A Contemplation...

So I'm planning a trip shortly to go have fun. Now this isnt a photography-related trip but I still want my camera. There will probably be a museum involved and some food/drink photography, maybe an impromptu portrait.

I already decided I'm NOT taking my EOS 7D Mark II, The weight/bulk isnt necessary for this trip and would be tiresome to take everywhere. Planned subjects are not things where the 7D is the right camera besides. I love my 7D Mark II to pieces, I just feel its the wrong tool

So that leaves my GX8 + 15mm f/1.7 Summilux and my 45mm f/2.8 Macro-Elmarit, and I already see a problem with it. For one having two primes while there I already see wont work out well, I really want a zoom for the trip, Plus I still desperately want a 25mm lens..

On the other hand while i love the GX8 to pieces, I've been honestly wanting to change it out and perhaps bite the bullet and finally go for an A7, It would give me some different capabilities in terms of image sensor and Sony has been correcting the things I didn't like about them. The A7 would be awesome for slow and quality and eventually I could drop cash on the R series for high resolution for my macro work. Im picking the A7II as a starting point because of price and IBIS.

Since Im going on the trip, i dont want to blow my budget on a bunch of photo equipment beforehand. But I can do maybe one thing first... I've come up with the following options, Regardless I'm going to be selling off my old 7D+grip (Mark 1) my 11-16mm f/2.8 zoom and a few other items

Option 1 is simple, I sell off my 15-85 and buy the 12-60 f/2.8-4 Leica for the GX8, To be honest, the 15-85 is my least used lens anymore on the 7d, The things it is used for is the type of stuff where I honestly want something smaller and lighter, Additionally I might sell the 45 Macro-Elmarit off to get a 25mm lens (The Panasonic f/1.4 most likely) This is probably the simple option. The 12-60 is equivalent in terms of DoF and that to the 15-85 and the typical usage for the lens is stuff the GX8 is perfect for.

Option 2 is less simple, I liquidate the 15-85, GX8, 15mm Summilux, 45mm Macro Elmarit and drop the money on an A7II, 24-70 f/4 and the 28mm f/2, Maybe the 55mm f/1.8 as well... A lot more work but maybe worth it. I might consider the 50mm f/2.8 Macro instead actually, as its nice and handy (And DOF wise no worse than the 25mm f/1.4)


So yeah.. Whats everyone think?

I had a similar situation before a trip and instead of getting a compact system camera I took my canon 6D, 50mm prime, and 24-105 like a dummy.

Although it was a somewhat smaller setup I did not take my camera everywhere as my main goal on the trip was to have fun and didn't want to worry about lugging a camera around.

I vote for option 2 but look into something even smaller like the Sony a6000-6500 with a fast prime if you are set on the Sony system.

where you going on your trip?

Ok I will throw a couple of different options out;
3 look for a used 14-45 (Not 42) or 12-32 for the GX8 they are decent lenses and can be had for a good price, it would make a nice small travel combo. The Oly 25mm 1.8 is nice too as a lower cost option.
4 Consider the 28-70 Sony zoom its not too bad, better versions are good and a lot less than the 24-70 4. If you want the greater resolution you can pick up A7R's MK1 versions for less than the A7 Mk2 but AF is slow compared to the others.
The 55mm Sony lens is a beauty though, as I have said it is the lens that has given me the most satisfactory prints, I bought the A7 to use it, most people who have it love it.

DreDaze wrote in post #18344106
where you going on your trip?

I dont wanna be too specific, but a large city. So lots of walking, Mostly wanting to take pictures of food and in a museum and general sorts of stuff. So I REALLY dont want to lug my 7D around. Its more difficult to fly with too (as it is im realizing a lot of my stuff is difficult to travel with, Im also packing an Alienware M17x at the moment so lugging a 13lbs laptop..)

The Zoom will mostly be the indoors/museum, Prime for the food, i want unobtrusive more than anything..

