p.83 #1 · Pre-order: Sony FE 35mm f/1.4 GM ($1,399)
j4nu wrote:
Hmm that LoCa is indeed not looking that hot... On the other hand, I'm not sure how other 35mms would handle this situation...
None, if we are talking about 35mm f/1.4 lenses. (with exception of Canon 35/1.4L II with BR optics)
The 35/1.4 ZA would do worse under similar torture conditions.
p.83 #2 · Pre-order: Sony FE 35mm f/1.4 GM ($1,399)
SpecFoto wrote:
"In search of LoCA."
I'm sorry but it is like people are trying to find the smallest thing wrong with this new lens. If I was taking the photo 2 posts above, I would put a CPL on the lens to cut down the reflection in the water and bring back the lost highlights in the clouds. Or instead of shooting directly into the sun and water with small waves and bright reflections, I would turn around and shoot in any direction of a 345 arc except for this one, i.e without the sun directly in front of me. So in my case loCA is a non-issue, because I understand basic photography and can shoot around field conditions that may negatively effect the photos final look.
Please lets drop the witch hunt and get back to productive photos showing what the lens is capable of... thanks ...Show more →
In reviewing other lens galleries, I definitely found plenty of LoCA in the Sigma, ZA, RX1...lenses that people love and enjoy using. It’s useful to know, but also I don’t think it should be a deal breaker for this lens given that it actually corrects better than most of these.
p.83 #4 · Pre-order: Sony FE 35mm f/1.4 GM ($1,399)
abadger wrote:
In reviewing other lens galleries, I definitely found plenty of LoCA in the Sigma, ZA, RX1...lenses that people love and enjoy using. It’s useful to know, but also I don’t think it should be a deal breaker for this lens given that it actually corrects better than most of these.
Most of these lenses play in the same ball park. I have owned and shot the most of them, and in terms of LoCal, the RX1 has more than what I am seeing, and the ZA35/1.4 was worse than the RX1 by a bit. The GM 35 actually is better corrected for LoCal than those two, and my guess is even better corrected than the slower FE 35 and Samy 35 (which both have quite a lot). The ZM 35 1.4 and CV 35/1.2 have quite noticeable axial CA as well. So does the Pentax 31 ltd. I have not owned the Bigma 35, but I have seen axial CA on that as well, and I don't think the GM is really faring worse in real world shooting. Nearly all these lenses need till 2.8 so the axial CA is minimal, and f4 for it to be really clean.
The 35i has excellent axial CA correction, very minor at f2 even tons of contrast in harsh light. The new CV 35 APO as well, but those lenses are slower. Canon's BR tech is great, but that lens is much larger, and I can't say the draw is that attractive (though it's super sharp).
When you really survey the landscape, very few lenses that are f1.4-f1.8 are going to do appreciably better than the GM 35 I think. We can't have it all. Lenses are compromises.
p.83 #5 · Pre-order: Sony FE 35mm f/1.4 GM ($1,399)
'None, if we are talking about 35mm f/1.4 lenses. (with exception of Canon 35/1.4L II with BR optics)'
I've seen Cosina criticised for much less than this. Then again, Canon did not 'go APO', well not in the name anyway. Headlines included: 'Canon’s New EF 35MM F/1.4L II USM LENS Claims to Eliminate Chromatic Aberration'
It did very well back in 2015, but the stakes are higher now!
p.83 #7 · Pre-order: Sony FE 35mm f/1.4 GM ($1,399)
SpecFoto wrote:
(...)
I'm sorry but it is like people are trying to find the smallest thing wrong with this new lens. If I was taking the photo 2 posts above, I would put a CPL on the lens to cut down(...)
Please lets drop the witch hunt and get back to productive photos showing what the lens is capable of... thanks
Hello,
I'm sorry if you don't like me sharing my findings. I didn't want to start a new thread as I wasn't planning for a lot of posts. Then I thought, WTH, this is a gear forum and I found some things out worthy of sharing.
My apoligies to the OP though who got the thread hi-jacked. It probably is as Fred wrote above: a new image thread is at place when people have taken more real images. Maybe rename this thread. Let's see.
