camera/lens advice please |
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dCap ![]() Senior Member ![]() Joined: 11 August 2005 Country: United Kingdom Status: Offline Posts: 6154 |
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addressing the WR fad!
I've seen comments in lesser forums (not here) about people not understanding the need/desire for WR kit. Fujifilm is full of oddness here. All the R series primes are WR but not all of the bodies. And the X-T3 buttons/dials are a real disapointment. I've had the Panasonic G80 (and consider G90) and that is weather sealed but the buttons are properly tactile without feeling like moosh. And I don't shoot in the rain (often) and never understood the want for WR kit. Also not being a landscape shooter means I've not been out shooting much in that weather. Back in the days I shot wildlife I've done that in pooring rain with plastic capes, umbrellas and just naked (um, camera, not me!). Until I moved to a beach town. There is sand everywhere. Including all my coat/jacket pockets! I have to hoover the inside of my jackets and fleece and my rarely used camera bag. This is one reason I'm super happy with the RX100 IV - the price - used for $350-450 (same in £ or €). If I kill this in a year I'm actually okay with that. I'd rather it kept going and I've never cleaned one piece of camera kit so much. It has been salt splashed and sand blown a few times. Plus some pocket dust. It is the very first bit of camera gear that I know I will never be able to sell. I don't take my big cameras out if the wind is over 15mph, it is that much of a factor. So, a used A7II + used 28/2 are probably the smarter budget options, with regular cleaning. |
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I can still remember how that music used to make me smile
- Don McLean |
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dCap ![]() Senior Member ![]() Joined: 11 August 2005 Country: United Kingdom Status: Offline Posts: 6154 |
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Thanks again people
This is proving useful to me On paper a switch from my Pan GX9 to a Pan G90 would be smart. G90 is WR, low price, had a lovely grip, one of the best EVFs around, and is 20mp (like the GX9) which is one reason I sold the G80. Plus I have the amazing Leica 12-60. Sadly there isn't a small WR prime though (12/1.4 is crazy price and Oly/Pan don't talk to each other and the Oly 1.2 are mahoosive). I just fancy a change though. Enjoyed trying the fujifilm - have bought and used enough of it to know it isn't for me - and I'd been tempted by the system ever since the XPro1 launch. If Sony, Fujifilm, Panasonic, and Ricoh could all get together and make an RX100 body/LCD/EVF with a Ricoh '28' matched to the Pan multi format sensor and X100V weather sealing I'm SOLD! |
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I can still remember how that music used to make me smile
- Don McLean |
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addy landzaat ![]() Senior Member ![]() Joined: 22 April 2006 Country: Netherlands Location: Netherlands Status: Offline Posts: 12951 |
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Turn off the auto viewfinder/screen switch. Set the camera to viewfinder. When you stop looking through the viewfinder, it goes off. It saves loads of energy. Assign a button to switch to the screen if need be. Also, moving to a place that is warmer then -15°C might also work ![]() BTW, the Canon 5D IV has a CIPA rating of 900, the Canon EOS R has the same sensor and battery with a CIPA rating of 350. (Sony A7r2 is 290) |
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addy landzaat ![]() Senior Member ![]() Joined: 22 April 2006 Country: Netherlands Location: Netherlands Status: Offline Posts: 12951 |
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Then there is the 18-135 which is a better allround lens but with variable aperture. It might be the better choice for most people, but you only can decide if most includes you. |
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dCap ![]() Senior Member ![]() Joined: 11 August 2005 Country: United Kingdom Status: Offline Posts: 6154 |
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Just tried to find battery life of my former Nikon D2H (it was Nikon D6 shaped, with the vertical grip built-in rather than the newer fad of bolt-on grips). Battery life wasn't even mentioned in the spec list! I know I would get 1000+ frames out of a day.
