Loxia Lenses. What to do ?

I sent back my 35 f1.4 FE last week. I had it for a couple of days on my new a7RII and I was not impressed. It was soft at 1.4 in the center, but I can deal with that. I couldn’t deal with the lens not getting sharp across the frame until f8. I shot many test scenes with tripod and both manual and autofocusing and none held up that well. When compared next to my 35 f2.8 FE lens it wasn’t even close, the 35 2.8 was heads and tails better at every aperture. I should be getting another 35 1.4 from BH any day and I really hope this one is better!
I think I may need to rent the Loxia 35mm, it seems like it could be the perfect compact 35mm lens for landscape. I like the 35 2.8FE but I’ve had 4 of them and all of them have been weak on the left side of the frame. What I mean is when I focus on a subject a few feet in front of me(6-15ft) and take the shot at even f 16 the left side of the image in the distance will never come into good focus, but the right side is super sharp even at far distance? Now if I focus the lens at infinity the whole frame will be in focus as long as nothing is too close in the foreground. For landscape photography this behavior drives me nuts, but for walk around street photography I don’t mind as I can shoot that lens wide open at 2.8 and it has great character.
LOL, I’ll probably end up with three expensive 35mm lenses, each one for different purposes.

Well I got a replacement 35 1.4 fe lens today from B&H and I’m very glad I sent the first copy back as this one is super sharp at 1.4!! Just beautiful! And by f2.8 things are sharping up nicely all over the frame. Lots of lovely character at 1.4. The first copy was very soft at 1.4 and even by F8 things were still soft except in the center.

Even at f1.4 the lens focuses quickly and accurately at close range. I nailed a whole bunch of shots of my 2.5yr old playing inside at f1.4 BUT… every shot I’ve done today at about 10 to 15ft away the lens failed to focus correctly. It focused well in front of the subject. I’ll try to adjust micro focus tonight with the hopes it fixes the issue but I hope it doesn’t mess up the close range focusing which seems spot on right now.

O

I received my Loxia 35 early on… I had to buy it used from someone in Singapore ..btw I live in Maine. From day one I have enjoyed this lens. I am getting old but focusing on the A7 series is not a problem for me .. Particularly with the wide 35 angle lens. Some pixel peepers insist this lens is not sharp in the corners etc and not as sharp as other lenses but I have found it to be well balanced optically (as well as physically). The colors are superb, detail amazing and it is a pleasure to use. Keep in mind I am for the most part a landscape photographer so auto focus is usually not needed.

I would not part with either Loxias that I have 50 and 35.

Rick

http://www.zeissimages.com/photobrowser.php?puid=514

• This reply was modified 2 years, 7 months ago by  RickPerry.

Ah Yes Philippe’ .. it is going to be quite a trio. might be all I need to lug around for ultimate photos in a light kit! I am working on adapting my ZA 24 f2 A mount to my A7R which may be enough ..we shall see!

Here is another one of my posts about the 35 Loxia.

http://www.fredmiranda.com/forum/topic/1393482/0#13251839

JT,

I have an A7r .. Will the Sam 24 f2 ZA lens auto focus with the LA EA3? Will it provide auto apature? Does Exif come through?
Rick

Thanks Jorge .. I just figured out which one does what. I will be fine with the 3 .. The only lens I want to use on the A7r is the ZA 24 f2 SAM .. Should be fine.. I really don’t even need auto focus with that lens .. I mostly shoot landscape with it.

Just ordered the LA EA 3. ( very confusing nomenclature if you ask me!)

Rick