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But, it's price is really not out of line with similar lenses. A Nikkor 85mm f/1.4 is going to run you over $1200 now from what I can see of current prices at vendors; and a Canon 85mm f/1.2L is going to run you over $1800 now after current discounts. ;-)
It's just that Sony doesn't have any less expensive offerings (like the dimmer Nikkor 85mm f/1.8 or Canon 85mm f/1.8 choices).
Absolutely. There isn't a doubt in my mind that the Sony/Zeiss 85/1.4 isn't the best lens of it's kind, and it's stabilized to boot. I just wanted a lower priced alternative.Originally Posted by JimC
I don't think you're ever going to get over the cost of the Sony/Zeiss 85mm f/1.4 (or their lack of a less expensive prime in that focal length) :-)But, it's price is really not out of line with similar lenses. A Nikkor 85mm f/1.4 is going to run you over $1200 now from what I can see of current prices at vendors; and a Canon 85mm f/1.2L is going to run you over $1800 now after current discounts. ;-)
It's just that Sony doesn't have any less expensive offerings (like the dimmer Nikkor 85mm f/1.8 or Canon 85mm f/1.8 choices).
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And I had the 50/1.7 and the 135/2.8 myself, and was pleased with how they performed in situations where their use was appropriate.Originally Posted by JimC
In primes, I've got the Minolta 28mm f/2, 50mm f/1.7, 100mm f/2 and 135mm f/2.8 Autofocus lenses (and they're all stabilized on my Sony A700). So, that's no big deal to me. lol
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I have no doubt that the majority of people would be pleased with the performance of a zoom lens used in combination with a high ISO setting.Originally Posted by JimC
I also suspect that most users would prefer using zooms anyway (and since newer camera models have been continuing to improve at higher ISO speeds, the need for brighter primes is going to diminish as time passes for most users).
My Konica Minolta Maxxum 5D (announced 15 July 2005) had a maximum ISO setting of 3200(+), but I found the image noise intolerable at 800, and any attempt to reduce the noise resulted in significant loss of detail. My Nikon D90 (announced 27 August 2008) has a maximum ISO setting of the same 3200(+), but I found the image noise intolerable at 1600, and any attempt to reduce the noise resulted in significant loss of detail. In my opinion, in 3 years, the maximum useable ISO on an entry level dSLR increased by just one stop. Manufacturers can play with their systems all they want, but in my experience, it will take a long time for ISO to compensate for not having a large aperture.
