Reading mode: Light Dark

What 24mm and 50mm for FF?

Go to last post
Pollos said:
Reup topic.

Do you think that the 24cz is too bad focal for my a77?
Click to expand...
If for prime, I will agree JamieTux.

Anyway, wide angle lenses don't have better score than zoom in this range. So yes, the Carl Zeiss Distagon T* 2/24 ZA Sony is a beautifull gem but it cost US$1250. So why for that range of price you don't get the Vario-Sonnar T* 24-70mm F2.8 ZA SSM because is "only" US$1599 (comparing to, you have to spend only US$350 more to get it, a bargain).

It's that I would like to do for a versatile 24 MP gear, on both, good for: A77 and A99 and for the future.

Why? Because if your gear is for wedding, you need to be everywhere at once, and be extremely fast. So you need a good zoom because you don't have time to change your prime, and when you have stress, it's risky. And because this zoom is very good for all: wide angle, eye vision, short tele and portrait (my next deal btw).

A prime like the ZA2/24 or ZA1,4/35 are good for landscape, or group portraits, not especially for wedding.

Just my 0,02

Cheers,

--
Michel J
« Having the latest gear is nice, but great photographers don't have to have it. They can shoot good stuff with anything »
 
Last edited:
Pollos said:
For 50mm i know the expensive Zeiss but i know also the sony/minolta 1.4 and sigma 1.4 : what give me good details with a FF sensor?
Click to expand...
The Zeiss 24 mm f:2 and 50 mm f:1.4 are excellent lenses, built to last for many, many years of heavy use. The balance between high and low frequency contrast is superb, and makes the pictures look 'crisp and clear' also at widest aperture -- you can't expect this from cheaper lenses. Also bokeh is smooth and nice.

So my take would be to go for the Zeiss lenses, starting with the 50 mm f:1.4 for those beautiful shallow dof wedding pictures.

But be warned: When you learn high optical and mechanical quality to know, you might not want to go for less. ;-)
 
Last edited:
I have exactly the same dilemma right now. Most of my work is done bu 85mm and 135mm Zeiss and for interior shots I used Sony's 24mm lens and sometimes Sony 50mm f1.4. But I'm not happy at all with these lens. 50mm is quite soft. So my first logical choice was to buy 24mm Zeiss and 50mm Zeiss, being pro-prime shooter. But now I'm looking towards to 24-70 Zeiss zoom. It appears that despite of zoom, it's pretty sharp Sonnar-type lens. As my 135mm is Sonnar and sooo sharp, I started to thing about Vario Sonnar. And the cost is less than decent 24mm and 50mm combined.
 
That's the way I've gone like I said above. I don't really want to try the primes too as I know how expensive it will get if I like them! The 24-70 is an amazing lens though, just get it :)
 
tex said:
Reasonably=good bang for buck, not the cheapest (although close...) but not the most expensive. Both are Sigmas, and I have both:

Sigma 50 f1.4. well reviewed, plenty of results to look at and compare with others.

Sigma 24 f1.8 not so many reviews---a lot of people don't know about this lens, and are surprised to find out about it.

Find them both reviewed here and compared to others:

http://slrgear.com/reviews/showcat.php/cat/30

I like SLR Gear's reviews, easy to use and easy to compare between models and between formats. Make sure you click on the appropriate image and play with the fstop slider.

You'll see that while these lenses aren't perfect, especially wide open in the corners, you can buy both and still pay less than one lens that works substantially better. Stopped down to typical fstops and both are quite good. Build quality is fine with both lenses, the AF is fine and the MF is very good, and they have 3 year warranties. Do check them when you get them. I microadjusted all my lenses recently and found problems with the 50 (and that bled over into the manual focus). I sent it back and Sigma repaired it at no cost and they got it back to me in one week. It's perfect now, in terms of spec.
Click to expand...
No doubt that Sigma have some good lenses, but no offense Tex, some "tests" was done in 2005! Is outdated to me, sorry!

