p.16 #1 · Sony FE 40/2.5 G - A little darling. Samples and opinions welcome!
I solved my cheap and not super fast normal lens situation with the Sigma i45. IMO it's a far more interesting lens than the other cheap and slow-ish options out there. It's the slowest, yes, but renders the best by a significant margin; it's also better behaved stopped down across the frame and it's built much better than the other options too. It feels quality and the aperture ring is very nicely implemented.
The only complaint I've seen is AF-C AF can be inconsistent - the residual spherical aberration that's the secret to its rendering magic is also what causes AF-C to misfire at times. I only use it in AF-S and have never had a problem.
p.16 #2 · Sony FE 40/2.5 G - A little darling. Samples and opinions welcome!
Dave Sanders wrote:
The only complaint I've seen is AF-C AF can be inconsistent - the residual spherical aberration that's the secret to its rendering magic is also what causes AF-C to misfire at times. I only use it in AF-S and have never had a problem.
I use my i45 with AF-C and I've never had a problem with the autofocus. I don't shoot sports of course but general street and portrait stuff. Can't remember a single instance where it missed focus.
Agreed though, great lens. Wish it was f2 but you can't have everything.
p.16 #3 · Sony FE 40/2.5 G - A little darling. Samples and opinions welcome!
jaygould wrote:
I use my i45 with AF-C and I've never had a problem with the autofocus. I don't shoot sports of course but general street and portrait stuff. Can't remember a single instance where it missed focus.
Agreed though, great lens. Wish it was f2 but you can't have everything.
That's good to know - maybe when I upgrade my aging A7RII I'll play around a bit more with AF-C and the i45.
And yes - i also yearn for f2 but I'll take it as it is. I'm not super weight/size sensitive so if they added a stop and 100-150 grams I'd still be happy - my i65 still feels very much like a 'small' lens to me
p.16 #6 · Sony FE 40/2.5 G - A little darling. Samples and opinions welcome!
Nifty Fifty wrote:
Because the Air is quite versatile in my eyes, without any real weaknesses, and therefore seems to be exactly what you want, and I'm wondering what you're actually looking for, or what you think you want to find.
I'm looking for something yet to be found, or made. The mechanical features of the 40G with some adjustments for the ergonomics, faster (say f1.8-f2), can be a little bigger and a little heavier, softer bokeh with no double lines, doesn't need to be super sharp but sharp from edge to edge, little to no LoCA and astigmatism. The AIR is nice but several of the parameters aren't there.
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Jonas B wrote:
About the FE 50/1.8: My opinion on the image quality is my own - coming from looking at images. To sum it up, I'm not enthusiastic about the 50/1.8.
Nifty Fifty wrote:
What would you criticize about the image quality in this example (with a wide aperture)?
[image of a motorcycle]
Is this a provocative question or are you really wondering?
OK... technically the image is looking good. The bike seems to be a very modern creation but unfortunately it also is, to my eyes, ugly.
A closer look show some hints of how ugly these double gaussian images can render OOF backgrounds. At the more distant part of the wall behind the bike we can see painted lines starting to split into double lines where it really should have been onluy one soft line.
But as a single sample in this size it can work and show the lens is totally usable. Without having used exactly this lens I'm sure it's usable. I kind of "know" that from experience from a bunch of similar designs through the years.
But:
Here is another single sample from the FE 50/1.8:
From lenstip
My question could have been something like "Do would you like about the image quality in this example (with a wide aperture)?".
I'm not really asking as i hope this thread can continue to be about the 40G. OK?
p.16 #7 · Sony FE 40/2.5 G - A little darling. Samples and opinions welcome!
Jonas B wrote:
I'm looking for something yet to be found, or made. The mechanical features of the 40G with some adjustments for the ergonomics, faster (say f1.8-f2), can be a little bigger and a little heavier, softer bokeh with no double lines, doesn't need to be super sharp but sharp from edge to edge, little to no LoCA and astigmatism.
