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

Thinking of swapping the 55/1.8 for an 85.

Which 85 do I go for? All opinions welcome.
 
Fe 1.8, bargain lens with brilliant assignable button.

That was any first thought - but I thought I’d throw it out there if anyone had any better suggestions! What’s the script with the 85 Art?
 
Good lens but twice the price and humungo and heavy.

I’d much prefer something lighter (part of the reason why I just can’t get rid of the 55 - it’s pretty much pocketable.)

BUT! I use the 35 most of the time, 55 isn’t tight enough and I have the 16-35 for wide. I’d be tempted to buy a wide angle prime at some point too. 70-200 or equiv I’ll bother with later, it’s not high in my priorities just now.

I’ll get gandering at the 85/1.8.
 
Samyang is sharper than Sony +
Samyang may require dock to tweak AF and update FW, mine did -
Samyang has better CA control than Sony +
Samyang has a slightly warmer cast -
Samyang is MUCH cheaper +
Sony is better built and looks nicer +
Sony has slightly nicer OOF +
Sony has QC issues with the optics -
Sony has better CAF +
Sony has better video AF +

I really struggled with a fast 35mm choice in E mount because both have pros and cons, it took me ages to compare these two lenses because they are both good lenses in different ways. Ive never tested 2 lenses as much. Usually its a 10 min job.

Ive been a long time Sigma 35 ART user on other mounts and I now have that in E mount to compare against the samples I took previously, but I kinda know what to expect. Its 30% more expensive than the Samyang, but then the Sony is 175% more expensive than the Samyang

Decide whats most important and go from there.

Thanks Twist for the detailed response, have the samyang 35mm, and a good cure for GAS hearing others feedback, pretty happy so far with it, but not as experienced with as wide as range of different glass as others to compare with.
 
Thanks Twist for the detailed response, have the samyang 35mm, and a good cure for GAS hearing others feedback, pretty happy so far with it, but not as experienced with as wide as range of different glass as others to compare with.

Can't get another 35 1.4 FF lens that performs as well brand new for 500 notes.
 

I've seen the mention of AFS issues but tbh I hate AFS on Sony cams. It's crap, so The issue mentioned is a non issue.

I hope you read the review @nandbytes, time to put that cancellation in ;)

An Excellent performance with sharpness a little bit better in the centre vs the Sony Distagon FE 35mm F1.4 Zeiss but much better (1 grade) than this one in the corner

CA are much better than the Sony Distagon FE 35mm F1.4


BokehBalls are very good, perfectly circular with no visible onion rings, they become ovals on the side (classic on a F1.4 lens) on par with the Sony Distagon FE 35mm F1.4 Zeiss

Excellent sharpness , low distorsion , low CA, better than Sony Distagon FE 35mm F1.4 Zeiss

Good thing the SZ has that aperture ring for another 700 quid eh :D
 
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I've seen the mention of AFS issues but tbh I hate AFS on Sony cams. It's crap, so The issue mentioned is a non issue.

I hope you read the review @nandbytes, time to put that cancellation in ;)

An Excellent performance with sharpness a little bit better in the centre vs the Sony Distagon FE 35mm F1.4 Zeiss but much better (1 grade) than this one in the corner

CA are much better than the Sony Distagon FE 35mm F1.4


BokehBalls are very good, perfectly circular with no visible onion rings, they become ovals on the side (classic on a F1.4 lens) on par with the Sony Distagon FE 35mm F1.4 Zeiss

Excellent sharpness , low distorsion , low CA, better than Sony Distagon FE 35mm F1.4 Zeiss

Good thing the SZ has that aperture ring for another 700 quid eh :D

lol basically a lens which can't even lock-on properly. AF-S and DMF are useful features and they exist for a reason. Its not a non-issue just because you hate it/don't use it. It can't even perform the simplest of AF functions properly. What a load of BS.

So AF-S doesn't work, DMF doesn't work, AF in video doesn't work nicely. Basically AF doesn't work.
Even the samyang manages this pretty well.

I am glad I didn't buy a new sigma.
 
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Getting focus is MOST critical.

You can be sharp as you like, if you can't get focus, the lens is garbage.

Ok….."garbage" is a bit extreme but between a lens with better focus with 2nd rate sharpness vs worse focus and better sharpness. I'd pick the one with better focus.

It's the same principle as I rather have a grainy image than a clear one but full of camera shake.
 
