Unnecessary stuff on lens barrels

AeroPhotographer · Jan 26, 2025

I know some of you disagree with me, but I like my lens barrels clean. I am sincerely not trolling. But maybe you can enlighten me. So I look forward to your discussion.

Buttons:

It makes me laugh when a reviewer, desperate to make his praise seem balanced, criticizes a lens for lack of buttons. I’ve never used a button on a lens. If you like them, share with us why. Perhaps you use a focus hold button, but I simply half-press the shutter to hold focus.

Aperture Rings:

I’ll bet that even those of you that like aperture rings have occasionally cursed them when they got accidentally turned.

*They have to be re-set every time I mount the lens.

*They increase the work of mounting and demounting a lens because the aperture ring rotates when you are attempting to rotated the lens body.

*They increase ingress for moisture and dust.

*They add weight.

*They increase cost of manufacture and thus the price you pay.

*They reduce reliability. One more thing to go wrong.

I also enjoy being able to shoot with one hand at times.

Metal Lens Bodies:

These are always praised as evidence of quality, but

*They cost more than plastic.

*They are heavier than plastic.

*The aluminum is more easily dented and scratched than plastic.

*Plastic is more resilient and thus a shock absorber when a lens takes a hit.

photofan1986 · Jan 26, 2025

Well, it depends.

I don't need many controls on my small lenses: I am not a fan of the aperture ring either: it's slow and clunky compared to the dedicated dial on the camera. But I like having a manual focus switch or a programmable button, though I don't use that often.

On a tele lens, I like having of/af switch and a programmable button like Tamron does (I use focus limiter and A-B focusing). A stabilization switch can be useful too.

I agree with what you have said about plastic lenses.

Rod McD · Jan 27, 2025

AeroPhotographer said:
I know some of you disagree with me, but I like my lens barrels clean. I am sincerely not trolling. But maybe you can enlighten me. So I look forward to your discussion.

People are different. Vive la difference! Analogue lover here.....

AeroPhotographer said:
Buttons:

It makes me laugh when a reviewer, desperate to make his praise seem balanced, criticizes a lens for lack of buttons. I’ve never used a button on a lens. If you like them, share with us why. Perhaps you use a focus hold button, but I simply half-press the shutter to hold focus.

I personally don't use focus hold buttons, so I don't miss them on lenses that don't have them. I usually do what you do if I'm hand holding - shutter half press. If I'm using a tripod, I sometimes focus using AF, then switch AF to MF to hold focus, because I might want to set focus for a long time. Eg waiting for the right light, the right cloud, the right wave, the bird to come to the nest, or whatever.....

AeroPhotographer said:
Aperture Rings:

I’ll bet that even those of you that like aperture rings have occasionally cursed them when they got accidentally turned.

*They have to be re-set every time I mount the lens.

*They increase the work of mounting and demounting a lens because the aperture ring rotates when you are attempting to rotated the lens body.

Consider not mounting them held by the ring. (Yes, OK, Zeiss Loxias are a bit tough.)

AeroPhotographer said:
*They increase ingress for moisture and dust.

Dust and moisture can enter dials too. Fortunately manufacturers seem to have sorted out decent sealing for both.

AeroPhotographer said:
*They add weight.

Very little.

AeroPhotographer said:
*They increase cost of manufacture and thus the price you pay.

Happy to pay it.

AeroPhotographer said:
*They reduce reliability. One more thing to go wrong.

I suppose it can happen, as can a faulty dial, but I'm not aware of an epidemic of deceased aperture rings....

AeroPhotographer said:
I also enjoy being able to shoot with one hand at times.

OK, you win that one.

I can't see any intrinsic difference between an aperture ring and a rotary dial on the body. They're both rotary switches, but in a different place. It just comes down to personal preference.

Many of the things you've said may be true on occasion. But I still love ARs - for one overriding reason - you can see the aperture even before you turn the camera on, before you put it to your eye, or without ever putting it to your eye. Same for dedicated, marked EC dials, missing and much lamented (by me) on Sony's recent cameras. Not having either compels a check to the EVF or LCD every shot to see where it was left the previous shot - what a PITA.