I have my own wishes, too. For example, a 150g Sony 1.2/50 in the body of the 2.5/50 G, rendering like a 1.2/50 Nokton, but free of chromatic aberration. But I know it's pointless to try out a lens whose rendering I don't like, especially if I want to fulfill my wishes, for which I know there's no equivalent on the market.
Jonas B wrote:
Is this a provocative question or are you really wondering?
The question was absolutely serious, without the slightest hint of provocation.
Jonas B wrote:
OK... technically the image is looking good.
I thought that was exactly the point, because you said you wouldn't be satisfied with that.
Jonas B wrote:
A closer look show some hints of how ugly these double gaussian images can render OOF backgrounds. At the more distant part of the wall behind the bike we can see painted lines starting to split into double lines where it really should have been onluy one soft line.(...)
But:
Here is another single sample from the FE 50/1.8: https://photos.imageevent.com/jonas_b/fotoforum2022andfw/FE5018sample.jpg
From lenstip
My question could have been something like "Do would you like about the image quality in this example (with a wide aperture)?".
I'm not really asking as i hope this thread can continue to be about the 40G. OK?
I think questions that you're not allowed to answer are stupid.
Honestly? It doesn't bother me if the bokeh looks like that in certain scenarios. Unlike a certain well-known Thypochian, bokeh isn't an end in itself for me, and certainly not a fetish. I don't look "into" the bokeh in photos, so it would have to be pretty bad to bother me. If I had to choose between two otherwise similar lenses, I would naturally choose the one whose bokeh I prefer, no question. But otherwise, I would simply accept it, based on the conviction that for almost every lens, there are subject combinations that make the bokeh look better at some situations and worse at others. Ultimately, the question of bokeh should be framed in comparison to its direct competitors, and in my opinion, the f/1.8 doesn't fare so badly, at least not worse than the rest.
p.16 #8 · Sony FE 40/2.5 G - A little darling. Samples and opinions welcome!
Nifty Fifty wrote:
I think questions that you're not allowed to answer are stupid.
Honestly? It doesn't bother me if the bokeh looks like that in certain scenarios. Unlike a certain well-known Thypochian, bokeh isn't an end in itself for me, and certainly not a fetish. I don't look "into" the bokeh in photos, so it would have to be pretty bad to bother me. If I had to choose between two otherwise similar lenses, I would naturally choose the one whose bokeh I prefer, no question. But otherwise, I would simply accept it, based on the conviction that for almost every lens, there are subject combinations that make the bokeh look better at some situations and worse at others. Ultimately, the question of bokeh should be framed in comparison to its direct competitors, and in my opinion, the f/1.8 doesn't fare so badly, at least not worse than the rest....Show more →
If the bokeh from the FE50/1.8 doesn't bother you we are, simply put, different.
To keep this in the 40G domain I try to finish this discussion this way:
The FE 40/2.8 is another kind of lens. It's slower and another focal length but if compared to the 50/1.8 the 40G wins no matter how you compare them optically and mechanically. The 50/1.8 costs way much less money as the 40G price is too high.
p.16 #9 · Sony FE 40/2.5 G - A little darling. Samples and opinions welcome!
Jonas B wrote:
If the bokeh from the FE50/1.8 doesn't bother you we are, simply put, different.
We definitely have that, but the current discussion actually arose because I don't understand why you want to try something you don't like at all. But never mind.
Jonas B wrote:
To keep this in the 40G domain I try to finish this discussion this way:
The FE 40/2.8 is another kind of lens. It's slower and another focal length but if compared to the 50/1.8 the 40G wins no matter how you compare them optically and mechanically. The 50/1.8 costs way much less money as the 40G price is too high.
Well, the classification "wins" in the case of the question asked means something like "No, the 40G doesn't render like the lens you like." I had already suspected that earlier, and you've now confirmed it.
p.16 #10 · Sony FE 40/2.5 G - A little darling. Samples and opinions welcome!
