good lens but not great.

[Erdon]

Finally, sony had push out the zoom-lens 70-200 2.8. im waited for it long time already. I had payed more money than guide price of sony just for get it early.

After trial , i find out this lens was very sharp in range of 70-135mm ,but the sharpness of center on 200mm was not enough than Nikon 70-200E even more Canon 70-200II.

And i found out it always show 198mm on computer but when im shooting i turn to 200mm actually.

 

[AlphaPhotography]

Finally, sony had push out the zoom-lens 70-200 2.8. im waited for it long time already. I had payed more money than guide price of sony just for get it early.

After trial , i find out this lens was very sharp in range of 70-135mm ,but the sharpness of center on 200mm was not enough than Nikon 70-200E even more Canon 70-200II.

And i found out it always show 198mm on computer but when im shooting i turn to 200mm actually.

This lens has been strange to me since its release. I never saw many reviews or sample photos posted and saw other feedback that users thought it didn't perform as well at the long end (where I would use it most) as Canon or Nikon's versions.

This was the case with the Sony G 70-200mm F4 I tested which I found great at 100-135mm f5.6 but poor at 200mm F4. I compared it to the a Canon 70-200mm f2.8 IS II which blew the Sony away at 200mm f2.8 (vs Sony at F4) and was in another league with both at 200mm F4.

Do you have any sample images wide open at 200mm or comparisons to Canon's 70-200mm? Thanks for the review

 

[Jeff2013]

I returned mine since I experienced the same thing you did. I had hoped that Roger Cicala's lackluster test results were some sort of anomaly, but my copy tested pretty much like his samples did.

My Canon 70-200mm f2.8 II is much sharper across the field at 200mm f2.8 - right where I shoot the lens the most. This was a huge disappointment for me after paying $2,600 for it and it leaves me without a decent indoor sports lens for the A9. I sure hope that either Sigma or Tamron step up to the plate with an FE version (I know... not likely and they would not be employing dual-focus motors for the speed).

--
Jeff
Florida, USA
http://www.gr8photography.com

 

[Thomas KP Lee]

I did some IQ test myself on the SEL 70-200 f2.8 GM last weekend after I bought it ( this was after I got the FE 100-400 GM and used it for one month, as the AF-C and eye-AF are so important to drive out the utmost ability of the A9, and there is no alternative other than using native tele lenses), please see the summary photo below:


A7rII + FE 70-200 f2.8 GM at 200mm with and without 2X TC

As you will see, this 70-200GM lens need to step down one stop to get the best image resolution out of it. But I would say it is in par with the Canon 70-200 f2.8 L IS II that I used for many years. The air-conditioner is 74 meter (242.8 ft) away.

Another test I normally do to check IQ of a new lens is the light star it generats in night scene at various f stops.


A7rII + FE 70-200 f2.8 GM at 70mm f8


A7rII + FE 70-200 f2.8 GM at 70mm f11


A7rII + FE 70-200 f2.8 GM at 200mm f8


A7rII + FE 70-200 f2.8 GM at 200mm f11

So the FE 70-200 GM will need to step down to f11 before it can generate good light stars, while the better prime lenses usually can get good light stars by f5.6 onwards. In any case, it is still generating good stars by f11 and is fairly good for a zoom lens. A lot of zoom lenses are terrible and not able to generate good light stars even by f16!

By the way, all above image are at 1:1 pixel level.

 

[Joohan]

It is an expensive lens and if it is only doing average for you and your expectations you should give it 3 stars. 4.5 stars is excellent. Almost fabulous.

 

[Thomas KP Lee]

It is an expensive lens and if it is only doing average for you and your expectations you should give it 3 stars. 4.5 stars is excellent. Almost fabulous.

Have to compare apple to apple. You cannot expect a zoom lens can be as good as a prime lens, even though some case, people claimed the zoom is like a prime, but perhaps they have not tested at all possible shooting applications. Especially for night scene, prime lenses are a must, I never found any zoom lens as good as prime, even the Contarex Zeiss 40-120 f2.8 or the Contarex Zeiss 85-250 f4 that I have are of outstandingly light stars in night scence, but still cannot be as good as the Nikon Ais prime lenses of a fraction of the price.

There is no perfect lens, every lens have there strengths and weaknesses, it is the photographer's duty to understand each of them and make use of their strengths and avoid their weaknesses. There is one time I like to collect small aperture lenses as they are small in size that in certain case you cannot always carry f1.0 lenses.

As I said, to make use of the A9 20fps with tracking, there is not much alternative. I used Canon EF 70-200 f2.8 IS L II and EF 100-400 II with metabones adapter on Sony A7rII or A9, but it does not provide focus tracking while shooting in hight speed multi frame, therefore, for shooting fast moving objects, especially in vertical movements, any adapted lens will have same problem, either slower in the frame rate ( 10 fps) or no tracking, just as AF-S. The only choice are the two native tele lenses : FE 70-200 f2.8 GM and the FE 100-400 GM. There is no native tele prime lenses as yet!

