Here are some images cross posted in the Sony A7/A7r/A7s Image Thread that I took last evening in or close to Magic Hour at the top of the Trexler Nature Preserve, Schnecksville, PA. All images taken with my tripod mounted Leica R 280mm f4 Apo Telyt lens and my A7r; images processed in LR5.6.
Some decidedly wet and windy weather meant a trip to the Polar Park Arctic Wildlife Center to safely view some of Norway's captive fauna. 1Ds3 and 100 Apo Macro Elmarit.
I've received my summilux 80 mm R. It's very stunning: I'm used to use very sharp lenses like Zeiss lenses, and I find the summilux very soft (I find manual focus is harder at WA)... but I like very much the rendering of this lens. Do you have the same impressions?
Nonetheless, the summilux 35 mm is different: it has the same rendering but is sharper.
mikwest wrote:
I've received my summilux 80 mm R. It's very stunning: I'm used to use very sharp lenses like Zeiss lenses, and I find the summilux very soft (I find manual focus is harder at WA)... but I like very much the rendering of this lens. Do you have the same impressions?
Sounds about par for course. :-) The 'lux 80 is reputed to have a somewhat bi-polar character wide open: difficult to get right, but incredible when that happens.
From this morning, with the relatively humble pre-AA 90/2:
I've received my Summilux 80 mm R. It's very stunning: I'm used to use very sharp lenses like Zeiss lenses, and I find the Summilux very soft (I find manual focus is harder at WA)... but I like very much the rendering of this lens. Do you have the same impressions?
Nonetheless, the summilux 35 mm is different: it has the same rendering but is sharper.
Just realize you ask here as well Hopefully PM answer satisfies you. 35lux is sharper. 80lux will be sharper at distance, but nail focus will be a little challenge at distance. I realize many people buy this lens partially due to my fault given I got many PM about it
It is not a easy lens to master, and need practice, practice and learn to use it. Like any fast glass, use it under harsh light will kill its rendering.(I do that all the time for taking everyday family pic) It is easy to flare at back-light, Its color is not as vivid as Zeiss or modern Leica, Nikon, I don't know if it is depend on manufacture year or not. But the color work very nice with its rendering. and CA is less than most 85ish fast glass out there.
Given it has optic flaw, It is a specialty lens and need understand it to use it well or for your need. Just like use any lens, it take time to master it. You should have right expectation about this lens. Some people love it, some people feel nothing special, it is very normal for any lens and I won't lose sleep over it
It is not a very sharp lens at WO, I can see this more often with D810.
Some more taken with the Vario-Elmar 75-200/4.5. I continue to be impressed with the results from this lens. Not shown in these shots was how well it was handling extreme backlighting with some birds up in the tree. Very minimal CA.
Hopefully PM answer satisfies you. 35lux is sharper. 80lux will be sharper at distance, but nail focus will be a little challenge at distance. I realize many people buy this lens partially due to my fault given I got many PM about it