That was sorted a while back. Page 15 post #17
Well, the classification "wins" in the case of the question asked means something like "No, the 40G doesn't render like the lens you like." I had already suspected that earlier, and you've now confirmed it.
I don't understand. But never mind. I'm out and wish you best best discussing in other threads.
p.16 #11 · Sony FE 40/2.5 G - A little darling. Samples and opinions welcome!
Jonas B wrote:
I don't understand.
Page 15 post #7
Jonas B wrote:
But never mind. I'm out and wish you best best discussing in other threads.
Don't get so offended. This isn't a matter of life or death.
p.16 #13 · Sony FE 40/2.5 G - A little darling. Samples and opinions welcome!
I've always liked the images that came out of the 40mm and always heard good things about it from others. Only reason I never got it is because I always had the 35mm 2.8 ZA and because it's a wider focal lenght and it's smaller in size, it was always my go-to for everyday carry.
If I ever get a Sony ILC again, I'll give the 40mm a go.
p.16 #16 · Sony FE 40/2.5 G - A little darling. Samples and opinions welcome!
The idea about a small and nice 40mm lens has given us the 40G, the TTA40 and the Viltrox 40/2.5. I haven't tried the Viltrox. I bought the TTArtisan 40/2 though as it is faster than the 40G. I guess many of us wish the 40G was faster...
I would gladly accept a somewhat bigger and heavier 40G if it was an f2 lens.
I did a couple of simple comparisons between the TTA40 and the 40G. They are kind of the lazy layman's work so not really proof of anything. Here is the first one.
above: the scene, images taken with a Sony A1. I had no tripod but was sitting on my gloves when shooting so the camera is approx at the same position. We can see differences with regards to vignetting (sill, at f4) and focal length.
100% crops:
and
The general impression I get when looking at the full images is that the TTA40 background is a notch more nervous. The crops doesn't really show that. The do however show the effect the longer focal length has: the 40G distant bokeh details are blurrier and maybe less edgy.
Another set:
and
The shape of highlights in the background are ugly in both cases. Different but ugly. The heavy vignetting makes the TTA40 images look more stopped down the closer to the border we get.
p.16 #17 · Sony FE 40/2.5 G - A little darling. Samples and opinions welcome!
Here is another example:
I know from other images that the TTA40 flares more than the 40G. It doesn't show here as I placed the sun behind one of the skylifts.
crops:
and
Is this important or not? More fringe and shady rendering towards the borders might be important or not. I have taken several images with the TTA40 that look totally OK.
However the 40G is overall better (for me). I want my lenses to be versatile. The findings here correlaes well with the conclusion over at sonyalpha.blog where Marc Alhadeff wrote "If you want the best then the Sony 40mm F2.5 G (700 euros) is available for 4 times the price".
Is the chinese little Sony worth 4 times the price? Considering both lenses are made in China and the fact that the 40G is five years old now I find the price difference annoying. The feature set is worth it to me obviously - I haven't sold the 40G.
p.16 #18 · Sony FE 40/2.5 G - A little darling. Samples and opinions welcome!
In real life the 40G works fine, the AF is fast and it handles 30 fps if needed, the optical performance is OK and you get the feature set including weather sealing, a programmable button, an aperture ring with good feeling to it and more.
I have mine mounted for all those every day snaps.
Above: a three year old granddaughter walking in the city.
p.16 #19 · Sony FE 40/2.5 G - A little darling. Samples and opinions welcome!
I just picked up this lens used at what I feel is a really good deal and have to say I am more pleased than I thought I would be...... I also have ended up liking the odd hood, I think it will help on rainy days with its shape.
p.16 #20 · Sony FE 40/2.5 G - A little darling. Samples and opinions welcome!
I like the hood as well, a little weird looking but smaller than normal hoods while just as effective. And yes, it does great for rain and snow with that shape.
