RNF: Gear Picks If I Were A Truly Rational Human.
Often times blog posts come from exchanges between online contacts and friends. I am not a rational camera gear person. Seems few are. But in an alternate universe where I could lean on everything I learned from my long term gear churn these would be my picks.
The inspiration came from a comment on a Panasonic Lumix DMC-G7 product pic.
The comment:
When discussing my response with another friend, Anthony, I wrote the following:
I said the AF (on the G7) is decent (contrast only AF) but if his daughter would not likely buy another lens he should get her a Sony ZV-1. Blazing fast (hybrid phase detect) AF with a great lens and costs about the same as the G7 kit he mentioned. If she would switch lenses I recommended an a6000 if he is ok with used and an a6100 if he must buy new and a Sony 16-50 PZ. Basically just about all I would need to own along with some SIGMA primes and a long zoom if I were a truly rational human.
That got me thinking of three tiers of camera ownership use cases.
Tier 1: The minimalist.
The camera I recommend more than any other. The Sony ZV-1 I mentioned above.
It is not a camera to take pictures of. It is a little work horse that is always ready to take the pic at the flip of a screen that automatically powers the camera on. Close it to power down. It does nearly everything well. Even used it to take this pic…
…that is now the Rollei 35AF image used on Camera Wiki.
Sold as a content creators compact video rig I find it to be a stellar little stills camera also. Yes, it is excellent at video but it is much more than that. I am not going to list my whole Sony ZV-1 is the sane person’s camera choice thesis (The link above partially does that.) but I will hit the high points.
- Reasonably priced, especially used.
- Great fast and sharp ZEISS lens with a great zoom range.
- ND filter.
- Killer silent an accurate AF with very fast burst rates.
- Fits in a shirt pocket.
- …ok, I will stop here.
Sidebar: I do not recommend the ZV-1 version II. They widened the zoom lens but it is a slower lens and they removed the built in ND filter. A fine camera I am sure, but in my opinion, the ZV-1 is the better stills camera.
If you do not need a long zoom lens and have no interest in falling down the interchangeable lens rabbit hole buy this and stop reading here. Peace to you.
Still there? Ok.
Tier 2: Interchangeable lens minimalist.
Aka, the ledge of the interchangeable lens slippery slope.
There are no prestige brand mumblings here. No instathreadface darlings. No one will ask, what camera is that? This kit just gets the job done.
The camera. Sony a6000.
It is all the camera I would need if I were a rational man. Again, see the link above or one of the many other posts I have written about this camera over the years for the details. But here are the quick talking points.
- Fast and accurate AF that is still capable even by today’s standards.
- Compact.
- Great APS-C sensor.
- Inexpensive.
- If you are allergic to used gear I would recommend the a6100… which is currently on sale new for less https://ewoodsphoto.com/2020/02/01/sony-a6100-much-better-than-good-enough/than the used price.
The lens.
The wildly unsexy Sony 16-50mm PZ.
If get ‘r done were a lens. No bragging rights or prestige to be had, but it takes a fine pic…
…and costs well under $100 used. If new is a must they make a version II, which is also available for a little less used.
Gear creep. Long zoom.
They have your Sony 55-210mm… That is all I have got. Other choices are available but I would just keep it simple on APS-C. This lens fits the small size and weight bill and would be just fine for most.
The primes. Now we are talking.
SIGMA did Sony a solid and created three of the finest primes I have ever used.
I would still have them if I had kept a crop APS-C Sony body. All three…
Sigma 16mm f/1.4 DC DN Contemporary Lens
The first of the three I purchased. I liked this lens straight off, but one photo floored me.
Sigma 30mm f/1.4 DC DN Contemporary Lens
Sigma 56mm f/1.4 DC DN Contemporary Lens
In fact I will not say any more about them or I risk talking myself into buying all of this kit again. It is all that good.
So, why do I buy more. Easy. An irrational obsession with full frame.
I do not need it. APS-C could do what I want. Heck, most recently I have been getting on just fine with a MFT kit I am building on the side for no good reason other than I want to.
But I want full frame. Heck, I want digital medium format digital. And even though I have dabbled with such…
…I have stood down since. Even I must admit that is not at all necessary, and arguably worse in some areas for my purposes, than what I have now.
But, I have more than I need. That brings me to the last tier.
Tier 3: What if I do weddings and such and want full frame?
I will start with the lens. The Tamron 35-150mm f/2-2.8.
The only full frame lens I need for any type of session.
Wedding.
Portrait.
Event.
Feature/product pic.
Some say it is expensive, but for me, it has functionally replaced my prime lenses for actual work. I keep primes as a personal preference. So, considering the cost of only one lens versus many it is reasonably priced.
Another zoom at the wide end? Ok, the Tamron 20-40mm f/2.8 is a fine choice.
A lens that replaced two.
Ok, you need a camera to put behind the lenses. Easy.
Any Sony A7 from the A7III forward.
I would include the A7II if it did not have the older pez sized battery.
Buy maybe one more body and I am done. Two bodies and two lenses.
Basically my advice to others would be do not be like me.
Welp.
That is a wrap.
Happy capturing.
-ELW
Eric L. Woods 