Ko.Fe.
Lenses 35/21 Gears 46/20
Do you have advanced digital camera which withstand frequent use for sometime?
Something you have with you every day and it doesn’t have issues. Like wobbly GR III wheel.
My most robust, every day, everywhere camera was Canon 500D. Well over 100K shots; year around use. I had great images with it by heavy L zooms and tiny 24 2.8 attached: it still works, but bit bulky even with pancake. And it’s sensor isn’t much advanced anymore.
I’m looking for replacement, but wonder if here is something something similar to its reliability.
Here is Canon SL3, with OK sensor and three zoom lenses covering all from 18 to 400 in FF equivalent. But sensor isn’t advanced much.
And here is funky Z fc; but I don’t know if modern Nikons will lasts for decade or so.
I read how Fuji X pro owners have to replace shutters already. Maybe they used them as Pro.
Something you have with you every day and it doesn’t have issues. Like wobbly GR III wheel.
My most robust, every day, everywhere camera was Canon 500D. Well over 100K shots; year around use. I had great images with it by heavy L zooms and tiny 24 2.8 attached: it still works, but bit bulky even with pancake. And it’s sensor isn’t much advanced anymore.
I’m looking for replacement, but wonder if here is something something similar to its reliability.
Here is Canon SL3, with OK sensor and three zoom lenses covering all from 18 to 400 in FF equivalent. But sensor isn’t advanced much.
And here is funky Z fc; but I don’t know if modern Nikons will lasts for decade or so.
I read how Fuji X pro owners have to replace shutters already. Maybe they used them as Pro.
Phil_F_NM
Camera hacker
10 characters.
hap
Well-known
So you don't care if you have glass sitting around from one of the big vendors in your selection process for a new camera?
Evergreen States
Francine Pierre Saget (they/them)
I've not had to replace anything on my X-Pro1. I bought it used in 2014 or 2015. I was taking pictures in a downpour in Whistler last week when the lens started tromboning and the camera shut off. I tried turning it on again and the same thing happened so I went back to the condo, took the battery out and set it out to dry. Next day I powered it up and took it biking on the trail. It's not a tough camera and it feels downright brittle compared to any 35mm camera from the 1970s. Nevertheless I fully intend on running this camera into the ground.
Pioneer
Veteran
Pentax Q7
Pentax Q7
For the past couple of years I have used a Pentax Q7 almost exclusively for the past couple of years. I do have other digital cameras that I use occasionally but the little Q7 is almost always the one I grab. It is a very handy, exchangeable lens, camera that is very small and portable. But, because of that it will not likely fit most user's needs. For me it is my digital equivalent to the Barnack LTM cameras, with some additional useful features.
Most of my uses are related to photographing items I am posting on-line for sale and to generally document things. I don't use digital in the same way that I use film.
It is very nice for taking long range wildlife photographs since it can be used with pretty long telephoto lenses from various manufacturers. Combined with the small sensor it magnifies the apparent reach. As long as you don't get too carried away it works nicely. I have used up to 400mm but between 200 and 300mm seems to work best. I own adapters for Pentax K mount, M-42 mount, Minolta MC/MD mount and Leica LTM mount. This is one of the very nice additional features as there are also adapters for Canon and Nikon lenses but I am not sure it includes the newer style lenses. Obviously the lenses will only work in manual focus.
I do love the 5x7 prints and it handles 8.5x11 pretty nicely. I have printed as large as 13x19 but I think that is stretching it a bit but it would probably work out all right if the exposure was not too detailed.
Pentax Q7
For the past couple of years I have used a Pentax Q7 almost exclusively for the past couple of years. I do have other digital cameras that I use occasionally but the little Q7 is almost always the one I grab. It is a very handy, exchangeable lens, camera that is very small and portable. But, because of that it will not likely fit most user's needs. For me it is my digital equivalent to the Barnack LTM cameras, with some additional useful features.
Most of my uses are related to photographing items I am posting on-line for sale and to generally document things. I don't use digital in the same way that I use film.
It is very nice for taking long range wildlife photographs since it can be used with pretty long telephoto lenses from various manufacturers. Combined with the small sensor it magnifies the apparent reach. As long as you don't get too carried away it works nicely. I have used up to 400mm but between 200 and 300mm seems to work best. I own adapters for Pentax K mount, M-42 mount, Minolta MC/MD mount and Leica LTM mount. This is one of the very nice additional features as there are also adapters for Canon and Nikon lenses but I am not sure it includes the newer style lenses. Obviously the lenses will only work in manual focus.
