Plans for the new year ?

Wētāpunga wrote: I have however, made an unplanned new expenditure- a Sony FX-30 Digital Cinema Camera. Ordered last night. I haven't been sure about taking on video projects with just the a7Riii or a9. It seems to get excellent reviews as an entry-level of B-camera. And I like the combination of internal cooling fans and unlimited recordings. Also Sony's Cinetone.

It is an interesting camera. Gives hope for continued APS-C support by Sony.

I picked up a GoPro as a dedicated video camera (with my Sony's the still picture taking gets in the way) and to take for a trip to the Red Sea and hopefully some snorkeling. But, but, it is not a lens

I made it a week this year LOL. a7c because it was relatively inexpensive (store demo), nex7 throwback.

I lusted after a Fuji GFX50sii for the bigger image circle for adapted lenses, but the relative utility makes it a "toy" more than practical.

I should get a a99ii while there are still some good ones left; I have no FE full-frame Emount lenses, only the original nex lenses, so I have not yet fully transported into the Emount world, and of course the relative price of the lenses is ludicrous, not unlike bodies ($1800 USD retail for the a7c is more than it's utility; if the EA5 adapter worked with it then I would say it's a good price for me - the EA4r Monster Adapter is not perfect (100/2.8macroRS hunts), but useful). I saved $1000 USD by avoiding the a7iv and EA5 (quick, spend it on a lens! LOLOL)

I suppose I'm staying with a68 and 70-400silver for supertele, although the a68 has a PLASTIC lens mount, so I try to be disciplined with suporting the weight only with the lens ... eventually I will be careless and it will crack....

The usefulness of the 70-400 is the 70mm, which has vastly more utility than a 100-400 (I am enraged that Sony copied the 100-400 lenses for Emount instead of sticking with 70-400, I am enraged with Sony about many things LOL) I could go with Olympus micro4/3, although m4/3 focal lengths is much the same. The new Tamron 50-400 would be the solution, then I buy a a6x00, a new/old camera, if I can stand the button/wheel layout.

Someone here on dyxum (years ago) said the nex-7 "tri-navi" is the best control interface, and I certainly agree for manual lenses, I may also agree for any "exposure triangle" adjustments, but the lack of buttons and menu-diving for everything else is hideous. It took Sony TEN YEARS to make a full-frame nex7, and of course the a7c is very much like the nex7, compromises.... The people on the SonyAlphaRumors site really want a a7c-ii, as do I....

On the Fuji GFX 50sii:
Last August I was depressed about my day job so in successive weeks I rented a7c, GFX, and a7iv. Since it was weekend rentals between work I didn't get much time, and didn't have a repeatable program, so entirely non-scientific. But I did form opinions.

GFX has a button on the front of the camera, which is perfect for the FocusMagnifier! I use my middle finger (right hand) for it. My right index finger should ONLY be on the shutter button, so I don't like buttons/wheels that make me move my index finger off the shutter; the front wheel I usually try to operate with my middle finger. So the Fuji extra programmable button on the front is genius, especially for the way I use manual lenses, right thumb spins the dial for shutter speed. And it saves a programmable button on the rear of the camera.

We'll never get a square sensor because of video (I'm stunned Panasonic is still in micro4/3 because video wastes so much of that sensor), but I like the 4:3 on the GFX more than 3:2. Image circles are circular, and as the circular fisheye shots from DayPrime show, there is a lot of opportunity with the full image circle. The older a Minolta lens, the more of the GFX 44x33mm sensor it covers, so the MC-era lenses almost completely go to the corners, while AF-RS lenses have hard black down in from the corners. Which gains a LOT of image circle, from the bigger sensor, and more square aspect ratio.

The sensor stabilization on GFX was unfathomable. I have a MD 500/8 reflex and a M/A 2x, and with the a7ii I could barely get a keeper handheld with just the lens; with the GFX I was handholding with the doubler for 1000mm (GFX stabilaztion menu only goes up to 999mm) and getting keepers of aiplanes flying by. I had intended to rent the GFX 50r, which is the "rangefinder styled" model, but at the last minute went with the 50sii because it has sensor stabilization. That was a revelation.

I didn't get significant revelations otherwise, so I sat on it. Now that winter is here the a7ii is useless because of the cold weather battery issue, and I couldn't rationalize more than $3000 USD for the GFX which for me would be a manual camera (no AF adapters for GFX until the new 645>GFX, although I'm sure there are many of us who lust for a EA4r for GFX). GFX lens prices are not obscene for what they are, but building a new system is obscenely expensive (flashes!). As much as I dislike Sony, only Sony and Fuji are consistently putting aperture rings on their AF lenses; I wish Olympus and Tamron and everyone else would also. Although I only want full stops like Contax G lenses. The flange register distance of the GFX is almost the same as Contax G, so those lenses won't work on the GFX (frowny face).

Clearly I'm gonna get a GFX at some point LOL ... Fujirumor websites discuss a GFX 50rii (with stabilization, maybe X-trans sensor??), I waited 10 years for a full-frame nex, so I'm guessing I'm going to have to be very patient.

I could make my life a lot easier by spending a lot of money, but so far I have chosen not to. The a7c is perfectly useful, every lens, AF and manual.

The a7c has some nice selling points Paul, and it looks like you got it at a good price. I did check your first post in this thread and it does look like you weren't planning on buying it this year

If I was traveling at the same rate I was before Covid19, I'd be very tempted with an a7c also.

4paul wrote: I suppose I'm staying with a68 and 70-400silver for supertele, although the a68 has a PLASTIC lens mount, so I try to be disciplined with suporting the weight only with the lens ... eventually I will be careless and it will crack.... The usefulness of the 70-400 is the 70mm, which has vastly more utility than a 100-400 (I am enraged that Sony copied the 100-400 lenses for Emount instead of sticking with 70-400, I am enraged with Sony about many things LOL) I could go with Olympus micro4/3, although m4/3 focal lengths is much the same. The new Tamron 50-400 would be the solution, then I buy a a6x00, a new/old camera, if I can stand the button/wheel layout.

I can recommend the new Tamron 50-400, it is even slightly smaller than the old A-mount Sony AF 70-400G, although compared to that lens it is bit slower aperture wise. Granted, I have no experience how well this Tamron handles with APS-C cameras or α7C.

4paul wrote: We'll never get a square sensor because of video (I'm stunned Panasonic is still in micro4/3 because video wastes so much of that sensor), but I like the 4:3 on the GFX more than 3:2.

Um, are you forgetting Panasonic's L mount Lumix S-models with full frame sensors?

There are plastics that are more durable then metal. These materials already existed in the 80's. I wouldn't worry too much about the weight. Yes, it is good practice to hold the lens, but the mount won't break that easily.

If you're considering an A6x00 the Sony 70-350G makes the most sense IMHO. It is small, light and sharp (sharper then the Sony 70-400G).