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

LeeRatters said:
If you want or need the f/1.4 and performance, bite the bullet, dip into the extra savings a touch, and get the 35GM.

I remember looking at the Sigma 35/2 but I just knew I would at some point regret it, want the GM and it would end up costing me even more in the long run. Buy properly, buy once.
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Many thanks, at the price above I’m seriously tempted, again as with the voigtlander I’ve always fancied a gm too lol. I can see this rabbit hole growing.
 
Micro-four-thirds said:
Many thanks, am I right in thinking it’s the sigma f1.2 that’s got that amazing 3d pop to the images? I’ve heard it’s heavy but I’m mainly a tripod shooter anyway so it’s not too much of an issue. Plus I do have a thing for wonderful bokeh lol.
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it certainly has but its not much better than Sony GM version - you'll probably struggle to tell the difference to be honest.
Viltrox 35mm f1.2 also renders very nicely.

if you don't need f1.2 get the Sony GM, if you want the f1.2 for the shallower DoF then new sigma 35mm f1.2ii is smaller than older sigma 35mm f1.2 and viltrox lab 35mm f1.2.
but you can get viltrox for £600 while new sigma will cost twice that. And GM somewhere in between.
 
Micro-four-thirds said:
Many thanks all, wow I didn’t realise how much of a choice there’d be, I was expecting maybe one or two MF lenses and that was all.
Off to read up on the reviews, unfortunately I think the gm will be out of budget but I’ll have a good look, I’ve always fancied a voigtlander and having settled on 35mm as my go to focal length they’re sounding interesting.
Cheers all.
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The f1.2 and f1.4 are quite different lenses plus the f1.2 might come in two different versions, the normal version and the SE, the SE being the "stills edition" version and lacking the declick option of the other "normal" lens. They are built differently too with the older normal version having a scalloped focus ring whereas the newer SE doesn't.

The f1.4 is smaller and is an updated version of their older film era lens. It can have funky bokeh with messy scenes and the corners are never great but even so it's probably my most used lens ever. The f1.2 is larger and heavier and is a new design rather than an updated film era one with better bokeh at wider apertures. The f1.2 is optically the better lens.
 
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nandbytes said:
it certainly has but its not much better than Sony GM version - you'll probably struggle to tell the difference to be honest.
Viltrox 35mm f1.2 also renders very nicely.

if you don't need f1.2 get the Sony GM, if you want the f1.2 for the shallower DoF then new sigma 35mm f1.2ii is smaller than older sigma 35mm f1.2 and viltrox lab 35mm f1.2.
but you can get viltrox for £600 while new sigma will cost twice that. And GM somewhere in between.
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Many thanks, that is surprising with the price difference, I’d always thought the gm’s would be the top price options at all levels. The gm is certainly looking very appealing.
 
woof woof said:
The f1.2 and f1.4 are quite different lenses plus the f1.2 might come in two different versions, the normal version and the SE, the SE being the "stills edition" version and lacking the declick option of the other "normal" lens. They are built differently too with the older normal version having a scalloped focus ring whereas the newer SE doesn't.

The f1.4 is smaller and is an updated version of their older film era lens. It can have funky bokeh with messy scenes and the corners are never great but even so it's probably my most used lens ever. The f1.2 is larger and heavier and is a new design rather than an updated film era one with better bokeh at wider apertures. The f1.2 is optically the better lens.
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That’s handy to know, I’m thinking along the lines of Sony gm 35mm and potentially the voigtlander once I’ve saved up again, giving me the option of the different look at the same focal length.
 
Micro-four-thirds said:
That’s handy to know, I’m thinking along the lines of Sony gm 35mm and potentially the voigtlander once I’ve saved up again, giving me the option of the different look at the same focal length.
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I'd go f1.4 rather than f1.2 as you save bulk and weight and £ and will probably never notice the difference unless looking at the size of bokeh balls at f1.2 v f1.4 side by side in otherwise identical shots.
 
Micro-four-thirds said:
Many thanks, can I ask what the MF is like please?
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The Manual Focus?

The Manual Focus of the Voigtlanders is very nice, they're nicer to MF with than any AF lens I've ever had.

At wide apertures peaking seems to usually work well as next to nothing will be peaking but when stopped down a lot of the picture may be peaking and when looking closely your main point of interest may not be the thing that is the point of focus. For best results I use the magnified view but you have to have time to do all this. MF is nice to use for static or slow moving subjects and for long exposures and of course for zone / hyperfocal use.

What I normally do is set the focus to the approximate distance and then point the camera at the subject and then get the focus spot on.
 
