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I am torn. I love my Loxia’s and their build. However, I sure am getting use to auto focus and am finding it increasingly difficult to manual focus these days even with the magnification.
My latest acquisition is the 35 Loxia and I am now thinking I should just stick with the Zony 35mm 1.4.
Any thoughts on this ?
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.Zeiss, who are now in the business of selling both MF and AF lenses, explain that it is impossible to make AF lenses that focus as accurately as MF. Because, in order to be workable, the moving parts of an AF lens need to be light and well, mobile. That means an assembly which is not a precise as can be put together for MF. And thus, focus is not placed as precisely where we want it as would be the case with MF.
From then on, whether that matters to each of us enough to forego the ease of use of autofocus is a personal decision. I am right with MF only.
Besides, with WA lenses, such as the forthcoming Loxia 21mm f:2.8, there is so much depth-of-field that focusing is not a topic. Focus to infinity, pull back just a smidgeon, and you will be properly focused from 5′ to infinity…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
Sorry if I’m hijacking the thread by motor mouthing on about this 35 1.4 lens but I’m pretty deflated right now. I guess the autofocus micro adjust doesn’t work with the Sony/Zeiss 35mm f1.4, WTF?!?! I just did a quick autofocus test in my drive way with some kids toys and this lens is severely front focusing by 3 to 4 feet on anything further away than approx.10 feet. This is a hard pill to swallow because this copy of the lens seems to be optically wonderful compared to my first copy and it’s going to be rolling the dice getting another one. I’ll see what Sony Pro Service says.
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
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This reply was modified 2 years, 5 months ago by
RickPerry.
Ah, Rick, wait ’til you see the 21. It looks like it will be the start in the Loxia family
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.
Make sure you use the LAEA3 unless you plan on using older lenses with the screw drive focus.
The 24 f2 is da bomb !
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This reply was modified 2 years, 5 months ago by
torralba.
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?
RickRick. You should be good with the LAEA3. If you have other ZA lenses with screw drive for focus you will need the LAEA4.
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
Not wanting to wait for a Loxia 21 or a Batis 25 …
I just received an LA-EA3 adaptor today which I mounted on my A7R with a Zeiss/Sony 24mm f2 A mount lens. The rig is a bit big but when compared to a 35 f1.4 Zeiss it is actually a 1/2″ shorter and weighs only a bit more – about 5%. Overall the camera with lens is now in DSLR territory for size and weight .. but at least it is a wonderful lens fulfilling my wide angle needs.
Auto focus works but a bit slow .. several chugs, then it settles in. My only real problem was that when manual focusing I could not get the viewfinder to enlarge the view for fine focus?? If anyone knows how to get it to do that I would greatly appreciate a PM.
Thanks,
Rick
http://www.fredmiranda.com/forum/topic/1255248/1227?b=2#lastmessage
Please provide more details on your issue with the magnification. As a shortterm solution which I use quite often, look at the third tip here
http://jorgetorralba.com/2015/10/31/some-helpful-tips-for-your-sony-a7rii/
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This reply was modified 2 years, 5 months ago by
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