Otus Conspicuous by It's Absence

[Michael Erlewine]

After the recent announcement in Germany by Zeiss of the new Milvus line, with both Ming Thein (my favorite photographer) and Lloyd Chambers in attendance, perhaps I missed it, but the elephant in the room IMO is the lack of any follow-up comments by either Ming Thein or Lloyd Chambers on the next Otus.

This, after we all have waited a good year for the announcement. I can only surmise that this means there is one coming and perhaps soon and they don’t want to say anything now. The new Otus is conspicuous by its absence.

Great blog by Ming Thein on his visit to Zeiss, Germany.

http://blog.mingthein.com/2015/09/12/a-visit-to-zeiss-and-thoughts-on-the-milvus-line/

[Ilkka Nissilä]

Likely it is quite difficult to achieve Otus level performance in a f/1.4 DSLR wide angle.

[Michael Erlewine]

Likely it is quite difficult to achieve Otus level performance in a f/1.4 DSLR wide angle.

I agree; that's true, which is all the more why some of us are waiting with baited breath to try one.

[Erik Lund]

When I need very wide and high quality I stitch two or more frames. So why not stitch and stack 😊😉

[Frank Fremerey]

Stitch and stack have their limits, esp in windy conditions in the very near field.

Strong well defined separation of certain parts from others gives the software and the editor a lot of leverage glueing together image parts.

My first experience with Zerene already show me that wide open means the software can easier distinquish the higher frequency parts from the lower and automask them. Now I understand why Michael needs less DOF.

The 24mm Otus Michael is awaiting for quite some time now seems to offer just that: possibility to stitch (wider field) and stack (better defined edges for autodetect and retouche) on a new level of "painting focus", the most colourful way Michal uses to describe his admirable work.

*

On the other hand I am not sure that the non announcement really means Lloyd and Ming might have NDA-Parts up their sleeve to be part of the development process and marketing at ZEISS.

Possible but not necessary

Frank

[John Geerts]

On the other hand I am not sure that the non announcement really means Lloyd and Ming might have NDA-Parts up their sleeve to be part of the development process and marketing at ZEISS.

Invited from America and Asia to the Zeiss HQ is seldom without a cause.

[Bjørn Rørslett]

Negative observation is ambiguous and  much less informative than positive ones.

[Frank Fremerey]

John. A 24 Otus might be something I consider as replacement of my AFS Nikkor if it really beats the s*** out
of the Nikkkor and has great near field capability. The Nikkor is still a stunning lens.

This would be perfect for ultra near field panos of food and wildlife...

Michael. Did you try to rent the a7r2 with the 2.0/25 Batis?

The combo of 42 MP + image stabilized + backlit body seems to work extremly well. My dealer in the city center
claims to have sold at least 12  of these for 3350Euro a pop.

The Batis is no Otus but it is still a Zeiss not a Sigma.

[Michael Erlewine]

Negative observation is ambiguous and  much less informative than positive ones.

Yes, it is, but right now, it is what we have going for us.

And Frank: I sent it's predecessor back. The A7rII would have to solve the lossy-compression issue, and hopefully have better batteries (it is ridiculous to have to purchase six batteries (as Lloyd Chambers points out). And while they are at it, all levels of EVF magnification should work to a similar degree of clarity.

[Jan Anne]

The A7rII would have to solve the lossy-compression issue, and hopefully have better batteries (it is ridiculous to have to purchase six batteries (as Lloyd Chambers points out).

Sony doesn't use bad batteries (they also make the Nikon batteries), they are just very small so they can fit in the small grip of the a7 cameras.

Dragging around 6 batteries is old fashioned DSLR thinking, the a7 series can be fully charged by USB in 1 hour so charge the camera in the field with a (solar) powerbank just like a smartphone, tablet, GPS, etc. While driving I hook up the camera to the USB charger when needed and at home I hook it up to the iPad or iPhone charger.

Going mirrorless isn't limited to just buying a new camera, it involves a complete makeover on how you deal with gear

You are spot on with the lack of 14 bits RAW though, they are working on it and the new a7SII supposedly has this issue fixed.

[Michael Erlewine]

Sony doesn't use bad batteries (they also make the Nikon batteries), they are just very small so they can fit in the small grip of the a7 cameras.

I didn't say they were bad. They are just short-lived.  Batteries that don't last are "bad" for what I do. I have had all kinds of mirrorless cameras, at least six or so. I just did not find them that useful for my work, which I admit is kind of specialized. Let us know when they fix the lossy problem. They fixed the electronic first-curtain thing, which is why I returned the Sony A7r.

What I really want is a Nikon D820 with a great EVF and 42 or more MP. I have a number of Sony cameras, but most of them are video, where they really do have it right. I don't need a small camera, just one with the features I feel I need -- same as everyone else. However, I hear you, and may get the A7RII when they fix the lossy thing. I would probably have to use it on rails.

[Andrea B.]

Looks like one would be dragging around either batteries or a solar charger no matter which camera is being used. "-)

*****

Zeiss spent a lot of $$$ paying for Ming and Lloyd to visit. I'm looking forward to their reports. Lloyd is the best, most thorough tester i've ever met in my life.

[Jan Anne]

Batteries that don't last are "bad" for what I do.

Have you ever tried to hook the camera up to a batterypack using a dummy battery? Both the Nikon and Sony cameras are equipped for this use.

D800E running on a 60Wh batterypack:


How it is hooked up; dummy battery installed, cable through the cable hole which is plugged into the powerbank which is set at 12V.


The 60Wh powerbank has roughly the same capacity as four D810 batteries and 8 times the little Sony batteries.

[Bjørn J]

Lloyd is the best, most thorough tester i've ever met in my life.

I agree with that. I trust his reports, he is extremely thorough and his findings are well documented and presented in an understandable way. And his test of a certain camera or lens never ends, he keeps reporting after months of use if he finds something worth reporting. He is also very practical oriented, based on field use of equipment. His massive, ongoing series "Making Sharp Images" is a masterpiece, and he has put enormous amount of work in that.

[Michael Erlewine]

Have you ever tried to hook the camera up to a batterypack using a dummy battery? Both the Nikon and Sony cameras are equipped for this use.

D800E running on a 60Wh batterypack:


How it is hooked up; dummy battery installed, cable through the cable hole which is plugged into the powerbank which is set at 12V.


The 60Wh powerbank has roughly the same capacity as four D810 batteries and 8 times the little Sony batteries.

Thanks for that. I have similar packs. All I was saying, which is very simple, is that I wish (and expect) camera makers to give us longer-lasting batteries. Make sense? I understand we can work around this. We all have to. What choice? You have presented a good work-around. Appreciated. I just don't need more stuff to carry. I guess I am protesting at Sony. I have a lot of Sony products. They are not quite professional in the still camera area... IMO.