Good suggestions on the 14-45 or the 12-32, the only reason i hesitate is i do want something a bit faster (For isolation reasons and speed reasons) so i have considered the 12-35 f/2.8 as well I just am fond of my 24-105 range, 24 on the wide end especially

I thought of the A6000 and that, I just somewhat feel i want a different -format- for the mirrorless. An A7 gives me the option of full frame if i want, i love my 7D and im too invested in Canon glass to completely switch mind you. But the A7 appeals to me

I mean the GX8 is really nice, Ive loved it to pieces, I've just evaluated how I've been using it lately and unless im out and its the only camera handy, i grab my 7D instead. I want to have a reason to use it besides "its there" and i want to redo my lenses on it, So if i do that i might as well drop the cash on a new camera.

I'm really thinking it over.. its also a hassle to switch and stuff...

Getting the Sony lets you use your canon lenses (if you buy the adaptor). If the Sony does appeal to you may be that is the way to go. Full frame cameras have many advantages over crop. I don't know whether or not it will be as discreet as you imagine.

I've never understood the need to go to a Sony A7 for portability. Once you add a comparable lens to it (or the Canon adapter) it then has the same depth and weight as a DSLR system. When it comes to trips, I'm hard core. I'll go ahead and have a major portion of my carry on be my selection of DSLR body and lenses. I think your GX8 is a much better starting point for a "portable" system (since it's a m4/3). m4/3 sensors have gotten good enough that they handle ISO 1600 well (just think of it....a few years earlier, that was pretty unusable grainy crap). So if it were just with your two options, it's #1 for a portability standpoint.

Flog the GX8 and grab a used GM1 or a GM5. Kit lens, 25 1.7

Job done

consider option 3

A7ii + 28-70

it's a foot in the door feel out setup.

you can skip the expensive FE 55 in lieu of FE 50 f1.8

FE 28 is solid.

the FE 28-70 + FE 28 + FE 50 will cost you as much as the FE 24-70 by itself.

to throw a monkey wrench in the equation, the FE 24-240 is pretty big, but there's nothing out there that gets you that range, my defacto zoo membership lens. It's pretty good from 24-120 and ok the rest of the way. It slightly lags the 24-70 in the wide end, and noticeably better on the long end, which is pretty amazing considering it's focal range. The 28-70 is similar optically to the 24-70 without the constant aperture and lack of 24mm. It's very light though, probably a full 100g less than the 24-70, and can be found for dirt cheap. While the 24-70 has excellent color and contrast, it's hard to recommend due to the sharpness issue. The FE 16-35 seemingly a similar lens to the 24-70, same type of sony-zeiss lens, same aperture, same color and contrast, but the sharpness difference with overlapping focal lengths is kind of big, and that's at all apertures.

it is also recommended that sony shooters use capture one software for best results, sony raws can be drastically different from canon raws, and the A7r/A7/A7ii have green tint issues. Not too difficult to deal with if you know in advance.

I'd buy an A7 original, get a zoom and a prime and call it good.

Good technique, and being mindful of your shutter speed, and while IBIS is nice, it really isn't a 'must have' in my book.

But if you love your GX8, then swapping out for the lenses you love is also very attractive. Tally up the cost and then jump. And have a great trip!

ksbal wrote in post #18350865
I'd buy an A7 original, get a zoom and a prime and call it good.

Good technique, and being mindful of your shutter speed, and while IBIS is nice, it really isn't a 'must have' in my book.

But if you love your GX8, then swapping out for the lenses you love is also very attractive. Tally up the cost and then jump. And have a great trip!

I'de highly recommend the A7ii for a few reasons

IBIS is incredibly useful, even with good technique, you'll get more keepers with ibis. I like the 200 f5 for travel, it's a manual focus lens, and tiny. Very difficult to handhold without IBIS. the FE 85 f1.8 doesnt have stabilization, and a comparable lens would be the zeiss batis 85, which is stabilized, but costs quite a bit more.

it also keeps your viewfinder steady when using longer lenses.

secondly, extra button and ergonomics. While the mark ii cameras generally have better ergonomics, they are heavier than the old versions. I'de say the ibis is completely worth the weight, although I'm fine with the older ergonomics, doesnt really bother me.

lastly fast AF adaptability. You can adapt canon lenses with fast AF to plug missing gaps and/or give something unique. The older A7 wont give you fast AF with canon lenses.

24-70f2.8 IBIS, 135L IBIS, 200 F1.8 IBIS, 200 F2.8 IBIS.