them apart - but then it's firstly a matter of artistic preference and secondly a matter of cost/benefit (price and mass), if your preference was for the SonyGM.
Thanks for the samples Eric.
Personally I think both are great lenses but the 85/1.4GM has "it". Is it worth the extra money and weight? For portraits, I would say yes. Rendering, and bokeh shape really matters for this application. I'm also not a fan of swirl bokeh and that's how the Batis draws. (the bokeh distortion creates this effect)
The GM has that Minolta G/Canon L look. It's very detailed with 'just-right' micro-contrast and natural colors. Tonal and blur transitions are smoother as well. In my view, it's perfect for portraits just like the Canon 85/1.2L (EF or FD)
However, for landscapes, the Batis may be a better choice. (higher micro-contrast, bolder colors, lighter, etc..)
I was thinking how crazy the sunburst would be from the 85GM. 22 points?
Like you wrote, we have so many choices for the E-mount now.
I'm a big fan of the Loxia and G/GM lines.
Fred
Roger Circala from lens rentals posted the following over at DPR:
"I've tested about 50 copies. They all make some noise, which is what we expect with a piezo motor. I did have 3 that were noticeably louder than the others in a quiet room, but the functioned perfectly well, AF speed and accuracy were the same as all the other copies, so I considered it acceptable.
The character of the noise is much like the old Canon 50mm f/1.4 with micro USM gear driven motor. Noticeable in a quiet room probably not over any kind of background noise to speak of.
I think this is just the way that this lens is, guys. I haven't seen a silent one and I've been through a lot of them as we stocked up new copies. That's a fairly large motor in there and it's not the silent EM motors a lot of FE lenses have."
DavidBM wrote:
Roger Circala from lens rentals posted the following over at DPR:
"I've tested about 50 copies. They all make some noise, which is what we expect with a piezo motor. I did have 3 that were noticeably louder than the others in a quiet room, but the functioned perfectly well, AF speed and accuracy were the same as all the other copies, so I considered it acceptable.
The character of the noise is much like the old Canon 50mm f/1.4 with micro USM gear driven motor. Noticeable in a quiet room probably not over any kind of background noise to speak of.
I think this is just the way that this lens is, guys. I haven't seen a silent one and I've been through a lot of them as we stocked up new copies. That's a fairly large motor in there and it's not the silent EM motors a lot of FE lenses have."...Show more →
That was my impression when I first tested the 85GM. The motor is what's making the noise and it must be powerful enough to move heavier elements inside this lens.
I don't hear the scratchy sound some users are reporting. It's more like a smooth moving sound. I'm not saying some lenses don't have issues but I don't believe it's as widespread as we may think.
The bottom line is that the lens is not quiet and AF is not as fast as in other slower telephoto lenses. (FE 90/2.8, Batis 85/1.8, etc.)
It seems to be much faster than the AF on the EF 85/1.2L II which is also focus-by-wire but 1/3 stop brighter.
Really wish it was just my imagination but I feel it, hear it and see the lose metal shavings around the gearing. I'm going for a return unless it stops which it's not doing yet. I'm the last person to actually complain about something like this in public.
we can't really compare the AF speed with the 85L since it is not native mount. In addition, 85L is f/1.2, more glasses and heavier.
As long as it is just the motor noise then it is acceptable. But when we see the scratch mark inside later then it is a problem.
I meant the focusing speed from the 85/1.2L II on the 1DX. I used this combo a lot.
However, I do agree, that the f/1.2 elements are even harder to move back and forwards.
I just tested the 85/1.4GM against my 70-200/4G @85mm. I am preparing the crops right now.
Overcast sky but we will be able to see how they perform starting at f/4.
Fred Miranda wrote:
That was my impression when I first tested the 85GM. The motor is what's making the noise and it must be powerful enough to move heavier elements inside this lens.
I don't hear the scratchy sound some users are reporting. It's more like a smooth moving sound. I'm not saying some lenses don't have issues but I don't believe it's as widespread as we may think.
The bottom line is that the lens is not quiet and AF is not as fast as in other slower telephoto lenses. (FE 90/2.8, Batis 85/1.8, etc.)
It seems to be much faster than the AF on the EF 85/1.2L II which is also focus-by-wire but 1/3 stop brighter....Show more →
Have you tested the eye focus with this lens? I find the Batis has a hard time getting focus sometimes
