camera/lens advice please

I think this is the right place to post this ... I'm looking at alternatives to Sony E and FE mount cameras/lenses but would value the opinions of you Sony folk since I am looking to rule out the non-Sony. Trust that some of you have some experience on the other systems, talked yourself out of said gear, or maybe dual shoot.

I am looking for a new camera with one or two lenses. Simples, right!

USE - walkabout - street/ish (non-people shots) - walks - small one camera one lens system (possible 2nd small lens) - no interest in telephoto. Stills.

Not in a rush, probably buy in June. I watched the black friday deals and just wasn't ready to get anything on offer.

As a former 50mm shooter I've long found wide angles difficult to use. But the last couple of years have been adapting to the 24-28mm ish view of cheap/trash smartphones. And I am pretty much converted to 28mm now. I enjoy it a lot and 28mm is turning into my new fave (2 years running now).

Today the only camera I use is the RX100 IV (24-70). The majority of shots are at 24mm (default at power up), but I'll often flick to 28mm. The lens ring dial is set to jump 24/28/35/50/70 becuase I like that! I'm shooting a 365 (half way through) and will continue to June 2021 at which point I want to add my new camera or even replace the RX100. Love the EVF position.

As a dedicated PRIME ONLY shooter for many many years, I did 2019 with just one lens - a zoom lens (Panasonic 12-35/2.8 on m43) ... and I LOVED IT! Didn't change lens for a whole year (couldn't, as this was the only lens I owned).

My Sony contenders:
- Sony A7II + 28/2 + 50 macro
- Sony A6xxx + Zeiss 16-70/4

The A7II/28/macro are my fave option. Small (for FX), WR and the lenses might also be too (not clear on Sony website, WR mentioned in some places but no rubber ring?). Anyway, WR is a factor. Camera price is sweet, has IBIS. Is there a reason to NOT get this?

And the A6xxx model would not be the very latest. Same too with the III/IV of the full-frame - I just don't need any of that new tech and they are all out of budget. 16-70/4 has IS and is a 'replacment' for my Pan 12-35 but on a bigger sensor. Reviews appear mixed though.

Budget-wise I'd struggle to spend the same price on an A6xxx/16-70 and NOT get the A7II/28 instead. The 50 macro goes over that budget but as a starter the A7II deal looks too good. I am not looking to build a huge system, I'm not even 100% I'd get the macro and might just stay with A7II/28 for a year. Get the 50 macro in 2022 (ready for week50mm).

ALTERNATIVES

RICOH GR III
+ve = APS, IBIS, small, has 'macro-ish' mode, could replace my RX100, 28mm
-ve = poor battery, fixed screen, no EVF
(this would then be my only camera)
I have tried shooting my RX100 as a GR (not using EVF and not tilting the screen). The fixed screen kills this for me. Even though it is APS, and IBIS, and the lens is superb.

I don't enjoy the fujifilm system. I've tried it. X100T (years ago), X100F (for a month). I still have my X-E3/16/35 and even got an X-T3. But I just don't get on with it at all. In fact I've not touched the X-T3 and will eBay it in January with the X-E3 (a dozen frames!!) and 16/2.8 and 35/2. Those are 24mm and 54mm equivalents. And both have WR. As does the X-T3. The dials on the X-T3 are horrible. Lens aperture dial is not mechanical and there is an obvious delay in viewfinder changing aperture. Shame. It looks nice though. No IBIS!

Fujifilm X100V has tilty screen, viewfinder in the corner is nice. No IBIS. WR though (but I've bought and not liked 2x X100 series already). On paper this should be a strong contender but it has cost me a lot twice already.

Having shot KM7D (2005), A100, Nikon D700 (2009) ... then m43 (mainly olympus). I love tilt screens. Not the side version that the video people want but the A7II/A6xxx/RX100 style that moves in that plane. Everything is saying Sony. The one issue that paused me on the RX100 was the lack of touch, I've had/used touch screen for 10 years with Olympus/Pan but do not miss it at all. Give me tilt you can keep touch (I use it and like it, but can live without it).

Other options

Canon - 6DII with 28/2.8 IS (lens not WR). Looks to be the only 28mm lens in the world (apart from the Sony 28/2). LOVE the look of the 6DII. LCD is a fold-out jobbie (nice, you can 'close' it, tuck it away) but I favor the tilters. 35/2 IS is faster and means I won't get a 28 + 50 but I'm enjoying 28mm too much I think.

Nikon - D750 (sucessor to my D700 from 2009) but none of the lenses really speak to me, no small IS lenses, so ruled out.

