Sony A7/A7r Making from soulstory on Vimeo.
This is the next SAR readers legacy lens roundup. I hope you will find it very useful! Again thanks to all readers for sending their links to their tests. A fourth roundup will be posted soon. Keep sending your tests at sonyalpharumors@gmail.com.
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Stefan: I tested a bunch of 50mm lenses on my a7r, have a look: http://flic.kr/s/aHsjN5kr12
I shoot mainly food, so this setup is a test for most problems I encounter in my work. I had to use a metabones mk1, because my mk3 stopped working, therefore the EF lenses vignette
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Josselin Cornou:
I had my A7r almost two week ago with Zeiss 35mm f2.8. Models tested so far (By preference):
1. Zeiss 35mm f2.8 (here on Amazon): Sharp at f2.8, autofocus. I have notice that the Zeiss is almost on par with a Sigma 35mm f1.4 @f2.8.
2. [shoplink 23449 ebay]Canon FD 50mm f1.8 (here on eBay)[/shoplink].: Big surprise. Big pros is the resolution (I am impressed to see such achievement for a 40 year old lens ! it easily beats the Minolta 50mm f1.7 wide open). Cons is chromatic aberration. While I noticed it a lot on a x2 crop factor sensor (GH3). On the A7r it’s only noticeable on really bright environment.
3. Samyang 85mm f1.4 (here on Amazon): Sharp, @1.4 actually sharper than the Canon 50mm @1.8. BUT the focus is way too hard to move. I would need to try the cine lens version. I love the image, but focusing make things really slow….
4. [shoplink 23461 ebay]Voigtlander 15mm f4.5 (here on eBay)[/shoplink]: Amazing piece of glass for the size (really small wide angle)… It’s a really good glass for travellers. From previous reviews I was expecting a lot of color shifting…. This is not really the case (and you can correct it easily ) ! Cons : it’s soft at f4.5 (way softer than a Samyang 14mm T3.1).
5. [shoplink 23462 ebay]Minolta 50mm f1.7 on LA-EA4 (here on eBay)[/shoplink]: Focuses quite fast… but the image is really soft wide angle. I used a lot the the Voigtlander 25mm f.95 (GH3) and I found this lens softer wide open (compared to the Voigtlander @f0.95).
Also : [shoplink 21602 ebay]Voigtlander 35mm f1.2 (here on eBay)[/shoplink]: Not sharp at f1.2… This lens is not for pixel peepers (Sorry I am used to the Sigma 35mm f1.4)…
This is a first overview.
On the cameras:
Pros :
– Light,
– Sharp image… Legacy lenses react surprisingly well !
– Focuses fast in good light (not as fast as a GH3 with 17mm f1.. I do not do a lot of flash photography but I didn’t noticed a lot of lag with the Canon 430 EX 2
– Haven’t notice any shutter lag.
Cons :
– Using manual lenses of the LA-EA4 I cannot always magnify the files (right after taking a picture (i.e in the next 5-10mins) I may receive a message “cannot magnify”. Not sure if this is due to the fact that this camera is taking time to proxy raw images. Please Sony, fix this !
-(on LA-EA4) : Tamron 28-300mm didn’t focus. I am not sure if this is a defect on the lens.
-(on LA-EA4) : Selection of lenses (at a reasonable price) available is not big. For the price of a Sony-Zeiss lens, it might be better to use a Leica-Zeiss-Voigtlander (leica mount).
I don’t usually use flickr, but I have uploaded a set of RAWs for you : http://www.flickr.com/photos/64670832@N03/sets/72157638313070485/
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Ai: “I know A7R tests are old news now but in case you are planning another roundup I had a go with the A7R and the [shoplink 23463 ebay]Zuiko 24mm f2.8 OM (one Bay)[/shoplink] here: http://xexets.blogspot.co.uk/2013/12/a-test-for-cold-a7r-with-zuiko-om-24mm.html”
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Marcus: “Here is my feed with some pictures from the A7 with different Contax lenses.: http://www.flickr.com/photos/mrosth/with/11233707966”
Hologon 16mm; 1:8 on [shoplink 16235 ebay]eBay (Click here)[/shoplink].
Biogon T* 21 mm; 1:2,8 on [shoplink 16236 ebay]eBay (Click here)[/shoplink].
