The Amazing Sony A1/A7/A9/APS-C & Anything else welcome Mega Thread!

I've been contemplating a wider lens for my holiday, most of the time I use a 35mm f1.4 art. Common sense is telling me to go for the 16-35 as a travel companion but I prefer a fixed fl. I have looked at the Samyang 14mm but the distortion is putting me off. I've also seen the Batis 18mm (which I'm leaning towards), just wondered what people thoughts were to a 18/35/85 combo for a general travel kit ( I also have a canon 70-200 f4 Lisa for when extra distance is required.

There are a few options, the Voigtlander wide lenses are excellent, maybe the 15mm E mount. I have the CV10, 15 and Sony 28, 35, 55, 90. Depending what I'm doing I either take them all or 3 lens combinations like 15, 28, 55 or 28, 55, 90.
Doubling the focal length is a good rule of thumb for 3 or 4 lenses but with my full prime set the I prefer to be about 1.5 x. I'm contemplating getting the Batis 25 to possibly replace the 28 (or just keep the 28 too).
 
Think it was 2K when it launched.



With A7RII you can crop easily and cover up a lot of ground. Normally 2x focal length is a good rule of thumb for prime setup (so for example 20mm, 40mm, 80mm). Your set up is not far off, so I think you are well covered (y)

There are a few options, the Voigtlander wide lenses are excellent, maybe the 15mm E mount. I have the CV10, 15 and Sony 28, 35, 55, 90. Depending what I'm doing I either take them all or 3 lens combinations like 15, 28, 55 or 28, 55, 90.
Doubling the focal length is a good rule of thumb for 3 or 4 lenses but with my full prime set the I prefer to be about 1.5 x. I'm contemplating getting the Batis 25 to possibly replace the 28 (or just keep the 28 too).

Thanks for the tips and advice, although I'm not new to photography I am new to primes, thinking that the flexibility of a zoom was better. Having used the 35mm I have enjoyed the simplicity of picking up the camera and taking the photo and tweaking the crop in post as opposed to fiddling with the zoom ring and missing the shot. The imporoved IQ is also a bonus
 
Fired of the first few shots on the A5100. Loving what the sensor renders even through kit lens glass.
This could well be a love affair starting!
A couple of family members have these, they shoot jpeg's and the results both still pictures and vid certainly look very good. I prefer cameras with a VF though.
 
I have said this before and i will say it again.

Photography is not all about u and the end result.

Its also about how YOU FEEL using the equipment at hand. Some love the look and feel of a canon rebel while others love the look and feel of a Leica.

Yea the results between a rebel and Leica are minor when a skilled togger is using both, but the feel you get, the excitement you get when holding and operating a camera seems to be missed by a lot in here.

I jumped on the Sony because of the feeling i get when i use them as well as the minor IQ differences.

Last year i used mainly my A7r2 even though the 5d3 is faster, better battery life and cheaper lenses. Why? Because i love using it. compact, good evf, good focus, good features and sensor.

Most of you lot who dwell on sony know deep down that Sony are doing some great things and making great stuff, otherwise you would not be here posting
 
Dont assume i live in a dumster who blows all there money on gear.

Im fortunate in life that i can throw money on a passion i love while maintaining my life priorites

Don't assume I don't have money just because Sony gear (comparatively) is expensive. No moaning, just fact.
 
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I've been contemplating a wider lens for my holiday, most of the time I use a 35mm f1.4 art. Common sense is telling me to go for the 16-35 as a travel companion but I prefer a fixed fl. I have looked at the Samyang 14mm but the distortion is putting me off. I've also seen the Batis 18mm (which I'm leaning towards), just wondered what people thoughts were to a 18/35/85 combo for a general travel kit ( I also have a canon 70-200 f4 Lisa for when extra distance is required.