Pentax - who! KP is just about everything I'd want in a dSLR but the lenses are an unknown (to me) as is the future of the system. Lenses are respected, camera has IBIS. None of the small lense have WR, so kinda ruled out.

WR - I know, it's just a fad! And I've shot in the rain for many years with non-WR kit. But I now live 200m from the beach and on a breezy day there is sand absolutely everywhere! And salt spray. Reason I am enjoying my (used) RX100 so much is that I can afford to kill it (just needs to last at least a year).

Have also consider hunting down a decent used Nikon D3 (same used price as A7II) or D700 (bargain) ... but my preference is for NEW body.

I have a Panasonic GX9 + 12-60/2.8-4 ... so this is the A6xxx/16-70 really and this works well as a home/studio camera. EVF in the ideal place. But I think I'm ready to exit m43, it has been a fun 10 years in.

EDIT - other than a few indoor studio shots I am struggling to consider anything more complex than my RX100, it has been a joy to use. Not carrying a camera bag anywhere for 6 months has been fun. Not looking like a photographer also helps.

Have I missed an obvious contenders? Small camera, big preference for IBIS, WR desireable, tilt screen.    Thanks.

Edited by dCap - 08 December 2020 at 14:05

The A7II is a nice camera. The sensor is old, but I'd take it over the one in the 6DII. Canon is finally making competitive sensors but only has them in a couple of recent cameras.

I used the Canon 28/2.8 IS on my A7II but decided to keep the Sony 28/2 instead. The Canon is a very good lens that seems largely ignored. Canon doesn't claim any sealing on it. The Sony seems to be disliked. I am not sure why--maybe bad samples. Sony does claim it is a dust and moisture-resistant design.

I've been using the FE 50/2.8 Macro a lot for product photography. Image quality is great, but there are some issues with it. The big one for macro is the f/16 minimum aperture. I find the angle-of-view change with focus and extending focus annoying for product photos. Sony claims it is a dust and moisture-resistant design.


Edited by QuietOC - 08 December 2020 at 15:14

dCap wrote: yeah, I got excited at the A7C launch ... but the side-swing rear LCD and the price put me off (think it is equal the price of A7II/28/50 macro here). EVF is in the right place though. ...

Ah, yes, and it's not like there are any second-hand ones selling at a discount at the moment.

It really does sound like an A7-type camera is what really suits you, and the Sony 28/2 is good enough. I don't quite understand why the 28/2 gets so much dislike. Obviously it's built to a certain price point, but the images look fine to me eye.

The only other thing to consider, if you can push yourself to f2.8, is the Tamron primes (20mm, 24mm, 35mm). Sometimes with cashbacks and sales they are very well-priced. I've got the 35/2.8 and it's easily as good as some of the other 35mm lenses I've used in the A-mount.

LAbernethy wrote: I nixed a move to e-mount a while ago based on my experience with the Sony NP-FW50 battery in a-mount (a37). ...

Quite, my experience with the NP-FW50 haven't been great (a7R) either, but with the 3rd generation cameras (a7Riii et al) the NP-FZ100 is an entirely different and superior thing.

A distance scale does appear on screen when manually focusing with E-mount cameras. It doesn't indicate depth-of-field.

Some lenses are gaining electronic displays. My Canon EF 70-300 IS II shows a distance scale on its LCD with a depth-of-field range. Some of the Zeiss Batis lenses have something like this.

addy landzaat wrote: The NP-FW50 in the APS-C cameras is just fine. Bring a spare when needed. The A6400 has a CIPA rating of 410, that Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark II has a CIPA rating of 440. Basically the same. With the A7r2 I also did not find the battery a problem, but I always brought a spare.

Just one spare? I recall at times, I was carrying 4 or 5 NP-FW50s for α7R II and had to use all of these. Granted, this was on a very cold winter day (say, at least -15°C) and some of these batteries may been old and worn (bought for α55, which was my first camera using this battery type) and some also dirt cheap third party products.

battery comments

my RX100 IV has a pretty poor battery life ... and when I was hunting for it used I would often find people selling with 1-2 and even 7 spare batteries! The day I clicked the B-I-N on eBay for my used RX100 IV I also found an external charger (absolute must have for the RX, that connector and door would not make it through a 365) plus 2 spare batteries. Today, 6 months into a 365 I've never used, or carried, either of the spares. I charge the camera twice a week.

As a former Nikon D2H and D200 and D700 user EVERY mirrorless battery is rubbish. And when I used to shoot a lot more I would carry a spare for those 1000+ frame cells. My Pan GX9 came bundled with a spare battery from WEX.

I have a feeling one of the Sony A7 models shipped with two batteries in the box? Correct? They aren't big and I'm not a video shooter, so for stills I can get through a day.