My posts aren't about images, they are about what the lens does and not does. I don't consider anything I posted here yet as "images", they are test shots for a purpose not having to do with art or reportage. Also relax a little, I have been misusing cameras for well over 40 years and know at least something about how a polar filter works or when not to press the shutter button.
p.83 #9 · Pre-order: Sony FE 35mm f/1.4 GM ($1,399)
A lot of digressions here… And a lot of comments about digressions !
Not a big deal, of course... But if anyone wants to post technical comments, comparisons or reviews about the 35GM, they might be interested in posting them on other threads, just to keep things clearer... as I did, by the way ;-)
p.83 #11 · Pre-order: Sony FE 35mm f/1.4 GM ($1,399)
j4nu wrote:
I don't know if I'm allowed to post comments in this thread, but the 2nd and 3rd picture handle the backlit branches really well imho .
Agree !
Sidenote: I think a few comments about images are not only allowed, they're welcome ;-) On another hand, I see here some very interesting "technical contents" and debates that would benefit from being posted in other threads (that's what I did, for instance, when I made a side by side comparison test of the 35GM and the Sigma 35/1.2). Anyway, as I understand this thread will probably get replaced by a new one, so I'm not sure it really matters now :-)
p.83 #12 · Pre-order: Sony FE 35mm f/1.4 GM ($1,399)
I checked the links Phil and maybe I should have posted in the 35GM versus Sigma 35i thread. But, as I had to exclude the 35i from my comparison that doesn't feel as the best place either. The "Pre-order" thread... well, I would never look for images in those (I don't follow them, maybe I should start doing so...)
But, as you say, a new thread dedicated to images solves all that. I have a few more comments on the 35GM and then I'll be done.
p.83 #13 · Pre-order: Sony FE 35mm f/1.4 GM ($1,399)
j4nu wrote:
I don't know if I'm allowed to post comments in this thread, but the 2nd and 3rd picture handle the backlit branches really well imho .
No problem in commenting on the images if you ask me!
I think so too, honestly I haven't had any issues with the bokeh whatsoever. I don't think there is any lens that nails the bokeh in every single shot, there is always a chance of some roughness especially at 35mm and wider unless you are shooting quite close to the subjects.
I need to get in the habit of disabling EFCS at very fast shutter speeds as I hear it can be a problem for bokeh rendering, but so far so good!
Edit: I do find the CA to be well controlled with this lens, whereas the 35 f/1.8 FE is the worst lens I have ever had when it comes to CA.
p.83 #14 · Pre-order: Sony FE 35mm f/1.4 GM ($1,399)
rainio wrote:
And, more of the time we want images to have more "natural" contrast and to be sharper rather than not. I've used pro mist filters with good effect with sharp lenses to reduce contrast slightly and give more of a "filmic" effect (they're used a lot by videographers who use digital video cameras but want filmic looks).
Better to have a more contrasty, sharper lens that you can tweak in post rather than the opposite, imho.
Sharper is better but more contrast is not.
Better to build contrast in post than try to reduce it.
In order to reduce contrast you need to brighten shadows - more noise.
To increase contrast you darken shadows - less noise.
This is why the 85GM is a low(er) contrast lens. It's going to be used by pros that want a relatively flat base file.
p.83 #15 · Pre-order: Sony FE 35mm f/1.4 GM ($1,399)
LeeRatters wrote:
I fell like I've been messed about at my original pre-order place as several people on a UK forum I know have received their's last Fri, Sat & yesterday from UK shops/dealers. I was told yesterday mine would be about another two weeks even though I'm third on the list.
I cancelled it & took a chance with Amazon which was quoting Thursday delivery.....
Yep, this delay is getting ridiculous. I can see the official date for 50GM around here (15.04, not sure if it can be trusted though) but still no word on when 35GM will be delivered. Well, I might end up with the 50 instead ...
p.83 #16 · Pre-order: Sony FE 35mm f/1.4 GM ($1,399)
This post has nothing to do with GM, but may be its useful here as well. I waited for GM even though i loved what i saw from Samyang 35/1.4.
So today I finally got SY over GM. To me SY has the magic sauce that GM may not have.
Focus is fast, silent and accurate in AFC,
Doesn’t focus well in AFS
I like MF. Its a bit different but suddenly it gets everything sharp.
I was waiting for GM. But looks like i kinda like this better.
Saves some money and i lose nothing at all in terms of IQ or whatever you call it.
