Hybrid

[zerocool22]

Hi,

I might go on a job trip to south america soon for a job. Video + photo. Travelling between locations, run and gun situations + interviews.

So i might want to get a new hybrid camera. (S5 and s5ii atm, but I don't seem to like the highlight rolloff and the colors at times when using it run and gun, while in studio it works as an charm) . But I am unsure which one would be the best. 

Thinking about an a7siii (SD cards) with 24-70mm 2.8 and 70-200mm 2.8. + gymbal + Lav set. I once used an a7s ii in central america, where I liked the highlight rolloff and the colors of the camera. 

Low weight and speed is key I think. Long battery life as well. (No vlock batteries as they are too heavy. The camera should not overheat. And only wish to use 1 body for now for weight reasons)

Any other recommendations? 

Cheers,

[Davide DB]

GH7

 

[eatstoomuchjam]

Davide is 100% correct.  Pair that GH7 with one of the cheap Panasonic/Olympus kit servo zooms and you have a tiny camera that works great for street work.  Or bring the Olympus 12-100 if you're willing to tolerate the extra weight.  Add a couple of fast primes for shooting at night and you have a fantastic usable kit.

Otherwise, if you just can't stomach micro 4/3 for... some reason, there's nothing wrong with the A7S III.  If light weight is a concern, I'd swap for the f/4 versions of both lenses.  You'll still be able to get pretty nice shallow DOF and the lenses will be substantially smaller/lighter.

Plus if you're shooting on the street in some of the cities, having smaller lenses won't be shouting "rob me" as loudly as a big white f/2.8 70-200, for example.

I'd also give serious consideration to super 35.  Fuji has a lot of great options and Sony has the FX30 (or whatever the non-cinema camera version of that is - A6700?  Something like that?).

[MrSMW]

2 hours ago, zerocool22 said:

Thinking about an a7siii (SD cards) with 24-70mm 2.8 and 70-200mm 2.8. + gymbal + Lav set. I once used an a7s ii in central america, where I liked the highlight rolloff and the colors of the camera

A7iv IMO might be a better hybrid unless prioritising low light video over stills?

Tamron 20-40 + 28-75 + 70-180 would make a pretty sweet 3x compact zoom set up. I know this because it was my set up last year for stills and is again for this year.

Next year, pretty sure I will trade the 28-75 and 70-180 for the new boy 50-150 f2, both for the convenience and extra stop, albeit sacrificing a bit of reach.

But then with my A7Rv I can crop quite hard if required.

Personally, I’d go for an A7Rv over an A7iv as it’s a better camera pretty much every department, but A7iv’s are cheaper.

All this stuff is available used of course.

[Emanuel]

6 hours ago, MrSMW said:

Next year, pretty sure I will trade the 28-75 and 70-180 for the new boy 50-150 f2, both for the convenience and extra stop, albeit sacrificing a bit of reach.

About three to four grand for an extra SINGLE stop against Sigma (as for instance) ?! 

It doesn't seem worthy to tell you very straightforward :- )

[MrSMW]

4 hours ago, Emanuel said:

About three to four grand for an extra SINGLE stop against Sigma (as for instance) ?! 

It doesn't seem worthy to tell you very straightforward

Each to their own Emanuel but your mathematics are not quite correct.

Let’s say you are buying new and instead of the 2 Tamron lenses I referenced, you went with the new Sony, then the maths (in euros anyway) are:  4350 - (840 + 860) =2 650 

f2 vs f2.8 is a pretty big deal to anyone that shoots indoors or very low light outdoors as I do.

Not having to switch lenses is a massive deal to someone like me, even if that ‘one & done’ in the hand is more than the alternative.

I have to work with 2 cameras (for stills) regardless because no single lens covers my needs nor ever will. At least not in my career lifetime because my focal range requirements on pretty much every job is 20-200mm.

My current limit is 180mm but my A7Rv can easily make that last 20mm up.

It can easily make up +90mm actually by switching to 26mp APSC crop mode, so the 150mm of the new Sony is no gap at all.

Yes it can’t go wider than 50mm but that is a non-issue because the limitation when using the 70-180 is it is not quite wide enough (without lens switching) and when using the 28-75, not quite long enough.

Having the 20-40 on a second body though only leave a gap of 40-50mm and that just is not something even worth considering.

So for my specific use case, ball park $2500 (adjust for tariffs as an when), it’s a no-brainer!

Yes it will cost me a bit more than that as I will have to sell 2x lenses to make it happen, but even then, it makes sense to me.

Sigma doesn’t have anything currently that can compete against this. The closest would be the 28-105mm f2.8 and that is not close at all.

Tamron and Samyang have their 35-150’s but they get to f2.8 very quickly and they extend when zooming like excited donkeys.

[MrSMW]

I’d also be taking a look at the new Nikon Z5ii.

Those more compact Tamron lenses will also work near natively with the Megadap adapter.

It would make for a great relatively low cost, compact, high performing, affordable set up.

[Emanuel]

4 hours ago, MrSMW said:

Each to their own Emanuel but your mathematics are not quite correct.

Let’s say you are buying new and instead of the 2 Tamron lenses I referenced, you went with the new Sony, then the maths (in euros anyway) are:  4350 - (840 + 860) =2 650

I probably mistyped and the bloody thing replaced by Sigma instead (and I didn't take notice to correct it just in time) but the idea of three to four grand off STANDS anyway with... that Samyang you already know but that f/2.8 is only from 100mm on BTW:

https://www.ephotozine.com/article/samyang-af-35-150mm-f-2-2-8-fe-lens-review-36714

You even have that extra stop you're willing to pay a premium price for at a wider end for a fraction of the price ; ) and a Sony's product design after all (since the Tamron is owned by them) with extra euros and not such a little difference though, just in the case you want to pay for QC you can do by your own* ;- )

 

* I'd rather suggest to take two units and you'll diminish in 50% your chances to not be down, that's the way my maths works... : P