I just switch the power save time to 30 min if the situation calls for it as the Sony bodies are noticeably slower to wake (than Canon DSLR), otherwise I keep it on 2 min and tap menu or half press to 'ready' the camera in anticipation.
The Sony A73/A7R3/A7S3/A9 Thread
- Thread starter traveyb
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Thank you that's a lot of useful detail and information there, much appreciated!Well, I've made my transition now.
5D4 with 11 Canon lenses to A73 with 9 Sony lenses + 1 Canon lens.
I found the MC-11 works very well on most Canon lenses adapted, I had them side by side for a year and shot weddings with them at the same time. Albeit on different levels, the later on in the cross over, the less I used the Canon as I was slowly accumulating more Sony lenses and thus adapting less.
The joy of having both system in the car, together they are worth 3 x the value of my car lol.
Sigma 20/1.4 Art - This isn't a lens I used much even when I had it on Canon, I use it for rooms when I need to get back further but want the extra 2 stop over the f/2.8 in the 16-35
Canon 24/1.4 L mk2 - It's fine in the day but in low light it struggles to hit focus. One time shooting in twilight and the A73 was just not hitting focus.
35/1.4 L mk2 - This was fine, i could have kept this but it's quite a long lens for a 35mm and on the adaptor it becomes almost telephoto length.
Sigma 50/1.5 Art - This was very good. I guess it should as it is a Sigma lens
85/1.2 L mk2 - It works fine, sharper than i could get on the Canon because it was hitting focus with eye-AF with that 1.2 bokeh. It does however shows the lens' weakness as it is an old design (like 20 years) and it's not as sharp as the 85GM
100/2.8 L Macro - I only use this lens for wedding rings shot but I struggle with the MC-11 with this to focus even on average items around, it hunts around too much. It's not a problem if i had stick with it using as manual which was what I use it for.
135/2.8 L - Didn't use it on the body in anger so can't comment
16-35/2.8 L - Fine
24-70/2.8 L - Fine also
45/2.8 TSE - manual lens.
The only thing that stood out for me is how I struggle with the 100L but most of the others I could use it almost like native.
The first thing you notice when you move over are
1 - menus, I know everyone goes on about this, you will too....compare to Canon, it makes no sense, things are scattered that should be grouped together. Spend about 30mins to make your own custom menus with the useful stuff like Format, White balance etc
2 - the size, its not that tall, no place for my pinky to go so I had to buy a little grip to add height
3 - touch screen is turd - I only ever use it to focus when its on the tripod. It does nothing else really.
4 - then you start using it, the AF will blow you away. the entire screen is focus points (almost), assign Eye-Af to a back button (my advice us assign one back button as general focus, and one other back button as eye-af focus). So when there things like cars or static stuff, use the normal back button to focus. or use the normal back button focus mostly but when you have a face, press eye-af and watch it lock on. BOOM! its like cheating. You don't even need to have the AF point on the face, the AF point can be miles away.
5 - how many shots it can take per second. I had to lower it to about M because shooting at 10 FPS just wastes memory card
6 - You will save money in SD cards compare to CF. The sweet spot is 64G - 128G cards. Get 2, shoot dual. UHS-1 is fine because one of them is UHS-1 so that's the fastest you will get. It goes in facing the wrong way...weird
7 - learn to turn off the camera when you change lenses, with it on, there is a static on the sensor (so i've been told). Otherwise you will be cleaning it quite often compare to having the Canon
8 - I like the in camera charging, I use the USB-C socket, you can use micro usb too. The camera doesn't come with a charger but you can get a cheap £12 one on amazon and use your iPhone charger as the brick.
9 - The rear thumb dial I hit it quite often which changes things like bracketing, so keep an eye on it, or you can disable the whole wheel. Unfortunately, there is no sliding lock like the Canon to stop this.
10 - Sony flashes - or all mirrorless flashes do not have IR beam focus assist, however I found Sony's focusing with native lenses good enough to shoot weddings on dance floors so not a problem.
I found weather sealing to be fine. Don't let people scare you.
p..s I have all Godox flashes, great value and just as good as the Canon.
Why do you want to make the switch, what sort of photography do you do?
