Fuji vs Sony

Fuji vs Sony

Looking for opinions on the (probably) XT-3 and the A7iii.

I have been a Canon shooter since the AE1 program and currently shoot the MKIII. I currently own five lenses, 3 of them L glass.

If I go with the Sony, I would buy an adapter and keep using my current lenses (unless that is a bad idea for some reason). If I go to Fuji, obviously I would buy all new lenses. The total kit for the Fuji would be double of that on the Sony. I don't want to say money is no object, but I don't want that to be the only, or even the main, factor.

What is your opinion on these two options, and/or should I wait for the Canon pro mirrorless next year?

TIA

Forgot to add, video is not a consideration, I only shoot stills

Why are you changing? What do you hope to be able to do that you can't now. What type of photography do you want to do next? There are a whole lot more questions that need answers before you get anything more than a brand-fanboy answer.

You can also get adaptors for Fuji that will work with your Canon lenses, including AF.

A few years ago I sold off my Canons (5D3) along with all the Art and L lenses I had and bought more Fuji gear. I was already shooting with the X-T1 and 16-55/2.8 but didn't feel that was quite up to the task, once I got an X-PRO2 though that opinion changed and I went all in. I use them for all kinds of work and haven't regretted the change one bit.

Fair enough. My photography over the last 15 years has evolved from mostly studio and product to travel and street. So the smaller size is an attraction. I don't shoot weddings and rarely do studio portraits anymore. I do some landscape when I travel but rarely pack the tripod. More and more of my travel photography is street and lifestyle, so a small body with a silent shutter has an appeal. Of course, I lose the street cred of the big DSLR, but I got over that last year when I took off my battery grip and walked around for several months with nothing but the nifty fifty on the front.

My 5DMKIII is showing its age and wear just a bit and I had decided a while back that this year or next, I would probably buy my next body. At that point the MKIV was an obvious choice, but I've been reading and hearing a lot about the mirrorless cameras that I decided I might make a change, mostly for size and quieter shooting. I may wait for the Canon pro mirrorless to come out, but I suspect that the price would be the equivalent of a whole new kit with Sony or Fuji. Having shot both crop and full frame, I'm less concerned about that than about pixel count. Ability to crop in tight is something that has saved and/or changed many shots for me.

So, I guess the short answer is, I'm probably going to buy a new camera this year or next and that has always been Canon in the past, but I'm not sure it will be this time.

As mentioned earlier their are EOS adapters for Fuji as well. I suggest you go to a store and HOLD them both. Perhaps even rent them both. THey are both excellent cameras and you really cannot go wrong with either. I will mention that Sony has superior EYE AF, if that is a big factor for you. Fuji is crop and Sony is FF, again, if that matters to you. It doesn't matter to me and I love my Fuji system. The ergonomics of the Sony systems and the menus are not to my liking.

I wouldn't ditch the 5D3 yet. I've been shooting an X100F for a little over a year now, and I love it. I very nearly ditched my 6D, but pulled my sale ad to loan it to a friend for 6 months.
After 6 months and I used the Canon gear again, I was happy I hadn't gotten rid of it!

I just like to use different gear for different things. The X100F is enough for me to do everything I want, but FF is handy to have! If I go all mirrorless it will be Fuji, despite the whole APS-C thing.
Sony makes fine gear, but I have beef with Sony from YEARS ago - enough to safely say I'll never shoot Sony.

With all of that being said, it sounds like you just need a change. Maybe just add something completely different to your gear list? Ricoh GRII? Fuji X-70? You don't have to spend a whole lot of money to have a whole lot of fun.
I don't shoot for money, so I don't buy anything new. I've really been thinking about playing with an X-Pro1 and a cheap prime as they're so cheap (and have continued to update the firmware).

You can get Rebel film SLR's for pretty cheap. I paid $7 for this one, and it produces great images with nice glass.

Mostly personal choice, I have a Sony mirrorless system (based on A7r iii) and I am very happy with it even if it's not perfect. I feel like I can now focus on improving my photographic skills instead of overthinking my equipment (which are just tools).

dbvirago wrote in post #18880833
Fair enough. My photography over the last 15 years has evolved from mostly studio and product to travel and street. So the smaller size is an attraction. I don't shoot weddings and rarely do studio portraits anymore. I do some landscape when I travel but rarely pack the tripod. More and more of my travel photography is street and lifestyle, so a small body with a silent shutter has an appeal. Of course, I lose the street cred of the big DSLR, but I got over that last year when I took off my battery grip and walked around for several months with nothing but the nifty fifty on the front.