 

[Marti58]

have any image samples for us to see ?

 

[Joohan]

Well the 5 stars reflects just that. How worthy is it compared to other zooms in that range. It sounded in the text that it was inferior to the competition and hence should be rewarded a more moderate number of stars.

 

[Thomas KP Lee]

have any image samples for us to see ?

--
*All my Post Processing is done with Capture NX2* or Photo Mate r3
***Only a fool despises good counsel, but a wise man takes it to heart***
Flickr Photo's
Galleries on DPR

I dig up some test shots I made in 2015 with the A7rII with the EF 70-200 f2.8 L IS II with MB4, as well as testing on the EF 28-300 IS L and the old EF 35-350 L, here are for your reference to compare with the FE 70-200 f2.8 GM, the GM has better light stars at f11compare to all these, except the 35-350L




A7rII + MB4 + EF 70-200 f2.8 IS L II at 70mm f8




A7rII + MB4 + EF 70-200 f2.8 IS L II at 70mm f11




A7rII + MB4 + EF 70-200 f2.8 IS L II at 200mm f8




A7rII + MB4 + EF 70-200 f2.8 IS L II at 200mm f11




A7rII + MB4 + EF 28-300 IS L at 200mm f11




A7rII + MB4 + EF 35-350 L at 200mm f11

I also have some night shots of the Contarex 40-120 f2.8 on 2015, but was using the A7r which was before A7rII delivered




A7r + Contarex Zeiss 40-120 f2.8 at 40mm f5.6




A7r + Contarex Zeiss 40-120 f2.8 at 40mm f8




A7r + Contarex Zeiss 40-120 f2.8 at 120mm f5.6




A7r + Contarex Zeiss 40-120 f2.8 at 120mm f8

 

[AlphaPhotography]

I did some IQ test myself on the SEL 70-200 f2.8 GM last weekend after I bought it ( this was after I got the FE 100-400 GM and used it for one month, as the AF-C and eye-AF are so important to drive out the utmost ability of the A9, and there is no alternative other than using native tele lenses), please see the summary photo below:


A7rII + FE 70-200 f2.8 GM at 200mm with and without 2X TC

As you will see, this 70-200GM lens need to step down one stop to get the best image resolution out of it. But I would say it is in par with the Canon 70-200 f2.8 L IS II that I used for many years. The air-conditioner is 74 meter (242.8 ft) away.

Another test I normally do to check IQ of a new lens is the light star it generats in night scene at various f stops.


A7rII + FE 70-200 f2.8 GM at 70mm f8


A7rII + FE 70-200 f2.8 GM at 70mm f11


A7rII + FE 70-200 f2.8 GM at 200mm f8


A7rII + FE 70-200 f2.8 GM at 200mm f11

So the FE 70-200 GM will need to step down to f11 before it can generate good light stars, while the better prime lenses usually can get good light stars by f5.6 onwards. In any case, it is still generating good stars by f11 and is fairly good for a zoom lens. A lot of zoom lenses are terrible and not able to generate good light stars even by f16!

By the way, all above image are at 1:1 pixel level.

Can you post a full res version of just the first sample at 200mm f2.8? It's hard to tell by the one you posted but my experience with the Canon 70-200mm f2.8 IS II on A7II was that it was tack sharp at 200mm f2.8. It looked more similar to the f5.6 sample you posted but hard to tell without seeing full resolution versions

--
Alpha-Photographer.com

 

[AlphaPhotography]

Just as an aside to what has turned into a bit of a discussion about this lens: Has anyone else had trouble finding full resolution samples of this lens wide open at 200mm? It seems in nearly every discussion owners of the lens rarely post samples that can be analyzed in a meaningful way. I'd love to see a few full res portraits at 200mm f2.8 on the A7RII and A9

 

[Thomas KP Lee]

Just as an aside to what has turned into a bit of a discussion about this lens: Has anyone else had trouble finding full resolution samples of this lens wide open at 200mm? It seems in nearly every discussion owners of the lens rarely post samples that can be analyzed in a meaningful way. I'd love to see a few full res portraits at 200mm f2.8 on the A7RII and A9

--
Alpha-Photographer.com

All photos with the A7rII + FE 70-200 f2.8 GM even of jpg are some 27M, so would not be able to upload here.

