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

[snerkler]

As it's very quiet.

I'm trying to slim down my kit. I'm thinking of selling all my Panasonic MFT kit as I'm really only using the GX80 and 14mm because of the built in flash, my other lenses aren't getting used. If I get the Sigma 50mm f1.4 my Sony 55mm f1.8 can go and I'm not using my Voigtlanders so they should go too. I have Sony lenses at 20, 24, 28, 2 x 35's, 40, 55, 85 and 28-70mm and I'd like to slim down as I'm not using a lot of it. I have too many bags too and should get them down to one which can carry quite a bit, one which just takes the A7cII and 40mm and a scruffy for use when conditions are really bad. I should sell my Benbo tripod and head too as all I use now is a small travel one. Postage will probably cost more than anyone would pay for the tripod and head. It's difficult to let things go though but I did sell all of my film era primes, mostly to Ffordes.

Anyone else struggling to slim the kit down or is anyone adding kit?

Other than that. Thailand! Going very soon. See you all when we get back. A7 and 35mm f2.8 at f5.

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I slimmed my kit down a while back, I think my only excess lens that I could do without is the Samyang 45mm. I might not use some of the other lenses that much, but they are handy to have when I do. Ideally I'd like the 24-70mm f2.8 for studio work to save swapping primes back and forth but I've been making a conscious decision to do less studio stuff, in fact I've not done any this year and just have one booked for later this month.

 

[woof woof]

I liked the idea of downsizing, looked at MFT OM3 for instance, but wider lenses don't seem massively smaller. Camera isn't massively smaller. I'd loose some AF and low light ability. So no I'm staying with Sony FF.
May even change my A7C for an A7V.
Still very happy with the 20-70f4 use about 90% of the time, 35f2.8 for a small setup and 35GM f1.4 for ultimate low light.
I'd like to add the 70-200f4 as well at some point.

Since getting the A7III and now the A7cII the IQ of the MFT cameras I've had seems a bit disappointing but I haven't had the very latest. I had GF1, G1, GX7 and G7 (disgraceful cameras which should never have gone on sale IMO), GM5, G100, GX9 and GX80. Of the ones I've had the G100 gave the best IQ and had the best EVF but I couldn't live with not having two near top of camera controls for aperture and shutter. I don't think MFT bodies save enough bulk over the smaller Sony's and even the lenses sometimes don't either. I've already sold quite a bit of MFT gear and just kept the GX80, 14mm f2.5 and 20mm f1.7 which are really small plus 45-150 and 100-400mm. I took my GX80 and 14mm to Thailand last year and on a cruise this year and next to the A7cII the MFT IQ disappointed me.

 

[nandbytes]

I don't use 85mm enough to justify spending on a better one than the Sony f1.8 and I don't really use that enough. At the moment I can't make my mind up which Sony lenses should go but I think the MFT kit and the Voigtlanders should. I'll try here and what doesn't sell will go to Ffordes with my adapters which didn't sell here. I read a blog by a bloke talking about "nesting", having a zoom and a wide aperture lens within its range. A 20 or 24-50mm f2.8 and a 35mm f1.x would probably cover just about everything for me but I like small kit and small f2.8 zooms and even a small AF 35mm f1.x just aren't available. The nearest is the Sony 35mm f1.8 and possibly be that Sigma 50mm f1.4. I used to mostly use a 50mm f1.4 so maybe I could get used to one again rather than 35 or 40mm.

Yeah "nesting" is essentially what I've tried to do.
I'm using zoom(s) for versatility as supposed to maxing light or image quality. And i use primes for more light gathering and image quality.

When I'm out and about with the family, I hardly need a massive f2 or f2.8 zoom and when I'm shooting indoors I shoot wide open or below f2 with primes.

If I'm out my own i don't mind carrying only the primes and changing lenses.

For my uses my setup fits nicely

Having a small f1.4 lens with AF would be very nice for times i just want to carry one zoom and one prime. I carry the 35mm/1.2 and it's kinda okay but smaller is always nice

 

[woof woof]

I slimmed my kit down a while back, I think my only excess lens that I could do without is the Samyang 45mm. I might not use some of the other lenses that much, but they are handy to have when I do. Ideally I'd like the 24-70mm f2.8 for studio work to save swapping primes back and forth but I've been making a conscious decision to do less studio stuff, in fact I've not done any this year and just have one booked for later this month.

