Hin's Photo Corner: July 2016

JJC Auto lens cap for Sony PZ 16-50

2016-07-05 Posted by Hin Man

I recently bought the JJC auto lens cap for the kit zoom, it makes my kit zoom so much easier to use in grab, go and shoot. A worthy investment for around $15.

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20160618-DSC02059
by Hin Man, on Flickr

Link to JJC cap in Amazon

And I use the original kit zoom cap on my Zonlai 25mm f/1.8 E-mount prime, a perfect use of the kit zoom cap, nothing is wasted.

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20160625-DSC02234
by Hin Man, on Flickr

Sunset with Zonlai 25mm f/1.8 and Sony A6000

2016-07-03 Posted by Hin Man

Trying out some landscape shots with Zonlai 25mm f/1.8 and Sony A6000.

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20160702-DSC02299
by Hin Man, on Flickr
f/16 and Sony A6000, see some star burst, flare seems alright in some of the shots

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20160702-DSC02316-Edit
by Hin Man, on Flickr
likely in f/5.6 and smaller

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20160702-DSC02305
by Hin Man, on Flickr
in f/16, want to show the flare

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20160702-DSC02335
by Hin Man, on Flickr
in f/1.8, uncorrected, want to show the troubling vignette in wide open shots

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20160630-DSC02256
by Hin Man, on Flickr

The last on 'Almond Joy Latte" is perhaps not a great picture to share but I love the lighting transition and off focus rendering. And I do occasionally find this prime with 3D pop when using wider apertures. It is a struggle to use it wide open as vignette in corners are beyond help with correction in Lightroom and my limited editing skills

Zonlai 25mm f/1.8 after 1 week

2016-07-01 Posted by Hin Man

It is true that vignette is heavier and sometime difficult to correct. I have used this lens for over a week and there are many positives and negatives. One of the biggest issue is on the heavier vignette than usual. But if one is into moody type of pictures and casual shooting, this one can be considered a bargain. It is subjective and depend on what one is looking. Wrong expectations will set you on the wrong path.

Few initial impressions:

Positives

really compact in size, smaller than 16-50 kit zoom
well built for its price all in metal
a rare find in 25mm and fast speed in f/1.8 and low cost below $130
E-mount and without the need of adapter
click-less and stop-less on aperture ring in front, good candidate for quiet operation
sharpness is good in center
decent and handy for close up shots
low saturation with a unique film look, moody type of pictures

Negatives

heavy vignette on corners
aperture ring is close to focusing ring that can change aperture inadvertently. This issue is greatly corrected with a Sugru do it yourself focusing tab
color is muted and low contrast in some shooting
poor corners and not likely suited for landscape and architecture type of shooting that demand sharpness across the frame