Thinking of ditching Canon for Sony

lodious

lodious

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I've had a 5d3 for c.3years now. I'm not a totally happy bunny as I had to pay £140 to get the joystick fixed (it was never quite right from new, but it got progressively worse) and over Christmas my 24-105L gave the Err01 (a common fault, which I think is couple of hundred quid to fix.) although it's been OK since. I can't say I'm thrilled with Canon, TBH continuing to sell a 'professional' lens which has a fairly widely documented design fault for over 10years and not doing anything about it seems pretty poor form. I have a few speedlights and 5 Canon mount lenses.

Anyways, with that as a background, I wonder if anybody can offer opinions on how a transition to Sony A7Rii might work out. Some things I've been thinking over....

I've done a bit of reading an the lens choices for the A7R, and it looks like the options are maybe not be ideal at the moment. I quite like the look of the 35mm f2.8, but seems pretty expensive for what it is. I'd want some kind of 24-70 zoom, but the f4 doesn't appear to get rave reviews. Does anybody know what the commonly used options are for the A7rii?

I'm also not sure how the focus point selection works on the Sony. I did have a play with one that a guy from work bought, but he hadn't had the camera long and wasn't sure how to do it. How do people use the focus point selection on the A7R?

Although I like to size of the body of the 5D3, I do find it heavy, esp with a flash on top. The Sony is lighter, but there is less to grab hold of. Anybody got any thoughts on what the handling of the Sony is like when used with lager lenses and flash on top?

Are Sony flash unit's comparable with Canon Speedlight's? Are there decent options for off camera triggering with the Sony cameras?

Any thoughts from people which have made the switch (or are considering it) would be much appreciated. I'm not after starting Canon vs. Sony camera wars...I'm just trying to think through the options, as switching would not be cheap.
 
I can't comment much as I've just bought an A7ii myself but if you have Canon lenses you could get a Metabones IV adaptor which would allow Autofocus on the A7ii/A7rii on a lot of lenses which might help.

As for focus point selection you can set it up so that you press the middle button on the rear control and then the directional buttons around to choose a focal point.

As for handling I've used a Canon 17-40 f4 on mine which is a fairly large lens, in all honesty it probably a but much body only but with the battery grip its a really nice combo.
 
Just left my 5D3 too. Looked at Sony but plumped for Fuji because of a better range of glass available. Or that was my reasoning.
A big wrench leaving ff for a cropper but in reality little has changed.
Don't be worried about a switch. Just make sure the new system has what you need. Only you can decide that!
 
I wouldn't expect Sony build quality to be any better and that's from a long time Sony person!

If you can use the canon lenses on the Sony body and keep the canon then that's a good way of keeping a foot in both camps.
 
lodious said:
I've done a bit of reading an the lens choices for the A7R, and it looks like the options are maybe not be ideal at the moment. I quite like the look of the 35mm f2.8, but seems pretty expensive for what it is.

I'm also not sure how the focus point selection works on the Sony.
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I have an A7 and I think that the 35mm f2.8 is a very good lens, it's hardly been off my camera since I got it and the only thing wrong with it is that it isn't f1.8. I also have the 55mm f1.8 and IMO it's an exceptional lens.

I recently configured my cameras focus point to the centre button as suggested above (and in the owners thread, I originally had it set slightly differently) and if it's slower than changing the point with any of my previous Canon DSLR's then it's hardly measurable as such and any almost theoretical inconvenience is easily outweighed by being able to position the focus point anywhere over a much larger area than with a DSLR. I reposition the focus point for the majority of my shots and it just isn't an issue for me with the A7.
 
lodious said:
I've had a 5d3 for c.3years now. I'm not a totally happy bunny as I had to pay £140 to get the joystick fixed (it was never quite right from new, but it got progressively worse) and over Christmas my 24-105L gave the Err01 (a common fault, which I think is couple of hundred quid to fix.) although it's been OK since. I can't say I'm thrilled with Canon, TBH continuing to sell a 'professional' lens which has a fairly widely documented design fault for over 10years and not doing anything about it seems pretty poor form. I have a few speedlights and 5 Canon mount lenses.

Anyways, with that as a background, I wonder if anybody can offer opinions on how a transition to Sony A7Rii might work out. Some things I've been thinking over....

