Looking to switch systems (Canon to Sony), thoughts and advice needed

ChrisHeathcote

ChrisHeathcote

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After many years shooting Canon, I am looking to switch systems. Currently I have been trying to reduce the size and weight of some of my kit as I just don't take it out on family days and walks etc. My current kit consists of a 5D3, Sigma 35mm Art, 70-200 f4 L IS, 120-300 Sport with 1.4x & 2x TC's. I also have a Tamron 24-70 2.8 VC (currently in the classifieds due to lack of use). My main subjects are Wildlife, Motorsport, Family days out & Street.

I have found the 5D3 a little on the bulky side and lacking dynamic range, for carrying around all day. So after a lot of deliberation I have started looking at the Sony A7 series. Ideally I would like to stick with FF as I like the DOF and low light ability.

I was initially looking at the A7ii however after a bit more research I think I may look at a used A7Rii instead. The kit I am looking at:

My general kit (will probably get most use)

Sony A7R2
Either Sony 28mm f2 (or maybe Sony Batis 25mm f2)
Sigma MC11 adaptor (enabling use of my existing lenses)

To cover the wildlife and motorsport I will add a Canon 7D Mk II

Dependant on how things go I may end up adding the Batis 85mm f/1.8

Although I have been using Canon for many years I am new to Mirrorless and would welcome any comments etc. (am I missing anything/other suggestions). I have looked at the 6D but I'm still not convinced on the saving size wise
 
A7r2 is a great camera.bit slower than your 5d3 but offers better iq and Is lighter. Check out the 25mm batis lens or 35mm f2.8
 
Go and handle them, yes they are lighter but the A7 cameras are still pretty substantial bits of kit and the ergonomics can be hit and/or miss for some people.
 
jonneymendoza said:
A7r2 is a great camera.bit slower than your 5d3 but offers better iq and Is lighter. Check out the 25mm batis lens or 35mm f2.8
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In what respect is it slower? The Batis was one of the ones I might try and stretch to. I thought about a 35mm, but wasn't sure if it was a bit too close to 25/28 in FL

Nawty said:
Go and handle them, yes they are lighter but the A7 cameras are still pretty substantial bits of kit and the ergonomics can be hit and/or miss for some people.
Click to expand...

I'm currently trying to find somewhere that has one in stock/on display for me to try, fortunately my hands aren't the largest. On paper the body along with 25/28mm lens the weight is about the same as my 5d3 on its own.
 
I made the same move from very very similar canon equipment to yourself.

Firstly the Sony files will not disappoint you, they are head and shoulders above the 5d3.

As a camera the menus however will likely infuriate you and for me personally the evf took a lot of getting used to.

The weight saving is great, however for it to really make sense it needs lightweight native lenses. With the batis on I sling it over my shoulder and carry it round all day. For the record though I have kept my sigma art 35 because it is one of the best lenses ever made and I can't let it go!

Perhaps you should consider a 2 system approach;

Street and family (inc holidays and landscapes) Sony a7rii with native lenses possibly batis 25 and 85. But you know what focal lengths you need better than j do, I know you may miss a normal range 35-50 here but maybe thinking wide or long will cover what you want. Or consider a Sony 55mm instead of one of the batis. I'm hoping they add a batis at 35 or 50...

Wildlife and motorsports would be 7d2 and 100-400 mkii and put up with the weight.

If this is too expensive swap the a7rii out for an a7ii. With native lenses the focus is great for what you want it for.
 
ChrisHeathcote said:
In what respect is it slower?
Click to expand...

People don't always think of this but as soon as you put an a7 into continuous burst mode the raw image quality drops and the dynamic range etc suffers. I don't try and use it as a machine gun for that reason and keep it in single shot.

I guess jonney is talking about the fps and the way the a7 buffer fills then takes longer to clear than the canons. It is even slower to turn on for example and just feels less up for it.

The 7d2 is a similar step up from the 5d3.
 
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Craig_85 said:
People don't always think of this but as soon as you put an a7 into continuous burst mode the raw image quality drops and the dynamic range etc suffers. I don't try and use it as a machine gun for that reason and keep it in single shot.

I guess jonney is talking about the fps and the way the a7 buffer fills then takes longer to clear than the canons. It is even slower to turn on for example and just feels less up for it.

