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Diglloyd Guide to Mirrorless offers comprehensive integrated coverage of most APS-C and full frame mirrorless cameras and lenses.

Special emphasis is placed on Sony full-frame, including Sony lenses and the high performance Zeiss Batis and Zeiss Loxia lenses plus Rokinon/Samyang and others. Fujifilm X, Olympus and Panasonic M4/3, Sigma dp Merrill and dp/sd Quattro are also covered in depth. Years in the making, it offers a wealth of material for choosing and using a mirrorless camera.

  • Make better images by learning how to get the best results right away. For example, the best way to set up your Sony camera.
  • Save money by choosing the right lens for your needs the first time, particularly with the numerous lenses available for Sony.
  • Make better images, a sort of “cheat sheet” saving yourself months or years of ad-hoc learning—best practices and how-to and processing parameters are discussed and shown.
  • Jaw-dropping image quality found nowhere else utilizing Retina-grade images up to full camera resolution, plus large crops.
  • Real world examples with insights found nowhere else. Make sharper images just by understanding lens behavior you won’t read about elsewhere.
  • Aperture series from wide open through stopped down, showing the full range of lens performance and bokeh.
  • Optical quality analysis of field curvature, focus shift, sharpness, flare, distortion, and performance in the field.

Want a preview? Click on any page below to see an excerpt as well as extensive blog coverage, for example on Sony.

See also L-Mount mirrorless table of contents

Sony Alpha Mirrorless

Sony A7R V

5th Generation standard-setting camera.

  1. Sony A7R V: ISO 100 to 25600 with Adobe AI Denoise 10,50
  2. Sony A7R V ETTR: Metering vs Camera Histograms & Zebra vs RawDigger (Birch Trees) 📹 26 days ago
  3. Sony A7R V: Metering vs Camera Histograms & Zebra vs RawDigger (Color Card) 📹 26 days ago
  4. Sony A7R V: Configuring Zebra Display for ETTR Captures 📹 22 days ago
  5. Sony A7R V: Perfect ETTR at ISO 50/100 using Zebra Display 21 days ago
  6. Sony A7R V: ISO 100 vs ISO 50 Histograms and JPEGs for ETTR 📹 18 days ago
  7. Sony A7R V: Video 'Picture Profile' a Bad Idea for Still Images 21 days ago
  8. White Balance and Tint for Sony A7R V, Winter Cloudy, Adobe Camera Raw
  9. Sony A7R V: Sony Camera Profiles Suck in Adobe Camera Raw 📹
  10. Sony A7R V: Mitigating Noise, Optimizing Exposure at Base ISO 📹
  11. Focus Bracketing: Multiple Bugs and Failures
  12. Focus Bracketing Example @ 12mm: Failure to Reach INF, Chocolate Brown Alpine Creek
  13. Pixel Shift: Diffraction Effects, Pixel Shift vs Single Shot
  14. Pixel Shift: 16-Shot vs 4-Shot vs Single-Shot: Dolls
  15. Pixel Shift: Example, Various
  16. Pixel Shift Performance Proofs: Alpine Creek
  17. Pixel Shift: Capture and Workflow
  18. Pixel Shift Gotchas, but Foolproof Ways to Optimize
  19. Pixel Shift with Motion: People in Nature
  20. Pixel Shift for Panoramas, Examples: Alpine Creek
  21. Pixel Shift vs Single Shot: Moots MootoX RSL 29er
  22. Pixel Shift Artifacts: Sony vs PixelShift2DNG
  23. Sony A7R V: Pixel Shift vs Single Shot (Huge Laurel at Bend in Alpine Creek)
  24. Voigtlander FE 35mm f/2 APO Aperture Series: Alpine Creek Bottom (A7R V, Pixel Shift)
  25. Sony FE 12-24mm f/2.8 GM Aperture Series @ 21mm: Huge Laurel at Bend in Alpine Creek (A7R V, Pixel Shift)

Sony Alpha A7R II

Attention to details: a big upgrade over the A7R.

Sony Alpha A7S

Full frame compact 12-megapixel high-sensitivity sensor with 4K video.

