It's here! Going to go out in a bit and take some photos, took some quick snaps, it's strange having autofocus again. The A7II is much quicker than my old Rebel XT.
Is it safe to buy a used copy of this lens now? If I get a used lens which has serial # in the recall range, would Sony service it? Anyone knows? Thanks
Took it out for a test run today, really pleased. Made my little sister model for me, the benefits of being on break : )
Impressions:
Incredibly sharp from wide open and just destroys backgrounds in a really flattering way, super sharp at f/8 across the field, contrast is great and I love the three-dimensional rendering.
umsl12 wrote:
Is it safe to buy a used copy of this lens now? If I get a used lens which has serial # in the recall range, would Sony service it? Anyone knows? Thanks
FWIW I directly asked if it was in the affected range and they said yes, and that they would be willing to find the original receipt if Sony asked for it (purchased from lens rentals). That doesn't directly answer the question, but since it was from lens rentals they also said they hadn't received any complaints over the life of the lens. As long as it's a US model I don't see why they would refuse to service it, it was purchased, and that would damage their reputation.
austinschutz wrote:
FWIW I directly asked if it was in the affected range and they said yes, and that they would be willing to find the original receipt if Sony asked for it (purchased from lens rentals). That doesn't directly answer the question, but since it was from lens rentals they also said they hadn't received any complaints over the life of the lens. As long as it's a US model I don't see why they would refuse to service it, it was purchased, and that would damage their reputation.
I just found out from Fred in another 50mm ZA sub thread that the OOF rendering in high shutter speeds issue is still not resolved with A9 and A7R3 bodies in mechanical shutter mode. Has anyone here relayed this concern to Sony? I guess electronic shutter is a solution for A9 or it's probably not a good idea to stay in e-shutter mode on A7R3 due to the lower scan speed?
I think some here even suggested before there could be an "Auto EFCS mode" that turns itself off at high shutter speeds.
If enough people communicate this need to Sony, perhaps they will start considering incorporating this feature in future firmwares?
Funny, until not so long back no one gave a fig about OOF, so it's not surprising how recent this discussion is, the effect of EFCS on bokeh. Fred had a particularly convincing example from memory - as in you might encounter it yourself. It might be one case where a setup doesn't tell the whole story. Jim K may comment if around. He did some testing here:
"When you shoot at high shutter speeds with a large diameter lens attached, the ghosting of a blurred area may occur, depending on the subject or shooting conditions. In such cases, set this function to [Off].
When a lens made by another manufacturer (including a Minolta/Konica-Minolta lens) is used, set this function to [Off]. If you set this function to [On], the correct exposure will not be set or the image brightness will be uneven."
philip_pj wrote:
Funny, until not so long back no one gave a fig about OOF.
Thanks @philip_pj@ for the links. Very informative.
I mainly notice the effects only when shooting with 1.4 lenses and shutter speeds faster than 1/2000s. Although It's not difficult physically to turn off EFCS, from time to time I do forget to switch back and forth.
If there's a selectable shutter speed at which users could set the threshold, that'd be ideal especially in dynamic environments where lighting changes fast.
Has anybody here more informations or a link concerning the effective focal length? Many users report it is actually only around 47-48mm. Also compared to my 50mm 1.8 Nikkor I can see the difference clearly.
Just recognized that the Planar is my most used glass and the 85mm GM I use just too seldom. Mainly because the 50mm is more universal and it just matches great with the 16-35GM. I often have not enough space to work with the 85mm... Contrast, Colors, Rendering, 3D Pop is also just stunning with the Zeiss. So I am planning to sell the 85mm GM therefore and go ahead fully with the Planar for portrait in future. Of course a 85mm delivers a different look and the subject gets compressed in a different way but I think it can be also done on a beautiful way with the 50mm... Anyway, did someone here also switch completely to the Planar for portrait work and is happy?
