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Sony Camera News (October 2023)

Read More Sigma However, I am eyeing on the Sigma lens… which is available as “Art” ($1,100) and the budget “Contemporary” lens ($900). The main difference is the Art lens has higher quality optics and starts at 24mm while the Contemporary version starts at 28mm. ....

Sigma
sigma-global.com

According to dpreview.com, Sigma has announced that it is developing a 70-200mm F2.8 DG DN OS for Sony full-frame cameras. The lens will be available in December 2023.

The F2.8 lens will be part of their Sports line (with superior weather resistance), and is the second lens to use their “HLA” (high response linear actuator). The lens will also include Sigma’s own optical stabilizer with the latest algorithm “OS2”.

While not prices have been announced, I feel Sigma needs make it affordable to be competitive in this space. I am predicting about $1,700 or less. Anything more, it would just make sense to jump to the Sony G-Master series. The Tamron version of 70-150mm F2.8 is $1,100, but does not have stabilization and falls short of 20mm. You can find the Tamron version used for as little as $900, so that is another option. However, from my experience, images look better on the Sony G-Master lens due to the high-quality glass and stabilization.

As you know, my main concert lens is the Sony G-Master 70-200mm F2.8 FE lens, which is basically the best of the best for sports and low-light. Unfortunately, that also comes at a high cost - currently the Gen II lens retails $2,800. Again, if Sigma can come through on their price, I can see more camera enthusiasts using the Sigma lens (especially if it offers the same or similar performances as the Sony G-Master).

Read More Sony Right now, the one lens I am using is the Sony 70-200mm F2.8 GM and it’s an amazing lens. However, it’s missing some key focal range of 24, 35, and 50 (the “nifty fifty”). This is why I’ve been looking at the 24-70mm … and now the 35-150mm F2-2.8 lens. …

Sony
sony.com

Last month, Sony announced a pair of new cameras: Sony a7c II (33MP) and Sony a7cR (62MP).

These two cameras are an evolution of the original Sony a7c, which was the best (and cheapest) way for people to get into full frame photography. Originally released in September 2020 for $1,800, it was my first full frame camera.

As much as I like the compact / small design, it was missing some features that I wanted, such as a faster processor or a double SD card reader… which was what led me to buying Sony a7 IV.

So, what is new with the Sony a7c II and Sony a7cR? From my understanding, the a7c II is basically a compact version of the Sony a7 IV, while the a7cR is a compact version of the Sony a7R IV.

I think the main problem are the prices. The a7c II is $2,200 with less features than the a7 IV, which I’m sure you can get used for about the same price. For the a7cR, it’s $3,000… which is basically the price of the Sony a7R IV. Again, because of the compact nature of the camera, you’re losing buttons and extra SD card slots… but you’re paying the same price (for less).

The only new features you’re getting are the new BIONZ X processor and new Autofocus… so that leaves me to believe that what you’re actually paying for is the smaller sized (and lighter) camera. To me, if they were the same price as the bigger version, why not just buy the bigger body and get more buttons and options? To be fair, some people just wants a smaller form factor, and I can understand that.

There are not enough new features in the a7c II, that I may actually recommend getting the original a7c, if you can find it for a good price.

Read more Weekend Gamer and Technology.

vu ([email protected]) ♥ weheartmusic.com ♥ twitter.com

Rokinon / Samyang AF 35-150mm F2-2.8 FE

Read More Tamron Maybe Tamron heard me, and announced that they are working on the Tamron 50-400mm F/4.5-6.3 Di III VC VXD (Model A067) on July 28, 2022. The new lens will be coming out Fall 2022 …

As I previously mentioned, I have been looking at the Tamron 35-150mm lens at the Springbrook Nature photo shoot. I mentioned it was also very expensive, at $1,899 …

Now, there is an exact same lens made by Rokinon (rokinon.com) or Samyang (samyanglens.com), released in April 2023 for $1,299 (Rokinon) and $1,399 (Samyang).

Although there are two different names and branding, they are exactly the same lens. Rokinon’s branding is meant (and marketed) for the USA region, so it’s actually cheaper than the international branding, Samyang. I suggest saving that extra $100 by buying the US branding.

