Best normal-tele primes list.
Dxomark posted a double Sony related testing:
1) Best lenses for the Sony A77 (Click here to read). As expected most of the times Zeiss lenses are on top 🙂
2) NEX-5T sensor text (Click here to read). They write: “It’s human nature to feel disappointed that Sony didn’t improve the sensor between this and the NEX-5R but the few improvements in features over that model are welcome nonetheless.“
49 Responses
As usual with these things, DxO misses some of the best lenses. Most problematic is that they don’t even include the kit lens that comes with the A77, which is one of the best zoom lenses for any APS-C system. I also noticed they missed the Zeiss 135 (should be up there with the 85) and the Sony version of the 28-75 (although you should just buy the Tamron, it’s basically the same and way cheaper).
I don’t know other systems well enough to check if this kind of incompleteness applies to Canon or Nikon cameras, but I do know that their lists of lenses for Sony cameras are next to useless. They skip over some of the best lenses available, presumably because they haven’t gotten around to testing them yet.
+1 the 16-50 f 2.8 kit lens is excellent.
+1
Sony Zeiss 50mm f/1.4 is the sharpest lens I have, and that includes the Sigma 35 and the Zeiss 135.
Cz135 missing along with Sigma 50 1.4… DxO is funny 🙂
Don’t take DxO too serious.
So most lenses on 24mp are softer than m43s at 16?
Higher pixel density sensors show lens issue much more than lower. My Nikkor AIS 50mm f1.8 is great on my 5N, sharp but on a A3000 ‘s 20.1mp it much weaker
“Higher pixel density sensors show lens issue much more than lower. My Nikkor AIS 50mm f1.8 is great on my 5N, sharp but on a A3000 ‘s 20.1mp it much weaker”
I dont really think that is the case on the same size sensor with the only difference being mp count you will have the same level of distortion,vignetting etc with the higher mp model giving better resolution/sharpness.When viewed at 100% on screen the higher mp may appear worse but at the same output size the higher mp model will do better.
example Nikon lower end kit lens 24-85, on 12mp D700 vs D800
http://www.dxomark.com/Lenses/Compare-Camera-Lenses/Compare-lenses/%28lens1%29/971/%28brand%29/Nikkor/%28camera1%29/792/%28lens2%29/971/%28brand2%29/Nikkor/%28camera2%29/441
That’s simply not true { homer} take mFT 3 finest primes Panasonic 25mm f1.4, Olympus 60mm macro and the 75mm F1.8, not bad
http://www.dxomark.com/Lenses/Compare-Camera-Lenses/Compare-lenses/%28lens1%29/898/%28brand%29/Olympus/%28camera1%29/0/%28lens2%29/450/%28brand2%29/Panasonic/%28camera2%29/0/%28lens3%29/897/%28brand3%29/Olympus/%28camera3%29/0
Now take 3 lower end Nikon primes 35mm F1.8, 60mm macro and 85mm F1.8g every one is better
http://www.dxomark.com/Lenses/Compare-Camera-Lenses/Compare-lenses/%28lens1%29/313/%28brand%29/Nikkor/%28camera1%29/865/%28lens2%29/823/%28brand2%29/Nikkor/%28camera2%29/865/%28lens3%29/984/%28brand3%29/Nikkor/%28camera3%29/865
Just on a side note the three mFT lenses cost £1489 { cheapest UK } much the same in the EU zone, the three Nikon lenses cost £868 .
F1.8 on Nikon APS gives the same DOF control as F1.2 on mFT . So you get better DOF control, on the D7100 { which is £459 cheaper than the E-M1 }better DR, better colour depth , better high ISO and all for hundreds of pounds less. If only you mFT guys could manage to lift that extra massive half kilo extra weight lol
The only problem is that it is true. The d7100 has 8 million more pixels, switch to an equal 16 mp camera and things dont look so good for the nikkor
http://www.dxomark.com/Lenses/Compare-Camera-Lenses/Compare-lenses/(lens1)/898/(lens2)/823/(brand1)/Olympus/(camera1)/793/(brand2)/Nikkor/(camera2)/680
More pixels is a poor solution for bad lenses. At the end of the day the oly will be more detailed
Tell you what download a controlled raw file the best with regard to exposure accuracy and constant lighting are the french website focus numerique. Download the controlled RAW files from the state of the art mFT camera and any of the current APS models { all of which are 24mp D5200,D7100,D5300, Sony NEX 7 Pentax K3 whatever .Download the RAW files and tell me just where exactly the APS user not buying an old outdated model will lose out.
Better DR, better high ISO , better colour depth and like for like cheaper .
State of the art mFT E-M1 raw link :
http://www.focus-numerique.com/test-1766/compact-a-objectifs-interchangeables-olympus-e-m1-bruit-electronique-12.html
Nikon D7100
http://www.focus-numerique.com/test-1643/reflex-nikon-d7100-bruit-electronique-12.html
A larger sensor of the same generation other than unique specialist options like the D4 will always have a higher Pixel count accommodated easily because of the larger sensor, You want to attempt to compare the very latest mFT camera to a previous generation APS, in an attempt to skew the results in your favour.
We are well used to the machinations of mFT users who will do anything to avoid a comparison based on current tech vs current tech. The fact is that other than Canon who are well behind the sensor race all current APS cameras are 24MP and will not be likely to reduce this number in the past.Your suggestion to cherry pick generations to compare with is ridiculous in the extreme .
The lens I am most excited about is the Tamron 150-600mm f5-6.3.
This will be a good walk around lens for my porposes…although only usefull outdoors.