The Sigma 50mm f/1.4 EX DG HSM was tested with Canon 20D and 5D (huh)

Regards,

PS: Sigma prime tested successfully by DxO with A77/A99 was:

Sigma 35mm F1.4 DG HSM A Sony US$899 (good on A77 only)

Sigma 105mm F2.8 EX DG OS HSM Macro Sony US$725 (good on both A77/A99)
 
...at least by a given testing website. Not too many (any?) get continually updated test-wise with the latest bodies. Good luck finding more up to date tests for some lenses---and that includes many of the best....there are probably some, but i think you'll see that the results are pretty similar to the older tests.
 
tex said:
...at least by a given testing website. Not too many (any?) get continually updated test-wise with the latest bodies.
Click to expand...
According to DxO, a valuable lens-test need to be making with a dedicated camera! This is the point, no matter we like it or not. It's not the first time that a lens was rated so-so with a 10 MP but excellent with a 24 MP, but most of the time it's the opposite. That means, it depends of the couple of a specific lens-body/sensor..
tex said:
Good luck finding more up to date tests for some lenses---and that includes many of the best....there are probably some, but i think you'll see that the results are pretty similar to the older tests.
Click to expand...
No. Not the same at all. Look at my links, and read it. DxO itself was surprised about some aspects. Only very, very good lenses (I mean "la crème de la crème") could be good with any camera (with same mount, and regarding of top sensors of today cameras, of course)...

Regards,
 
Last edited:
I've been using my Minolta 50/2.8 macro on the a99, with absolute amazing sharpness.
 
I checked my store and with discount i can buy 24-70 at 1566€ while 24 and 50mm at 1.124,25€ (50mm) and 966,75€ (24mm) .

Now i think will take A7 and lea4 because i saw some seriopus dust problem with my A77 and his slt mirror .

I hade a lot of difficult to arrive and clean the sensor (He is too deep) and weak mirror.
 
2/24 and 1.4/50 ZA lens is beautiful and worth even switch system.

But both are expensive.

Sigma 1.4/50 is sharper than Sony/Minolta 1.4/50 until F3.5 or so on. But big and heavy and has a little different colour rendition.

Both are very nice lens, but for low-lite and wide-open Sigma is better.

Stopped down from 2.8 Minolta/Sony 2.8/50 Macro is also very nice option.

For 24mm A system has a few options only.

2.8/24 Minolta is nice but corners are never better than on high-end zoom. Even on F11.

Old Sigma is on pair - better on corners but not so good wide-open.

I recommend to buy 2/28 old Minolta lens if you don't have money for 2/24 Zeiss or 2.8/20mm (if you need it for stopped-down works like landscape and architecture).
 
Thx for your great tips :-)

In this moment i checked my focal range photo and i found that i used more time the new 16-50 than primes 35mm and 50mm.

I think also that i use more time 16-50 because my shots are often people groups and little rooms .

For some portrait i used usually the 50mm 1.8 dt or rarely I want 3D in my photos 85mm samyang (This is for too long range) because 16-50 2.8 has bad DOF into apsc .

Questions:

1-Is a good idea take only 50mm zeiss and wait FF body for a 24mm?

2-Do you know a good wideangle for apsc?

3 Do you think that my 50mm 1.8 dt sam can be good for my a77 or is it a low IQ for 24mpx sensor?

Question number 2 is necessary because i will use again 16-50 for a lot of time because i need wideangle for groups, also if i buy 24 and 50mm.

About FF:

I think now to buy A7+ LEa3/4 when i will have money because the A77 had given me a lot of problem for clean it and i think A99/A9x will be the same.

Questions:

1 is a good idea buy A7 only for easy clean system and avoid lost iso for slt mirror?

2 If i buy A7 , can be too large and fat use 24-70 2.8?
 
NOBODY CAN NSWER???

Between my 50 1.8 and zeiss, will i see a lot of difference?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Keyboard shortcuts

f
Forum
m
My threads
Mobile site
About
Editorial content
Cameras & Lenses
Community
All content, design, and layout are Copyright © 1998–2025 Digital Photography Review All Rights Reserved.
Reproduction in whole or part in any form or medium without specific written permission is prohibited.
When you use DPReview links to buy products, the site may earn a commission.
©GPS Media - Guides, Products, Services.
Back
Top