... so much for the modern improvements and the move to mirrorless! Cell phones also used to have a one week battery. Odd how we've adopted 'one day' as the norm. (I'm getting old) I have to admit that I have looked at a few used Nikon D3 body prices (store only for the 6 month cover). I saw a good price on a D2X (the high res alternative to the 4mp D2H that I had, both were APS, I wanted D2X at the time but was silly priced) ... then saw today's used price of the D700 (12mp FX). D3 is still relatively pricey - it was their first FX (full frame). And none of this lot is small. It is what drove me to look at some of the Canons. I know I loved the clean D700 files. |
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I can still remember how that music used to make me smile
- Don McLean |
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dCap ![]() Senior Member ![]() Joined: 11 August 2005 Country: United Kingdom Status: Offline Posts: 6154 |
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The 16-70/4 is still a consideration. I got all confused with the timeline and name of the A6xxx series (not released in number order). There are a couple of the higher end SONY APS (E) primes that are of vague interest but I'm not on for the consumer grade stuff - but also not looking to build a system. I LOVE the corner EVF position on my FujiFilm X-E3, Panasonic GX9, and RX100. I have a big squishy nose that just stays away since I'm a right eye shooter. While I don't like the idea of putting FE glass onto an E/APS body as I'm a fan of 'made for this sensor' design. I would happily mount a Sony 50 macro to an APS body - it is one exception I'd make. The macro is lower on the list of needs though. The optical quality I need for my close-up work would be fine with a +4 screw in filter (making photos of old coins just for interest not for artistic reasons). The A7C is my camera (except for the price) ... perhaps I get a A6xxx (I think the 6400 is the one I liked the look of) with the 16-70/4 and wait for the A7C mark II to bring the mark I to my wallet point. Be interesting to see if the A7C is the only one in that shape though. Doubt there would be enough interest for an R and an S version since the A7S and A7R lines are not exactly big. The A7C seems to be a 'travel' camera (in 2020!). |
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I can still remember how that music used to make me smile
- Don McLean |
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addy landzaat ![]() Senior Member ![]() Joined: 22 April 2006 Country: Netherlands Location: Netherlands Status: Offline Posts: 12951 |
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The Nikon D3 is rated at 4300 pictures.
If you look at D700 generation, the Sony A900/A850 is a lovely camera. |
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Why not follow me on Instagram? @Addy_101
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dCap ![]() Senior Member ![]() Joined: 11 August 2005 Country: United Kingdom Status: Offline Posts: 6154 |
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Zeiss 35/2.8 - nobody has mentioned this yet. This seems to be an absolute bargain on the used market (looking at the same used shop that has 16-70/4 and 28/2 and the A7II) ... this tells me they are both more numerous and potentially not amazing. Perhaps I am reading too much into it.
Again the reviews of this are variable. Unfortunately in the times since I was actively buying/trying/swapping lenses there seems to have been a new trend develop on (other) forums with the 'my copy' comment and it kinda suggests that QC have exited the building. Back to the Zeiss 16-70/4. And my experience with the Panasonic 12-35/2.8 and Leica 12-60/2.8-4 - if these three are all 'kinda similar' optically then I'd be happy. Although I'd not really be getting any more bokeh-balls. Have also considered the Sony 10-18/4 since I tend to live in the "24-28mm" zone. OOS (a6400 doesn't have IBIS so my lens sort of needs to). 10-18/4 is well priced new and is also stated as dust/water resistent design. |
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I can still remember how that music used to make me smile
- Don McLean |
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dCap ![]() Senior Member ![]() Joined: 11 August 2005 Country: United Kingdom Status: Offline Posts: 6154 |
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Bargains to be had in the older cameras too. I've seen some remarkably low frame rate D700 in a camera store I use. Perhaps I need to rewind further back than the A7II - but I do want IBIS (Nikon doesn't have this in any small lens). There is too much choice when I add in used body. Got excited when I delved into the Pentax KP (APS) design and specs (and new price!) but the lenses are all over the map. Alas none of the highly regarded primes have WR. And I have a feeling some of their lense make ye olde world whirring sounds. |
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I can still remember how that music used to make me smile
- Don McLean |
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Hezu ![]() Senior Member ![]() Joined: 13 October 2007 Country: Finland Location: HKI/KSNK Status: Offline Posts: 3539 |
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IMHO, CZ 2,8/35 is quite decent little lens. Perhaps F2.8 can be little limiting at times.
And if you end up with Sony APS-C E mount camera, I think one potential lens option is the new Tamron 17-70 mm F2.8 VC, which at least on the spec sheet looks quite promising proposition. |
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dCap ![]() Senior Member ![]() Joined: 11 August 2005 Country: United Kingdom Status: Offline Posts: 6154 |
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thank you, I've just looked at that on-line now [Tam 17-70]. It is a bit big. My gripe with the Pan GX9 + 12-60/2.8-4 [24-120mm] is that even that lens is a little off balance or me. GX9 works well with the little primes but I don't want to re-buy the Pan 12-35/2.8 which would suit it better since I bought my original one new (at considerable cost) and try not to re-buy lenses. OKay, I've had 3 copies of several lenses I've missed over the years [never sell a good lens!]. I love the size/shape/look of the CZ 35/2.8 ... that is like a 1.4 on m43 so I know I could have fun even at f2.8. But I know I'd end up switching to the 28/2 soon enough. 28/2 ticks more boxes for me even though I like the design idea of the 35/2.8 (silly, as it is the optics that are more important I know). |
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I can still remember how that music used to make me smile
- Don McLean |
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dCap ![]() Senior Member ![]() Joined: 11 August 2005 Country: United Kingdom Status: Offline Posts: 6154 |
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My short list, which I'll probably park for a few months while I consider my desires:
- A7 II - 28/2 - 50/2.8 macro ... perhaps not on day one, but I want this for sure The CZ 35/2.8 is also of interest, and I'd quite likely get one (used, free long term rental) to give it a whirl. It would be fun to run 28/2 solo for 3 months and then switch out to the 35/2.8 for another 3 months. I'm sure I'd be happy with both. It might even be smarter to get the 35/2.8 first and see if I can one-lens that and ignore the 28 and 50 thoughts. 35/2.8 is proper small. I'd need an f1.4 on m43 to get a similar looking image. The snag is that m43 primes are sharp wide open. But I can happily treat the 35/2.8 as an f4 lens (would need an f2 prime on m43 to match the bokehness). My fujifilm and Panasonic shelf of unused/used gear more than covers the new asking price for this kit list, I'd actually prefer not to spend the whole budget though. I should know that I belong on the used market and not to by new kit again though, I'm only ever disapointed with new kit. Then in a couple of years I can up/side-grade to the A7C when the II launches. The alternative is that I move entirely to the used market and grab a Canon 5DII for £400 used and pop a 28/2.8 IS on it ... one lens for a year ... then switch over to a Nikon D700. Big lunps of camera with no mirrorless amazingness but absolute bargains! D700 with just 13k frames for £359. Probably the same amount in $ or €. The one benefit of Canon and Nikon AF mount is that there a LOADS of used lenses and glass prices are down low. Too. Much. Choice. |
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I can still remember how that music used to make me smile
- Don McLean |
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QuietOC ![]() Senior Member ![]() Joined: 28 February 2015 Country: United States Location: Michigan Status: Offline Posts: 3515 |
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I don't recommend the CZ 35/2.8, unless silence is the highest priority or you require a blue badge on a small lens. It was one of the original FE lenses and the only option for a couple of years.
Edited by QuietOC - 10 December 2020 at 14:24 |
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Sony A7RIV NEX-5T HVL-F45RM LA-EA5 Metabones-IV Sigma MC-11 Yongnuo EF-E II TLT ROKR MD-NEX KR-NEX DA-NEX
Minolta Maxxum 600si Pentax Q7 5-15 15-45/2.8 8.5/1.9 11.5/9 AF-P/Q |
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dCap ![]() Senior Member ![]() Joined: 11 August 2005 Country: United Kingdom Status: Offline Posts: 6154 |
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Thank you - this is the golden info I come to Dyxum for. Is it just 'not good enough' at that price? Or specifically bad? If it was say just 10-20% more expensive than the 28/2 would it be considered better? New price today there is a near 2x difference between those two. And everything I've read points me at the 28/2 instead. Which is fine as I'm enjoying the 28mm view. If I went for the 35/2.8 expecting it to deliver well at f4 thru f8 would it impress? f4 on FX is like f2 on m43 in terms of depth of field and there aren't a lot of options at my price point. The drastic new/used price difference on that one is also the reason that I would only aim to buy the 35/2.8 on the used market. It is a lens I am curious about and I'd be happy to grab one used one day if I can see enough action/interest on eBay to know I could then sell it on after a 3 month trial. It might also get me back into writing reviews. 28/2 (and possible/probable 50 macro) would be keeper/s. I'd want to try the 50/1.8 and 35/2.8 I'm sure. 35/1.8 and 85/1.8 might also tempt me as 3 month test units but I cannot remember if they are both FF. |
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I can still remember how that music used to make me smile
- Don McLean |
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