Comments on: Ken Rockwell intrigued by the Sony A850!

By: We love all Ken

We love all Ken — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 20:35:03 +0000

Ken Rockwell is stupid like his ugliest photos ever:
LOL a f/1.4 have got more light, but that aperture will bring you soft images on WW Primes best example some crappy 35mm or 24mm… Ken Rockwell should buy himself a new brain first.

,,Locked in the same case, Sony also showed mock-ups (non-working toys) of a Zeiss 24mm f/4 and a G 500mm f/4. Neither has IS or VR, but that’s Sony’s sales pitch: IS and VR are in the camera body, not the lens.

It’s sort of weird to have a 24mm f/2. Pro 24mm lenses are f/1.4, and you can get them from Nikon (since 2010), Canon (since 1979) and Leica (since 2008). Stopping at f/2 seems pretty wimpy; Nikon has made a 24mm f/2 AI-s since 1977. f/2 isn’t professional grade today; for f/2, you may as well keep your f/2.8 zoom.

The 500mm looks like a copy of Nikon (focus ring) and Canon (switch panel) lenses. It has some fun acronyms and functions on it, like DMF and F time. I love F Time!”

Source: http://kenrockwell.com/tech/pma/2010/iii.htm

By: Sky

Sky — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 07:42:47 +0000

Perhaps Sony USA should do like Sony Poland – instead of training random people for selling DSLR hire amateur photographers from forums/web galleries. Thanks to this when you go to Sony Style you can talk with people who use this equipment every day, and that’s amazing! Something you can’t get in any other producer sellers.

By: guest

guest — Sun, 28 Feb 2010 21:44:09 +0000

The Sigma 150mm DG APO 2.8 is not available for Sony. Only Nikon, Canon, Sigma, 4/3.

By: @entoman

@entoman — Sun, 28 Feb 2010 01:02:51 +0000

I use manual mostly on macro, but understand your point. But I don’t think it is a good enough reason to switch brand. Remember you get superb macro lenses from Sigma and Tamron too. The new Tamron 70mm F2 has internal focusing and if it’s optically as good as the SP90 it should be great, and the Sigma 150mm DG APO 2.8 has internal and focuses very fast..it’s highly regarded by many. So everything is available even though they are not originally branded. I am also sure Sony will update the lens line in the future.

By: Dulaney Ward

Dulaney Ward — Sat, 27 Feb 2010 22:36:04 +0000

I believe Sony is working on a new 100 mm macro; at least a tester told me he had had one that he had had to send back for PMA

By: entoman

entoman — Sat, 27 Feb 2010 21:23:06 +0000

futile and eerikoo:
Believe me, I’m wide awake and dn’tneed to “wake up”, as I’ve used lots of different camera/macro lens combos either owned by myself or loaned to me by friends.

There is certainly nothing “wrong” with the Sony 100mm macro, in fact I own one ( the Minolta version, which Sony simply rebadged ).

The problem is that Canon and Nikon both have 100mm / 105mm macros that are far more USABLE – they have MUCH faster autofocus due to internal focussing ( so they don’t double in length as you focus closer ), and focus virtually silently. I find the Sony 100mm macros is slow, noisy, and often “hunts” crazily when shooting at very close distances, even in bright light.

Because of this I find myself forced to use maual focus, which not only defeats the point of AF, but means I’m often not quick enough to capture an active subject like a butterfly.

Before you ask, YES, I have tried using the Canon IS 100mm on a 50D, and the Nikon 105mm VR on a D90 – and their autofocus is MUCH faster and more reliable than my a700 with the Sony 100mm.

Macro is my main interest, so I’m seriousy considering switching to Canon or Nikon.

By: eerikoo

eerikoo — Sat, 27 Feb 2010 16:06:07 +0000

@entoman
It’s only been 4 years since Sony took over a brand who already was good behind Canikon in “status”… you can’t blame Sony for pumping out consumer models as a priority to hook a lot of people to the system in the first years. If you have money everything is available for you in the Sony system, some of the expensive lenses are some of the best in the business!

what have they got to compete with the Canon IS 100mm macro, or the Nikon VR 85mm macro ? = Sony 100mm macro who many says is even better, Zeiss 85 etc etc. So please wake up!

By: Customer from Hell

Customer from Hell — Sat, 27 Feb 2010 14:08:21 +0000

Ken is probably experienced enough from attending several shows before, and if he’s a media person of importance, he could have scheduled in a meeting with the vendor in advance of the show. Don’t expect the red carpet, if all the booth personel are already occupied with other customers. He should know better than being spoiled.

By: futile

futile — Sat, 27 Feb 2010 12:59:44 +0000

Entoman:
Agree with your points about Sony keeping up, but whats wrong with the Sony 100mm Macro?

By: Mark

Mark — Sat, 27 Feb 2010 10:46:49 +0000

It’s not the line-up that bugs me (after all, there is a 100mm macro, for instance), it’s the lack of effective marketing and promotion, at least here in the UK. If I go to the Sonystyle shop in my City, there is no sign of the Alpha line at all! Flipping ridiculous if you ask me.