Mirror wrote:
Just recognized that the Planar is my most used glass and the 85mm GM I use just too seldom. Mainly because the 50mm is more universal and it just matches great with the 16-35GM. I often have not enough space to work with the 85mm... Contrast, Colors, Rendering, 3D Pop is also just stunning with the Zeiss. So I am planning to sell the 85mm GM therefore and go ahead fully with the Planar for portrait in future. Of course a 85mm delivers a different look and the subject gets compressed in a different way but I think it can be also done on a beautiful way with the 50mm... Anyway, did someone here also switch completely to the Planar for portrait work and is happy? ...Show more →
Cannot speak to the use of the 50/1.4 particularly, but if 50 fits your style, then I don't see why you should keep the 85. For me, I like 85 or 135 for portrait as I want to be 5 or 6 or more feet away from my subject most of the time. If I am trying to get a head shot, to frame tightly with a 50 would require getting too close and positional distortion would set in (big nose, small ears for example) but obviously one could stand back and crop to avoid this if one does not need the resolution.
chiron wrote:
Mine is on the way to Sony/Precision Camera in Connecticut. Sent Sony an email asking for instructions about the recall. They gave me a number to call. Guy at the number (eventually, through the automated voice answering maze) knew what it was all about. He wanted the formal model designation of my lens, checked my serial number, asked me what I saw in terms of a problem, wanted to know exactly when it was purchased, sent me an email to print out and enclose with the lens, told me to enclose a copy of the purchase receipt, to send only the lens and caps, to pad it well, and that the turn-around time would be 7-10 business days. He described where it was going as the "Sony Electronics Repair Center," not as Precision Camera. Who knows.
This was a sharp copy. I hope it comes back that way. Another poster said his/hers was delayed waiting for a part--an "optical block." I think the "optical block" may actually be the part of the lens that contains the actual optical glass, all assembled as a single unit. If that is correct, one winds up with a new and different lens than what you sent in.
Just to wind up my account (see quoted message above) of sending in my lens for repair:
I received the lens back just about twelve days after I sent it to Sony. I thought this was pretty good, since the period included both the Christmas and New Year's weekends. The return address on the box was Precision Camera, not Sony.
The lens was well-enough packaged, though not as well packaged as I had sent it to them. It was wrapped tightly in small-bubbles wrap that was secured with two rubber bands, and then placed in a cradle of larger bubbles-wrap. It could move and roll a a bit n this cradle, but it could not contact anything except bubble wrap. So, it could move, but it would always be bubble-wrap contacting bubble-wrap.
The repair ticket that came back with the camera indicated the following:
"Explanation of Repairs"
"Lens Operation"
"A Complete Repair and Return All Functions to Factory Specs"
"Complete Cleaning (Internal-External) and Optical System"
"Description of Parts Used"
"Lens Assembly"
The lens looks brand shiny new and the glass appears brand new, with a flawless sheen that new glass has. My assumption from what they wrote and what I can see is that they replaced at least some and possibly all of the glass in the lens using a pre-assembled lens assembly.
The lens as repaired appears to be quite sharp and centered, as was the lens I sent them. The repair appears to be very satisfactory.
There was no charge to me, but I did have to pay for shipping the lens to Sony, which of course they should have covered since this is a recall and not a warranty repair of a damaged or failed lens. Other than this minor point, the repair and the repair process were satisfactory to me.
Just got my 50/1.4 back from Precision (after a 3 month long debacle - they are the world's worst customer service company bar none!!!!) - fortunately, the lens is better than ever (i didn't have any problems but sent it in anyhow).
I routinely sell most/all of my Sony gear towards the end of Fall to buy new the following Spring - but now that the lens lineup is more established, I kept the 50/1.4 as my only lens - but, while it was away, i had been considering selling it - a few test shots made me remember why I'll be keeping it for another season:
charles.K wrote:
Eric love the rendering with the 50/1.4 particularly #1 and #3
This is a must have lens if you into 50mm FL
My previously favorite lens, the Zony 35/1.4, could do the first easily, but could never do the 3rd, which is why I love this lens so much.