I do love the 5x7 prints and it handles 8.5x11 pretty nicely. I have printed as large as 13x19 but I think that is stretching it a bit but it would probably work out all right if the exposure was not too detailed.
Ko.Fe.
Lenses 35/21 Gears 46/20
I have three old L zooms, indeed, sitting in the drawer box and not in use as every day, everywhere. Too large. They are good for indoors, volunteering once in a while. I selected, have newer camera for them, but it is just too bulky for walking or even for been in the everyday bag.
This is why I was looking at SL3 as less heavy replacement for old 500D.
But Z fc has more advanced sensor than all Canon APS-C models.
Cameras like this. Without crazy Leica prices.
Here isn't really much to choose from in APS-C sector.
Maybe I should stop been not pro Fuji and get X100V. It is weather sealed. Should be good on sweating me and in my dusty, old bag.
And it has 28/50mm conversion lenses...
peterm1
Veteran
About 6-8 months ago I bought the original Sony A7s. Very outdated by current standards (A7S111 I think to be the most recent) but really I seldom obsess about how current my camera is as long as it does its job well. It was a bit of an impulse purchase though (I was not really looking for a camera on the day, though I had been considering buying a Sony full frame "one day" for a while). At about $1000 Australian it was in the right price range and I kind of liked the idea of having a sensor that could handle extreme ISO without the IQ falling to pieces. Not that I ever shoot in extreme dark conditions but rather because I felt that if it could handle conditions like that it should be able to render excellent dynamic range and handle normal lighting (and more especially, high contrast scenes) with aplomb. And so it has proven to be. The one thing I do tend to obsess about more than others in photography is avoiding excessive blown highlights - I just hate that look in my images. The RAW files produced by this camera's modest but highly competent 12 megapixel sensor always seem to provide lots of leeway to fix that problem in post. On that score (probably my main metric) especially I am happy.
As a camera this one is reliable, sturdy and has the benefit that it can adapt pretty well any lens that has a full frame image circle. This is how I normally use it though I now have two Sony FE lenses as well. Its only sin is that it still uses the battery that the cropped sensor Sony NEX's used and these run flat ultra quickly when in the Sony A7S. But they are pretty cheap to buy and still readily available. So I carry several with me in a pouch at all times when using the camera - just in case. To help cope with this issue further, I bought a Sony battery grip and the two batteries it carries are usually sufficient for a day's shooting although even then one of them will be flat and the other half flat - and I am not by any means a prolific shooter having grown up in the film era which habituated me to being very parsimonious in the number of frames I make. Still as a package works for me. The battery grip has the further virtue of giving better balance and grip when larger lenses are used.
As a camera this one is reliable, sturdy and has the benefit that it can adapt pretty well any lens that has a full frame image circle. This is how I normally use it though I now have two Sony FE lenses as well. Its only sin is that it still uses the battery that the cropped sensor Sony NEX's used and these run flat ultra quickly when in the Sony A7S. But they are pretty cheap to buy and still readily available. So I carry several with me in a pouch at all times when using the camera - just in case. To help cope with this issue further, I bought a Sony battery grip and the two batteries it carries are usually sufficient for a day's shooting although even then one of them will be flat and the other half flat - and I am not by any means a prolific shooter having grown up in the film era which habituated me to being very parsimonious in the number of frames I make. Still as a package works for me. The battery grip has the further virtue of giving better balance and grip when larger lenses are used.
Ko.Fe.
Lenses 35/21 Gears 46/20
I have GRD and GRD III with same sensor size. It is good, but I still feel more comfortable with VF, not the screen.
Austintatious
Well-known
Sony A6400 and just about any lens you could want. Auto focus or manual focus. In body IBIS is a plus. DPReview Gold 85% ranking.
Ko.Fe.
Lenses 35/21 Gears 46/20
I was thinking about just A7. Don't know how much life is left in them and they are not going to work with super awesome Samyiang 24 and 35 2.8. It seems. I read somewhere what Sony A7 series only support non Sony lenses from A7II, if not newer.
I don't know much about A7, but it is super small and light FF and used price is good for beater.
Godfrey
somewhat colored
I still occasionally use my Olympus E-1, despite it is now nearly 18 years old. But I don't carry it every day anymore.
I had a Sony A7 for a while and was not terribly impressed with it, at least not with my Leica R and M lenses. The sensor stack is fairly thick so there are some limitations with adapted lenses.
