Fred Miranda
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 p.4 #16 · Any thoughts on Sony’s new RX1R III? | |
Lukacs wrote:
I've never disliked this Sonnar lens, but I see the weaknesses, especially the lack of sharpness. I had Zeiss 35 f2.8 on A7III, it's like a small brother of this lens, the main difference is the bokeh quality due lens design and aperture. I liked that lens because of the small, unnoticable size with high build quality, but also lacked sharpness and resolution, but it wasn't really problem considering the used price.
I think there is some kind of popularity mass effect. This lens is praised since the first RX1, but more than a decade passed. Other hand original X100's 23 f2 lens had poor resolution, and it stuck on X100 series, on X100VI the lens still considered poor performer, however it has almost same resolution as the Sonar. And that camera is 1/4 price of the RX1RIII.
I like the image quality of the lens, resolution is still acceptable in most situations, especially the main purpose, environmental portraits. However if I'm considering the price as a 35GM and 50 1.2GM owner, hard to swallow the pill both wide open performance, both stopped down for landscapes how far behind. The 40 2.5 outclasses it in resolution, yes it's not f2.0, doesn't have that nice F2 rendering, but it's Sony's "budget" prime lens with almost smaller size if we consider it's not attached to the sensor.
Still this camera is a great upgrade for those praised the lens, loved their RX1RII but want better battery life and today standard's performance. I'd prefer a new lens design with modern, fast AF motor and a 42MP stacked sensor to overcome 1/2000 leaf shutter limitation....Show more →
This makes sense. The Zeiss 35mm f/2 Sonnar was outstanding on a 24MP sensor. When it first came out, I was shocked by how sharp it was from edge to edge. But as sensor megapixels increased, its imperfections became more noticeable. With the RX1R II, I noticed the corners weren't quite as sharp as I had thought, though still very good.
The new 61MP sensor makes this even clearer. So, the lens was and still is great, but newer high-megapixel sensors demand more advanced lens designs. Usually, that means more complex designs with more elements, and larger lenses.
In the case of the Sony FE 40mm f/2.5, they did a great job keeping the lens small with only minor compromises. But like you said, it's not really a f/2.0 and closer to f/2.8 instead.
Many shooters already feel (perhaps unrealistically) that the Sonnar 35mm f/2, as compact as it is, is too big for the RX1 series. So I'm sure Sony could improve the lens, but they didn't want to increase the size...even by 1mm.
The biggest complaint is definitely the price. If the RX1R III dropped to $3,995 tomorrow, I think people would be a lot more willing to accept its compromises. At that price, the flaws would feel more like quirks you learn to love rather than deal-breakers. 
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