Trying on a new series.
Bang for buck gear reminiscing.
The purpose is twofold.
- Gives me something to write about.
- 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.
This second post will be another nifty fifty-ish camera and lens combination.
Why do I no longer own them?
As for the camera, I pivoted to a newer full frame solution that Sony released.
The lens… more on that below. In my last post about the a6000 I stated that I swapped due to the A7C serving as a better back up solution to a companion full frame main camera. But the also full frame A7II would also serve as a valid back up solution.
The camera:
- 24MP.
- Fast and accurate AF.
- While not as fast as the latest Sony bodies it does just fine.
- Good color and sharpness.
- Has IBIS.
- I had intended to make the Canon EOS RP the topic of this second post. Mainly because I really like the Canon RF STM 50mm f/1.8. But then I realized that the A7II costs less and has IBIS. Otherwise, these cameras are pretty much equals in my opinion with the only real weakness for both being the short battery life. And then I remembered that the A7II can be used with a two battery grip, and as far as I know, there is no such option with the RP, so… A7II it is.
The lens:
- Pleasant vintage lens rendering and colors IQ.
- f/1.8.
- 45mm full frame.
- Fast, accurate, and silent AF.
- Small and light.
- Inexpensive new and especially used.
Combined:
- Small and light pairing.
- Unassuming in appearance but extremely capable.
Bang for buck:
- Both can be purchased for less than $900.
No one asked but this is a combination I would prefer over newer all in one solutions like the APS-C having X100 and GR. The only advantage of those cameras for me would be smaller size. Other than than that it is the a7II/45mm for me all day. Why?
- I prefer a 45mm full frame equivalency focal length.
- Faster lens.
- Better AF.
- Interchangeable lens.
For instance, I can also recommend Rokinon/Samyang’s own f/1.8 quartet.
As much as I like the a6000 and 30mm SIGMA from the earlier post if it was at all possible to spend a couple hundred extra this is a better solution in my opinion.
- As much as makes no sense the Rokinon/Samyang 45mm is smaller than the crop SIGMA 30mm.
- Being full frame it can and did serve as a full frame backup body.
- You can not fight physics. It makes the best of that extra sensor real estate.
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.
Flexing the interchangeable lens angle over the X100 and GR mentioned above I will end with images captured with this camera when it was used as a backup body at the first wedding session I ever did. As I recall I sold an a6000 I had at the time for this A7II specifically because it would be a better backup to my A7III (My main body at the time.). And it performed flawlessly. I could not tell the difference between images taken with either camera.
w/ the Sony FE 70-200mm f/2.8
w/ Sony FE 85mm f/1.8
While we are at it that same day I used the Rokinon/Samyang 45mm f/1.8 with the Sony A7III.
I was always pleased with the results of this combination. Looking at these images I have some questions for Eric back then.
Why did you sell this camera?
A7C.
Fair.
Why did you sell this lens?
Something, something, look and feel, something but in all honesty I got nothing.
I would be perfectly happy using this as my only near nifty fifty lens.
And this is coming from someone that has acquired a cluster of Sony FE fifty-ish mm lenses over the years. Said another way overkill. This lens would do just fine.
Will I purchase it again?
No. I am good. My current gear makes less sense but, for whatever reason, I have chosen this multilens path and have no plans to deviate from it.
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. I would definitely recommend others follow this path over my own.
Happy capturing.
-ELW
Eric L. Woods 