Those of you who own Sony 70-400 G2 lens : I need your assistance

[jpol]

Hi Sony 70-400 G2 lens owners

I recently bought this A-mount lens a use it with LA-EA3 adapter on my A7RII.

 

When focusing (e.g. in AF-C mode), and holding the shutter half down, I can hear distinctly the focus motor clacking/clicking.

Moving the camera just a bit you can see the squares in the ViewFinder jump and at the same time hear the motor make the

clacking/clicking noise again.

 

I thought this lens is SSM, so having a super silent motor; DO YOU HAVE SIMILAR NOISES?

I don't have this kind of noise with my other FE Sony lenses; only with this A-mount one.

 

I really need to know because if you have no noticeable noise, I need to return my lens.

 

I appreciate your feedback 

[Zé De Boni]

I had the same experience with the same camera and adapter but with the A-mount 70-200mm f/2.8. It was my first attempt to use the Silent Shutter in a theater play.

While the camera was absolutely noiseless with the 55mm f/1.8, the A-mount lens clicked exactly as you described. I could recognize the sound as coming not from the focus but from the diaphragm motor. Nothing that bothered people sitting on my sides, but disappointing. Images were great.

At home I tried the Sigma 35mm f/1.4 and found the same f-stop clicking.

 

As soon as I got the FE 70-200mm f/4 I tried it in the same setting and it works perfectly noiseless.

This is just one more example to my preference and recommendations to get native lenses. Forget the adapters, mostly for other brands, unless you already own the lens(es) and you plan it as a transition. 

A -mount was made to other standards. Sony is using the new kind of linear motor on most of the E-mount lenses. You can clearly notice how faster and softer are their actuation.

For sure it is insane for the manufacturer to upgrade all the old lens line. The A-mount will not be upgraded and I do not expect any new release from this line. It is already the past.

[jpol]

Hi Zé De Boni

 

Thank you for describing your experience. Highly appreciated !

All my other lenses are FE and I bought both EA3 adapter and 70-400 from Sony to stay within the same brand.

But I am also disappointed. I will try to return both adapter + lens.

 

However I still would like to buy a telephoto for wildlife; I didn't want to go for Sigma nor Tamron (150-600) because

each time you need converters. Although Sigma has their new MC-11 and promises full compatibility with Sony E mount,

it is not native Sony, so any new firmware from Sony may need update from Sigma otherwise...

 

What would you suggest I should buy as telephoto?

If staying with Sony, going for the FE 70-200 F/4 or FE 70-200 F/2.8 and each time with x2 or x1.4 teleconverter from Sony?

 

I'd appreciate your feedback and advice

JPol

[Zé De Boni]

Well, I am also considering one of the 150-600's. And I think exactly as you, the Sigma combo offers less compromises. The Nikkor 200-500mm f/5.6 is also a nice option with a nice price, but the current Nikon adapters can't guarantee autofocus.

I shoot wildlife just eventually and I have been using the Minolta's 300/2.8 and the 600/4 on the A77 and the A99. I also have the two converters but they degrade IQ so much that I hardly use them. My experience with converters is very frustrating, so I'd rather crop the image when needed. Another option is to use full-frame and APSC bodies. In my case, the two cameras mentioned have the same resolution. Switching the 99 for the 77 is much better than adding a converter.

This comparison may not hold true when you have a 42 MP full frame with IBIS and a 24MP APSC. Cropped images of the A7RII look equal or better than using the same lens in the A6000. 

Back to your original problem, I don't think that noisy diaphragm or focus motor are a problem, unless you need to use Silent Shuter. You can live with it.

If IQ is OK, I would keep the 70-400 until a better alternative s released.

[jpol]

Hi, nice to read that we are thinking and experiencing the same things.

Your 300/2.8 and 600/4 must be a charm to work with in the world they have designed for, the converters are, and you are right, actually a compromise and are just there

to try to match two different interfaces designed with different specifications.

The IQ of the 70-400 and the A7RII full frame is really good; I have the impression the adapter doesn't give any negatives to IQ... it would be strange because this one is

a mirrorless tube with pass-through contacts.

Thanks to the discussion with you I will rethink returning the Sony A-mount and the EA3 adapter.... maybe you are right. 

[Zé De Boni]

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A77II, Minolta 600mm f/4, 30% linear crop

 

 

 

A77II, Minolta 600mm f/4, 30% linear crop​

 

 

 

A77II, Minolta 600mm f/4 + 2X, 20% linear crop​

 

 

A77, Minolta 300mm f/2.8

[jpol]

Whaw, I am impressed !

Pin sharp, ready to be published by National Geography.

Congratulations.

[jpol]

Hi, nice to read that we are thinking and experiencing the same things.

Your 300/2.8 and 600/4 must be a charm to work with in the world they have designed for, the converters are, and you are right, actually a compromise and are just there

to try to match two different interfaces designed with different specifications.

The IQ of the 70-400 and the A7RII full frame is really good; I have the impression the adapter doesn't give any negatives to IQ... it would be strange because this one is

a mirrorless tube with pass-through contacts.

Thanks to the discussion with you I will rethink returning the Sony A-mount and the EA3 adapter.... maybe you are right. 

After having contacted Sony TechSupport who pointed me to their 'lens compatibility' website in which my remarks on lens noise was confirmed, I decided

to keep the 70-400 G2/LA-EA3 for two reasons: the IQ is very good and there are no Sony FE alternatives.

 

Thank you Zé De Boni for the advice!

[Zé De Boni]

Well done, have fun with your zoom!

Now you see my problem: those two lenses don't have internal focus. The 600 can't even use autofocus with the converter. I used manual focus for the bird on the branch an the monkey images. Actually I had enogh time for the later, as I was looking down to the LCD screen, my hat covering my face, not facing and scaring the animal, who was curious about this strange human.

I tried both lenses on the A7RII and was glad to see that they can stand the hi resolution sensor. The 300 mm gave tack sharp images hand held, thanks to IBIS, better than with the A99 or A77. Now I see that the old cameras shutters might be causing some blur (like the A7R) and so I finally understood the great importance of IBIS. I found that it must be set for the 600 even on a tripod. IBIS is amazing, I tried it with a legacy 800mm f/8 preset lens and it can keep the image still even when he tripod head is swinging! 

Now, I am planning to get the EA4 adapter, which I was not considering because it is weird to place a mirror on the optical path of a mirrorless system. But then, I can give some survival to the two long lenses that costed me a real bargain for today's standards.