Sony 135mm f1.8 GMaster lens sharpness tests are in...
I had an inkling that Sony's 135mm f1.8 G Master was going to be good...but I didn't expect it to be even THIS good!!
Roger Cicala, the founder of Lens Rentals and one of the really great guys and minds in the photo industry tested 10 pre production models of this new telephoto lens by Sony and the results, were, well, pretty astonishing.
When Roger speaks I listen.
Cicala said:
“This is the sharpest lens we've tested. Period. At last count that's out of 300+ lenses tested."
To see the full report, please go to: https://www.lensrentals.com/blog/2019/03/sony-fe-135mm-f1-8-gm-early-mtf-results/
Another thing that I love about the lens, is the fact that it has the mechanical aperture ring as well as the ability to slide a button to turn off the aperture clicks — perfect for video!
The Focus Lock button is another feature that I have grown to love on the GMaster (and G Series) Sony lenses. That button can be remapped for just about anything and I will remap it for Eye AF when shooting stills.
With the addition of this lens, the Sony line up of what I might call the “Still-Cine” lens line up includes: 24 1.4 GMaster, 35 1.4 FE Zeiss, 50mm f1.4 FE Zeiss, 85mm f1.4 GMaster and the 135 1.8 GMaster. (Please note: the 35 1.4 and the 50 1.4 lenses do not have the Focus Lock button on the side).
I call them this because they are superb as still lenses with AF and all and also work astonishingly well in video modes (especially with the newer model cameras). And while they are all focus by wire lenses, they are very well constructed and have a very natural manual focus feel when using (though I use AF for stills and video nearly 99.9% of the time).
What Sony Camera Kit can I create for $10K???
A friend asked me what Sony equipment he should get for his college-aged daughter who wants to be a photojournalist. His budget? $10K. In this blog post I have three kit suggestions all coming in under that $10K.
I heard from a former DC colleague, Vince Mannino, who asked me if I could help him put together a package of equipment for his youngest daughter, a college student, who wants to be a photojournalist.
I asked him — what was his budget? He told me $10K. Here’s what I would recommend for the student photographer.
Firstly, $10K can buy you a lot or it can buy you a little…it just depends on what your preferences are and what you feel that you simply must have.
And, since Sony offers great options in both Full Frame sensors and APS-C sensor sizes, there are myriads of options. These are but three possible combinations — there could be many many more, but this will get the gears spinning.
Kit A: Full frame or bust, G Master lenses — don’t spare the horses!
1 - Sony a7III $1998
1 - Sony a7III $1998
1 - 16-35mm f2.8 GMaster $2198
1 - 70-200 f2.8 GM $2598
1- 55 1.8 $948
Total: $9740
Kit B: Blended FF and APS and keeping prices down by using f4 zooms instead of f2.8 zooms.
1 - Sony a7III $1998
1 - Sony a6400 $898
1- 16-35 f4 $1248
1 - 55 1.8 $948
1 - 70-200 f4 $1398
1 - 85mm f1.8 $573
Total: $7063
Kit C: Keeping it WAAAAY under $10K* All APS-C bodies, E mount lenses will leave you about $5k to use toward a semester abroad where you could shoot a portfolio-worthy story.
1 Sony a6400 $898
1 Sony a6400 $898
1 - 10-18 f4 $798
1 - 35 1.8 OSS $423
1 - 55 1.8 $948
1 - 85 1.8 $573
Total: $4538
add the 70-200 f4 $1398
Total: $5936
You could save even more by buying an a7RII or an a7II but I would not recommend it. With Sony, the bodies, from generation to generation, are such a significant improvement (especially for things like action and sports things that photojournalists often cover) that I would advise to get the most current body.
The *only* downside that I can see with the a6400 is that it does not have built in 5 axis IBIS like the a7RIII or the a7III. The a6500 does have built in 5 axis IBIS, BUT the new AF with the a6400 gives it the nod.
There’s always a bit of a trade off but I always opt to stay current with bodies whenever possible. The other downside to using the a6400 camera is that it uses the smaller and less powerful W battery instead of the newer Z style Sony battery in the a7III.
