Questions on A12 28mm

[sanfong]

Hi. I would like to find out on a few things before jumping to buy my first unit.

AF - anyone feels is too slow? Especially for street photography.

Filter - Has anyone use a CPL and slot in type of filters for ND & ND Grad?

Weather seal - Has anyone shoot in in the rain? Any issues?

Hope to get some advises?

Tks.

 

[streetshooter]

I use the 28mm most of the time. It is a fabulous lens competing with my Leica glass easily. Never trust weather proof gear 100%. So, I use it in bad weather and I just try to be smart about it. In fact, I'll be down the New Jersey Shore today in bad rain but I'll make photos anyway.

The AF is fine for the street. It will focus faster then you can see the perfect frame. I use Snap mode when I can which is most daylight times. In low light, sometimes it hunts, like any other camera. It's ok because in low light, you should be thinking and framing slower....I am a streetshooter.

I would not be using this outfit if it wasn't perfect for the street. I don't have to because I have many other options available but I still choose the GXR. It's the perfect street camera.

I don't use filters so I won't comment about that. I have the lens hood and it's very nice but only use it in the rain or snow. Otherwise, I don't.

 

[125tel]

The A12-28 is perfect for streetsnaps. I use zone-focusing most of the time. Distance at 2m. It's easily set, because the camera shows the depth of field in MF mode. I use 8f or 7.1f in combination with auto HI iso set on 1600 (sometimes 3200) and a shutter limit at 250. Works very well. Even with the A12-50.

 

[Remko]

AF on the A12 28 is good enough for me. Your mileage may vary however it depends on what your reference is. Is it as fast as any current DSLR? No, but it is faster that typical point & shoots. There are some tricks the GXR has on its sleeve to improve AF speed (Pre-focus, snap focus, full press snap).

As for filters I've used CPL and NDs without issues. I'd advise to purchase a step-up 40.5 to 43mm for that since 40.5mm filters are rare (40.5 is the size of the filter thread). My step-up fits very nice in the lens hood.

ND-grads are a bit more difficult for me. I've used them sometime just by holding them in front of the lens. Then the display/electronic viewfinder is a bit limiting. Nowadays I don't bother with ND-grads any more. I either use the grad-filter in Lightroom on the RAW file or shoot HDR. But in short slot filters will work if you have the right step-up ring and to avoid vignetting the slot-holder probably should not be too deep.

Regards Remko