Gear - reviews

Recensione di materiale fotografico - Tests

To your information, in 2019 I switched from Nikon to Sony.


Sony a7r III

+ compact and light

+ fast autofocus

+ AF eye tracking

+ many, many customization possibilities

+ sensor resolution

+ low light capabilities (excellent ISO performance)

+ high dynamic range 

+ pixel shift

+ great choice of native lenses

- small buttons (with gloves ...)

- long buffer clearing time


Sony FE 24-105 f/4

+ sharp

+ all-round lens, very versatile

+ AF very fast

+ light and compact

- max aperture of f4


Sony FE 16-35 f/2.8 GM

+ very sharp, great image quality also in the edges

+ solid, well built

+ great focal range, very versatile

+ max aperture of f/2.8

+ not too big

+ filters can be mounted

- You need 150 mm filter in order to avoid vignetting


Sony FE 14 f/1.8 GM

+ very sharp, great image quality (starting from f/1.8)

+ compact and light

+ aperture ring (smooth)

+ de-click modus for video

+ fast aperture of f/1.8

+ rear filter

+ low distortion

+ perfect lens for architecture and landscape

- expensive


Sony FE 100-400 f/4.5-5.6 GM OSS

+ sharp, great image quality

+ solid, well built

+ not too heavy for hiking (because it replaces two lenses in my backpack!)

+ great VR

+ beautiful bokeh (can be used as macro lens)

+ minimum focal distance of 0.95 m

+ great focal range

- max aperture only f/4.5

- not so good with teleconverter 1.4x


Nikon D850

+ professional camera, solid

+ handling

+ autofocus very fast

+ focus point selector improved

+ many customization possibilities

+ sensor resolution

+ low light capabilities (excellent ISO performance)

+ high dynamic range 

+ tilt and touch LCD screen is great

+ resolution of the LCD is much better than D800/D810 (AF with live view is easier, focus peak is fantastic) 

+ Focus stacking

- 10 pin connector is located next to the lens

- bulky and heavy (for hiking)

- back and front focus with lenses, especially with third party lenses


Zeiss Distagon T* 21 mm f/2.8 ZF.2

+ all-metal (made in Germany) / excellent build quality

+ smooth focus ring with focus confirmation light

+ very sharp

+ microcontrast

+ can be used with Lee filters (100 mm system)

- manual focus (not a problem for a wideangle)

- price

- old look


Nikkor 24-70 mm f/2.8

+ allrounder

+ excellent image quality

+ solid

+ fast autofocus

- no vibration control

- weight


Tamron 70-200 mm f/2.8 G2

+ sharp (need to be calibrated) 

+ vibration control (excellent, better than nikon) 

+ fast autofocus

+ tripod collar with arca swiss

+ well built

+ minimum distance

- weight (but similar to the new nikkor) 

- zoom at minimum distance

- need to be calibrated


Nikkor 14-24 mm f/2.8

+ solid, well built
+ sharpness
+ smooth focus ring
+ use of filter holder possible (150 mm wide) 
- big and bulky
- front lens
- edge sharpness at 14mm

Nikkor 300 mm f/4E PF VR

+ light and small
+ sharpness
+ can be used with my teleconverter
+ tripod collar not necessary
+ fantastic with Nikon D850 (not at all with D800) 
- VR could be better
- all plastic but expensive

The art of photography.

© Thomas Reber, www.threphoto.com, www.threphoto.ch, 2023. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Thomas Reber with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.