My most used digital camera is now my Leica CL. I bought it in Summer 2018. I carry it often, it's gone on several trips and cruises, it does a lot of my film digitizing, tabletop, and macro work, and it's darn good at portraiture and street photography too. I can use any of my M-mount, R-mount, Nikon F mount, and any other oddball lenses on it with mount adapters. It has a very good 24mpixel sensor and I like the APS-C format for a lot of my digital capture work. I've had zero problems with it ... other then letting it get a bit dirty and needing a good cleaning ... and see little need to upgrade from it to anything else, although I hear persistent rumors of a version 2 model coming. Eh, no need.
My other often used digital camera is my Hasselblad 907x, but it's not the kind of camera that I just casually sling in a bag and walk around with like the Leica CL is. This is the best performing digital camera, when it comes to image quality, dynamic range, lens quality, etc, that I've ever owned and I'm completely delighted by it. But again, it's not a 'grab and go' kind of camera in any way, at least not for me.
I have a few other digital cameras too. Most don't get enough use at present, since I'm shootings so much instant film and these two digital cameras work so well for me.
G
I had a Sony A7 for a while and was not terribly impressed with it, at least not with my Leica R and M lenses. The sensor stack is fairly thick so there are some limitations with adapted lenses.
My most used digital camera is now my Leica CL. I bought it in Summer 2018. I carry it often, it's gone on several trips and cruises, it does a lot of my film digitizing, tabletop, and macro work, and it's darn good at portraiture and street photography too. I can use any of my M-mount, R-mount, Nikon F mount, and any other oddball lenses on it with mount adapters. It has a very good 24mpixel sensor and I like the APS-C format for a lot of my digital capture work. I've had zero problems with it ... other then letting it get a bit dirty and needing a good cleaning ... and see little need to upgrade from it to anything else, although I hear persistent rumors of a version 2 model coming. Eh, no need.
My other often used digital camera is my Hasselblad 907x, but it's not the kind of camera that I just casually sling in a bag and walk around with like the Leica CL is. This is the best performing digital camera, when it comes to image quality, dynamic range, lens quality, etc, that I've ever owned and I'm completely delighted by it. But again, it's not a 'grab and go' kind of camera in any way, at least not for me.
I have a few other digital cameras too. Most don't get enough use at present, since I'm shootings so much instant film and these two digital cameras work so well for me.
G
Ko.Fe.
Lenses 35/21 Gears 46/20
For some odd reason any Sony APS-C, just by looking at them is lowering my testosterone. But something like Z fc makes me feel like on the ball. Or two.
peterm1
Veteran
To be honest if I were you instead of buying an A7 I would buy a later camera like the A711 second hand or even better, depending on its cost an A7R11 which does have the upgraded AF system. It will probably be not much dearer than a new A7 and is a better camera in this instance. If you buy from a reputable dealer you should not be disappointed and they normally back second hand cameras with a 3 month warranty (sometimes longer).
I do not know if older Sony A7 variants support 3rd party lenses you mention (presumably you mean in terms of AF) but I do know that many AF adapters from 3rd party makers only support AF in the Sony cameras that have phase detection - and older A7 cameras do not support this. It is the one thing I regret about my A7s (first model).
One lens I did buy to use with my Sony A7s is a Zeiss Makro-Planar 50mm f2 in a Canon EF mount. This lens is manual focus only by design, and being made for Canon EF does not have an aperture ring (unlike those made for earlier Nikon cameras). I needed an AF style Sigma MC 11 Canon to Sony E mount adapter which has the electronics needed to control the Zeiss' aperture through the appropriate dial on the Sony camera.
This works flawlessly with my Zeiss lens on the A7s (which does not have phase detect, so could not use the adapter fully even if the lens did have AF). Never the less being able to control a 3rd party lens in this way through the camera dials is still a big plus otherwise I would not be able to use this specific lens.
It is something you could achieve with a suitable adapter even if you do not end up buying a later type Sony camera with phase detect AF. In other words you could for example use Canon EF lenses (of which there are many) on your Sony - but in manual focus mode and control the aperture through the camera. With my adapter / lens on my Sony this also provides aperture priority, shutter priority and program mode - all of course without AF.
If you were to buy the Samyang lenses you mentioned in Canon mount this should also work in the way I described above (though you might wish to test the lens / adapter/ camera combo before you buy.
Pioneer
Veteran
Yeah. Like I said, not for everyone. It also uses tiny batteries so you have to pack several so you can replace them when they get low on juice. It is also a very small camera which is a bit hard to get used to when you are used to shooting a larger dSLR. Certainly a different experience and I am not certain I am used to it even now.