I avoid systems that don't offer aperture rings. So I simply don't consider Canon or Nikon systems. Or Tamron lenses..... Not offering ARs costs them my business. As a Sony user I also avoid lenses that don't have aperture rings, and try to find a lens with one from a competitor. If a lens without one is the only option (eg, 50 Macro, 70-200/4Gii) , I'll buy it but quietly curse the fact that it doesn't have one for the rest of its days.....

IIRC, DPR's survey on this showed that ring/dial preferences run at about 50/50. Sony's usual solution is an aperture ring which can be locked into an 'A' position to allow control from the body. That seems to me to be the smart business solution - win/win - both camps get what they want.

Cheers, Rod

QuietOC · Jan 27, 2025

The photography market seems ruled by nostalgia and esthetics over functionality. The early E-mount NEX system was quite functional with minimal control complexity, but E-mount has adopted legacy SLR traditions since full-frame was added. Now there is basically nothing left of the original NEX simplicity.

I prefer manual focus and zoom being the only controls on lenses. It is nice when the former can be disabled. I dislike lens controls that override camera body controls. I prefer the camera body being able to override/disable lens controls. For whatever reason that is not available.

It could be useful if manual focus could be assigned to camera body dial(s). A few Sony camera bodies do have a dedicated zoom rocker on the camera body--duplicating the zoom controls on power zoom lenses, but it can operate the digital zooms on lenses without power zoom. But none of camera bodies offer any option to manually adjust focus on the camera body.

From an engineering materials perspective metal construction could be lighter than many composites, but lightness is often not the goal. Covering composite designs with thin alloys makes little sense except for marketing. Fine mechanical threads hold up better in alloys, but many Sony lenses have composite filter threads despite alloys covering everything else on the lens.

Martin_99 · Jan 27, 2025

AeroPhotographer said:
I know some of you disagree with me, but I like my lens barrels clean. I am sincerely not trolling. But maybe you can enlighten me. So I look forward to your discussion.

AeroPhotographer said:
Buttons:

It makes me laugh when a reviewer, desperate to make his praise seem balanced, criticizes a lens for lack of buttons. I’ve never used a button on a lens. If you like them, share with us why. Perhaps you use a focus hold button, but I simply half-press the shutter to hold focus.

I use it for switch to apsc mode

AeroPhotographer said:
Aperture Rings:

I’ll bet that even those of you that like aperture rings have occasionally cursed them when they got accidentally turned.

*They have to be re-set every time I mount the lens.

*They increase the work of mounting and demounting a lens because the aperture ring rotates when you are attempting to rotated the lens body.

*They increase ingress for moisture and dust.

*They add weight.

*They increase cost of manufacture and thus the price you pay.

*They reduce reliability. One more thing to go wrong.

I also enjoy being able to shoot with one hand at times.

Agree, I use dial on the camera for faster and possibly one-hand operation

AeroPhotographer said:
Metal Lens Bodies:

These are always praised as evidence of quality, but

*They cost more than plastic.

*They are heavier than plastic.

*The aluminum is more easily dented and scratched than plastic.

*Plastic is more resilient and thus a shock absorber when a lens takes a hit.

Not much experience, but I just purchased Sigma 35m f2. I believe, that would be beter with plastic body and without aperture ring. I would rather cheaper lens or better optics. Their APSC line is made this way.

gnPhoto · Jan 27, 2025

AeroPhotographer said:
I know some of you disagree with me, but I like my lens barrels clean. I am sincerely not trolling. But maybe you can enlighten me. So I look forward to your discussion.

Buttons:

It makes me laugh when a reviewer, desperate to make his praise seem balanced, criticizes a lens for lack of buttons. I’ve never used a button on a lens. If you like them, share with us why. Perhaps you use a focus hold button, but I simply half-press the shutter to hold focus.

I use this for toggling between cropped mode and FF mode, especially when long lenses are attached -- easier to reach this button than custom button on camera (l use c button located on top left corner for same functionality)

AeroPhotographer said:
Aperture Rings:

I’ll bet that even those of you that like aperture rings have occasionally cursed them when they got accidentally turned.

*They have to be re-set every time I mount the lens.

*They increase the work of mounting and demounting a lens because the aperture ring rotates when you are attempting to rotated the lens body.

*They increase ingress for moisture and dust.