I put 15 of these photos on my Cloud, please see if you can dowload to view them in full size with below link, it will be open for 7 days.

http://pan.baidu.com/s/1dFOWHjV

 

[Thomas KP Lee]

Just as an aside to what has turned into a bit of a discussion about this lens: Has anyone else had trouble finding full resolution samples of this lens wide open at 200mm? It seems in nearly every discussion owners of the lens rarely post samples that can be analyzed in a meaningful way. I'd love to see a few full res portraits at 200mm f2.8 on the A7RII and A9

 

[AlphaPhotography]

Awesome, thank you! The closeup portrait looks pretty sharp around the hairline/eyelashes but the Shinco fan looks pretty soft. Sharpness isn't everything but I do always appreciate as sharp as possible to emphasize the eyes in portraits, one of the reasons I'm sticking with my A7RII until an RIII comes out. But the portraits you linked look promising. Just need to find some more samples shot with an A7RII to see how it performs on a high resolution sensor

 

[TristanW]

Finally, sony had push out the zoom-lens 70-200 2.8. im waited for it long time already. I had payed more money than guide price of sony just for get it early.

After trial , i find out this lens was very sharp in range of 70-135mm ,but the sharpness of center on 200mm was not enough than Nikon 70-200E even more Canon 70-200II.

And i found out it always show 198mm on computer but when im shooting i turn to 200mm actually.

if you find new FE high end lens is not sharp, 90% chance is it's not a good copy

even my 2470gm is tack sharp at 70/2.8 at extreme corner (after checked out 3 copies)

 

[AlphaPhotography]

Finally, sony had push out the zoom-lens 70-200 2.8. im waited for it long time already. I had payed more money than guide price of sony just for get it early.

After trial , i find out this lens was very sharp in range of 70-135mm ,but the sharpness of center on 200mm was not enough than Nikon 70-200E even more Canon 70-200II.

And i found out it always show 198mm on computer but when im shooting i turn to 200mm actually.

if you find new FE high end lens is not sharp, 90% chance is it's not a good copy

even my 2470gm is tack sharp at 70/2.8 at extreme corner (after checked out 3 copies)

 

[Luis Gabriel Photography]

Finally, sony had push out the zoom-lens 70-200 2.8. im waited for it long time already. I had payed more money than guide price of sony just for get it early.

After trial , i find out this lens was very sharp in range of 70-135mm ,but the sharpness of center on 200mm was not enough than Nikon 70-200E even more Canon 70-200II.

And i found out it always show 198mm on computer but when im shooting i turn to 200mm actually.

if you find new FE high end lens is not sharp, 90% chance is it's not a good copy

even my 2470gm is tack sharp at 70/2.8 at extreme corner (after checked out 3 copies)

 

[Dan_168]

Finally, sony had push out the zoom-lens 70-200 2.8. im waited for it long time already. I had payed more money than guide price of sony just for get it early.

After trial , i find out this lens was very sharp in range of 70-135mm ,but the sharpness of center on 200mm was not enough than Nikon 70-200E even more Canon 70-200II.

And i found out it always show 198mm on computer but when im shooting i turn to 200mm actually.

Sounds about right. matcheswhat I heard from all friends who own both Canon and Sony system. I personal have not done any direct comparison.

 

[Viramati]

Finally, sony had push out the zoom-lens 70-200 2.8. im waited for it long time already. I had payed more money than guide price of sony just for get it early.

After trial , i find out this lens was very sharp in range of 70-135mm ,but the sharpness of center on 200mm was not enough than Nikon 70-200E even more Canon 70-200II.

And i found out it always show 198mm on computer but when im shooting i turn to 200mm actually.

if you find new FE high end lens is not sharp, 90% chance is it's not a good copy

even my 2470gm is tack sharp at 70/2.8 at extreme corner (after checked out 3 copies)

--
Tristan.W

Not wanting to really take the thread off topic but my 24-70GM is what I would consider evenly sharp across the frame at 2.8 but at f8 I can slight difference between the edges and the centre. To be honest this really isn't a problem for me as when shooting at 70mm 2.8 I tend to be shooting portraits and it renders the OOF areas beautifully and if shooting landscape I just move FL a touch back to 65mm and it is near to perfect at f8. A great lens

--
Viramati/David
http://www.dpsampson.zenfolio.com
http://www.flickr.com/photos/viramati/
https://www.instagram.com/viramati_david/

 

[Jeff2013]

Finally, sony had push out the zoom-lens 70-200 2.8. im waited for it long time already. I had payed more money than guide price of sony just for get it early.

After trial , i find out this lens was very sharp in range of 70-135mm ,but the sharpness of center on 200mm was not enough than Nikon 70-200E even more Canon 70-200II.

And i found out it always show 198mm on computer but when im shooting i turn to 200mm actually.

if you find new FE high end lens is not sharp, 90% chance is it's not a good copy

even my 2470gm is tack sharp at 70/2.8 at extreme corner (after checked out 3 copies)