Choosing a new system

F

fridge

Messages
185
Name
fred
Edit My Images
Yes
Hi all

I'm getting back in to photography after a good few years. I used to have a Canon 5Dmk1 with 16-35 and 70-200 etc and was big in to landscapes. I sold all this a while ago and switched to a Sony A6000 with kit lens and a Sigma 30 2.8 which has been the kit to get me back in to photography again while travelling...

Love the compact size but I do miss my 5D for landscapes and filters were so much easier to use and now looking to upgrade not loving the lens line up

I'm looking to spend £1000 max or £1500 if I sell my current gear and want a compact system to walk around with (travel/ street/ landscape) but that bit of extra quality and good lens line up options!

Am thinking of Sony A7mk1 but would love opinions on any equivalent systems as well as this. Or if anyone had some great lens ideas for my A6000 I would gladly listen!

Thanks for reading all that!
 
I'd have thought that an A6000 would have your 5D easily beat for image quality, including landscapes, so what's missing for you in the lens line up? What lenses are you looking for? Also how was the 5D was easier to use with filters?

I have both screw on the lens round filters and square filters which fit in a holder and I'm struggling to see how the 5D (I've had one) is better suited to filters but maybe you have some specialist use in mind?

Having said all that I have a Sony A7 mk1 and I'm mostly happy with it and it'll give a little bump up in image quality over the A6000 for BIG pictures, very heavy crops and extreme pixel peeping.
 
Last edited:
I suspect it's the more basic lenses that are making the difference to you - the A6000 has 2 stops more dynamic range than the 5Di, as well as greater colour depth (ISO handling is similar, based on DxoMark), and double the resolution (24Mp vs 12) - so as Alan said, it should be a better landscape choice, and it's compact form makes it better for travel and street

The lenses you have a relatively modest, but for landscape you will be using them stopped down, where they will be at their best (and you see least advantage from more expensive lenses).

The problem is that the high quality lenses tend to be FF, and will make even an A6000 a much bigger and heavier setup.

I'd suggest you look at either the 18-135 OSS or CZ 16-70 F4 OSS - both seem to have good reviews as upgrades over the 16-50 kit (but keep the 16-50 as you'll get very little for it, and it's just so convenient as the A6000 + 16-50 will fit in a coat pocket!)
 
I have the A7 and have for about 5 years. I'd say check out my Flickr but you might never have to wait until the site is working again..... Instagram is in my signature too. It does me very well mainly with a few Voigtlander lenses. Would eat your 1500 budget though without anything long.

My boy has the A6000. The full frame A7 does produce nicer images but the A6000 still holds its own imo. I bought it plus a Samyang 12/2 for £450 all in. I've edited some of his Astro images and they are more than acceptable.

You could pick up some nice APSC lenses though for the money you have available.
 
If you like 'compact systems' I'd recommend something like the Olympus EM5-II or EM1 mark 1 paired with the 12-100mm f4 or 12-40mm f2.8. They're great cameras but still small and light, as are the lenses. Both have better Dynamic Range and colour than the 5D too. In most situations I find IQ almost comparable to the D750 and D850 (at normal viewing sizes).
 
fridge said:
Am thinking of Sony A7mk1 but would love opinions on any equivalent systems as well as this
Click to expand...

Considering your budget there's nothing like it, but I'd want to spend most of your money on a 24-105 (which is neither small nor light) or a Tamron 28-70 f2.8 (less unreasonable) and then make up the rest with adapters and legacy lenses. Otherwise the LA-EA4 adapter has AF built in and works REALLY well with older screw-drive lenses, so you could kit up with Sony/Minolta A mount at very favourable prices and lower weight than the latest Sony stuff. You won't miss out on eye-AF because the A7 doesn't have it.
 
Thanks all for the replies. I think all things considered I should stick with the A6000 for now. After all it is the size of this that has got me out taking the camera with me again. I think what I'm really missing is my old 16-35 and after reading a lot of reviews it sounds like the best option may be to check out the Sony 10-18 - what do people here think of this lens? I do prefer the versatility of the zoom for wide angle landscapes where foot zooming back or forward might end up in death by cliff edge/ river!

After that I'll take a look at the 18-135 if I feel like I need to upgrade the kit lens (but I do love the size). People do seem to love this lens though
 
fridge said:
Thanks all for the replies. I think all things considered I should stick with the A6000 for now. After all it is the size of this that has got me out taking the camera with me again. I think what I'm really missing is my old 16-35 and after reading a lot of reviews it sounds like the best option may be to check out the Sony 10-18 - what do people here think of this lens? I do prefer the versatility of the zoom for wide angle landscapes where foot zooming back or forward might end up in death by cliff edge/ river!

After that I'll take a look at the 18-135 if I feel like I need to upgrade the kit lens (but I do love the size). People do seem to love this lens though
Click to expand...

I haven't personally used one, but the Sony 10-18 gets decent reviews on Dyxum, and it certainly fits in the 'small and light' category, and there is also a £40 Sony Cashback offer on it now (if bought from an approved UK retailer).
 
I find the A6000 a fantastic performer. Whats missing is dedicated apsc longer focal lenght lenses but you do have some nice shorter ones in Laowa(9mm), Samyang(e.g. 12mm) and Sigma (16mm, 30mm and 56mm) + the 90mm macro Sony lens
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top