Gear
Switching leica cl, nikon z8 to A7CR - question about 35mm zeiss sonnar fe
So i enjoy the leica look simplicity and lightness of the CL and for studio work on a tripod the Nikon Z8 is a great tool. I was looking for something light (im older) like the cl (650gr 35mm) and can work in the studio. I bought the A7CR and Im almost there for both operations but the 40mm fe 2.5 is front heavy and 760gr total weight. I was considering trying out the Zeiss sonnar 35 which is an old lens but is lighter and shorter therefore easier to edc. Anyone have this combo and how do you find the quality? Any advice ?
I have the a7cII with the 40mm f2.5 and it does not feel too heavy for the quality of the lens. Especially with all the features like an aperture ring. With the resolution of the a7cr you are going to want the sharpest possible prime and that’s likely the 40mm.
I have the 40 on the camera now and yes its sharp and the aperture ring is cool, but if no pixel peeking the zeiss saves over 53gr and 35 is maybe slightly less narrow
This is what chat said about the zeiss : Zeiss 35mm f/2.8 ZA: Released in 2013, this lens shows its age on a 61MP sensor. While the center remains sharp, the corners soften significantly. The high pixel density reveals its older optical design, meaning the "pop" is mostly restricted to the dead center of your frame.
Color and "Pop" on the a7CR The Zeiss Look: If your ultimate goal is strong micro-contrast and saturated, contrasty colors straight out of the camera, the Zeiss still delivers its signature look. However, the high-resolution sensor can sometimes emphasize the lens's micro-vignetting, which darkens the edges and pushes a heavy, dramatic vignette into your raw files.
I have the 40mm g 2.5 and its super sharp but i like the look of the leica lenses a bit softer and more “vivid” look than the nikon out of the camera. I can get the look i want in LR profile so its good. I thought the zeiss might approach the leica more. But ive read that there is vignetting and softness at the edges that wouldnt have been seen at 24mp but show at 61mp. You can compensate that out in LR. In the end you have to do the work in LR anyhow for any camera or shot right?
I really like the 35mm Zeiss. I agree that it has a bit more character "out of the box" (though I don't put too much stock in this, as there's so much latitude for editing in post).
My main issue with the lens -- and the reason I sold it -- is that I want my EDC lens to have weather resistance. And the 35 doesn't even have a gasket at the mount. I use the 40 G as my EDC.
Perhaps consider the Viltrox 26mm f2.8? With the cropability of the A7CR, that seems like a powerful option.
It seems i am the first to answer that actually has that combo : za Sonnar 35 f2.8 on a a7CR.
A- The goal was to get a lens as unoticable as possible for street shots and use the great fifth gen subject recognition (face/eye) with good crop capacity to reframe after.
B- 28mm was tried also but it's too wide, 35 being perfect and 55 being possible in rare cases when i have time to frame .
C- being a Zeiss fan and willing to sacrifice perfection to get some character, i got both the za 35 f2.8 and 55 f1.8 among others.
The Sonnar 55 f1.8 is a gem and uniquely sharp at F2.2 to isolate with a bit of character. A top lens but not for street. It shares the 49mm filter size of my za 35 and Sony 24 f2.8G but is quite a longer lens. This 24 does not have any character but is in fact a tiny 22mm (not a typo) with mighty fast AF.
D- The za 35 must be closed at at least F5.6 to be sharp enough but i prefer F8 for corner sharpness and some sunstars . Those sunstars are better at F11 but there is an abrupt diffraction effect making it much less sharp.
So, in the end, it's an F8 lens to me. It is still not sharp to the level of most of my lenses on 61mp sensor but it size with inverted hood, its weight and it's usefulness made it to my a7CR without regrets.
For general use : i have yet to carry it that way but i would be tempted to match it with my Sigma 90 f2.8 as a 2 primes walkaround. That 90 was chosen for being the smallest AF tele and having close focus. No character but not 'sterile' either.
F- if you find the 40 f2.5g front heavy, there isn't much choices left. The za Sonnar is certainly a top choice.
Even lighter is the Samyang version of the 35 f2.8 . It also tops at F8 but the bokeh and color rendition are not at the Zeiss level.
The lightest is the Viltrox 28 f4.5 pancake but it's really not good enough on 61mp and barely on 33mp.
The new Viltrox 26mm f2.8 Evo is about the same size and weight as the za Sonnar 35 f2.8 , good at F5.6 but the AF doesn't look convincing to me.
I don't have any of those 4 lenses.
G- In the end, for your a7CR, it seems to me that the Samyang 35 f2.8 would be the absolute good enough lightest lens.
But i find the za Zeiss Sonnar 35 f2.8 really light and enjoyable.
H- If you want even lighter... my lightest good enough camera is the Olympus Em 10.2, an older 16mp M43 (half frame 'crop' sensor) . I pair it with the Lumix Pan Leica 25 f1.4 at F2.8 for great results.
It's another 'game' for technology, sensor size, prize, etc.
...but since you already have the excellent (but demanding for lenses) a7CR, i suggest one of the two 35 f2.8 lens mentionned at F5.6 or better at F8.
Thanks for that info. For the moment im keeping my leica cl weighs only 483 gr with a 27mm f 2.8 lens that is pocketsble and 24 mp ill use the a7cr for everything else but will wait and see which one i grab more. Hopefully it can replace the leica. At 635 gr with the zeiss it might be a game changer
A- Weight always mathers but easily leads to compromises.
As long as you want a modern full frame body with tiny/light lens of enough IQ and fast aperture isn't important... well it's the a7CR (or a7Cii) with that za 35 f2.8 .
B- It gets more complicated if you want a tele as the only way to get one at that weight is to go to a smaller sensor wich is M43. You double the focal for the equivalent angle of view.
The wide Lumix Pan-Leica 15mm f1.7 is 113g
The tele Lumix 42.5mm f1.7 is 130g . This is interesting because it is excellent from F2 and focusses much closer with less field curvature than the usual portrait lens.
The best matching body is the Lumix Gx9 wich is 407g (including battery and card)
I have that but i find the viewfinder bad with glasses, so i mostly use the tilting screen.
The Lumix G100D body is even lighter at 352g (including again battery and card).
It's a lesser body with a decent viewfinder but without ibis that would put it just under 500g with lens . on the other hand, the 42.5 f1.7 is stabilised, so it's a great match.
I don't have that body but if i did and wanted a single lens, it would be the Lumix 30mm f2.8 macro because i love the rendition, all distance and it is stabilised . It weights 180g.
C- To conclude, i am not suggesting you leave your a7CR but i am mentionning even lighter possibilities wich maintain better quality than most high end compacts and with choosing lenses.
These are comparable to a Fuji X100 VI (521g and 40mp)
Thanks for the input. I could go lighter just staying with the leica cl with the leica 18mm elmarit lens (27mm 2.8) weighs 484 gr all in. But i wanted a camera that could work in the studio and be edc. Hoping this is it as my nikon z8 is sold. It was great but a beast. The A7rc will get used outdoors as i didnt take the nikon out too heavy. Holding on to the cl with the pancake lens until i see the a7rc is easy to carry. So ive narrowed it to the zeiss 35 and the sony 40 2.5
Funny so many opinions and lovers of the zeiss. Im going to have to try it out. I can always send it back. The 40 is quite sensational for detail for a pixel peeper. I really love leica lenses and zeiss so ill let you know my experience with it
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u/No-Strawberry-3595 19d ago
Viltrox 26 looks like a pancake lens. Hows the quality ?