Smaller camera advice & thoughts please?

justintime2001

justintime2001

justintime2001

Associate
Joined
3 Mar 2010
Posts
1,210
Location
Staffordshire
Looking to buy a smaller camera. I use a Canon 7D Mk2 but I want to find something smaller and easier to lug around. I am considering the Sony Alpha A7 III Mirrorless Digital Camera and just wondered what you folks think of them and any advice on alternatives please? Only going to be used for general photography and occasionally with a long lens. Thank you.
 
The A7iii or the A7Riii is a good shout for a fairly compact setup that doesn't cost the earth. Personally I prefer the A7Riii as the extra resolution is there for macro crops, and the AF is good enough for street.

You could look at an A7C or A7Cii if you want something smaller again, but it doesn't feel as good in the hand with larger lenses and the EVF is worse.
 
If you stay with full-frame then the lenses are going to be much the same size so the overall saving on the body weight will be minimal. If you really want to save weight then you need to look at systems with a smaller sensor and therefore smaller lenses.
 
Snapshot said:
If you stay with full-frame then the lenses are going to be much the same size so the overall saving on the body weight will be minimal. If you really want to save weight then you need to look at systems with a smaller sensor and therefore smaller lenses.
Click to expand...
Depends on the lenses you're using really - the 40mm f2.5 and even the 55mm f1.8 makes for a lightweight setup vs a standard zoom or a GM prime.
 
Certainly but that restricts your choice. If we assume the OP wants similar capabilities then, say, a 24-70 f2.8 is pretty much the same in any make but an M43 12-40mm f2.8 is around half the weight. And the OP specifically said he would be using a long lens....
 
adrichardson81 said:
The A7iii or the A7Riii is a good shout for a fairly compact setup that doesn't cost the earth. Personally I prefer the A7Riii as the extra resolution is there for macro crops, and the AF is good enough for street.

You could look at an A7C or A7Cii if you want something smaller again, but it doesn't feel as good in the hand with larger lenses and the EVF is worse.
Click to expand...
I would probably stick with a simple "walk around" lens of some kind for general use and then just use a longer lens on the rare occasion that I may need one, shooting military aircraft etc. at shows.
 
I think you'll be disappointed in the size difference honestly. I've downsized twice in the last few years pretty much from similar to where you are. The first time I went from Sony A-Mount A99II to an A7 IV with a few lenses and yes while the difference was there it wasn't so meaningful that lugging it all around wasn't still a hassle and meant I often left my stuff at home.
Then a last year I moved to a Panasonic G9II and a bunch of M4/3 lenses and my lord the difference is unreal.

In my single, pretty small backpack I've got 3 zoom lenses covering the equivalent of 14mm to 600mm and 4 primes all of which weigh less than my old Tamron 150-600mm alone even with the camera.
Of course the trade off being the sensor size, dof and resolution but 20mp is fine for me as I dont print above A2. I certainly haven't regretted it yet anyway :)
 
Last edited:
Columbo said:
I think you'll be disappointed in the size difference honestly. I've downsized twice in the last few years pretty much from similar to where you are. The first time I went from Sony A-Mount A99II to an A7 IV with a few lenses and yes while the difference was there it wasn't so meaningful that lugging it all around wasn't still a hassle and meant I often left my stuff at home.
Then a last year I moved to a Panasonic G9II and a bunch of M4/3 lenses and my lord the difference is unreal.

In my single, pretty small backpack I've got 3 zoom lenses covering the equivalent of 14mm to 600mm and 4 primes all of which weigh less than my old Tamron 150-600mm alone even with the camera.
Of course the trade off being the sensor size, dof and resolution but 20mp is fine for me as I dont print above A2. I certainly haven't regretted it yet anyway :)
Click to expand...
That sounds very interesting. I have ordered a Sony A7V now but I will be looking at the G9II now you've mentioned it.:)
 
justintime2001 said:
That sounds very interesting. I have ordered a Sony A7V now but I will be looking at the G9II now you've mentioned it.:)
Click to expand...

Its not the camera bodies that make the difference tbh, its the lenses.
The FE-Mount FF lenses aren't that much smaller and lighter than my old A-Mount equivalents and some are heavier.

A good example was my beloved Sony Zeiss 85mm f1.4 ZA on A-Mount weighed 620g, the FE 85mm f1.4 GM I bought weighed 820g.

If you shoot primes and willing to sacrifice light gathering capability, look at some of the f2.8 primes.
They are sharp and light.
 
Its a great camera by all accounts and the 24-105mm lens is superb, I loved mine when I had it.
However i'm not sure it fits the og brief of downsizing :cry::cry:
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom