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Should I buy E glass?
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The Shoeman View Drop Down
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Posts: 696 		Post Options Post Options   Quote The Shoeman Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Topic: Should I buy E glass?
    Posted: 02 August 2023 at 17:33
I've been shooting some corporate events with my A99 with my Sony 70-200 f2.8 SSM. Mostly getting candid shots from a good distance.

I just acquired an almost new Sony A7iv and was wondering if the new camera with a LA-EA5 adapter & my old 70-200mm SSM would give good results or should I buy a new Sony FE 70-200 f2.8 GM OSS II?


I'm sure I'll have more questions about my other A-mount lenses as I use the camera more.
Minolta 7D | 20/2.8 | 35/2 RS | 50/1.4 | 50/1.7 | 50/2.8 Macro | 85/1.4 G RS | 100/2 | 100/2.8 D Macro | 100-300 APO | 300/2.8 APO | 5600D HS Flash x2

Sony A99 | A77 | 85/1.4 CZ | 70-200/2.8 G SSM
 



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neilt3 View Drop Down
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Posts: 3186 		Post Options Post Options   Quote neilt3 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 02 August 2023 at 18:05
I've the a7Riv and LA-EA5, most of my A mount lenses are screw driven ones , the Tele lenses being Minolta G ones ( 80-210mm f/2.8 , 200mm f/2.8 , 300mm f/2.8 & 400mm f/4.5 ) though I've recently got the Sony 70-400mm G v2 .
AF seems as good on this set up as it is on my a99ii .
I haven't done side by side comparisons as AF speed and accuracy is very good , enough so as it's not worth me testing to see if one has the edge .
I'm keeping both cameras as I use them for different purposes.

AF accuracy should be better on E mount as AF is sensor based .

AF on E mount is apparently much better with native lenses , but before you change , get the LA-EA5 to try your existing lenses .
If your happy then you need to consider if paying up for a new lens would give you any significant gain .

Possibly hire the lens to try side by side would be the best option .

If you buy an LA-EA5 used , you can always sell it on for little or no loss if you decide to change to E mount lenses .
see my photostream on flickr;
http://www.flickr.com/photos/neilt3/
C & C welcome.
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QuietOC View Drop Down
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Posts: 3664 		Post Options Post Options   Quote QuietOC Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 02 August 2023 at 19:51
Native E-mount lenses generally focus better than adapted A-mount lenses.

The old A-mount SSM lenses are not even the best A-mount options for the A99. Sony described the later SSM II versions as being 4x faster for tracking than the original SSM versions.

Even old E-mount lenses are faster than the A-mount SSM II's in my experience. The A-mount 70-300 G SSM II focuses much slower than the third-party native E-mount Tamron 70-300 RXD.

The original FE 70-200 F2.8 GM OSS still has a ring-type SSM motor like the A-mount G F2.8 zooms, though it was combined with linear focusing motors. Only a few other E-mount lenses use SSM. It does allow full-time, mechanical manual focus instead of manual focus-by-wire.

The GM II version only has manual focus-by-wire with the inherent lag that involves.

Edited by QuietOC - 02 August 2023 at 19:56
Sony A7RIV LA-EA5
Pentax Q7 5-15 15-45/2.8 8.5/1.9 11.5/9
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nandbytes View Drop Down
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Posts: 3531 		Post Options Post Options   Quote nandbytes Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 02 August 2023 at 20:11
The a-mount 70-200mm left a lot to be desired at the long end especially at f2.8.

In comparison the GMii is the best in class, 50% lighter, works really well with TCs, faster focusing.

If you can afford it and this your main used lens it's a no-brainer.
But if you are looking to save money then even the tamron 70-180mm f2.8 is a better option than the a-mount 70-200 f2.8 IMO. You'll still end up more resolution or a sharper image with the tamron after cropping in a little to make up for 200mm.

I used to own the original e-mount 70-200mm f2.8. very nice lens with really nice rendering too. Didn't behave nicely with 2x TC so in the end sold it for the 100-400mm.

If you can afford the GMii, get it and you won't be sorry.
my flickr
A7IV
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addy landzaat View Drop Down
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Posts: 14380 		Post Options Post Options   Quote addy landzaat Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 02 August 2023 at 21:07
The A7iv with the A-mount 70-200/2.8G SSM will give you the results your used to.
Like the others say, the 70-200/2.8 GM OSS II will be better. It is that easy. If this is your main lens and you can afford it, get it.

If you need f/2.8 the Tamron 70-180/2.8 might be an option.
If you want (semi) macro, take a look at the 70-200/4G OSS II.
If money is tight, I decided on the original 70-200/4G OSS.

Like I said, if you have the money, get the 70-200/2.8 GM OSS II.
Why not follow me on Instagram? @Addy_101
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Wētāpunga View Drop Down
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Posts: 6560 		Post Options Post Options   Quote Wētāpunga Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 02 August 2023 at 21:57
For shooting events (where I get paid) I like to reduce the chance factor as much as possible.
Which is one reason I shifted to E-mount glass rather than use adapted A-mount lenses. I had a decent hit rate with my LA-EA3 and Sony 70-200/2.8 G SSM, but not anything I'd rely upon for paid work.

If the money from the paid work justifies the expense, I also recommend getting the 70-200/2.8 GM. If the paid work isn't that lucrative, I'd also recommend the Tamron 70-180/2.8 as a substitute. You might also find its smaller size and black barrel makes shooting discrete candid shots easier.
α1, FX30- Voigtländer 15/4.5, 110/2.5 M; Zeiss Loxia- 21/2.8, 35/2, 50/2 & 85/2.4, Zeiss Batis- 85/1.8 & 135/2.8; Sony 18-105/4, 24-105/4 & 100-400/4.5-5.6; Sigma 70/2.8 M; Sony 135/2.8 STF
 



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arrow34 View Drop Down
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Posts: 154 		Post Options Post Options   Quote arrow34 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 07 August 2023 at 20:01
Originally posted by The Shoeman The Shoeman wrote:

I've been shooting some corporate events with my A99 with my Sony 70-200 f2.8 SSM. Mostly getting candid shots from a good distance.

I just acquired an almost new Sony A7iv and was wondering if the new camera with a LA-EA5 adapter & my old 70-200mm SSM would give good results or should I buy a new Sony FE 70-200 f2.8 GM OSS II?


I'm sure I'll have more questions about my other A-mount lenses as I use the camera more.


I still use my old sony amount 70-200ssm with the laea5. Works great... Plus I don't want to shell out for a new fe model when I still have my a99mk2
Sony A7RIV, A99II, Sony 24-70SAL2470Z, Sony 70-200 f2.8, Minolta 17-35, 24-50 f4, 28 f2, 50 f1.4, 35-105, 28-105, 70-210, 100-200, 100-300. Samyang 35 1.4, reflex 500
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