*They add weight.

*They increase cost of manufacture and thus the price you pay.

*They reduce reliability. One more thing to go wrong.

I also enjoy being able to shoot with one hand at times.

No use for me, but sony and sigma lenses have IRIS lock (except 20mm f1.8G), hence no accidental aperture change

AeroPhotographer said:
Metal Lens Bodies:

These are always praised as evidence of quality, but

*They cost more than plastic.

*They are heavier than plastic.

*The aluminum is more easily dented and scratched than plastic.

*Plastic is more resilient and thus a shock absorber when a lens takes a hit.

Agree, composite materials are better... but aesthetics/luxury oriented folks might prefer metal construction!

Gopi

https://www.instagram.com/neelagopi/

UncleVanya · Jan 27, 2025

AeroPhotographer said:
I know some of you disagree with me, but I like my lens barrels clean. I am sincerely not trolling. But maybe you can enlighten me. So I look forward to your discussion.

Buttons:

It makes me laugh when a reviewer, desperate to make his praise seem balanced, criticizes a lens for lack of buttons. I’ve never used a button on a lens. If you like them, share with us why. Perhaps you use a focus hold button, but I simply half-press the shutter to hold focus.

The problem for me is that even when I set the buttons up for something I find useful - magnified focus or apsc crop - not all of my existing lenses support it so it’s very difficult to get into the habit of using it. The MF/AF switch and stabilization switches on longer lenses as well as focus limiters on lenses like the 70-200g II macro are useful to me but I don’t cry when they aren’t available

AeroPhotographer said:
Aperture Rings:

I’ll bet that even those of you that like aperture rings have occasionally cursed them when they got accidentally turned.

My Viltrox 16/1.8 does this to me all the time! There’s no lock to keep it from turning. I don’t tend to use the rings, not since the Pentax pz-1 taught me to use the dials. The only exception is when using my apsc a6300 or a6700 bodies; an aperture ring is useful when in certain modes of exposure to offer another exposure control given the lack of dual wheels

AeroPhotographer said:
*They have to be re-set every time I mount the lens.

On the Sony FE 20-70/4 the lock for the aperture ring makes this a non-issue for me. If only my Viltrox had the same option!

AeroPhotographer said:
*They increase the work of mounting and demounting a lens because the aperture ring rotates when you are attempting to rotated the lens body.

As above, a lock works well here - all my Pentax lenses had locking rings with a dedicated A position. Non-locking aperture rings are always annoying to me

AeroPhotographer said:
*They increase ingress for moisture and dust.

*They add weight.

Debatable. Modern lens designs seem to have tackled this. Electronic iris control is the norm so these controls aren’t harder to seal than the other controls. I’d imagine weight is minimal unless the lens is tiny and even then I can’t imagine much difference in a lens with and without the ring.

AeroPhotographer said:
*They increase cost of manufacture and thus the price you pay.

Very possibly in the initial designs. Over time I would guess it would cost more to remove it (making a change to the design) than it would really save. But it would save a little in the initial design.

AeroPhotographer said:
*They reduce reliability. One more thing to go wrong.

A flip side is that if a wheel on the body goes bad this is a redundant control allowing you to ignore the lost functionality to a degree (and vice versa) - eliminating a single point of failure.

AeroPhotographer said:
I also enjoy being able to shoot with one hand at times.

A fair point, to which I say, the rings don’t stop this; the wheel still functions as designed as long as the ring is in the correct position. Again, a lock helps a lot here. Plus if no wheel is available, auto exposure modes remove the need for a changing aperture in mid shoot to a large degree

AeroPhotographer said:
Metal Lens Bodies:

These are always praised as evidence of quality, but

*They cost more than plastic.

*They are heavier than plastic.

*The aluminum is more easily dented and scratched than plastic.

*Plastic is more resilient and thus a shock absorber when a lens takes a hit.

