2CV Colors

Looking Back │ NEX-7 + Sony E50mm F1.8 OSS │ 50mm F2.0 1/640s ISO100When I saw this collection of colorful old 2CVs (deux chevaux) on my home from the camera store, I just had to stop for a few test photos with my new Sony E-mount 50mm F1.8 OSS lens. Based on first impressions, I would say that this lens is going to see a lot of use. The integrated image stabilization also seems very effective, quite a bit more so than on my Panasonic Leica 45mm F2.8 prime. This lens definitely offers a lot for a relatively modest cost.

Yellow Bonnet │ NEX-7 + Sony E50mm F1.8 OSS │ 50mm F2.0 1/1250s ISO100
Inside Outside │ NEX-7 + Carl Zeiss Sonnar T* E24mm F1.8 ZA │ 24mm F2.0 1/320s ISO100

Comments

[Edwin]

Great photos! And so you bought the 50mm. I was considering it but it wasn't in stock. So this week I bought the LA-EA2 + 16-50mm f/2.8 SSM combo. Heavy, but with the Black Rapid sling it's not a problem (walked a few hours with it today with no problem). I already have the 50mm f/1.4 Zeiss, but this one has OSS and AF. Will be watching your site for more results, it's a tempting lens and the reviews are positive about the IQ.

[Jay]

Bjorn,

Nice 2CV photos. This car brings a smile to my face every time I see it :-). Glad to see you got the 50mm in your hands. I am waiting to get mine next month.

It seems like your transition to NEX from m43 is going smoothly. I transitioned to NEX-5N from m43 around the same time and left a few comments on your earlier posts. So far, I have been very happy with the results. I have realized that while those who see my photos may not notice the difference in results between the two systems, I personally enjoy working with the files from the NEX-5N a whole lot more. Sony's APSC sensor seems to preserve highlight information much better among other things.

I first tried using the Sony 30mm f3.5 lens as my walk-around lens. While it was adequate, I realized quickly that being constrained to f3.5 in low-light situations prevented me from exploring the full potential of the NEX sensor. 30mm was replaced by the Zeiss 24mm - in part because of your and others' enthusiastic reviews of that lens. I am extremely pleased with the Zeiss so far even though it was difficult to justify the price tag initially. I have been trying to simplify my photo equipment setup for a while and I have decided to settle on the NEX-5N, 24mm Zeiss, and the 50mm OSS Sony lens for at least a couple of years. I am also getting the EVF for it. Having tried m43, Samsung, and Sony, I can say pretty confidently that right now, this is the only mirrorless system that gives me very good stills and perfectly adequate video in a reasonably compact package. That is exactly what I set out to achieve.

I also feel that m43 and Sony NEX both involve compromises - just of different nature. While, m43 has a very nice line up of lenses, it has been somewhat limited by the performance of its sensors and less than satisfactory camera bodies - at least until now.

Sony on the other hand, suffers from a limited range of lens and somewhat less than perfect corner sharpness due to its extremely short flange distance.

As a photographer, you have to make a choice about which compromise you can live with. Having tried both systems, I feel very good about staying with NEX at this point.

[Corrado]

Hi Bjorn,

nice shots! full of colors, and last but not least featuring the always fascinating 2CV's..

Glad to see you could put your hands on a 50/1.8! I'm waiting for it to become generally available but the wait seems to grow longer and longer.

I'd appreciate, if possible, to examine some raw files taken with that lens sometimes in the near future; I'll be matching it to a 5N instead, but if it works for you @24MP, it definitely will for me as well :)

cheers

[Björn Utpott]

Edwin,
That's pretty exciting news. I'm looking forward to hearing your opinions on AF speed & accuracy as well as image quality of the 16-50mm F2.8 zoom on your NEX-7.

Jay,
I feel exactly the same way about preferring to work with the files produced by Sony's APS-C sensor. Maybe you can even see the difference in web size images though. A friend of mine thinks he can tell the difference between photos taken by my former Panasonic GH2 and NEX-5N/7. That could be due in part to using different lenses, but I think how the larger sensor handles highlights as well as the more vibrant shadow color is visible even in reduced images. Good to hear that you got the Zeiss 24/1.8. Yes it is expensive, but in my opinion you're better off with fewer lenses of this quality than a whole bag full of lesser lenses. It really brings out the best these amazing sensors are capable of.

I hear what you're saying about each system involving its own set of compromises. It's pretty obvious what the advantages of the NEX system are. Besides the extensive system of lenses, I'd also say that m43 is ahead in terms of autofocus speed. That can be important in some situations. Overall though, the NEX system offers me more of what I'm looking for in a system camera than any other on the market. For the time being.

Corrado,
Thanks. Isn't it funny how some things don't lose their appeal over time? As to the RAW files you requested, I posted some at various apertures in today's post. What do you think?