SonyShooter's reviews

  • Sony 16mm f/2.8 Fisheye SAL-16F28

    9 out of 10 points and recommended
    Great distortion. Sharp. Solid build. Reasonable price S/H.
    Expensive when new.

    Great on a full frame, but acts like a standard 24mm on an APSC, so not really any use unless you use full frame.
    Fantastic fun and the IQ is really good on the A99, even at f/2.8.
    Built-in hood to protect the protruding lens and comes with a soft hood that is the lens cap. The filters date back to the film era, so I have not tried an, but the standard or NORMAL, as it is written. This is probably just a skylight filter. Filters are not changeable, so no CPL can be used.

    reviewed October 2nd, 2023 (purchased for $329)

  • Sony 50mm f/1.4 ZA SSM Carl Zeiss Planar T* SAL50F14Z

    10 out of 10 points and recommended
    Sharp. Fast focus. Silent focus. Very good build quality.
    Heavy for a small prime.

    I bought a used copy of this last year and it has almost stayed on the A99 since then. Tried it on the A850 and results are just as impressive. Had to adjust the MFA on both cameras for this lens.

    The quality of the images it produces is so outstanding, even compared to the Sony 50mm f/1.4 lens. Although the centres are sharp at f/1.4, the corners are best from f/2.8 onwards. Good smooth bokeh.

    reviewed October 2nd, 2023 (purchased for $430)

  • Sony 50mm f/1.4 SAL-50F14

    8 out of 10 points and recommended
    Light. Good build.
    Noisy focusing.

    Managed to buy a brand new boxed lens with 12 months warranty in early 2023 for $136, so really bagged a bargain direct from a Sony Centre.

    I only bought this to replace my ageing Minolta 50mm f/1.4 that was sticking above f/8. I do believe that the rendering of this Sony version is superior and although it is more plastic than the Minolta, still feels solid enough. Nice and light for a walkabout and vacation use.

    Focusing is much slower than the Zeiss 50mm and of course is screw drive, so a bit noisy too.
    Wide open, the corners are soft, but much better at f/2

    reviewed October 2nd, 2023 (purchased for $136)

  • Sony 85mm f/2.8 SAM SAL85F28

    8 out of 10 points and recommended
    Very small and light Sharp
    Plastic and plastic mount.

    One of the "Cheap and Cheerful" range, but the only full frame one. I had hoped that Sony would have built something a little better quality, as this is so far away from the Zeiss 85mm. I suppose the other option is one of the older Minolta G lenses.

    Surprisingly good for the price and although f/2.8 is not really fast, it produces some excellent photos. Best stopped down say to f/4 for the best portraits though.
    SAM is fairly fast, but not up to SSM standards and tends to make a bit of noise.
    If you cannot afford the Zeiss or one of those rare Minoltas, then not a bad choice.

    reviewed October 2nd, 2023 (purchased for $169)

  • Sony 18-70mm f/3.5-5.6 DT SAL-1870

    5 out of 10 points and not recommended
    Cheap as chips Goes to 70mm
    Poor image quality on higher megapixel cameras.

    The main review states this is built as a full frame lens, but it does not work as one on either the A850 or A99.

    Got this as the kits lens on my Minolta 5D and still have it, but it just sits in a bag. Compared to the 18-55 SAM ii, it is very poor image quality when used on 20mp or 24mp cameras. Maybe it was ok on the 6mp of the old 5D. I was only a snapper back then.

    If you have an old Sony/Minolta and need a kit lens, then this is a reasonable choice, if only for the longer reach of 70mm (105mm)

    reviewed October 2nd, 2023

  • Sony 70-400mm f/4-5.6 G SAL-70400G

    10 out of 10 points and recommended
    Super sharp. Lots of focus hold buttons. Silent autofocus. Talking point with Canon or Nikon users. Massive hood.
    Heavy Silver Cheap feeling hood.

    I do believe that this lens was developed on from the excellent Minolta APO 100-400 f/4.5-f/6.7 that dated back to the 90s. I own both lenses, so I will compare.

    The Minolta has no built in motor and hunts a bit in low light. The Sony is almost silent when focusing and has a wider aperture at the long end. The Minolta only weighs slightly more than half of the Sony at a mere 840g. I know which one I prefer if lugging it around all day with no tripod! The Minolta has no tripod collar, which is annoying. Tried unsuccessfully to find one that fits it. The Minolta is black.

    The hood on the Sony is fascinating in that it has a small slot at the underside (or top) to allow a finger to turn a CPL filter. Very innovative, but flimsy.

    Having said all that, the Sony is a huge improvement over the Minolta, in terms of SSM and and wider aperture, but the image quality, I have to say, is not much better. I tend to use the Minolta on the APSC and the Sony on FF.

    Is the version ii much better? Optics have been upgraded and so has the AF, but the old girl is still worth getting these days.

    Minoltas are hard to come by these days and a good quality SSM ii, still sets you back a fair way, so to compromise, get a version i and talk about why your lens is silver.

    reviewed October 2nd, 2023 (purchased for $957)