I’m jumping ship on Sony.
- This topic has 24 replies, 9 voices, and was last updated Feb 17, 2010 at 4:51 am by
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The thing that really turned me off was when a rep told me Sony was trying to secure the third position in the biz. I’m not satisfied with third. And since they make sensors for a few others I don’t think they want to chance losing that deal. I think the sensors are pretty much the same as Nikon just with different (worse) algorithms to handle noise. That and all the shops around here carry is the lowest grade Sony equipment. It’s almost impossible to lay your hands on a nice G lens before you buy it. Having said all that I still say that Sony has done a great job with the Alpha and there are some things I’ll miss, like my 70-400mm G.. What a piece of work that lens is.
I’ve not bought anything yet but I’m pretty sure the Canon 50D is the direction I’m leaning. I’d like to ask some of you canon folks to help point me in the right direction on lenses. I’m interested mainly in L glass to replace the following lenses.
50 or 100mm Macro-
16-80mm- I need a good all around walk about lens.
70-400mm- I
I have a 50D .. Its a nice body. Let me know if you want to look at noise and/or see some raw files. i’d be happy to send you a few. Personally, I’d get a 7D … Mainly for the hd video aspect.
I recently picked-up the new 100mm macro. Super nice lens. I’m really liking it. The 100-400 zoom is pretty sweet for non-lowlight situations. I also go to the 50mm (not macro) quite a bit. The 10-22mm is a nice wide angle, but I have also heard good things about the tokina 11-16/2.8.
Mike I can more later ( a bit rushed) but you can safely look at.
100mm f2.8 Macro
For a walk around it depends on alot of factors. If you want L glass your looking at the 24-70 f2.8 or 24-105 F4. If this lens doesnt have to be L glass both the 17-85 and 17-55 get good reviews. Tons of options here in truth
On the long end its a bit tougher
the 100-400 is pricey (a great lens though)
Theres the 70-200s
the 300, 400 and 500 primes.So you could go for a combo that might come in just a little more expensive than the 100-400 L in the 70-200 F4 and 300mm F4
Add a 1.4 TC and you have options. Or just go straight to the 1-400.
Always a tough one thatFlash and grips.
yeah Id look at adding those as well, just depends on priorities. What you shoot the most and how you like to shoot them.Corey right now I’m trying to save as much as I can on the body and put my money in glass. Later I’d like to get a nice Full frame body. Thanks for the info.
John I’ll recoupe most of what I have in my sony grip and flash and around $1400 for the sony 70-400 so I’m good for the 100-400 L or the 70-200 2.8. A question I have is does the 70-200 2.8 work with a 2x tele (AF). A 2x would put it at about 5.6 at 400mm right? I’m happy with a 5.6 400 for the time being.
I’ve also got a
Jay that’s what I wondered about the 2x, Thanks. I’ll most likely go with the 100-400 and save up for a 70-200 2.8 if feel like I need it.
Mike, not to take the question away from John, but yes it will work. And yes you will lose the stops. You also get the crop factor of shooting on a crop body so take that into consideration. With the crop factor it puts you over 400mm. However, the 2x is known for being very soft when fully extended. So that would actually put you about 640mm with the 50D having a 1.6 crop factor 🙂
I don’t shoot Canon anymore, but will make one comment since you mention birding as a priority:
Over the years I’ve come to strongly prefer primes for birds since I seem to invariably shoot at the maximum focal length anyway.
Mike the problem with 2X TCs is
1st the 2 stop penalty,
2nd the hit to IQ
3rd the hit to focus speed.The better your lens, the less noticeable the hit to IQ but it’s still there. Focus speed really takes a hit..Not important if your subjects are stationary, its an issue if they are moving.
Alot of people starting with long lenses do opt for the 300 f4 L and 1.4 TC. On its own, it decent reach, sweet glass, f4 IS and perhaps its strongest point is its MFD. Alot of people use it for dragon flies, butterflies etc. Then add the TC when they want a bit more reach.
