Archive 2017 · Thinking of switching Nikon to Sony. What lenses?

chez
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p.3 #1 · p.3 #1 · Thinking of switching Nikon to Sony. What lenses?

newtophoto wrote:
how does one decide on a wide angle? i am thinking about going to sony. there seems to be so many options such as the newly released 12-24, 16-35, batis 18/28, loxia 21, etc.

Pick the focal length(s) you need. Decide if you need a fast aperture. You'll quickly eliminate options. Don't start your search by reading all the reviews and posts and picking the sharpest lenses...start with your needs and fill those needs.

Oct 19, 2017 at 06:21 PM

VilleK
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p.3 #2 · p.3 #2 · Thinking of switching Nikon to Sony. What lenses?

Thanks again for the excellent discussion!

My main problem with Nikon bodies is that the autofocus starts to fail after the venues get darker during the evening. I usually shoot with settings like iso6400, 1/100 and f/2 or something similar at that point. Finnish people like to party in the sark I guess

I have focusing problems with the distance range of 3 to 10 meters. I doubt that Sony can autofocus in those conditions, but I could use manual focus and EVF magnification.

I loaned an A7R2 for testing yesterday and have been playing with it a bit. I got two lenses, Batis 135 and Loxia 85. Not the ideal ones for testing but they’ll have to do. A few remarks I’ve made:

1. The files from A7R2 are stunning and the high iso performance is at least as good as with D750 if not better when viewed in the same size (no scientific testing here, just a feeling).
2. I’m a bit disappointed in the IBIS system as it is much worse than in Olympus OM-D series. For me it gives maybe one stop longer shutter speeds while I get 3-4 stops with E-M1.
3.The camera is a bit slow to use just like it has been mentioned in this thread.
4. The battery life was also much worse than I thought. I shot a portrait session with a friend today and the first battery lasted for 120 photos

I played quite a lot with the camera but I didn’t expect it to be this bad. I did not turn the camera off when I did’t take any shots. Maybe I should do that next time.

I’d love to do the portrait work with A7R2, but I guess It is not suitable for my documentary work. I shoot with two bodies in the same time (prime lenses and no zooms) so the 2xA9 option is out of my budget. I hope thwy get the A7 III out soon

Edited on Oct 20, 2017 at 02:51 AM · View previous versions

Oct 19, 2017 at 07:07 PM

Surfnsun
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p.3 #3 · p.3 #3 · Thinking of switching Nikon to Sony. What lenses?

VilleK wrote:
Thanks again for the excellent discussion!

My main problem with Nikon bodies is that the autofocus starts to fail after the venues get darker during the evening. I usually shoot with settings like iso6400, 1/100 and f/2 or something similar at that point. Finnish people like to party in the sark I guess

I jave focusing problems with the distance range of 3 to 10 meters. I doubt that Sony can autofocus in those conditions, but I could use manual focus and EVF magnification.

I loaned an A7R2 for testing yesterday and have been playing with it a bit. I got...Show more →

Well you can’t expect much from a D7000 AF wise in the dark shooting that high ISO. It’s a relatively old camera and outdated system. Plus it’s a crop sensor. Get yourself something newer and you’ll have a much better experience. You wouldn’t even need to go with the newest d5/500/850. You could score a great deal on a D750 which has tremendous AF. I honestly don’t think many who are invested in Nikon (Fx) switch to mirriorless because they wanted better auto focus at dark venues.

Oct 19, 2017 at 07:22 PM

pasblues
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p.3 #4 · p.3 #4 · Thinking of switching Nikon to Sony. What lenses?

"The files from A7R2 are stunning and the high iso performance is at least as good as with D750 if not better when viewed in the same size (no scientific testing here, just a feeling)"

Could you elaborate? I'm wondering if I need to do something to the settings in my A7RII, although its firmware is up to date. I'm not comfortable shooting above 1600 with the A7RII - whereas with my FujiX-T2, I'm easily comfortable above 3200 and even 6400.

What should I do to get a better grip on high ISO with my Sony?

