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I am looking for a 24-135 or thereabouts lens to use for aerial photography and since Sony don't produce any lens with this sort of range I am looking at either a Sigma or Canon lens to use on my A7rii. Do any of the adapters available transmit focal length to the camera so that IBIS works? Or do you have to manually set focal length?

 

Any recommendations on lenses would be welcome too.

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Sony FE PZ 28-135mm f/4 G OSS Lens

 

Sony FE 24-240mm f/3.5-6.3 OSS Lens

 

 

The first is out of my budget at the moment, plus it's a bit heavy.  

 

The second one I have considered, but I don't think optically it's good enough for what I want to use it for, and I don't need the last 100mm either. 

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The first is out of my budget at the moment, plus it's a bit heavy.  

 

The second one I have considered, but I don't think optically it's

good enough for what I want to use it for, and I don't need the last

100mm either. 

   

Acoarst testing the specific model of lens is necessary, 

but the general rule of ultra-ratio zooms is that their IQ 

shortcomings tend to be at the long end. If the 24-240 

follows the usual pattern, and given that you don't need 

the last 100mm, it may be your solution. You might even 

never see it slow down all the way to f/6.3 ... unless that 

happens way back at 135mm [it might, or might not].  

  

I never needed a 28-300. Like you, 28-135 seems about 

right for my uses. But when I bought a Nikon 610, there 

was a deal that included their 28-300 for only $25 !!! So 

I just think of it as a 28-135 or 28-200 that doesn't suffer 

the "Long End IQ Syndrome". 

   

As to adapters, my 28-135/4~4.5 is a A-mount Maxxum

lens and the adapter definitely transmits FL to the IBIS. 

OTOH, if "a bit heavy" bugs you, maybe the 28-135 is 

too heavy for you. It's built like a hydraulic jack.    

   

There are a few 28-135 vintage zooms but these would 

NOT transmit FL changes to the IBIS, which is definitely 

a serious PITA. But do consider what shutter speeds you 

need to use. IS [iBIS, OSS] mainly corrects for marginal 

handheld speeds. Once you get well up into triple-digit 

shutter speeds, the advantage recedes. IOW you may 

be barking up the wrong tree concerning IBIS. 

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Thanks for that some great thoughts on my dilemma. Maybe the super-zoom is the way to go. I also have the same Maxxum zoom you have but it has got a bit of fungus. I am sending it away for servicing/cleaning tomorrow and if IBIS works with an adapter then I will initially use that. I believe they are very good lenses.

 

Which adapter are you using? And is AF OK in conditions with reduced contrast?

 

Thanks again

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Unless i am mistaken, IBIS with adapted lenses works but only on 3 Axis basis which is an improvement. It works automatically if the lens/adapter combo provides data to the body. If using vintage lenses that do not communicate data to the body, focal length can still be provided manually to the body but this is not easy to use with a zoom lens

 

IBIS with native OSS lenses work on 5 Axis since the in-lens OSS is put to contribution.

 

My tests with a Sigma AF 150 APO Macro lens for A-Mount with LA-EA4 with its own OSS demonstrated that i needed to choose between in-camera IBIS or lens OSS Otherwise, i got the nicest collection of fuzzy pictures trying to get both to work together on A7II.

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5-axis stabilization consists of:

  1. X-axis : Horizontal shift
  2. Y-axis : Veritcal shift
  3. Roll : Camera rotation
  4. Pitch : Y-axis rotation
  5. Yaw : X-axis rotation

Roll compensation can always be done. X/Y can only be done if the camera knows the focal length (FL). Pitch/Yaw can only be done if the camera know the focus distance (FD).

 

Adapted lenses w/o electronics require you to manually input the FL of the lens you are using. You can get 3-axis stabilization in this manner.

 

Adapted or native lenses w/ electronics that provide FL to the camera can automatically get 3-axis stabilization. If the lens has its own stabilization, and the adapter does not tell the camera about it, then the two conflict. You will need to turn one of the two (camera or lens) off.

 

Adapted or native lenses w/ electronics that provide both FL and FD to the camera can get 5-axis stabilization. Again, if the lens has its own stabilization, and the adapter does not tell the camera about it, then the two conflict. You will need to turn one of the two (camera or lens) off.

 

If a lens has it's own stabilization, AND the camera knows about it, AND the camera knows the FD, then it will let the lens do 3-axis stabilization and the camera will provide the last two.

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Thanks both!

 

I already use IBIS with a lot of my lenses, inputting the FL manually.

 

Coming from Pentax, I have seen the issue of OIS and IBIS conflicting before.

 

Great to hear that IBIS works automatically using the LE-EA4 with the Maxxun lens. I will buy an adapter.

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If the Sony lenses are too high priced I'm not aware of either Canon or Sigma making any similar full frame lens for a lower price. Sigma rarely makes full frame lenses.

 

If you're looking for something on the after market you can't go wrong with the Minolta lenses. They regularly come up for sale on E Bay, and they were built TO LAST! If you don't see what you're looking for, wait a month and you probably will.

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Thanks for that some great thoughts on my dilemma. Maybe the super-zoom is the

way to go. I also have the same Maxxum zoom you have but it has got a bit of fungus.

I am sending it away for servicing/cleaning tomorrow and if IBIS works with an adapter

then I will initially use that. I believe they are very good lenses.

 

Which adapter are you using? And is AF OK in conditions with reduced contrast?

 

Thanks again

    

I have the LAEA2 and 3. The 3 does not AF Maxxum lenses which for my 

uses is no problem. The 2 AF's rather well, but you hafta pick your target 

to help it along in poor conditions. And you'll almost certainly need to do 

some AF microadjusting. And acoarst it's never quick-as-a-blink with old 

lenses. A fraction of a second in good light. 

   

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------   

   

The 2 also covers far more than just APSC with some lenses, about 1.2X 

or 1.3X crop factor, as judged by filling the frame using the Clear Image 

zoom feature for jpegs. I'll get an LEA4 if I ever stumble into a super deal. 

I find this type of device very handy, but not so important that I'll pay full 

price to get a bit better coverage by an upgrade from LEA2 to 4. The 3 

gives me full frame and as I said, AF is just a convenience to me and not 

at all a necessity.   

   

The LAEA3, altho lacking AF for Maxxum lenses, still provides FL info to 

the IBIS, which is almost an absolute necessity with zooms. And acoarst 

it provides auto iris action which is a great convenience

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