All valid points. My ZA 24-70/4 shows loss of paint in multiple places. But plastic has come a long way. Plastic has a reputation for getting brittle over time, for fading color over time etc. It isn’t easy to overcome this perception. Pentax A series lenses have metal exteriors but more plastic inside than the M or K series. This has led to them being less rugged over time. Will modern plastic lenses suffer similar fates 50 years from now? I suspect there will be far greater problems than plastic shell issues. Look at the ZA55/1.8 and the lensrentals article from 2016 about glued focus motor coils. I doubt those lenses will last 20 year’s despite an all metal exterior.

nepalisherpa · Jan 27, 2025

AeroPhotographer said:
I know some of you disagree with me, but I like my lens barrels clean. I am sincerely not trolling. But maybe you can enlighten me. So I look forward to your discussion.

Buttons:

It makes me laugh when a reviewer, desperate to make his praise seem balanced, criticizes a lens for lack of buttons. I’ve never used a button on a lens. If you like them, share with us why. Perhaps you use a focus hold button, but I simply half-press the shutter to hold focus.

Aperture Rings:

I’ll bet that even those of you that like aperture rings have occasionally cursed them when they got accidentally turned.

*They have to be re-set every time I mount the lens.

*They increase the work of mounting and demounting a lens because the aperture ring rotates when you are attempting to rotated the lens body.

*They increase ingress for moisture and dust.

*They add weight.

*They increase cost of manufacture and thus the price you pay.

*They reduce reliability. One more thing to go wrong.

I also enjoy being able to shoot with one hand at times.

Metal Lens Bodies:

These are always praised as evidence of quality, but

*They cost more than plastic.

*They are heavier than plastic.

*The aluminum is more easily dented and scratched than plastic.

*Plastic is more resilient and thus a shock absorber when a lens takes a hit.

I fail to see what is there to discuss. It's just personal preference. It's like you asking people to discuss why they like steak because you like burgers, but, to stay on topic, I have always preferred lenses with aperture ring because, naturally, my left palm is always holding the lens so it is easy for me to change the aperture. I use the button on the lens to toggle subject detection on/off. As far as metal vs plastic goes, I couldn't care less as long as the build quality is nice and justifies the price.

--
https://www.instagram.com/nepalisherpa/

jhunna · Jan 27, 2025

AeroPhotographer said:
I know some of you disagree with me, but I like my lens barrels clean. I am sincerely not trolling. But maybe you can enlighten me. So I look forward to your discussion.

Buttons:

It makes me laugh when a reviewer, desperate to make his praise seem balanced, criticizes a lens for lack of buttons. I’ve never used a button on a lens. If you like them, share with us why. Perhaps you use a focus hold button, but I simply half-press the shutter to hold focus.

I use it to switch from Full Frame mode to Apsc mode. Can't think of a better use and turns all my primes into instant zooms.

AeroPhotographer said:
Aperture Rings:

I’ll bet that even those of you that like aperture rings have occasionally cursed them when they got accidentally turned.

*They have to be re-set every time I mount the lens.

*They increase the work of mounting and demounting a lens because the aperture ring rotates when you are attempting to rotated the lens body.

*They increase ingress for moisture and dust.

*They add weight.

*They increase cost of manufacture and thus the price you pay.

*They reduce reliability. One more thing to go wrong.

AeroPhotographer said:
I also enjoy being able to shoot with one hand at times.

None of these are enough to keep me from wanting the aperture ring. The greatest benefit is that I can use one of camera dials for something other than aperture.

AeroPhotographer said:
Metal Lens Bodies:

These are always praised as evidence of quality, but

*They cost more than plastic.

*They are heavier than plastic.

*The aluminum is more easily dented and scratched than plastic.

*Plastic is more resilient and thus a shock absorber when a lens takes a hit.

I agree with this. I don't care if it is metal or not, I do want my lens to feel substantial and/or quality. This can be achieved with good plastics.

MediaArchivist · Jan 27, 2025

AeroPhotographer said:
I know some of you disagree with me,

Good, I hate surprises.

AeroPhotographer said:
Buttons:

I live and die by back button focus, and I really like being able to reprogram the button on a lens for an additional BBF option.

AeroPhotographer said:
Aperture Rings:

I’ll bet that even those of you that like aperture rings have occasionally cursed them when they got accidentally turned.

You might lose that bet. All of my lenses with aperture rings can be rotated to "A" thus disabling it for those who prefer not to use it.

AeroPhotographer said:
*They have to be re-set every time I mount the lens.

Reset to what?

