Still a good time to buy the Sony A7r iii?

I'm contemplating either selling my 5dmkiv and getting this or just getting one as a backup.
Thing is is it still a good time to buy? What's the life cycle like for Sony's cameras?

Yes it's a good time to buy - they just got their first price drop at major retailers ($200)!

There are rumors of the A7S3 being announced soon, but I haven't heard anything about an A7R4.

Sony tends to have a shorter release cycle than Canon, but don't let that stop you, or you'll always be sitting around waiting for the next thing...

Really? Is there ever a bad time to feed your hobby?

Wasnt it only released at end of 2017?..

Yep, October 2017. The A7R II was released Aug 2015, and the A7R was Dec 2013... so the A7R IV isn’t due until the end of 2019 if they keep a similar refresh schedule.

I was in the same situation. I bought this a7riii and wow! So if your on the fence I highly recommend it. Very nice camera. I kept my canon 5ds and canon lenses.

jay25 wrote in post #18647326
I was in the same situation. I bought this a7riii and wow! So if your on the fence I highly recommend it. Very nice camera. I kept my canon 5ds and canon lenses.

What adapters are you using for your Canon lenses on the A7r III, and any issues with that? I've tried searching for answers to this question, but it seems everyone has a different experience/opinion. I'm a Canon user, invested in Canon glass, but tempted to try the A7r III.

f8andBeThere wrote in post #18662763
What adapters are you using for your Canon lenses on the A7r III, and any issues with that? I've tried searching for answers to this question, but it seems everyone has a different experience/opinion. I'm a Canon user, invested in Canon glass, but tempted to try the A7r III.

Unfortunately the answer changes all the time with firmware updates and which particular lenses you’re using. There’s not a straight answer. That said, I have the MB V on my A7III and it works well for pretty much all of my Canon lenses as long as you don’t expect it to track moving subjects at high frame rates. For slow moving subjects and static stuff it’s perfectly fine. I don’t think you can really go wrong with either of the two most popular adapters, the MB V or MC-11, although I think the MB may have more video compatibility. I don’t shoot much video so I can’t give any info on that.

f8andBeThere wrote in post #18662763
What adapters are you using for your Canon lenses on the A7r III, and any issues with that? I've tried searching for answers to this question, but it seems everyone has a different experience/opinion. I'm a Canon user, invested in Canon glass, but tempted to try the A7r III.

I sold all my Canon lenses but still have a 7DmkII. In January I bought an MC-11 to try with the A7R iii. I rented a Sigma 150-600 for a few days to try out and I have been pleasantly surprised with the results. I plan to buy one now and hang onto the 7D but use it on the R iii as well. YMMV but the MC-11 is good for me. Will be posting some shots later.

I am waiting to see what Canon brings out in Sept at this point.

MC-11 adapted Sigma 150-600 C on Riii, f8.0, ISO 400, 1/800, 600mm

Will in Tejas wrote in post #18663297
MC-11 adapted Sigma 150-600 C on Riii, f8.0, ISO 400, 1/800, 600mm

That's a nice shot. I was unlucky when trying to use that lens combination on my A7R3. I was really hoping to be able to keep my Sigma, it was a superb lens but I found that CAF after about 450mm was appalling, I was only able to get one shot in every 10 in focus. In the end I had to sell it and go for the 100-400GM with 1.4x teleconverter.
Terrible shock to the bank balance!
BTW what's the bird, although I'm in the UK I frequently travel to the States to see my daughter and family, I'm very slowly building up my knowledge of birds in the USA.

If an a7r iv comes out the a7r iii won't suddenly stop being awesome

TeamSpeed wrote in post #18663099
I am waiting to see what Canon brings out in Sept at this point.

Yes...I agree!!

My hope is at least a Mirrorless FF that is similar to the A7iii. If that's the case I may possibly sell my Sony. Unlikely Canon would use the 5dmk4 sensor. If this is the case I'll happily buy more glass for my sony setup and keep it. Human subjects look real an unedited with sony. Canon in every case renders a different look imo. The same comments can even be said shooting Micro 4/3 and especially Fuji while analyzing Raw files.

The MC11 adapted canon glass works for the casual world. Any serious shooting using adapted glass is far from ideal IMO. Even documenting my 5yrs old on a bike using AF-C isn't effortless. But this is totally understood and expected to use non native glass with any system. No video whatsoever with the MC11.

For the casual snap shooter and family documentation I'd rather use my Fuji or Sony with native glass due to the quieter operation of the AF motor in their lenses. For the full frame world glass, Canon glass is not very quiet for vid application. I will admit some Fuji glass isn't so quiet either.

The appeal for the A7Riii is you can get roughly two focal lengths using primes. Going in "crop mode" you can get more "reach" while retaining enough megapixels to play with. The Sony A7iii in crop mode achieves a ballpark of 10MP iirc. That kinda makes me feel like I'm using my old XTI and 1dmk3 as far as resolution is concerned :P

Amairphoto, I'm not one of those folks that would ever claim selling my Canon and not have any regrets yada yada yada. I think every tool you use has benefits to a degree. I'm pleased with what Sony offers me but if I sold my Canon initially in the acquisition of Sony gear, I would have repurchased my 5dmk4 in a heart beat. Only you can decide if one system will meet all of your needs.

Compare examples of images from POTN's Sony, Canon and even Fuji threads. There is a massive difference in how images render. A lot of Fuji render is "calm looking", Canon just has a different colour science I'm use too. Sony images even after some editing look downright real to life with a certain honesty that Canon or Fuji does not provide. Landscape work look like polar opposites in many cases if you look at Canon work vs Sony.

Check out POTN's threads and you'll get a feel of how a camera system renders.

footman wrote in post #18667177
That's a nice shot. I was unlucky when trying to use that lens combination on my A7R3. I was really hoping to be able to keep my Sigma, it was a superb lens but I found that CAF after about 450mm was appalling, I was only able to get one shot in every 10 in focus. In the end I had to sell it and go for the 100-400GM with 1.4x teleconverter.
Terrible shock to the bank balance!
BTW what's the bird, although I'm in the UK I frequently travel to the States to see my daughter and family, I'm very slowly building up my knowledge of birds in the USA.

Thank you. That is a house finch, female or youngster.

I had rented the Sigma lens to see how it would work and I was very pleased, so much so I bought one and was given the Sigma dock in the deal at no charge. I still have a Canon 7DmkII so I can use the Sigma there. I primarily use the FE 100-400 with or without the 1.4 x. I need to put the new Sigma on the R iii to make sure this copy works well.

I miss my Canon stuff until I think about hauling the 500 f4 around then I get over it.