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G Master lenses - 24-70mm f/2.8, 85mm f/1.4 & 70-200mm f/2.8

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Annna T said:
I can well see the needs of pros, it is just that I don't think they should/can be satisfied with an A7 kind of body. As is Sony is not developing the A7 system in the right direction; they are making a mess, blurring lines between their different lines of products. It doesn't make sense and isn't coherent. It is as if they were only planning things for the very short term, listening too much to what is heard on social network, where everyone wants the widest lenses, the fastest aperture etc..
You satisfy different needs with different product lines. The A7r started in one direction and is now heading elsewhere, while the A-mount seems forgotten.

Sony has wonderful sensors and remarkable technology, but they aren't implementing it in a coherent sets of products.
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Disagree completely. I'm a pro and I love the a7 (and RX) bodies, regardless of whether I am shooting a small prime or a 2.8 zoom. So do others. Respectfully, I'd rather not have someone dictate what I should or can be satisfied with as a pro - that's for me to decide.

What they are doing is building a new platform that is defined by its flexibility. Configure it small or add a grip and throw some big lenses on it. Works both ways. Sony is not confined by the platform parameters of Canon and Nikon so don't expect them to replicate those models.

Do I think they were testing the waters a bit when they released the a7? Sure, but since then they have quickly improved the technology while fleshing out a lens line that appeals to a wide variety of shooters over a relatively short span. I've got my unfulfilled wishlist but it is getting smaller by the month and I'm delighted by Sony's pace of innovation.
 
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seb said:
Big fat grin! My copy of the 85/1.4 GM is arrived! Here is my first shot. Not very informative, I know. :)

There is one thing, the AF-motor is quite noisy. Does anybody know something about this?
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Congrats Seb! I haven't even gotten my copy yet.

Will let you know if the AF seems noisy once I do.
 
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dmward

Member
If I were the Sony A7 system product manager for a day here's what I'd suggest to the engineers;
Combine the best AF features available, with a feature set that rivals those offered by Nikon and Canon Pro level cameras and include 2 card slots along with two battery bays.

That combined with 2.8 zooms and 1.4 primes gets the job done.
 
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fotografz said:
Based on those images, they seem technically okay, but aesthetically pretty boring ... especially the 85.

... over-all, they look pretty average to me. No signature character, or pop or whatever you may call it. Pretty uninspiring look IMO.

I'll wait for more evidence.

- Marc
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I think you can say that about every DPR test sample gallery, regardless of the lens. God bless them.
 
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Lucille said:
Do you think that if any of these Artisans give the 85mm f/1.4 a bad review that Sony will cut them off?
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Well, I'm an Artisan and I am told to tell it how it is. I criticized the RX1RII in my review for its battery performance and the speed of RAW playback. Honestly, those are the only two criticisms I could think of...

I'll add that Miguel is a complete pro and shoots Sony, Zeiss and Tamron so I think you can take his word. I have the same feeling regarding the Batis vs GM, that each has its market and niche. He seemed quite fair to the Batis at the end of the video, saying he was keeping both.
 
seb

seb

Member
Show Performance said:
Congrats Seb! I haven't even gotten my copy yet.

Will let you know if the AF seems noisy once I do.
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Thank you. The lens is back in the store and they check it with Sony.
The good thing is, that the shop owner looked puzzled as well, when he heared the sound. The bad thing is, their own copy sounded the same.

I asked for some user feedback at dpreview and some reported the lens is as silent and fast as the 55/1.8. One found a link from a chinese site, where there were scratches from the mechanic on the lens and the same sound. So it looks like I received a bad production batch.

Beside that, I made some tests yesterday:
  • It looks like the lens is as sharp (or even sharper) as the 90/2.8 macro over the whole pic at f5.6. At f1.4 it's decently sharp. Nothing that would be noticeable, with that small DOF. Those crazy MTF charts seems to be reality.
  • The bokeh is cream dream. I couldn't recognize a hint of an onion ring. The blurred background does not deform toward the corners. The switch between sharp area and bokeh feels very constant.
  • The special cover to reduce flares is scary. If you have a led lamp in the center, it looks like turned off, even it is turned on. I didn't test much on this.
  • HEAVY! The 90/2.8 feels good, but the 85/1.4 is just a brick on the front. I think, it can be a pain, to use it over several hours. I'm thinking of a vertical grip, just because of that.
 