Sweet!! You have porpoises? Do you train dolphins, or just live near them?
Ive been keeping them OUTDOORS ever since they outgrew my bathtub.
I tried to train them to bring me my newspaper but that didnt work so good.
+1 LOL guys!
I did train them to quard my yard and since then not a sigle mackerel has eaten my vegetables….some of my goldfish are missing though.
That typo is nothing Barry at least we knew what you meant.I am pretty sure my Ipad 3 uses a different language to the one I selected maybe not even an Earth language with some of the odd word and word combinations it comes up with 🙂
When I post with my Ipad my posts look like they came from a poorly educated 6 year old.Whilst they look like an educated 6 year old when I type with my PC. 🙂
Hey Dick-xO, maybe a 16-50 review? What…no 135mm? You waiting on the magical Zeiss fairy to do it for you? GFU.
“Hey Dick-xO, maybe a 16-50 review? What…no 135mm? You waiting on the magical Zeiss fairy to do it for you? GFU.”
Is this the 16-50 you mean or is there another,I am browsing due to interest in the A7r and I am not familiar with the Sony lens selection
http://www.dxomark.com/Lenses/Camera-Lens-Database/Sony/Sony-E16-50mm-F35-56
No, I am sure he means the SAL 16-50 f 2.8 I believe. It is an aps-c lens though and the a7r is a full frame camera.
He means the Sony 16-50 F2.8 for a-mount.
This lens:
http://goo.gl/S58WOB
Ah sorry Guys I am just getting to grips with the Sony gear,
DxO WILL be testing both the CZ135 AND the SAL1650 soon…. please see my screen shot when I requested it on/in their Facebook page
http://www.flickr.com/photos/63271580@N00/10942163976/sizes/l/in/photostream/
WOW – A mount news!
Interesting that they did not test the classic Tamron 90mm F2.8 Macro either, it has been around long enough. Have to agree that not testing the 135mm F1.8 ZA is very strange and a bit of and own goal.
Si
A note about that lens..it suffers from flare whn not used with the sun shade..I know that should be obvios but because the frint element is deeply recessed it is tempting to use without shade…dont.
I was also surprised they didn’t test the Tamron 90mm Macro.
No 70/2.8 either – easily the sharpest lens I’ve tried on my a77 (different league to the 60/2).
No love for the Sony 35mm f1.8 then?
Sony 50/1.4 – sharpness score:9
Minolta 50/1.4 – sharpness score: 15
These lenses have identical optics. Something must be wrong with DXO’s testing here.
Exactly, I was going to say that too, this can’t be right. If I was DxO, I wouldn’t even publish this before sorting this out. Something must be wrong with the Sony.
I agree with you. DxO test is not reliable and their test on the Sony 500 mm indoor is wrong too.
Either they
A) Get bad copies and test with them (instead of using several copies to identify a problem if one exists).
B) Have no idea how to use their testing equipment effectively
C) Have faulty testing equipment
Regardless, it’s clear that their reviews cant be trusted at all. Their numbers are all over the place.
D) All of the above.
Yup, this surely doesn’t add up. wtf?
Hi Mike I think there must be some kind of error posted as in all the other comparisons the differences are negligible .Only the a77 shows a major difference in all the other cameras I looked at the results were where you would expect them to be.
I have to say I have found DXO data corresponds pretty well with the real life results at least from the equipment I own.No site is perfect I think it has been a mistake imputing data.One glitch doesn’t make the whole site wrong.
There is another major correlation i have noticed between peoples hatred of DXO it seems to coincide directly with their ratings of the readers beloved gear.The mFT and the Four Third forum before it was full of it a,s apparently they had problems accepting a larger sensor was better than a smaller sensor 🙂
The Tamron 60mm f2.0 macro is one of my favorites. Super sharp macro lens and economicaly priced.
Where is the major firmware update for the A77? Is it still coming?
You MUST be joking.
There is NO firmware update coming for the A77.
I get the feeling some people are just refusing to believe that Sony is focusing on new models, not updating firmware on a 3 year old model. Next thing we know, it will be ten years down the road and people will still be asking “is that A77 firmware update coming???”
Apparently you actually need to hear this….its not going to happen.
Exactly! Would we like it to happen? Sure. Will it? No chance, now.
So the 55-200 and the 18-135 ranks higher than the 70-300 which in turn ranks above the 70-400G II?
And this is why I don’t trust DxO’s reviews…
DxO should never be taken seriously (or linked to).
The numbers in their lens reviews are so far off the mark you cant draw any meaningful conclusions from it at all. All of their reviews are highly questionable.
If Sony is working very good, Konica Minolta AF 50mm has the best rate of Sharpness/Price.
And Wood is now a drink…….
We at DXO are highly praised researchers and we are glad some of the smartest Readers (Ian) appreciate our efforts. In return, we are going to give you a free book. You may choose between “Pigs don’t fly” by U R A Pillock and “Basic judgement” by L O Botomy.
Hi DxO. This is Dx1, your successor.
We are even MORE highly praised researchers. We are glad you took the time our of your busy day to reply here. Plus I’m sure it gave your finger a break from the constant head scratching.
We would like to introduce our new rating scale, based on the foundation laid by DxO.
The lens falls into one of two categories:
1) Canon/Nikon 2) Sony/Other
If 1, we will rate the lens highly, regardless of real life performance.
If 2, we will simply assign an arbitrary and random score to all performance characteristics.
Simple, Huh?
BTW, I realize that DXO above is not really a representative of DxO.