Samyang lists the AF 35-150mm F2-2.8 FE as the fastest “all-rounder”, which starts with a maximum aperture of F2 at its widest and F2.8 at the telephoto end. The lens brings together the five main focal lengths of 35, 50, 85, 135, and 150, making it the “one lens to rule them all”.

I’m very interested in something like this, because I find that swapping out lens in a middle of a shoot is time consuming … and you may end up missing a crucial moment. In the past, I thought about carrying two or three cameras, each set with a particular focal range, so I can quickly grab my shot… but the reality is that I only want to carry one camera with one lens.

Right now, the one lens I am using is the Sony 70-200mm F2.8 GM and it’s an amazing lens. However, it’s missing some key focal range of 24, 35, and 50 (the “nifty fifty”). This is why I’ve been looking at the 24-70mm … and now the 35-150mm F2-2.8 lens.

The first to market for this 35-150mm F2-2.8 lens is by Tamron, who released it in October 2021, to high praises. It is Tamron’s most expensive lens at $1,899… so Samyang is undercutting their competitor by $600. The Samyang/Rokinon is still relatively new (only two months old), so there aren’t many reviews out there. Reading customer’s feedback, people don’t like the image quality, so that is something to consider.

I did look over the image comparison, and, to me, the differences aren’t that terrible… at least not a $600 terrible. I can live with some not-sharp area (mostly at the edges or it couldn’t handle sun flares). I suppose if image quality is important to you, I would just recommend just buying native Sony GM lens.

Anyway, it’s still up in the air for me… I’ll wait to see if there is a sale, but as of this writing, I’m really leaning towards the $1,299 price of the Rokinon 35-150mm.

vu ([email protected]) ♥ weheartmusic.com ♥ twitter.com

Lens Update: 24-70mm F2.8

Read More Sony What I am eyeing, is the rather expensive Sony 70-200mm G-Master Lens. It retails for $2,500, but I have seen it as low as $2,000 during the Black Friday/Christmas sale. I know the price is way more expensive than the …

Now that I’m enjoying my Sony 70-200mm GM F2.8 OSS lens (honestly, I should have bought this lens much sooner). That expensive price was a deterrent, but now that I have it, I can truly see why the price was justified.

The autofocusing is just the best I’ve used, and the clarity in the GM glass is much, much better than my previous lens. Maybe I’m spoiled, but now I’m just interested in GM-quality lens. Also, the F2.8 is the best that you can get in a telephoto lens, so it’s just much better than what I was using previously.

Sony 70-200mm GM vs Subway Sandwich

Unfortunately, the large size and weight of the lens takes planning and commitment. That’s perfectly fine for a concert or event shooting, but now that I need is an “everyday” general street-style lens. What I’m looking for is a small lens under 70mm, so I can have the whole spectrum of focal length - from 24 to 200mm between these two lens.

I also need the lens to be F2.8 or better… plus, price is also a big factor in this.

Looking over my options (see chart below), the Sony GM lens are out of the question, based on their prices of $1,698 (for version 1) and $2,298 (for version 2).

For the cheapest lens in this category is between the Samyang 24-70mm F2.8 FE and the Tamron 28-75mm F/2.8 Di III VXD G2, both for $800.

However, I am eyeing on the Sigma lens… which is available as “Art” ($1,100) and the budget “Contemporary” lens ($900). The main difference is the Art lens has higher quality optics and starts at 24mm while the Contemporary version starts at 28mm. I tend to want to spend a little more for the better quality… but is it worth the extra $200?

I’ll have to do a little more research on the matter… but at the moment, it looks like the Sigma lens might be my next purchase. At the moment, there’s no hurry for me to buy one right now. Basically I’ll wait for a sale... or perhaps I will look at the used market (but I have a fear that the used lens might have scratches or dust).

Also, I do want to get a 2x Teleconverter for my 70-200mm GM F2.8 OSS, so it’ll essentially make it a 140-400mm. I have heard that it might be better to just spend the extra money to get a 400mm native lens, rather than using a teleconverter because it’s not as a good as a native lens.

