Scenes Seen/Was Going To Call It Franken Q, but Nope: Sony A7c + FE 40mm f/2.5 G.

As previously stated, a wonderful combination that is capable of wonderful results made even better, as mentioned in an earlier post, with an aesthetically appropriate metal square hood and cap and thumbs up, both by Haoge.

Have mentioned previously that this has filled the shoes once filled by the Leica Q. It took a while to find the right lens for me admittedly. As mentioned in an earlier post I am not alone in this assessment. Found an excellent video where a photographer makes the case for the A7C and FE 40mm f/2.5 G.

And he admits that he has yet to try the Leica Q2 he compares it to. Neither have I but I have owned a Leica Q and I do prefer the Sony combination. But…

I am no longer going to compare this combination to anything else. The Q is phenomenal. Without question. But, I am getting ahead of myself. Before I elaborate here are some pics from the last day or so with some additional thoughts afterward.

The next few were taken by myself and others while playing show and tell at Cheer… I mean Southeastern Camera. The little rig was welcomed.

Left the camera shop.

So… Why am I no longer comparing it to the Leica Q. Welp:

• It is different enough and good enough to be considered on its own. It is its own thing. The more I use this lens and camera, the more I realize how good they are.

• As good as the Leica Q is I had it as long as I desired to and it has only 259 images in my Flickr gallery. So I have to ask myself was it as good as an image capturing device as I remember it being or do I recall it as special to me for the images that it could create if all things lined up. And then there is this.
  • I sold the Leica Q without much consideration. I do not really miss it. Have never considered buying another.
  • The A7C? Have owned it since release, it is well past 4K images in Flickr and climbing, and I have not once ever even considered selling it. Ever. For some strange reason I only just now realized this.
• If I am honest about myself I prize performance and the A7C outperforms the Q in just about every measurable metric. You may say, but… but… it is a Leica. I understand. But it was not the Leica I wanted. And now that I have a variant of the Leica I wanted (An M mount. I am talking about an M mount Leica rangefinder.) I do truly understand the Leica allure. As great as it was the Q was a bit too functionally normal to be the Leica for me. (Personal opinion I would like to remind all who may find these to be fighting words. I come in peace.) A great camera. But in retrospect, it was me, not the camera. I only had eyes for a specific Leica. Not any Leica.
• I could go on for a bit, but I will end with this. Whatever is lost in a particular IQ look is easily overwhelmed by technical competence for me.

Put this camera together with aesthetic and functional accessories and a lens with (Cut and paste conclusion ahead.) qualities like build quality, on lens controls, aesthetics, compact size, great low light performance, and a fairly reasonable price and you have yourself one fine lens. So much so that it won me over even though I usually go for a slightly brighter aperture. It is a near perfect merging of all of my favorite lens attributes in a very small package.

I now consider it its own thing. And I like it. More to come on a half case. Well done Sony.

-ELW