Sony FE 12-24mm review by Fred Miranda: “the best ultra-wide lens available”

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Get the lens at Amazon. BHphoto. Adorama. FocusCamera CalumetDE. WexUK.

Fred Miranda tested the new Sony FE 12-24mm and concluded:

The Sony FE 12-24mm f/2.8 GM brings landscape and nightscape photography to a whole new level. I consider it to be the best ultra-wide lens available – capable of extreme high resolution and contrast even when compared to our top zooms and primes.

At f/2.8, it outperforms the Sigma 14-24mm f/2.8 DG DN lens from center to corners at most focal lengths. This outstanding performance with the Sony A7R IV’s 61MP sensor, is a dream come true for anyone shooting Milky Way nightscapes.

Before trying this Sony 12-24mm f/2.8 GM, my Sigma 14-24mm f/2.8 DG DN was the ultimate go-to lens in terms of resolution, contrast and aberration correction. But, Sony’s new ultra-wide GM pushes the limit even further, adding 12-13mm of extra range and even higher resolution. Who knows how Sony makes this possible without increasing the lens’ size or weight significantly. But it doesn’t end there. The Sony 12-24mm f/2.8 GM delivers defined Sunstar rays starting at f/11 and offers impeccable flare resistance – possibly the best I have ever seen.

Landscape shooters who already own the Sigma 14-24/2.8 DG DN might hesitate to upgrade to the new Sony FE 12-24/2.8 GM, especially when mostly shooting at f/5.6 and smaller apertures. However, the extra 12-13mm f/2.8 range, better performance wide open, improved flare resistance and more appealing sunstar rendering may justify the upgrade. Currently we don’t have a set of prime lenses that outperform the Sony FE 12-24mm f/2.8 GM.

PROS:

  1. Outstanding resolution/contrast throughout the entire zoom range
  2. Outstanding flare resistance
  3. Well controlled distortion
  4. Great CA correction
  5. Low coma at f/2.8 throughout the range
  6. Fast 12-24mm range
  7. Very low color aberration
  8. Weather sealed sturdy construction
  9. Attractive sunstars starting at f/11
  10. Smooth rendering
  11. Great minimal focus distance (MFD) performance

CONS:

  1. Price: $3,000 (Most expensive GM zoom)

  2. Moderate field curvature from 12-14mm

  3. Longer MFD compared to the Sigma 14-24/2.8 DG DN (despite both lenses sharing similar MFD specs)

 

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Sony Tidbits…

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SHOOTING a Video at F0.95 – Bokeh madness

Is Full Frame a Trap!? | Fujifilm X-T4 vs Sony A7R IV (GeorgeCameras).
Carl Zeiss Batis 40 mm f/2 CF review at Lenstip.
Recommended External Hard Drives for Photo, Video, and Audio Production (Explora).
Sony A7sIII review at ZOL China.
Are Sales Proving That Full Frame is Beating Small Sensor Cameras? (ThePhoBlographer).
Tamron 28-200 mm f/2.8-5.6 Di III RXD | Reisezoom fürs Vollformat im Test (ValueTech).

Personal photos and tests from SAR Admin Andrea on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, Flickr and 500px.

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Ending today: Topaz and DxO deals. Ending soon: Luminar AI and C1 deals

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Two software deals are ending tonight:

  1. Save $32 on the new Topaz Mask AI plugin when you use our checkout code “RUMOR“. You can use the same code to get an additional 15% discount on all TOPAZ products (Click here).
  2. Save 30% on the new Nik Collection 3 software (24 hours left to grab this deal)

And these two software deals will end soon too:

  1. Today Skylum launched Luminar AI (Click here to read all details) And you save 20 Euro/Dollars on the early 30k preorders!
  2. This weekend only: Use checkout code “LABORDAY30” to save 30% on Capture One for Sony (Click here).

 

 

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Sony A7c specs: 4k30p, price with pancake kit lens 2.300 euro, “Most beautiful E-mount camera yet”

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Additional info I got from a trusted source:

  • Nearly exactly the same A7III specs (same 24MP sensor)
  • autofocus algorithm is the one from the A7sIII
  • 4k30p (damn no 4k60P)
  • Camera is slightly bigger than the A6600 and from what people told me it’s the “Most beautiful E-mount camera yet”

Sony A7c specs we know so far:

  • In mid September Sony will announce the new “Sony A7c” entry level Full Frame compact camera
  • Similar Sony A7III specs with 24MP sensor
  • It has the same A7sIII fully articulating screen
  • autofocus algorithm is the one from the A7sIII
  • 4k30p
  • body shape similar to the A6600 with EVF in the corner (camera is only slightly bigger)
  • The camera will be marketed for vloggers and youtubers
  • Battery is NP-FZ100,
  • USB is Type-C.
  • it has a single SD card slot
  • It has both a mic-in and a headphone jack
  • Wi-Fi (11a/b/g/n/ac) and Bluetooth
  • price will be above A7III (2.100 Euro)
  • New lens line will be announced too: The compact lenses will have the code “V”
  • The first lens will be a compact travel zoom (something like a 28-60mm f/4.5-5.6 and similar to the Nikkor 24-50)

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New Sony A6600 firmware update adds support for the LA-EA5 A-Mount Adapter

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It’s available here: sony.co.uk/electronics/support/downloads/00016897

Benefits and Improvements

  • Adds support for the LA-EA5 A-Mount Adapter (sold separately)
    • LA-EA5 A-Mount Adapter supports all A-mount lenses
    • Full support is provided for focal plane phase-detection AF, and the AF and high-speed continuous shooting features
    • Wide-area focal plane phase-detection AF coverage
    • AF features based on subject recognition, including Real-time Eye AF (human, animal) and Real-time Tracking
    • AF/AE tracking during continuous shooting at up to 11fps

    Notes:

    • STF lenses are manual focus only
    • Teleconverters are not supported for use with any A-Mount Adapters
    • Autofocus is not available during movie recording when using the LA-EA5 A-Mount Adapter
    • For AE tracking, the aperture is fixed for the first frame while shutter speed and ISO are used for exposure adjustment
  • Improves the overall stability of the camera

— — — —

And Sigma issued this warning today:

The focus may not work on α7R III / α7R IV depending on the shooting distance when the focus mode is set to ‘AF-C’ with an aperture value of F1.2. We are planning a firmware update to address this issue, which will be announced in due course.

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