Fujifilm X-E1/2 (with Speed Booster) or Sony A7

[enero]

Ok, so I think it time for an upgrade. But which one?

I'm not particularly attached to FX lenses, they're nice, but Im more into legacy lenses. I currently only own the FX18/2. Which is wonderful, but nothing special. I have loads of L/M mount lenses, as well as a lot of Nikon F mount lenses, which I currently use on my X-Pro 1 with a Metabones Speed Booster. Since all of these lenses are MF anyway, I dont need to go back to bulky DSLRs (just putting that out there coz its NOT an option). Anyhoo, my question to you is, is there a big enough difference that I should get an A7 or stick with Fujifilm with the metabones adapter?

I should also note that I have been weeding through my L/M mount collections so there isnt much left except for a few wide/ultra-wides and a 50. So the priority here are the nikon lenses.

 

[Jamie Pillers]

I used the Nikon-to-Fuji Speed Booster for a couple of months. I found the combination to be somewhat bulky/heavy. I had been looking forward to using that kind of kit for a long time before the Nikon Speed Booster came out. When I finally got it, I found the performance to be pretty much what Metabones claimed. But I just couldn't get used to the size of the resulting kit (Speed Booster plus SLR-size Nikkor lenses).

I haven't held an A7/R with a Nikkor-plus-adapter kit yet, but I suspect I'll have the same reaction to that kit as well.

 

[GaryLH]

Your 50 should be fine w/ the a7.. The super wides are more of a question mark as always. From what I have read, it is mainly the edges/corners as usually.

You can rent before you buy an a7 from lensrental.com.. Here is an interesting writeup from them on the a7r

http://www.lensrentals.com/blog/2013/12/sony-a7r-a-rising-tide-lifts-all-the-boats

A link to Ken 's review next, he came across a very odd behavior he mentions toward the bottom of the article.. Look for his shot of the Christmas lights on the roof.

http://www.kenrockwell.com/tech/comparisons/2013-12-leica-sony-canon/index.htm

For me as I have said before, my type of photography and how large I print does not need a ff.. So I did not vote..

I actually am happy w/ the native lenses from Fuji. I do have legacy lenses and it is the one thing that tempts me toward such a solution, but because I really don't need it, I not getting it. Will I buy one in the future? Maybe used, when the price is right. But it is really a gear head thing, nothing more.

I would rather wait for Fuji to make a full frame, but they have already said this will not happen for now. So it is wait and see.

There have been a limited number of digital cameras specifically designed for old legacy rf lenses and even they cannot support the complete range.
- Leica digital m family of course
- Ricoh gxr w/ m module
- Epson rd1 series

Like you, I am using speedbooster on my Nikon lenses. There are some really good results from the a7 from rff forum member postings..

Good luck
Gary

 

[GaryLH]

I used the Nikon-to-Fuji Speed Booster for a couple of months. I found the combination to be somewhat bulky/heavy. I had been looking forward to using that kind of kit for a long time before the Nikon Speed Booster came out. When I finally got it, I found the performance to be pretty much what Metabones claimed. But I just couldn't get used to the size of the resulting kit (Speed Booster plus SLR-size Nikkor lenses).

I haven't held an A7/R with a Nikkor-plus-adapter kit yet, but I suspect I'll have the same reaction to that kit as well.

Yeah.. I agree about the heaviness. I tend to use the lighter Nikon autofocus lenses on it vs my older ai/ais ones. The combo is still lighter than my Nikon f4 or my dslr.

I had a chance to play a bit with an a7 at Looking Glass. I was so close to pulling out the plastic. It handles well.. Was so tempted from a gear head perspective, not because I need it.

Gary

 

[Jamie Pillers]

Yeah.. I agree about the heaviness. I tend to use the lighter Nikon autofocus lenses on it vs my older ai/ais ones. The combo is still lighter than my Nikon f4 or my dslr.

I had a chance to play a bit with an a7 at Looking Glass.. It handles well.. Was so tempted from a gear head perspective, not because I need it.

Gary

I see a bit of competitive development going on with these 'full-frame goodness on APS-C sensor' adapters… Metabones, then Mitakon, and now Kipon. Fun to watch. I wonder if its possible to engineer one of these things for mounting an M-mount or LTM lens? THAT would be cool!

I also had a brief visit with Looking Glass' A7. VERY tempting, but I keep finding that the X-Pro1 is 'good enough' to keep me from going through the sell-off-everything cycle again. I'm certainly going to wait to see what the Kipon adapters are like first. They're due out in January. Really fun times we live in right now (at least photo gear-head wise). 😱

 

[GaryLH]

Bad for the wallet if you are a gear head 🙁

Gary

 

[rbelyell]

if one loves manual glass, and does so in part due to their 'unique' signature, i would find it befuddeling to understand why one would then even contemplate putting a foreign piece of glass between lens and sensor. doing so undoubtedly effects the very result one is after by purchasing special glass in the first place.

 

[enero]

if one loves manual glass, and does so in part due to their 'unique' signature, i would find it befuddeling to understand why one would then even contemplate putting a foreign piece of glass between lens and sensor. doing so undoubtedly effects the very result one is after by purchasing special glass in the first place.