Nikon NIKKOR Z

Nikon NIKKOR Z 24-70mm f/2.8 S

Fast mid-range zoom expressly designed for Nikon Z cameras.

  1. Introduction to Nikon NIKKOR Z 24-70mm f/2.8 S
  2. MTF for Nikon NIKKOR Z 24-70mm f/2.8 S
  3. Overview of Distortion for Nikon NIKKOR Z 24-70mm f/2.8 S
  4. Distortion @ 24mm, 28mm for Nikon NIKKOR Z 24-70mm f/2.8 S
  5. Distortion @ 70mm, 50mm, 35mm for Nikon NIKKOR Z 24-70mm f/2.8 S
  6. Aperture Series @ 24mm: MemChu Wide View
  7. Aperture Series @ 24mm: Dead Trees in Defunct Beaver Pond
  8. Aperture Series @ 24mm: Bonsai View Down Lundy Canyon
  9. Aperture Series @ 24mm: Natural Bonsai Over Beaver Pond
  10. Aperture Series @ 24mm: Mosaic
  11. Aperture Series @ 24mm: Downed Aspen Tree
  12. Aperture Series @ 24mm: Reedy Beaver Pond Meadow
  13. Aperture Series @ 24mm: Beaver-Gnawed Log by Lichenized Boulder
  14. Aperture Series @ 28mm: Mosaic
  15. Aperture Series @ 30mm vs 14-30mm f/4 S: Mosaic
  16. Aperture Series @ 31mm: Huge Old Pine, Its Needles and Cones (Focus Shift)
  17. Aperture Series @ 32mm: Natural Bonsai Over Beaver Pond
  18. Aperture Series @ 35mm: Mosaic
  19. Aperture Series @ 43mm: MemChu Wide View
  20. Aperture Series @ 48mm: Burghers of Calais
  21. Aperture Series @ 50mm: Mosaic
  22. Aperture Series @ 54mm: Old Gnarled Rootball
  23. Aperture Series @ 64mm: View through arches to Church Mosaic
  24. Aperture Series @ 70mm: Mosaic
  25. Aperture Series @ 70mm: Natural Bonsai Over Beaver Pond
  26. Aperture Series @ 24mm: Aspen Grove, Fallen ogs (Z8)
  27. SHOOTOUT @ 24mm, 14-24/2.8S vs 24-70/2.8S vs 17-28/2.8: Beaver Pond, Aerial View (Z8)
  28. SHOOTOUT vs Nikon Z 24-70/2.8S: Beaver Pond, Aerial View
  29. SHOOTOUT vs Nikon Z 24-70/2.8S: Beaver Pond, Aerial View
  30. SHOOTOUT vs Nikon Z 24-70/2.8S: Beaver Pond, Aerial View

Sigma Lenses for Sony Mirrorless

Sigma FE 15mm f/1.4 DG DN Art

Super-fast ultra-wide astrophotography fisheye lens.

Sony Mirrorless Lenses

Sony FE 12-24mm f/2.8 GM

Fast extreme wide angle zoom.

