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Keep Nex 7 & CZ24mm or keep 60D & 24-105L?

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steveleica

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Hi All

My existing kit is a Canon 60D & 24-105L lens. I have just bought a Nex 7 (with Kit) and just ordered a CZ 24mm 1.8 because hopefully it will offer me the sharpness and quality of my L lens and give me a more portable set up (and offer shallow DOF and quick shutter for action of my kids).

I mainly take photos of my 7 and 3 yr olds running around. I am currently waiting for delivery of the CZ so cannot compare directly but just wondered on your thoughts as I will need to either sell off my Canon kit or send back the CZ (I'm ok to keep the Nex with Kit).

I've read loads of forums/posts but not many compare the quality with the L lens hence my hope that someone on here has been through a similar experience!
Many thanks in advance.
 
Can't comment on L vs the Zeiss. But the Zeiss is quite wide so may disappoint in terms of shallow DOF, you might want to consider the 50 1.8 and Zeiss, or 50 1.8 and the Canon.
--
Kiwi working and living in London.
http://500px.com/plbellamy
 
I understand what you mean about the limited shallow DOF on the CZ. I have a 50mm 1.8 on my Canon but the crop factor tends to make it too 'zoomed' in for me to use it as a general walkaround if I bought the equivalent on the Nex. I was hoping the CZ would at least give me the quality of the L and for me to be able to crop...
 
Not sure howivh this will help, as but just for the ske of conversation... I went from the 60D and 15-85+ 35mm f2, to the Nex-7 and the Zeiss 24mm.

I've still got the Canon, but I use the Nex more, mainly because it is small and light - the reason I bought it. I love the Zeiss, but it is a bit wide at times. Ideally, I'd have preferred a similar quality and speed, at 35mm. But you can't any have everything. That said, with 24mp, it gives plenty to crop if I need to.

Bear in mind, I mainly shoot street/urban photography.

It's hard to compare systems and lenses in my opinion. The Zeiss is lovely - maybe not as sharp as the Canon 35mm, but it has other qualities - or character, if you will. It has a certain 'depth', if that makes any sense? The Nex also has a different 'feel' to its photographs. A bit more 'grainy' (in a good way, in my opinion).

As I say, not really answered your query, but just my experience. .
 
DSLR for pics of the kids (focus speed). However, the best pics I got with the R1, manual focus.
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Canon A2E, Sony R1, Panny TZ5, Nikon D5000, & NEX C3/Zeiss 24mm E Lens
 
Thanks Astound - that does actually help as it gives me an idea that the (expensive) Zeiss is more than just about sharpness (never had a Zeiss/Leica etc before) - I look forward to discovering these 'qualities'!
 
I'm noticing through some of my current shots with kit lens that I can't seem to focus as quickly and accurately in good light as my SLR does and end up with misfocused shots even in good light and fast shutter speed - wondering if it's the lens or more likely my current lack of experience with the camera.
 
Oh the Nex is slower to focus. I haven't really used the kit lens, but even in daylight with the Zeiss, it's not as snappy as an SLR.
 
The Nex-7/E24Z combination will match the 60D/-- in terms of IQ, absolutely.

What you will not get is the same AF accuracy and speed that your 60D gives you.

Most notorious is lowlight and backlit-scenes. I find the E24Z notoriously bad in terms of back focusing - the wider angle, shallow DOF (wide aperture), and CDAF algorithm is very good in putting focus on background lights, not on foreground subjects.

You should consider adding the LA-EA2 with e.g. SAL35F18, just for action shots with the kids in evening light - it is night and day.

As a daytime lens, the E24Z is superb, but you won't be using the wide apertures - your kit lens is (almost) as good.

As a nighttime lens, the E24Z is amazing if you have the right subject (no people, or people well lit), or if you use DMF/MF and have time to focus. (Not good for action shots).

You can resort to HHT and AMB which both work well (in JPG), but they do not require a fast lens.

