Just had this zoom delivered and realised the internal zoom means there is no visible indication of the zoom focal length setting. It is only shown while adjusting the zoom ring, then stops. Has anyone found a way around this, or a way to have the zoom setting permanently displayed along with other info? Thanks
I have this lens also. After the focal length indicator in the viewfinder goes away a couple seconds after you finished zooming, you can temporarily see it again at any time by just lightly tapping the zoom ring (you don’t have to zoom). Also, in image review you can use the display info to see the focal length after taking an image. But tapping the zoom ring during use to be reminded of the focal length you previously zoomed to works well for me.
The 16-35PZ is stunning considering the very light weight and size. I sold my first copy because I let myself get annoyed with not having external focal length markings, but I bought another one and it’s such a fantastic copy optically, and so easy to carry and pack, I hope I always keep this one.
For what is it so important to know the focal length? As long as you can compose your image like you desire, it's OK, isn't it? I actually never look at the focal length indicator when using this lens.
Ross Martin wrote:
I have this lens also. After the focal length indicator in the viewfinder goes away a couple seconds after you finished zooming, you can temporarily see it again at any time by just lightly tapping the zoom ring (you don’t have to zoom). Also, in image review you can use the display info to see the focal length after taking an image. But tapping the zoom ring during use to be reminded of the focal length you previously zoomed to works well for me.
The 16-35PZ is stunning considering the very light weight and size. I sold my first copy because I let myself get annoyed with not having external focal length markings, but I bought another one and it’s such a fantastic copy optically, and so easy to carry and pack, I hope I always keep this one. ...Show more →
Hi Ross, a little off topic.... can you give a brief comparison of the image quality of the 16-35, to the 20-70 and 24-105 f4? Obviously apples and oranges lenses but they all have a focal length I need, and wonder which is sharper and renders a high mp body better.
hasenbein wrote:
For what is it so important to know the focal length? As long as you can compose your image like you desire, it's OK, isn't it? I actually never look at the focal length indicator when using this lens.
In 45 years of shooting I mostly used a set of primes to cover the full range of wide, say between 35mm and 16mm and much in between, and I became aquatinted with the perspective of each wide focal length, differing quite a bit between each other. Foreground to background relationship is often very important when I’m compositing a wide scene so I will be as intentional in choosing the exact focal length as I am about choosing shutter, aperture, ISO. I use 35mm when I want a more natural unexaggerated look, something like 24 or 20 when I want to move in closer and emphasize foreground making it appear larger and the background smaller but still in moderation, and 16mm (or 14mm on another lens) when the composition I have in mind can utilize more perspective exaggeration.
Now at other times the location forces me to stand in one place to get the image and I can’t really utilize various wide focal lengths to change perspective to my tastes, and in those cases I am simply zooming to visualize the most pleasing framing and not concerned with the final focal length number, as you say.
The first image below is when I first zoomed the 16-35PZ to 16mm beforehand because I knew I wanted to intentionally create a looming captivating foreground (exaggerating the near/far relationship) while also taking in a more expansive view of the mountain background, and after setting the lens to 16mm I then used my feet to move and make the composition I desired. The 2nd image is where the location gave me very few places to stand so my perspective was already forced on me, so I simply zoomed until I had what I wanted visually in the frame with no regard for the resulting number.
---------------------------------------------
BigBabyMoses06 wrote:
Hi Ross, a little off topic.... can you give a brief comparison of the image quality of the 16-35, to the 20-70 and 24-105 f4? Obviously apples and oranges lenses but they all have a focal length I need, and wonder which is sharper and renders a high mp body better.
I have not used the 20-70. I have excellent copies of the 16-35PZ and the 24-105 and I won’t hesitate to shoot with either for my landscape work (and final prints), and have not compared them side by side in Lightroom on a 100% pixel view test. But just for fun recently I did a careful tripod comparison of the 24-105 to my 24-70/2.8 GMII at f/8 and I cannot tell the difference at 100% view, both look great (I did share these with the forum on a recent thread). What I find most important in lens selection for me is the focal length range (does it suit what I’m trying to accomplish), and making sure through careful testing that my specific copy is well centered and has good sharpness across the whole frame. The absolute difference in center sharpness between two different lenses is not overly important to me as long as each lens is relatively good and the sharpness is even. A mere 5 extra points of clarity and deconvolution sharpening in LR can sway the results, so proper processing makes the small differences not as critical for my workflow. As long as my prints sing, I’m happy!
ILCE-7RM5FE PZ 16-35mm F4 G lens16mmf/16.01/100s320 ISO0.0 EV
ILCE-7RM5FE PZ 16-35mm F4 G lens26mmf/11.020s100 ISO0.0 EV
hasenbein wrote:
For what is it so important to know the focal length? As long as you can compose your image like you desire, it's OK, isn't it? I actually never look at the focal length indicator when using this lens.
I guess it is a matter of shooting practice. When viewing a scene, I always choose the focal length and framing in my mind before raising the camera to shoot. Actually, as Ross describes the process for his first photo, above.
It's a great lens and I am sure I can adapt. It would just have been a little more helpful if the focal length was optionally included in the permanent info display.
rob_ww wrote:
I guess it is a matter of shooting practice. When viewing a scene, I always choose the focal length and framing in my mind before raising the camera to shoot. Actually, as Ross describes the process for his first photo, above.
It's a great lens and I am sure I can adapt. It would just have been a little more helpful if the focal length was optionally included in the permanent info display.
I of course also do this "pre-visualization" thing in my mind.
Very wide with much emphasis on the foreground subject and perhaps that extra dramatic distortion? Or more "normal"?
So I either turn the lens to 16mm or 35mm and then go from there until composition and/or distortion amount look right to me.
I would do that also with another lens which has focal length printed on the outside and/or permanent FL indication in the EVF.
So for me in this respect there is no usage difference between this lens and others.
