p.14 #1 · Official: Sony A7C II, A7CR and FE 16-35mm f/2.8 GM II
LBJ2 wrote:
Just curious what do you think will be your preferred lenses for the very small but mighty resolving A7c R camera body ?
Hi LBJ.
That is a really good question. For travel, like my November trip to Japan, I think I might pair it with some of the Sigma i lenses, possibly the 24/3.5, 45/2.8, 65/2.0, and 90/2.8. I might also take the Sony 50/2.5 or 55/1.8 and the Sigma 35/2.0 as a two lens walk-around kit--but all those lenses would have to be carried from hotel to hotel, though only a few would go out on any given day.
When not traveling, I will want to see how the Sony 24 GM and 35 GM feel mounted on the lens. I think I would feel free to use larger lenses on the smaller camera if I were not traveling and concerned about weight. It would depend on what I was shooting. I don't think--though obviously I can't know yet--that the 35 GM would be uncomfortable on the A7Cr. And if it is not uncomfortable on the body, then neither would be the lighter 24mm GM or the Sony 50/1.4 GM which is a similar size and weight. I don't own the latter lens and I am undecided on whether I want to spend the money for that one.
Almost all my shooting falls into 35mm to 65mm with wider occasionally for landscapes.
p.14 #4 · Official: Sony A7C II, A7CR and FE 16-35mm f/2.8 GM II
chiron wrote:
Hi LBJ.
That is a really good question. For travel, like my November trip to Japan, I think I might pair it with some of the Sigma i lenses, possibly the 24/3.5, 45/2.8, 65/2.0, and 90/2.8. I might also take the Sony 50/2.5 or 55/1.8 and the Sigma 35/2.0 as a two lens walk-around kit--but all those lenses would have to be carried from hotel to hotel, though only a few would go out on any given day.
When not traveling, I will want to see how the Sony 24 GM and 35 GM feel mounted on the lens. I think I would feel free to use larger lenses on the smaller camera if I were not traveling and concerned about weight. It would depend on what I was shooting. I don't think--though obviously I can't know yet--that the 35 GM would be uncomfortable on the A7Cr. And if it is not uncomfortable on the body, then neither would be the lighter 24mm GM or the Sony 50/1.4 GM which is a similar size and weight. I don't own the latter lens and I am undecided on whether I want to spend the money for that one.
Almost all my shooting falls into 35mm to 65mm with wider occasionally for landscapes.
The sensor in the A7cR seems to up the game for the A7c system considerably IMO. My first thoughts for best IQ, super fast, modern Voigtlander lenses are a near perfect match for this tiny 61MP camera. Tiny FF high quality, fast lens + Tiny FF camera with 61 MPs FF sensor--look out 😎 Zone focusing makes the MF Voigts a pleasure to use for faster than AF while on the go, hike, travel etc. Some of the Zeiss Loxia too e.g., 21/25
For AF lenses, I'm still pondering. Thanks for your inputs. I know you've been investigating best small optics for some time now. The Sony G-Trios are not my optical cup of tea, particularly for 61MPs FF, but surely nice and compact if that's the priority and I know many love the G-Trios. Just not me.
The Grip for the A7c R is nice too. I think that grip will make for a more balanced feel with the GM primes 24/35 and 50 1.4 for optimal Sony fast AF lens experience.
For me a fun experiment to research what would be my top three small and compact best IQ for the A7c R travel kit--still a work in progress, but will post when I get to some conclusion. I also need to investigate some of those iSigmas too. How have you found the AF response with the small Sigmas on Sony cameras?
p.14 #7 · Official: Sony A7C II, A7CR and FE 16-35mm f/2.8 GM II
LBJ2 wrote:
The sensor in the A7cR seems to up the game for the A7c system considerably IMO. My first thoughts for best IQ, super fast, modern Voigtlander lenses are a near perfect match for this tiny 61MP camera. Tiny FF high quality, fast lens + Tiny FF camera with 61 MPs FF sensor--look out 😎 Zone focusing makes the MF Voigts a pleasure to use for faster than AF while on the go, hike, travel etc. Some of the Zeiss Loxia too e.g., 21/25
For AF lenses, I'm still pondering. Thanks for your inputs. I know you've been investigating best small optics for some time now. The Sony G-Trios are not my optical cup of tea, particularly for 61MPs FF, but surely nice and compact if that's the priority and I know many love the G-Trios. Just not me.