For a while I liked my Sigma 20mm f1.8 on my 5D and 18mm isn't toooooo far from that so I think I'd be reasonably happy with a 18mm lens :D and also with the 18, 35, 85mm combo but personally I'd have a 50mm in there too. Some people think 50mm is a piggy in the middle, not wide enough or not long enough but I don't think I'd like to be without one and to be honest you could use the not wide or long enough about 18/20mm too.

I do think that wider lenses are some of the most difficult to use well and that they take thought and care, but 18/35/85 + maybe a 50mm would suit me and I'd add a macro too :D
 
Dont assume i live in a dumster who blows all there money on gear.

Im fortunate in life that i can throw money on a passion i love while maintaining my life priorites

You're only here once, you can't take it with you, life is for living etc...

Jealously for people who can afford nice stuff and things shouldn't come into it, we should be happy for people who can pursue their passions and dreams :D Good luck to you :D
 
I have said this before and i will say it again.

Photography is not all about u and the end result.

Its also about how YOU FEEL using the equipment at hand. Some love the look and feel of a canon rebel while others love the look and feel of a Leica.

Yea the results between a rebel and Leica are minor when a skilled togger is using both, but the feel you get, the excitement you get when holding and operating a camera seems to be missed by a lot in here.

I jumped on the Sony because of the feeling i get when i use them as well as the minor IQ differences.

Last year i used mainly my A7r2 even though the 5d3 is faster, better battery life and cheaper lenses. Why? Because i love using it. compact, good evf, good focus, good features and sensor.

Most of you lot who dwell on sony know deep down that Sony are doing some great things and making great stuff, otherwise you would not be here posting

They are pushing new things and that's why I keep my eye on them, I've always liked and bought Sony, since the first nex.
 
Don't assume I don't have money just because Sony gear (comparatively) is expensive. No moaning, just fact.

For me it's not about money really. I get real pleasure from not spending money :D and I don't mean because I'm tight :D I get a lot of enjoyment from using old lenses I've searched and waited for. I don't care if they're not as good as a GM/Batis/Zeiss, I like using what I think is a bargain and getting results that are good enough for me :D
 
For a while I liked my Sigma 20mm f1.8 on my 5D and 18mm isn't toooooo far from that so I think I'd be reasonably happy with a 18mm lens :D and also with the 18, 35, 85mm combo but personally I'd have a 50mm in there too. Some people think 50mm is a piggy in the middle, not wide enough or not long enough but I don't think I'd like to be without one and to be honest you could use the not wide or long enough about 18/20mm too.

I do think that wider lenses are some of the most difficult to use well and that they take thought and care, but 18/35/85 + maybe a 50mm would suit me and I'd add a macro too :D
Thanks Alan, I do have an old Canon 50mm F1.8 which I never use. Its a FL that I always seem to struggle with. I currently have a Sigma 150mm Macro which will work with an adaptor, however I think I'm going to sell it and replace with the 90mm Macro
 
For me it's not about money really. I get real pleasure from not spending money :D and I don't mean because I'm tight :D I get a lot of enjoyment from using old lenses I've searched and waited for. I don't care if they're not as good as a GM/Batis/Zeiss, I like using what I think is a bargain and getting results that are good enough for me :D

Yeah, old lenses are lovely to use. I have some fast rokkors which are great when I don't need fast focus.
 
Yeah, old lenses are lovely to use. I have some fast rokkors which are great when I don't need fast focus.

This was taken on the way back from the post office after collecting my first cheap old lens, a Minolta Rokkor 55mm f1.7. It was a bit old and a bit worn and the coatings were crap but I really liked the pictures, if I could avoid flare.

Panasonic G1 and Minolta 55mm f1.7, about £15 worth. It's just a simple little picture but I decided I liked the look and character lenses like this could give and couldn't wait to see what they could do.