Biogon T* 28 mm; 1:2,8 on [shoplink 16237 ebay]eBay (Click here)[/shoplink].
Planar T* 35 mm; 1:2,0 on [shoplink 16238 ebay]eBay (Click here)[/shoplink].
Planar T* 45 mm; 1:2,0 on [shoplink 16239 ebay]eBay (Click here)[/shoplink].
Sonnar T* 90 mm; 1:2,8 on [shoplink 16240 ebay]eBay (Click here)[/shoplink].
Vario-Sonnar T* 35 – 70 mm; 1:3,5-5,6 on [shoplink 16241 ebay]eBay (Click here)[/shoplink].
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Tamrong:
A7R + [shoplink 21603 ebay]Leica 21mm (one Bay)[/shoplink] super angulon results: https://fbcdn-sphotos-d-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-frc3/q71/s720x720/1456762_10200205535139324_269880900_n.jpg
picture posted on FullFrame Mirrorless Camera Thailand: https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10200205535139324&set=gm.457530824357457&type=1&theater
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Teh: “You may want to share with SAR some photos taken with Sony A7 with Konica [shoplink 23464 ebay]Hexanon AR 40/f1.8 (one Bay)[/shoplink] pancake lens: http://www.flickr.com/photos/vibranze/tags/sonyilce7/”
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Pedro: “I have posted new Sony A7r tests with Leica 50mm summicron, 35mm Elmarit and 90mm Elmarit vs Nikon D800e with Nikon 50mm f1.8G, 35mm f2D and Nikon 85mm f1.4D on Flickr here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/lastingimages/sets”
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Sony A7r + Voigtlander 20mm f/3.5 Color Skopar SL II (Soundimagesplus).
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Kevin:
I’ve got my A7r 4 weeks ago, and I’ve done a thorough Contax G lens test. G21 and G28 has heavy color shift and vignette, even worse than my nex-6 and 5n, so basically useless. G35, G45, G90 are perfect on A7r, except a very minor vignette when wide open. I also tested 2 Voigtlander for Leica M lenses (CV 15 4.5 II and CV 35 1.2 II). Same as above G lenses, CV 15 II has heavy color shift and vignette, useless for A7r. CV 35 1.2 II has minor vignette below F2.0.
I also three old DKL lenses, all perfect on A7r – Schneider 50 F1.9, Schneider 28 F4, and Voigtlander 134 F4. I think DKL lenses are really good cheap manual lenses perfect for A7r, and they are all genuine German lenses with great color and image quality.
Please find all tests at http://www.flickr.com/photos/51092680@N04/sets/72157638081323126/
Best regards,
Kevin Town
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Canon 17mm TS-E tilt/shift, Nikon Macro 85mm tilt/shift, Leica Macro-Elmarit-R 60mm by Dierk Topp.
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Edgar: Not a rumor but a post, using the a7r in the desert with the Canon 24-70 II (edgarcardenas.tumblr.com)
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Review with A7r and ZM C Sonnar 50mm at Jkspepper.
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Phil: Here is the Link to my gallery of HongKong pictures trying out my new Sony A7R with Leica M lenses (Summicron 35, CV 21 f1.8, Summicron 50)…
I love this camera and it works great with my Leica lenses. Pictures processed in LR5.3RC to correct minor color casting and vignetting when required. I use Flat Field DNG plug-in external corrections after creating a generic profile for those lenses (an easy process even forme;-D)
http://philbreyne.smugmug.com/Place/Places
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Part four of the legacy lens test roundup will be posted in a couple of days!
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Specs and Preorders in US and Canada:
Dedicated Sony announcement page at Amazon US (Click here).
Sony A7r body at Amazon, Adorama, BHphoto, SonystoreUS. TheCameraStore Canada.
Sony A7 body at Amazon, Adorama, BHphoto, SonystoreUS. TheCameraStore Canada.
Sony A7 with 28-70mm kit lens at Amazon, Adorama, BHphoto, SonystoreUS. TheCameraStore Canada.
Sony RX10 at Amazon, Adorama, BHphoto, SonystoreUS.
Zeiss 24-70mm at Amazon, Adorama, BHphoto, SonystoreUS.
Zeiss 35mm at Amazon, Adorama, BHphoto, SonystoreUS.
Zeiss 55mm at Amazon, Adorama, BHphoto, SonystoreUS.
