At the top end of the full frame camera market, two distinguish themselves. Both employ the same Sony 35.9 x 24.0mm sensor. I’ve been fortunate to shoot each, the D800e & most recently the Sony A7r. Is there an everyday lens for the Sony A7r? (Is there really a non prime lens that is worth shooting at all? I wonder sometimes…)
There are many zooms, (15-35mm range, 24-70mm +/-) that perform well on the D800e. Ratings from 28-33 on DXOmark). It’s been my experience that any lens around 30 and higher is extremely good. Over 40 is crazy good and is generally limited to primes.
When we get to the 18-24 megapixel market, it gets overwhelming. Canon 5D mk III, Sony A7, Nikon D600, Sony A99 are some of the leaders in that arena. There are many others. The type of photography you do usually defines which camera is best. There are plenty of the same lenses that perform well for these cameras, (high 20’s on DXOmark.) Primes again are remarkable, some in the high 30’s.
Lens decisions are based largely on budget and needs. Most people don’t utilize the kind of information the larger sensors produce.
There are a few snapshot aficionados who strive for exceptional reproductions that not only capture a moment, a mood, they invoke memories and fill us with exuberance. Beauty is paramount and we want every detail as insanely good as possible!
Is the new Zeiss-Sony FE 24-70mm acceptable for an everyday lens on A7r…. sadly no. I don’t know if it even cuts it on the A7.
This little lens is lightweight and feels wonderful mounted on the 14.23oz camera. AF is as good as it’s gonna get on the mirrorless camera(people have said that Sony lenses designed for other models, with the Lae4 adapter, compare). Dead center this lens performs well, nice image quality. Quickly though, moving towards the edges it gets worse. The 100mm keeps crispness throughout, as does the Sigma 85mm 1.4 (on the Canon), which you’d expect. A bit surprisingly, the Sony 70-200m in the last shot keeps outstanding corners.
The Sony 28-70mm, which I’ve never shot, gets even lower ratings than the Zeiss/Sony cousin. Only one of the FE lenses, the Zeiss 55mm Sonnar T* is a superstar. The 35mm FE & 70-200mm FE are suitable for the large sensor. A7r owners have purchased the best sensor made, short of a medium or large format camera. I don’t know if a lightweight zoom lens with a rating of close to 30 is even possible? To take advantage of all those megapixels it’s going to take a heavier lens. Canon’s 24-70 2.8 USM II weighs double the Zeiss/Sony. The Nikon 24-70 even more. I’m saving considerable weight on the camera. I hope the rumored 16-35 FE weighs about 2 lbs…
BitchinLight Photography 