bernardl
Offline
Upload & Sell: Off
|
 Re: Nikkor Z lenses with high-performing autofocus? | |
ilkka_nissila wrote:
bernardl wrote:
As far as f1.8 S primes are concerned, their AF can be good enough in some situation, but it is significantly worse than higher end lenses. Like it or not, this is the reality.
While it's true that Nikon has put in more effort into autofocus in some of the larger lenses than the small f/1.8 ones which don't have dual focus motor or SSVCM, in my experience the f/1.8 primes focus just fine on Expeed 7 cameras and what problems that I've encountered regarding focusing are universal to mirrorless cameras (tendency to focus on details behind the main subject, etc.) and not specific to a particular lens. If Nikon had put SSVCM into the smaller f/1.8 lenses, they would no doubt have been significantly larger, heavier, and more expensive than they are with their current, single stepper motor implementation. There has to be a balance in the implementation to achieve good value in the product overall. For me I have the f/1.8 series because I know they're excellent at all apertures and I can carry them anywhere without having too heavy a bag, which wouldn't be the case if I carried six primes of different focal lengths at f/1.2 apertures (which don't exist yet, but could). Even though I could get the f/1.2's, they won't replace the f/1.8's since they're very large and heavy, which would communicate the wrong message to my subjects (some people like to show off, to others it is a strong put-off signal), and limit my options of comfortably carrying all the focal lengths that I want to carry, at fast apertures, anywhere where I might want to go. Lenses like the 35/1.8 and 50/1.8 are also superb for use on small gimbal stabilizers for video, which cannot be said of the so-called "higher-end" (but not really, they're more expensive and heavier, but not universally better) lenses. For example, photographylife's MTF graphs for the 50/1.8 S peak at 3987 while for the 50/1.2 S they peak at 3630, illustrating just one aspect of different compromises for different lenses. All the S-line lenses are really good lenses of their types. They also focus just fine. Compared to some other manufacturers' lenses, e.g. Canon's, RF mount small primes seem to have quite noisy focusing motors which signals of going on the cheap with the making of those lenses, whereas the f/1.8 Nikkors are very quiet, another signal of the ambitious objectives Nikon had with these lenses.
Agreed 100% with everything you wrote. I still own the 20mm f1.8 S, 35mm f1.8 S and 85mm f1.8 S and love them for what they do best. Amazing image quality, great for gimbal use indeed (the 35mm f1.8 S is by far the my most used video lens). They are a major asset of the Z mount without any doubt.
And yes, they focus just fine. The question is whether they are they able to track consistently and accurately quickly moving kids a few meters from a Z8? In my experience no. And I did try with my daughter and her friends. Those are some of the most challenging subjects you can find. Typically more challenging than most pro sports in which movement can often be predicted by the photographer (and the camera). This isn't a snobbish f1.2 or nothing kind of comment. It's a realistic assessment based on first hand experience. Do I have high standards in terms of results? Yes, to me the eyes must be sharp. My daughter deserves great pictures just like my clients or the dancers I photograph. If you are fine with blurry shots then why bother with a Z8?
I am not sure that Sony/Canon lens of similar standings (which basically isn't available with Canon and only partially with Sony) would fare better btw.
At least I would rent and try.
Cheers,
Bernard
|