My 5DMKIII is showing its age and wear just a bit and I had decided a while back that this year or next, I would probably buy my next body. At that point the MKIV was an obvious choice, but I've been reading and hearing a lot about the mirrorless cameras that I decided I might make a change, mostly for size and quieter shooting. I may wait for the Canon pro mirrorless to come out, but I suspect that the price would be the equivalent of a whole new kit with Sony or Fuji. Having shot both crop and full frame, I'm less concerned about that than about pixel count. Ability to crop in tight is something that has saved and/or changed many shots for me.

So, I guess the short answer is, I'm probably going to buy a new camera this year or next and that has always been Canon in the past, but I'm not sure it will be this time.

Wait for a while if you can. You may just buy an EOS R mk2/pro when the EOS R evolves. You can stick with Canon. The rumour that Canon is developing an 80MP high res FF sensor would be much better than a Fuji aps-c sensor as far as resolution is concerned. If you shoot cRAW you can probably reduce the full raw file about 40% You still need some megapixels if you're into tight cropping in post.

Landscape and travel is not demanding in AF. Pickup a Sony Gmaster 16-35mm and Sony A73 for STILLS photography. It'll be similar in weight compared to a Fuji X-t3 with 8-16mm f/2.8 UWA (10-24mm f/4 combo would be lighter) If you want high res with sports camera AF from the Sony A9 as well as 61MP look into the A7r4 when it comes out. Cheaper solution is to get the A7R3 for a song and have 42MP or go Sony A73 or A9 with 24MP.

You can go with a Sigma MC-11 lens adapter and use your Canon lenses. Not recommended if you're shooting fast action but for static to slow functionality this is one reason why I went sony for my mirrorless system. I've been waiting for Canon FF mirrorless but my patience wore thin.

If you go with a Sony A73 it's more like you've upgraded to a Canon 5dmk4. If you needed serious sports/fast action AF consider the Sony A9. If you suddenly demand high res you can consider the current A7R3. My point I'm trying to make is that you have huge options and you can use the identical set of e mount lenses. This is where Canon is just not there yet in different bodies. It seems Nikon FF mirrorless is actually pushing harder in catching up with Sony. If you look at your options you can see this has nothing to do with fanboyism. Features and alternative with Sony is incredible at the moment. Want a Sigma 35 f/1.2? no problem, wait for a Sony 35 f/1.8 coming soon. Smallish Gmaster 24mm f/1.4 or Sigma ART flavours too. Want 135 f/1.8?? choose Sigma or Sony.....ever try a Sigma 105 f/1.4??? So many OE original glass to 3rd part offerings.

If you wait long enough Canon will eventually catch up RF mount glass will be absolutely incredible.


If your all about street and travel you should test drive the Fuji aps-c system. You may find it fits perfectly in your needs and demands. You will never know until you try. I sold all of my Fuji gear as it did not meet my needs. I will take my Sony A73 with Sigma 24 f/1.4 ART prime (eventually buy a GMaster 24 f/1.4) any day over my previous Fuji with 16mm f/1.4. When I purchased the Sigma 105mm f/1.4 for my Sony and analyzed the IQ/Render this immediately made it clear my preference in fast primes with 35mm sensor. This is were a tonne of small form factor lenses is available for Fuji and it could satisfy your shallow dof demands. Everyone is different........... I'll happily adapt to Canon EOS R Pro when it comes out. The beauty is native glass performance when using Canon FF mirrorless body with adapted EF glass.

Why did I go Sony mirrorless? You can go lightweight or go big guns depending on what you want to do. I get incredible IQ from my Sony E mount Tamron 28-75mm and it's extremely light weight. You can go with a 55 f/1.8 or Gmaster 24mm f/1.4 which still feels feather light compared to our Canon DSLR system. If you need high res it's simply taking a trip to the camera store for a 42MP or up and coming 61MP camera.

AlanU wrote in post #18910576
You can go with a Sigma MC-11 lens adapter and use your Canon lenses. Not recommended if you're shooting fast action but for static to slow functionality this is one reason why I went sony for my mirrorless system. I've been waiting for Canon FF mirrorless but my patience wore thin.


.

I know the Metaboones are much more expensive.... but in this case I have found that if your aren't shooting Sigma glass... the metabones is much more reliable. Just my experience. Like the MC11 for its cost and that it works well with some Canon glass.... best are the 70-200 f2.8 L mk II and the old standby 85 f1.8. Lighting fast with those two. But others.... the MC ii is much slower than that metabones. I can shoot video with the 24-105L with the metabones... wouldn't even begin to try it with the MC-11. Though still with the 24-105L are decent.