70-200mm A-mount at Amazon, Adorama, BHphoto, SonystoreUS.
Sony A-Mount to E-Mount Lens Adapter at Amazon, Adorama, BHphoto.
Sony A to E adapter with mirror at Amazon, Adorama, BHphoto.
A7/A7r leather case at Amazon, Adorama, BHphoto, SonystoreUS.
A7/A7r vertical grip at Amazon, BHphoto, SonystoreUS.
Sony W Series Battery Charger at Amazon, BHphoto.
Sony FA-CS1M Off-Camera Shoe at BHphoto.
Semi-Hard LCD Screen Protector for A7-A7r at Amazon, BHphoto.
Specs and Preorders in Europe:
Sony A7r body at Sony DE, UK, FR, IT, ES, NL, BE, CH, AT, SE, FI, NO, PT, WexUK, WexDE.
Sony A7 body at Sony DE, UK, FR, IT, ES, NL, BE, CH, AT, SE, FI, NO, PT, WexUK, WexDE, Amazon UK, Amazon DE, Amazon FR.
Sony A7 with 28-70mm kit Sony DE, UK, FR, IT, ES, NL, BE, CH, AT, SE, FI, NO, PT, WexUK, WexDE, Amazon UK, Amazon DE, Amazon FR.
Sony RX10 at Sony DE, UK, FR, IT, ES, NL, BE, CH, AT, SE, FI, NO, PT, WexUK, WexDE.
Zeiss 35mm at Sony DE, UK, FR, IT, ES, NL, BE, CH, AT, SE, FI, NO, PT,
Zeiss 55mm at Sony DE, UK, FR, IT, ES, NL, BE, CH, AT, SE, FI, NO, PT
Zeiss 24-70mm at Sony DE, UK, FR, IT, ES, NL, BE, SE, PT
Sony G 28-70mm lens at Sony DE, FR, IT, ES, NL, BE, CH, AT, SE, FI, NO.
Asia:
A7r at Digitalrev.
A7 at Digitalrev, Amazon Cina.
A7 with 28-70mm lens at Digitalrev.
27 Responses
What would be REALLY helpful is just a big chart or wiki. It gets tiring combing through hundreds of pages of reviews and tests trying to hunt down information about specific lenses.
Good idea, do it.
I think I might be the only person who isn’t happy with their a7(r) so far.
Why you ain’t happy
And I might be the only one who thinks the video quality is pretty bad.
Would have loved to buy it but the 900€ gh3 is just sooo much better
The shutter is a clumsy pos. Almost every single shot, doesn’t matter what shutter speed, has blur from the shutter slap. The 36mp and no AA-filter lets you see every detail, and they seemed to not design the shutter around that. Not sure I’ll be keeping it. I’m not going to keep a camera that always has vibration blur.
Do you have any examples of this from your shooting.Swade.This issue has been reported in a couple of mFT bodies with a few possible explanations being posted.You would think considering all the high tech developments in modern cameras that simple dampening of a shutter would not be too difficult.
Here it comes, and I’ve been waiting for it. I knew something was up with that shutter. Good thing I kept my finger on the pause button before shelling out the cash on this. Blur….and now I hear it from about 5 others. Anymore want to confirm this?
I’m not that happy with my A7 either. But then again….I’m using a kit lens. It don’t blow my socks yet. I’m planning to get the sony mirrorless adapter and the Sony Zeiss 50mm 1.4 to go with it. Hopefully itll look amazing. Right now the kit lens make me kind of sad.
Zeiss 50mm 1.4 from 5.6 and up is fairly comparable to the sony and sigma 50mm 1.4. That’s a lot of scratch for essentially a warmed over old design. Even though it beats the sony 50mm 1.4 5.6 and down it still isn’t as sharp on the wide open end as the canon 50mm 1.2 for almost the same price. I’d pick up the canon and mount that on your A7- and probably for less slightly used. I want it myself, but I just can’t believe any 50mm is worth 1500.
I was just talking to my friend about this today. I am sure the zeiss 50mm and 55mm are great lenses but the 50mm lens is so old and so standard that I can’t understand why it would cost that much. The sony 50mm oss 1.8 is a awesome lens and is better than both the minolta 50mm 1.7 and 1.4. The sigma hsm 50mm 1.4 is a very good lens if you get a good copy and from what I see from the zeiss 50mm there really is not that much of a difference and certainly not over a grand more difference, not even close. I really want the 55mm for my A7 that is on the way and I know that good optics almost always outlast the camera and can serve a lifetime and can possibly be past on to your child but compared to other brands and even sonys own brand the 50mm 1.4 cost too much.