Which reminds me why I didn't get a Sigma for the Canon….the AF was not as good :p

I did two shoots this week with nothing but a 35 Art and didn't miss focus once over about 1400 images, including low light situations. If the Sigma has sub-par AF then the Zeiss must be supernatural.

That being said, I'd ditch it if Sony ever give us a decent 1.8 35FE.
 
I did two shoots this week with nothing but a 35 Art and didn't miss focus once over about 1400 images, including low light situations. If the Sigma has sub-par AF then the Zeiss must be supernatural.

That being said, I'd ditch it if Sony ever give us a decent 1.8 35FE.
Batis 40mm f2 is on its way...
 
lol basically a lens which can't even lock-on properly. AF-S and DMF are useful features and they exist for a reason. Its not a non-issue just because you hate it/don't use it. It can't even perform the simplest of AF functions properly. What a load of BS.

So AF-S doesn't work, DMF doesn't work, AF in video doesn't work nicely. Basically AF doesn't work.
Even the samyang manages this pretty well.

I am glad I didn't buy a new sigma.

You and Ray are hilarious, are you saying you can't get a lock with AFC? AFS is a joke on Sony cameras.
 
You and Ray are hilarious, are you saying you can't get a lock with AFC? AFS is a joke on Sony cameras.
AF-S/DMF is not a joke!
Yeah it'll lock-on static subjects and then start trying to track it which leads to misfocusses. Not to mention AF-S/DMF is dead accurate which AF-C isn't while it'll manage most of the time.
If you don't know when to use which AF mode not sure i would want to take any more opinions from you about AF.
Simply claiming something is joke with no reason or backing is in it self a joke.
 
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Sorry twist but your opinion about af is a joke after reading your posts!

Having used AFS and the A7R2, A9, A7III with Batis, Sony Zeiss, Tamron and Sigma lenses I totally agree with twist - its crap. AFC works wonderfully for me 10+ weddings later
 
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AF-S/DMF is not a joke!
Yeah it'll lock-on static subjects and then start trying to track it which leads to misfocusses. Not to mention AF-S/DMF is dead accurate which AF-C isn't while it'll manage most of the time.
If you don't know when to use which AF mode not sure i would want to take any more opinions from you about AF.
Simply claiming something is joke with no reason or backing is in it self a joke.

Are you mad in your head? AFC doesn't track, it continually focuses on the point youre telling it to unless you tell it to track with lock on, the A7 focus system is clever enough not to hunt with static subjects while using single point in AFC.

You clearly need to learn about the A7 AF modes.
 
Having used AFS and the A7R2, A9, A7III with Batis, Sony Zeiss, Tamron and Sigma lenses I totally agree with twist - its crap. AFC works wonderfully for me 10+ weddings later
It's not crap its dead accurate.

I still haven't heard a reasonable explanation or backing from you or twist as to why its crap/joke/useless etc etc.
 
Are you mad in your head? AFC doesn't track, it continually focuses on the point youre telling it to unless you tell it to track with lock on, the A7 focus system is clever enough not to hunt with static subjects while using single point in AFC.

You clearly need to learn about the A7 AF modes.
If you use AF-C for anything and everything I don't think it's me that needs the lessons.

Also kinda explains why your samyang lens needs "MFA" lol
 
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Lol ok keep telling yourself that. I don't have time to educate you.

Its in your post, I don't need to. I know how to use different AF modes, I just don't need to as AFC can do static locks just fine and faster than AFS.

Please, educate me some more, like the CA difference and weather sealing between the 35 lenses and that the Samyang lenses cant be MAd using the dock, please also carry on educating me about lenses you've never used that I actually own!
 
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Its in your post, I don't need to. I know how to use different AF modes, I just don't need to as AFC can do static locks just fine and faster than AFS.

Please, educate me some more, like the CA difference and weather sealing between the 35 lenses and that the Samyang lenses cant be MAd using the dock, please also carry on educating me about lenses you've never used.
:LOL:
 
Its in your post, I don't need to. I know how to use different AF modes, I just don't need to as AFC can do static locks just fine and faster than AFS.

Please, educate me some more, like the CA difference and weather sealing between the 35 lenses and that the Samyang lenses cant be MAd using the dock, please also carry on educating me about lenses you've never used that I actually own!
Ok good for you. You get your shots and I do mine.
I am not carrying on down this road since it doesn't seem constructive.
I am happy to debate a point but I think this is getting into argument territory which isn't helpful for either of us.
 
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