The Grip for the A7c R is nice too. I think that grip will make for a more balanced feel with the GM primes 24/35 and 50 1.4 for optimal Sony fast AF lens experience.
For me a fun experiment to research what would be my top three small and compact best IQ for the A7c R travel kit--still a work in progress, but will post when I get to some conclusion. I also need to investigate some of those iSigmas too. How have you found the AF response with the small Sigmas on Sony cameras? ...Show more →
If I have time after getting the camera before I leave for my trip, I am going to investigate the Voigts I have (35/40/50 in 1.2) to see if I cn get the fast zone focusing down enough to use on a trip. Not sure I'd actually them, but maybe one.
I know you have been very satisfied doing zone focusing on the Leica. One of my thoughts about these upgraded A7Cxx bodies is that they might attract some photographers who also like Leicas. The way you are talking about using the Voigts on the C makes me think you might be finding some of what you get from Leica in what you anticipate getting with the C bodies?
p.14 #8 · Official: Sony A7C II, A7CR and FE 16-35mm f/2.8 GM II
I’m curious, have you looked at the Sony 20-70 at all? It seems like a good match, looking at camerasize.com it’s just a bit larger than the Sigma I-series (can’t compare to Sony G trio since that’s apparently missing from the site?). For me that looks like it could be a good companion to the already relatively compact but optically great Sony 85/1.8 and the 20G lenses I have.
p.14 #9 · Official: Sony A7C II, A7CR and FE 16-35mm f/2.8 GM II
Jeff Kott wrote:
For landscape,Voigtlander 50/2 APO and Leica 90/4 Macro Planar.
For people and AF, Sony 55/1.8 and 85/1.8. Will manual focus Leica 50 and 90 Cron.
Also, Pentax 77/1.8, 70/2.4, 43/1.9 and 40/2.8 with Monster adapter.
All of these lenses resolve well on my A6600 which has similar pixel density and work fine with almost no vignetting on my A7Riii.
Interesting. I've never considered/adapted Pentax lenses before. Will have to check that out. I still have the Sony FE/Zeiss 55 F1.8--maybe a sleeper lens in 2023, but still an IQ performer with a recognizable "look" IMO
p.14 #10 · Official: Sony A7C II, A7CR and FE 16-35mm f/2.8 GM II
supermilch wrote:
I’m curious, have you looked at the Sony 20-70 at all?
I did play around matching / pairing various lenses to the older A7C body in a Sony showroom.
The 20-70/4 just about hits the limit balancing with this smaller body.
So I would take its weight of 488g (1.08 lb) as a max guideline for lenses for good balance.
p.14 #11 · Official: Sony A7C II, A7CR and FE 16-35mm f/2.8 GM II
LBJ2 wrote:
Interesting. I've never considered/adapted Pentax lenses before. Will have to check that out. I still have the Sony FE/Zeiss 55 F1.8--maybe a sleeper lens in 2023, but still an IQ performer with a recognizable "look" IMO
Why do you seem to dislike the compact G-trio? I haven't tried them yet, but they appear to be really good optically. If you're looking for a full-frame compact lens with AF that maintains high image quality without too many trade-offs, these lenses might not be very fast.
p.14 #12 · Official: Sony A7C II, A7CR and FE 16-35mm f/2.8 GM II
If I didn't already have a A7R5, I would jump and preorder one of the new units as I prefer a smaller and lighter body, but I don't see the point of getting one of these and selling the R5.
