Bang For Buck Gear Reminiscing: Sony a6000 + SIGMA 30mm f/1.4… AKA A Budget X100 Or GR Alternative.

Trying on a new series.

Bang for buck gear reminiscing.

The purpose is twofold.

1. Gives me something to write about.
2. May keep me from repurchasing gear.

May… It also may backfire spectacularly and end up in a repurchase. We’ll see.

A key component is the bang for buck part. This will focus on gear that performs above and beyond what the price point would suggest. This will essentially be an extension of a series I started during the dark days that mostly dealt with MFT gear. It will also be similar to my Canon EOS 5D post. The main difference will be instead of purchasing the gear in question this time I will be using sample images from Flickr.

First up will be a nifty fifty-ish camera and lens combination.

Why do I no longer own it?

Easy. An obsession with a similarly sized full frame solution that Sony released.

This was largely due to the A7C serving as a better back up solution to a companion full frame main camera.

But viewed in isolation the a6000 and this lens were and still are a very capable solution.

The camera:

• 24MP.
• 11fps burst with continuous AF.
• Very fast and accurate AF.
• Good color and sharpness.

The lens:

• Contemporary SIGMA name with Art level IQ.
• f/1.4.
• 45mm full frame equivalency.
• Fast, accurate, and silent AF.

Combined:

• Small and light pairing.
• I like the way they look together.

Bang for buck:

• Both can be purchased for less than $700.

Why did I mention that X100 and GR in the title?

Simple. As much as I respect both of those cameras I would rather have this APS-C set up.

The only advantage of those cameras for me would be smaller size. Other than that it is the a6000/30mm Contemporary for me all day. Why?

• I prefer a 45mm full frame equivalency focal length.
• Faster lens.
• Better AF.
• Interchangeable lens.
• 11fps burst bests similar vintage X100 and GR cameras.

So I have pled my case for this combination. None of that matters if it does not perform. And it does. Here are some sample images.

I was always pleased with the results of this combination.

Will I purchase it again?

No. I am good. My current gear makes more sense for me.

Would I recommend this combination to others?

Yes. With no hesitation.

An excellent solution for a fraction of the price of newer and more popular offerings.

Happy capturing.

-ELW