Rank Your Top Lenses: Sony FF E Mount

It depends in what I'm shooting,

For street photography

Zony FE 35 f1.4 and FE 55 1.8

For landscapes

Zony FE 16-35 f4 almost prime performance from 16-28 love it

For portraits.

Sony FE 90 Macro for extreme detail and sharpness

Sony 135 STF when perfect bokeh is a must

Top lenses I've owned/used with my A7ii:

1) FE 55/1.8

- What is there to say? If you've used it, you know its magic. The tack sharp and "clinical" feel doesn't appeal to everyone, but it's undoubtedly a winner in the FE lineup.

2) Loxia 35/2

- Paired in the bag with the 55/1.8, it gives you a wonderful contrast. This lens has the "filmic" and classic slightly soft Zeiss look with 3d pop. I love the rendering of this Biogon and the native MF feels great. Build quality is superb

3) FE 16-35/4 (sold)

- Close-to-prime IQ in the 16-24mm range, and it's quite a performer for the UWA end. I have a large amount of wonderful landscape photos from this lens. It takes filters/polarizers like a champ, and for my use it filled the bill. I recently sold it however, trying to downsize my lens lineup and also in anticipation or rumoured 2.8 zoom announcements.

4) Zeiss ZM 35/2 Biogon (borrowed a few weeks)

- Only used this a handful of times, but it shares the rendering qualities of the Loxia 35 (Biogon, woo) and has a good build quality. I chose to move to the Loxia for a native mount.

5) Voigtlander M 40/1.4 Nokton classic (sold)

- A fun to have focal length, it has a very filmic and classic feel. It had major vignetting under f4, but little to no distortion.

*I'll likely be purchasing the Voigtlander E-mount 15mm when it hits

I've had my hands on the FE 35/1.4, Leica 50/2 summicron, and FE 28/2 for small shoots with friends, and they were great. I just haven't have enough time with them to give solid feedback. The FE 35/1.4 is pretty amazing, and the Leica 50 is legendary.

I'm an enthusiast that does occasional side-work for friends/family, so this is all coming from a non-pro perspective.

All these incredibly sharp on the A7RII

1. FE55

2. Batis 25

3. Voigtlander 15 III (will buy the sony version when available)

4. Leica Summarit-M 75 2.5 (very slight CA fixed in post automatically)

5. FE 35 2.8 not quite as sharp, but un-noticeable in walk around guise

Then comes the 'convenience' lenses, either not as sharp or as easy to use, but useful in other ways:

6. 16-35 - not razor @ 35 and smears out wide at 16 (but ok if the outer edges are in bokeh) Useful range and with the high ISO, a 2.8 isn't missed that much.

7. Zeiss C/Y Planar 50 1.4 .. magical 'pop' in colour, almost as sharp as the FE55, but faster

8. Canon FDn 28 2.8 - razor sharp and go-to until I got the Batis

9. Leitz Elmar-C 90 f4 - can fit in your pants pocket ... even if they are jeans!

10. FE 24-70 not as bad as some reports, great convenience lens

11. FE 70-200 f4 performs about the same as my Canon f4, but more convenient and only as an option when shooting other things. OK for Landscapes and stills, but if I need this range for action, I'll go with my Canon 1DIV and 70-200 2.8 which is razor sharp @ 10fps all day (and in the rain!) or 300f2.8 which is amazing.

12. Canon 100-400 ... useful range, sharp as but slow, focusses great with the Metabones, although as above, if that's where I'm heading, I'll rely on the Canon (horses for courses)

Waiting on

Batis 85

Batis 135 or something around there

--
Beauty is only a light switch away ...
www.clarkfamily.com.au

In order of use:
1) FE 24-70 f/4 ZA
2) 70-400 f/4-5.6 G2 (w/ LAE 4)
3) FE 35 f/2.8
4) FE 16-35 f/4 ZA

5) Minolta 100 f/2.8 (also with LAE4)
6) FE 70-200 f/4

On my Sony A7II:

Voigtlander 35mm f1.2 (Yeenon M-E close focus adapter): This is my everyday lens. I absolutely love the focal length, portability and low light performance combination with this lens.