Amazing move by Sony, though. I do wish they would hire a real US designer who could influence the choice of EVF, screen, exact button placements, refine the menu, etc. It seems so trivial and obvious...
p.14 #13 · Official: Sony A7C II, A7CR and FE 16-35mm f/2.8 GM II
chiron wrote:
If I have time after getting the camera before I leave for my trip, I am going to investigate the Voigts I have (35/40/50 in 1.2) to see if I cn get the fast zone focusing down enough to use on a trip. Not sure I'd actually them, but maybe one.
I know you have been very satisfied doing zone focusing on the Leica. One of my thoughts about these upgraded A7Cxx bodies is that they might attract some photographers who also like Leicas. The way you are talking about using the Voigts on the C makes me think you might be finding some of what you get from Leica in what you anticipate getting with the C bodies? ...Show more →
Something about the rangefinder and nothing but glass and air in between me and the subject/composition that seems to get me all warm & fuzzy and motivated all over again with my Leica kit. And frankly I don't miss thinking about where to place the focus point in some F5.6 F8 scenes with the Leica rangefinder. DOF alignment makes so much more sense to me 😉 *BTW, I think I am already working with the same A7c R 61MP sensor in the M11 camera. Between rangefinder and zone focus I get all my shots with very high hit rate. But I do have to wear my specs with rangefinder focus which for me is fine too. The wider the lens the super easier zone focus is with large DOF from the wider lenses. Do give it some practice...all you have to do is frame the shot and mind your shutter speed and Viola.
I do however think Sony is getting closer to the much loved rangefinder style camera body style with the A7c series and some of the Voigts and Loxia lenses close the gap even further. I think these two new A7c models will sell very well just as Sony knows they will. Lot of people from other systems looking at these small "rangefinder style" bodies I think. But the camera size/style is only 50% of the experience IMO. Is Sony would just come with some top shelf, fast, tiny manual focus lenses for this A7c series, they wold clean up the market, til then the voigts, Loxia will do very well.
p.14 #14 · Official: Sony A7C II, A7CR and FE 16-35mm f/2.8 GM II
Fred Miranda wrote:
Why do you seem to dislike the compact G-trio? I haven't tried them yet, but they appear to be really good optically. If you're looking for a full-frame compact lens with AF that maintains high image quality without too many trade-offs, these lenses might not be very fast.
Here comes the pile -on, again 😎 Just my opinion of course.
p.14 #16 · Official: Sony A7C II, A7CR and FE 16-35mm f/2.8 GM II
LBJ2 wrote:
Interesting. I've never considered/adapted Pentax lenses before. Will have to check that out. I still have the Sony FE/Zeiss 55 F1.8--maybe a sleeper lens in 2023, but still an IQ performer with a recognizable "look" IMO
No one has come close to Pentax when it comes to small high quality AF lenses which produce images with a great "look."
One reason they are small is of course because the AF uses a screw drive mechanism, but I was very pleasantly surprised with how well AF (including Eye AF) works with the Monster adapter. I would not use screw drive adapted lenses to shoot sports or BIF, but for walking around and portraits it works fine. I had the DA 40 and 70 lenses, which are tiny, but assumed they only worked on APS-C format. Someone here ( I think Freaklikeme?) tipped me off that they cover the full frame image circle so I've been using them on my A7Riii when I'm ok with slightly larger apertures and they are fantastic. Total sleepers.
p.14 #17 · Official: Sony A7C II, A7CR and FE 16-35mm f/2.8 GM II
Does anyone have suggestions on how to deal with the flip out screen of the A7cR?
First, the flip out screen is a huge hindrance to street shooting. Not only does it extends the footprint of the camera, not good in crowds where space is tight, as someone or something could easily gets caught by the stupid extended screen, which at best would cause unexpected jerks or injury, or at worst injury and also loss of camera.
Also, for low angle shooting, since screen is extended way to the left side of the camera, if you are holding it out with right hand shooting a subject to the right you will NOT be able to see the screen because it's freaking blocked by the camera. Sure, the screen can be flipped 90-degree to the left to maintain visibility, but try doing this dozens and dozens of times in a day of shooting, and constantly bringing it closer to you and then adjusting with left hand, it would make me want to throw it into the river.
