This morning, I started out to do a test of the new Nikon 70-200/2.8 zoom. I wanted to test it on the highest-resolution body that I had, which is the Sony a7RII. I mounted the lens on a Vello LAE-SE-NF adapter, and the pair to the body. Since the new 70-200 has electronic diaphragm control, I needed a smart adapter. I set the lens to manual focusing. I got the test set up. I started a sequence of exposures. About half way through, the camera locked up. I power-cycled it and started over. After an hour of trying, I never got through an entire sequence. This is just one more experience that convinces me that this adapter is a beta product let loose on the market, and that Vello’s customers are unpaid — and, if my experiences are any indication, frustrated — beta testers.
I’ll try again sometime with a D810.
There’s not that much difference in the single dimension specs:
a7Rii = 42 mpx = 7972
D810 = 36 mpx = 7360
About 8.3% difference
I remain curious what your “Gear List” includes, but I admire that you worked long and hard to be able to afford plenty of toys. Plus many years of education and training and deferred gratification. Enjoy!
Jim, have you seen the report that Roger at LensRentals did on prime vs zoom?
Being a geezer, I have never trusted zooms that much, and boy did he reinforce
that position.
I did see that post, Herb. I wasn’t surprised. However, I’d like to point out two things about zooms: they’re much better than they used to be, and they’re plenty good enough for many photographic purposes.
If I shoot an event other than sports, I am most likely to use a zoom for most of the shots. If I’ve got a 14-24, a 24-70, and a 70-200, I’m covered. And the quality is good enough for any use that I’m going to make of the images, which, in the case of an event, is albums, print publication, or web display.
Jim
Hi,
One point with zooms that you can get the optimal crop when shooting. Shooting with primes you can move the point of view, called “zoom with your feet”, but that changes perspective. So, you need to use a wider angle and than crop.
The other factor is that LensRentals essentially always tests at full aperture. Myself, I never shoot at full aperture and for that reason generally don’t want large aperture lenses. Once you stop down to say f/5.6 the zooms will perform quite OK.
The way I see it, zooms can perform great in many use cases. Looking for maximum performance at large apertures primes may mostly win, if they are a good fit for the shooting situation.
I used to shoot with a Hasselblad and a P45+ back using a lot of different Zeiss primes. My selection right now is 40/4 FLE, 60/3.5, 100/3.5, 120/4 and 180/4, but I also owned the 50/4 FLE, 80/2.8 and 150/4 lenses. I switched 150/4 to 180/4 because it has seen little use – albeit being an excellent lens. I got rid of the 50/4 and the 80/2.8 because I wanted the 100/3.5, that is an excellent lens.
What I have seen is that I do a lot of stitching with the Hasselblad. I am using stitching in lieu of zooms. So, if I need 80 mm but just have 100 mm or 60 mm, I shoot 2-3 exposures with the 100 mm lens.
Just to say, the zooms on my Sony A7rII keep up more than well with wide angles on the Hasselblad. Those Distagons are not really great. Hasselblad has a great Distagon 40/4 IF but it is rare.
The Otus lenses are probably very difficult to beat. But, there are just three, 85/1.4, 55/1.4 and 28/1.4. What happens if you need a 35 mm lens, or even a 45 mm lens and you have a wall behind your back, standing on the top of a boulder or shooting through the rail of a bridge?
Best regards
Erik