Sony Zeiss 55mm f1.8: Perfection. My go to portrait lens. Clinical? I guess, but I can always use lighting and post processing to change things around. Beautiful color and ultra sharp results.

Voigtlander 21mm f11.8 ultron: I love the lack of distortion for such a wide lens. Not to mention the low light performance comes in very handy if you need to shoot wide indoors.

Rokinon 85mm f1.8 (a mount on LA-EA4): I usually only use this for portrait sessions due to having to drag out the adapter. It's really not that big, but I have an aversion to it anyway. I'd like to replace this one with the Batis 85mm f1.8 some day.

Olympus OM 135mm f2.8 (cheap adapter, don't recall the manufacturer): SO PORTABLE! Tiny little 135mm. It's reasonably sharp with decent contrast if you stop it down. Wide open it's a little soft and flat, but you can solve most of that in post. If you have good light, there's not much to complain about optically. I don't use this focal length much so it would be hard to justify replacing it since it is so portable.

Want List:, in order of greatest need:

Voigtlander 15mm f4.5 vIII

Zeiss Batis 85mm

A telephoto zoom of some sort that I haven't decided on yet

Ranked roughly by amount/preference of use.

1) Contax N Zeiss 24-85 3.5-4.5 - Beautiful rendering, but big & heavy (82mm filters)!

2) Minolta AF 24-85 3.5-4.5 - Very nice lens, a bit behind the Contax N, but much lighter and narrower. My travel & trekking choice.

3) Sony 70-300 G II - Very nice overall results.

4) Minolta AF 100-300 APO - The light & compact alternative to the above. Clearly not as sharp but still gives more than decent results.

5) Sony 70-400 G - Very sharp under all conditions (beats the 70-300 by a bit). Bokeh could be better, but the lens delivers when I'm able to carry it.

6) Leica WATE 16-18-21mm 4.0 - Relatively light, very slim zoom (yes). Sharp & contrasty with great rendering.

7) Canon EF TS-E 24mm 3.5 II - Spectacular! And I used to seriously dislike Canon... Only defects are size, weight & price.

8) Leica M Summicron 35mm 2.0 (Type IV) - Very tiny lens with great rendering.

9) Zeiss Distagon 35mm 1.4 (Rolleiflex mount) - My desert island prime. Unfortunately, big & heavy, so the M Summicron often gets used instead.

10) Leica M Tele-Elmarit 90mm 2.8 - Light & very narrow lens with good rendering. Since I'm not doing many portraits, my faster 85 & 90mm lenses aren't getting much use now. The 3 Leica M lenses mentioned make a very compact & light travel kit.

11) Leica R Apo-Telyt 180mm 3.4 - Sharp. Sharp. Sharp. Not too big & heavy for what it is.

12) Leica R 19mm 2.8 II - My reference UWA. Comparable to the Zeiss 21mm 2.8 SLR lenses. Only size & weight keep me from using it more often.

13) Contax N Zeiss 100mm 2.8 Macro - A beast of a lens with fantastic sharpness & rendering.

14) Leica R 60mm 2.8 Macro - a more portable choice when 60mm can fit the bill....

Plus a bunch of other lenses, most of which have superb IQ, but are less used because their function is usually taken over by one of the above.

I don't have a single native FE mount lens.

Plan to buy: None

Must sell: quite a few of the ones not listed...

I've only been on one trip with my A7rII thus far, so this is subject to change, but...

Sony FE 55/1.8 - The Canon 50/1.8 had become one of my most-used lenses before I switched. The Sony lives up to its name.

