FYI, I did a light transmission comparison between the 24-105 and 24-70GM. The 24-105 has 0.17EV higher transmission than the GM @ 50mm.
I do this test by taking a defocused photo of a neutral white target with both lenses, using a small enough aperture to avoid any silent ISO gain (f/4 is sufficient). I then WB-match both images in ACR and load them into PS to compare the brightness by creating a selection rectangle in the center of the image (to avoid vignetting affects) and viewing the resulting luminance values in PS's Histogram tool. I then bump up the brightness of the ACR conversion of the darker image until it matches the other, recording the final EV adjustment necessary.
I can't imagine this lens replacing my Loxia 21, CV 40, CV 65/2 but I was thinking it might be able to replace my Batis 25, FE55, Batis 85 as my walk around AF lens.
Especially given the roundabout comparisons of the 24-105 to the 12-24 which some people felt was comparable to the Batis 25 @ 24
I did use the 24-70 GM as a walk around AF lens and was very happy with the IQ compared to the AF primes but prefer the handling of the camera using lighter lenses and being less conspicuous.
Seems like I might wait until this lens is more vetted by people with much better skills then me to do so
I also have some focus shift problems with this lens on A7R2.
F8 is less sharp than F4 in the center of the frame.
I've tried 2 things:
1) Set the best focus via MF on F4 and take the shot, then chacge the aperture to F8 without refocusing and take the shot
2) take the shot on F, then change the aperture to F8, focus once again and take the shot
It this 2 scenarios effect was always the same - F4 is sharper in the center of the frame than on F8. F8 was sharper at the far corners of the frame.
I've tried taking photos in daylight, lowlight, from close (3-5 m) to infinity. Results are always the same. F4 is sharper than F8 at center of the frame.
offtraildog wrote:
I can't imagine this lens replacing my Loxia 21, CV 40, CV 65/2 but I was thinking it might be able to replace my Batis 25, FE55, Batis 85 as my walk around AF lens.
Especially given the roundabout comparisons of the 24-105 to the 12-24 which some people felt was comparable to the Batis 25 @ 24
I did use the 24-70 GM as a walk around AF lens and was very happy with the IQ compared to the AF primes but prefer the handling of the camera using lighter lenses and being less conspicuous.
Seems like I might wait until this lens is more vetted by people with much better skills then me to do so ...Show more →
I've read some folks complaining about the 24-105G's OOF rendering but I find it to be smooth wide open. I need to test this further though. If you don't mind the lower blur, I think the new zoom could very well replace the AF primes you mentioned.
F8 is less sharp than F4 in the center of the frame.
I've tried 2 things:
1) Set the best focus via MF on F4 and take the shot, then chacge the aperture to F8 without refocusing and take the shot
2) take the shot on F, then change the aperture to F8, focus once again and take the shot
It this 2 scenarios effect was always the same - F4 is sharper in the center of the frame than on F8. F8 was sharper at the far corners of the frame.
I've tried taking photos in daylight, lowlight, from close (3-5 m) to infinity. Results are always the same. F4 is sharper than F8 at center of the frame. ...Show more →
snapsy wrote:
FYI, I did a light transmission comparison between the 24-105 and 24-70GM. The 24-105 has 0.17EV higher transmission than the GM @ 50mm.
I do this test by taking a defocused photo of a neutral white target with both lenses, using a small enough aperture to avoid any silent ISO gain (f/4 is sufficient). I then WB-match both images in ACR and load them into PS to compare the brightness by creating a selection rectangle in the center of the image (to avoid vignetting affects) and viewing the resulting luminance values in PS's Histogram tool. I then bump up the brightness of the ACR conversion of the darker image until it matches the other, recording the final EV adjustment necessary.
I bought one this morning from Allens camera in Pa. I’ll have it Wednesday. I really liked the loaner I had and hoping I get one as good. It did very well shooting my Big Bronco test. Stopping down had no ill effect anywhere in the frame. So this is a little baffling. I will certainly test the one coming
Fred Miranda wrote:
Great technique for testing transmission Adam. Which lens are you going to keep? Both?
If I can get a copy as good as what you and others have then I'll switch to the 24-105 exclusively. I don't really have a need for f/2.8 for my landscape/cityscape shooting and the GM isn't sharp enough at the edges to use it at that aperture anyway. What I like about my bum copy though is that it's very good at 105mm - I'm hoping the replacement is as good at 105mm too.
Perhaps the shift is broader at longer distances. I don't see any shift with my copy at center though, so this is still puzzling to me.
Yes I know it doesn't look so bad as sapsy's samples but it shouldn't look like this. I have another problem with this lens. I have to always catch AF 2-3 times by hitting the shutter button to achive perfect focus (on AF-S mode, 2s timer, camera on tripod). When I hit the shutter button only once (green square) I have alwways front focus with this lens ( I've had the same problem with FE 85 1.8).
I did a test - I refocus the lens, then I tap the shutter button once to achive the focus (green square) and the I take the shot - front focus.
Then I refocus the lens once again, tap the shutter button 2-3 times and then I take the shot - it is perfectly in focus.
I think there are some bugs, and I hope Sony really gets on this, that need to be worked out.
For me, and this is really strange, the focus area can shift to the upper left corner when I haven't touched it. I can take a shot, put the camera down, etc, pick it up or take it from where I have it clipped to my backpack and pow, the focus area is up at the left corner. This is not infrequent.
GMPhotography wrote:
I bought one this morning from Allens camera in Pa. I’ll have it Wednesday. I really liked the loaner I had and hoping I get one as good. It did very well shooting my Big Bronco test. Stopping down had no ill effect anywhere in the frame. So this is a little baffling. I will certainly test the one coming
Allen's is near me and run by Brandon...the owner's son...unfortunately Allen paased prematurely 2 years ago...great guy and really the best family owned pro shop on the east coast. Amazing inventory.
GMPhotography wrote:
I bought one this morning from Allens camera in Pa. I’ll have it Wednesday. I really liked the loaner I had and hoping I get one as good. It did very well shooting my Big Bronco test. Stopping down had no ill effect anywhere in the frame. So this is a little baffling. I will certainly test the one coming
Congrats for the new lens. I bought my copy from Allens also and have been very satisfied with them.
jamato8 wrote:
For me, and this is really strange, the focus area can shift to the upper left corner when I haven't touched it. I can take a shot, put the camera down, etc, pick it up or take it from where I have it clipped to my backpack and pow, the focus area is up at the left corner. This is not infrequent.
You sure you’re not touching the screen with your nose / face?
echelonphoto wrote:
Allen's is near me and run by Brandon...the owner's son...unfortunately Allen paased prematurely 2 years ago...great guy and really the best family owned pro shop on the east coast. Amazing inventory.
I was born in Trenton NJ until my family moved over to Newtown which I lived there a couple years but Allens was like 20 miles away. I like buying from them as the service is far more personal and as a Pro I like have these relationships because folks like this will go out of there way to help you fast. That’s worth my business and a plug from me as well.
So with the better weather , I have had time to go out and shoot more with the 24-105. At times, it has incrediable resolution, then at other times, something funky is going on. Here are two shots I took in Philly yeaterday....500 sec at F6.3 105mm. The first is tack sharp on the front row of people...almost uncanny resolution...point of focus is the young girl in pink. on the second one....notice how the front row is sharop on the right side, yet focus on the left side is considerably farther back...I circled the in focus areas...isn't it strange?