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Micro-four-thirds said:
Many thanks, that is surprising with the price difference, I’d always thought the gm’s would be the top price options at all levels. The gm is certainly looking very appealing.
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Its practically a 5 years old lens. So you can get it much cheaper than many other newer options even from 3rd parties.
I was actually going to eventually list mine in sales at some point to fund the new sigma 35mm f1.2ii

Seeing there is a lot of interest on here might list it before Christmas :ROFLMAO:
 
Micro-four-thirds said:
Many thanks, that is surprising with the price difference, I’d always thought the gm’s would be the top price options at all levels. The gm is certainly looking very appealing.
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Cotswolds are grey import which is why it's cheaper, the GM is £1400 UK.
 
nandbytes said:
plenty of options with aperture rings

Sigma - 35mm f2, 35mm f1.4, 35mm f1.2 (both mk1 and 2)
Sony 35mm f1.4 GM, Sony zeiss 35mm f1.4 ZA
MF - the voigtlanders above, voigtlander 35mm f2 APO lanthar, zeiss loxia 35mm f2 (which are optically much better than f1.2/f1.4 versions)

Then there's other Chinese branch lenses like viltrox 35mm f1.8 AF, viltrox 35mm f1.2 LAB, meike 35mm f1.8 AF, sirui 35mm f1.4 etc etc

plus there also a bunch of small 40mm primes with aperture rings like sony 40mm f2.5 and ttartisan 40mm f2.

if you can afford the Sony 35GM, its probably the best overall option.
Viltrox 35mm f1.2 seems to be the best bang for buck if you can put up with the weight and size

Sigma 35mm f2 is a work of art, beautifully made and nice to use.
new sigma 35mm f1.2ii is probably the best f1.2 option if you really want/need that f1.2 like me :D
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I’m seriously tempted by that 35mm F2, and indeed getting a trio of those I series lenses (the 17mm or 20mm and the 50mm or 65mm), the GAS is strong…
 
Gold said:
I’m seriously tempted by that 35mm F2, and indeed getting a trio of those I series lenses (the 17mm or 20mm and the 50mm or 65mm), the GAS is strong…
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They are very nicely made
The 65mm is an odd focal length. But if you are buying the 35mm, I think I'd prefer the 65mm over 50mm.

I'd probably go 17-35-65. Roughly 2x between each focal length. Pairs nicely with an A7CR and can easily 1.5x crop for focal lengths in between :D

Merry Christmas :ROFLMAO:
 
nandbytes said:
They are very nicely made
The 65mm is an odd focal length. But if you are buying the 35mm, I think I'd prefer the 65mm over 50mm.

I'd probably go 17-35-65. Roughly 2x between each focal length. Pairs nicely with an A7CR and can easily 1.5x crop for focal lengths in between :D

Merry Christmas :ROFLMAO:
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It's a shame no-one's done a 35mm f2 the size of the lens of the RX1 series, that would make the A7c series a serious option for me. The 35mm f2.8's are nice and compact but they're just not fast enough.
 
snerkler said:
It's a shame no-one's done a 35mm f2 the size of the lens of the RX1 series, that would make the A7c series a serious option for me. The 35mm f2.8's are nice and compact but they're just not fast enough.
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There is a ttartisan 40mm f2 AF lens but it's not any where as sharp as the lens in RX1. But it's also very cheap.

And there is a Sony 40mm f2.5 which is actually very sharp.

Considering the ttartisan 40mm myself because corners isn't all that important when used for people/kids.
 
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nandbytes said:
There is a ttartisan 40mm f2 AF lens but it's not any where as sharp as the lens in RX1. But it's also very cheap.

And there is a Sony 40mm f2.5 which is actually very sharp.
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It is and so far it's one of my favourite lenses.

nandbytes said:
MF - the voigtlanders above, voigtlander 35mm f2 APO lanthar, zeiss loxia 35mm f2 (which are optically much better than f1.2/f1.4 versions)
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I've never been tempted by the Loxias. I don't like their almost mirrorless lens styling plus I've read that they can be hard to mount and dismount due to their slippery shape and lack of anything to grip although I've read that you can buy an add on thingy to give you some grip or you could just use use an elastic band. There's a lot on Fred Miranda about Loxia and Voigtlander lenses. I believe the Voigtlander 35mm f2 apo is much better than the Loxia f2 and also that the Voigtlander f1.4 gives a similar result to the Loxia from f2 onwards but of course with the Voigtlander f1.4 you get the wider aperture for emergency and non complex scenes. I would have probably bought the Voigtlander 35mm f2 but I already had the other 35mm's plus the 50mm f2 apo which BTW is IMO excellent.

Another MF option with a clickable aperture is the Pergear 35mm f1.4 which has its issues and IMO isn't f1.4 but it is Sony mount, small, light and cheap at depending upon where you buy it from £88-£120,
 
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snerkler said:
It's a shame no-one's done a 35mm f2 the size of the lens of the RX1 series, that would make the A7c series a serious option for me. The 35mm f2.8's are nice and compact but they're just not fast enough.
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Yup.