Personally, I would add the LA-EA2 and sell off the Canon. The bulk savings is significant, and the incremental cost is insignificant.
Chewbokeh said:
Hi All

My existing kit is a Canon 60D & 24-105L lens. I have just bought a Nex 7 (with Kit) and just ordered a CZ 24mm 1.8 because hopefully it will offer me the sharpness and quality of my L lens and give me a more portable set up (and offer shallow DOF and quick shutter for action of my kids).

I mainly take photos of my 7 and 3 yr olds running around. I am currently waiting for delivery of the CZ so cannot compare directly but just wondered on your thoughts as I will need to either sell off my Canon kit or send back the CZ (I'm ok to keep the Nex with Kit).

I've read loads of forums/posts but not many compare the quality with the L lens hence my hope that someone on here has been through a similar experience!
Many thanks in advance.
Click to expand...
--
Cheers,
Henry
 
Thanks for your advice blue skies - much appreciated. Do you think the SAL35F18 would be better than the SEL50F18?

Sounds like the CZ use is limited for my kids due to focal length - You really think the kit is not far off the CZ (or have I misread!).
Cheers
 
Chewbokeh said:
Thanks for your advice blue skies - much appreciated. Do you think the SAL35F18 would be better than the SEL50F18?
Click to expand...
Indoors, the SEL50F18 is too narrow - only useful for portraits.
Outdoors, you'll still find it easier to frame with the 35mm - or even the 24mm.

By itself, the SEL50 is a must-have lens. OSS, beautiful bokey, great low light performer.
steveleica said:
Sounds like the CZ use is limited for my kids due to focal length - You really think the kit is not far off the CZ (or have I misread!).
Click to expand...
If you shoot at f/4 or higher, the kit lens performs at 24mm quite well. Most gripes around the kit lens are distortion at either end of focal range, softening of contrast when compared to primes, and -most&foremost- the lens not being the best lens when used at max-aperture, and the camera bumping ISO and lengthening shutter times. OSS does not make up for subject blur.

The latter, imho, is the biggest cause for the bad wrap of the kit lens. If you use the kit lens under normal lighting conditions, it is a true performer.

Having said all that - when lighting does get low, the E24Z is amazing. It begins where the kit ends, and you can get amazing images.

But if shooting kids, the LA-EA2 with SAL35 is probably the better way to go.
steveleica said:
Cheers
Click to expand...
--
Cheers,
Henry
 
I don't really want to start getting big lenses again with the adapter and A mount lens as my changeover is meant to get away from that but I'm sure you're right in term of having to go that way if I want fast focus.

I have also ordered the SEL50f18 as well as the CZ so will see how these pan out. I have managed to get some really sharp shots with the kit but it does require as you said a still subject and careful focusing! I guess my initial concerns was the loss of IQ changing over from my L lens so at least the CZ sounds like it should match.
 
I am a Sony NEX/Canon user (currently). Sony NEX-7 (CZ24mm, 50mm, 18-55 kit lens) Canon 5D Mark 3 with several L lenses, including 24-105L that you own.

NEX-7 is a camera with the best picture quality of all crop cameras on the market today (dpreview said it itself in its NEX-7 review). So its picture quality is better than 60D. If you asked me to compare it to a full frame camera, its different, but with 60D, NEX-7 is a winner. Regarding AF in low light, 60D does not exactly has much advanced AF system either, 9 points which go back to 40D in 2007.

--

 
I don't have a Canon 60D, but I have a Canon 7D, compared with the NEX 7. the Canon can focus faster for moving subject. It's harder for me to focus on walking subjects with the NEX 7. Children moves a lot. I keep both cameras for different purposes.
 
All that said, the CZ does have better auto-focus performance than the kit. You may find it to be good enough.

It will be interesting to hear your thoughts once you have the gear.
--
Kiwi working and living in London.
http://500px.com/plbellamy
 
Thanks for all helpful comments. It's good to know the Nex7 itself is as good as my 60D. I just got my CZ this morning but only had a small opportunity to try it out inside.

Also just curious being new to the camera, do you find that in A mode tends to really slow the shutter speed down before bumping up the ISO? - I'm also not expert enough and quick enough tohave it in manual and adjust everything before my kids have legged it!!
 
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