Also, the a6400 only has a single SD slot while the a7III has the dual card slots.
The G Master f2.8 lenses are amazing though the G series, f4 lenses are no slouches. AND, camera ISOs are not what they once were. Shooting at 12800 is very doable with the Sony sensors (though I have not tried the a6400 at this ISO).
What are your thoughts on these kits? Do you have a suggestion for my friend Vince? If so, please leave them in the comments below!
Vel + Mike's Magical Chicago Winter Wedding | December 29, 2018
What an amazing wedding this was!
Vel had dreamed of a magical winter wedding in Chicago and her dream came true!
The lovely couple, both graduates of Saint Louis University, had enough snow to make it seem like winter but not too much to cause any travel problems for their family and guests.
By the time the reception started, the snow was coming down and created a painterly backdrop for their elegant wedding.
The couple stayed at the historic The Blackstone Hotel on South Michigan Avenue in Chicago. They got prepared for the ceremony — which was a Catholic Mass — at Our Lady of Mount Carmel on Belmont in Chicago. Then they had a brief (given the chill and fading light) bridal and bridal party portrait session that was fun despite the cold, near The Wrigley Building (Vel’s favorite Chicago building).
The reception was made extra special by the live music of the Blue Water Kings.
At midnight the party ended and the next day, Vel and Mike jetted off for their Hawaiian honeymoon.
Reception Venue: The Blackstone Hotel, Chicago
Ceremony Location: Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Chicago
Our new home (and contact information)
Happy New Year!
As we get ready to turn the page on 2018 and get ready for 2019, it has been a truly life-altering year for us in both our family and our business!
After 17 years in California, Nicki and I moved the family to a small town just east of Madison WI called Lake Mills. It’s a quaint, and picturesque lake town that is 20 miles east of Madison and about 50 miles from Milwaukee (and only 2 1/2 hours away from Chicago). My life has come full circle — and we are thrilled.
It’s a move that brings us to the same town as my sister Mary, her husband Scott as well as their daughter Stefanie, her husband Jeremy and their two little girls. We wanted our kids to know their aunts, uncles and cousins and be able to head over on their bike. Living in the same town was important for that connection.
Plus we’re also 25 miles from my old hometown of Columbus, WI where my Mom and my older sister Peggy live.
Next year is full of exciting plans and dreams for family and our photography business.
We had our offer accepted on a lovely home in Lake Mills, just around the corner from Mary and Scott so that is going to be a big part of our January and February.
I’ll also continue my teaching and speaking on behalf of Sony and am excited about upcoming trips to NYC and Arizona in the first quarter of the year. Building an online community that supports wedding and portrait photographers and helps them grow as photographers and as business people is also on the horizon.
Wedding photography here in the Madison area (as well as Milwaukee and Chicago) is going to be a big part of the focus of my photography business in 2019.
It already got off to a superb start with a winter Chicago wedding at the historic and boutique Blackstone Hotel this past weekend. I will be sharing more of that work in the coming week.
Our new contact information is:
PO Box 548; Lake Mills, WI 53551
Phone is 920.728.6183
Email remains: paul@paulfgero.com
We hope your 2019 is healthy, happy and full of adventure!
Paul, Nicki (Kate and Sparky too!)
A Trip Around the Infield | Photographs with the Sony 400mm f2.8 G Master
This past Sunday Kate’s softball team played in a tournament in Irvine.
During warm-ups though, she caught a ball on her right hand — her throwing hand — and she was unable to play in the field. It was a deep bruise and very painful. It kept her from playing defense.
But she did bat twice.
The first time, she popped out to the catcher on the first pitch. She winced in pain and was in tears walking back to the dugout. More ice on the hand.
I didn’t think she would play again but she did bat during the team’s final at bat.
First attempt — a bunt —she laid one down but it went foul.
The second was a soft infield hit and she ran for first hard (as usual). A throwing error to first resulted in her getting safely to second. She then stole third and then came home on another teammate’s hit.
Unfortunately the team lost by one run but I was very proud of the way she gutted it out and made something happen by sheer hustle and determination.
