Archive 2019 · advice for canon shooter

ruipeixoto
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p.1 #1 · p.1 #1 · advice for canon shooter

I have been shooting with a 5Dmkiii for a few years now and have been thinking about upgrading to smaller and lighter kit. I mostly take pictures of my kids, playground runs, hikes, trips to the beach etc.

I have a good collection of L primes but during the past couple of years my most used lenses have been the 40/2.8, 50L and 85/1.8. This is because I've become less and less willing to carry bulky lenses with me and I also stopped shooting wide open all the time.

I'm very happy with my 5Dmkiii so one option is to wait for the next R version...but what's worrying me a bit is that canon seems to be heading in the direction of releasing big heavy RF lenses...while I'd much prefer if they opted to develop L grade smaller ~f/2.0 lenses instead.

Sony on the other hand seems to have a better selection of smaller primes and the A7mkiii seems to be perfect for chasing kids around. My question is whether I'd get a significant advantage in terms of weight/size using a A7mkiii + 35/1.8 + 55/1.8 + batis85 compared to the kit above.

Also I want to know whether the batis85 can match the performance of the 85/1.8 on the 5Dmkiii which I find is excellent at f/2.2-2.8, especially regarding AF performance and rate of keepers. I take about 80% of my shots with it.

Aug 20, 2019 at 09:28 AM

RoamingScott
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p.1 #2 · p.1 #2 · advice for canon shooter

The Canon 85/1.8 is a pretty terrible, aged lens even compared to the Sony 85/1.8, especially wide open. I don't personally think the Batis even needs to be a consideration if you're coming from the Canon.

Alternately, you could look at a Fuji kit (X-T3 or X-H1) and downsize even more with the 23/2 (35mm), 35/1.4 (50mm), 56/1.2 (85mm).

All full frame mirrorless lenses are going to be about the same as full frame DSLR. Optics will improve, lightweight plastics for the bodies will improve, but overall size will remain about the same. You'll have to entertain APS-C for true downsizing.

Aug 20, 2019 at 09:39 AM

JohnDizzo15
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p.1 #3 · p.1 #3 · advice for canon shooter

There are too many pieces of kit being compared to give you a blanket answer on whether the size and weight will be a significant savings if moving to Sony as the lenses are not apples to apples.

The body will obviously already be noticeably different. But if you throw the Canon pancake on the 5D3 and compare it to the closest thing you have listed on the Sony side (FE 35/1.8), The 5D3 would likely feel better as far as being lightweight and nimble goes. Conversely, if you threw the Sony 55/1.8 on the A73 and compared it to the 5D3 with 50L, you'd tilt the advantage back in the other direction.

In all honesty, if weight and size savings are your top priority, the Fuji setup or a Sony APSC setup should be considered as they both have some great offerings. The only difference with my Fuji suggestion would be to take a look at the X-T30 since it is even smaller than the T-3 but with basically the same guts. The X-H1 was too bulky for my taste which is why it went back.

The Sony APSC options have been made great as well with Sigma jumping on board with the release of their trio of fast E mount primes that basically align with the Fuji offerings in focal length/speed.

If you are intent on sticking with Sony full frame, then I would take a look at the FE 85/1.8 versus the Batis. You'll surely get some varying opinions here. But I have had both along with the GM 85/1.4 and ended up with the FE 85/1.8. For me, it is a very happy median. Not sure how intent you'd be on the 35/1.8 either, but you might consider the Sammy 35/2.8 if you want the smallest you can get in that focal range.

One last thing to consider, although many around these parts don't care for it, is the FE 50/1.8. I get it though. It is optically inferior to the 55, doesn't have silent AF, has a moving front element, etc. Personally, I've had both and ended up keeping the 50/1.8 as it focuses plenty fast after all the FW updates. IQ is solid and it is actually noticeably smaller than the 55/1.8 (not to mention you can usually get a new copy for sub 200 bucks).

Aug 20, 2019 at 09:56 AM

AGeoJO
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p.1 #4 · p.1 #4 · advice for canon shooter

ruipeixoto wrote:
I have been shooting with a 5Dmkiii for a few years now and have been thinking about upgrading to smaller and lighter kit. I mostly take pictures of my kids, playground runs, hikes, trips to the beach etc.

I have a good collection of L primes but during the past couple of years my most used lenses have been the 40/2.8, 50L and 85/1.8. This is because I've become less and less willing to carry bulky lenses with me and I also stopped shooting wide open all the time.

I'm very happy with my 5Dmkiii so one option is to...Show more →

Based on the 3 Canon lenses you listed, there are Sony counterparts in similar specifications. With Sony, you can get small and light prime lenses OR fairly big and heavy lenses for your full frame cameras. In that respect, Sony offers more flexibility but I am not familiar with the offering from other mirrorless camera companies. The lenses include FE 28mm f/2, FE 35mm f/2.8, FE 55mm f/1.8 and FE 85mm f/1.8. These lenses are small and priced moderately. Quite a few folks that tend to test lenses do not consider the FE 28mm f/2 as a great performer. In my opinion, the lens performs just fine for real-life photography. I bought one at the beginning and I still keep it until now. If money is no object, you can consider the GM 24mm f/1.4, a top notch lens, instead of the 28mm lens. Good luck!