Pentax SMC 135/3.5 - I was given this lens as a toss-in when I bought an 85/2 off Craigslist. I use it more than the 85. I haven't quite gotten the hang of tracking moving subjects with a manual focus lens, but it's sharp and I like the bokeh quality and flaring.

Sony FE 16-35/4 - I really got this lens for shooting waterfalls, which I haven't had a chance to do yet, so the jury is still out.

Sony FE 35/2.8 - Haven't used it much yet.

Pentax SMC 85/2 - I bought this to tide me over until I could get a Batis 85, but I didn't end up using it much. I'm not crazy about the bokeh quality, and it was difficult to get sharp results. Might not be a great copy.

Wth the A7RM2:

Ranked by enjoyment using

55 f/1.8

90 macro

16-35

Ranked by how often used

16-35 (workhorse for landscape and real estate)

55 f/1.8

90 macrro

In the mail to me right now

70-400mm G II / LA-EA3

Will add when available

Voigtlander 10mm f/5.6

On a7R;

1. FE 55 1.8 just sooo good.

2. Nikon 14-24 F2.8 with Novoflex - superb for widefield landscape shots. Superb for nightscapes.

3. FE 35 2.8.

4. Canon 70-200 F4 L non IS. Gorgeous and great for portrait shots with terrific bokeh.

5. Rokkor MD 50mm F1.4. fantastic bokeh.

6. Contax g 90 2.8 good for portraits but not active kids.

Intending to purchase:

1. Preordered Loxia 21 for landscapes and nightscapes.

2. Batis 85 for portraits and the fast eye AF on a planned a7rii.

Lenses I tend not to use:

1. Canon FD 85 / 1.8 quite nice a bit soft. FD 21mm very soft.

2. Rokkor 50mm F1.2 superb bokeh but again not for kids.

3. Contax g 28 and 45, the 45 is too similar to the FE 35 and the 28 has magenta sides on a7r.

4. Contax 28-85 zoom, very large and heavy but not a bad lens. A bit soft in the corners.

5. Nikkor 50mm 1.8d/1.8g Nikkor 105 2.5, 55 28 macro, 180 F2.8 ED. The 105 2.5 is one of the best in that lot. Very very sharp and a good portrait lens but of course no AF.

6. Nikkor and Minolta Rokkor MD 28/2.8 too soft.

I've decided to go mostly all Zeiss primes, Loxia 21, FE35, FE 55, Batis 85. That covers almost everything and Canon 70-200F4L does the rest. I don't want too many lenses. It can be dispersing when there is too much choice.

Greg.

Based on daily use:

1. 16-35 F4 FE

2. 35 F1.4 FE

3. 90 F2.8 G

4. 55 F1.8 FE

5. 70-200 F4 FE

6. 85 F1.4 SAL

7. 135 F1.8 SAL

8. 300 2.8 Minolta

9. 150-500 Tamron

10. 24-70 F4 FE

--

Regards
Mikael

Yo isn't that lens supposed to be the worst thing ever made according to the forums? LoL

My list:

FE 55

FE 24-70

FE 70-200

Sigma 30mm f2.8 AF

Canon Fd 50mm f1.4 / pentax super takumar 50mm f1.4

Nikon 105 mm f2.5

Canon Fd 24mm f2.8

Nikon nikkor 35-105mm

the 16-35mm and 28-70mm, the Zeiss is excellent and the kit lens is perfectly fine and capable of excellent IQ at times, though obviously not up to the Zeiss standard. I also have the Samyang 85mm F1.4 which I also really like. I'll probably get the 55m F1.8 then I'd say I'm done.

1) Zony 35mm 1.4: it's optical quality is about as good as the best available, but it's focus system combined with C- eye AF gives wide aperture people pics I could never get in the Old Days..

