Sony Lounge Thread MKIII (All Sony cameras welcome)

avondale87 wrote in post #19022324
Certainly stunning images.
The detail in that poor rat (?) is mind blowing.

Robert & Sha they really really are very nice.
I'll sit back and wait for more

Thank you very much, Richard! So glad you enjoy it. Here is another one from A7RIV

Such photos make excellent examples of the habits of birds in nature. Things we know about (or perhaps don't) in their daily lives.

Yep quite a few at FM, even Arbitrage, maybe I got good copies? Well I didn't buy Riv for BIF though...just nice
it can double up on duties when needed. Now Sha if I had opportunities like you I'd feel rich...just no BIF'ing here
in the woods.

Guys, I’ve not adapted a lens since the original A7R but lately I’ve been considering re-purchasing the 135L as I’ve been looking through old images taken with it and they always stand out. What’s the state of play these days in that regard? Is it useable now with eye AF etc? (I’d be using a sigma mc-11 as it’s cheaper than the metabones. This is for my a7riii)

Edit - or should I just stick to my original plan of getting the FE85 and moving with my feet a bit?

Eddie wrote in post #19022331
Guys, I’ve not adapted a lens since the original A7R but lately I’ve been considering re-purchasing the 135L as I’ve been looking through old images taken with it and they always stand out. What’s the state of play these days in that regard? Is it useable now with eye AF etc? (I’d be using a sigma mc-11 as it’s cheaper than the metabones. This is for my a7riii)

Edit - or should I just stick to my original plan of getting the FE85 and moving with my feet a bit?

I like your thinking Eddie. My Batis 85mm just sits in the dry cabinet while the 135mm goes with me on every outing. Just my opinion: 135mm is a much more special FL.

Typically for portrait shooters doing head shots I appreciate that 85mm provides an easier shooter-to-subject experience and the FL difference doesn’t matter much in the overall image with many portraits. But, for environmental shooting 135mm presents a more enthralling figure:ground image imo.

Is the Sigma 135mm 1.8 with FE mount an option for your budget? I’ve seen a lot of comparisons to the GM and they both seem really close.

I’m going to be deliberately using my Batis 135mm today...but expect to be upgrading to the 135mm GM this year at some point.

One more thought...weight and bulk is a serious consideration...an FE 85mm wins on that score. I know you’ve expressed a preference for avoiding heavy lenses in the past. The Batis 135mm is still an amazing option as well. Only f/2.8 but still delivers great IQ imo.

I don't have 135 L but I do have 200 2.8 L and it's terrible on A9 and MC-11. Barely usable. I'm talking about static subjects, often just won't focus on contrasty subjects in good light.
I'm pretty sure I have read that 135L is poor too but paid less attention due to not owning one.
85 1.8, same era as the 135 and 200 L, is great.

I have to ask Shalu, did it try to eat the head?
This Black-shouldered kite tried repeatedly to swallow the head but finally gave up.
Fortunately the head stopped rolling before it entered the shade.

Photo from Choderboy's gallery.
Image hosted by forum (993706)

David Arbogast wrote in post #19022337
I like your thinking Eddie. My Batis 85mm just sits in the dry cabinet while the 135mm goes with me on every outing. Just my opinion: 135mm is a much more special FL.

Typically for portrait shooters doing head shots I appreciate that 85mm provides an easier shooter-to-subject experience and the FL difference doesn’t matter much in the overall image with many portraits. But, for environmental shooting 135mm presents a more enthralling figure-to-background image imo.

Is the Sigma 135mm 1.8 with FE mount an option for your budget? I’ve seen a lot of comparisons to the GM and they both seem really close.

I’m going to be deliberately using my Batis 135mm today...but expect to be upgrading to the 135mm GM this year at some point.

One more thought...weight and bulk is a serious consideration...an FE 85mm wins on that score. I know you’ve expressed a preference for avoiding heavy lenses in the past. The Batis 135mm is still an amazing option as well. Only f/2.8 but still delivers great IQ imo.

Thanks for your thoughts David. I really like 85mm as since I’m not a portrait shooter I find it easier to shoot a wider range of subjects than I do with a 135. Having said that my 135 shots really stand out to me so that always gets me thinking about another 135 lens. The Batis and the GM are basically the same price here new but it’s beyond my budget for what is essentially a speciality lens for me. The 135L is more than half the price of the GM. I think I’ll stick to plan A and add the FE 85 and hold out for a budget FE 135

Choderboy wrote in post #19022348
I don't have 135 L but I do have 200 2.8 L and it's terrible on A9 and MC-11. Barely usable. I'm talking about static subjects, often just won't focus on contrasty subjects in good light.
I'm pretty sure I have read that 135L is poor too but paid less attention due to not owning one.
85 1.8, same era as the 135 and 200 L, is great.

Thanks for this, helped sway me back to the original plan. Doesn’t sound like 135L is worth the hassle/risk

From 11:30 onward Mark Galer’s example shots are exactly the type of thing I like shooting at 135mm:

Eddie wrote in post #19022390
Thanks for this, helped sway me back to the original plan. Doesn’t sound like 135L is worth the hassle/risk

The sigma 135 + adapter works well about the same size, but heavy as heck. Image quality is out of this world good

Eddie wrote in post #19022331
Guys, I’ve not adapted a lens since the original A7R but lately I’ve been considering re-purchasing the 135L as I’ve been looking through old images taken with it and they always stand out. What’s the state of play these days in that regard? Is it useable now with eye AF etc? (I’d be using a sigma mc-11 as it’s cheaper than the metabones. This is for my a7riii)

Edit - or should I just stick to my original plan of getting the FE85 and moving with my feet a bit?

I am not sure how it plays on the A7R3...it does not work well on the r2 or a9 these days...it does well on the A73, and it will be going with me tonight on a little photowalk with a group downtown...going to leave the r2 at home and go a9 and A73, the 135L will be mounted to the latter. I love the FL, and love the images that come from it...it does have a very special and distinct look to the images it produces.

TRhoads wrote in post #19022427
I am not sure how it plays on the A7R3...it does not work well on the r2 or a9 these days...it does well on the A73, and it will be going with me tonight on a little photowalk with a group downtown...going to leave the r2 at home and go a9 and A73, the 135L will be mounted to the latter. I love the FL, and love the images that come from it...it does have a very special and distinct look to the images it produces.

is all of your firmware updated on the A9? That seems to handle longer focal lengths better than the A7iii, the sigma is a foolproof way to go if on a budget. Very fast, super sharp, great bokeh. it's so sharp, I have no doubt you can put a 2x TC and still retain respectable IQ.

Charlie wrote in post #19022444
is all of your firmware updated on the A9? That seems to handle longer focal lengths better than the A7iii, the sigma is a foolproof way to go if on a budget. Very fast, super sharp, great bokeh. it's so sharp, I have no doubt you can put a 2x TC and still retain respectable IQ.

yes, a9 is fully updated. And that is when it stopped working on the a9...I did update the FW on the Metabones and that made it a tiny bit better but still not trustworthy...it works great on the A73, so it works out to keep it on that body and the 85GM on the a9 for doing portrait sessions...no switching in the field.

David said it was ok...so thought I would share this one here...sunrise on the Sand dunes on film. I did very little to this, reduced exposure about 2/3 of a stop and darkened the blacks down...the camera seems to meter a bit off.

Minolta SRT201
Minolta Rokkor-X 50mm
Fuji Neopan 400