[genotypewriter]

As we all know, the 16mm f/2.8 prime for Sony's Nex cameras get quite a bit of bad press from the reviews. But how field-relevant are these claims?



Comparing a Nex-5 + 16mm f/2.8 to one of the best FF DSLR landscape/wide combos, the 5D MkII + 24 1.4L II, is a bit of a strange comparison. Yes, we all know which is the winner (or do we?), but let's see how big or small the differences are (see large image in link):



http://www.flickr.com/photos/genotypewriter/5025935854/





Hope this was useful in some way... please share your own views <img src='http://forum.photozone.de/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='' />



GTW

[Guest]

I think it is usefull in that it shows how bad that 16/2.8 really is <img src='http://forum.photozone.de/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/sad.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='' />

It's a shame because I really wanted to like NEX.

[Klaus]

Well, it is clearly softer.

[quote name='genotypewriter' timestamp='1285513145' post='3251']

As we all know, the 16mm f/2.8 prime for Sony's Nex cameras get quite a bit of bad press from the reviews. But how field-relevant are these claims?



Comparing a Nex-5 + 16mm f/2.8 to one of the best FF DSLR landscape/wide combos, the 5D MkII + 24 1.4L II, is a bit of a strange comparison. Yes, we all know which is the winner (or do we?), but let's see how big or small the differences are (see large image in link):



[url="http://www.flickr.com/photos/genotypewriter/5025935854/"]http://www.flickr.co...ter/5025935854/[/url]





Hope this was useful in some way... please share your own views <img src='http://forum.photozone.de/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='' />



GTW

[/quote]

[Klaus]

[quote name='qadn' timestamp='1285514546' post='3254']

I think it is usefull in that it shows how bad that 16/2.8 really is <img src='http://forum.photozone.de/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/sad.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='' />

It's a shame because I really wanted to like NEX.

[/quote]



There're (manual focus) alternatives (Voigtlander 12mm & 15mm).

[Guest]

I like it!!! This test visualizes lens quality much better than graphs. It is also better then comparing sample pics of completly differnt subjects, which usually make it very difficult to reach valid conclusions.

[genotypewriter]

Thanks everyone for the comments.





[quote name='Klaus' timestamp='1285516423' post='3257']

Well, it is clearly softer.

[/quote]

I'd be very worried if it wasn't! But take another good look at that f/8 crop of the 16mm against the corresponding Canon crop (right side pair)... do you see a US$3400 difference? Some will, some won't... <img src='http://forum.photozone.de/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/wink.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='' />



GTW

[dave9t5]

[quote name='genotypewriter' timestamp='1285520896' post='3261']

Thanks everyone for the comments.







I'd be very worried if it wasn't! But take another good look at that f/8 crop of the 16mm against the corresponding Canon crop (right side pair)... do you see a US$3400 difference? Some will, some won't... <img src='http://forum.photozone.de/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/wink.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='' />



GTW

[/quote]



Thanks for the comparison. This is a good point, the Canon lens is ~10x the price. It would be more interesting to compare to Panasonic LX-3 ?

[wim]

[quote name='genotypewriter' timestamp='1285520896' post='3261']

Thanks everyone for the comments.







I'd be very worried if it wasn't! But take another good look at that f/8 crop of the 16mm against the corresponding Canon crop (right side pair)... do you see a US$3400 difference? Some will, some won't... <img src='http://forum.photozone.de/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/wink.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='' />



GTW

[/quote]

Geno,



Most decent lenses perform well at F/8, and even the not so decent ones. It is all about the F/1.4 to F/5.6 here <img src='http://forum.photozone.de/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/biggrin.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='' />. And just like it is with almost anything else, the last little bits cost exponentially more... <img src='http://forum.photozone.de/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/biggrin.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='' />



BTW, $3400 difference? AUD? It's about a 1200 euro difference over here or thereabouts. <img src='http://forum.photozone.de/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/biggrin.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='' /> To me it is worth it <img src='http://forum.photozone.de/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/biggrin.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='' />.



Kind regards, Wim

[genotypewriter]

[quote name='dave9t5' timestamp='1285524491' post='3262']

It would be more interesting to compare to Panasonic LX-3 ?

[/quote]

Perhaps... at all other times, I'd have said no but the Nex is a pocket camera after all, so it makes sense to compare it to other pocket cameras, when one knows exactly what they'll be using it for. But you have to keep in mind that the Nex has a natural ~3 stop light advantage ((365sq.mm-44sq.mm)/44sq.mm = ~7.3 = 2 3/4 stops), although externally they're the same form factor. With the 16mm 2.8 fitted it becomes a ~2 stop advantage against the LX3's 24mm-equivalent f/2 lens, plus the extra 40% pixels that'll result in a smoother digital image.





[quote name='wim' timestamp='1285531824' post='3265']

It is all about the F/1.4 to F/5.6 here <img src='http://forum.photozone.de/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/biggrin.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='' />. And just like it is with almost anything else, the last little bits cost exponentially more... <img src='http://forum.photozone.de/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/biggrin.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='' />



BTW, $3400 difference? AUD? It's about a 1200 euro difference over here or thereabouts. <img src='http://forum.photozone.de/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/biggrin.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='' /> To me it is worth it <img src='http://forum.photozone.de/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/biggrin.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='' />.

[/quote]

Oh yes I too love the f/1.4 look, the light gathering ability, stopped-down sharpness, closer-focusing, better focusing, L colours, etc. of the 24LII too <img src='http://forum.photozone.de/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='' /> But for what the Nex-5 + 16mm prime is (i.e. a pocket camera), it's not as bad as people think it is.



~US$3400 is the price difference between the 5D2+24LII (~US$4100) vs. Nex-5+16mm kit (US$650) on B&H, if one is going to get either one of these combos <img src='http://forum.photozone.de/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/wink.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='' />



GTW

[wim]

[quote name='genotypewriter' timestamp='1285552387' post='3278']

Perhaps... at all other times, I'd have said no but the Nex is a pocket camera after all, so it makes sense to compare it to other pocket cameras, when one knows exactly what they'll be using it for. But you have to keep in mind that the Nex has a natural ~3 stop light advantage ((365sq.mm-44sq.mm)/44sq.mm = ~7.3 = 2 3/4 stops), although externally they're the same form factor. With the 16mm 2.8 fitted it becomes a ~2 stop advantage against the LX3's 24mm-equivalent f/2 lens, plus the extra 40% pixels that'll result in a smoother digital image.







Oh yes I too love the f/1.4 look, the light gathering ability, stopped-down sharpness, closer-focusing, better focusing, L colours, etc. of the 24LII too <img src='http://forum.photozone.de/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='' /> But for what the Nex-5 + 16mm prime is (i.e. a pocket camera), it's not as bad as people think it is.



~US$3400 is the price difference between the 5D2+24LII (~US$4100) vs. Nex-5+16mm kit (US$650) on B&H, if one is going to get either one of these combos <img src='http://forum.photozone.de/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/wink.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='' />



GTW

[/quote]

Ah, ok <img src='http://forum.photozone.de/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/biggrin.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='' />.



That's $650 extra for me in that case, or a few more euros <img src='http://forum.photozone.de/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/biggrin.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='' />.



Kind regards, Wim <img src='http://forum.photozone.de/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/wink.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='' />