Nikon to Sony...would you (did you)?

[kallisti]

Choosing the right equipment for the day is a constant battle for me as I often end up taking too much or leaving the correct lens at home.
However I'm curious why you would take a 70-200mm 2.8 and a 70-200mm 4.0 to the zoo on the same day?

I take *one* of the long lenses. Either the 100-400 or the 70-200 f/2.8 or the 70-200 f/4. Usually one or the other of the first two. Unless I'm going to be walking around all day (i.e. longer than ~3hrs) and then I'll take the f/4 purely for weight reasons.

Years ago I walked around Manhattan all day carrying a Nikon 14-24 f/2.8 and 70-200 f/2.8 in a large shoulder bag. Learned my lesson and will *never* do that again
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Interesting reading....

I went Sony A7III in the end and am very happy with my decision.

Having had a big bag full of lenses, it's such a refreshing change to have switched. I now have the camera, the 90mm macro and the new 24-105mm. The 24-105mm focusses insanely fast...even faster than the D850 and 70-200mm. I'm constantly amazed by it.

Whilst neither lens is feather light, they are much much lighter than before. I've avoided the f/2.8 lenses because that would put me back where I was before in terms of bulk, and truth is I haven't miss them.

Eye-AF is, like you say, just incredible. The IQ overall is great....the D850 was better, especially if heavy cropping but there is not a lot wrong with the Sony for most shots. The EVF lag, which put me off the Fuji X-T2, is very minimal and has not been an issue so far. That said, I haven't shot sports yet, so will wait and see.

My aim was to reduce bulk so I actually took the camera with me.

• Doing a comparison on actual weight of what I'd typically shoot with, my D850 'normal use' setup came in at 3kg, the Sony comes in at 1.3kg.
• The camera + lens setup I have now is also physically smaller. I'm talking Height / Width here, rather than weight. I'd guess it's about 60% of the Nikon
• This means my camera bag has gone from a large, heavy rucksack size to a small shoulder bag.
• Technical IQ is lower, but in the real world the images still amaze me. My step daughter hates her photo being taken (unless she does it herself for Instagram), but I used her to as a test model my new lens and she loved the image it produced (yes, it went on Instagram as well)
• Although relatively early days still, I have not once thought 'I wish I had my Nikon'
• I'm just starting to tinker with using it for video, something I never did with the Nikon. I've discovered I'm a pretty rubbish videographer!!
• I'm taking my camera out a lot more
• Oh, and having sold all my old kit and brought new, I'm still about £1k better off

So all in all I'm very happy and definitely converted. The long-term test will be when the cyclo-cross season starts again, as this was one of the things I shot the most.

Certainly no regrets here so far and thanks again to those who posted advice here.

Glad you like it and glad it meets your needs

 

[Apple fanboy]

I take *one* of the long lenses. Either the 100-400 or the 70-200 f/2.8 or the 70-200 f/4. Usually one or the other of the first two. Unless I'm going to be walking around all day (i.e. longer than ~3hrs) and then I'll take the f/4 purely for weight reasons.

Years ago I walked around Manhattan all day carrying a Nikon 14-24 f/2.8 and 70-200 f/2.8 in a large shoulder bag. Learned my lesson and will *never* do that again
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Glad you like it and glad it meets your needs

Nikon 14-24mm, 24-70mm, 70-200mm and two bodies. That keeps you fit!
These days I take two. Sometimes I swap the 70-200mm f2.8 for a 70-300mm f 3.5-5.6.
It's about a quarter of the weight.

At work we have a 28-300 Cannon in the office for a project. It's pretty heavy but the IQ is pretty good. Of course that does mean you are carrying all your weight in your hands rather than your backpack.

 

[0388631]

I was lucky enough to pick up lightly used large bodies from Nikon and Canon from a friend about eight years ago or a bit more. Honestly, using 1st and third party lenses from both and learning how to use the fancier body to its fullest and expanding equipment all I can say is: why not?

I'm really impressed with what Sony has done in the last five years and the higher end Sonys have fantastic processors according to what I saw and read 2 years ago (which may be outdated knowledge now). I think the big issue is the expense in moving systems. Adapters exist but you get hesitant on really expensive lenses. I'm sure the only person I recognize in this thread, @Apple fanboy would dry heave if he were to use a dodgy adapter for a 1000 quid lens, for example.

That said, I personally like using some tech until it completely buggers out. As time goes by, you tend to stick with things you know that work for you and not really faff.

 

[Apple fanboy]

I was lucky enough to pick up lightly used large bodies from Nikon and Canon from a friend about eight years ago or a bit more. Honestly, using 1st and third party lenses from both and learning how to use the fancier body to its fullest and expanding equipment all I can say is: why not?

I'm really impressed with what Sony has done in the last five years and the higher end Sonys have fantastic processors according to what I saw and read 2 years ago (which may be outdated knowledge now). I think the big issue is the expense in moving systems. Adapters exist but you get hesitant on really expensive lenses. I'm sure the only person I recognize in this thread, @Apple fanboy would dry heave if he were to use a dodgy adapter for a 1000 quid lens, for example.

