[John Hollenberg Participant Posts: 64]

Cameras, Lenses and Shooting Gear

on: July 15, 2021 at 10:01 pm

I have been shooting with Sony A7r II and using Canon 24-70 f/4 L IS lens on metabones adapter for standard zoom.  Planning to buy the Sony A7r IV and want to gradually switch to E mount lenses (don’t own any currently).  I shoot predominantly landscape with some wildlife photography, have Canon 100-400 IS L II which I have been using on Canon 5DSr.  For wide angle zoom I will get Sony 16-35 f/2.8 GM as everything I have read rates this lens very highly.  For standard zoom I am not sure whether to get Sony 24-70 f/2.8 GM or the Sony 24-105 f/4.  Suggestions?

[Eric Brody Participant Posts: 72]

Re: Best Standard Zoom for Landscape Sony A7r IV

Reply #1 on: July 16, 2021 at 1:45 pm

Unless you’re into super wide, the 16-35 is a great choice for at least two reasons, one is its excellent image quality, the other is that it takes standard, albeit large, filters. Essentially all the competitors, Sony 12-24 f/2.8 and f/4, as well as the Sigma 14-24 all have bulbous front elements precluding the use of standard filters.

I have the Sony 24-70 f/2.8GM and it’s a great lens, heavy but quite useful. It was the first lens I bought with my A7RIII (now RIV) and it has gotten a lot of use. Were I buying today, I’d look carefully at the Sigma 24-70 f/2.8. It has excellent image quality, the single most important thing, but also is quite a bit cheaper. I’ve no real knowledge of the Tampon 28-70 to compare but I used the 24 end quite a bit.

Now I shoot mostly with primes, 24 and 35GM’s, CV 50 f/2 APO, 85 f/1.8FE and 135 f/2.8 Batis. If I think I’ll need wider than 24, not often, I’ll bring the excellent 16-35.

You’ve got a world of choice now in E mount. Have fun and make photos. Don’t obsess as I do about micro differences between lenses.

Eric

[Jeremy Roussak Gold Member Posts: 1062]

Re: Best Standard Zoom for Landscape Sony A7r IV

Reply #2 on: July 16, 2021 at 1:58 pm

The Canon 24-105 has been my favourite walk-about lens on my 5D2 and 5Ds for the last dozen years. I’m planning to change to Sony kit in the next year or so, and the Sony 24-105 will be the first lens I buy.

FWIW

Jeremy

[John Hollenberg Participant Posts: 64]

Re: Best Standard Zoom for Landscape Sony A7r IV

Reply #3 on: July 16, 2021 at 3:49 pm

I tested 2 copies of my Canon 24-70 when I bought it.  Excellent from 24-50, but after about 55 mm both were too soft in the corners for my taste.  Not sure if this is due to the nature of any zoom or whether newer designs or more expensive lenses would do better.  The Sigma 24-70 and Sony 24-105 are also on my radar.  Thanks for input.

[Kevin Raber Silver Member Posts: 1328]

Re: Best Standard Zoom for Landscape Sony A7r IV

Reply #4 on: July 17, 2021 at 11:13 am

I find that the Sony GM lenses to be ideal.  I have few primes that are useful when I know they can be used.  My kit that sits in a ThinkTank Airport Security bag roller is the a7r iv and a1.  In the kit id 12-24mm, 24-70mm GN, 16-35mm, 100-400mm.  I also have the 200-600mm lens and the 70-200mm lens.  I can readapt the kit based on what I anticipate shooting.  I do have a number of primes and frankly, it is hard to see any differences when I use just primes.  The GM zooms are really good and the kit I have gives me two great cameras and lens coverage fro 12-600mm.  I can always add the 1.4 or 2 x extender if needed.

 

Kevin Raber
Owner and Publisher of photoPXL

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