AeroPhotographer said:
*They increase the work of mounting and demounting a lens because the aperture ring rotates when you are attempting to rotated the lens body.

I have not experienced this problem, perhaps other people have? Is this something that happens to you?

AeroPhotographer said:
*They increase ingress for moisture and dust.

In the same way that focus and zoom rings do?

AeroPhotographer said:
*They add weight.
*They increase cost of manufacture and thus the price you pay.
*They reduce reliability. One more thing to go wrong.

Obviously, these conclusions are based on statistics you have seen. Can you share them?

AeroPhotographer said:
I also enjoy being able to shoot with one hand at times.

How does a aperture ring affect that?

AeroPhotographer said:
Metal Lens Bodies:

These are always praised as evidence of quality, but

*They cost more than plastic.
*They are heavier than plastic.

Statistics?

AeroPhotographer said:
*The aluminum is more easily dented and scratched than plastic.

I would prefer dented to cracked, but that's a personal choice.

AeroPhotographer said:
*Plastic is more resilient and thus a shock absorber when a lens takes a hit.

Statistics?

Most of my lenses are plastic, although my older "vintage" lenses tend to be metal bodies. It's not a serious consideration for me one way or another, if a manufacturer thinks metal is better for a particular lens that I want then it's fine with me.

--
Want a roXplosion!?

Robert Salton · Jan 27, 2025

AeroPhotographer said:
Buttons:

It makes me laugh when a reviewer, desperate to make his praise seem balanced, criticizes a lens for lack of buttons. I’ve never used a button on a lens. If you like them, share with us why. Perhaps you use a focus hold button, but I simply half-press the shutter to hold focus.

Currently I use the lens button as AF/MF toggle and would like to have a second one for focus position recall. Can't have too many buttons, not on a camera, nor on a lens.

AeroPhotographer said:
Aperture Rings:

I’ll bet that even those of you that like aperture rings have occasionally cursed them when they got accidentally turned.

Not once. If not using the ring, I lock it on A. It doesn't get accidentally turned that way.

AeroPhotographer said:
*They increase the work of mounting and demounting a lens because the aperture ring rotates when you are attempting to rotated the lens body.

Never had that happen on my lenses.

AeroPhotographer said:
*They increase ingress for moisture and dust.

On G/GM lenses, they should be sealed to at least the same standard as control elements on the camera. Whatever issue there is with moisture and dust on the aperture ring, it will be the same or worse on the body.

AeroPhotographer said:
*They add weight.

A few grams, totally irelevant.

AeroPhotographer said:
*They increase cost of manufacture and thus the price you pay.

Fine with me since I get an aperture ring for that price. I don't use it often but still enjoy having the option to do so.

AeroPhotographer said:
*They reduce reliability. One more thing to go wrong.

Never had one go wrong or heared of relevant issues with aperture rings. When locked to auto and ignored, it is extremely unlikley to fail.

AeroPhotographer said:
I also enjoy being able to shoot with one hand at times.

No problem, using the ring is optional, not mandatory.

AeroPhotographer said:
Metal Lens Bodies:

These are always praised as evidence of quality, but

*They cost more than plastic.

Depends on the metal and plastic.

AeroPhotographer said:
*They are heavier than plastic.

Also depends on the metal and plastic, but generally not going to disagree on that.

AeroPhotographer said:
*The aluminum is more easily dented and scratched than plastic.

Still better than cracking. Big advantage for metals is that the commonly used alloys don't embrittle over time like some plastics do.

AeroPhotographer said:
*Plastic is more resilient and thus a shock absorber when a lens takes a hit.

Depends on the metal, plastic and lens design.

The issue with elastic plastics 'resilience' on impact is that the temporary displacement allowed by its elasticity is still displacement that affects all parts mounted to the deforming plastic. That's fine for some other highly elastic part like a flex pcb with sufficient reserves in length to compensate the movement but totally not fine if gets to brittle material like glass.

Impulses · Jan 27, 2025

I use the FN button on 20G, 24G, and 35GM very often for aspect ratio selection. It's not essential by any means, in fact I picked that function because it's something I'll mostly use only with my wide primes (and not with some of my other lenses that lack said button), but it's still very useful. It's never been a reason for me to pass on or pick a lens though, I'm happy with the handling of my button-less CV 21/3.5.

