Review: Sony FE 100-400 G Master Lens for Landscape Photographers – Part 1
I’ve very recently bought a Sony Sonnar T* FE 55mm f/1.8 ZA Lens (SEL55F18Z). As I am using Canon glass with a metabones I don’t have a nice fast auto-focusing prime for the A7R / A6000. I’d been looking around for a sharp, medium cost portrait lens for various reasons including upcoming weddings and events but also I can use this for a 50mm for landscape photography too (and will be a shot telephoto lens on the A6000 – approx. 82mm). The Canon £80 EF 50mm f/1.8 is great value for money but the bokeh isn’t that great and wide open is very very soft. The AF is noisy and quite slow. For landscaping at say f/8-f/11 it’s fine esp. for panoramas. I was torn between the 35mm and 55mm but as a good all-rounder the 55mm won. The DXO benchmark suggests it is one of the sharpest lenses on the market.
Initial Thoughts
I’m going to have a play and write a few thoughts on the lens soon but first thoughts are:
- Fast AF – seeks somewhat in low-light on the A7R but less so on the A6000 (hybrid AF system) (prob more to do with the CDAF)
- Much lighter than I thought it would feel
- No overly big, allows good finger control of the MF ring which is buttery smooth
- Silent – it really is
- Sharp even wide-open
- Beautiful bokeh
- Light fall-off isn’t too bad wide open but easily corrected with a lens profile (Lightroom)
- V solid petal hood and mounting
- Slightly fiddly to replace the lens cap and recessed into the filter threads
Firmware Update
I just noticed that they have released a new set of firmware updates for a series of E-Mount lenses including the SEL55F18Z below:
Full Frame Lens System software update Ver.02
- Date released: 03/03/2015
- Applicable models and download file name:
Model File Name SEL2470Z Update_SEL2470ZV2D.exe SEL2870 Update_SEL2870V2D.exe SEL35F28Z Update_SEL35F28ZV2D.exe SEL55F18Z Update_SEL55F18ZV2D.exe SEL70200G Update_SEL70200GV2D.exe
- Benefits and improvements:
- Provides the “Quick starting” function. When you attach lens which have “Quick starting” function, the start-up time of E-mount camera will be up to 30% faster.Notes:
1) This Lens system software update requires an E-mount body unit. It is not available in combination with NEX-5, NEX-3, NEX-C3 or NEX-VG10E
2) Lens released after October, 2014 (like lens models SEL1635Z or SELP28135G) have already the “Quick starting” function and therefore don’t require system software update
- Provides the “Quick starting” function. When you attach lens which have “Quick starting” function, the start-up time of E-mount camera will be up to 30% faster.Notes:
All of the downloads can be selected for the Mac and Windows PC’s via the links below. I’ve just updates mine and seems a bit quicker to start-up especially when the lens is initially mounted and the power on (or battery removed).
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