I'd accept lesser IQ if the lens was small and light. Merely acceptable quality is... acceptable. I don't need a cutting edge lens all the time :D A Sony mini G style 35mm f2 would suit me very well.

I said at the time the 35mm f2.8 came out that it was just enough and it and the f2.5 of the 40mm are just enough for me most of the time as I don't take a lot of pictures in truly dark conditions and although I do always take shallow DoF pictures when I have a wide aperture lens on the camera most of the time I'll trade bokeh for light weight and a compact size.
 
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LeeRatters said:
If you want or need the f/1.4 and performance, bite the bullet, dip into the extra savings a touch, and get the 35GM.

I remember looking at the Sigma 35/2 but I just knew I would at some point regret it, want the GM and it would end up costing me even more in the long run. Buy properly, buy once.
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Just get them both. I have both and the wee Siggy is a wonderful lens to use.
 
I did have the 40mm f2.5 for a while but sold it. I know it's only 2/3 stop but found myself wanting for a little more light and slightly shallower DOF.

That said it was the lens (+A9) that I took to the hospital for when my daughter was born so I guess that's praise...
 
Gold said:
I did have the 40mm f2.5 for a while but sold it. I know it's only 2/3 stop but found myself wanting for a little more light and slightly shallower DOF.

That said it was the lens (+A9) that I took to the hospital for when my daughter was born so I guess that's praise...
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when my daughter was born I used a Panasonic G100 with 20mm f1.7 lens.
Really appreciated having that small form factor.

Part of the reason i want try A7CR with ttartisan 40mm f2. It isn't the best lens, but it can go anywhere and fit in coat pockets.
 
nandbytes said:
when my daughter was born I used a Panasonic G100 with 20mm f1.7 lens.
Really appreciated having that small form factor.

Part of the reason i want try A7CR with ttartisan 40mm f2. It isn't the best lens, but it can go anywhere and fit in coat pockets.
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I might get one of those TT Artisan 40mm’s be rude not to with them being so cheap.
 
Not looking promising for the morning, but camera bag is out & alarm set. Going out for Christmas Eve sunrise has been pretty consistent for the past 10-12 years :)

If not, we have to go to Melksham also in the morning, so might leave a touch earlier & call into Lacock on the way.

EDIT - A local autumn shoot first weekend of Nov and the special sunrise trip to the Brecon's with my son on the 20th Nov is the only time the Sony has been out since the Welsh Honeymoon Roadtrip in September!
 
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LeeRatters said:
Not looking promising for the morning, but camera bag is out & alarm set. Going out for Christmas Eve sunrise has been pretty consistent for the past 10-12 years :)

If not, we have to go to Melksham also in the morning, so might leave a touch earlier & call into Lacock on the way.

EDIT - A local autumn shoot first weekend of Nov and the special sunrise trip to the Brecon's with my son on the 20th Nov is the only time the Sony has been out since the Welsh Honeymoon Roadtrip in September!
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Best of luck, I hope it all works out for you
 
A review of 2025...

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2025 - Year in Review - phillipreeve.net

ContentsIntroductionVideos and Social MediaReviewsHighlightsLenses with big Entrance PupilSuper Fast 50mm LensesNikon’s f/4.0 Z-mount ZoomsSony’s Gen II LensesViltrox going StrongM-mount lensesSuper Fast 35mm ComparisonWhat else happened in 2025?Reviews of APS-C Fixed Lens CamerasCanon RF 45mm...
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You all seem to have such wholesome Christmas. I done a bottle of vodka last night and woke up this morning sick as a dog. Her indoors is doing a fry up to sort that out and then it will time to crack open the bottle of whiskey my bro in law dropped round for me last night.
 
nandbytes said:
Shameless plug.... for any one interested my 35GM is in sales
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Not shameless at all. There's nothing wrong with telling people in this thread that you're listing something they might be interested in. I very rarely look in the sales sections these days, I doubt too many of us in this thread are lurkers there so a heads up about something we might otherwise miss is a good thing :D

On that not I suppose I should get around to listing most of my remaining film era lenes and my Voigtlanders as they're just not getting used. I'm taking my A7III and Voigtlander 35mm f1.2 to carols by candlelight tonight just in case I get the chance to take a picture but it's months since I used any of them. I don't know if I can part with the 35mm f1.4 yet as it's been such a loved and used lens in the past. I should also sell the A7III as that too is rarely used these days and although I do like the idea of having the A7cII with the 40mm and the A7III with either the Sony 28mm f2 or tonight the V35mm f1.2 I'm not going to be taking two cameras out with me very often.

GLWTS. If I wasn't fixated on compact kit I'd have it.
 
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