[R2D2]

Originally Posted by joe1980

I tried wiping it out with the micro fiber cloth, but the surface looks greasy and I'm scared it that is the end of the lens? Is there a way to clear that and bring the surface back to normal? After this, I'm considering to get a UV filter to simply protect the lens from any further damage like this.

Take some lens cleaning solution and cleaning tissue to clean the front element. If you don't have either fog the element with your breath and use a CLEAN (not the one you used before) micro fibre cloth to wipe off the FE in a circular motion starting in the centre and spiralling outwards towards the edge.

Getting a multicoated UV or protector filter would be a smart move. Only make sure you get a good quality filter (Hoya HMC, Hoya HD, B+W). They don't come cheap but are long term investments.

[aim120]

I just checked out the Sony A99 with a Zeiss glass and boy is it a beast.The EVF looks even better then the one in A77 ,despite both A77 and A99 having the same OLED EVF .The reason behind that is that EVF performance is directly proportional to the image sensor performance better the image sensor gets better the EVF will become.

There is literally no noise at all in the EVF even at very very low light and dynamic range is also better all thanks to the Full Frame sensor.This will be my next camera provided its price drops down to the level of the D600 or 6D.

[Rudra Sen]

Originally Posted by aim120

I just checked out the Sony A99 with a Zeiss glass and boy is it a beast.

Could you kindly elaborate please? Which Zeiss glass and how it's a beast?

[aim120]

Originally Posted by Rudra Sen

Could you kindly elaborate please? Which Zeiss glass and how it's a beast?

I tried with zeiss 24-70 and the 135mm zeiss.

It fast and built tough and has very accurate fast AF,plus the EVF is the best out there,very crisp even in low light.

[Rudra Sen]

Originally Posted by aim120

I tried with zeiss 24-70 and the 135mm zeiss.

It fast and built tough and has very accurate fast AF,plus the EVF is the best out there,very crisp even in low light.

24-70 is f2.8 and 135 is f2. They should be truly fast considering they're from Zeiss.
Electronic viewfinder of new Alfa is truly improved, though I haven't seen it. Also I don't know how much of it is because of fast lens.

[clevermax]

Originally Posted by aim120

The reason behind that is that EVF performance is directly proportional to the image sensor performance better the image sensor gets better the EVF will become.

There is literally no noise at all in the EVF even at very very low light and dynamic range is also better all thanks to the Full Frame sensor.This will be my next camera provided its price drops down to the level of the D600 or 6D.

Originally Posted by Rudra Sen

24-70 is f2.8 and 135 is f2. They should be truly fast considering they're from Zeiss.
Electronic viewfinder of new Alfa is truly improved, though I haven't seen it. Also I don't know how much of it is because of fast lens.

Older Alpha EVFs tend to drag a little in extreme low light. It will also have lot of noise too in low light. But when you take the picture, it will use your 'set' ISO and noise will come down.

I am not sure how they are managing low light views with literally no noise at all now. I thought it was next to impossible as the EVF has to really pump up the ISO in order to display something at a decent frame rate in really low light. Yes, the EVF will be using a much higher ISO in lower light than what you have set for taking the picture. When you click, it scales it down to the value set, and picture is taken. My camera uses up to ISO25600 for EVF to show something in really low light. It will be too noisy but it can manage to show something at least - I could even spot brighter stars in the sky through focus peeking.

If the EVF doesn't display any noise in low light, the pictures must be absolutely noise free as well - which I doubt.

[aim120]

Originally Posted by clevermax

Older Alpha EVFs tend to drag a little in extreme low light. It will also have lot of noise too in low light. But when you take the picture, it will use your 'set' ISO and noise will come down.

I am not sure how they are managing low light views with literally no noise at all now. I thought it was next to impossible as the EVF has to really pump up the ISO in order to display something at a decent frame rate in really low light. Yes, the EVF will be using a much higher ISO in lower light than what you have set for taking the picture. When you click, it scales it down to the value set, and picture is taken. My camera uses up to ISO25600 for EVF to show something in really low light. It will be too noisy but it can manage to show something at least - I could even spot brighter stars in the sky through focus peeking.

If the EVF doesn't display any noise in low light, the pictures must be absolutely noise free as well - which I doubt.

In my A57 which has the field sequential EVF i can clearly see the noise even at low light ,but in the OLED EVF there is hardly any noise and A99 being a FF camera has a really good iso performance( twice better then other APS-C SLT cameras).Basically the live view in EVF of the A99 looks like the preview you see in your APS-C SLT.
My guess is Sony is also doing noise reduction in real time for live view only.

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[aburagohain]

Originally Posted by Rudra Sen

24-70 is f2.8 and 135 is f2. They should be truly fast considering they're from Zeiss.

The cz135 is 1.8, a very nice lens indeed.

[joe1980]

Originally Posted by R2D2

Getting a multicoated UV or protector filter would be a smart move. Only make sure you get a good quality filter (Hoya HMC, Hoya HD, B+W). They don't come cheap but are long term investments.

Thanks for the suggestions. I got the B+W UV filter. I feel that my lens is now more protected. Will there be any change in the IQ with the filter on the lens? I intend to leave the filter as is on my lens. As I see in the internet, the IQ looks a bit better especially when shooting bright objects with a filter. I'm wondering how good that will be for indoor shots. Anyways, I will give it a try to have a feel for what the filter could do other than protecting my lens.

[R2D2]

Originally Posted by joe1980

Thanks for the suggestions. I got the B+W UV filter. I feel that my lens is now more protected. Will there be any change in the IQ with the filter on the lens? I intend to leave the filter as is on my lens. As I see in the internet, the IQ looks a bit better especially when shooting bright objects with a filter. I'm wondering how good that will be for indoor shots. Anyways, I will give it a try to have a feel for what the filter could do other than protecting my lens.

There will be a very marginal drop in IQ even with the very best of filters. But you can overlook it because:

a) It is not visible unless you are into pixel peeping. And photography is an art not an 'examination'. Try looking at a Renaissance masterpiece with a magnifying glass and critique it because the shades of colour and fuzziness are detractors from the overall effect and impact of that painting. Should one do this there will be calls for a direct transfer to a mental asylum.

b) Modern digital photographs are mostly PPed beyond recognition.

c) Last but not the least, you will feel better because your precious lens(es) is/are just a bit safer than without a good filter. I'd rather have a very slightly impacted pic than a scratched front element (IMO of course).

The only time you MAY want to take off that filter is if you are shooting into bright sunlight or strongly backlit scenes - even the best filters increase the chances of a flare.

[Rudra Sen]

Originally Posted by R2D2

The only time you MAY want to take off that filter is if you are shooting into bright sunlight or strongly backlit scenes - even the best filters increase the chances of a flare.

One of the best tips I'm seeing in this thread after a long time.

However, problem is not so drastic with improved manufacturing technology these days.

[R2D2]

Originally Posted by Rudra Sen

One of the best tips I'm seeing in this thread after a long time.

Thank you Rudra ji. Coming from a very experienced photographer like you, I shall take it as a compliment.

[null]

I wish you photography gurus conduct some sessions (web sessions? probably spread across 2-3 sundays?) to teach the basics & tips on photography, lighting, camera settings, processing etc. This will help noobs like us to get oriented and improve further on photography skills.

I can look at coordinating these sessions if someone volunteers. Presenting gurus need to have camera equipment (which they obviously have), good webcam, highspeed internet & time for these sessions.

How is this thought?