Brand	Lens Name	F	Price	Release Date
Samyang	AF 24-70mm F2.8 FE	f/2.8	$800	2021-10
Sigma	24-70mm F2.8 DG DN | Art	f/2.8	$1,100	2019-11
Sigma	28-70mm F2.8 DG DN | Contemporary	f/2.8	$900	2021-02
Tamron	28-75mm F/2.8 Di III RXD	f/2.8	$800 (discontinued?)	2018-02
Tamron	28-75mm F/2.8 Di III VXD G2	f/2.8	$800	2021-08
Sony	FE 24-70 mm F2.8 SEL2470GM	f/2.8	$1,700	2016-02
Sony	FE 24-70mm F2.8 GM II SEL-2470GM2	f/2.8	$2,300	2022-04

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Sony 70-200mm GM F2.8 OSS

Read More Sony What I am eyeing, is the rather expensive Sony 70-200mm G-Master Lens. It retails for $2,500, but I have seen it as low as $2,000 during the Black Friday/Christmas sale. I know the price is way more expensive than the …

As I previously mentioned, I had my eye on the Tamron 50-400mm lens, since I wanted a nice long reach at 400mm… but unfortunately, due to the F6.3 (at 400mm), it’s not suitable for photographing concerts.

Then, the idea popped in my head to look at the Sony 70-200mm GM F2.8 OSS lens. This is the original lens that started Sony’s Gold Master (or G Master) lens line up in 2016. Sony has four types of lens: basic (not labeled), Zeiss (developed in cooperation with Carl Zeiss), G (Gold), and GM (Gold Master). G Master is the highest tier, basically the best of the best.

For most photographers, any lens, at any F-Stop should be fine in daytime. For people shooting night photography, you want a low F-Stop… so for a time, I just thought the G Master lens was just too expensive.

But as I looked into it, the low F2.8 started to look more attractive. Once Sony released a version 2 of the 70-200 in 2021, prices for the original version dropped from $2,500 to $2,000… making it slightly more affordable.

When you read into it, you find out that the lens can produce 30 frames a second, if you have a camera that can take advantage of it (no third party lens can do this per Sony’s restrictions). On top of that, with a 2x teleconverter, you can turn the Sony 200mm lens to a 400mm (but it will make the lens a F5.6). Finally, Sony’s Ring Drive Super Sonic wave motor, with Double linear motor, combined with Optical Stabilization (OSS), is one of the fastest autofocusing system on the market.

Basically, I’m just trying to convince myself that all these future-proof features are worth the $2,000 I paid for the lens. And guess what? After using it for concert photo shoot, it’s absolutely worth it!

I’m serious, every shot I looked at my view screen and I’m like Wow! That’s sharp! After a few more shots, I’m like all these photos are keepers!

The Sony G-Master lens, at low light, is on another level! I’ve been using the Tamron 28-200mm (F5.6 at the 200mm end), and while the lens performs fine in good light… it does produce grainy or soft images when you’re shooting in poor lighting conditions.

Now for the negative: the first generation of the 70-200mm F2.8 GM lens is heavy. It’s really heavy. Officially, Sony lists the lens as weighing 3.3lbs, but it feels like 5lbs (the version 2 solves the weight problem by bringing it down to 2.3lbs). Basically, you’ll need both your hands to shoot. You’re going to tire out after a long shooting session… so most people use a tripod or monopod. In fact, Sony knows this, and included a removable tripod foot for the lens (which doesn’t fit Arca mounts).

Size Matters: Sony 70-200mm vs Tamron 28-200mm

The lens is also very long at 8 inches (12 with the hood… it’s the size of a Subway sandwich). The reason for this is because of the internal zooming mechanics. Adding the lens hood, the GM lens is twice as long as my Tamron 28-200 when collapsed.

The size and weight of the 70-200 GM lens makes it unconventional to just bring to, like a birthday party, or just randomly doing impromptu street photography. This is a business lens, that requires planning and commitment.

Still, despite the monstrous size and weight, I think it’s a fair tradeoff for amazing image quality. You can always look at version 2, if the weight bothers you, but I don’t think it’s worth the extra $800.

Anyway, from my experience of shooting with the 70-200 GM lens, I think it’s a very, very good lens. I’m going to try and take it on a hike, when the weather is a little warmer.

P.S. I was surprised to see that the 70-200 GM lens came with its own padded carrying case (with shoulder strap). All the lens I’ve ever purchased never came with its own custom carrying case, so this is a very nice addition.

vu ([email protected]) ♥ weheartmusic.com ♥ twitter.com

Lens Update and Winter Hibernation

Read More Sony I’m in the market for a new high end camera, so I was debating on buying the Sony A9 (used) and Sony A7 IV, as they were about the same price. For non-Sony camera enthusiasts, let me break down …

Happy New Year!

