Seriously thinking about getting the 135mm for some low light stage programs (typically dance events of Indian origin). I currently have 85mm 1.4 GM, I love this lens but it lacks the distance for this type of programs. The criteria I want is somewhere in 130 to 180mm range, low light fast and accurate AF, not too heavy and monstrous. Like to get some suggestions before I spent $1900, that's quite a bit of money!
Is this is my best choice for the latest Sony FE systems?
BTW, I ruled out 70-200 f/2.8, because I've 70-200 f/4 I use it for landscape panos and it is much easier for travel.
shibutg wrote:
Seriously thinking about getting the 135mm for some low light stage programs (typically dance events of Indian origin). I currently have 85mm 1.4 GM, I love this lens but it lacks the distance for this type of programs. The criteria I want is somewhere in 130 to 180mm range, low light fast and accurate AF, not too heavy and monstrous. Like to get some suggestions before I spent $1900, that's quite a bit of money!
Is this is my best choice for the latest Sony FE systems?
BTW, I ruled out 70-200 f/2.8, because I've 70-200 f/4 I use it for landscape panos and it is much easier for travel.
The 135mm should yield slightly more blur compared to the 85/1.4 GM when both are wide open and the 85mm image is cropped to 135mm.
Here is how they compare when moving the 85/1.4 GM closer to the subject to match the 135mm FOV. As you can see the relationship between subject and background changes.
Which do you prefer in terms of rendering? I find them similar under this scenario.
I'm hunting down a copy of this lens. Other than B&H & Adorama, Samy's has two in stock but they are charging tax
Never mind, ordered from Midwest Photo
Thanks,
I ordered mine through Greentoe yesterday. Item not showing on their website as an available item, I emailed Chris/Greentoe and he was able to find one for me through one of his sellers, no tax.
Have any of you 135 GM owner taken any night shots of the sky to test star clarity in the corners? Does this lens have any mechanical vignetting like the 85GM does? I owned the sigma 135mm when I had my Nikon D850, it was a real gem and didn’t vignette much at all when shooting the night sky on a tracking mount. Finding out if the Sony 135mm f/1.8 has a clean image across the frame will be important for me to find out.... if this has been tested, please let me know. Thanks.
Todd wrote:
Have any of you 135 GM owner taken any night shots of the sky to test star clarity in the corners? Does this lens have any mechanical vignetting like the 85GM does? I owned the sigma 135mm when I had my Nikon D850, it was a real gem and didn’t vignette much at all when shooting the night sky on a tracking mount. Finding out if the Sony 135mm f/1.8 has a clean image across the frame will be important for me to find out.... if this has been tested, please let me know. Thanks.
Thanks Fred.... I just found that test shortly after posting my question. I should have searched harder, anyway I appreciate the reply. I’m just trying to decide if I want to go with the Sigma again, or spend the extra money for the Sony. In the long run, the Sony will probably maintain its resale value more than sigma. Since the V2 firmware update has been announced for the sigma lenses, I would like to see a new comparison between the two.
Todd wrote:
Thanks Fred.... I just found that test shortly after posting my question. I should have searched harder, anyway I appreciate the reply. I’m just trying to decide if I want to go with the Sigma again, or spend the extra money for the Sony. In the long run, the Sony will probably maintain its resale value more than sigma. Since the V2 firmware update has been announced for the sigma lenses, I would like to see a new comparison between the two.
Todd
It's a tough choice. I'd say the Sigma 135/1.8 Art and 135/1.8 GM are similar optically but the former is a bit bigger, heavier and AF is not as fast. (but wins on price)
Fred Miranda wrote:
It's a tough choice. I'd say the Sigma 135/1.8 Art and 135/1.8 GM are similar optically but the former is a bit bigger, heavier and AF is not as fast. (but wins on price)
Yeah I agree with you on price. Since I’ll be using it for portraits, AF speed isn’t an issue. I won’t be shooting any action shots with it. Maybe some wildlife up close, but nothing high speed. I’ll just have to make a drive to Austin and test one out at the camera store there when they have one. Then I’ll know. Thanks again Fred...