I've done a bit of reading an the lens choices for the A7R, and it looks like the options are maybe not be ideal at the moment. I quite like the look of the 35mm f2.8, but seems pretty expensive for what it is. I'd want some kind of 24-70 zoom, but the f4 doesn't appear to get rave reviews. Does anybody know what the commonly used options are for the A7rii?

I'm also not sure how the focus point selection works on the Sony. I did have a play with one that a guy from work bought, but he hadn't had the camera long and wasn't sure how to do it. How do people use the focus point selection on the A7R?

Although I like to size of the body of the 5D3, I do find it heavy, esp with a flash on top. The Sony is lighter, but there is less to grab hold of. Anybody got any thoughts on what the handling of the Sony is like when used with lager lenses and flash on top?

Are Sony flash unit's comparable with Canon Speedlight's? Are there decent options for off camera triggering with the Sony cameras?

Any thoughts from people which have made the switch (or are considering it) would be much appreciated. I'm not after starting Canon vs. Sony camera wars...I'm just trying to think through the options, as switching would not be cheap.
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Your original post reminded me of a review/photo shoot vid I came across last year, it may be worth a look:
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QGGA-7Zwn8Q
 
I got rid of my 5D3 and 3 L zoom lenses earlier this year to switch to an A7R2 and primes. The main reason was the Canon was just too heavy to lug around. I would say so far I have had nothing but excellent results from my A7R2, the two Batis lenses and the 55 f1.8 (that really is a stunningly sharp lens). The only time I think back to my Canon days is that I should have kept my 16-35 F2.8L which was also very sharp. But the 25/f2 is winning me over.

In your position and knowing what I know now I would initially get the body and an adapter to see if you can live with the 'huge' Canon lenses on the small Sony body. If you can then you may be better off doing it that way. I know I would eventually have gone for the native lenses because again the Canon lenses are very heavy (at least the ones I had were).
 
You've been unlucky with your Canon experience. Canon hasn't been the biggest selling brand for decades (always ahead of Nikon, and miles ahead of Sony) by making unreliable cameras.

That's not to say the Sony A7rII is not a great camera (mainly the sensor) but you've only listed disadvantages alongside your understandable (if exceptional) disenchantment with Canon. Maybe you'll get over those Canon issues, but for sure a switch to Sony will be very costly and unlikely to be a total bed of roses either - as you're discovering.

Unless this is an incurable case of GAS, and there's nothing wrong with that IMHO, then think carefully. I'm not saying don't do it - just to be clear. Cost alone suggests it may be a one-way ticket. Could you not get the Sony and a couple of lenses, before jumping ship completely?
 
Can I ask why the switch to Sony rather than, say, a D750 and Nikon?
 
Thanks for the thoughts....I pretty much agree with what your saying Hoppy...I'm coming round to accepting I am best to stick with Canon for the near future. I think in 18 months time, buying a A7Rii when it's replacement has been launched using it with a small prime and seeing how I get on with it is the best way forward. The cost of switching is just to high at the moment, and I think although I'd probably prefer the Sony, there are some swings and roundabouts.

I'm thinking of switching to Sony as I do struggle with the weight, esp. with a flash, and although the Nikon is slightly lighter, I don't think it's worth the expense to change to something similar.

I looked at a longer telephoto for the 5D3 (I have the 70-200 f4, which I love) , and based on handling a friends 70-200 f2.8, there is no way I'd want to go much bigger than what I've got. The crop modes of the A7Rii would appear to be a much more suitable option.
 
go for it! ... last year i sold my 5D3 (and 5 "L" lenses inc. 24-105 ) Went over to Fuji XT-1 and just one 23mm prime!!
feels good to have to think about taking a shot instead of rummaging through a case of lenses and building something that resembles an assassins long range sniper rifle set up.
 
I guess you've been unlucky with your Canon experience. I've had my 5D mk3 for 3 years and apart from wearing a significant amount of paint from the bottom, it's worked fine. I've had a focus motor go in my 24-105, but then I'd had it for about 5 years at that point, and it's been 3 years since that was fixed. I've read about the alleged dodgy ribbon cable fault, but can't say I know of any other well known errors. Also have you had the lens as long as the camera. Do you expect a 3 year warranty on it? (did you take out an extended warranty?)

As for cameras, I guess it depends on the type of shooting you do. I know a few that have moved to Fuji for the lightness as they predominantly shoot street, only need one of two lenses and they don't need the versatility of a DSLR . It really depends on what you require from a camera setup.
 