That said, I personally like using some tech until it completely buggers out. As time goes by, you tend to stick with things you know that work for you and not really faff.

Adaptors? I use my Nikon glass as god intended. On a Nikon body!

 

[0388631]

Adaptors? I use my Nikon glass as god intended. On a Nikon body!

God being the old bloke at your office?

 

[Apple fanboy]

God being the old bloke at your office?

Well there's a few who think they are!

 

[Darmok N Jalad]

I'm someone who switched from Sony mirrorless to Nikon, though I live in the lower-budget APS-C world. With that in mind, perhaps my opinion doesn't have much weight for someone shooting top-end hardware, but I'm seriously considering going back to Sony again. The main reason I switched was because the a5000 I owned didn't have a viewfinder, which is hard to use outdoors. For the life of me, I can't remember why I went to a mirrored setup over a viewfinder mirrorless. Maybe it was battery life and features specific to the D5300, maybe it was budget, but I find myself missing the compact size and conveniences of the Sony, and I had a lot of great results from that a5000. I'm still plugging away on my Nikon for the time being.

 

[Clix Pix]

A long-time Nikon girl who also has a Sony NEX-7 and a Sony RX100, I've been reading about the new Sony A7 III.....and have been sorely tempted. I have yet to lay eyes or hands on an actual one, only have seen reviews and comments here-and-there. I keep reminding myself that i have not been doing any serious shooting for quite some time now and that I have not even been using the perfectly fine cameras and lenses I already have..... Seriously, it would be foolish to jump into buying a new camera body, plus I would have to add at least one or two new lenses (I'm partial to macro shooting). But, oh, it is so tempting.....

 

[MacNut]

A long-time Nikon girl who also has a Sony NEX-7 and a Sony RX100, I've been reading about the new Sony A7 III.....and have been sorely tempted. I have yet to lay eyes or hands on an actual one, only have seen reviews and comments here-and-there. I keep reminding myself that i have not been doing any serious shooting for quite some time now and that I have not even been using the perfectly fine cameras and lenses I already have..... Seriously, it would be foolish to jump into buying a new camera body, plus I would have to add at least one or two new lenses (I'm partial to macro shooting). But, oh, it is so tempting.....

I went to Best Buy tonight to play with the A7-III. the body is a nice size, (to me at least). The kit lens seems decent, a bit heavier than the body. Button placement feels good to me. I'm so tempted to buy one. They are still backordered until July 2. I have some money coming in the next few months so I will probably take the plunge.

 

[The Bad Guy]

I have no idea how I make do with a lowly Canon.

 

[Clix Pix]

Yesterday I spent a little time browsing the current selection of e-mount and FE-mount lenses.....especially the choices in macro. I am still thinking about it. Also, yesterday I learned about the new upcoming Sony RX100 M6, which is very appealing to me, too. I have the M5, which I love, but the new one (due for release in July) will have a longer lens, reaching to 200mm, which is something I have long wished for in the RX100. Ahhh, temptations, temptations!

 

[v3rlon]

I read a lot of Sony users talking about all the weight they saved, but then find out they significantly changed their lens lineup too.

I could save tons or weight going from a Nex3 (shooting through a 16" refracting telescope) to a D5 (with a 50mm f1.8), but that is NOT an apples to apples comparison.

I stated earlier the only way to save weight is with a smaller sensor and glass. Even then, it isn't entirely true. It seems that if you want 85mm (FF) field of view and fast aperture.


Sigma 85mm f1.4 1130g
Canon 85mm f1.2 1025g*
Canon 85mm f1.4 950g
Sony 85mm f1.4 820g
Tamron 85mm F1.8 700g
Nikon 85mm F1.4 595g
Voightlander Nokton 42.5mm F0.95 571g****
Canon 85mm f1.8 425g
Panasonic 42.5mm F1.2 425g**
Olympus 45mm f1,2 410g**
Fuji 56mm F1.2 405g***
Nikon 85mm F1.8G 350g


* f1.2
**f2.4 DOF on FF
*** f1.8 DOF on FF
**** f1.9 DOF on FF, all manual.

Based on this, it seem like wanting a good 85mm lens will hit you pretty hard for weight regardless of the sensor size. You need bigger apertures on smaller sensors and the glass is working out to the same size anyway.

The Nikon 85mm G lens is great for the price, and the lightest lens on the list.

I think these cameras are comparable in price.

Nikon D750 750g*
Panasonic GH5 725g
Olympus OMD EM1-ii 574g
Sony a7 iii 650g
Fuju XT-2 507g
Canon 6D ii 685g

*includes a flash

You can see that my GH5 + 42.5 f1.2 is 1150g while a D750+85mm f1.4 is 1345g, saving me 195g (7 ounces), but I am giving up the built in flash and really need to carry an extra battery.

My advantage was giving up the video camera I also carried.

Now, pair them all off. and it looks like Fuji is the win here. The XT-2 and the 56mm coming at 912g, or barely a battery heavier than the Sony lens alone, and lighter than the Canon 85mm f1.4.