Wow, do you talk pretty like that in real life too? I wish all trolls were as eloquent as you.

 

[f16sunshine]

Get yourself a Nikon for your Nikon lenses.
By the time you have an adapter on a Mirrorless the size advantage of mirror less compared to a DSLR is beginning to be lost.
Reflex Cameras are perfect for reflex lenses.
SLR focussing is actually still one of the best methods available. Size be damned 😀

I use a 5Dii for my Zuikos and C/Y Zeiss lenses. an Xpro1 for XF native lenses and a couple of M mounts.

Cheers!

 

[enero]

I used the Nikon-to-Fuji Speed Booster for a couple of months. I found the combination to be somewhat bulky/heavy. I had been looking forward to using that kind of kit for a long time before the Nikon Speed Booster came out. When I finally got it, I found the performance to be pretty much what Metabones claimed. But I just couldn't get used to the size of the resulting kit (Speed Booster plus SLR-size Nikkor lenses).

I haven't held an A7/R with a Nikkor-plus-adapter kit yet, but I suspect I'll have the same reaction to that kit as well.

Your 50 should be fine w/ the a7.. The super wides are more of a question mark as always. From what I have read, it is mainly the edges/corners as usually.

You can rent before you buy an a7 from lensrental.com.. Here is an interesting writeup from them on the a7r

http://www.lensrentals.com/blog/2013/12/sony-a7r-a-rising-tide-lifts-all-the-boats

A link to Ken 's review next, he came across a very odd behavior he mentions toward the bottom of the article.. Look for his shot of the Christmas lights on the roof.

http://www.kenrockwell.com/tech/comparisons/2013-12-leica-sony-canon/index.htm

For me as I have said before, my type of photography and how large I print does not need a ff.. So I did not vote..

I actually am happy w/ the native lenses from Fuji. I do have legacy lenses and it is the one thing that tempts me toward such a solution, but because I really don't need it, I not getting it. Will I buy one in the future? Maybe used, when the price is right. But it is really a gear head thing, nothing more.

I would rather wait for Fuji to make a full frame, but they have already said this will not happen for now. So it is wait and see.

There have been a limited number of digital cameras specifically designed for old legacy rf lenses and even they cannot support the complete range.
- Leica digital m family of course
- Ricoh gxr w/ m module
- Epson rd1 series

Like you, I am using speedbooster on my Nikon lenses. There are some really good results from the a7 from rff forum member postings..

Good luck
Gary

Hey Jamie, I'm loving this adapter, Thanks again 😀 I dont mind the weight at all. My fav lens with it right now is actually the 50/1.2AIS, which weighs a ton, but works amazingly well.

From all the things Ive been hearing about the A7, in terms of what will and what wont work, it seems like theres not much of a difference between having to use this speed booster and using the A7. Its really all hit or miss and pretty much all dependant on the individual lens.

That sensor reflection thing on Ken Rockwell's site is rather alarming. I havent seen that in any other review. I need to read up more on the A7. I have always been very disappointed in how the Xpro1 handles flares.

 

[enero]

Get yourself a Nikon for your Nikon lenses.
By the time you have an adapter on a Mirrorless the size advantage of mirror less compared to a DSLR is beginning to be lost.
Reflex Cameras are perfect for reflex lenses.
SLR focussing is actually still one of the best methods available. Size be damned 😀

I use a 5Dii for my Zuikos and C/Y Zeiss lenses. an Xpro1 for XF native lenses and a couple of M mounts.

Cheers!

I agree with you on the focusing thing, but like I said, getting a DSLR isnt an option. The only one thats really in the price range of what I would consider for a DSLR is a refurb D600, but I cant stand the focusing screen on that camera, so that's most likely never gonna happen.

I dont mind the extra handful of cm's that an adapter gives me. Its better than a fat bulky body that takes up way too much space in my bag, which ultimately makes me never carry it. Its the reason I stopped using DSLRs in the first place. One day I just realized that I rarely used my cameras because I didnt want to carry them. I used DSLRs for digital up until a couple of years ago, and they were always sold with very little shutter clicks on them. Great for the person I was trading or selling to, but not so great for me...

 

[Jamie Pillers]

... doing so undoubtedly effects the very result one is after by purchasing special glass in the first place.

I saw no evidence of this when using the Speed Booster and Nikkor lenses on my X-Pro1. I'd recommend not believing anything you read on the web, one way or the other, about these sorts of issues. I think you can only truly judge by trying it out yourself and seeing what you get in the final print.

 

[nongfuspring]

I like the idea of the A7, but I don't much like the control layout. I prefer the controls of the fuji or the nex7. For some reason I find the A7 to seem a bit hastily designed. I'd prefer to wait for the next generation of FF sony cameras (I think I remember a patent for an nex7 lookalike with an FF sensor) when they straighten out the kinks - or a fuji FF.

Unless you need the megapixels or really dislike the fuji, I'd probably stick with what you have.

 

[enero]

I like the idea of the A7, but I don't much like the control layout. I prefer the controls of the fuji or the nex7. For some reason I find the A7 to seem a bit hastily designed. I'd prefer to wait for the next generation of FF sony cameras (I think I remember a patent for an nex7 lookalike with an FF sensor) when they straighten out the kinks - or a fuji FF.

Unless you need the megapixels or really dislike the fuji, I'd probably stick with what you have.

I've actually decided to stick with Fujifilm for now. I sold off my XP1 and got the slightly better, smaller, and cheaper XE1. I enjoy the Speed Booster. Plays nice with a lot of my lenses. I would love to have more options that the A7 would give me, but I'm just too wary of 1st gen hardware. As much as I want to play with it and stuff, I just dont think its a good idea for me, given that I'm not as liquid as I used to be. So I'll stick with Fuji. I'd be very happy if they surprised us with a FF camera this year, I doubt they will tho... Maybe things will change in a few months. See if SOny will be any better with Firmware updates, and see if any good sales on the A7 pop up 🙂

 

[MiniMoke]

I used a Voigtländer 15mm Heliar with the Fuji adapter on my X-E1 (22mm equivalent) and it was the best combination I ever used, it was a joy to shoot!

 

[alienmeatsack]

I've got an X-E2 and I use it with both the Metabones Nikon G (non-speedbooster) and Leica adapters.

I considered getting the speedbooster version of the Nikon G adapter but honestly, I am very happy with the results of the standard one. The crop factor with it is almost identical to using the same Nikon lenses on any of my Nikon DSLR bodies.

I found that the pairing of the Nikon G adapter with an old Nikkor Series E 50mm "pancake" makes for a nice carry around camera. When you start using the larger/longer lenses however it can get bulky. But you have to consider it's no bulkier then having an actual SRL/DSLR and that same lens on it.

For size though I find that the Leica adapter and smaller lenses like the Voigtlander 15mm or VC 35/2.5 are smaller then my XF 18 lens.

I'd rent the body and try things to see what works for you as mentioned above.

 

[enero]

Ive been pretty much using just the Fuji 18/2 and the VC 40/2 Ultron F mount with the Metabones speed booster, exclusively, since I got the x-e1. there hasnt been much thought of going sony or some other camera since. I think much of the problem was that I just wasnt happy with the xpro1's size and EVF, once I played with the X-e1 for a few days, all the antsyness of needing to upgrade went away.

I have since sold off all my standard L/M mount lenses though, so all I have left are the VC 12/5.6 and 15/4.5 and a beater Industar 22. All very fun to use, but are more for special situations than everyday use. I do love love LOVE using my VC 40/2 Ultron on the ex1, with the adapter it sticks out about as much as the Fuji 35/1.4 does.

I havent had much time to think about it, but I might sell my Leica M8 and get fund an A7. But I'm gonna keep the X-E1 as well. If I do find that I enjoy using the A7 as much as or more than the Xe1, I'll just have the Xe1 converted for IR. Which is pretty much all I ever used the M8 for anyway. I think its all win win here for me 😀

 

[thejameskendall]

People saying get a Nikon SLR for Nikon lenses - there isn't a decent way to manual focus on digital straight out of the box though, is there? I believe you can swap out the focusing screen on the D700 and some other Nikon DSLRs, but that doesn't seem ideal to me. Even the Df seems a terrible idea for manual lenses. It might just be that I wear glasses, but I can't manual focus my D700 for toffee.

 

[enero]

People saying get a Nikon SLR for Nikon lenses - there isn't a decent way to manual focus on digital straight out of the box though, is there? I believe you can swap out the focusing screen on the D700 and some other Nikon DSLRs, but that doesn't seem ideal to me. Even the Df seems a terrible idea for manual lenses. It might just be that I wear glasses, but I can't manual focus my D700 for toffee.

I personally dont think its necessary to stick with a brand of body these days. Theres really no point unless youre using modern or AF lenses. Its not like they built all these wonderful old lenses with a particular sensor in mind or visa-versa. Especially when it comes to APS sensors. It doesnt matter....at least not to me. As long as the lens's signature is retained, a tiny bit of CA or softness isnt going to bother me.

My last DSLR was a D700 as well, I think it was one of the better (consumer end) DSLRs for manual focusing. It has a good focus screen and there are A LOT of 3rd party options for better ones. I also liked the MF assist. It was unobtrusive and (at least on mine) incredibly accurate. I do miss the ease of DSLRs but these days with money being tight, I have to be more choosy of my equipment. I can no longer afford to have (expensive) equipment that sit around for specific needs. These days I have to settle for all purpose equipment. Which is why I made the jump to Mirrorless.

I dont get the point of the Df, especially for manual focus. From what I know it has one of the worst focusing screens of any Nikon DSLR, and its not interchangeable. Pooh.

 

[whited3]

I was about to post this same question before I saw yours. Except with X-t1. I am leaning towards A7 simply because I would always have a niggling curiosity of what it would be like without the need for metabones. Not an easy decision because I prefer the Fuji brand, and I think the X cameras are more mature.