Anyone using more than 1 system?

[humchinpang]

Good place to ask...I would say if you are shooting fast moving objects, LiveView AF from A300 or 350 is unmatched at the moment.

For D5000, even though with tilting screen, the AF on liveview is too slow to be really useful IMO.

Size and weight wise, D5000 is not very light and small as well. Though high ISO is obviously the winner here.

Thanks for the analysis. I guess I can live without the high ISO for now considering that the A350 2nd hand prices is pretty attractive.

 

[reaper3075]

Goodness.. there's a D5000?? :bigeyes:

numbers are getting bigger man!!

couple of years down the road, people will be comparing D12500, 8560D and A70500 :bsmilie: :bsmilie:

ermm.. sorry.. off topic.. ;p

 

[soken]

Goodness.. there's a D5000?? :bigeyes:

numbers are getting bigger man!!

couple of years down the road, people will be comparing D12500, 8560D and A70500 :bsmilie: :bsmilie:

ermm.. sorry.. off topic.. ;p

:bsmilie: that's possible!

 

[soken]

I also had the crazy ideas as yours sometimes, going for 2nd hand D40+35f1.8 or 400d+28f1.8 and see if they really have better noise control than my a300. However, as much as I can afford to even buy new D90 or 500D now and spurge on new lenses like 35mm or 28mm, it kept me wondering whether am I being realistic to spend unnecessarily just to obtain a little gain (maybe only 1 stop) advantage in noise control.

Or I am just like everyone else, backside itchy and need to spend some money to soothe it? (of course if you have endless money to spend, then of course buy all you can, but you will not post here for advice if it's the case though)

In any case, I managed to control my spending really hard and instead get Sony 50mm 1.4 and make myself happy afterall and save that 500+ in my pocket for next Sony upgrades.

Since I just use for family photos, I guess I just need to be real humble and keep my money well-spent on a single system and enjoy the time spent more with my family (and time taking photos together) instead...

Since you are on Minolta lenses, dun mind me checking whether those lenses made in the 80s (with magenta tint on the glass and body made of metal mostly) have rich colours and high contrasts as compared to "normal" sony lenses?

I wonder CZ has the same output as compared to old minolta ones. Have seen your 35-105 in action and really the output impressed me a lot...

I think I will stop thinking getting nikon/Canon, saving money for something else, for the family maybe. But they are far away in China as I think Sony Body is good enough.

The reason why I am thinking about trying other systems, is that 1k is really not enough for a good lens. There used to be some one selling Sony 135 F2.8 stf T4.5 at 1.4k, I thought it was too expensive, and now I am so sure I cannot get one at that price. The dream of buying great lens become unrealistic :cry:.

Anyway, for Minolta lenses, yes, I think, they have rihcer colors as comparing to sony lens, at least better than the 2 kit lenses. and they are vey well built, all my lens were made in 1980s and they worked very well. The body is not made by metal I think and i am not sure what the magenta tint on the glass is. I never use CZ lenses so cannot compare the quality of them. But I think the color of CZ is cooler, and it is very sharp, as I saw some sample photos by CZ 85 and 135.

You can check dyxum.com, you will never regret if u buy some old minolta lens with overall rating >4.7, they are "deanslist" lenses

 

[pipo999]

I do ... but I was more thinking of using digital and film next to each other. I still use a Minolta film body, apart from a medium format box.

 

[Oberon]

I have a A100, A200 and a 400D.

If you can get someone releasing a C or N DSLR with some lenses then I guess it is worth buying to try. Otherwise rent to try.
My 400D is a hand me down and I've bought 18-200mm, extra batts, flash, etc for it. In fact got almost the same range of lenses as the alpha system that I have.

If I didn't have the 400D, the $$$ might have been better spent on Alpha stuff instead.

 

[andrewlee]

... ... I have been considering upgrading to a700 as I want to buy the camera body in China. but i decided to wait for some time.a700 is 3 times more expensive than a200 but not 3 times better than a200. I think... ...

Hi Soken,

If you've ever laid hands on the A700, the superb speed, image quality and DRO processing (compared to the A200) will win you over instantly. I've personally owned, used and compared the A300, A700 & A900; and the only body I still use is the A700 :think: The speed and responsiveness of the A700 causes it to be like an "extension" of my brain - the moment I "think" of taking the photo, the shutter has already fired and is charging up for the next shot... same thing for the AF speed, you'll definitely feel the difference.