My decision was also prompted by just how sexy i find Samyang lenses. I like the minimalism. They are very very good looking. A bit like ZA lenses.
p.83 #17 · Pre-order: Sony FE 35mm f/1.4 GM ($1,399)
DaveFP wrote:
Sharper is better but more contrast is not.
Better to build contrast in post than try to reduce it.
In order to reduce contrast you need to brighten shadows - more noise.
To increase contrast you darken shadows - less noise.
This is why the 85GM is a low(er) contrast lens. It's going to be used by pros that want a relatively flat base file.
The Black Mist Pro filter is a good idea.
I'll have to consider one when the lens comes in.
Yeah the red flag for me in the samples is the contrast and structure in the OOF areas and overall rendering. It is not easy to correct distracting bokeh, and it's easier to add contrast than to clean up over emphasized flaws.
When the bokeh and rendering is good without over emphasizing flaws, you never think twice about it...this is true of the 85GM. When the rendering is harsh, the wrong details will dominate the frame and better to understand that a lens behaves this way before you take it out to the field and shoot for real.
p.83 #18 · Pre-order: Sony FE 35mm f/1.4 GM ($1,399)
nandadevieast wrote:
This post has nothing to do with GM, but may be its useful here as well. I waited for GM even though i loved what i saw from Samyang 35/1.4.
So today I finally got SY over GM. To me SY has the magic sauce that GM may not have.
Focus is fast, silent and accurate in AFC,
Doesn’t focus well in AFS
I like MF. Its a bit different but suddenly it gets everything sharp.
I was waiting for GM. But looks like i kinda like this better.
Saves some money and i lose nothing at all in terms of IQ or whatever you call it.
My decision was also prompted by just how sexy i find Samyang lenses. I like the minimalism. They are very very good looking. A bit like ZA lenses.
That, and i also own SY 85, which i love. ...Show more →
I had the Samyang 35 1.4. It worked well enough until it didn't. Samyang replaced it under warranty but it took over two months to finally get ahold of someone. Every e-mail went into the abyss and no one answers the phone or listens to their voicemails.
You hear way more stories of lenses going bad from Samyang then you do from Sony. I am patiently waiting for the Sony 35 GM.
p.83 #19 · Pre-order: Sony FE 35mm f/1.4 GM ($1,399)
Mystik wrote:
Yeah the red flag for me in the samples is the contrast and structure in the OOF areas and overall rendering. It is not easy to correct distracting bokeh, and it's easier to add contrast than to clean up over emphasized flaws.
When the bokeh and rendering is good without over emphasizing flaws, you never think twice about it...this is true of the 85GM. When the rendering is harsh, the wrong details will dominate the frame and better to understand that a lens behaves this way before you take it out to the field and shoot for real.
Exactly.
In a number of the sample images I've seen the OOF areas compete with the subject for the very reasons you outlined.
Perhaps the bokeh will improve when the lens is stopped down a bit. (?)
I suspect this lens' strength will be a bit more on the documentary side.
Nice bokeh is possible but realized only when the background/distance is carefully considered.
A complement to, but not a replacement for, lenses in the soft bokeh class.
In any case I abandoned my plan to sell my Zony 35/1.4.
p.83 #20 · Pre-order: Sony FE 35mm f/1.4 GM ($1,399)
DaveFP wrote:
Exactly.
In a number of the sample images I've seen the OOF areas compete with the subject for the very reasons you outlined.
Perhaps the bokeh will improve when the lens is stopped down a bit. (?)
I suspect this lens' strength will be a bit more on the documentary side.
Nice bokeh is possible but realized only when the background/distance is carefully considered.
A complement to, but not a replacement for, lenses in the soft bokeh class.
In any case I abandoned my plan to sell my Zony 35/1.4.
Love with way it renders.
Yeah the thing about rendering and in particular bokeh....is that it's highly situational. I.e. just about any lens will have great bokeh when shooting up close. This is why I need to test the GM for myself. I need to see how it fits my use case.
The real test for me is how the GM will behave for envionrmental portraiture where I'm framing loose and very often there is foliage, high contrast lights and hard specular highlights in the OOF areas. Also wedding/documentary photography...you grab a 35mm because you want the enough of the background pulled into the frame to tell a story, but you do not want the background to dominate the frame. It's pretty rare to see a 35mm lens really excel here, but the 35ZA, rx1 sonnar, and Bigma 35 get the job done.
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