I started shooting digital around 2002. The company I worked for was the first to transmit images to media outlets from on-site. We'd set up a few computers, photographed images, downloaded, captioned and sent via ftp and at whooping speed of about 1/2 mb a second. All of our camera equipment was Canon. I can't remember the camera model but they were nice at the time. So for all intense purposes, I was a Canon guy.
As the years past, I started my own company and of course it was Canon gear. Shooting weddings I always had two cameras. 5-8 hours of two bricks hanging on my neck and another bag that had extra lenses so I could change on the fly. Over the years, it took it's toll on my neck and back. I'd be in rough shape the next day with a lot of aches and pains.
Quality. For years the choice of professional photographers were for the most part, Canon and Nikon. I didn't know a pro that didn't use one or the other. I shot with Nikon before and I really liked the quality. Looking at the images on my computer, I was really impressed with the quality. When I mean quality, I mean zooming in on an image and really inspecting the spread of the pixels on an eye. Are the pixels smooth, rough or choppy. I wasn't happy with my professional Canon was producing. I had the best lenses so it couldn't be the glass. It had to be the camera. So I started to research. Delving into the web looking for real life cases and not an advertisement blog and I stumbled upon Sony. "Sony?" That's what I said to myself. I did more research and was surprised that a lot of prominent professional photographers from around the world were testing and using a Sony and giving really good reviews. I was intrigued. The A7 looked really appealing. A throw back if you will to the old film cameras. Small, compact, sleek metal body. I did more research and saw that Sony was using Zeiss lenses. If you're not familiar with Zeiss, they're a top notch lens maker that would usually be found on Leica camera which by industry standards are the gold standard.
I believe it was late in 2014 or early 2015 and Sony was coming out with a new model, the A7II. A better version than the A7 with better image stabilization and more focusing points. Sounds great I thought so I took the plunge and purchased one from by go to company, B and H photo and teamed it up with the Zeiss 50mm, 1.8.
It was a big leap of faith. I wasn't dropping $75 on a camera sack, I was changing the tools in how I produce images to my clients. Big step.
When it arrived, I took my test shots with different ISO's, F-stops, etc. and downloaded. When I zoomed in to look at those pixels up close, I was stunned at what I was looking. Smooth, nicely blended pixels around the eyes at high ISO's. I was really impressed! I was also impressed with the weight of the Sony. Seemed to weigh about half of my Canon 5Dm2.
Now the real test will be when I actually go and shoot on location for a paying client. I was actually pretty excited to get out there and produce. I really like the LCD. Never thought I'd use an LCD on a camera because well, pro photographers have ALWAYS looked through the view finder. This camera actually encourages you to use the LCD back because it doesn't drain the battery as fast, lol.
Now the Sony line doesn't come without it's warts. Poor battery life and a small "black period" you get for about of a 1/4 of a second where you actually can't see what's being captured. It's a small nuisance that the pro Canon and Nikon's don't have and something I'd like to see Sony work on the future. They may already have as I write this.
The bottom line for me is that the camera is a tool. You use this tool to produce images to your clients. Whatever works for you is my motto. Sony works for me. I love the quality and the weight. 2 cameras for 8 hours, no problem.
It's been 2 years and I have to Sony A7II's, the Zeiss 50mm 1.8 (which is the sharpest lens I've ever shot with), Zeiss 16-35mm F4 and the Sony 70-200mm F4 and I'm happy and my back and neck are happy. :)
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