The 7d2 is a similar step up from the 5d3.
Click to expand...

I very rarely shoot bursts but when I have I haven't seen any drop in image quality, at all.
 
Thanks @Craig_85 it was a 2 system setup I was looking at. The immediate priority is a family/travel camera as we have a once-in-a-lifetime holiday to Disney at the end of August, although we will be going to Animal Kingdom, the wife has a 750D and I will have my 70-200f4 along with a 1.4x Tc if needed.

At some point I was thinking to add a 7D2 to the equation (will keep an out in the classifieds :) ) I already have a Sigma 120-300 f2.8 sport for wildlife and Motorsport (the Sony will act as pit lane walkabout )
 
ChrisHeathcote said:
In what respect is it slower? The Batis was one of the ones I might try and stretch to. I thought about a 35mm, but wasn't sure if it was a bit too close to 25/28 in FL



I'm currently trying to find somewhere that has one in stock/on display for me to try, fortunately my hands aren't the largest. On paper the body along with 25/28mm lens the weight is about the same as my 5d3 on its own.
Click to expand...
Buffer rate is slow on the a7r2
 
ChrisHeathcote said:
After many years shooting Canon, I am looking to switch systems. Currently I have been trying to reduce the size and weight of some of my kit as I just don't take it out on family days and walks etc. My current kit consists of a 5D3, Sigma 35mm Art, 70-200 f4 L IS, 120-300 Sport with 1.4x & 2x TC's. I also have a Tamron 24-70 2.8 VC (currently in the classifieds due to lack of use). My main subjects are Wildlife, Motorsport, Family days out & Street.

I have found the 5D3 a little on the bulky side and lacking dynamic range, for carrying around all day. So after a lot of deliberation I have started looking at the Sony A7 series. Ideally I would like to stick with FF as I like the DOF and low light ability.

I was initially looking at the A7ii however after a bit more research I think I may look at a used A7Rii instead. The kit I am looking at:

My general kit (will probably get most use)

Sony A7R2
Either Sony 28mm f2 (or maybe Sony Batis 25mm f2)
Sigma MC11 adaptor (enabling use of my existing lenses)

To cover the wildlife and motorsport I will add a Canon 7D Mk II

Dependant on how things go I may end up adding the Batis 85mm f/1.8

Although I have been using Canon for many years I am new to Mirrorless and would welcome any comments etc. (am I missing anything/other suggestions). I have looked at the 6D but I'm still not convinced on the saving size wise
Click to expand...
I was finding the same much too heavy for me so I got a EOS M5 and its great camera...
 
Ok so having had a look today. I was suitably impressed. Although there are areas in which the 5d3 excel, the a7r2 is no slouch either. 1 question I do have is regarding flash. I have been spoilt by the plethora of options available for the Canon, however I am getting lost in the Sony options. I am after a smallish flash for fill in. The options I've found so far are the Nissan i40 although from what I can see it misses HSS, so I will be restricted to the sync speed (or adding nd filters)the other options I've seen are the Godox TT350S or the much more expensive Sony F43M.

Have I missed anything? What does everyone else use for fill? I guess what I'm looking for is something like the Canon 270EXii
 
ChrisHeathcote said:
Ok so having had a look today. I was suitably impressed. Although there are areas in which the 5d3 excel, the a7r2 is no slouch either. 1 question I do have is regarding flash. I have been spoilt by the plethora of options available for the Canon, however I am getting lost in the Sony options. I am after a smallish flash for fill in. The options I've found so far are the Nissan i40 although from what I can see it misses HSS, so I will be restricted to the sync speed (or adding nd filters)the other options I've seen are the Godox TT350S or the much more expensive Sony F43M.

Have I missed anything? What does everyone else use for fill? I guess what I'm looking for is something like the Canon 270EXii
Click to expand...
I use Yongnuo they are very good and copies of Canon flashes.
 
ChrisHeathcote said:
The options I've found so far are the Nissan i40 although from what I can see it misses HSS
Click to expand...
The i40a, i60a and Di700a should all be HSS enabled now, Nissin recently updated the firmware on them including the Air1.
I'll test HSS on my Air1 and i60a's and report back.
 