  1. Introduction to Sony FE 12-24mm f/2.8 GM
  2. Distortion for Sony FE 12-24mm f/2.8 GM
  3. Examples: Lundy Canyon
  4. Focus Stacking
  5. Aperture Series @ 24mm: Blue Water among Orange Streambed, Tenaya Canyon
  6. Shootout @ 12mm vs Sony 12-24/4G: Big Tree at Alpine Creek Bend
  7. Shootout @ 12mm: Sony FE 12-24mm f/2.8 GM vs Sony FE 12-24mm f/4 GM: Two Aspen, Lundy Canyon
  8. Shootout @ 12mm: Sony FE 12-24mm f/2.8 GM vs Sony FE 12-24mm f/4 GM: Brilliant Backlit Beaver Pond Meadow
  9. Aperture Series @ 13mm: House Under Construction
  10. Compared @ 14mm: Swing and Tilt, Optical Decentering —two Sony FE 12-24mm f/2.8 GM and Sigma FE 14-24mm f/2.8 DG DN Art
  11. Aperture Series @ 15mm: Backlit Aspen
  12. Aperture Series @ 17mm: Big Tree at Bend in Alpine Creek
  13. Shootout @ 18mm: Sony FE 12-24mm f/2.8 GM vs Zeiss Batis 18/2.8: First Ice on Beaver Pond, Lundy Canyon
  14. Shootout @ 18mm: Sony FE 12-24mm f/2.8 GM vs Zeiss Batis 18/2.8: View from Crooked Creek Canyon to White Mountain Peak
  15. Aperture Series @ 21mm: Aspen Grove on Rocky Slope
  16. Shootout @ 20mm: Sony FE 12-24/2.8 GM vs Sony FE 12-24/4G vs Sigma FE 14-24/2.8 DG DN: Death Valley Strata
  17. Shootout @ 21mm: Sony FE 12-24mm f/2.8 GM vs Zeiss Loxia 21mm: First Ice on Beaver Pond, Lundy Canyon
  18. Aperture Series @ 24mm: Late Day Sunlight on Desert Slope
  19. Aperture Series @ 24mm: Colorful Autumn Forest, Tenaya Canyon Streamside
  20. Shootout @ 24mm: Sony FE 12-24mm f/2.8 GM vs Zeiss Loxia 25mm f/2.4 vs Sigma FE 14-24mm f/2.8 DG DN Art: Brilliant Backlit Beaver Pond Meadow
  21. Aperture Series @ 19mm: Deck and House
  22. Sony FE 12-24mm f/2.8 GM Aperture Series @ 21mm: Huge Laurel at Bend in Alpine Creek (A7R V, Pixel Shift)
  23. Focus Bracketing Example @ 12mm: Failure to Reach INF, Chocolate Brown Alpine Creek
  24. Focus Bracketing Example @ 16mm: Failure to Reach INF, Aspen
  25. SHOOTOUT @ 16mm: Sony FE 16-35/2.8 GM II vs Sony FE 12-24/2.8 GM — End of the Road, White Mountains
  26. Shootout vs Sony FE 12-24mm f2/8 GM: Backyard
  27. SHOOTOUT: Sony FE 14/1.8G vs Sony FE12-24/2.8GM, Bristlecone Sculptures, View to WhiteMountainPeak
  28. Shootout vs Sony FE 14/1.8 GM: Mining Cabin Interior
  29. Shootout @24mm vs Sony FE 24-70/2.8 GM II, Zeiss Loxia 25/2.4 (Deck and Roof)
  30. Shootout @ 24mm vs Sony FE 24-70mm f/2.8 GM II (Colorado Cabin)

Sony FE 12-24mm f/4 G

Extreme wide angle zoom.

  1. Introduction to Sony FE 12-24mm f/4 G
  2. Distortion Examples @ 12mm, Uncorrected and Corrected
  3. Distortion Examples @ 17mm, Uncorrected and Corrected
  4. Distortion Examples @ 24mm, Uncorrected and Corrected
  5. Aperture Series @ 12mm: Mosaic
  6. Aperture Series @ 12mm: Mosaic (Sony A7R IV)
  7. Aperture Series @ 17mm: Mosaic
  8. Aperture Series @ 24mm: Mosaic
  9. Examples: Rock Creek and Morgan Lakes, High Sierra
  10. Examples: Twenty Lakes Basin (Sony A7R IV)
  11. Examples: Dana Lakes and Glacier Canyon
  12. Shootout vs Zeiss Loxia 21/2.8: Pescadero Creek Overview
  13. Shootout: Sony 12-24/4 vs Zeiss Batis 18/2.8: Pescadero Creek Downstream
  14. Shootout: Sony 12-24/4 vs Zeiss Batis 18/2.8: Blue Water Flows Over Dark Rocks
  15. Aperture Series @ 13mm: Pescadero Creek Side Pool (with Focus Stack)
  16. Aperture Series @ 12mm: Pescadero Creek, Upstream (with Focus Stack)
  17. Aperture Series @ 17mm: Dana Lake Iceberg
  18. Aperture Series @ 12mm: Raindrops Fall On Dana Lake
  19. Aperture Series @ 12mm: Melting Out Dana Lake #3
  20. Imaging Performance @ 12mm, Single Frame vs Stacked: Pine at Morgan Lake
  21. Imaging Performance @ 24mm, Single Frame vs Stacked: Downed Tree, Last Kiss of Sunlight
  22. Shootout @ 12mm: Sony FE 12-24mm f/4 GM vs Sony FE 12-24mm f/2.8 GM: Two Aspen, Lundy Canyon
  23. Shootout @ 12mm: Sony FE 12-24mm f/4 GM vs Sony FE 12-24mm f/2.8 GM: Brilliant Backlit Beaver Pond Meadow
  24. 3-Way Shootout @ 18mm: Mosaic (Sony A7R IV)
  25. 3-Way Shootout @ 24mm: Mosaic (Sony A7R IV)
  26. Shootout @ 12mm vs Sony FE 12-24/2.8GM: Big Tree at Alpine Creek Bend
  27. Shootout @ 20mm: Sony FE 12-24/4G vs Sigma FE 14-24/2.8 DG DN vs Sony FE 12-24/2.8 GM: Death Valley Strata

