I’ve recently found my way back into photography after a multi-year hiatus.
My main focus is landscape (and astro landscape), and will be travelling around the UK this winter (but ok to carry about 5kg of kit)
Starting with a7r2, 16-35/4 (ZA), 24/1.4GM, 35/1.4 (ZA), 55/1.8, I recently bought an a7rV and a 14/1.8GM, along with a star tracker. Then a CV 50 Apo Lanthar.
It’s time to rationalise my older kit. On the chopping block are:
- a7rii (having had the 5 for a few months, I can’t see myself reaching for the 2)
- 16-35 (don’t love the performance of the old f/4 ZA)
- 35/1.4 (used to be my favourite lens, but these days the CA drives me nuts, and I’d rather use the 24mm in crop mode)
- 55/1.8 (never got on with it, but love the CV 50)
I have ordered a CV 35 Apo Lanthar, but am weighing up my options for a long lens (70-200/4 G II?), and something between the 14 and 24mm lenses.
I’d love some advice. Not too sensitive to cost, and I favour lenses that are special (either how I feel about them or the images the produce - ideally both).
My only other concern is having nothing weather sealed between 24mm and the long option.
I’m inclined to agree. The old 16-35 was my most used lens 10 years ago, but since re-starting, I have been shooting with the 14 or 24mm and cropping over using it.
However, I am feeling a bit GASsy. None of the zooms particularly tickle me, but I am very aware of their utility, especially given that the 14 won’t take standard filters.
I’m also eyeing the 20/1.8 G, but feel it is too close to the 24mm. It’s a pity there isn’t an 18mm CV or Loxia offering…
While there is a chance I may up not really using an UWA zoom over the primes, if it is sharp to the corners and has a flat field, it could become my ‘default’ wider landscape option. Sigma 14-24 (bulbous front) or 16-35GM2 are obvious choices… anything I’m missing?
For "UWA zoom over the primes, if it is sharp to the corners and has a flat field, it could become my ‘default’ wider landscape option" - what is tempting me now and is giving much GAS is the Fuji GFX100S with the outstanding by all accounts 20-34mm F4 lens (equivalent to 16-28mm F3.2). You may want to check the youtube review by Christopher Frost. This is Fuji medium-format system, of course. I am not sure if you are open to using two systems. This can be a problem for some.
I'm not much of an astro shooter, despite a few attempts, but I'm surrounded by them at work. Their collective wisdom is to keep the rII and get it either astro moded with an H-Alpha 656 filter or go full spectrum, which gives you options for different clip-in and lens front filters. I have a FS modded rII and love using it for IR photography, so you may find a FS mod has more going for it than just astro.
If you want something between 14 and 24 that's also good for astro, their recommendations, in order of popularity among them, are the Loxia 21 (the only universally beloved lens), the Batis 18 (seven of nine votes), and the Viltrox 16/1.8 (four of nine, with the other five saying it was too heavy and cumbersome). Among the ones not everyone's used for the purpose, the Sony 20/1.8 got four out of six recommending it, the Sigma i 20/2 got two out of three, the Tokina 20/2 got one out three, and the Sony 16/1.8 got two out of two. For general shooting, their top two are my top two. Plus, the Loxia 21 will be a great compliment to your AL 35 and 50. Once the AL 28 is available in e-mount, that would make a fairly killer small, manual four lens kit. The Loxia's discontinued, but broadly available on the used market.
With the 70-200, if you want a fantastic all-around that rarely disappoints in optical and operational performance, I highly recommend the GMII. If you're willing to sacrifice optical performance with mid-to-landscape shooting for pack size and/or mostly plan to use it for close shooting, then I'd highly recommend the GII.
Your best option might be the 12-24 GM - its not cheap but IQ is supposed to be quite stunning.
Since you already have invested in APO Lanthers, I would most likely acquire the 21mm Nokton. Your lens renditions will be fairly tight and predictable
I find when doing landscapes I'm often at the wide end, and am also conscious of size/weight as I try to pack light. If I was doing the trip you are describing I'd have the 14GM and 16-25G with my A7cR. And also throw the 28-60 in for mid-range.
35GM is great. In crop mode it replaced my 55za as well
This means I have the 24GM and 35GM, which is an odd combo but it has worked for me.
Tait0 wrote:
Hi all,
I’ve recently found my way back into photography after a multi-year hiatus.
My main focus is landscape (and astro landscape), and will be travelling around the UK this winter (but ok to carry about 5kg of kit)
Starting with a7r2, 16-35/4 (ZA), 24/1.4GM, 35/1.4 (ZA), 55/1.8, I recently bought an a7rV and a 14/1.8GM, along with a star tracker. Then a CV 50 Apo Lanthar.