Oct 19, 2017 at 10:07 PM

Steve Spencer
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p.3 #5 · p.3 #5 · Thinking of switching Nikon to Sony. What lenses?

pasblues wrote:
"The files from A7R2 are stunning and the high iso performance is at least as good as with D750 if not better when viewed in the same size (no scientific testing here, just a feeling)"

Could you elaborate? I'm wondering if I need to do something to the settings in my A7RII, although its firmware is up to date. I'm not comfortable shooting above 1600 with the A7RII - whereas with my FujiX-T2, I'm easily comfortable above 3200 and even 6400.

What should I do to get a better grip on high ISO with my Sony?

I think you may have missed the "when viewed at the same size" part of the quote above. The XT-2 is just 24mp, if you downsize the A7rII files to 24mp you can easily shoot to 6400 and with good exposure 12800.

Oct 19, 2017 at 10:24 PM

pasblues
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p.3 #6 · p.3 #6 · Thinking of switching Nikon to Sony. What lenses?

I don't know how to pose this question but, what would be the advantage to my Sony at higher ISO over my Fuji if I downsize the Sony files? I probably need to do more testing with it. I've only had it about three or four weeks so I haven't really put it through many paces.

I do very much love the Sony at below 800 ISO - the file resolution is very deep. I'll do some more side-by-side with the Sony/Fuji the best I can to see. I have both Sony and Fuji so I'm not into brand bashing at all. But I am trying to help the Sony A7RII find its comfort zone in my bag. I don't have a problem if it is stellar at portraits (and it really is - even large groups where I can see facial features of smaller heads - it's great), but if the Fuji is the race-horse and coalminer (dark shooter), I'm okay with that also. I can use each camera for its strong points.

Here's another question for you on the Sony, though. Do you think its dynamic range is pretty good in low light? I find that the Fuji is - one of the things I love about it. I get a lot of detail in the shadows that I haven't ever gotten before with Nikon (D600) or Canon - but its been a few years since I shot Canon so I don't know about their latest and greatest.

FWIW - I shoot RAW - always.

Oct 19, 2017 at 10:56 PM

Steve Spencer
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p.3 #7 · p.3 #7 · Thinking of switching Nikon to Sony. What lenses?

pasblues wrote:
I don't know how to pose this question but, what would be the advantage to my Sony at higher ISO over my Fuji if I downsize the Sony files? I probably need to do more testing with it. I've only had it about three or four weeks so I haven't really put it through many paces.

I do very much love the Sony at below 800 ISO - the file resolution is very deep. I'll do some more side-by-side with the Sony/Fuji the best I can to see. I have both Sony and Fuji so I'm not into brand bashing...Show more →

To answer a couple of your questions. What is the advantage of your Sony over your Fuji if you downsize the files? The advantage is that when you downsize the files and compare the Sony will have about a stop less noise than your Fuji. Or said another way if you downsize your Sony files you will be able to shoot at about one stop higher ISO and still have the same amount of noise in your files or if you shoot at the same ISO the Sony will have less noise.

Do I think the Sony has pretty good dynamic range in low light? Yes, I find my Sony A7rII has excellent dynamic range in low light and that is consistent with testing I have seen as well. For example, if you look at this site:

http://www.photonstophotos.net/Charts/PDR.htm

which measures dynamic range at a bunch of ISOs you will see that the Sony A7rII has better dynamic range at every ISO but especially the higher ISOs than the Fuji XT-2. So at high ISO, your Sony A7rII should both have lower noise if you downsize the files to the same size as your Fuji and have higher dynamic range.

Oct 19, 2017 at 11:18 PM

Alexluu627
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p.3 #8 · p.3 #8 · Thinking of switching Nikon to Sony. What lenses?

I had a Nikon d810 setup and switched to Sony a7r ii

D810
11-24mm f2.8
55mm otus
85mm f1.4
135mm apo

Sony A7r ii
15mm voigtlander
21mm loxia
35mm f2.8 (had the 35mm f1.4 which has beautiful rendering, but too big.)
55mm fe 1.8 and a otus 55mm f1.4 on adapter (lost to much value cant sell)
85mm batis f1.8 don't use this lens. Just sharp and no character.
135mm apo.

Both have its advantages, but i prefer the sony setup more.

Oct 20, 2017 at 03:18 AM

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