My aperture rings rarely get turned by mistake TBH and I do appreciate them on (most of) my primes, but I didn't start them until I had them on most primes too and could build that muscle memory. Another nice to have but not essential, it would factor in mildly into my buying decisions. I've looked at alternatives to both my Samyang 45 & 75 cause of it, but only when they're as small and as competent... I'm definitely not replacing the SY 135/1.8 with the much heavier Viltrox or pricier GM just for that ring.

I've never had an issue with aperture rings turning when I mount lenses tbh, that seems like a you and/or Loxia issue. I don't think the other issues you're attributing to them are a big deal but YMMV. Being able to see and set my f-stop without even bringing the camera up or powering it on (or doing so by feel as I bring it up and/or power it) is a genuine value add to me, but it requires familiarity with the lenses (to know if you're dealing with 1/2 or 1/3rd stop clicks, etc.).

The button/switch combo on my 50-400 is another story, the 3 position switch actually gives the button different functions and that's super versatile; means I can use it as an AF/MF switch, a focus limiter, and a focus pull tool.

Metal lens shells I could care less about, I won't deny they have some aesthetic appeal but all things being equal I'd take a lighter and more resilient plastic shell, neither is symbolic of actual build quality or durability.

Lan · Jan 27, 2025

I'm inclined to agree on the subject of aperture rings, more trouble than they're worth. They seem to get knocked out of place too easily. Please give me the option to disable them and lock them out. The Loxias are the worst for this, but I sometimes knock my STFs out too. I always just have a wheel on the body configured to change this.

Buttons? I don't use them, but as long as I can leave them unassigned, that's fine. I don't have a problem with buttons, it's just that I don't use them, as they always seem to be located on a different part of the barrel for each lens, which means I have to fumble around for them whereas the buttons on the camera remain constant in location.

Lenses, I want to be lightweight and robust, so I prefer composite on the whole.

That said, you can have too few control points. Optically I'm very happy with my Tamron 35mm f2.8 1:2. I just wish it had an AF/MF switch. Although I'd take better focus motors first

Impulses · Jan 27, 2025

gnPhoto said:
AeroPhotographer said:

I know some of you disagree with me, but I like my lens barrels clean. I am sincerely not trolling. But maybe you can enlighten me. So I look forward to your discussion.

Buttons:

It makes me laugh when a reviewer, desperate to make his praise seem balanced, criticizes a lens for lack of buttons. I’ve never used a button on a lens. If you like them, share with us why. Perhaps you use a focus hold button, but I simply half-press the shutter to hold focus.

Click to expand...

I use this for toggling between cropped mode and FF mode, especially when long lenses are attached -- easier to reach this button than custom button on camera (l use c button located on top left corner for same functionality)

gnPhoto said:

Aperture Rings:

I’ll bet that even those of you that like aperture rings have occasionally cursed them when they got accidentally turned.

*They have to be re-set every time I mount the lens.

*They increase the work of mounting and demounting a lens because the aperture ring rotates when you are attempting to rotated the lens body.

*They increase ingress for moisture and dust.

*They add weight.

*They increase cost of manufacture and thus the price you pay.

*They reduce reliability. One more thing to go wrong.

I also enjoy being able to shoot with one hand at times.

Click to expand...

No use for me, but sony and sigma lenses have IRIS lock (except 20mm f1.8G), hence no accidental aperture change

The smaller GM primes don't have this either, my 35GM doesn't. I don't need it but I think lenses this large with aperture rings should probably have it for those that find themselves accidentally getting knocked out of Auto.

gnPhoto · Jan 27, 2025

Impulses said:
gnPhoto said:

AeroPhotographer said:

I know some of you disagree with me, but I like my lens barrels clean. I am sincerely not trolling. But maybe you can enlighten me. So I look forward to your discussion.

Buttons:

It makes me laugh when a reviewer, desperate to make his praise seem balanced, criticizes a lens for lack of buttons. I’ve never used a button on a lens. If you like them, share with us why. Perhaps you use a focus hold button, but I simply half-press the shutter to hold focus.

Click to expand...

