Sony-Zeiss 24mm f/1.8 E-mount at DVinfo.net

Mark A. Foley · July 14th, 2012, 04:23 AM

Anyone used this lens yet?

Chris Joy · July 15th, 2012, 10:45 AM

I had one for awhile with the FS and a Nex7, and while its arguably the best native E-mount lens, for me it wasn't worth the $1000+ price tag. I had Zeiss C/Y's and ZE's with my 5d2 and the E-Zeiss 24 just didn't have that trademark Zeiss sharpness and contrast. My favorite lens on the 5d2 was the ZE 35/2, and I was much happier with the results from that lens, I even prefer what I got from a C/Y 28/2.8 over the 24, so I sold the E-Zeiss 24. At $500 it would be a great lens - at $1000 it was a big disappointment. Used 21/2.8 ZF.1's routinely sell on ebay for a couple hundred more than the E-Zeiss, and that's a much better lens, the 25/2.8 sells for less and its still a standout compared to the 24. But that's my opinion.

I don't think it performed any better than the 50/1.8, it was just wider. And the extra FOV wasn't worth more than 3x the cost of the 50 to me. I also have the SAL 16-50/2.8 with an LAEA1 adapter, and at 24mm f2.8 the SAL was the better lens, sharper across the frame with better bokeh, it was just slower. But if you want fast AF, 36mm FOV and f1.8, there are sadly no other options.

I'm in the process of going back to the Zeiss C/Y's myself as I really like the Zeiss look and I don't care about AF. After two years of Nex, I wish Sony would stop cranking out new bodies and focus on lenses beyond slow superzooms.

Thomas Wong · July 15th, 2012, 06:45 PM

It's hard to tell worth or notI have the zeiss 24mm, SAL1650, 16mm Pancake and SEL50 1.8. I like the zeiss the most. Yes it's expensive but you will like the 1.8 in low light. Even though the FS100 has good low light capability, I will still prefer to keep the FS100 at low iso/gain.

SAL1650 is a great lens, but it give more weight to the unit and still F2.8 only (people said if you use the LAEA2 adapter, you will lose a bit F Stop as well) If you need autofocus, you will like the e-mount autofocus system than the A-Mount autofocus with LAEA2.

So far i am happy with the zeiss 24mm

Glen Vandermolen · July 16th, 2012, 04:47 PM

I used the Zeiss 24mm on a night time shoot and loved it. I had Sony 35mm and 50mm lenses, both f1.8 and never used them, I liked the Zeiss so much.
If i could afford it, I'd buy one.

Tom Van den Berghe · February 16th, 2016, 01:09 PM

the problem I have with autofocus is when I come to close to a subject/person it focuses on the background.
And while filming on a steadycam is difficult to solve this problem quickly.
So better set focus to manual?

Tom Van den Berghe · February 21st, 2016, 01:49 PM

will it work better with a slower lens? The stocklens F3.5 for example?

July 14th, 2012, 04:23 AM	#1
Mark A. Foley Major Player Join Date: May 2003 Location: Bonaire, Ga. Posts: 356	Sony-Zeiss 24mm f/1.8 E-mount Anyone used this lens yet?

July 15th, 2012, 10:45 AM	#2
Chris Joy Major Player Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Tampa Posts: 220	Re: Sony-Zeiss 24mm f/1.8 E-mount I had one for awhile with the FS and a Nex7, and while its arguably the best native E-mount lens, for me it wasn't worth the $1000+ price tag. I had Zeiss C/Y's and ZE's with my 5d2 and the E-Zeiss 24 just didn't have that trademark Zeiss sharpness and contrast. My favorite lens on the 5d2 was the ZE 35/2, and I was much happier with the results from that lens, I even prefer what I got from a C/Y 28/2.8 over the 24, so I sold the E-Zeiss 24. At $500 it would be a great lens - at $1000 it was a big disappointment. Used 21/2.8 ZF.1's routinely sell on ebay for a couple hundred more than the E-Zeiss, and that's a much better lens, the 25/2.8 sells for less and its still a standout compared to the 24. But that's my opinion. I don't think it performed any better than the 50/1.8, it was just wider. And the extra FOV wasn't worth more than 3x the cost of the 50 to me. I also have the SAL 16-50/2.8 with an LAEA1 adapter, and at 24mm f2.8 the SAL was the better lens, sharper across the frame with better bokeh, it was just slower. But if you want fast AF, 36mm FOV and f1.8, there are sadly no other options. I'm in the process of going back to the Zeiss C/Y's myself as I really like the Zeiss look and I don't care about AF. After two years of Nex, I wish Sony would stop cranking out new bodies and focus on lenses beyond slow superzooms.

July 15th, 2012, 06:45 PM	#3
Thomas Wong Regular Crew Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Vancouver, Canada Posts: 144	Re: Sony-Zeiss 24mm f/1.8 E-mount It's hard to tell worth or notI have the zeiss 24mm, SAL1650, 16mm Pancake and SEL50 1.8. I like the zeiss the most. Yes it's expensive but you will like the 1.8 in low light. Even though the FS100 has good low light capability, I will still prefer to keep the FS100 at low iso/gain. SAL1650 is a great lens, but it give more weight to the unit and still F2.8 only (people said if you use the LAEA2 adapter, you will lose a bit F Stop as well) If you need autofocus, you will like the e-mount autofocus system than the A-Mount autofocus with LAEA2. So far i am happy with the zeiss 24mm

July 16th, 2012, 04:47 PM	#4
Glen Vandermolen Space Hipster Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Jacksonville, FL Posts: 1,596	Re: Sony-Zeiss 24mm f/1.8 E-mount I used the Zeiss 24mm on a night time shoot and loved it. I had Sony 35mm and 50mm lenses, both f1.8 and never used them, I liked the Zeiss so much. If i could afford it, I'd buy one.

February 16th, 2016, 01:09 PM	#5
Tom Van den Berghe Major Player Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: BELGIUM Posts: 402	Re: Sony-Zeiss 24mm f/1.8 E-mount the problem I have with autofocus is when I come to close to a subject/person it focuses on the background. And while filming on a steadycam is difficult to solve this problem quickly. So better set focus to manual?

February 21st, 2016, 01:49 PM	#6
Tom Van den Berghe Major Player Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: BELGIUM Posts: 402	Re: Sony-Zeiss 24mm f/1.8 E-mount will it work better with a slower lens? The stocklens F3.5 for example?