Which Camera

Craig1912

Craig1912

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I’m looking to retire at the of the year and looking to buy a new camera and lenses.

As background I currently have an olympus EM10 mk1, 20mm 1.7, 45mm, 12-32 zoom and 14-150 zoom.

I learnt using a Voigtländer Vito B and “guessed” exposure using Kodachrome, Ektachrome and Ilford FP4/5. Did my own developing of B&W and generally got decent results. Moved on to a Canon AE1 with 50mm macro and 135 telephoto. Priorities changed and went through a variety of compacts film and digital before getting an EPL2 and then the current camera.

Like taking landscapes and street photos inc people and buildings and would like to get into macro again. Will be using Lightroom or similar.

Budget is good and was thinking along the lines of a Leica M10 and a couple of lenses BUT, it is expensive and the Sony A7R mk3 has caught my eye.

Just wondering if I am on the right track with the Sony and say the 90mm macro plus a couple of other lenses (suggestions welcome!)

Going to try both but any thoughts?
 
Just on the Sony... I only have four Sony native lenses, the 28-70mm kit lens, 35mm f2.8, 55mm f1.8 and 85mm f1.8, I'd describe them all as excellent including the kit lens if you consider what it is, just a fairly modest a variable aperture standard range zoom. The 90mm macro does AFAIK get excellent reviews.

Depending upon your preferred field of view the 35mm f2.8 or 55mm f1.8 may be good street choices but some in the Sony thread have the Sony or Sigma Art 35mm f1.4 but personally I find lenses like that a bit big. You may like them. I also have the native mount manual focus Voigtlander 35mm f1.4 and 40mm f1.2 and these may be worth a look if you like old style manual lenses and by the way manual focus is easy on these cameras as you probably know from using the Oly MFT.

You may find the A7III's eye detect good for your people shot uses. My first generation A7 only has face detect but I'm increasingly finding that good for people shots as it removes the need to move the focus point and instead you can concentrate on composition and capturing the moment.

Good luck choosing and why not take a look in the Sony thread...
 
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Thanks- been reading the Sony thread (it’s long!). The manual focussing attracted me to Leica (amongst other things). I do have a couple of Canon FD lenses that I’ve used on the Olympus fairly successfully.
 
I have a Novoflex adapter which I use fd's with on my A7 but imo the cheap evil bay ones are fine or at least I've never had a problem with one.

If you do like using film era lenses the Sony is the only ff camera until if and when adapters come out for the new Canon and Nikon mirrorless cameras. For manual focus I can't recommend the A7 highly enough or of course you can zone or hyperfocal.

I've no experience with digital Leicas, my rf's were film.
 
The Leica M10 is going to be a lovely bit of equipment, and is definitely something I'd be looking at if I were in a situation similar to yours. Basically ready to take the hobby to the next level!

I do think that the beauty of the Sony is its versatility compared to the Leica. If you wanted to branch outside of landscape/street at any point during your retirement - you're not going to get that from the Leica. Wheres the Sony has potential for 'all-round' photography, albeit dependent on which lenses you'll need to purchase.

Because the Leica M10 is so different in price - and subsequent lens prices hefty too, and I know the last thing you need is too many options, I'd genuinely look at getting a Sony a7 III and a Leica Q. The Leica Q gives you the same kind of shooting experience as the M10 would, and you'd have the a7 III for those times you want to do something a bit different. Some of the wide-angle ZEISS Batis lenses would suit landscape and are some of the loveliest lenses around.

The 90mm is a nice lens, but is quite a restrictive focal length in my opinion. Very good for head and shoulders portraits and a bit of longer range street - but is hardly unassuming.

Hope this helps!?!
 
Ste_S said:
@Craig1912 As you don't really state what's prompting the change (ie what problems you're having with the Olympus), and the Sony and Leica are wildley different systems; it kinda sounds like GAS to me ?
Pick whichever one you like the look of best ?
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Not having any problems ( although the focus on the Olympus with fast subjects isn’t great) and was looking at full frame trying to up the quality. You are partially right though but I d like a better system as it is going to get used much more.
 
Nothing wrong in wanting to treat yourself :) So a bit of GAS is ok ;)

I use a Nikon D810 as my main camera. Recently I looked at downsizing mainly to reduce weight in use. I had previously handled the Sony A7 (not sure if it was a mk1 or 2) and hated it, the ergonomics were appalling for me. And yep, I know the Sony fanboys will be climbing all over that statement, but it doesn't change it one jot :). Closest I came to changing was the Fuji XT-2, terrific lens set available, very nice to use and good files too the Sony files are good btw). In the end I stayed where I was, with the D810.

The reason for the story is that recently I tried a few Zeiss lenses, one of the guys with me had the new Sony A7 (mk3) and another had the A9. There is no doubt the ergonomics have improved on the A7 range, I can only assume Sony were winging it in the early days, effectively a computer that took picture I think. However the A9 was so much better to handle and use, at least for me. It actually felt like using a camera in use rather something quite awkward (which is how the A7's felt, mk3 excluded). The A7 mk3 still wasn't as intuitive to use (maybe unfamiliarity) but the A9 was. I have no idea why, I guess it is just a better body layout.

Would I change now to a Sony (it would have to be the A9 I think) ? Maybe - a few months ago it would have been a resounding No!

My advice would be to get out and try them, whichever one takes your fancy. Then whichever feels the best in use is the one to get.
 
PaulButler said:
Nothing wrong in wanting to treat yourself :) So a bit of GAS is ok ;)

I use a Nikon D810 as my main camera. Recently I looked at downsizing mainly to reduce weight in use. I had previously handled the Sony A7 (not sure if it was a mk1 or 2) and hated it, the ergonomics were appalling for me. And yep, I know the Sony fanboys will be climbing all over that statement, but it doesn't change it one jot :). Closest I came to changing was the Fuji XT-2, terrific lens set available, very nice to use and good files too the Sony files are good btw). In the end I stayed where I was, with the D810.
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Deep sigh and a slight shake of the head...

Why bring all the hyperbole and fanboyism into it Paul? If a camera isn't for you then why not just say you didn't like the ergonomics or better still state some specifics (maybe you didn't like the shape of the grip or the button placement) to give the op something to think about? And before the fanboy accusations come out I'm not a Sony fanboy but I am a more compact camera and lens package fan boy with no real complaints about the handling of any camera I currently own :D

Sorry for the interjection, as you were...
 
woof woof said:
Deep sigh and a slight shake of the head...

Why bring all the hyperbole and fanboyism into it Paul? If a camera isn't for you then why not just say you didn't like the ergonomics or better still state some specifics (maybe you didn't like the shape of the grip or the button placement) to give the op something to think about? And before the fanboy accusations come out I'm not a Sony fanboy but I am a more compact camera and lens package fan boy with no real complaints about the handling of any camera I currently own :D

Sorry for the interjection, as you were...
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And as predicted ...

Because the the OP mentioned Sony, every time anyone discusses any camera the fanboys (and that is what they are) preach on about them with a near religious fervour. At the end of the day each their own - I used to think the Nikon vs Canon threads were tiresome but the fanboys just take this to the next level ...
 
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