Some decide eventually they want something longer, some are more than happy to stay with the 300.. As I said its a tough call that (300mm or 100-400)
I went and peeked a little deeper at the 7D,, wow.
Yeah .. I agree. I’ll be doing the upgrade thing here soon.
I’m almost swayed but,,, at almost twice the price I think I’ll hold off. I already have a canon HD video camera so that really doesn’t interest me as much. The 8 FPS is smoking though. Yea, I’d love to have it but I can wait.
The real standout lenses in the Canon line-up are all primes (IMHO).
The 100 macro – wither model is awesome.
The 50 is a sharp lens, but has a slow focus motor and is in need of modernization.The Canon 2x converter is very sharp on a sharp lens (like the 200 f2) , but not much chop on zooms – the 1.4 is less fussy.
I think they’re new zooms on the way shortly, and they will be worth waiting for.
www.dsaphoto.com
A picture is thousand words that takes less than a second while a thousand words is a picture that takes a month.
I don’t really have anything to add to what has been said, but let me know if you pull the trigger – i have a ef-s 10-22 and a ef-s 60 macro that i really can’t justify having around anymore since i went to full frame – if you’re interested.
Hi Mike,
My choices are based on hiking where weight can be an issue:
Macro: – consider the Canon EF-S 60mm Macro (96mm on 1.6X bodies). It is super light and IQ is equal to the 100mm.
Walk-around: – Canon EF 24-105 F4L
Wide:- Canon EF-S 10-22mm (you didn’t ask but its a great lens)
Tele: – the Canon EF 400 5.6 is cheaper, lighter, faster AF and better IQ compared to the 100-400 without the versatility. The fact that you mainly shoot at 400 would make it a good contender. In the 70-200 range the 70-200 F4 L IS is a superb lens and way lighter than the F2.8. If you are going to hike anywhere then go for the F4.
Flash: Canon 580 EX II
Battery Grip – I just carry a second battery – again weight driven
If you stick to the 10-22, 24-105 and 100-400 – they all use a 77mm filter so you can buy one decent circular polariser.
To add to what Daryl said.
The 400 f5.6 is a great lens Mike, I know. Used it for years before getting the 500mm. I didn’t mention it soley because I had the sense you wouldn’t want a dedicated lens (you’ll only really use it for birds) nor does it have IS. Even though I have the 500mm, I still have my 400 and am reluctant to sell it, although Ive been thinking about doing that to fund the 85mm f1.2 L Im wanting later this spring. Thats how good a lens it is.
if you want 1 lens for your birding,don’t need IS and don’t mind a gap in your focal range it *is* the lens to get for that.
Great info as usual guys thanks!
I pulled the trigger on the 50D yesterday and I am going to get the 24-105 F4 from our local shop on sale. The 60mm Macro is a must have for me as well.
I had a grip with my 700 but it was just so heavy that I rarely used it. I used it mostly to help me get close at some events…. It does look very impressive.
Now the decesion is between the 300mm with 1.4 tele or the 400. Everything I’ve read says to go with the 300… I found one on craigslist for 950 that I can check it out good prior to paying for it.This is a tough choice but the lack of IS has me a little spooky of the 400 since I like to shoot without a tripod.
Its a tough call Mike.
I shot for years with it, an awful lot of my pictures shown here were taken with it. I never really felt IS or the lack of it hindered me, but w/o a doubt I deleted many due to that lack especially when shooting at dawn for White tails. Basically in low light and at 5.6 it can get dicey having enough SS. I was fine down to 250 and below that Id get keepers but more deletions. If you can handlhold a 400 at 1/400th than its ok.If your local dealer carries them both..Go in an test shoot 300 and 400mm, see how much a difference it makes for yourself. Its not a huge leap.
so basically it becomes
100mm f5.6 and slighter faster AF
vs
f4.0 and IS and the ability to add a TC.. PS TCs wont work with the 400 for you unless you tape the pins or get a non reporting.Not for me to say but I went with the 400, then again I knew from day 1 wildlife would be my main interest
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