Aug 20, 2019 at 10:32 AM

Artakha
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p.1 #5 · p.1 #5 · advice for canon shooter

You may also want to take a look at the new Sigma 45mm f/2.8 which is also incredibly small and optically fantastic.

Aug 20, 2019 at 10:54 AM

billsnature
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p.1 #6 · p.1 #6 · advice for canon shooter

If you want small light and fantastic image quality, go back a generation of Sony and not forward. The A7R II has stunning IQ, and is smaller and lighter than the R III or R IV and will be huge step up in image quality from the 5D III. Sony 85 f1.8 is small light and fantastic, and then maybe a Sony 35 f1.8 or a Batis 40mm for AF or Voigtlander 40mm if you can handle manual focus. 24 GM if you can find one would round out the kit.

Will be lighter and better than 5D III and IQ step up is huge.

Aug 20, 2019 at 11:04 AM

RoamingScott
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p.1 #7 · p.1 #7 · advice for canon shooter

billsnature wrote:
If you want small light and fantastic image quality, go back a generation of Sony and not forward. The A7R II has stunning IQ, and is smaller and lighter than the R III or R IV and will be huge step up in image quality from the 5D III. Sony 85 f1.8 is small light and fantastic, and then maybe a Sony 35 f1.8 or a Batis 40mm for AF or Voigtlander 40mm if you can handle manual focus. 24 GM if you can find one would round out the kit.

Will be lighter and better than 5D III and IQ...Show more →

If the intention is chasing kids, wouldn't the mediocre AF on the R2 be a hindrance?

Aug 20, 2019 at 11:13 AM

dgdg
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p.1 #8 · p.1 #8 · advice for canon shooter

I think the Canon 5D3 was a good AF camera and I loved using the joystick to move around my focus point. No more focus and recompose to still end up with a blurry shot.

With the A7r4 announcement, I bought a used A7r3 from one of our wonderful FMers here. They are going for half off the new price at introduction. It has a joystick like the 5D3. I'm beginning to get the eye af giddiness. My Canon 24-70 2.8 is very snappy with a Metabones adapter in green mode. I'll probably keep all my Canon lenses and adapt them for a while until I find something limiting.

There are equivalent lenses with Sony. If the specs are the same, the lenses will be about the same weight and size in general. So, I don't think you'll have great weight savings. The A7r3 is smaller than Canon full frame bodies a little bit, but certainly heavier than my A7r1. I think the save weight idea with full frame mirrorless is in part good marketing. It's really not like I'm suddenly shooting with a full frame RX100 body and similarly small lens.
For me it's about better features - better sensor, faster shutter speeds, eye af, direct usb charging, legacy lenses compatibility with adapters. Did I say eye af? Shame Sony ditched the apps. Did I say eye af?

You don't have a massive investment in Canon gear. I'd just sell out and go all in Sony. Canon users have been waiting for a blockbuster body for years (including me) and at some point when you are ready to upgrade, you have to look around the room make a choice.

I've had a Canon 600mm f/4 II for many years, and don't plan on selling it for nearly the same Sony lens plus $5,000. I still use it and love it. I just don't shoot with it enough to warrant the cost to switch. Shooting 1200mm at f8 is wonderful. I'll keep my Canon 5D4 for challenging AF on the 600mm f4 if needed. I'll sell my 1Dx I and probably get an A9 mark I when the mark II is introduced. The relatively lighter Sony 200-600mm is attractive for the price.

Good luck!

Aug 20, 2019 at 11:34 AM

wordfool
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p.1 #9 · p.1 #9 · advice for canon shooter

I moved from a 5D3 and f/2.8 zooms to an A9 and primes, and in general I'd say if you stick with relatively fast primes like the 55/1.8, 85/1.8, and (new) 35/1.8 then you'll get a much more appealing setup with quality to match or exceed your Canon setup. On paper there might not be a huge difference in weight and size (definitely not in weight if you opt for all the heavy GM primes/zooms), but in practice the Sony system just feels far less bulky overall and I find myself taking it out more often just for the hell of it -- usually just the body and 55/1.8.

Aug 20, 2019 at 04:01 PM

freaklikeme
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p.1 #10 · p.1 #10 · advice for canon shooter

I'd go...

Sony/Zeiss 35/2.8, which is closer in size and spirit to the 40mm pancake but is overall a better lens. You'll save 10g there.

Voigtlander 50/1.2 Nokton for Sony E, which is about 140g lighter than the L with much better resolution and color correction at like apertures. It's a manual lens, but you're moving to a mount with an EFV and great tools for manual focusing. Give it a try.

Sony FE 85/1.8, which will save you about 50g (the Batis is 25g heavier than the Canon). It's Sony's best value lens and there's very little separating its performance from the much pricier Batis.

Did you know you can rent this entire kit, camera included? It's a good way to go because if you're happy with the lenses and camera, you can buy them directly from a place like Lens Rentals and they'll rebate both usage from prior rentals and your rental fees.

Aug 20, 2019 at 04:08 PM


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