You both are forgetting the most important part of the comparison.
The 135GM is just a gorgeous lens in real life. I don’t even want the lens for pictures, and it’s so pretty and well built it makes me want to get it anyway.
Happy to see they tested with the 42MP A7rIII too. They've tested some other FE lenses with A7 III 24MPs which of course causes some confusion with lower results ( nobody reads the details..right 😉 )
Overall I am satisfied with the switch from the Sigma to the Sony, other than the AF hunting issue I had, it's been working really well for me. Honestly, I cannot tell a difference in weight, or size, it's that close.
Here are a few shots taken outdoors and in the studio, the 4th picture was one of the ones where the AF struggled and hunted a lot, so much so I ended up switching to MF, which I must say is a joy to use on this lens.
Hi folks. My first post here. Reading lots of time before now. I have recently bought a Sony FE 135 f1,8 GM for my new A7 3. The IQ is great so far. I had to sold my Canon 70-200 f2,8 to buy the 135 mm and no regrets. But the problem I have with the Sony lens is that it doesn't accept threaded filters with the hood in place. I mean, or I place the filter or I place the lens hood, but not both of them at the same time. I was very sad since all my Canon lenses accept filters and hoods at the same time.
I use ND filters for flash photography in exterior location with f1,8 apertures. This is a must for me since I didn't use HSS in exterior. But on the other side the 135 f1,8 needs a lens hood to prevent undesired flares, wihich it is prone to.
Any of you have experienced this issue? Any solution?
By the way, I would like to place some photographs taken with my Sony 135 GM, but I can't find how to upload inside the mobile site version. If any of you is interested, however, you can check them at my site: www.juanbalsa.com. The Sony 135 GM photographs are exclusively inside the "eventos" category, music concerts pics mainly. I assisted to some live music events these days just to check the GM's flare resistance and contrast preservation under stressing and highly demanding situations. It passed with flying colors.
If any of you or the moderator think it is unadequate to list my site for watching my 135 GM photos in the mentioned situation, I'll remove the link.
JeyB wrote:
By the way, I would like to place some photographs taken with my Sony 135 GM, but I can't find how to upload inside the mobile site version. If any of you is interested, however, you can check them at my site: www.juanbalsa.com. The Sony 135 GM photographs are exclusively inside the "eventos" category, music concerts pics mainly. I assisted to some live music events these days just to check the GM's flare resistance and contrast preservation under stressing and highly demanding situations. It passed with flying colors.
If any of you or the moderator think it is unadequate to list my site for watching my 135 GM photos in the mentioned situation, I'll remove the link.
What a beautiful website and such great work irrespective of equipment. I enjoyed your plastics project too - lovely. I wish you had an English version!
Stephen
I have had no issues using my 82mm filters on my Sony 135 GM with the hood in place, what filters do you use?
JeyB wrote:
Hi folks. My first post here. Reading lots of time before now. I have recently bought a Sony FE 135 f1,8 GM for my new A7 3. The IQ is great so far. I had to sold my Canon 70-200 f2,8 to buy the 135 mm and no regrets. But the problem I have with the Sony lens is that it doesn't accept threaded filters with the hood in place. I mean, or I place the filter or I place the lens hood, but not both of them at the same time. I was very sad since all my Canon lenses accept filters and hoods at the same time.
I use ND filters for flash photography in exterior location with f1,8 apertures. This is a must for me since I didn't use HSS in exterior. But on the other side the 135 f1,8 needs a lens hood to prevent undesired flares, wihich it is prone to.
Any of you have experienced this issue? Any solution?
Thanks for your quick answer. I am using an Irix 82 mm ND32 filter and also an Irix 82 mm CPL. With either filter attached to the lens, the hood can be inserted but it can't be rotated and locked in.