I hope I can slim the gear down but I can be a bit of a hoarder. I was hoping for a nice compact 28mm f1.x or f2 but I don't think I'd use it enough unless I sold the 24mm f2.8 and maybe 28 is too close to 35mm. This is how I go on which is odd for me as usually I'm a bit binary... it stays or it goes is usually a quick decision.

Yeah "nesting" is essentially what I've tried to do.
I'm using zoom(s) for versatility as supposed to maxing light or image quality. And i use primes for more light gathering and image quality.

When I'm out and about with the family, I hardly need a massive f2 or f2.8 zoom and when I'm shooting indoors I shoot wide open or below f2 with primes.

If I'm out my own i don't mind carrying only the primes and changing lenses.

For my uses my setup fits nicely

Having a small f1.4 lens with AF would be very nice for times i just want to carry one zoom and one prime. I carry the 35mm/1.2 and it's kinda okay but smaller is always nice

As I think I said earlier, I've stopped taking 3 or 4 lenses out and now just take the A7cII and 40mm or A7III and 24mm or sometimes both but I want the 20mm f1.8 just in case and I'd really like a nice but compact 35 or possibly 50mm f1.4. I keep thinking about a zoom but I know I'd want it to be a prime,

20mm f1.8, 24mm f2.8, 40mm f2.5, 35 or 50mm f1.4 and 85mm f1.8? Maybe a f2.8 zoom that I'd probably only use once a year. Even that seems too much.

There's no pressure from The Boss it's just me. I should also stop buying / building watches as that got out of hand.

 

[snerkler]

I hope I can slim the gear down but I can be a bit of a hoarder. I was hoping for a nice compact 28mm f1.x or f2 but I don't think I'd use it enough unless I sold the 24mm f2.8 and maybe 28 is too close to 35mm. This is how I go on which is odd for me as usually I'm a bit binary... it stays or it goes is usually a quick decision.



As I think I said earlier, I've stopped taking 3 or 4 lenses out and now just take the A7cII and 40mm or A7III and 24mm or sometimes both but I want the 20mm f1.8 just in case and I'd really like a nice but compact 35 or possibly 50mm f1.4. I keep thinking about a zoom but I know I'd want it to be a prime,

20mm f1.8, 24mm f2.8, 40mm f2.5, 35 or 50mm f1.4 and 85mm f1.8? Maybe a f2.8 zoom that I'd probably only use once a year. Even that seems too much.

There's no pressure from The Boss it's just me. I should also stop buying / building watches as that got out of hand.

I'd like a slim/small 28mm as an alternative to 35mm as a walkabout. I have thought about buying the wide converter for the X100VI but then there's no hood or filter, and adding these would start adding too much bulk.

 

[woof woof]

I'd like a slim/small 28mm as an alternative to 35mm as a walkabout. I have thought about buying the wide converter for the X100VI but then there's no hood or filter, and adding these would start adding too much bulk.

The Sony 28mm f2 didn't seem to work too well on my A7, I got a few slightly missed focus shots but on the A7III that seems to have disappeared. The corners aren't great though and an aperture ring would be nice.

 

[ancient_mariner]

Just back from a morning in Oxford. Took an older A mount sigma 12-24 plus adapter, 85 f1.4 and the behemoth Sigma 35 f1.2 that weighs a kilo. Ended up using the 35 most of the time, plus the 12-24 indoors. I wasn't alone, so didn't really have time and space to look for shots with the 85.

 

[snerkler]

The Sony 28mm f2 didn't seem to work too well on my A7, I got a few slightly missed focus shots but on the A7III that seems to have disappeared. The corners aren't great though and an aperture ring would be nice.

I had the 28mm briefly, I thought it was OK. At the time I preferred 35mm, I think next time I go out I’m going to take a zoom and swap between 28mm and 35mm and see which I prefer.