2) Sony 90mm 2.8: The sharpest lens I've ever used, nice bokeh at closer distances

3) Zeiss Batis 85mm: way sharp, very little colour error, lovely bokeh

4) 55mm 1.8 Zony. Amazing lens, not my old Nifty Fifty that's for sure. Creates wonderful pictures wide open (and dazzlingly sharp ones stopped down)

5) Zeiss Batis 25mm: a fast wide that's not nearly as big as a 1.4, yet fast enough for enviro portrait, and stops down to be a more or less perfect landscape lens.

6) ZOny 35mm 2.8: Everyone needs one of these. It does need software correction, but even after correction you are getting quality of the kind that I used dream about, yet in a package the size of pancake lenses that you expect to be somewhat compromised.

7) 28mm f2: good enough centrally for wide aperture fun, sharp enough stopped down for general use, and a bargain. Amazing central sharpness stopped down coupled with excellent endless and good corners. Fantastic for travel. I can never decide whether to pack this or the 35 2.8.

8) Voigtlander 75mm 2.5: incredibly small and incredibly sharp so a no brainer for travel especially if not taking the 55. Does have some nasty colour errors (LOCA and SLOCA) at wider apertures, but correctible.

9) 16-35 FE zoom. A great performer wide open from 16 to about 27; but still excellent at the long end stopped down.

10) 70-200 f4 FE. As good as zooms get up to about 150; still as good as all but the Canon f2.8II and the Nikon f4 at the long end. Little or no colour aberrations. rugged.

11) Canon 135mm f2. I love this lens and use it a bit - but it is showing it's age in some respects. I used think it unimpeachable, but its bokeh can be a mess of SLOCA wide open. We've got used to better in this respect. Just shows how technology is marching on! It's not as contrasty wide open as the APO-SOnnar or even, I suspect but haven't tested, the Samyang. Looking forward to an Zony fast 135

12: I don't really mean to downrate this lens - the 17mm TSE - but it's hard to know where to rank such a specialist lens.

13: Samyang 12mm fisheye. Pretty good for what it is. Love the stereographic projection. Micro contrast could be better. Sharp enough over most of the field.

14: Samyang 14mm. I think mine can't be as good as some copies; slight lack of contrast at most apertures, and positively mushy and glowy wide open. A bit large and not really a pleasure to use. A good copy though is an amazing bargain. I think I'll try the VOgitalnder FE revised 12mm when it comes out. Don't need speed in a 12, and the compactness will be great.

l_d_allan said:

KBStudio said:

A7r and A7r II

Canon 100mm f2.8L Macro IS Better than the Sony 90mm f2.8 Macro. Tested both.

Click to expand...

Interesting ... I'm curious how you tested. Imatest? MtfMapper? Other?

I'd be very curious to see a LensRentals "Just the Lens" article of these lenses on their optical bench.

Also, I'm impatient to see DxoMark scores using the Canon 5dsr rather than the older 5d3 or 6d. The last time I checked, there weren't any evaluations of Canon EF lenses on the 5ds or 5dsr.

Photozone.de has just a very few recently introduced lenses for Canon measured with their recently acquired 5dsr.

Click to expand...

I ran an a head to head on a variety of subjects "real" world test. I found the AF on the 90 to be very problematic missing more than it nailed. The Canon AF is so so but did lock on better. The actual sharpness went to Canon. As my results are contrary to most users experience, I can only say maybe I got a bad one. Returned it and am sticking with the Canon.

I too find DXOMark scores need to be interpreted based on extrapolating the Canon chips performance in terms of the A7r or A7r II's. In other words, look at the DXOMark metrics and figure the higher resolution of the Sony chips will make their lenses look better than a Canon tested on a 5DMIII. But when these Canon lenses are adapted to the Sony camera, they will blow away Sony's options. Just one opinion but my tests are proving it to be true for me.

Can you tell me how to manage aperture setting on Nikon 14-24?

These are my current favorites ranked by use. I'm mostly using my A7II and secondarily my A7r.