Canon look like they are making a real effort with their upcoming mirrorless cameras so I'd say now isn't a good time to change, wait a few months and see what happens.
Personally I though the A73 was terrible how anyone can put up with the awful EVF is beyond me, the ergonomics are just as bad. Same went for the A7RIII and that's why as the time I had multiple systems.
I gradually made the full switch from Nikon to Sony when they released the A7RIV and A9II. The A7RIV had a much better EVF, ergonomics and better weather sealing (and yes I had zero confidence in the previous models weather sealing) alhough.
With the A9II there was very little difference apart from ergonomics and weather sealing.. which sort of leads me to where I'm going with this.
Sony have had a massive lead in the FF mirrorless market for many years, yet in a very short time the likes of Canon getting close to them and they are releasing some amazing glass to go with it (so are Nikon but at a snails pace).
There's a limit to how much time Sony can rely on their eye AF etc to sell their cameras and the hype from Youtubers. They are still using pathetic rear screen with limited touch capability even on their new cameras such at the A7RIV. Their user interface and menus are a nightmare.
Don't get me wrong I'm happy with Sony (it was and at the moment is the best choice for me) however I'm not sure if I was looking to change to mirrorless now I'd jump to Sony, I would probably wait a few more months and see what happens.
I'd jump back to Nikon (or Canon) as soon as they have a decent pro body and lens line up which I don't think will be too long.
Problem with Nikon however is you can't rely on shutter priority all the time and the continual switch from that to manual when you need to can send you crackers-especially for wildlife where conditions are changing all the time. I'd prefer an EVF over an optical viewfinder any day despite thinking my Nikon D850 is one of the most accomplished cameras I have ever used. I'm sad to see it go.
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I have to agree. I got my Sony 2 years ago, the landscape was different then, much.
However, I would still wait a while before moving to Canon, they still are missing a few key glass like a 35/1.4. Also there is pretty much zero used market for them right now so getting into them with new glass is very much cost prohibitive, if I sell my Sony 85/1.4 and get the Canon 85/1.2 RF, the GM will only cover like 40% of the Canon, I have to find double and then some of more cash. So the diminishing returns in swapping is way high right now.
The D850 was/is imo the best DSLR made, I loved it and really can't think of anything I disliked about it and I still miss the timelapse feature which always did a great job. I just needed a smaller/lighter system and from using my Fuji gear for years I got so used to the benefits of mirrorless.
That's a good point, I'm actually finding that with Sony too... try finding a used Sony 600mm f4 GM
Especially since mirrorless lenses are becoming larger and heavier
Seriously the weight of the FE 200-600. I didn't realize it was heavier than my 150-600.Especially since mirrorless lenses are becoming larger and heavier
I've got a 200-600 and it is a beast of a lens, I generally use it when I have a need and its the only lens I carry, still want a 600mm f4 instead though
For everything else there was a big enough weight saving to make it worthwhile and my 16-35 2.8GM is the same weight (actually slightly lighter) than my old Nikon f4.
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bored of my gear fancy a change reckon its worth going from eos r to a73?
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No.
Doubt it, if you're looking for something dramatically better or different.
What's boring you about the Canon that you think a Sony A7iii will cure?
This.
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When buying the R which I have barely used I was toying with the sony then for the 10 fps and full frame mirrorless . as I usually shoot motorsport (obviously done jack this year human malware problems) , I listened to my old man and not my heart as it just appealed to me some with its features .
But really fancying me an A73 with a tamron 28-75 2.8 , 70-200 and 100-400/200-600
You realise the R is a full frame so the only other feature you've mentioned is 10fps which is just 2 more than the R anyway.
Sounds like you just want to change and looking for some justification, it's your money so buy what you like, you're not going to see any benefit and you'll probably find some things which are worse.
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R is 5 fps in constant and i know its full frame
My point remains that you have already decided that you want to change you really don't need to to ask if it's a good idea.
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Very good point tbh , cheers
Very good point tbh , cheers
Before you buy the A73 though, I would say to check out the A9, there are some good deals on that and you certainly would see a difference especially for sports.
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I agree with this - if you’re going to go to the effort of changing systems, you might as well do it properly and go with something that’ll actually make a big difference to what you want to shoot.