It’s time to rationalise my older kit. On the chopping block are:
- a7rii (having had the 5 for a few months, I can’t see myself reaching for the 2)
- 16-35 (don’t love the performance of the old f/4 ZA)
- 35/1.4 (used to be my favourite lens, but these days the CA drives me nuts, and I’d rather use the 24mm in crop mode)
- 55/1.8 (never got on with it, but love the CV 50)
I have ordered a CV 35 Apo Lanthar, but am weighing up my options for a long lens (70-200/4 G II?), and something between the 14 and 24mm lenses.
I’d love some advice. Not too sensitive to cost, and I favour lenses that are special (either how I feel about them or the images the produce - ideally both).
My only other concern is having nothing weather sealed between 24mm and the long option.
I can borrow a 100-400 GM for the trip, and will likely take that rather than buy the 70-200.
With that in mind, I’ll likely buy the 24-70gm ii and either the 20 G, or the Voigtlander 21 Nokton.
This will give me:
14 GM
20/21mm (tbd)
24 GM
35 APO
50 APO
24-70 GMII (noting that the voigtlanders are not weather sealed, and I am shooting landscape in UK winter)
100-400 (borrowed)
A concern is that the 24-70 GM II may be overkill, but I also care about micro-contrast. I’m open to the 20-70, but if it is too far off my other lenses IQ-wise, it wouldn’t be used.
I rarely shoot telephoto, and am also wondering whether I should bother bringing the 100-400 around the world.
Tait0 wrote:
I rarely shoot telephoto, and am also wondering whether I should bother bringing the 100-400 around the world.
On the basis of my experience, I would say you shouldn't.
I recently did a trip to the UK, with a 20-70, sigma 90 2.8 and Laowa 9. The sigma and Laowa only went with me if I had something special to shoot that leant itself to those (portraits for the sigma, big trees and architecture for the Laowa). I took a full spectrum A7III and enjoyed getting a lot of IR shots, they were some of my best. Size was a big consideration for me, as some of the trip I didn’t have a vehicle and I also carried a musical instrument.
Since you’re traveling in the winter, be prepared to have lots of cloudy and rainy days and nights, that might impact your Astro shooting quite a bit.
I think the 20-70 didn’t give up very much image quality, just a little bit slower aperture but that shouldn’t matter for landscape. Not having to change lenses except when I really wanted a certain ultra wide shot was a huge plus, especially for the time I had a traveling companion. If I didn’t know what I was going to be encountering, I often just took the 20-70 with me, and rarely found myself wanting more. I’m also usually happy to take a few shots and stitch a panorama.
Another option would be the new sigma 20-200, plus the 14gm and one bright normalish prime. Or if you like the 14 and 24 combo, which I agree is great, and wanted something brighter as a super zoom, and weren’t too concerned with weight or price, the Tamron 35-150 could be a great third lens to do the rest. It’s a bit heavy for an everyday carry lens, but the image quality is outstanding and you don’t need a duplicate bright prime in any of its focal lengths.
I’m not sure I understand the rationale for carrying 3 primes in focal lengths that are covered by the excellent 24-70 GM II?
Tait0 wrote:
Thanks all for your thoughts and advice.
I can borrow a 100-400 GM for the trip, and will likely take that rather than buy the 70-200.
With that in mind, I’ll likely buy the 24-70gm ii and either the 20 G, or the Voigtlander 21 Nokton.
This will give me:
14 GM
20/21mm (tbd)
24 GM
35 APO
50 APO
24-70 GMII (noting that the voigtlanders are not weather sealed, and I am shooting landscape in UK winter)
100-400 (borrowed)
A concern is that the 24-70 GM II may be overkill, but I also care about micro-contrast. I’m open to the 20-70, but if it is too far off my other lenses IQ-wise, it wouldn’t be used.
I rarely shoot telephoto, and am also wondering whether I should bother bringing the 100-400 around the world....Show more →
I should have been clearer. I am happy to add the 24-70 to the 35 and 50 (for home), but if I did this, I would not bring those primes to the UK. 24mm would still come, as it is my main night sky lens.
I generally prefer to shoot with primes and those CV APOs are great for both landscapes and night sky. I can’t see any scenario in which I don’t keep them.
I’m sure the 12-24 is fantastic, however if I went in that direction, I’d likely go for the sigma 14-24 to save some $ for a similar lens. I’ve never shot wider than 14mm and not sure I need more foreground emphasis than 14mm provides.
50-150 looks wonderful, it’s just not the lens for me.
I'm having a hard time getting behind a 24-70 f2.8. It costs too much money and overlaps with nearly all my prime lenses that I love using: 24 GM, CV 35 Nokton, and Sigma 45 f2.8 (and it's not that far off from my Batis 85/1.8). I love the idea of not changing lenses, but I don't love feeling forced to not use my favorite prime lenses because I invested $1000-$2000 in a lens. For my small foray into professional photography, I opted for a 2nd body over a 24-70 f2.8 II so I could use the primes that bring me joy. Let's see how that goes, and obviously I am not shooting in inclement UK winter weather.
My take: if it's bad weather, just use the 14, 24, and 100-400. If it's good weather, use your CVs. Don't buy a 24-70 and leave your lovely CVs behind.
