Sony Lounge Thread MKIII (All Sony cameras welcome)

So as I mentioned to Eddie earlier, I rented a Sigma 24 f1.4 FE mount as a proxy for the 24GM that I have been thinking about. Obviously we knows its a great landscape lens, but I'm interested in seeing how a fast 24 works for documentary photos...both for family photos, but also wedding and events.

One thing I love about wide angles for storytelling is that they allow enough of the background into the frame to really give photos context...this is why I love 35mm so much. The thing about 24mm is that the UWA look really pulls the viewer into the middle of the scene. It's not always flattering but makes for very lively, raw, PJ style shots....it pulls a lot of the background into the frame so things can look busy, but that's where that fast aperture comes into play...throws the background out of focus so the eyes are drawn onto your subject, while the background provides that context.

Good thing about a fast 24 paired to the a7rIII is that crop mode gives you a very close to 35mm F2 equivalent. Only penalty is that you're down to the 18mp, but that's more than adequate for nearly all uses.

IMAGE LINK: https://flic.kr/p/2ePp​yLM

IMAGE LINK: https://flic.kr/p/24cW​gRa

IMAGE LINK: https://flic.kr/p/2ePp​yHR

IMAGE LINK: https://flic.kr/p/2eJM​ATj

IMAGE LINK: https://flic.kr/p/2ePp​yQV

As a contrast to 24mm for documentary style shooting, here's a series of shots at 85mm, which to me is better suited for posed portraiture as the dreamy aesthetic of compressed FOV and narrow DOF doesn't look as 'real'. Very dramatic difference.

Very generally at 35mm and 24mm I'm capturing a story in the raw, and and 85mm and longer I'm creating a scene.

This is why I generally don't like zooms....different FOV have different stylistic uses for me and zooms make me sloppy in composition because its too easy to disregard the stylistic implications of different focal lengths.

IMAGE LINK: https://flic.kr/p/2eJM​VtL

IMAGE LINK: https://flic.kr/p/R437​A8

IMAGE LINK: https://flic.kr/p/2eJM​VA9

I took a closer look at the CV 40mm f1.2 lens as a possible 35mm prime for my bag. I still have my Zeiss 35 ZE but it requires an adapter and it's a bit large and heavy. Man, the CV 40 looks very impressive! Images have a nice pop to them and I think it would work well for shooting cityscapes and landscapes.

mystik610 wrote in post #18813694
As a contrast to 24mm for documentary style shooting, here's a series of shots at 85mm, which to me is better suited for posed portraiture as the dreamy aesthetic of compressed FOV and narrow DOF doesn't look as 'real'. Very dramatic difference.

Very generally at 35mm and 24mm I'm capturing a story in the raw, and and 85mm and longer I'm creating a scene.

This is why I generally don't like zooms....different FOV have different stylistic uses for me and zooms make me sloppy in composition because its too easy to disregard the stylistic implications of different focal lengths.

IMAGE LINK: https://flic.kr/p/2eJM​VtL _DSC2115 by Carlo Alcala, on Flickr

IMAGE LINK: https://flic.kr/p/R437​A8 _DSC1118 by Carlo Alcala, on Flickr

IMAGE LINK: https://flic.kr/p/2eJM​VA9
_DSC1107 by Carlo Alcala, on Flickr

these are great!

I prefer zooms for event captures. easier to capture the scene quicker than foot zooming and missing the action. wont look as great as prime with better bokeh but I told myself that I am capturing an event, not shooting portraits.

DTBaan wrote in post #18813716
these are great!

I prefer zooms for event captures. easier to capture the scene quicker than foot zooming and missing the action. wont look as great as prime with better bokeh but I told myself that I am capturing an event, not shooting portraits.

For events I really incorporate alot of foot zooming while using a zoom. f/2.8 on a full frame body is shallow enough to still miss a moment. I've had times shooting f/1.4 and the subject was in focus but the focal plane is thin enough to miss a part of the "story telling".

I really love my GMaster 16-35 as this allows me to have a very usable range. Foot zooming and changing the focal length can really change the perspective. The power of changing "Perspective" draws me to use zooms for events. I do feel primes are awesome but this is when my decision is based on more bokeh or low light.

My Sigma 24mm is great. AF is a tad on the slow side but for documenting family I love the image quality.

digital_AM wrote in post #18813709
I took a closer look at the CV 40mm f1.2 lens as a possible 35mm prime for my bag. I still have my Zeiss 35 ZE but it requires an adapter and it's a bit large and heavy. Man, the CV 40 looks very impressive! Images have a nice pop to them and I think it would work well for shooting cityscapes and landscapes.

No brainer imo. The CV 40 is what the Loxia 35 should have been.

mystik610 wrote in post #18813694
As a contrast to 24mm for documentary style shooting, here's a series of shots at 85mm, which to me is better suited for posed portraiture as the dreamy aesthetic of compressed FOV and narrow DOF doesn't look as 'real'. Very dramatic difference.

