p.17 #1 · Pre-order: Sony FE 14mm f/1.8 GM ($1,598)
j4nu wrote:
So, since so many of you already got the lens in hand, can you confirm that weird blur/loss of sharpness at closer distances when focusing at something outside the center area?
I wonder if it's just a DoF issue? If you focus at infinity (or something relatively distant), there's only so close that things are going to be sharp. DoF for 14mm is (mathematically claimed to be) about 6 times that for 35mm, but it's not infinite. At f/5.6 with one thing roughly 3 feet away and another roughly 6 feet away, if you focus on one, the other will not be in focus, and vice versa. (Yes, I actually tried this, and that's what happens.)
p.17 #2 · Pre-order: Sony FE 14mm f/1.8 GM ($1,598)
So why not make the 14mm prime with 17 elements?
Fred Miranda wrote:
The zoom is better corrected with 17 elements (vs 14 elements) and it's optimal at 14mm, so I would not be surprised if it outperforms the new prime in regards to resolution across the field.
p.17 #5 · Pre-order: Sony FE 14mm f/1.8 GM ($1,598)
mark1958 wrote:
So why not make the 14mm prime with 17 elements?
Weight, cost, and size would be problematic. At any heavier, larger, and/or more expensive, and I'd have passed on it* and more folks would just stick with the zoom.
*: As is, it's the largest, heaviest, and most expensive lens in my kit.
p.17 #7 · Pre-order: Sony FE 14mm f/1.8 GM ($1,598)
mark1958 wrote:
I figure perhaps compactness was an issue..
Walked around the San Fran Botanical Gardens today
Just a few shots with the 14mm
These shots reminded me of my adapted ZM 15 (a little smaller than this but heavier and slower). Maybe it’s field curvature, which you can get sharper corners if you focus specifically there, or it could be higher order of aberrations that it won’t ever get sharper no matter what you try (as Roger mentioned in his latest article). I’ll wait for more samples though to rule out sample variation, which seems to happen more with UWA.
p.17 #8 · Pre-order: Sony FE 14mm f/1.8 GM ($1,598)
Yeah, I guess it's possible, but this was specifically mentioned in Dustin Abbott's review and I think he knows this stuff . davidjl wrote:
I wonder if it's just a DoF issue? If you focus at infinity (or something relatively distant), there's only so close that things are going to be sharp. DoF for 14mm is (mathematically claimed to be) about 6 times that for 35mm, but it's not infinite. At f/5.6 with one thing roughly 3 feet away and another roughly 6 feet away, if you focus on one, the other will not be in focus, and vice versa. (Yes, I actually tried this, and that's what happens.)
p.17 #9 · Pre-order: Sony FE 14mm f/1.8 GM ($1,598)
Fred Miranda wrote:
The zoom is better corrected with 17 elements (vs 14 elements) and it's optimal at 14mm, so I would not be surprised if it outperforms the new prime in regards to resolution across the field.
Do we know it’s better corrected yet? 17 is fewer elements for a zoom than 14 is for a prime. And no of elements doesn’t always correlate with better correction, even in similar designs.
I think, given possible variation and other factors in the samples I’ve seen, that it remains to be seen.
p.17 #10 · Pre-order: Sony FE 14mm f/1.8 GM ($1,598)
DavidBM wrote:
Do we know it’s better corrected yet? 17 is fewer elements for a zoom than 14 is for a prime. And no of elements doesn’t always correlate with better correction, even in similar designs.
I think, given possible variation and other factors in the samples I’ve seen, that it remains to be seen.
I don't remember at which apertrue the comparison shots were made by Fro, but what I remember from them is that 12-24GM had the best corners, but surprisingly the center was imho a bit sharper on both 14GM and 14-24DN.
p.17 #11 · Pre-order: Sony FE 14mm f/1.8 GM ($1,598)
DavidBM wrote:
Do we know it’s better corrected yet? 17 is fewer elements for a zoom than 14 is for a prime. And no of elements doesn’t always correlate with better correction, even in similar designs.
I think, given possible variation and other factors in the samples I’ve seen, that it remains to be seen.
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j4nu wrote:
I don't remember at which apertrue the comparison shots were made by Fro, but what I remember from them is that 12-24GM had the best corners, but surprisingly the center was imho a bit sharper on both 14GM and 14-24DN.
I will know more next week when I get my copy but from the samples I've seen, the 14/1.8 is well corrected for color aberration and has low distortion. I'm hoping it will have low focus breathing as well.
p.17 #12 · Pre-order: Sony FE 14mm f/1.8 GM ($1,598)
The shots I commented on when I compared the 12-14 f2.8 and the 14 1.8 prime were not really infinity. I went out and took some today on a tripod and took a brief look and the prime performed favorably across the frame. I felt it was a bit better than the zoom at 14mm. So I am happy about that
p.17 #13 · Pre-order: Sony FE 14mm f/1.8 GM ($1,598)
I did some shots yesterday, looking at the far edges and frankly, I am happy and surprised at the sharpness at extreme angles. I am just going to use the lens now and get used to is as I have seen enough both near and far to show me that this lens, can do it. Nice contrast, detail and color. Good to go for me on this copy.
IMO, with Kase and f/1.8, the result is completely unusable.. (and Kase already offers the thinnest glass filter)
Perhaps their night pollution filter is thicker? I know that Aurora's ND filters are 0.3m but their light pollution is 0.5m for some reason.
p.17 #18 · Pre-order: Sony FE 14mm f/1.8 GM ($1,598)
j4nu wrote:
So, since so many of you already got the lens in hand, can you confirm that weird blur/loss of sharpness at closer distances when focusing at something outside the center area?
Yep only sharp in center at close distance. My copy is also not symmetrical and has point light sources looking like bugs in some of the corners when I shoot city lights at long distance (no stars visible here at this time of year). Returning it since the applications I had in mind was wildlife at real close distance and night sky and my Sigma 14-24 outperforms it at both. Pity because it is so awesomely light and compact, really wanted this to be a keeper.
p.17 #19 · Pre-order: Sony FE 14mm f/1.8 GM ($1,598)
randomguy wrote:
Yep only sharp in center at close distance. My copy is also not symmetrical and has point light sources looking like bugs in some of the corners when I shoot city lights at long distance (no stars visible here at this time of year). Returning it since the applications I had in mind was wildlife at real close distance and night sky and my Sigma 14-24 outperforms it at both. Pity because it is so awesomely light and compact, really wanted this to be a keeper.
I have been doing infinity and a lot of close-up, as close as it will focus and no issues. I can focus on something on the extreme side and very sharp and surprisingly so at 1.8. I guess I need to post some stuff but have been really busy. But suffice to say, I am more than happy. The lower left is slightly not as sharp but it is so extreme at the lower left edge, that it isn't enough to matter as everything else is spot on.
I bought the Kase filters to go with this lens but no go. But I have other fast lenses and they work with them so not a big deal but would have been nice, would have, the operative word, at least for me. Center good but beyond that, wonderful blur. lol
p.17 #20 · Pre-order: Sony FE 14mm f/1.8 GM ($1,598)
GMPhotography wrote:
Fred I should send you my surprisingly great copy of the Laowa 14mm
I got a little gem
You remember choppy. Lol
Thanks Guy!
I have a "choppy" 15mm f/4.5 III and will compare it to the 14mm f/1.8. However, if the new Sony prime performs similarly to the Sigma 14-24 or Sony 12-24 @14mm, the Voigtlander won't have a change off-axis but will be competitive at center.
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