ChrisHeathcote said:
Thanks Chaz, I also use Yongnuo flashes (YN600 EXRT) and 622's on my Canon, I was not aware they did Sony fit, or do you use the Canon fit and stick to manual?
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Sorry I only use Canon as said I got the M5 added to my two 7D's
 
I am definitely changing to Sony myself (from Nikon), most likely next year when some of the features of the A9 trickle down into other models.

Mirrorless is definitely the future I believe, having used an A7r2 lately I was very impressed
 
on a side note if you do switch I'd suggest considering the new Sony 85mm/1.8 instead of batis especially if you get the A7R2 which already has stabilization built-in. You can use the saved money from FE 28mm/85mm on something else.

with sigma mc-11 your art/sport lenses will work like native lenses but they are still quicker to focus on canon and not as quick as native Sony lenses on A7RII. But many people claim to use them successfully, so I suggest trying it out first.
 
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F/1.4 said:
I am definitely changing to Sony myself (from Nikon), most likely next year when some of the features of the A9 trickle down into other models.

Mirrorless is definitely the future I believe, having used an A7r2 lately I was very impressed
Click to expand...
I left Nikon since the D7000 days :D
 
I think by end of the year all my canon gear will be gone. I think I can live with a7r2 and A9 with the lenses they have on the system
 
jonneymendoza said:
I think by end of the year all my canon gear will be gone. I think I can live with a7r2 and A9 with the lenses they have on the system
Click to expand...

while I could live with the choices, I could't live with the price of those lenses :D (seriously!! I'd have to live on 10p noodles for 2 years, considering they still sell those?)
 
nandbytes said:
on a side note if you do switch I'd suggest considering the new Sony 85mm/1.8 instead of batis especially if you get the A7R2 which already has stabilization built-in. You can use the saved money from FE 28mm/85mm on something else.

with sigma mc-11 your art/sport lenses will work like native lenses but they are still quicker to focus on canon and not as quick as native Sony lenses on A7RII. But many people claim to use them successfully, so I suggest trying it out first.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the advice, I'm going around in circles on lenses at the moment! One of the reasons for my change is to do with size for days out, travel etc. 1 part of me says go with a zoom for flexibility, whereas a big part is screaming, primes all the way, much smaller, lighter, better IQ and lets face it with all the MP, I can afford to crop a little in post. Plus there's always the universal zoom attached to the end of my legs. I never used to be a fan of primes until I got the 35mm Art. I love the way you have to think abit more and also your not constantly tweaking the zoom to find that perfect "mm". My thoughts are now, just take picture as best you can before the moment passes.

As to the EF lens, long term the 120-300 sport will end up attached to a 7d2 (the wife's got a 750d which will do short term). The 35 may well end up being used on the A7R2 or end in the classifieds.It s been interesting reading the reviews on the 28mm and 85mm native lenses against their more expensive counterparts. I think I may well end up with both these for my upcoming holiday, thinking 28mm for general walkabout and 85mm for family shots with the Canon 70-200 f4 for when we go to Animal Kingdom and the parades. Ive also looked at the 55mm, which looks great but its a FL Ive never got on with
 
I have just added an Olympus Em1 Mk 2 to my kit and find it light and a excellent walk around system but that may muddy the waters!!
 
Don't want to muddy the waters but I went on the same journey starting from Canon a couple of years ago, was very tempted by the Sony A7, but ended up going the m4/3 route instead.

Main consideration was cost (m4/3 is much cheaper than Sony - especially if you buy used) and weight: the Sony bodies are more compact but are still pretty heavy compared to the lighter m4/3 bodies. Additionally the Sony lenses are full frame and once I had the opportunity to handle my brother-in-law's Sony A7R + 70-200 zoom, I reluctantly came to the conclusion the weight savings were not substantial enough (for me) compared to sticking with Canon.

So I'm running two digital systems at the moment: Canon for (very) low light and Olympus/Panasonic for everything else. m4/3 is usually more than good enough for my needs (I'm not a pro) and the big upside is that I am no longer reluctant to bring a camera and a couple of lenses along when I'm going somewhere. When I travel I bring 2 m4/3 bodies, 3 zooms covering 18mm - 300mm full frame FOV and two or three primes. I can carry all of this comfortably in a normal backpack with room to spare for other stuff...
 
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