Very generally at 35mm and 24mm I'm capturing a story in the raw, and and 85mm and longer I'm creating a scene.

This is why I generally don't like zooms....different FOV have different stylistic uses for me and zooms make me sloppy in composition because its too easy to disregard the stylistic implications of different focal lengths.

IMAGE LINK: https://flic.kr/p/2eJM​VtL _DSC2115 by Carlo Alcala, on Flickr

IMAGE LINK: https://flic.kr/p/R437​A8 _DSC1118 by Carlo Alcala, on Flickr

IMAGE LINK: https://flic.kr/p/2eJM​VA9
_DSC1107 by Carlo Alcala, on Flickr

These are three beautiful images Carlo. That red dress looks absolutely fantastic.

mystik610 wrote in post #18813691
So as I mentioned to Eddie earlier, I rented a Sigma 24 f1.4 FE mount as a proxy for the 24GM that I have been thinking about. Obviously we knows its a great landscape lens, but I'm interested in seeing how a fast 24 works for documentary photos...both for family photos, but also wedding and events.

One thing I love about wide angles for storytelling is that they allow enough of the background into the frame to really give photos context...this is why I love 35mm so much. The thing about 24mm is that the UWA look really pulls the viewer into the middle of the scene. It's not always flattering but makes for very lively, raw, PJ style shots....it pulls a lot of the background into the frame so things can look busy, but that's where that fast aperture comes into play...throws the background out of focus so the eyes are drawn onto your subject, while the background provides that context.

Good thing about a fast 24 paired to the a7rIII is that crop mode gives you a very close to 35mm F2 equivalent. Only penalty is that you're down to the 18mp, but that's more than adequate for nearly all uses.

IMAGE LINK: https://flic.kr/p/2ePp​yLM _DSC1355 by Carlo Alcala, on Flickr

IMAGE LINK: https://flic.kr/p/24cW​gRa _DSC1426 by Carlo Alcala, on Flickr

IMAGE LINK: https://flic.kr/p/2ePp​yHR _DSC1875 by Carlo Alcala, on Flickr

IMAGE LINK: https://flic.kr/p/2eJM​ATj _DSC1176 by Carlo Alcala, on Flickr

https://flic.kr/p/2ePp​yQV_DSC1725 by Carlo Alcala, on Flickr

The 24 1.4 GM is really tempting, everything about it is great.

I can see myself getting one, even if not my particular style. Great for storytelling. At the same time, it also makes me consider the less than cool B25, it's just that 1 stop with a small increase in size, cost, and weight nearly makes it a no brainer for the 24.

AlanU wrote in post #18813723
For events I really incorporate alot of foot zooming while using a zoom. f/2.8 on a full frame body is shallow enough to still miss a moment. I've had times shooting f/1.4 and the subject was in focus but the focal plane is thin enough to miss a part of the "story telling".

I really love my GMaster 16-35 as this allows me to have a very usable range. Foot zooming and changing the focal length can really change the perspective. The power of changing "Perspective" draws me to use zooms for events. I do feel primes are awesome but this is when my decision is based on more bokeh or low light.

My Sigma 24mm is great. AF is a tad on the slow side but for documenting family I love the image quality.

Yeah weddings are basically when I'd need zooms...and more on the telephoto side. The thing about telephoto zooms is that they're so expensive that it makes more sense to rent them everytime I have a wedding and build the rental cost into the fee. I can rent a 70-200gm locally for a weekend for 60 bucks.

mystik610 wrote in post #18813684
I never got it. Pretty sure it never shipped.

I'll call amazon for a refund tomorrow.

There are local sellers selling them on prime now, so no more need to deal with Chinese sellers.

Well that sucks...mine said it shipped...but it's been crickets ever since.

Playing around with my Batis 25 f2 this morning, I took this self portrait. I should have turned the light off behind me...or shined a very bright light directly into the lens of the camera.

This was taken using ambient light coming through the sliding glass door to the patio.

TRhoads wrote in post #18813781
Well that sucks...mine said it shipped...but it's been crickets ever since.

Oh mine says shipped too but there are no shipping updates

navydoc wrote in post #18813782
Playing around with my Batis 25 f2 this morning, I took this self portrait. I should have turned the light off behind me...or shined a very bright light directly into the lens of the camera.

This was taken using ambient light coming through the sliding glass door to the patio.

Hosted photo: posted by navydoc in
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forum: Sony Digital Cameras

Very nice. I like having that light on in the background...adds warmth. Might be better if the light was off the image edge though.

The Batis is an outstanding lens. I prefer the colors from Zeiss lenses.

David Arbogast wrote in post #18813750
These are three beautiful images Carlo. That red dress looks absolutely fantastic.

TY David!

The red dress was actually given to us by the dress marker. The photos will be used for social media marketing. My wife was given a matching apron. Of course she hated the photos of her so we need to a reshoot lol

David Arbogast wrote in post #18813790
The Batis is an outstanding lens. I prefer the colors from Zeiss lenses.

They do produce great colors, I find it requires less work in post...people smarter than me could explain it but I cant.