Frequently when shooting street I use a viewfinder in the accessory shoe and just shoot on Program Mode. I shut the screen off so I am almost shooting like I was using film. I miss a few but I am successful far more often than I would expect.
CMur12
Veteran
Are you disappointed with the EOS RP, or do you just want something in a smaller format to complement it?
- Murray
- Murray
Gerry M
Gerry
Ko.Fe.
I use a number of digital kits, but the one I go to most is a Sony A7II. My most used lens is a Zeiss Contax 45/2 G mount with an Urth adapter. Next most used with the A7II are Pentax Super Takumar M42's. Focus peaking makes manual focusing very easy and I have vision issues. This makes a fairly compact kit.
I use a number of digital kits, but the one I go to most is a Sony A7II. My most used lens is a Zeiss Contax 45/2 G mount with an Urth adapter. Next most used with the A7II are Pentax Super Takumar M42's. Focus peaking makes manual focusing very easy and I have vision issues. This makes a fairly compact kit.
Dogman
Veteran
I'm really less interested in "advanced" than reliable and comfortable to use.
I use Nikon D700 and Fuji X-Pro 1 or 2 almost daily. But I have multiples of each so none get really heavy use. No problems with any of them. Most were bought used so they had some mileage on them when I got them.
If you want a heavy duty camera, get a Nikon DSLR. The older D3, D700, D300 12mp models were nearly bulletproof. Newer ones likely less so but probably more reliable than current mirrorless video cameras pretending to be still cameras.
For a simple day to day camera, when I want something less than a larger camera, a Fuji X100 fits my uses well. I also use a GRII sometimes.
I use Nikon D700 and Fuji X-Pro 1 or 2 almost daily. But I have multiples of each so none get really heavy use. No problems with any of them. Most were bought used so they had some mileage on them when I got them.
If you want a heavy duty camera, get a Nikon DSLR. The older D3, D700, D300 12mp models were nearly bulletproof. Newer ones likely less so but probably more reliable than current mirrorless video cameras pretending to be still cameras.
For a simple day to day camera, when I want something less than a larger camera, a Fuji X100 fits my uses well. I also use a GRII sometimes.
Ko.Fe.
Lenses 35/21 Gears 46/20
Canon rep fooled me in 2019 by saying about them exploring possibility of making compact lenses. Here is nothing for RF with AF and compact. Just one 50 1.8 RF, but it just too narrow focal length for my daily use.
So, I keep RP with big L zooms as low light, FF camera.
Couple of weeks ago we went up North. I connected one of the L zooms at home. Looked at it. What a pig! Way too big and heavy to jump with it on the rocks.
I used cheap consumer zoom instead, but it was bit large still.
On previous trip I used GRD II and it was perfect for handling. But as any GR it has fragile lens and GRD II sensor is not the best for viewing of landscapes at 1:1 on large screen. It just better than any iPhone.
So I’m thinking of something in the middle between RP with bulky lens and tiny GR with fragile lens.
David Hughes
David Hughes
Hmmmm, "advanced" is interesting, but as they all take photos and I can print them, I haven't seen much in that line.
Worse still, when they started using those fancy batteries that cost as much as the camera is worth when the battery dies I reckon they've retreated. I'm thinking of the M9's batteries, btw.
And I'm playing with one at present from a charity shop that cost 3 coins. It takes smartmedia cards and 4 AA's but the zoom goes from f/2.8 at the wide end to f/2.8 at the tele end; that's 32 to 96mm in 35mm film terms. Shutter from 16seconds to just under a 1000th...
It's difficult to advance on that as i only want A4 prints and the quality is high enough. The instruction manual dates it to the summer of 1998.
Regards, David
PS And Godfrey's previous comments about another old camera; the E-1 are so right and its lenses are brilliant.
Worse still, when they started using those fancy batteries that cost as much as the camera is worth when the battery dies I reckon they've retreated. I'm thinking of the M9's batteries, btw.
And I'm playing with one at present from a charity shop that cost 3 coins. It takes smartmedia cards and 4 AA's but the zoom goes from f/2.8 at the wide end to f/2.8 at the tele end; that's 32 to 96mm in 35mm film terms. Shutter from 16seconds to just under a 1000th...
It's difficult to advance on that as i only want A4 prints and the quality is high enough. The instruction manual dates it to the summer of 1998.
Regards, David
PS And Godfrey's previous comments about another old camera; the E-1 are so right and its lenses are brilliant.