I wanted to buy the Tamron 50-400mm lens for the Sony E-Mount last Aug 2022. On paper, it looks like it was exactly the lens I needed. When I am shooting a concert, I prefer to shoot from the back of the room… and for that, you need a big reach - in this case, the Tamron would go up to 400mm.

When the lens came out in Sep 2022 and the reviews started coming in… it felt more and more like the lens would not be a good fit for my needs. In all the reviews I’ve read and watched, the consistent downfall to the lens is that it did not perform well indoors. For low light lens, you need to a low F-Stop, and for the Tamron 50-400mm, the F is 4.5-6.3. Since I needed the lens for concert photography, this was a deal breaker.

The other thing is the price. I originally thought it the Tamron would cost, at most, $800 (based on other similar lens in this category on other camera companies) … but when I read that the retail price is $1,300, it was a sticker shock. I’m sure the price is fair, based on Tamron’s stabilization system and USB-C updates and settings.

So where does that leave me? While I am pretty happy with the Tamron 28-200mm, I am still looking for a nice, fast lens.

What I am eyeing, is the rather expensive Sony 70-200mm G-Master Lens. It retails for $2,500, but I have seen it as low as $2,000 during the Black Friday/Christmas sale. I know the price is way more expensive than the Tamron, but what the Sony lens offers is the ability to use a teleconverter with the native Sony lens. Essentially you can double the distance, making the Sony lens a 140-400mm lens at the cost of losing some F-Stop.

Speaking of which, the F-Stop for the Sony lens is constant 2.8. This is why the lens is so expensive, you rarely see telephoto lens with this low of a number. It’s supposed to be the best of the best.

One final thing, the Sony G-Master lens has built-in stabilization in the lens. I’ve own and used older native Sony lens, and their stabilization is top in its class. My current Tamron 28-200mm doesn’t have stabilization, so I have to rely on the camera’s body stabilization. I can tell you that it’s not as good.

Since I’m still officially in hibernation, buying the lens is not a priority for now. So, hopefully, by April 2023, when I come out of hibernation, I can find the lens for $2k.

vu ([email protected]) ♥ weheartmusic.com ♥ twitter.com

Tamron 50-400mm E-Mount lens coming September 22, 2022

Read More Tamron Maybe Tamron heard me, and announced that they are working on the Tamron 50-400mm F/4.5-6.3 Di III VC VXD (Model A067) on July 28, 2022. The new lens will be coming out Fall 2022 … Sony I’m in the market for a new high end camera, so I was debating on buying the Sony A9 (used) and Sony A7 IV, as they were about the same price. For non-Sony camera enthusiasts, let me break down …

You know I’m in the market for a long-reach telephoto lens for usage at live concerts. Right now I’m using the Tamron 28-200mm F2.8-5.6 Di III RXD Lens (since Sep 2021). While it’s a very fast lens (at F2.8 at the short end), I would trade that to get more reach... since I rarely shoot at 28mm.

When I read that Tamron was working on a 50-400mm lens called Tamron 50-400mm F/4.5-6.3 Di III VC VXD (Model A067), it was perfect for my needs.

Recently, Tamron released some additional information about the upcoming lens, including a release date of September 22, 2022, via their products page. One of the key features that I am looking forward to is that the lens will have stabilization called VC (Vibration Compensation) built into the lens! This is much-needed key feature that was absent in Tamron’s 28-200mm. While I didn’t mind it as much (as my camera had a five-axis stabilization in the camera), this is a feature that many shooters are asking for.

The other new thing I’ve learned is that the lens will have an optional tripod mount with Arca Swiss-compatible quick shoe. This suggests to me that the lens is heavy, even though the website lists it to weigh about 2.5 pounds.

For power users, you can set focus limits with their “Focus Limiter” (you would want to do this if you know you’ll never need a certain number set so you can focus faster), which I probably won’t use... but I appreciate the option. Based on the photo, I see you have physical buttons to set your custom focus - so it’s great to see that you can revert back to the default, if your custom is not working for you.

You can get half-macro photography, with a distance of about 10 inches, so if you’re into shooting very close subjects, this is for you. I probably won’t be using this too much, but I like to have this ability.

