Jack, I just discovered your channel and you…I am so impressed..and I feel connected to your analysis AND your thinking. I empathize totally with your dilemma and coincidentally shoot Sony. In fact making this exact decision now for a trip to Europe. What blew me away though is the illustration technique used throughout. I am retired from a career leading data and analytics consulting around the world. One of my greatest accomplishments was teaching scores of people why drawing a picture is the most powerful tool humans have to communicate ideas and concepts. When watching folks on you tube I often am saying (to myself of course! I know they can’t hear me!), “draw a picture! Draw a picture!” You did it brilliantly. Well done sir!

I have this video in recommendations and man... It couldn't be more accurate as my current situation: being a scientist and photographer later; indecisive when there are two options regarding gear and career. For the lens, sometimes is nice to experiment new perspectives and have the mindset open to be sorprised in the end. Cheers

Life coach and lens commentary all in one video. Giving me lots to think about. 🙂

Just subscribed. I ran through half a dozen of your videos. You make videos that are the perfect mix of length, content, and quality. Thank you!

Thank you!! Seriously, your videos are so relatable, and informative! 🙏🙏 Love your visual style and storytelling. My only subscription with notifications on KZfaq.

I love your story telling. The pace is a little fast for me, but I understand why it's necessary.

Great content dude! I'm looking into this lens so i appreciate your review.

Love how your life/profession is intertwined with the camera stuff in this video!

recently got this lens for my a6400, great focal length on aps-c. allows you to pick out a subject but still capture some of that background, without needing to get too close

Wow I really like how you bring your own style to the photography industry. That’s so unique. I just subscribed because you bring a different perspective to photography and i like that. Thats my first video, looking forward to watch more of you.

That was great! Have never seen a camera lens video like this!

Excellent video! I rented this lens last week and it's what I've been wanting all along. I'll hopefully be able to buy it next month.

Wonderful video Jack, Keep at it!

Thank you, just thank you. I loved your video and instantly subscribed. Cheers from Montreal

I can't tell if this is a lens review or an audio visual poem, but I'm for it. I love my 40mm 2.5

Wow, amazing story telling and review. Instant subscribe.

Wotancraft products are exceptional!😊

Jack these videos are such a treat. Ps been battling the temptation of a 40 2.5 too.

Similar story for me, going to Europe on the 25th this month with my A7cII but I've narrowed it dow to the 40mm 2.5 and 85mm 1.8 Sony lenses. I have a lot of options including other bodies/premium lenses but decided to travel light while still have some flexibility. Cheers

You are a great story teller and produced a really nice video! My compliments!

Interesting story. Well done, Jack.

Zf and the 40mm are amazing. I have been a 50mm guy for years and then tried to get uncomfortable with the 35mm which I enjoyed. However I got the 40mm, which I suppose is not as technically good as the others I mentioned, and as soon as I was shooting for me went on the Z6. Now I have the Zf it and the 40mm are partners. Don't get me wrong the Zf is used professionally in conjunction with my Z8 but as soon as I finished my last job the 24-70mm 2.8 came off and the 40mm came back home.

Man, this video hit home! I’m also turning 40, also a PhD, also considering working not in academia, and also looking at the a7cr or cii and 40mm as alternatives edc to x100vi.

Great video with great story telling riven into a review

so cool seeing this as someone in melbourne going thru a similar thinking process haha

Thank you for your video. While a little bit bigger and heavier than the 40/2.5 G but I think works well on the A7CII size bodies is the Zeiss Batis 40/2.0 CF which I have. So it gives you f/2 if you really want it on Sony. Who knows maybe Sigma will add a 40/2 to their I-Series lenses in between there 35/2 and 50/2. I like your analysis approach to avoid paralysis. Take care.

Have you consider the Sigma 35 F2 Contemporary? TBH, I feel you might want the extra width. When I was in Japan, I felt I wanted a wide angle. I could always crop in.

Hi Jack, for travel on my A7CR I've gone off all of the Sony Lenses. My GM 50mm f1.2, 35 f1.4 all stay home. I only bring my Samyang 45mm f1.8 and 24mm f1.8 - give them a try

I love your videos Jack, each one is like a mini-movie! I would love to know if you've considered a pairing of the Sigma 35mm and 65mm F2 lenses? They could be the middle ground between a pair of 1.4 GMs and a pair of 1.8G lenses..... or I should rewatch your video and stick to one lens... like this beautiful 40mm. 🙂

I love your vids so much🙌.

Great video! I was curious, what leather jacket are you wearing?

The 40G has been my burden-free "casual" lens and is now permanently mounted on my system. Have not felt the need to switch it out for my other GM lenses thus far. Interesting choice with the ZF, an entirely different ecosystem. The smallrig grip designed for the zf makes a whole lot of difference in handling. So much so they have it mounted on the display sets here. You should consider getting one. I've had the chance to play around with the ZF quite abit and mhmm definitely mixed feelings. A pretty camera but slightly chunky piece of kit. With the 40mm f2, it weighs almost 900g. AF was a little lacking at times but definitely useable. I'd say the ZF is miles ahead of the x100vi as a piece of kit but now you'll have 2 full frame cameras to carry along ;)

Hi Jack, which one do you recommend between nikon zf and sony a7cr? Thanks for sharing shooting experience on 40mm lens, it's amazing.

Did the same. Loved 35 and 50 But then found the 40mm Zeiss and fell in love. Since then Sony 20 Zeiss 40 Zeiss 85

Really well put together video and very relatable! I always find 35mm a hair too wide and 50mm a tad bit tight so 40mm is perfect. As of this week I've moved to Sony (A7cii) from Fujifilm and I'm now really questioning my camera (and life) decisions. Did I really gain much moving to Sony apart from autofocus? Was the extra half a stop of bokeh really worth it? As for those ugly Sony colours.....

