Just Blew the Rest of My A99 II Money
Posted: Tue Jan 03, 2017 10:48 am
After several weeks debating with myself whether to buy into the Batis or Loxia lens range, I am now the owner of the Loxia 21 and 35 lenses. So at the moment I am spending my spare time relearning how to properly manually focus a wide angle lens on a hand held 42 MP camera. Both composing and focusing at the same time has become rather a lost art for me.
Much of my serious shooting on the A7r II has been done on a tripod and sometimes manual focus and sometimes on auto focus but this is proving to be rather different. On the tripod I also sometimes use the Sony video monitor as well so shooting becomes more like a micro sized field camera rather than like my old Olympus OM 2n etc.
The lenses are a real revelation after modern by wire lenses, and although early days the lenses certainly have something about how they portray the world. They both have 180 degree focusing throw and you do need to apply a certain amount of pressure to the focus ring to get it to move - so not much chance of them moving with just a slight accidental knock.
The aperture ring ( remember those ) on first examination appears to be too close to the camera body but mounted on the camera it becomes quite OK as long as you don't have very large fingers.
My only complaint is the so called de clicking key which for a lens of this price and quality is a complete and utter piece of doggie-doo. Instead of being something large enough and sturdy enough to put on a key ring so that you don't loose it, quiet frankly the pop top bit on the last drinks can was a far more impressive bit of metal work.
Not that I have much interest in video but it would be better if you got something usable for your money.
Much of my serious shooting on the A7r II has been done on a tripod and sometimes manual focus and sometimes on auto focus but this is proving to be rather different. On the tripod I also sometimes use the Sony video monitor as well so shooting becomes more like a micro sized field camera rather than like my old Olympus OM 2n etc.
The lenses are a real revelation after modern by wire lenses, and although early days the lenses certainly have something about how they portray the world. They both have 180 degree focusing throw and you do need to apply a certain amount of pressure to the focus ring to get it to move - so not much chance of them moving with just a slight accidental knock.
The aperture ring ( remember those ) on first examination appears to be too close to the camera body but mounted on the camera it becomes quite OK as long as you don't have very large fingers.
My only complaint is the so called de clicking key which for a lens of this price and quality is a complete and utter piece of doggie-doo. Instead of being something large enough and sturdy enough to put on a key ring so that you don't loose it, quiet frankly the pop top bit on the last drinks can was a far more impressive bit of metal work.
Not that I have much interest in video but it would be better if you got something usable for your money.