Sony A7x lounge

That sounds exactly like the issue I am describing. It doesn't look like traditional flare though. I was using the hood (I always use hoods) and I was pretty much facing the light sources (which is typically not how you get flare). So I'm at a loss.
I'll add that I find that somewhat disappointing on a $1500 lens. I should be able to point at a night scene with street lighting, head on, and not get weird cloudy flare that makes the image pretty much unusable.

ARRRGGH..... The loxia 21 is sitting with the secretary at the front desk and I cant get out of meetings to go get it!!!!!!! so close.... so far

jocau wrote in post #18063994
If there's one lens the FE lineup really needs, it's a 135mm F/2 lens instead of another 35mm lens.

Depends what you shoot

EverydayGetaway wrote in post #18064031
It's literally never been an issue for me even when shooting with the 35/1.4 in bright light. The electronic shutter goes up to 1/32000s, you can shoot in as bright of light as you want with it.

My decision might have just been made for me... one of my good friends says he'd be very interested in buying my a7S if I sold it... the reason this is such a big deal is that he and I share our camera gear all the time, he borrows my lights, I borrow his go-pros and even 5Diii occasionally. I told him I'd give him the camera for $200 less than the cheapest one he could find so long as I could use it a couple times a year (for astro or low light work), he said he'll let me know soon... I'm still not positive I'll do it, but man is it tempting especially since he never sells any of his gear.

We have different but entirely valid values about ISO as photographers.

For me a base ISO 200 is problematic as it limits dynamic range and introduces a touch more noise than 100. Add to it that the XT2 is an APS-C sensor - inherently more noisy/less DR than the same sensor tech in FF - and it's too many strikes against it for me. But, my work largely differs from yours in that my focus is largely on detail-intensive landscapes, cityscapes, architecture, etc. For those subjects I am highly noise-averse.

However, if my photography focus was more in line with similar subjects as yours I could absolutely see the notion of dumping a FF setup and going all-in with the XT2. Also, I think it would make a phenomenal street shooter (excellent IQ + small/light + superior controls).

jocau wrote in post #18064028
This might interest you since you like the guy.

If there was someone who could convince me otherwise it is Locardi. However, since I have his training series on Cityscape photography, I have seen his use of the XT1, which he used in tandem with the D810. I was able to see his XT1 files next to his D810 files...it wasn't convincing at the time (and he wasn't convinced either or he wouldn't still be mostly using the D810). If he dumps Nikon and goes all-in with the XT2 then that will definitely capture my attention.

Regardless, his XT2 cityscape captures look phenomenonal, so I am not discounting it for my use...will definitely give it some thought. I could sell my 5DS R and a couple lenses in order to fund an XT2 with some quality lenses.

EverydayGetaway wrote in post #18064031
When did you have your X-T1? The new firmware is pretty awesome in my opinion, I don't find my X-E2 to be sluggish at all, though it does sometimes lock onto the background instead of my subject which can be frustrating.

Not sure what you mean by "at this point it's not worth it" though... at what point?

The files are possibly my favorite part about my X-E2... they require so little PP work

As for losing cash, I buy almost everything used for that exact reason, I took a $100 hit when I sold my a7R after using it for a few months

It's literally never been an issue for me even when shooting with the 35/1.4 in bright light. The electronic shutter goes up to 1/32000s, you can shoot in as bright of light as you want with it.

My decision might have just been made for me... one of my good friends says he'd be very interested in buying my a7S if I sold it... the reason this is such a big deal is that he and I share our camera gear all the time, he borrows my lights, I borrow his go-pros and even 5Diii occasionally. I told him I'd give him the camera for $200 less than the cheapest one he could find so long as I could use it a couple times a year (for astro or low light work), he said he'll let me know soon... I'm still not positive I'll do it, but man is it tempting especially since he never sells any of his gear.

Yep buying used is key. Unfortunately I bought my xt1 new and lost a lot on resale. I also bought my a7rii at early adopter rate so that would be a problem too.

