Showcase: Sony a6500+Zeiss Sonnar T* FE 55mm F1.8 ZA

[needfx]

As promised, I would like to showcase what this amazing little combo can produce.

In my short time as a photographer, no other combined piece of equipment has given me the creator's joy as much as this.
I will not go into tech specifics other than the obvious that effective mm's are 82,5mm and f2,8 (I think)




_DSC3295 by needfx, on Flickr

_DSC2756 by needfx, on Flickr

_DSC2971 by needfx, on Flickr

_DSC2839 by needfx, on Flickr

_DSC2682 by needfx, on Flickr

_DSC5573 by needfx, on Flickr

_DSC3021_edit by needfx, on Flickr

_DSC3062_edit by needfx, on Flickr

_DSC2764 by needfx, on Flickr

_DSC5989 by needfx, on Flickr

_DSC2248 by needfx, on Flickr

_DSC5647 by needfx, on Flickr

_DSC0734 B by needfx, on Flickr

_DSC5892 by needfx, on Flickr

_DSC066 by needfx, on Flickr

_DSC0775 by needfx, on Flickr


_DSC5386 by needfx, on Flickr

 

[kenoh]

Fantastic. The Land Rover and the park bench are my favs. Cracking combo.

 

[needfx]

Fantastic. The Land Rover and the park bench are my favs. Cracking combo.

cheers matey,, my absolute favs are the guitar alone, and the jumping-not really jumping, dancer !

 

[tizeye]

I don't like any of them as they scream "upgrade you wife's a6000". Actually, very nice photos. Love the detail and the available light renditions. That Zeiss 55 is a sweet lens. Plus the upgrade is planned anyway and depending on deciding which one 6500 or 6600.

 

[needfx]

I don't like any of them as they scream "upgrade you wife's a6000". Actually, very nice photos. Love the detail and the available light renditions. That Zeiss 55 is a sweet lens. Plus the upgrade is planned anyway and depending on deciding which one 6500 or 6600.

your sarcasm is very much appreciated

The only ones not shot with available light, are the cocktails, for which a bear-bulb godox ad600 had been used in the diagonal back-left

did not know an a6600 was launched, I just googled about it. In my case, I won't be upgrading the a6500, however, the step up from a6000 to any of these, will be a huge bump in image quality & performance. I still have an a6000 with the kit lens just for video coverage or backup camera should something go wrong with any of the other cameras. I would really like to sell it to fund a batis 25mm but the backup camera is far more important right now.

 

[cogi0490]

Amazing! Great pictures, great photographic eye!

 

[needfx]

Amazing! Great pictures, great photographic eye!

thank you friend!

 

[steveash]

They are all lovely images and share a common look somehow but it’s hard to know if that is the camera/lens, photographer or post processing. Probably a combination of all three! It’s nice when it all clicks into place. I’ve found that I am shooting perhaps 90% of my work with just one prime lens these days.

 

[needfx]

They are all lovely images and share a common look somehow but it’s hard to know if that is the camera/lens, photographer or post processing. Probably a combination of all three! It’s nice when it all clicks into place. I’ve found that I am shooting perhaps 90% of my work with just one prime lens these days.

evidently all three!, with post processing taking a front seat in final image, however, having had canon in the past, specifically, canon 6d, 100d, 100mm macro L, 24-105L, 85mm 1,2, ts-e 17mm, 40mm pancake, 70-300L; sold all things canon, and now with sony a6000, a7r2, a7s, minolta 200mm 2.8, samyang 35mm 2.8, sony 100mm stf, the only combo that has been really giving me that creator's satisfaction I wrote in my OP, IS the a6500 with the 55mm zeiss.
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They are all lovely images and share a common look somehow but it’s hard to know if that is the camera/lens, photographer or post processing. Probably a combination of all three! It’s nice when it all clicks into place. I’ve found that I am shooting perhaps 90% of my work with just one prime lens these days.

just visited your instagram, AMAZING!!

one upping you with a micro machine

 

[steveash]

evidently all three!, with post processing taking a front seat in final image, however, having had canon in the past, specifically, canon 6d, 100d, 100mm macro L, 24-105L, 85mm 1,2, ts-e 17mm, 40mm pancake, 70-300L; sold all things canon, and now with sony a6000, a7r2, a7s, minolta 200mm 2.8, samyang 35mm 2.8, sony 100mm stf, the only combo that has been really giving me that creator's satisfaction I wrote in my OP, IS the a6500 with the 55mm zeiss.


just visited your instagram, AMAZING!!

one upping you with a micro machine

Thank you! I keep at it, but still waiting to make any money! Nobody could say you found your perfect combination easily!!

 

[anotherscotsman]

I'm more inclined to say 99% down to the photographer here with the kit more of a 'pleasure to use' factor!

 

[needfx]

I'm more inclined to say 99% down to the photographer here with the kit more of a 'pleasure to use' factor!

while this is high praise, I'd dare say the 55mm is the culprit
color rendition, micro contrasts, pop, etc

 

[tizeye]

while this is high praise, I'd dare say the 55mm is the culprit
color rendition, micro contrasts, pop, etc

That Zeiss 55 is a sweet lens. It has actually become more of a centerpiece as I sold my 24-70 and went prime 35, 55, 85 in the range. I do use the 16-35 to cover the lower range but am strongly looking at the Sony 24 1.4.

I got a small case that hold 2 lens, then tote the camera during an outing with one additional lens mounted.

 

[MacNut]

I'm still torn on if I should go with the 6000 series or save for the a7iii.