- Cosina Voigtländer Ultron 35/1.7 (The new VM version) (Great size + IQ for daily use)

- Sony Zeiss FE 35/1.4 (Great IQ + AF, when size/weight is secondary)

- Zeiss Batis 25/2 (lovely corner-to-corner sharpness, IQ, handling)

- Sony Zeiss FE 55/1.8 (perfect in 50-58mm range)

- Sony FE 90/2.8 Macro G (great for short tele, macro use, excellent manual focusing)

- Cosina Voigtländer Super Wide-Heliar 15/4.5 III (perfect super-wide)

- Sony FE 70-200/4 G (great on A7II for events where longer reach and versatility is needed)

- Sonye Zeiss FE 16-35/4 (great travel lens, especially on A7r)

- Konica M-Hexanon 90/2.8 (my favorite manual short tele, excellent IQ, bokeh)

- Cosina Voigtländer Ultron 21/1.8 (excellent wide angle especially on A7II)

- Cosina Voigtländer Color-Heliar 75/2.5 (also favorite short tele, perfect size & handling)

- Minolta M-Rokkor 28/2.8, 40/2, 90/4 (great family of small manual lenses with lovely IQ)

- Minolta MD 28/2 (my top favorite of manual SLR lenses)

The lenses I'm looking forward to possibly buying include:

- Zeiss Loxia 21/2.8 (expecting great corner-to-corner sharpness from wide open like Batis 25mm)

- Cosina Voigtländer HWH 10mm or UWH 12mm for E-mount depending on price and availability

- Rumored Sony FE 85/1.4 or Zeiss Batis 85/1.8 for fast short tele with AF

using on my A7 II:

1. Sony Zeiss 24-70 f4 (though i dont really like it's IQ)

2. Zeiss 55 F1.8 (the sharpest lens i've ever own)

planning to get :

1. Batis 25 f2

2. Sigma / Tamron 150-500

The Novoflex adapter has an aperture ring on it. Its not marked so a bit of guestimation with it.

Greg.

Most used:

Canon EF 70-300 f/4-5.6L (with Metabones IV)

- the AF leaves a lot to be desired, but I love the range and end results. 300mm is pretty good but on the short side for the shots I tend to go for.

Sony FE 55

- been using this where I would normally have used my Canon 24-105. Cropping for 105 is fine, stepping back for a wider view doesn't always work.

Sony FE 90

- love the macro on this one and the AF/MF switching technique is great. Focus peaking makes it a doddle to get what you want in focus.

Tamron 150-600 EF mount (with Metabones IV)

- bought for land based whale watching. No whales around since I got my a7rII :-( The AF isn't fun with lots of hunting. This lens is definitely a blue sky lens. If it's cloudy then it just doesn't get enough light to work well.

Canon EF 16-35 f/2.8L (with Metabones IV)

- bulky. Feeling the urge to replace it.

Canon EF 24-105 f/4L (with Metabones IV)

- the AF noise is dreadful and sends a shiver down my spine. Would consider a FE equivalent since it used to be my go to lens for walkabout shooting.

Interested in:

Any new zoom in the 70/100/150 to 300/400/500/600 range that may be announced soon.

If no new zooms over 200mm I might get the FE 70-200 f/4

FE 16-35 f/4. Not had much of an urge to use my Canon 16-35 so far on the a7rii, feels too big.

FE 24-105 f/4 if they made one.

Voigtlander 10mm - would be interested to see what that's like. Small and handy to carry in the bag.

Batis 25 or Loxia 21

Canon MP-E 65 5x macro. Always had an urge to play with this one. Focus peeking would suit it I suspect. Can't find many examples of it being used on an a7rii, only 5 shots with this combo on Flickr.

--

a7Rii with Canon EF mount lenses..

Canon 17mm F/4 TS-E

Sony FE 70-200mm F4 G OSS

Sony A-mount Zeiss 135mm F1.8

Sony FE 55mm F1.8

Sigma 12-24mm DG HSM

Sigma 85mm F1.4 DG HSM