 

[nandbytes]

28mm primes don't seem all that popular even among other brands unless I've missed it. No one seems to be making them these days.

 

[snerkler]

28mm primes don't seem all that popular even among other brands unless I've missed it. No one seems to be making them these days.

I've not kept an eye on other manufacturers, but higher end fixed lens cameras appear to be either 28mm or 35mm so I would assume there's a market for 28mm.

 

[woof woof]

28mm primes don't seem all that popular even among other brands unless I've missed it. No one seems to be making them these days.

On some other forums there's pretty often a wish for some. It is afaik still a popular focal length for some. It's just a bit wider than normal and not so much that you have to be too careful with perspective distortion but you can still get some if you're going for it. I always remember a former GF who was very proud of her legs, I took a shot from lower down than usual pointing up to emphasis her legs and she loved that shot

 

[pmac]

Since I moved to Sony I cut my kit way back.
Currently only have 20/50 Sonys and a 28-75 tamron.
I’ve been thinking about trying to get into golf photography as it’s all on my doorstep.

So I’ve been eyeing up the 70-200/2.8 as I feel like I need more reach since selling my 85 and it seem like the most useful and most used in this genre.
I would also like to swap the 28-75 for a 24-70 as while it’s a great lens for the price it doesn’t compare to the Sony’s.

Getting both isn’t going to happen though so just a pipe dream currently.

 

[nandbytes]

I've not kept an eye on other manufacturers, but higher end fixed lens cameras appear to be either 28mm or 35mm so I would assume there's a market for 28mm.

Ricoh GR series and leica Q series are 28mm
Sony and Fuji have gone with 35mm

In fact ricoh GR also decided to make 40mm version.

I don't know off any other current compacts, and fuji is probably the most popular

Though I'd imagine customer bases for these care less about the exact focal length versus other factors

On some other forums there's pretty often a wish for some. It is afaik still a popular focal length for some. It's just a bit wider than normal and not so much that you have to be too careful with perspective distortion but you can still get some if you're going for it. I always remember a former GF who was very proud of her legs, I took a shot from lower down than usual pointing up to emphasis her legs and she loved that shot

Forums aren't necessarily a great representation of wider public.
1st party manufacturers is one thing but even 3rd parties aren't making any, and those are making some pretty unusual focal lengths like sigma 65mm or samyang/sigma 45mm
In fact Sony and canon saw more logic in making a fisheye zoom!

I just think as credible businesses they'd chasing after anything that makes money and right now they don't feel there is much in a 28mm primes.

 

[snerkler]

Ricoh GR series and leica Q series are 28mm
Sony and Fuji have gone with 35mm

In fact ricoh GR also decided to make 40mm version.

Yep, both Leica and Ricoh see there's a market for a longer focal length with their 43mm and 40mm versions respectively.
All 4 (Leica, Sony, Fujifilm and Ricoh) recognise the preference for 35mm and 50mm though allowing these in digital crop (as well as 70mm). Fuji recognise the preference for wider than 35mm hence their wide angle converter.

The Leica Q3 seems the most flexible offering 28mm, 35mm and 50mm with decent amount of resolution. At 75mm and 90mm it's pushing it a bit. Affording it, and justifying it is a different matter

 

[nandbytes]

Yep, both Leica and Ricoh see there's a market for a longer focal length with their 43mm and 40mm versions respectively.
All 4 (Leica, Sony, Fujifilm and Ricoh) recognise the preference for 35mm and 50mm though allowing these in digital crop (as well as 70mm). Fuji recognise the preference for wider than 35mm hence their wide angle converter.

The Leica Q3 seems the most flexible offering 28mm, 35mm and 50mm with decent amount of resolution. At 75mm and 90mm it's pushing it a bit. Affording it, and justifying it is a different matter

Didn't realise leica had a 43mm version too

Also there is a fuji GFX100rf with 28mm equivalent FoV lens.

 

[snerkler]

Didn't realise leica had a 43mm version too

Also there is a fuji GFX100rf with 28mm equivalent FoV lens.

Ahh yes, I keep forgetting about the GFX, not cheap either