Long time no blog. Yeah, I need to work on that. Yes we’ve moved to Montana. Yes this year/spring/summer/fall has been a blur. I’ll work on better updates… BUT! Sony released a fast 24mm lens! This was my daily lens for the PADs I did back when the kids were born. I’ve switch systems (twice!) since then and my PAD fell by the side (when kid #2 was born AND we moved 6 years ago).
… so when sony announced their new “24mm 1.4 G master” lens I ordered it immediately. It arrived last week and hasn’t left my camera (a7riii for those keeping score) since. It’s awesome (so far)! It’s a perfect size for the a7riii. It’s the smallest fast 24mm available (-vs- sigma canon and nikon versions). I’ve tried sony’s 28mm f/2. I didn’t love 28mm and f/2 just wasn’t fast enough. I tried the 25mm batis f/2. It FOV was “close enough” but f/2 was still not what I was after. I also tried the sigma 24mm 1.4 art but it’s massive when adapter to sony (either with the MC-11 and a canon version or sigma’s FE version with the added on bit at the back). The thing with a wide fast lens is that seemingly minor difference between f/2 and f/1.4 makes a HUGE difference in your ability to get separation. With the lens stopped down a bit you just get more in focus which adds distractions at this focal length. With longer lenses I’m much less concerned with their maximum aperture. I prefer my 85mm 1.8 as the faster AF and smaller lens with a lower cost is fine there. I’d even be fine with an f/2 on the longer lens.
Another AWESOME bonus with the a7riii is that it’s got so many MP you can crop for days. So switching to the crop mode I get a ~35mm lens that’s still fast and I still have 19mp. So this lens can pull double duty. My favorite FL @ 24mm on FF or hit the button (thank’s sony, “C1” is set to crop mode switch on my a7riii) and I get my second favorite fast prime in a 35mm 1.4 on crop. I’ve also got the button on the lens set to eye-AF. Not really used to having a spare button so it’s doubling up with 2 buttons on the back for AF and eye-AF. I’m not really using the ring for aperture, I just leave it set to “A” and use the camera dials (since this is my only lens with the ring). I also LOVE the hood on this lens! It’s a seemingly minor thing but first off it locks in place which is great. The flat edged “petals” allow you to set the camera down face down as shown above! The camera is very well balanced in this position and it’s something I’ve gotten used to with hoods on longer lenses where they are flush at the front. This lens is well built and has a wonderful feel to it.
IQ so far seems great. Shallow DOF at wide angles, but also sharp with what’s in focus. The eye focus still works VERY well with this lens and makes life easy (it won’t work with dog or cat’s eyes though). I’ll update this more as I have more time to use the lens.
Some samples, all 24G on my a7riii:
