__________________________________________________________________________ 7/2/09 The
brand new Sony DT 18-55mm F/3.5-5.6 SAM review is complete. I compared it to the soon-to-be-obsolete Sony DT 18-70mm F/3.5-5.6. The new lens is better in just about every category, especially color fringing, wide-angle corner sharpness and full
zoom center sharpness. Also, I compared the long end of each lens, and found a little surprise, you're really not losing
any focal length! See the bonus section of the review for sample crops. The reproduction size is quite
impressive, and produced the best shot I've seen yet with a non-macro lens from Sony. I'd say it could easily go head
to head with the latest kit lenses from Canon and Nikon, optically speaking, which brings me to the touchy subject of the
SAM, or "smooth autofocus motor" that Sony has been bragging about. Claims of "smooth and silent"
seem to be misleading to say the least. This in-lens focus motor system is far inferior to the ultrasonic and silent-wave
type systems used by Canon and Nikon. I checked it with the new Sony DT 50mm F/1.8 SAM, it appears to have the same
characteristics, so I probably didn't get a bad copy. Go to the bottom of the review and read the conclusion
for my opinion of the Sony SAM. I now have the Sony DT 50mm F/1.8 SAM
in my lens arsenal, and will be putting it through the paces in the next couple of weeks. Strange but true; I ordered
this lens from B&H photo more than a week ago, and had it in my hands while Sonystyle.com still had the lens listed as
a "pre-order item." That's why I don't order from them. I guess B&H photo has initial order priority,
even over Sony's own site. As of the time of this update, Sonystyle.com has the lens listed as "back order."
I'm not sure of the order, but the next lens review will be either the Sony DT 50mm F/1.8 SAM,
or the Minolta AF 28-135mm F/4-4.5, so keep checking back.
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6/24/09 Sample photos from Hawkeye added to bottom of review. I finished the overblown Kodak Brownie Hawkeye review, with the second page containing tear-down, cleaning, re-assembly, and the entire owner's manual. The first page has been added to, and has
quite a few sample photos, including two full sized scans so you can see the real quality, which
may be surprising to some folks. I see samples images from this camera on Flickr and other photo
sharing sites, and it doesn't appear they are getting the best out of the Hawkeye, meaning shooting with dirty lenses with
smudges, plus, most images are in B&W, you know color film works fine in these cameras! With some care and experimentation,
the little Hawkeye is capable of producing some very nice looking photos. I had some scans
of the film taken with this camera, and compared the resolution to a fixed lens camera, check out what a fifty-plus year old,
five dollar camera can do! I'm now returning to some more lens reviews. Next
up; the new Sony 18-55mm kit lens, I'll be comparing it to the old 18-70mm kit lens. Then I'll probably do
the Minolta AF 28-135mm F/4-4.5, which is going up in price, now selling for over $400 on eBay, which may be too much, especially
if you're using an APS-C camera, we shall see! Also, the Lens price guide has been updated. Except for a couple of select full frame lenses, the prices remain stagnant. If you're in the
market for a less-expensive Sony lens, now is the time to buy, the prices are dirt cheap. |
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________________________________________________________________________ 6/17/09 If
you want to add a little pizazz to your photography, or are getting bored visiting photo chat rooms and forums for three hours
a day instead of going out and taking pictures, try out the 50+ year old, wildly popular Kodak Brownie Hawkeye. These cameras sell on eBay for around $5-$10, and are once again becoming popular for baby boomers, and younger people
alike. With this camera you don't have to worry about aperture settings, shutter speeds and focusing. You simply
observe, compose, and shoot! As usual, I went overboard with this review, and now have to separate
it using at least two pages. This first page is an introduction, with specs and product shots, accessories available,
film issues and getting ready to shoot. The next page will cover sample photos, operational tips, a tear-down, cleaning
and re-assembly, plus the entire owners manual. I'm not sure if I'll need another page or not. This review is
very thorough, and I would guess it to be the most complete to be found anywhere on the web, at least when I'm done!
Check out the first page by clicking the image below. Page two is coming up in a few days.
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________________________________________________________________________ 6/4/09 The
little Minolta AF 100mm F/2 review is complete. This late 1980s lens offers surprising performance in a small package, and would be a very good lens even
by today's standards, maybe another reason not to spend more money on new Sony stuff. It doesn't quite match the wide
open sharpness of the more expensive Sony 135mm F/1.8 CZ, but it's much smaller, lighter, and did I mention less expensive!
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________________________________________________________________________ 5/22/09 The
new Sony 70-400mm F/4-5.6 review is ready for scrutiny. It's a long one, partly because I threw in a bonus section which includes tele-converter use
and recommendations, also some comparisons with the 70-300mm, at 300mm. I also show how it stacks up against the Sony
500mm reflex lens when I upsize the 70-400mm image to match the 500mm length. It's quite surprising! This
new lens also features a new color used by Sony. It's SonySilver® not just the old Minolta silver, which has a slight
gold tint. Being an expert observer (which doesn't pay much), I've noticed at least six different finishes applied to
Sony lenses, the tele-converter and "G" white (1), the Carl Zeiss black (2), which has a courser texture and duller
finish than the black smooth lenses (3), such as the re-branded Konica Minolta lenses, also remember the weird texture and
color of the (4) 35mm F/1.4 G, and the new "G" dull black finish (5) as we see on the 70-300mm G, and lastly, (6)
the new SonySilver® Coming up next is the diminutive, yet delightful Minolta AF 100mm F/2 review.
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________________________________________________________________________ 5/19/09 Sony
unloads a bunch of new DSLR products---yesterday. I was busy with other things so I'm late with the update. The
cameras have been restyled, and I like the look. The guts are about the same, except for the addition of two card slots,
Memory stick-up and SD, SDHC cards, moving away from CF? The battery is less powerful, using the Sony camcorder battery
with 6.8v 900mAh, instead of the current 7.2v 1650mAh. It looks like the new batteries are not info-lithium based on
product shots on the LCD. Don't look for a review of any of the new cameras, I'm happy with what
I have, and can't afford to buy just for the purpose of a review. If someone wants to loan one out, I might do it at
that point. I will be reviewing the lenses of course, as soon as they become available.  This is the Carbon fiber looking A330 with the new low-buck ($129) HVL-F20AM, GN20 flash unit.
This flash is supposed to be compatible with the wireless flash system on the A900, so you don't have to get ripped off buying
the HVL-58AM for $500, which is the only flash currently compatible. The new flash flips up as an on-off feature, and
the head rotates for bounce flash, but it's probably not going to bounce much unless using a large aperture with high ISO.
These are the new replacements for the current line-up. I guess the gaudy copper colored A330 will replace
the gaudy gold colored A300.
Here are the four new "DT" lenses that were introduced a couple of months ago. All have
plastic mounts, and a new, cheaper version of the SSM, which Sony is calling "smooth autofocus motor," or "SAM"
which appears on the lens. Hopefully it'll be more than just "smooth'" with emphasis placed on accuracy, speed,
and lack of noise, we'll see. I'll be reviewing all these lenses as they become available, which is supposed to be in
July. Sony wants you to be thinking about your matching purse and scarf when you go out for that photo shoot.
I've already placed my order, and can't imaging leaving the house without them! Yes, it's really a Sony branded purse
and scarf! ________________________________________________________________________ 5/17/09 The
newest lens review is ready, this time it's the Minolta AF 17-35mm F/3.5 G, not to be confused with the much cheaper, but almost as good Konica Minolta AF 17-35mm F/2.8-4 (D). The "G"
lens turned in a good performance, but disappointed on a couple of occasions. To see what I'm talking about, check out
the review, or go directly to the bottom of the page for the wrap-up. Right now I'm working on
the Sony 70-400mm review, which should be ready by the end of the week. It's turning into a long review, as I'm comparing
it to the smaller Sony 70-300mm, mostly at the 300mm range.
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5/8/09 If
you were captivated by the "Dirty lens article," You'll be spellbound by the new "lens tear down article," where I use my time-honed talents of muscle and lack of knowledge to tear down a Minolta zoom lens to see how
it works! I've also honed my "Coming soon" page to reflect reality, so this is the general
order for the next six lens reviews; Minolta AF 17-35mm F/3.5 G Sony 70-400mm
F/4-5.6 G SSM Minolta AF 100mm F/2 Sony 16-35mm F/2.8 G SSM Minolta
AF 28-135mm F/4-4.5 Minolta AF 75-300mm F/4.5-5.6 big beercan Super wide
angle comparison page featuring the Sony 16-35mm, KM 17-35mm, and the Minolta 17-35mm G Also,
rumor has it that Sony may be ready to release some new DSLR cameras and lenses at the end of this month, or sometime in June,
so we'll wait and see.
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4/29/09 I
posted a new page detailing to what degree you need to keep the front element of your lens clean for optimal image detail,
it's called the "Dirty lens article" for lack of a more creative title. Pictures taken with the lens below may surprise you, (or horrify you), check
it out. The coming soon page has been updated also. I'm planning on reviewing the expensive Minolta 17-35mm F/3.5 G lens next,
and eventually compare it to the new Sony 16-35mm F/2.8, and KM 17-35mm F/2.8-4 with a separate review.
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________________________________________________________________________ 4/18/09 The
Sony 35mm F/1.4 G lens has been posted! This is an expensive chunk of glass aimed at photojournalists and/or rank amateurs with loads of excess cash.
If you're wondering how this lens compares to the Sony 50mm F/1.4, go to the bottom of the page for my opinion and recommendation. _____________________________________________________________________________ 4/12/09 
What if? I've contemplated that for some time, and decided to whip up a review since I have
basically the same thing in my lens arsenal. Although telescopes and reflex lenses are designed differently, they both
use mirrors to bounce light and pass it through the aperture. If you're wondering what this kind of "lens"
would be capable of, check out the review here. This review will cover daylight terrestrial use only, so we won't worry about silly things like what the telescope
was really designed for, such as viewing distant galaxies, planets and comets. The capabilities
of a 2800mm F/10 telescope or "lens" as I use here are incredible, but daylight photographic use requires the right
atmospheric conditions, like no heat shimmer, haze or wind, things which you're not so likely to encounter at night, high
in the sky. You'll also be required to use manual mode (for shutter release) mirror lock up, and a corded remote.
You'll also be required to part with close to three grand, but I've saved you the trouble right?
I've
made some comparisons to the Sony 500mm F/8 reflex lens, so if you want to waste 10 minutes, click the phony picture on the
right. I'm finishing up on the Sony 35mm F/1.4 review,
which should be ready before next weekend.
__________________________________________________________________________ 4/3/09 Hello
all. Sony has decided to move prices higher on most DSLR lenses and equipment. So if you were thinking of buying
that lens with the money you don't have, now you'll need even more money you don't have. The price hikes on lenses average
about 6%. Amazingly, they've raised the Sony 300mm F/2.8 G to $6299, indicating they really are selling. Other
notable increases are the new CZ 16-35mm F/2.8, now $1899, $100 price increase. The tele-converters are now $479.
The new 70-400mm G goes up $100 also, to $1599. The CZ 24-70mm F/2.8 is listed at $1599, $150 less than before, but
this may be a mistake, I'll wait before I make any changes in the Price guide retail column. Good news on the Sony A900,
the new retail price is $2699. B&H photo is still listing the old prices, so if you're ready to buy,
go there before Sony makes them fix the price under the SURE, or Sony unified resale execution plan.
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4/1/09 The
long awaited review of the Sony 135mm F/2.8 [T4.5] STF is ready. I got carried away with this one, and the result is the longest review to date. Since the lens is totally
different from a standard telephoto fast zoom, I wasn't really sure as to the appropriate use, and how to bring the best
out of it. I'm not sure I've covered everything, but I know a lot more about it now than before the review.
Speaking of differences, the Sony 135mm STF is a manually focus only lens, and one of the few that will accept Sony TCs.
It's also not really an F/2.8, as it can't collect enough light because of the design. I give a few details
on these topics and more in the review. It took me a lot of time to do this review, and I hope you appreciate it.
If you have experience with this lens and would like to add some comments, please feel free to email me. Some
of you may have noticed the new advertising banners scattered throughout the site.
It's not something I wanted at this point, but times are tough, and the saying "ya gotta do whacha gotta do"
applies now. Hopefully, the ads are useful, and if so, check 'em out. I don't necessarily endorse any
businesses that pop up. Say, did anyone visit the Sonystyle.com website (DSLR camera page) over the
weekend? Sony enters time warp, and winds up in 2006!! I kid you not---they
were showcasing the Sony A100 on the DSLR home page over the weekend. I initially thought it was a new entry level model.
The had a beautiful studio shot posted of the A100, like they now have of the A900. The link from the pic went directly
to the now defunct A100, which read "no longer available." Good job Sony, who's in charge of the site?
Obviously a high school kid with too many uncapped magic markers laying around. Some people get miffed at me for making
fun of Sony, but they make it so easy!!
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