You think the canon service was bad? Wait till you have a problem with Sony! Their service is the worst. Some guy got his a7rii a little bit wet and it had a few problems, Sony just sent it back to him and said they won't fix it because it's been damp!!! I've dropped my 5diii in the sea, 3 foot underwater. Was fixed in 3 days and cost me 50 quid.
 
I've had great service from canon, including loan kit, but then I am a cps member.
 
I don't have a problem with Canon service, they were great at Elstree.

Kendo1...that video is great! I didn't particularly like Jason, but I thought the results he got with a hand held camera and a couple of lights were really impressive.
 
lodious said:
I don't have a problem with Canon service, they were great at Elstree.

Kendo1...that video is great! I didn't particularly like Jason, but I thought the results he got with a hand held camera and a couple of lights were really impressive.
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Agree, I really enjoyed watching that yesterday.
It was the light ring thing that most impressed, I actually started wanting one even though I hardly do portraits.
 
lodious said:
I don't have a problem with Canon service, they were great at Elstree.

Kendo1...that video is great! I didn't particularly like Jason, but I thought the results he got with a hand held camera and a couple of lights were really impressive.
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4wd said:
Agree, I really enjoyed watching that yesterday.
It was the light ring thing that most impressed, I actually started wanting one even though I hardly do portraits.
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He has a bit of fun making these vids, doesn't take himself too seriously, and is a decent photographer.
Maybe not to everyone's taste, but he is quite successful.
I've watched a few of his vids and found that his rapport with models is pretty good. He seems to get on well with them.

Equipment wise, he gets very good results with what he uses- Just your typical Zeiss lens :) and Sony CSC
 
It's an enjoyable vid but looks like the model has stubble in her arm pits? Interesting that at times he seemed to focus on the body more than the eyes, I suppose DoF got the eyes in but in some of the shots the eyes did look a bit out to me... but if they were it probably wouldn't show up at all in a magazine sized image. Liked the vid though :D
 
just thought I would add my 2 pence........

I got a cracking deal on a a7ii with metabones from jessops ( so good that the manager said that he was ringing head office asap to get it removed because they actually lost money on it and it has since gone)
I got a a7rii for xmas of my lovely wife ........... they are awesome bits of kit and with the metabones they are 95% as quick as my 5dsr ( I have a 5dsr and a 6d which I am keeping for weddings etc ) I am totally blown away y the quality of images and colours and obv the size is a major plus battery life isn't great but I have 10 batteries so that's not a prob
I'm yet to try at a wedding as next wedding is not until feb but I honestly cant see any reason why I cant shoot all day with both sonys
 
Sound good Owen....I think what your trying to say is that I need to change my wife, not my camera ;-)
 
Some would say it is cheaper to change the wife lol
 
woof woof said:
It's an enjoyable vid but looks like the model has stubble in her arm pits? Interesting that at times he seemed to focus on the body more than the eyes, I suppose DoF got the eyes in but in some of the shots the eyes did look a bit out to me... but if they were it probably wouldn't show up at all in a magazine sized image. Liked the vid though :D
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I was looking at her eyes to be honest, not her armpits!
 
kendo1 said:
I was looking at her eyes to be honest, not her armpits!
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As cameras and lenses get ever sharper and as we now pixel peep at high magnification I'm trying to train myself to look more closely and personally I'd have been disappointed to have captured a sharp image of a ladies stubble... :( I don't know if this would show up in a final image, maybe not but if it would I'd either not use the shot or try and photoshop it just to save the ladies blushes/anger.
 
owenb said:
just thought I would add my 2 pence........

I got a cracking deal on a a7ii with metabones from jessops ( so good that the manager said that he was ringing head office asap to get it removed because they actually lost money on it and it has since gone)
I got a a7rii for xmas of my lovely wife ........... they are awesome bits of kit and with the metabones they are 95% as quick as my 5dsr ( I have a 5dsr and a 6d which I am keeping for weddings etc ) I am totally blown away y the quality of images and colours and obv the size is a major plus battery life isn't great but I have 10 batteries so that's not a prob
I'm yet to try at a wedding as next wedding is not until feb but I honestly cant see any reason why I cant shoot all day with both sonys
Click to expand...

If it's that good why are you keeping your Canons?
 
yep spot on 95% ish as good cant complain one bit with the phase detection if u switch over to the contrast it is slow I'm not going to lie but a bonus with the phase is it has face detection and looks on instant for portraits
 
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