Again... just my milage. Metabones firmware updates fix a lot more than Sigma's.... and works with more lenses. But it cost 2x. But they are 2x more reliable too... so there you go.

Croasdail wrote in post #18914789
I know the Metaboones are much more expensive.... but in this case I have found that if your aren't shooting Sigma glass... the metabones is much more reliable. Just my experience. Like the MC11 for its cost and that it works well with some Canon glass.... best are the 70-200 f2.8 L mk II and the old standby 85 f1.8. Lighting fast with those two. But others.... the MC ii is much slower than that metabones. I can shoot video with the 24-105L with the metabones... wouldn't even begin to try it with the MC-11. Though still with the 24-105L are decent.

Again... just my milage. Metabones firmware updates fix a lot more than Sigma's.... and works with more lenses. But it cost 2x. But they are 2x more reliable too... so there you go.

I just never ever use my MC-11 now. I will simply only buy E mount for my Sony system.

If you've ever tested the Sony 24-105 f/4.0 zoom you will not touch the Canon version. I gave it a test run yesterday and I was in quite a shock in the image quality from that zoom.

I think the best solution for the OP is to simply wait for the updated EOS R "pro" body so that an adapter will have "native" performance with better features and performance.

AlanU wrote in post #18916585
I just never ever use my MC-11 now. I will simply only buy E mount for my Sony system.

If you've ever tested the Sony 24-105 f/4.0 zoom you will not touch the Canon version. I gave it a test run yesterday and I was in quite a shock in the image quality from that zoom.

I guess in my case ignorance is bliss. I've been pretty satisfied with my adapted L lenses. I guess if I saw and knew there was better, I'ld be less happy.... Kinda like flying first class to Hong Kong or Singapore... couch just doesn't seem as good as it was before. Speaking from experience here.....

FYI Some of you replying I can;t really tell if you are discussing the Fuji or the Sony in your replies?

Daryl,
I have to assume you already know the key differences in the two systems, (FF vs. crop, size weight, etc. you already no the Fuji with native lenses is the more portable option) So no need to re-iterate those differences.

Which really brings it down to features and feel/ergonomics. Preferences here are personal. I'd certainly echo the idea of trying to get a feel for them in hands as much as possible. I for one was deeply enamored of the Fuji layout and feel (XT1 owner) and also was looking for mirrorless as something more compact so Fuji's crop sensor and smaller (yet amazing) lenses were preferred.

That said, in practice, I found that the Fuji's ergonomics are not as much to my liking as first impressions would have indicated. I've not owned a Sony @ yet,. just tested them out the same way i did with the Fuji before buying. Having found those short term impressions did not hold up, I can't really offer a sound opinion on if the Sony would have been a better choice.

I would echo this. I have been a life long Fuji P/S buyer... always loved the images they produced. Haven't used the new series, but admire the retro look and access. I went Sony, and honestly it took me 6 months to get comfortable with it. I still sometimes have to hunt to find where "format" is in the menus. Fortunately the newer ones allow you to create your own menu and stuff your most commonly used functions there.... like format. But it was a longer learning curve for me. I had been shooting Canon since 1886, and the transition from film to digital was a smooth as a babies hinny.

Now I know the sony system.... I love it. It still has its nuances. Silent shooting under lights is a real challenge. Rarely use it. Other things I love that are universal between the two brands are using an EVF with all the tools it provides (zebra stripes, focus peaking).... wouldn't go back to dslr if you glued it to my hands.

I do agree with Cyber... the size of the Fuji kit is real appealing to me.... but frankly I couldn't sneak another brand of camera into the house without getting the stink eye from my wife. Sony stuff all looks alike.... so should I buy a new camera body....... it would not immediately raise suspicion until guilt won out.

Croasdail wrote in post #18924600
... Sony stuff all looks alike.... so should I buy a new camera body....... it would not immediately raise suspicion until guilt won out.

lol, Similarly with the DLSRs, any upgrades to those have been stealthed in for many years...

5D MIII is fully supported by Canon. If you have issues bring it for service.
It will cost less in time and money instead of loosing L for cropper or dealing with not always flawless adapters on Sony.
I’m not sure what is wrong with EOS R to switch as mirrorless.
But if you want to try something really different here is Fuji digital MF which works with not wide angle L.