What song did you use in this video? Also, looking forward to more of your stuff! In the short time since I stumbled across your channel I've really enjoyed going through all your videos!

wow...love your photos! They could have more time, to be seen in your videos...love also your thougts

I adapted 40mm for a long time now. For some reason 40mm POV just looks more natural to me than a 35, 50. Anyways! If you don’t mind adapted manual lenses. The old pentax 43mm is a a great choice. It is compact (even with an adapter), metal construction, and it has a F1.9 so it’s a bit larger aperture than 40G F2.8

great - what about a 35 prime and putting it in crop mode for the 50mm field of view when needed? best of both worlds. program it on a button. 1sec decision making. and in case you use ibis + digital ibis the 35 becomes roughly a 40 anyway.

Good quality content! Will be here for your inevitable silver button. Thanks for your videos

Tamron 20-40 2.8 is the solution 😂. It’s pretty light, not too big, and takes great photos. I had the 40 2.5g and loved it, and also loved my 20mm 1.8g but I don’t like switching lenses when I travel so I sold both, bought the tamron and have been happy with it traveling. Works for landscapes, city scapes, interiors, Astro photography, hiking photos (weather sealed), portraits at 35-40mm or up to 60mm with apsc mode, very close focusing for macro like photos of details, etc.

Do you have confident to switch your 35 50 GM into this? At least for traveling Im on the edge of selling my 50 GM to get this lens

Got to ask one suggestion x100vI or Nikon z62 with 40 mm f2 lens Price for both is almost the same in India Which one should I go for?

What about the new 24-50 2.8?

Great video. I’m a lot older than you, but when I was in university, I was studying bio-chem. Working in a lab all day is not my idea day at work. My friends who graduated, the jobs are tough, depending on funding a few of my friends got laid off multiple times from their labs due to lack of funding. I’m so glad I switched to business, although not as difficult or boring, the pay is steady and better than in the sciences and it allows me to pay for my f1.2 lens. Maybe one day I’ll go back to finish off that bio-chem degree just for closure. I really wish canon had these 40mm lens, compact lens or 3rd party lens. That 100vi looks tempting. Being comfortable with the uncomfortable is such a great phrase that I try to live by. I have a asia trip in dec for 3 weeks, specifically to hk, looking forward to a small kit of the 28mm/2.8 pancake with the 50/1.8. I’m still deciding if I should get the 50mm/1.2 as that’s a focal length I use daily, but spending that much money on a ‘common’ length as you’ve mentioned, kills me inside. Keep up the great videos!

Great points about breaking inertia, it's hard to combat comfort because we crave it despite yearning for something more aspirational. Great lens too. I thought I'd regret the 2.8 of the Ricoh GRIII, but I'm mostly shooting at 4.5 or 6.3. Turns out I don't take better photos with faster apertures, I take better photos with gear that I actually want to carry around. Excited to see more from the Zf. I think you made the better choice there in terms of quality. You might even attract a slightly better crowd to the comments section too. 😂

40mm is my daily driver! I couldn't afford both a 50mm and 35mm, so I split the distance and haven't looked back

Haha love this one. On a recent trip I took a 35 2.8 SonyZeiss and the 35 gm… in the end could have only taken the 35 2.8 as night photography was not as much as I anticipated, but I was screaming at myself the whole trip when moving from place to place and packing both 35mm lenses…. I enjoyed the 40 when I had the Zf, maybe will have to get this one. But like you the 2.8 does bother me, when in low light it really struggles and yes with the sony you can hand hold close to a second long which in some cases will give you a decent low noise image, when you have a person to photograph it just does not work… why is there no perfect camera and perfect lens (for me)…

Came for a lens review, left with a life lesson…

Is it possible to fit a filter on the lens under the lens hood?

Still I am struggling to choose between a7c and x100vi for street and traveling! What do you think?

Hi Jack, Yet again a very thought provoking video... love the pace ... and have to say... You aint looking bad for a nearly 40 guy fella... all your own teeth and a good head of hair... whats not to like eh...lol .... Really looking forward to the upcoming vids on Japan... Sweet lens is the 40/2.5G.... best travel lens by far.. no need for anything else unless your after using telephoto for landscape... which I am guessing isn't on your "to do list"... Keep up the excellent well packaged vids Jack... the comments are getting good for you now... plus come on guys... click the like for Mr Jack...... Yoki..

Are you planning on taking the 40mm and leaving your 35mm and 50mm at home then?

Would have prefer the sigma contemporary 35mm f2!!!

Man after watching several of your videos I realized that you are one spider bite away from being spiderman in this universe.

Vid is fucking gold… subscribed.. I got the 40 because I was tired of carrying around the 35 and 50 gm all day in ny streets.. I’m a bokeh whore for street portraits.. 40mm 2.5 hits the sweet spot

Super nice video but I would remove this annoying background music in the future! Subscribed 😊

Wait till you turn 50… ;-)

People need to stop obsessing over bokeh - my favourite images don't have bokeh

Nice video. I am on the fence to buy the a7r III as my first full frame Sony! Hesitant between the 35mm f/1.4 GM or the 40mm f/2.5 as my first lens for a quite while for mainly street/candid photography. I really liked the "cinematic" look the 35mm f/1.4 gives you, but the 40mm f/2.5 is perhaps a more fun and practical lens to use because of the overall form factor? Would like to hear your opinion!