While most people won’t care for it - I find that the 75° zoom ring rotation arc is very useful. Imagine going from 50 to 400 with just a twist. On one of my old lens, I would have to turn the lens almost a half circle!

The best part is that the lens is about 7 inches, which is a good size for something that can reach 400mm. Of course, it is about 2 inches longer than my 200mm, but that’s the price to pay for more reach.

Speaking of price, that is the one thing that Tamron didn’t mention. I am going to guess that it will cost about $600-$800, based on similar lens.

I guess I’ll find out for myself, when I buy the lens in September or October (depending on availability).

Update: Pre-orders from retailers lists the lens at $1,300... much more expensive than its competitors.

vu ([email protected]) ♥ weheartmusic.com ♥ twitter.com/weheartmusic

Site Update: Announcing the Tamron 50-400mm

Read More Sony I’m in the market for a new high end camera, so I was debating on buying the Sony A9 (used) and Sony A7 IV, as they were about the same price. For non-Sony camera enthusiasts, let me break down …

I’m in the market for a new long (over 200mm) lens for my new Sony A7IV and did look at some of my options in the world of 500 to 600mm for the Sony E-Mount. After much debate over price, weight, size, and actual usage (basically I will only need these lens for wildlife and sports), I have decided to be more realistic and put the shopping on pause. I even stated that “companies are always coming out with new lens option, so I will wait it out.”

Maybe Tamron heard me, and announced that they are working on the Tamron 50-400mm F/4.5-6.3 Di III VC VXD (Model A067) on July 28, 2022. The new lens will be coming out Fall 2022… which is just perfect for me. Count me in on being one of the first ones to buy this versatile lens.

Currently, I’m rocking the Tamron 28-200mm and constantly complained that I wish I could get a little closer. This newly announced lens will double my reach to 400mm… which will work out for me. It’s also small (7 inches) and weighs about 2.5lbs, which twice as less as those 600mm lens. I hand-hold my camera, so I need my gear as light as possible.

Seeing as I’m very happy with the performance of my Tamron 28-200mm, I know I will be happy with the upcoming 50-400mm. I just hope it’s not that expensive.

Here is an excerpt from Tamron’s press release:

The 50-400mm F/4.5-6.3 Di III VC VXD (Model A067) creates an entirely new category for high-performance ultra-telephoto mirrorless zoom lenses. With an 8x zoom ratio that begins at an unprecedented 50mm (commonly called the “standard” focal length for full-frame cameras), this new ultra-telephoto zoom lens for Sony E-mount full-frame mirrorless cameras is the same size as conventional 100-400mm zoom lenses, yet offers a wider angle of view on the wide end for excellent versatility. The 50-400mm F4.5-6.3 is remarkably compact with a length of just 183.4mm (7.2 in) and a light weight of 1,155g (40.7 oz) but provides unparalleled high performance at all focal lengths. In spite of the high magnification ratio, high image quality is delivered across the entire 50-400mm range through the effective arrangement of special lens elements. Equipped with TAMRON’s VXD (Voice-coil eXtreme-torque Drive) linear motor focus mechanism that offers excellent quietness and responsiveness, plus TAMRON's proprietary image stabilization mechanism VC (Vibration Compensation), the lens delivers versatile capability for all shooting scenarios.

vu ([email protected]) ♥ weheartmusic.com ♥ twitter.com/weheartmusic

Sony A7IV at Springbrook Nature Center, Fridley (01 Aug 2022)

Read More Sony I’m in the market for a new high end camera, so I was debating on buying the Sony A9 (used) and Sony A7 IV, as they were about the same price. For non-Sony camera enthusiasts, let me break down …

It’s been one year since we did a photo shoot with the Sony A7C at the Springbrook Nature Center in Fridley… so I thought it would make sense to do a test run of the new Sony A7IV camera at the same location, on August 1, 2022.

A7IV and A7C

Even though Sony called the A7C “the world’s smallest full frame camera”, playing around with the A7IV, I didn’t really think the A7C was that small. It is smaller, but looking at the camera, side-by-side, they look similar to each other, in terms of size. You will only notice the differences when you hold the A7IV. It’s bigger and it’s heavier. You noticed the bigger grip, which I find too big.