Don't get me started on using flip-out screen for high angle shots. Use your imagination for the problems.
Last but not least, one-handed shooting is basically out of the window, because there is no way I can adjust the tilt angle without getting my left hand involved, whereas without the flip first, even while holding the camera with just the right hand, I can still use the thumb to nudge the degree of tilt a bit in a pinch.
I really feel like A7cR was designed by a team of cool engineers who hate photographers or anyone who is not hybrid shooter or selfie-obsessed. (please note the "feel" word, I have no facts to support this assertion, so please don't attack me for being biased against Sony engineers )
Finally, if your suggestion is, get a A7R5, please save it, because I want a small lightweight 61MP camera for travel
Edit: I think I might have to follow @nhsonyshooter's advice, which is "wait 3 years?"
an example of small prime attached to AcR for travel
p.14 #18 · Official: Sony A7C II, A7CR and FE 16-35mm f/2.8 GM II
mojoh wrote:
oh.. and as for the new grips, somehow it doesn't make sense (to me) to buy a smaller / lighter body, sacrifice features.. and then add a grip!?
You don't have to use the grip if you don't want to. But for someone who wants one camera to do it all, having a grip laying around could be nice for the occasions you want to mount a larger lens.
p.14 #19 · Official: Sony A7C II, A7CR and FE 16-35mm f/2.8 GM II
Jeff Kott wrote:
No one has come close to Pentax when it comes to small high quality AF lenses which produce images with a great "look."
One reason they are small is of course because the AF uses a screw drive mechanism, but I was very pleasantly surprised with how well AF (including Eye AF) works with the Monster adapter. I would not use screw drive adapted lenses to shoot sports or BIF, but for walking around and portraits it works fine. I had the DA 40 and 70 lenses, which are tiny, but assumed they only worked on APS-C format. Someone here ( I think Freaklikeme?) tipped me off that they cover the full frame image circle so I've been using them on my A7Riii when I'm ok with slightly larger apertures and they are fantastic. Total sleepers.
p.14 #20 · Official: Sony A7C II, A7CR and FE 16-35mm f/2.8 GM II
FMTopFan wrote:
Does anyone have suggestions on how to deal with the flip out screen of the A7cR?
First, the flip out screen is a huge hindrance to street shooting. Not only does it extends the footprint of the camera, not good in crowds where space is tight, as someone or something could easily gets caught by the stupid extended screen, which at best would cause unexpected jerks or injury, or at worst injury and also loss of camera.
Also, for low angle shooting, since screen is extended way to the left side of the camera, if you are holding it out with right hand shooting a subject to the right you will NOT be able to see the screen because it's freaking blocked by the camera. Sure, the screen can be flipped 90-degree to the left to maintain visibility, but try doing this dozens and dozens of times in a day of shooting, and constantly bringing it closer to you and then adjusting with left hand, it would make me want to throw it into the river.
Don't get me started on using flip-out screen for high angle shots. Use your imagination for the problems.
Last but not least, one-handed shooting is basically out of the window, because there is no way I can adjust the tilt angle without getting my left hand involved, whereas without the flip first, even while holding the camera with just the right hand, I can still use the thumb to nudge the degree of tilt a bit in a pinch.
I really feel like A7cR was designed by a team of cool engineers who hate photographers or anyone who is not hybrid shooter or selfie-obsessed. (please note the "feel" word, I have no facts to support this assertion, so please don't attack me for being biased against Sony engineers )
Finally, if your suggestion is, get a A7R5, please save it, because I want a small lightweight 61MP camera for travel ...Show more →
Have you tried a similar flip out screen design for photography? My first experience with the A7rV flip out for photography was very favorable. Didn't take much to adjust my muscle memory and frankly I felt like the design opens up even more possibilities for photography/getting the shot.
