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Archive 2017 · What kit would you pick (weddings & portraits)

MrTMan
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p.2 #1 · p.2 #1 · What kit would you pick (weddings & portraits)

ytwong wrote:
I think imperfect FE 35/1.4 just affect (night) landscape or test chart shooters so I wouldn't worry about that for portraits use.

But I do want to shoot night landscape (among other things) with 35mm so I do worry about getting a slightly misaligned copy

If the misalignment is more than slightly then I think Sony would fix it anyway.

I disagree with that. I had an imperfect copy of the 35/1.4 for quite a while, and recently had the good fortune to buy a perfect copy from Fred.

It's certainly true that the difference between a good copy and a bad copy is going to be less noticeable for portraits than for landscapes. But even for portraits at f/1.4, with the subject in the center, I can see a clear improvement with my perfect copy. The subject's eyes and eyelashes are noticeably sharper. I should mention that my bad copy was the best out of 3 or 4 that I had tried, so it wasn't completely awful -- and I did take quite a number of nice pictures with it despite its flaws. Again though, the difference in sharpness is quite evident (at least to a trained eye).

I also wouldn't count on Sony to fix a bad copy -- again, based on my personal experience. If your copy is really terrible, then sure, they'll replace it. If your copy is just somewhat bad, rather than astonishingly bad, they'll test it and tell you that it's "in spec". Their testing procedure is to shoot a flat test chart at f/4 with test markings that are 10-15% inwards from the edges and corners. My bad copy clearly had issues at f/1.4 put passed their f/4 test.

All that said, this is truly an amazing lens if you can get a good copy. It's absolutely worth the time and effort to try to get your hands on a good one. But, having tried 3 or 4 bad ones and one good one, I do think the complaints about quality control are very valid and not exaggerated.

Nov 16, 2017 at 11:25 AM

philip_pj
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p.2 #2 · p.2 #2 · What kit would you pick (weddings & portraits)

'a flat test chart at f/4 with test markings that are 10-15% inwards from the edges and corners'

That's appalling. What a bunch of turds. If true, that is hard to swallow, given the cost and intent of such a lens. And I tend to believe large numbers of fellow members over large corps in these instances.

I just read a shout post by a guy who scraped off his LCD ('Sony Pro Service Outstanding!'). Sony replaced it, did extra, acted very nice to him (a pro) and charged him nada. With no disrespect to him, I'd rather they did not blow off innocent non-pro victims of their own product failings, and charge that guy cost for his own-goal damage.

But this may be how they now view the market - pros who are quite literally treated as elites to be pampered, and the great unwashed dummies who buy the vast percentage of their product - often on the basis of reviews of hand-picked copies. Who they then burn with 'go away' BS like this.

When competition arrives, this is the kind of cost shifting people remember when they are umm'ing and arr'ing, on the fence whether to move brands. It has to be a reciprocal deal, both sides acting in good faith. No favorites - we all plonk down our hard-earned so treat all fairly, equally.

Nov 16, 2017 at 05:03 PM

Gunzorro
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p.2 #3 · p.2 #3 · What kit would you pick (weddings & portraits)

I'd go bag 2, but forget the Zeiss ZE 25/2 and go all AF lenses. I've not had any problem with a7R2 using Canon lenses and MC-11 for accurate AF, but I don't use Eye AF or AF-C.

As I said, I'd drop the idea of the 25/2 MF lens. I'd prefer the 50L, or Canon 24L or Sigma 24/1.4 if you are thinking wide prime. Ordinarily, I use zooms, not primes, for any events including weddings. My go-to is the 24-105L IS with flash (or the 28-300L, when I still had it!)on Canon bodies for these affairs.

But give me a flash and I'd be fine with the Sony bodies!

Nov 16, 2017 at 05:46 PM

freaklikeme
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p.2 #4 · p.2 #4 · What kit would you pick (weddings & portraits)

@Gunzorro, I think he was referring to the Batis 25. Still, I think there's room for MF lenses in portraiture and weddings. Weddings are practically scripted affairs. You can have everything mapped out in advance if you attend the rehearsal. Receptions tend to devolve into chaos more readily, but there's a predictable rhythm to most.

Nov 16, 2017 at 11:06 PM

IrishDino
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p.2 #5 · p.2 #5 · What kit would you pick (weddings & portraits)

freaklikeme wrote:
@Gunzorro@, I think he was referring to the Batis 25. Still, I think there's room for MF lenses in portraiture and weddings. Weddings are practically scripted affairs. You can have everything mapped out in advance if you attend the rehearsal. Receptions tend to devolve into chaos more readily, but there's a predictable rhythm to most.

