Sony Lounge Thread MKIII (All Sony cameras welcome)

Surprised.

Just did a comparison between the Loxia 21mm and Batis 25mm. Loxia appears to be a touch sharper in the middle, but the Batis has more sharp details on the edges. The Loxia appears to be well-centered - performance seems similar at each corner.

Probably need to take it down to the river to do one of those serious diagonal shots. Will compare to the Batis 18mm as well.

David Arbogast wrote in post #18424237
Surprised.

Just did a comparison between the Loxia 21mm and Batis 25mm. Loxia appears to be a touch sharper in the middle, but the Batis has more sharp details on the edges. The Loxia appears to be well-centered - performance seems similar at each corner.

Probably need to take it down to the river to do one of those serious diagonal shots. Will compare to the Batis 18mm as well.

I done a similar test when I received my loxia before selling my batis. I found that the IQ was similar in both (to my eyes). At the end of the day size won for me (and sun stars)

xpfloyd wrote in post #18424248
I done a similar test when I received my loxia before selling my batis. I found that the IQ was similar in both (to my eyes). At the end of the day size won for me (and sun stars)

Just did a proper test with each lens (tripod, diagonal distance shot, same exposure settings, etc.) and the results are much more even. The Batis 25mm seems just a touch sharper in the extreme corners, while the Batis 18mm seems just a touch less sharp. But there was overall a more obvious tonal difference between both Batis' and the Loxia: The Loxia has clearly superior contrast.

Which of these two shows more contrast to you (look at the water, rocks, sunlit vs shaded grass, distance haze, etc.)?

David Arbogast wrote in post #18424290
Just did a proper test with each lens (tripod, diagonal distance shot, same exposure settings, etc.) and the results are much more even. The Batis 25mm seems just a touch sharper in the extreme corners, while the Batis 18mm seems just a touch less sharp. But there was overall a more obvious tonal difference between both Batis' and the Loxia: The Loxia has clearly superior contrast.

Which of these two shows more contrast to you (look at the water, rocks, sunlit vs shaded grass, distance haze, etc.)?

I'm on my iPhone but the right shot looks like the better contrast so my guess is right shot is loxia

David Arbogast wrote in post #18424290
Just did a proper test with each lens (tripod, diagonal distance shot, same exposure settings, etc.) and the results are much more even. The Batis 25mm seems just a touch sharper in the extreme corners, while the Batis 18mm seems just a touch less sharp. But there was overall a more obvious tonal difference between both Batis' and the Loxia: The Loxia has clearly superior contrast.

Which of these two shows more contrast to you (look at the water, rocks, sunlit vs shaded grass, distance haze, etc.)?

David, the left appears to have more contrast to me. I say left is Loxia.

the right side would be my guess the Loxia, but I can guess that only by the wider FoV. Unless of course you used the B18 image and the L21 image...tricky...

Both look good IMO...and I would be happy with either.

Would I want to sell both my B18 and B25, or just the B25 to have the Loxia...not me really...I use the B25 for stuff at the school and family stuff and really need the AF. We all have very different needs!

Alfredo sees it. The Loxia 21 is on the left, Batis 18 on the right. It's a clear difference in contrast to me and my non-photographer wife spotted the difference instantly too.

Travis is right though, both are great.

David Arbogast wrote in post #18424313
Alfredo sees it. The Loxia 21 is on the left, Batis 18 on the right. It's a clear difference in contrast to me and my non-photographer wife spotted the difference instantly too.

Travis is right though, both are great.

Very cool. Agree that both are great which is why I own both lenses. The slightly more neutral rendering of the Batis 18 is why I prefer it for architecture. Conversely, the microcontrast of the Loxia is why I prefer it for landscapes and cityscapes.

David Arbogast wrote in post #18424313
Alfredo sees it. The Loxia 21 is on the left, Batis 18 on the right. It's a clear difference in contrast to me and my non-photographer wife spotted the difference instantly too.

Travis is right though, both are great.

Haha that's nuts, I still see It the other way around (need to look on an actual screen tomorrow). It was an easy choice in the end for me, sell 2 lenses and replace with one and free up cash for another lens of different focal length

I was thinking the right side showed more contrast. But I guess it goes to show that you really cannot go wrong with either of these lenses.

Goofing around with the missus.

MedicineMan4040 wrote in post #18424209
Surprisingly stable and amazingly quick. Inflatables have come a real long way.
For photography stability solely I would look at something like the Eddyline Caribbean. I can
swing my legs over to the side, put my buttocks on the side with legs fully in the water and it
will not even think about tipping.
The Sea Eagles we have are not quite that stable but in 'confused' water (lake traffic) I was fine...but
I've done a lot of paddling and BCU 3 and 4 star certification with training in Lake Michigan so what is
stable to me might not be to others but the 393rl is fine, more than fine for lakes. Now white water I'd
have to know how many rocks you're going to eat at speed.
The beauty of the 393rl compared to the Caribbeans for say getting 2-3 miles to your photosite is speed.
The 393rl really is a fast boat (and I have 4 racing hardshells).

Thanks for the info Robert, One last question, do all the accessories , seat, foot rest and pump fit inside of the storage bag include with the Sea Eagle? I'll probably be taking one to Portugal in late September and it would great if everything fit inside of the backpack.

And for Vinz and the other portrait guys around here...I'm a complete newbie when it comes to posed portraits and processing, so I could use a few pointers.

I liked the framing and pose in this one, but one of the eyes is slightly OOF. Was shooting the FE 85 wide open. Do you typically stop down for these kinds of shots (up close, full head) to make sure both eyes are sharp?

No real post processing done here beyond WB and some contrast...I don't know the first thing about skin smoothing or any of that good stuff that Vin does.

David Arbogast wrote in post #18424313
Alfredo sees it. The Loxia 21 is on the left, Batis 18 on the right. It's a clear difference in contrast to me and my non-photographer wife spotted the difference instantly too.

Travis is right though, both are great.

Yeah, it's clearly more contrasty, especially in the reflections in the water and the grassy areas. I picked one up a couple of weeks ago and I was amazed at how sharp and contrasty this lens is even after shooting the Zeiss 21 Distagon ZE for years, to my eye the Loxia is clearly a better lens and you just can't beat the size.