I feel like I'm always chasing something but don't actually know what it is. That's why I always end up changing cameras etc. I just never seem to be totally happy. Even now I've got great gear and feel like I'm taking crap photos. That's what makes me want to simplify sometimes, one camera one focal length sort of thing but it never ends there and I realise that. Just think I'm going through a slump at the moment

Puckman wrote in post #18064040
Agreed.

In other news, I'm a bit annoyed at my Batis 25/.
Went out shooting last night (the docks in Long Beach) and ran into an interesting phenomenon. Not sure what it could be.
Wide open, the Batis 25 looks fine, then it stops down to shoot or AF (I'm at f11, but it didn't seem to matter if it was f8 or f13) and this odd cloudy flarey thing would show up (lots of street lights and bridge lights in the scene).
This did not occur when shooting the exact same scene/orientation with the Sigma 35 or the Batis 18.

I'm at work right now, but I'll post an example when I get home.

Anyone here notice something like this when shooting the Batis?

Nadim, Only one thing has happened to me and its what you see below with the Batis 18. When you zoom in its aperture shaped which is weird

vinmunoz wrote in post #18061773
more clear...

IMAGE LINK: https://flic.kr/p/JMvu​Zw rrs3 by timobong, on Flickr

IMAGE LINK: https://flic.kr/p/J1ho​Nb rrs4 by timobong, on Flickr

do you think i'm too picky for this or you will have it replaced too?

i went for the more expensive one, i expect better quality.

If I paid that much for a L bracket I would want it changed

xpfloyd wrote in post #18064109
Nadim, Only one thing has happened to me and its what you see below with the Batis 18. When you zoom in its aperture shaped which is weird

Hosted photo: posted by Eddie in
./showthread.php?p=180​64109&i=i231820460
forum: Sony Digital Cameras

That looks like standard flare.

Here's what I'm talking about. Same scene, with the 18, 25 and 35.
These are all SOOC.

Batis 25 (big cloudy flare)

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thank you..

Another example.

Batis 25. Maybe not as obvious as the previous example, but if you look above the middle-center set of palm trees. There's a cloudy light area.

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xpfloyd wrote in post #18064079
Depends what you shoot

I'm trying to look at it from an objective point of view. There isn't a single native 135mm F/2 lens with AF. While there are plenty native 35mm lenses (with or without AF).

David Arbogast wrote in post #18064087
We have different but entirely valid values about ISO as photographers.

For me a base ISO 200 is problematic as it limits dynamic range and introduces a touch more noise than 100. Add to it that the XT2 is an APS-C sensor - inherently more noisy/less DR than the same sensor tech in FF - and it's too many strikes against it for me. But, my work largely differs from yours in that my focus is largely on detail-intensive landscapes, cityscapes, architecture, etc. For those subjects I am highly noise-averse.

However, if my photography focus was more in line with similar subjects as yours I could absolutely see the notion of dumping a FF setup and going all-in with the XT2. Also, I think it would make a phenomenal street shooter (excellent IQ + small/light + superior controls).

If there was someone who could convince me otherwise it is Locardi. However, since I have his training series on Cityscape photography, I have seen his use of the XT1, which he used in tandem with the D810. I was able to see his XT1 files next to his D810 files...it wasn't convincing at the time (and he wasn't convinced either or he wouldn't still be mostly using the D810). If he dumps Nikon and goes all-in with the XT2 then that will definitely capture my attention.

Totally the same as i think. No more APS-C for me.

Puckman wrote in post #18064122
Another example.

Batis 25. Maybe not as obvious as the previous example, but if you look above the middle-center set of palm trees. There's a cloudy light area.

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DSC04226.jpg by Puckman2012, on Flickr

Batis 18. Same exact composition. No problem.

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DSC04227.jpg by Puckman2012, on Flickr

Nadim, could it be a fingerprint on the rear element of the B25?

davidfarina wrote in post #18064134
Totally the same as i think. No more APS-C for me.

I bet you hate MFT !!
I love detail too in the animals and birds and am saving for a 5Dsr but whether it's the 5Dsr A7Rii or a 1D body it is shoot specific chosen for that specific day or trip but MFT is always on me daily everywhere just because I love to shoot and have always operated my life under the principle of good enough and close enough mFTs size and weight and cost/risk allow me to carry it without much fear of major loss.