Yes, sorry, I meant the Batis 25/2 (the AF one).

The 3rd bag option would be:

A7R3
25/2
55/1.8
135/1.8 (rumored)

This would be my ideal setup I think

Nov 17, 2017 at 08:18 AM

bwcolor
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p.2 #6 · p.2 #6 · What kit would you pick (weddings & portraits)

As imperfect lenses, the 24-105mm and 70-200mm are pretty tough to beat when you need to shoot quickly and remain flexible.

Nov 17, 2017 at 08:56 AM

Stoffer
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p.2 #7 · p.2 #7 · What kit would you pick (weddings & portraits)

ZachOly wrote:
Yes, sorry, I meant the Batis 25/2 (the AF one).

The 3rd bag option would be:

A7R3
25/2
55/1.8
135/1.8 (rumored)

This would be my ideal setup I think

Hmmm, no fast 35mm? I would wait and see how well your excellent Canon 35mm f/1.4L II works adapted on the new A7RIII. It could work just great and will save you some headache and money.

My Canon 24-70mm f/2.8L II already works great on my A7r2 Mr. Turtle, so don’t give up on that Canon 35mm!

Nov 17, 2017 at 09:51 AM

ayjayy
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p.2 #8 · p.2 #8 · What kit would you pick (weddings & portraits)

I switched from Nikon last summer for the a9.

Originally went with 25 Batis, Zeiss 35 1.4, Sony 85 1.8, 70-200GM
I replaced the 25 and 35 with 28 f2 and saved myself a few thousand $'s. The 28 f2 is great.

I added the 55 1.8 later. Also a fantastic lens.

Nov 17, 2017 at 11:29 AM

nekrosoft13
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p.2 #9 · p.2 #9 · What kit would you pick (weddings & portraits)

bag 1 definently

Sony 35 with eye-af and much better option.

Nov 17, 2017 at 03:33 PM

nekrosoft13
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p.2 #10 · p.2 #10 · What kit would you pick (weddings & portraits)

oh and sell that 5d4, its just a waste of space.

I was thinking about keeping my 5d3 when I bought 7rII, 2 years ago, and I kept it for few months, as a "insurance" policy in case I would like to go back.

6 months later, canons value dropped, I haven't used it a single time in those 6 months and bye bye it went.

Never missed it, then slowly started swapping out all canon lenses for Sony alternatives.

The only Canon lens I have left is 50L and 40 2.8.

50L I might sell at some build, will see... but 40 2.8 will definitely be going away, and will be replaced by Samyang 35 2.8.

Nov 17, 2017 at 03:39 PM

3catsinky
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p.2 #11 · p.2 #11 · What kit would you pick (weddings & portraits)

My opinion:
Sony 16-35 GM
28FE
55FE
Sony 85F1.8
70-200GM

I suggest the 28 if you really want to travel light. I have the 35ZA, and it only comes out during dark receptions, as the 16-35 is just a real sweetheart, despite it's size. Given how good the ISO is on the R3, you won't miss the 1.4. And buy all the others used.

Nov 17, 2017 at 04:59 PM

ken.vs.ryu
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p.2 #12 · p.2 #12 · What kit would you pick (weddings & portraits)

bag 2 and remove the 25 and 85 and get a 24-70GM?

Nov 17, 2017 at 05:04 PM

dvskei
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p.2 #13 · p.2 #13 · What kit would you pick (weddings & portraits)

I would skip the Sony 35/1.4, wait for the Sigma 35 FE coming out early 2018

Nov 17, 2017 at 11:21 PM

philip_pj
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p.2 #14 · p.2 #14 · What kit would you pick (weddings & portraits)

You can smell the psychosphere telling us the 35/50 space in our format is going to get better in a few months. If you can wait, better options will arrive soon. A good thing as the mid zooms are high cost/low quality compromises.

Nov 18, 2017 at 12:13 AM

bowens
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p.2 #15 · p.2 #15 · What kit would you pick (weddings & portraits)

In my bag I have the Sony A9, A7rII, Sony GM 70-200, GM 24-70, Sony 16-35 F4, GM 85 1.4. The only Canon gear I took to a wedding this last weekend was my Fish eye and 100 Macro with Metabones IV. The eye autofocus with the Sony Lens and A9 are amazing. I like primes but feel I gain more than I lose with the flexibility of the Sony Zooms.

Nov 20, 2017 at 11:57 PM

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