_1070369.jpg
 
Thanks Alan, I do have an old Canon 50mm F1.8 which I never use. Its a FL that I always seem to struggle with. I currently have a Sigma 150mm Macro which will work with an adaptor, however I think I'm going to sell it and replace with the 90mm Macro

I had a Sigma 150mm, I loved it on both my Canon 20D and 5D. It's a lens I haven't come close to replacing, the closest I've come is an old film era 50mm which I use on MFT to give a 100mm FoV. I loved that 150mm though :D
 
Is that Canon less sharp than the Sony though in the real world? I haven't seen anything shared to show that the Sony is somehow worlds apart?
You could say the same thing on a even cheaper lesser budget tele zoom like the 55-250mm crop lens on canon.
 
You could say the same thing on a even cheaper lesser budget tele zoom like the 55-250mm crop lens on canon.

Well, you couldn't because the 100-400 is clearly a better lens than the 55-250 with regards to optical quality, AF performance and weather sealing (although the 55-250 is a very good lens for the price). The question is whether the Sony 100-400 is a third "better" than the existing Canon 100-400.

Personally, I don't really care either way because I don't shoot enough tell to need either of them. The issue is, what's the point of buying it and proclaiming that it must be the best lens in its' class, just because it's £600 more than the existing competition. Of course, you have both so it would be interesting to see a an actual real world comparison in a situation the lens/cameras are designed to handle such as birds in flight/fast action sports. A DxO bench test in a lab means nothing if using the lens/A9 in the real world still gives blurred results due to slower AF.
 
Well, you couldn't because the 100-400 is clearly a better lens than the 55-250 with regards to optical quality, AF performance and weather sealing (although the 55-250 is a very good lens for the price). The question is whether the Sony 100-400 is a third "better" than the existing Canon 100-400.

Personally, I don't really care either way because I don't shoot enough tell to need either of them. The issue is, what's the point of buying it and proclaiming that it must be the best lens in its' class, just because it's £600 more than the existing competition. Of course, you have both so it would be interesting to see a an actual real world comparison in a situation the lens/cameras are designed to handle such as birds in flight/fast action sports. A DxO bench test in a lab means nothing if using the lens/A9 in the real world still gives blurred results due to slower AF.
The A9 has a better af system then my 5d4
 
I've been contemplating a wider lens for my holiday, most of the time I use a 35mm f1.4 art. Common sense is telling me to go for the 16-35 as a travel companion but I prefer a fixed fl. I have looked at the Samyang 14mm but the distortion is putting me off. I've also seen the Batis 18mm (which I'm leaning towards), just wondered what people thoughts were to a 18/35/85 combo for a general travel kit ( I also have a canon 70-200 f4 Lisa for when extra distance is required.

I took the 16-35 f4 to Berlin recently (and sold when I got back!) its a really nice lens and the IQ is excellent but I found the distortion at 16mm a bit much.
I also took the 21mm Loxia which was outstanding but sometimes just a shade too long for some of those wider building shots I was trying to take, if I was looking at an AF lens it would be the Batis 18mm, gets stellar reviews although I'm not overly keen on the "style" of the body of the Batis lenses the IQ is second to none.

I reckon 18/35/85 would be a great combo for a travel kit and having taken all of this (A7rii, 16-35, 21, 35, 70-200 & 24-70 f2.8 GM) to Berlin I'll be slimming down on my next trip in October, the wide end is likely to get covered by either a Voightlander 15mm or the Batis 18mm, AF and f.2.8 would be nice though so probably the Batis!
 
A couple of family members have these, they shoot jpeg's and the results both still pictures and vid certainly look very good. I prefer cameras with a VF though.
The bulk of my work will be sunrise/sunset landscapes on a tripod so i figured i could go without the EVF and therefore save money over the A6000.
Will try out video too and see what the fuss is all about over the inbuilt codec Sony are using.
 
Thanks, hopefully will be. Mc11 and 35 ART, big maybe fe35 1.4. And my rokkors.

Liked the 35 f1.4, maybe not as much as the Sigma 35mm but the native AF and compatibility were good, just wish it didn't have QC issues
 
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