 

[needfx]

I'm still torn on if I should go with the 6000 series or save for the a7iii.

really depends on budget, which of the 6xxx you're looking at, if you're going for used or new, what kind of lenses are you going to invest in, and if you intend to lug around heavy or light stuff etc.

the a7iii is quite the beast of a camera and is very versatile in all kinds of situations. if you have the budget for a new or used one, and the difference is reasonable, go for the a7iii. On the other hand, it is a bigger camera, and if you intend this camera for travel, street photography, always with you situation, you'd be better off with a small form factor.

I do paid jobs both with crop (a6000, a6500) & full frame cameras (a7r2, a7s), so really it is more down to you and how much time you're going to invest in photography, Given your question, I guesstimate you're somewhat novice, but I might be wrong.

 

[MacNut]

really depends on budget, which of the 6xxx you're looking at, if you're going for used or new, what kind of lenses are you going to invest in, and if you intend to lug around heavy or light stuff etc.

the a7iii is quite the beast of a camera and is very versatile in all kinds of situations. if you have the budget for a new or used one, and the difference is reasonable, go for the a7iii. On the other hand, it is a bigger camera, and if you intend this camera for travel, street photography, always with you situation, you'd be better off with a small form factor.

I've always wanted a full frame. The price of the 6600 vs the a7iii and lenses seems like a wash. Just the features of the a7iii seems like a better long term deal. Im just hoping they drop the price soon.

 

[StellarVixen]

And then people say "Phones have became near as good as dedicated cameras".


It just takes something like this to get back to reality. The photo quality is just...wow. Thank you for sharing this!

 

[needfx]

I've always wanted a full frame. The price of the 6600 vs the a7iii and lenses seems like a wash. Just the features of the a7iii seems like a better long term deal. Im just hoping they drop the price soon.

I've updated my previous post, prior to seeing your response.

 

[MacNut]

I've updated my previous post, prior to seeing your response.

I want to make it more than just a hobby. I'm investing in the system. I like where Sony is going with their focus systems. I could start small and build up a lens collection and then move full frame. Or save up and just take the jump right to full frame. Either way it's not going to be a cheap investment.

 

[needfx]

I've always wanted a full frame. The price of the 6600 vs the a7iii and lenses seems like a wash. Just the features of the a7iii seems like a better long term deal. Im just hoping they drop the price soon.

I was in a smilar situation with you, but for the a7r II. Due to my ability to extensively edit and manipulate images, I wanted/needed the extra resolution. It really helps to be able to dive in the details, or even reframe photos with supercrops. However, I'd highly suggest a used crop a6500 for now, just to get a hang of things, understandig exposure triangle & composition. This coming from a guy whose first camera was a full frame 6d, brand new, when released, but crop cameras with great lenses are more important.

Investing in a a7iii to buy horrid lenses is a no go.

here's a few examples with a canon 100D, the lowliest of the lows with a 70-300L, but along with artificial lighting

IMG_6358 after by needfx, on Flickr


IMG_6358 before by needfx, on Flickr
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I want to make it more than just a hobby. I'm investing in the system. I like where Sony is going with their focus systems. I could start small and build up a lens collection and then move full frame. Or save up and just take the jump right to full frame. Either way it's not going to be a cheap investment.

nope, no it isn't, beware of GAS
Gear Acquisition Syndrome
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And then people say "Phones have became near as good as dedicated cameras".


It just takes something like this to get back to reality. The photo quality is just...wow. Thank you for sharing this!

yeah, no, yeah! agreed & thanks!!

 

[MacNut]

I was in a smilar situation with you, but for the a7r II. Due to my ability to extensively edit and manipulate images, I wanted/needed the extra resolution. It really helps to be able to dive in the details, or even reframe photos with supercrops. However, I'd highly suggest a used crop a6500 for now, just to get a hang of things, understandig exposure triangle & composition. This coming from a guy whose first camera was a full frame 6d, brand new, when released, but crop cameras with great lenses are more important.

Investing in a a7iii to buy horrid lenses is a no go.

here's a few examples with a canon 100D, the lowliest of the lows with a 70-300L, but along with artificial lighting

IMG_6358 after by needfx, on Flickr


IMG_6358 before by needfx, on Flickr
[automerge]1570127797[/automerge]


nope, no it isn't, beware of GAS
Gear Acquisition Syndrome
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yeah, no, yeah! agreed & thanks!!

I have a DSLR, it's just long in the tooth now. Ready for a major upgrade.

Coming from the land of 4 thirds I want to go bigger.

 

[needfx]

100d+70-300 again

IMG_6509 by needfx, on Flickr
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same combo

when you see it by needfx, on Flickr

 

[Darmok N Jalad]

I've always wanted a full frame. The price of the 6600 vs the a7iii and lenses seems like a wash. Just the features of the a7iii seems like a better long term deal. Im just hoping they drop the price soon.

The challenge as you go up in sensor size is that lens sizes go up with them. A 200-600 FF lens is a beast, while the equivelent on a m43 system might still fit in a pocket. I know not all things are equal, but depending on your shooting habits, size can be a big factor. APS-C is somewhat of a happy medium in that regard.

 

[MacNut]

The challenge as you go up in sensor size is that lens sizes go up with them. A 200-600 FF lens is a beast, while the equivelent on a m43 system might still fit in a pocket. I know not all things are equal, but depending on your shooting habits, size can be a big factor. APS-C is somewhat of a happy medium in that regard.

The E-Mount is the same for aps-c and full frame. So lens size is the same.

 

[Darmok N Jalad]

The E-Mount is the same for aps-c and full frame. So lens size is the same.

I believe some E-mount lenses are not FF, or at least they will crop on FF. The E55-210 is a good example. It's a great lens on the APS-C line, but on a FF, you will lose MP. I know that's an entry level lens, but when I had an A5000, I thought it did a great job.