Crazy enough
First one buys a 2500$ body and next he is going to wrench crazy old 3rd party crap lenses onto it? Why would anybody desire to have a camera like this?? Except for some nerds who just love to do garage work and see if it works. For that I could get cheaper bodies by the way….
While many older lenses are indeed poorer performers than their modern descendents .There are also many that offer superb quality with excellent build quality and obviously they are fully optimised for manual focus. Manual focus is extremely easy with focus peaking and magnified view, for most critical applications, from macro to Astro photography manual focus is not just an option but is actually the best option.
As someone with a keen interest in landscape and macro photography I use manual focus by default. The experience of manual focus on modern lenses where it is often an afterthought as opposed to lenses that are designed with manual focus in mind is night and day. Same story for video , for non-dynamic situations , tripod mounted manually focussed and manually set up will deliver better results than AF .
well most legacy might be poorer when it comes to coma or flare control, but they tend to hold their own then it comes to sharpness (not all but some).
Also newer UWA lens or Zoom lens would perform better then old ones as better manufacturing methods are made available, as for normal length prime lens, you’ll be able to find some exceptional legacy ones that will perform as well as modern day lens offerings.
An added advantage of old lenses is that their focus ring is much better build and generally smaller then modern AF lenses at comparable F stop.
Too much attention on old legacy lenses for A7/A7r. I have tried many Canon lenses and it is fun. BUT The 35/2.8 is fantastic and so is 10-18 as long as you don’t go to the edges. 12-16 is fine. And that is with or without Adobe Flat Field plugin.
On Telephoto I find my old 5DMkII is more practical. The 400 mm lens is so big anyway so I will not go for A7r anyway.
Would love a FE 16-35 and a good FE 85 though.
It is actually 2300$ and the only cheaper full frame body is the A7. As to older lenses being crap, you clearly have no idea what you are talking about.
some people don’t have much money left after buying the camera and there are only 2 good lenses available. I really think you should take a look at some of the pictures that have been done with not just the A7/r but other mirrorless cameras with some expensive and some very cheap MF lenses. Some of the pictures are breath taking and some old lenses are better than modern lenses simply because things made long ago are often made with love, pride and care unlike the crap they make to today.
Here’s a classic Nikon “Noct” 58mm f1.2 shooting A7r video wide open. One take at a garage band jam.
https://vimeo.com/81975086
Well, the FD(!)35/2.8 is fantastic, too :-). That lens is absolutely dirt cheap, sharp wide-open,
weighs close to nothing and can be had for 20 Euros.
For a moment, I thought it was PSY in that video
The Minolta AF 50/1.7 has inferior coatings compared to the older FD50/1.4. I had heavy ghosting with the Minolta open at 1.7, whereas none on the FD at f1.4. Only advantage is AF versus MF.
My a7 doesnt sync at 1/250s with YN-560II flash, at 1/200s it is fine. Shall i ask for a replacement?? Also i dont like that camera switches from LCD to EVF when i am shooting from a waist level position. It means sensing distance is a little to big.
If I remember correctly, mine does. Do you have 1st curtain enabled? I have.
For waist level use better switch to LCD only mode in the menu.
I am so thrilled to see that the G35 rides again.
That’s the lens I most missed since 2008, when I shot my first and last assignment with that kit.
I hope many G35’s find a new home with the A7/r crowd. If I do buy the A7r, that would be the lens I would pair it with.
@Hendrick the Elder
I am just going to test G35 with Techart DEO adapter on my A7, looks sweet on the cam , not expecting the G45 performance, but I am sure it won’t dissapoint…
Looking forward to it!
When I got the G2 (2006), the G35 had the same performance as the Summicron 35, and it showed. People seem to forget that system today for some reason. The 45, however, was on a clas of its own.
As I am a 35mm man, I seldom used the 45. That being said, I loved all my G lenses equally. Sad to see the 21mm, a lens so clean and sweet, doesn’t work as well on the A7s. On the other hand…cornerfix can solve part of the issue. not sure about smearing yet since I haven’t seen many samples with it yet.