I use this for toggling between cropped mode and FF mode, especially when long lenses are attached -- easier to reach this button than custom button on camera (l use c button located on top left corner for same functionality)

Impulses said:

Aperture Rings:

I’ll bet that even those of you that like aperture rings have occasionally cursed them when they got accidentally turned.

*They have to be re-set every time I mount the lens.

*They increase the work of mounting and demounting a lens because the aperture ring rotates when you are attempting to rotated the lens body.

*They increase ingress for moisture and dust.

*They add weight.

*They increase cost of manufacture and thus the price you pay.

*They reduce reliability. One more thing to go wrong.

I also enjoy being able to shoot with one hand at times.

Click to expand...

No use for me, but sony and sigma lenses have IRIS lock (except 20mm f1.8G), hence no accidental aperture change

Click to expand...

The smaller GM primes don't have this either, my 35GM doesn't. I don't need it but I think lenses this large with aperture rings should probably have it for those that find themselves accidentally getting knocked out of Auto.

Oh ok, its possible earlier Sony may not have IRIS lock, but later on all lenses have them (as far as I know, ex: all mark-ii lenses have it, 50GMf1.4, etc.)

https://www.instagram.com/neelagopi/

4Photos · Jan 27, 2025

You must be a fan of the Zeiss Batis series. Me too

But yes, an additional button (AF/MF toggle or FF/APS-C switch) on the lens would be nice, and I do like aperture rings. Can move them with my left hand wile my right index finger is on the shutter button. And I see the setting while I take the camera out of the bag, rather than having to stare in the viewfinder.

Half-pressing the shutter button and focus-hold (when set to toggle, which would be the preferred mode) are NOT the same thing.

But as far as clean looks go, hard to beat the Batis.

Impulses · Jan 27, 2025

gnPhoto said:
Impulses said:

gnPhoto said:

AeroPhotographer said:

I know some of you disagree with me, but I like my lens barrels clean. I am sincerely not trolling. But maybe you can enlighten me. So I look forward to your discussion.

Buttons:

It makes me laugh when a reviewer, desperate to make his praise seem balanced, criticizes a lens for lack of buttons. I’ve never used a button on a lens. If you like them, share with us why. Perhaps you use a focus hold button, but I simply half-press the shutter to hold focus.

Click to expand...

I use this for toggling between cropped mode and FF mode, especially when long lenses are attached -- easier to reach this button than custom button on camera (l use c button located on top left corner for same functionality)

gnPhoto said:

Aperture Rings:

I’ll bet that even those of you that like aperture rings have occasionally cursed them when they got accidentally turned.

*They have to be re-set every time I mount the lens.

*They increase the work of mounting and demounting a lens because the aperture ring rotates when you are attempting to rotated the lens body.

*They increase ingress for moisture and dust.

*They add weight.

*They increase cost of manufacture and thus the price you pay.

*They reduce reliability. One more thing to go wrong.

I also enjoy being able to shoot with one hand at times.

Click to expand...

No use for me, but sony and sigma lenses have IRIS lock (except 20mm f1.8G), hence no accidental aperture change

Click to expand...

The smaller GM primes don't have this either, my 35GM doesn't. I don't need it but I think lenses this large with aperture rings should probably have it for those that find themselves accidentally getting knocked out of Auto.

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Oh ok, its possible earlier Sony may not have IRIS lock, but later on all lenses have them (as far as I know, ex: all mark-ii lenses have it, 50GMf1.4, etc.)
https://www.instagram.com/neelagopi/

Interesting I knew the 50/1.2 and some of the zooms had it but I didn't realize the similarly sized 50/1.4 had it too (and the second function button). Seems like it might indeed be an age thing more than anything, 24GM doesn't have it either but that's much older than the 35GM or 20G. Seems the 14GM does have it too even tho the 50/1.2 and it came out the same year as the 35GM, just later in the year.

135GM didn't get it either, as it's also older, so it's kinda inconsistent overall... Counting the 20G half have it and half don't, ruh roh; 20/24/35/135 no and 14/50/50/85 yes.

Planterz · Jan 28, 2025

Granted, I only have one lens so far (70-350mm) but I like the button. I don't use it for focus hold though. Frankly I think that's one of the more useless options I could set it to (speaking only for myself). I've used it mostly to toggle subject recognition, but I've also used it for toggling shooting modes, which I might stick with. When concentrating on aiming, zooming, and focusing/shooting, it's nice to have that button on the lens barrel where my left hand already is, so I don't have to do as much with my right hand. Kinda wish there were more buttons on the lens to be honest.