If you do not have a tree that grows $$$, I'd advise you to go for the A700 (instead of investing your hard-earned $$$ trying other stuff)... ... While the A700 may be 3x the price of the A200, three (or for that matter, ten) A200's will never be able to match one A700 Similarly, 10 cheapo lenses will never be able to replicate the bokeh, sharpness, and contrast of one expensive lens no matter how hard you tried... that's why some of us are willing to shell out $X,000 for our lenses (But this is after the frustration of buying and trying out 10 cheapo lens...) ;p

BTW, I use the A700 + CZ 16-80 almost all the time... ... this is one pair I cannot stop recommending. I also use the 50mm f1.7 and Minolta 80-200 APO G quite a lot too.

In any case, regardless of what you choose to try out, just enjoy shooting

 

[andrewlee]

I think I will stop thinking getting nikon/Canon, saving money for something else, for the family maybe. But they are far away in China as I think Sony Body is good enough.

Oh... And do take care of your family. They are definitely alot more precious than a box with a flippin' mirror....When the mirror has brokened and the lens has gotten all fungus-ed up, they may be the only ones there for you in your most difficult time...

 

[Galdor]

Since you are willing to fork out $1100, why not top up a bit more and grab that 28-70mm f2.8G lens that one of our bros is letting go?

 

[kingfishers]

Yes, I totally agree with Andre. If really die hard, try the 70-200G f 2.8 or minota; and a 2X tele lens that covers almost to the max. of requirement in zoom . In terms of bokeh and good range.. I try buying some cheapo lens n was very disappointed. That will even make u poorer.So, save and go for the good lens.:bsmilie:

 

[soken]

Hi Soken,

If you've ever laid hands on the A700, the superb speed, image quality and DRO processing (compared to the A200) will win you over instantly. I've personally owned, used and compared the A300, A700 & A900; and the only body I still use is the A700 :think: The speed and responsiveness of the A700 causes it to be like an "extension" of my brain - the moment I "think" of taking the photo, the shutter has already fired and is charging up for the next shot... same thing for the AF speed, you'll definitely feel the difference.

If you do not have a tree that grows $$$, I'd advise you to go for the A700 (instead of investing your hard-earned $$$ trying other stuff)... ... While the A700 may be 3x the price of the A200, three (or for that matter, ten) A200's will never be able to match one A700 Similarly, 10 cheapo lenses will never be able to replicate the bokeh, sharpness, and contrast of one expensive lens no matter how hard you tried... that's why some of us are willing to shell out $X,000 for our lenses (But this is after the frustration of buying and trying out 10 cheapo lens...



BTW, I use the A700 + CZ 16-80 almost all the time... ... this is one pair I cannot stop recommending. I also use the 50mm f1.7 and Minolta 80-200 APO G quite a lot too.

In any case, regardless of what you choose to try out, just enjoy shooting

Oh... And do take care of your family. They are definitely alot more precious than a box with a flippin' mirror....When the mirror has brokened and the lens has gotten all fungus-ed up, they may be the only ones there for you in your most difficult time...

Thank u, bro, for reminding me.
I do care my families and in the same time I do like taking photos.
I just graduated last year and working now, the salary is ok for me!
I feel i am lucky as I graduated last year, not this year.

I save most my salary for my families and my pHD next year, actually I spent 1.5 for my a200, all minolta lenses and F42am.
cheaper than a700,

thank u so much for advice and ya, I am considering upgrading some time.

 

[soken]

Yes, I totally agree with Andre. If really die hard, try the 70-200G f 2.8 or minota; and a 2X tele lens that covers almost to the max. of requirement in zoom . In terms of bokeh and good range.. I try buying some cheapo lens n was very disappointed. That will even make u poorer.So, save and go for the good lens.:bsmilie:

thx for advice, for 70-200 F2.8, I love it but it's really expensive, 2nd hand is still more 2k, right? need to fund for some time.

How about the Minolta 80-200 F2.8 HS APO G, is it cheaper?

 

[soken]

Since you are willing to fork out $1100, why not top up a bit more and grab that 28-70mm f2.8G lens that one of our bros is letting go?

ya, it's great lens, I think i better do some research first to decide which lens to fund first. thank u bro.

 

[pipo999]

Since you are willing to fork out $1100, why not top up a bit more and grab that 28-70mm f2.8G lens that one of our bros is letting go?

:angel: It's still on indeed. I'm moving up to CZ ..