SLR Magic 28mm f/2.8 on Sony NEX-5 test

This is a test of this great new lens manufactured by SLR Magic.
28 mm (42 mm equivalent), f/2.8, manual focusing, and particular "colt barrel" diaphragme...

There is no post processing on the images that you're seeing, except cutting, fading, and other simple montage tricks.
The images are straight of the NEX-5, but there is setting inside the camera : saturation, white balance, etc...

Personnaly, I think it's "technically" a better lens than their precedent release, the 35mm f/1.7.

The focus plan is plane, it's a straight line. Not like the 35mm f/1.7 wich was circular.
The sharpness is very smooth at full aperture, and the bokeh is very smooth and creamy !
Even at small aperture. It's due to the way used to make the diaphragm : it's not a traditonnal diaphragm, it's a roll, perced with differents holes that you turn like a barell roll. And each hole come at the center of the axis of lens to make the job of the diaphragm.
And this is why, even at small aperture, the bokeh will always be good and perfectly creamy, because the diaphragm is always a perfect circle ! even at f/11 !
Not like the 35mm f/1.7, which suffer of a "shuriken-like" bokeh when you use it at small aperture.

I also note that the NEX always over expose the picture with this lens. You need to use the exposure compensation around -0,7 stop.

Like the 35mm f1.7, it suffer of strong flare when it is exposed to direct light. But, it depend that you consider that, it could give a great artistic effect !

The focusing is manual, but is very easy because the focus ring is large and smooth. And with the firmware v4.0 and the new functionnality named "peak mode", it's more easier !

In conclusion, I could say it's a good lens for portrait, detail or some landscape. It's almost a 50mm equivalent. The bokeh is very very very smooth ! And the overall sharpness is smooth too. There is no distortion or vignetting, or less detail in corners. Image is homogen. Manual focusing is not a big problem with the peak mode enabled, it's quite fast and precise. It's good for filming too, but it not have shake reduction.


Shot at "Parc Phoenix", Nice south France.

Thanks to Rod Stewart for this beautiful song "Maggie May"! If you really like it, buy it.

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• SLR
• Magic
• 28mm
• f/2.8
• on
• Sony
• NEX-5
• test
• camera
• digital

[filoucelli]

Saturation is set to +3 and white balance is set to "shadows" ;-) .

[yvetchou22]

Very nice Video. I'm surprised by hybrids recently.

Good job man!!

[ceejayclassic]

I like the colors. how did u adjust the saturation and white balance? or the colors came out like this naturally?