AlephNull · Jan 28, 2025

AeroPhotographer said:
I know some of you disagree with me, but I like my lens barrels clean. I am sincerely not trolling. But maybe you can enlighten me. So I look forward to your discussion.

Buttons:

It makes me laugh when a reviewer, desperate to make his praise seem balanced, criticizes a lens for lack of buttons. I’ve never used a button on a lens. If you like them, share with us why. Perhaps you use a focus hold button, but I simply half-press the shutter to hold focus.

Aperture Rings:

I’ll bet that even those of you that like aperture rings have occasionally cursed them when they got accidentally turned.

*They have to be re-set every time I mount the lens.

*They increase the work of mounting and demounting a lens because the aperture ring rotates when you are attempting to rotated the lens body.

*They increase ingress for moisture and dust.

*They add weight.

*They increase cost of manufacture and thus the price you pay.

*They reduce reliability. One more thing to go wrong.

I also enjoy being able to shoot with one hand at times.

Metal Lens Bodies:

These are always praised as evidence of quality, but

*They cost more than plastic.

*They are heavier than plastic.

*The aluminum is more easily dented and scratched than plastic.

*Plastic is more resilient and thus a shock absorber when a lens takes a hit.

You don't have to buy a lens that has features you don't want.

If someone puts an aperture ring on a metal-bodied lens, then you have every right to refuse to buy it! You can buy a Sigma lens made from "Thermally Stable Composite" (I think that's what they call their plastic).

Just don't grizzle that the rest of us should accept your idea of a perfect lens. We have as much right as you do to have the lens features we want.

BTW: if you hold a lens by the aperture ring to mount it, then you are doing it incorrectly, just as if you try to mount the lens by holding the focus ring. You should be holding a part of the lens which isn't made to turn - using excessive force on any of the rings on the lens is apt to damage the mechanism.

There is an additional feature on some of the newer lenses: an iris lock - it locks the aperture ring (sometimes only in A position, and sometimes in either A or not A). Can be useful to lock the aperture ring for those times you don't want to use it.

Dhomas · Jan 28, 2025

AeroPhotographer said:
I know some of you disagree with me, but I like my lens barrels clean. I am sincerely not trolling. But maybe you can enlighten me. So I look forward to your discussion.

Buttons:

It makes me laugh when a reviewer, desperate to make his praise seem balanced, criticizes a lens for lack of buttons. I’ve never used a button on a lens. If you like them, share with us why. Perhaps you use a focus hold button, but I simply half-press the shutter to hold focus.

i dont care about those

AeroPhotographer said:
Aperture Rings:

I’ll bet that even those of you that like aperture rings have occasionally cursed them when they got accidentally turned.

*They have to be re-set every time I mount the lens.

*They increase the work of mounting and demounting a lens because the aperture ring rotates when you are attempting to rotated the lens body.

*They increase ingress for moisture and dust.

*They add weight.

*They increase cost of manufacture and thus the price you pay.

*They reduce reliability. One more thing to go wrong.

I also enjoy being able to shoot with one hand at times.

I only curse them when im without em, because i got so used to them and i like to manipulate something with my left hand too. I dont like the wheels on the camera bodies all that much. I enjoy shooting one handed too but aperture is nothing i feel i have to adjust every second... and even IF there is an A setting. If i pay big money i'd rather get one. If they would ask me than they would start puting them on the fron like Voigtländer does.

Btw. how do you mount lenses? and what do you mean with resetting? Mine are usually wide open anyways so no problem for me or do you turn it while mounting?

AeroPhotographer said:
Metal Lens Bodies:

These are always praised as evidence of quality, but

*They cost more than plastic.

*They are heavier than plastic.

*The aluminum is more easily dented and scratched than plastic.

*Plastic is more resilient and thus a shock absorber when a lens takes a hit.

I dont care, once i bought it its what i have.

In the end there will be no perfect lens for alot of us but at least i am getting close to what i really want with sony.

Unnecessary stuff on lens barrels

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