New NEX-3 + 35mm Skopar

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Brad Buszard

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In my search for the affordable modern equivalent to a film rangefinder and a 50mm I've just settled (for now) on an NEX-3. I have adapters for both my ltm lenses and my Contax G series lenses, but have gravitated mostly to the 35mm 1:2.5 Skopar: small, sharp and contrasty. It's a spiffy little combo for portraits and tromping around.

http://flic.kr/p/8VepoY
http://flic.kr/p/8VepoL
http://flic.kr/p/8VepoS

Does anyone else have a different favorite on the NEX? I've thought about getting the Nokton 1.4 35mm, but given the low-light performance of the NEX I haven't felt the need yet.
 
Different lenses

Different lenses

I find the ltm lenses fairly easy to focus. I've had to learn not to shift my arm position between focusing and shooting, but it really isn't too bad. The new bios makes the focus assist much easier to use.

I have the new metabones adapter for the G lenses, and it works fairly well. The focusing still isn't nearly as smooth as with the manual ltm lenses, of course, but the real difference is in size and weight. The skopar is really a tiny lens by comparison, and works great. The metabones adapter is a relatively heavy thing. I'll probably take the 28mm Biogon G out for a spin some time in the next week or two and see how the sharpness compares.
 
The 35/2 Contax G Planar is my standard lens on the NEX. Fantastico! Much closer focusing than LTM or M lenses and the signature Zeiss look.
 
I'm thinking about selling my CV 35/1.4, if anyone is interested. It is only a few months old.

The Contax G 35 is my main lens, currently.
 
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kshapero said:
wow thats the lens I am currently using on my NEX 3. Great combo.
Click to expand...

Although I enjoy the extra speed of the CV35/1.4 occasionally, my Contax G 35/2 doesn't have as much barrel distortion, field curvature and purple fringing as the Voigtlander, so I rarely use the CV these days.
 
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Black & White

Black & White

I've had a look at the 1.4 thread, and there are some very nice shots there. But given the low light performance of the NEX sensor I've decided the 1:2.5 Skopar is a better match for me. It especially shines indoors for b/w shots, which were my primary motivation for purchasing this camera in the first place:

http://flic.kr/p/8ZMogJ
http://flic.kr/p/8YJr75
 
I have a similar setup. The Nex-5 with a 35mm f2.5 PII. The size of the PII won me over and with the Nex's low light performance, I found I didn't need a bigger 1.4 lens for it.

Although I have to say my CV 40mm f1.4 and 28mm f2 Ultron performs wonderfully on it too, when I decide size doesn't matter.
 
Nice images, Brad. The portraits of the kids are splendid.

Have you tried converting any of the NEX/CV files into b&w? Would be nice to see.

Question to all that're posting here: Doesn't it bother you that your 35mm lens is now a 52mm lens? Or your 50mm becomes a 75? Or do you not notice that after awhile? The "crop factor" or "focal length magnifier" issue has been the biggest obstacle for me to get over and try the digital world.
 
It doesn't really bother me. As long as I am getting the actual field of view I want, I am fairly happy. A 1.5 multiplier is not that much. So when I want to shoot at 40mm, I use the 28mm (which is the closest), and when I want to shoot at 50mm, I use my 35mm lenses.

The only time it bothers me is for wider angles. I would like to shoot at 35mm f2 but it is hard to find an affordable 24-25mm lens with that kind of aperture.

On the plus side, I get the equivalent of an 127mm f2 with my Jupiter-9 85mm f2. That's cool for a tele.
 
The 35/2.5 Skopar is indeed a fine complement for the 16mm, although I sometimes find the 50mm equivalent view just a tiny bit restraining after having used the 16 for a while.. The 25/4 Skopar fits right in the middle, but sees less use. That's got nothing to do with image quality -which is just as fine as the 35. It's more to do with the max aperture and the 25/4 field of view being so close to the 16 that I could get the same result with a little cropping.

Another lens that gives nice looking results with the NEX is the 50/2 M-Hexanon. But it's a load bigger/heavier that the 35 Skopar, so that too sees limited use.
 
for me, 50 on the nex is good for portraits, with 15 and 16 still being a bit wide, 21 and 28 are good all 'rounders for outdoors, so far.
 
Myself, I am fondest of my 35 skopar and 28 Ultron on the Nex. Now to wait for the rumored Carl Zeiss 24mm f1.7 prime from Sony. Haha!
 
I've been using an Olympus Pen 38mm f1.8 lens, and have been quite happy with the results. Its only drawback is the 5-bladed aperture (compared to the circular ones on those Voigtlanders).
 
Jamie Pillers said:
Question to all that're posting here: Doesn't it bother you that your 35mm lens is now a 52mm lens? Or your 50mm becomes a 75? Or do you not notice that after awhile? The "crop factor" or "focal length magnifier" issue has been the biggest obstacle for me to get over and try the digital world.
Click to expand...

It bothers the crap out of me.

1.5 is bad enough, but the loss of speed....

but it's the best we have right now.

who ever makes a mirrorless full frame we can afford, with live view obviously, and a short register, well they will sell ALOT of cameras.

The crime is that all the tech is there right now.

But only leica has a decent sized FF. The rest are beasts as usual.

Rumours that nikon will announce serious evil in spring
 
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