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uhoh7

New member
Show Performance said:
Well, I'm an Artisan and I am told to tell it how it is. I criticized the RX1RII in my review for its battery performance and the speed of RAW playback. Honestly, those are the only two criticisms I could think of...
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I don't think you were thinking very hard.

I admire the camera, but it is not taken seriously but alot of people for some very fundamental oversights such as:
http://www.fredmiranda.com/forum/topic/1406391/1#13360915

The idea such a potentially great street camera could be designed in a way it won't hold a focus point on shut down/boot up, just shows that real working photographers are not involved in the design, as do the menus and other aspects of interface.

It's not to say the RX1r2 is not a marvel, and I would certainly like to have one, if not so expensive, but Sony has a great deal to learn about making high-end cameras, and they are not going to wake up on various fronts without their feet on the fire. :)
 
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Vivek

Guest
uhoh7 said:
I don't think you were thinking very hard.

I admire the camera, but it is not taken seriously but alot of people for some very fundamental oversights such as:
http://www.fredmiranda.com/forum/topic/1406391/1#13360915

The idea such a potentially great street camera could be designed in a way it won't hold a focus point on shut down/boot up, just shows that real working photographers are not involved in the design, as do the menus and other aspects of interface.
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If you follow a blind, you can not do any better. :lecture:

Why use zone focus when you can focus accurately with the RX1R II? :confused:
 
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Vivek

Guest
Baseless utterings countered.

From yesterday (keep in mind that I am not all that strong at the moment to carry and hold the camera very securely. Luckily, the weight is just below what I am allowed to carry as well.).

Totally Auto Focused with auto ISO.

Untitled by Vivek Iyer, on Flickr

RX1R II, ISO 100, 1/1000s, f/3.2, The Hague

100% Crop:

Untitled by Vivek Iyer, on Flickr


Another, backlit.

Untitled by Vivek Iyer, on Flickr

RX1R II, ISO 100, 1/1600s, f/3.2, The Hague

100%crop

Untitled by Vivek Iyer, on Flickr
 
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uhoh7 said:
I don't think you were thinking very hard.

I admire the camera, but it is not taken seriously but alot of people for some very fundamental oversights such as:
http://www.fredmiranda.com/forum/topic/1406391/1#13360915

The idea such a potentially great street camera could be designed in a way it won't hold a focus point on shut down/boot up, just shows that real working photographers are not involved in the design, as do the menus and other aspects of interface.

It's not to say the RX1r2 is not a marvel, and I would certainly like to have one, if not so expensive, but Sony has a great deal to learn about making high-end cameras, and they are not going to wake up on various fronts without their feet on the fire. :)
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Well thank you for the kind comment. I'll try to think harder next time.

The only thing I saw reading that long thread was a bunch of people gnashing their teeth over snap shooting and zone focusing for street photography. I think we are getting pretty deep down in the weeds here aren't we? I reviewed the camera for my purposes, which include travel, reportage, live music (low light), portraiture and some street. That's a pretty wide swath of use cases and I think the RX1RII knocks it out of the park in most scenarios. If you expected me to criticize the camera for a street photography technique (snap and zone focusing) that I don't use, then my apologies.
 
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ohnri

New member
I have cancelled my pre-order on both the 10mm Voightlander and the 85mm GM as I reassess what I need going forward. But I stand by my feeling that the 85 GM will be a spectacular portrait lens.

The reports of noisy focus are troubling.

-Bill
 
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dmward

Member
Just got an email from Adorama.
24-70 F2.8 is packed and has a tracking number. Will leave tonight.

That means I'll probably have it Monday or Tuesday.

Edit: UPS notice says delivery Monday by end of day.
 
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