You also notice a ton of extra dials and buttons. Power users will want to assign certain items to certain buttons and dials, which is simply a better experience. You see the A7C can do many things, but you have to dig through Sony’s menu, which is slow and cumbersome. With the A7IV, you just assign that feature to button.

Sony also revamped the camera menu, which is found in newer cameras. It’s color-coded and looks good. I am looking forward to having Sony update all their cameras with this new menu system.

All the photos on my hike through the Springbrook Nature Center were taken with the Tamron 28-200mm lens, which is still my favorite lens. I still somewhat wish I could reach just a little further, maybe 400mm… but those long lens tend to be very pricey and has very limited usage. You basically will want a long lens for photographing animals and sports. For everyday use, I think the 28-200mm range is just perfect. Of course, I did debate on getting a 600mm or 500mm lens last month, but weighing all my options and its usage, I am going to put purchasing that lens on pause. Companies are always coming out with new lens option, so I will wait it out. Right now, 28-200mm is perfect for me.

The A7IV uses a new auto-focusing system… which I’m not quite used to. To be honest, I felt the A7C did a better job on auto-focusing, but I’m still learning to use the A7IV, so perhaps it’s just a matter of figuring it all out.

Birds at the Springbrook Nature Center, Fridley (01 Aug 2022)

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Sony A7 IV

Read More Sony So, anyway, my next camera is the “Compact” Sony α7c. I have wanted this camera since it was announced in September 2020. It’s basically an α7III, but smaller (and slightly cheaper). A lot of reviews …

I’m in the market for a new high end camera, so I was debating on buying the Sony A9 (used) and Sony A7 IV, as they were about the same price.

For non-Sony camera enthusiasts, let me break down Sony’s current camera offering in the Alpha (a) line. In the full frame mirrorless camera market, Sony offers basically two types of cameras: the A7 and A9 (and its successor the Alpha 1).

In the A7 line, there are four subcategories: A7, A7R, A7S, and the new A7C. The A7R series stands for Resolution, and aimed at still photography and high resolution images. The A7S series stands for Sensitivity, and aimed for video professionals. The A7C series, a new class that was introduced a year ago, stands for Compact, and aimed at traveling photographers. The standard A7 cameras are basically a Jack of all trades, master of none.

The A9 and Alpha 1 are a different class of camera, they are very expensive. For example, the retail price of the Alpha 1 is $6,500. That’s not in anyone’s budget… except professionals who swears by it.

Since I didn’t want to buy a used A9 (even though the price was right), this leave me one choice: Sony A7 IV.

After using the A7C for a year, I am starting to recognize some of its limitations. Since the camera is smaller, Sony had to remove some physical buttons, and other features (such as an extra card slot, no eye hood, and bad viewer). The camera wasn’t designed as a workhorse, but rather for those traveling and on the move. Which I knew what I was getting into when I bought it last year.

So, the A7IV improves on the popular A7III, by adding in a 33MP, 4k 30p (downsized from 7k), two card slots (one is CF Express Type A), improved auto-focusing technology, and best of all, the new BIONZ XR chip. This is the same chip found in Sony’s Alpha 1 cameras. The chip is eight times more powerful than its previous generations.

For many photographers who own the 7III, they said there’s not enough for them to upgrade. For early adopters or photographers with pre-production models, they complained that the A7IV overheats. With the pandemic causing supply issues, not a lot of people seemed excited about the A7IV.

I’m excited about the A7IV, because I want the new BIONZ XR… and I’m interested in seeing how it performs in low light situations, especially at live concert events. For professionals who poo-pooed the Sony “flippy screen”, they are idiots.

Since I’ve been using it on the A7C, I found that it’s a million times better than the old “tilt screen”. I’ve used the so-called flippy screen when I need to take overhead shots, or if I need a low view, or even “selfie” mode … the screen does it all and at all angles!!! When I’m not using the screen, I simply put it in “armor mode”, which protects the screen. The flippy screen is simply the greatest advantage that the A7C has over any other Sony camera on the market right now… and I know I will make good use of it on the A7IV.

For video shooters, I would wait to see what if Sony will release the Sony A7S IV, because the S series is due for an update.

For new photographers, interested in Full Frame, I still highly recommend the A7C, as it is the cheapest option, and you’re not going to need extra features (at least for now). Perhaps, maybe you can wait for the A7CII, as I’m sure Sony will make many improvements on the original C camera.