Sony FE 70-200mm f/2.8 GM OSS II

Barely good-enough telephoto zoom for Sony full frame mirrorless

Voigtlander FE for Sony Mirrorless

Voigtlander FE 65mm f/2 Macro APO-Lanthar Aspherical

Ultra high grade macro all-arounder.

Zeiss Loxia

Zeiss Loxia (Overview)

Manual focus lenses for Sony Full-Frame Sony Mirrorless.

Zeiss Loxia 21mm f/2.8 Distagon

Outstanding ultra wide angle performer.

  1. Overview of Zeiss Loxia 21/2.8 Distagon
  2. Press Release for Zeiss Loxia 21/2.8 Distagon
  3. vs ZF.2 / ZE 21mm f/2.8 Distagon
  4. MTF for Zeiss Loxia 21/2.8 Distagon
  5. Distortion for Zeiss Loxia 21/2.8 Distagon
  6. Vignetting for Zeiss Loxia 21/2.8 Distagon
  7. Notes on the Prototype Lens Used for Examples
  8. Examples: White Mountains, Eastern Sierra (A7R II)
  9. Examples: White Mountains Before Snowstorm (A7R II)
  10. Examples: White Mountains, First Snowstorm (A7R II)
  11. Examples: Close Range Shooting (A7R II)
  12. Examples: Down Low and Near-Macro (A7R II)
  13. Examples: Environmental Portraits (A7R II)
  14. Field Examples: Yosemite Area (Sony A7R II)
  15. Aperture Series: Rock Creek
  16. Aperture Series: Aspen Up, Morning Sunstar (A7R II)
  17. Aperture Series: Through the Aspen (A7R II)
  18. Aperture Series: Small Erratic Supporting Large Erratic (A7R II)
  19. Aperture Series: Orange Tree Trunks, Blue Wood (A7R II)
  20. Aperture Series: Bristlecone Sculpture on Slate Outcrop, Late Dusk (A7R II)
  21. Aperture Series (Night): Arcade View at Night (A7R II)
  22. Aperture Series (Night): Confluence of Two Shadows (A7R II)
  23. Aperture Series (Night): Golf Carts (A7R II)
  24. Aperture Series (Night): Construction Perimeter Fence (A7R II)
  25. Shootout: Zeiss Loxia 21mm f/2.8 vs Voigtlander FE Nokton 21mm f/1.4 Aspherical: MemChu Oblique
  26. Shootout: Zeiss Loxia 21mm f/2.8 vs Voigtlander FE Nokton 21mm f/1.4 Aspherical vs : Tenaya Creek and Lingering Ice
  27. Shootout: Zeiss Loxia 21mm f/2.8 vs Voigtlander FE Nokton 21mm f/1.4 Aspherical Mosaic (Sony A7R IV)
  28. Shootout: Zeiss Loxia 21mm f/2.8 vs Sigma 14-24mm f/2.8 DG DN Art: Twenty Lakes Basin, View Towards Mt Conness Drainage (Sony A7R IV)
  29. Shootout: Zeiss Loxia 21mm vs Sony FE 12-24mm f/2.8 GM: First Ice on Beaver Pond

Canon EOS R Mirrorless

Zeiss Batis

Fujifilm X System

Other Lenses for Sony Mirrorless (excluding Zeiss)

Meyer-Optik Gorlitz Nocturnus 50mm f/0.95 II

Speed to match the Leica Noctilux-M, based on Mitakon Zonghyi optics.

