The Amazing Sony A1/A7/A9/APS-C & Anything else welcome Mega Thread!

ancient_mariner said:
Just debating with myself now, whether to spend the extra £140 or not.
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If you can get over the non-issue with FE85/1.8 it will be the only that ticks all your boxes lol
I bet you won't be happy with Samyang and even the 85GM with its noisy AF.
Just do your future self a favour and buy the FE85/1.8.
If you tell me one can't take good pictures with it then I don't think it's really the lens' fault ;)
 
nandbytes said:
If you can get over the non-issue with FE85/1.8 it will be the only that ticks all your boxes lol
I bet you won't be happy with Samyang and even the 85GM with its noisy AF.
Just do your future self a favour and buy the FE85/1.8.
If you tell me one can't take good pictures with it then I don't think it's really the lens' fault ;)
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If the problem is the way the bokeh looks then that's the lens and there's not a lot anyone can do except shoot at smaller apertures :D

I like the size and weight and the fast focus but the slightly swirly bokeh isn't my favorite thing. The old Sigma 85mm f1.4 I had wasn't as sharp but it I thought it had nicer bokeh. Actually the sharpness could be a part of it but even if it wasn't so sharp there's still the swirly stuff. All in all it's probably worth putting up with for the advantages.
 
nandbytes said:
If you can get over the non-issue with FE85/1.8 it will be the only that ticks all your boxes lol
I bet you won't be happy with Samyang and even the 85GM with its noisy AF.
Just do your future self a favour and buy the FE85/1.8.
If you tell me one can't take good pictures with it then I don't think it's really the lens' fault ;)
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If I want a crappy de-focussed background I can already get that with the 24-105, just by moving the subect a bit closer. ;)

I've already owned the Samyang that's supposed to have the worst focussing system of them all and that was fine, and I get on well with the Sammy 35 f2.8. The Sony 85 f1.8 would probably function OK, but I doubt I'd be happy with it optically, even though the focussing would be un-matched by anything else. If this lens had focussed accurately then I'd have been pleased to keep it.
 
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On the subject of nice and not nice lenses.

It's a while since I used the Rokkor 50mm f1.2 but what a nice lens it is. At f1.2 it's frankly bordering on awful and I'm not sure I believe the f1.2 anyways as there's a big discrepancy in shutter speeds between this lens and my Voigtlander 40mm f1.2 but stopped down from f1.2 onwards the old Rokkor is just lovely and I just love the way pictures taken with it look.

It's well worth a look if anyone likes old lenses and spots a reasonably priced one.
 
woof woof said:
On the subject of nice and not nice lenses.

It's a while since I used the Rokkor 50mm f1.2 but what a nice lens it is. At f1.2 it's frankly bordering on awful and I'm not sure I believe the f1.2 anyways as there's a big discrepancy in shutter speeds between this lens and my Voigtlander 40mm f1.2 but stopped down from f1.2 onwards the old Rokkor is just lovely and I just love the way pictures taken with it look.

It's well worth a look if anyone likes old lenses and spots a reasonably priced one.
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I very much like the rendering of my old MF Nikkors, especially the 135 f2.8, but eye AF ain't gonna work with that. :p
 
I only have three old Nikons, Nippon Kogaku 35mm f2.8 and 50mm f1.4 and f2. My favourite is the 50mm f2. All are built wonderfully.
 
I must say. The a9 is the best street photography camera ever purely for the silent shooting and af.

Also the weather sealing is really good on it as its been p***ing down with rain last few days in Porto
 
ancient_mariner said:
If I want a crappy de-focussed background I can already get that with the 24-105, just by moving the subect a bit closer. ;)

I've already owned the Samyang that's supposed to have the worst focussing system of them all and that was fine, and I get on well with the Sammy 35 f2.8. The Sony 85 f1.8 would probably function OK, but I doubt I'd be happy with it optically, even though the focussing would be un-matched by anything else. If this lens had focussed accurately then I'd have been pleased to keep it.
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Actually don't find much wrong with the 24-105mm also lol.

Just skip the 85mm and buy the 100mm STF. They going at a bargain price at camera jungle with the 20% discount.
 
You should get one. Then you could tell us poorer or more stingy peeps if it's worth it.
 
addicknchips said:
What did I miss? Has the fe 85mm become a bad lens while I've been away?
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Not at all, but the more I look at pictures taken with it, the less I like what it does *in some situations*. If the OOF areas were smoother then it would be pretty much perfect in every way, and a must-have in the kit bag.

nandbytes said:
Actually don't find much wrong with the 24-105mm also lol.
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It's really good for a walk-about zoom, and is good for most situations one might come across. The thing is that when I WANT a smooth OOF background then it can't deliver, even with a butt-load of smoothing in post:

Lord Blandford's Pheasant by Toni Ertl, on Flickr

Where other designs of lenses can:
Dance on the wind by Toni Ertl, on Flickr

It's more than just aperture that makes a difference. What I'd like is a lens that will let me get portraits where I can do that smooth background without having to post-process the crunchiness out of the image.
 
justa1972 said:
Anyone using the Samyang 18mm ? Thoughts ?
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I bought one during a recent eBay offer for my eldest for Christmas.

Gave it a quick test to make sure it was working okay before putting it away.

It is what it is, a very cheap wide angle prime.

Let’s just say it hasn’t changed my opinion on Samyang autofocus lenses.

The Tamron 17-28mm f/2.8 that I have myself is a fair bit better at 18mm but then considering the cost difference you would expect it to be.
 
ancient_mariner said:
Not at all, but the more I look at pictures taken with it, the less I like what it does *in some situations*. If the OOF areas were smoother then it would be pretty much perfect in every way, and a must-have in the kit bag.



It's really good for a walk-about zoom, and is good for most situations one might come across. The thing is that when I WANT a smooth OOF background then it can't deliver, even with a butt-load of smoothing in post:

Lord Blandford's Pheasant by Toni Ertl, on Flickr

Where other designs of lenses can:
Dance on the wind by Toni Ertl, on Flickr

It's more than just aperture that makes a difference. What I'd like is a lens that will let me get portraits where I can do that smooth background without having to post-process the crunchiness out of the image.
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Sorry I cant see how you can compare with those images. Both are totally different situations and like you say it’s more than just apterure. Distance to background can play a major part too. One image the background is probably 5-10 metres behind the subject, the other the background is probably 100-200m behind the subject. If you care going to compare in the way you have it needs to be same subject taken around the same time otherwise comparison images are useless.

I agree with you that there will be differences in the lens characteristics. The bokeh will be totally different both are designed for completely different uses. It’s like comparing a run about car to a high powered sports car. Both will get you A to B but there will be only one winner in a race on a track. Just use the right tool for the right job (y)
 
addicknchips said:
couple of shots today with the sigma 135mm

2-1 by Jonathan Howes, on Flickr

1-1 by Jonathan Howes, on Flickr
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Looks a lovely lens that.
ancient_mariner said:
Not at all, but the more I look at pictures taken with it, the less I like what it does *in some situations*. If the OOF areas were smoother then it would be pretty much perfect in every way, and a must-have in the kit bag.



It's really good for a walk-about zoom, and is good for most situations one might come across. The thing is that when I WANT a smooth OOF background then it can't deliver, even with a butt-load of smoothing in post:

Lord Blandford's Pheasant by Toni Ertl, on Flickr

Where other designs of lenses can:
Dance on the wind by Toni Ertl, on Flickr

It's more than just aperture that makes a difference. What I'd like is a lens that will let me get portraits where I can do that smooth background without having to post-process the crunchiness out of the image.
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Love the fountain pic (y)
 
chrism_scotland said:
I had a play with the 18mm Samyang today in WEX (I didn't even know it was available!) - and it seemed very like the other pancake lenses - built to its price.
But for less than £350 it seems incredible for a good ultra wide!
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yep seems rather decent for the prize and size of it.
 
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