Comparison chart of Full Frame Sony Mirrorless cameras in the last five years. Note: BSI stands for Back Side Illuminated.

Camera	Chip	Sensor	Resolution	Burst	Price	Release Date
Sony α7 IV	BIONZ XR	CMOS, Exmor R	33MP	10fps	$2,498	2021-12
Sony α1	BIONZ XR	CMOS, Exmor RS	50MP	30fps	$6,498	2021-01
Sony α7c	BIONZ X	CMOS, Exmor R	24MP	10fps	$1,799	2020-10
Sony α7S III	BIONZ XR	CMOS, Exmor HD	12MP	10fps	$3,498	2020-09
Sony α9 II	BIONZ X	BSI Stacked CMOS, Exmor RS	24MP	20fps	$4,499	2019-10
Sony α7R IV	BIONZ X	BSI CMOS, Exmor R HD	61MP	10fps	$3,499	2019-07
Sony α7 III	BIONZ X	BSI CMOS, Exmor R HD	24MP	10fps	$1,998	2018-04
Sony α7R III	BIONZ X	BSI CMOS, Exmor R HD	42MP	10fps	$2,798	2017-11
Sony α9	BIONZ X	CMOS, Exmor HD	24MP	20fps	$2,899	2017-05

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Site Update: New lens and camera considerations

Read More Tamron After much considerations, I decided to put my chips in a Tamron 28-200mm F/2.8-5.6 lens, a fairly new-ish Full Frame lens that came out in June 2020. I’ll go over some of the positive. First of all, the price is fantastic. It retails for $729 ....

After nearly one year of using, and loving, the Sony a7c (since Aug 2021), in combination of the Tamron 28-200mm Lens (Sep 2021)… I am already thinking of getting a new lens and/or thinking about buying a new Sony camera.

While I do like the idea of the “all-in-one” lens of 28-200mm, I find that I’m always in need of more reach, often using the 200mm. You see, how I shoot shows is different than most live concert photographers. I don’t want to fight fans to get up in front, so most of my shots are done at the back of the venue… as if I’m not there and definitely not obstructing any fans. Plus, I find that most of my shots from the photo pit are looking up at the subject, which is not great, in my opinion.

Basically, what I’m looking for is a lens that can go past 200mm… and in the Sony E-Mount world, I have a few choices:

Sony 200-600mm F5.6-6.3 for $2,000

Sigma 150-600mm F5-6.3 for $1,400

Tamron 150-500mm F5-6.7 for $1,200

The Sony lens is out of the question, just based on the price. If money was no object, yes, I would like a native Sony lens, for the fact that there is no limit on burst mode and the ability to use extenders.

Between the Sigma and Tamron, I’m starting to lean towards the Sigma, just based on that extra 100mm difference (it max out at 600mm vs Tamron’s 500mm). I’m going to wait for a sale, but if I can’t find one any cheaper… I may have to go with the Tamron because it’s less expensive (as of this writing you can buy it new for $1200).

Both lens have a minimal focus point of 23 inches, so you can get really tight macro closeups. The Sigma is larger and weighs about 1 pound more than the Tamron, but given that it has a longer reach that is to be expected. Both offers lens stabilization and other similar features.

I’ll continue to do more research on the main differences between the two lens, but, as far as I can tell, they are pretty much the same lens, except one is larger and has more reach. To me, Tamron seem to design the lens for compactness and is meant for the traveling photographer.

Also worth noting is that the Sigma has a 4 year warranty, while Tamron offers a 6 year warranty. I’ve never had to use any of the manufacturer’s warranty, but it is nice to know that these companies stand behind their products.

In the end, I think I’ll be happy to buy either lens.

The Cult at Palace (08 July 2022)

As for new cameras, I’m looking at the new Sony a7IV or the Sony a9 (used). They’re both about the same price, although I’m not entirely confident in buying a used camera.

The new camera will use the super telephoto lens, so I can quickly shoot close ups or wide. I know, I know, this is extreme, but when you’re out shooting in the field, it’s very annoying to swap out a different lens (especially when it’s only temporary). Plus, I’ve always wanted a backup camera. Anyway, for example, the closest I can get using the 200mm lens is shown on the left. I have to get Ian Astbury’s full body… but what I really wanted was Astbury’s head and shoulders to fill out the frame and get more details in his face.

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