Lenses for Micro Four Thirds Cameras

Sigma DN 19mm f/2.8

Wide angle for Micro Four Thirds or Sony E Mount/NEX.

Sigma DN 30mm f/2.8

Normal lens for Micro Four Thirds or Sony E Mount/NEX.

Venus Optics Laowa 7.5mm f/2 fisheye

Rectilinear fisheye lens for Micro Four Thirds.

Sigma Foveon X3 True-Color Sensor Cameras

Sigma DP-2 with Foveon X3 sensor

[Archive] Sigma DP-2 with the amazing Foveon X3 sensor (original, LOW RES camera, not a Merrill).

Four Thirds & Micro Four Thirds

Panasonic G-1 micro-4/3 camera

Panasonic G-1 especially compared to the Olympus E-P1. Intriguing results with RAW vs in-camera JPEG. RAW file included for your own analysis.

Fixed Lens Cameras

Sony Cybershot DSC-RX1 / RX1R

Full frame camera in an ultra-compact body with or without anti-aliasing filter.

  1. Sony RX1 and RX1R Introduction
  2. Images of the RX1
  3. Relative Sensor Size
  4. Accessories
  5. Sony Electronic viewfinder FDA-EVM1K EVF
  6. Hand Grip and Tripod Mounting
  7. Leaf Shutter Speed Limits
  8. Manual Focus Problematic Behavior
  9. Focus Creep (RX1R)
  10. Long Exposure Limited to 30 Seconds
  11. File Sizes and Bit Depth
  12. Getting Sharp Images Handheld
  13. Lens Diaphragm / Aperture Symmetry
  14. Focus Accuracy / Backfocus
  15. Portraits and Focus Accuracy (RX1)
  16. Distortion, Correcting Distortion (RX1)
  17. Optical Distortion (RX1R)
  18. Bokeh in General, Overall Lens Rendering Style (RX1R)
  19. Color Shading / Vignetting (RX1)
  20. Examples, Initial Probation (RX1)
  21. Aperture Series, Close Range (RX1, Dolls)
  22. Aperture Series (RX1, Pumpkins)
  23. Aperture Series (Sony RX1, Mountain Bike)
  24. Aperture Series (RX1, Tile Mosaic)
  25. Aperture Series: Sunset Bristlecone (RX1R)
  26. Aperture Series: Bristlecone in Blue Dusk (RX1R)
  27. Aperture Series: Plastic Tubing, Wire Mesh, Sheet Metal (RX1R)
  28. Lens Rendering: Propane Tank (RX1R)
  29. Lens Rendering: Cabin Table (RX1R)
  30. Lens Rendering: Canned Foods + Bottled Water (RX1R)
  31. Lens Rendering: Storm Light on Cayenne (RX1R)
  32. Lens Rendering: Relief at 12,300 Feet (RX1R)
  33. Lens Rendering: The Moots Ride to Barcroft (RX1R)
  34. Lens Rendering: Yellow Seedheads by Grassy Creek (RX1R)
  35. Lens Rendering: The Way Across (RX1R)
  36. Lens Rendering: Bush with White Branches (RX1R)
  37. Lens Rendering: Bristlecone Graveyard at Sunset (RX1R)
  38. Lens Rendering: The Rock Can Wait for the Roots to Rot (RX1R)
  39. Lens Rendering: Brick Building at the Summit (RX1R)
  40. Examples: Pine Creek (RX1R)
  41. ETTR (RX1, Dolls)
  42. Extreme Dynamic Range: Rainstorm Sunset at ISO 400 (RX1R)
  43. Conclusions

Sony NEX / Alpha APS-C Mirrorless

Zeiss Touit

Olympus 4/3 Super High Grade SHG Lenses



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