What would you use or what do you use

Greetings Sigma People

Here's a simple question, if you were going to shoot a different camera brand what would you pick? Why? It has to be small, excellent IQ like the Foveon, weather sealed, fast and get repaired if need.

My Sigma's are wearing out and breaking down. There are no repairs and I don't think I'll purchase any more bodies, I still have a SD14, SD15, SD1, SDQ, SDQ-H I'm not sure what I'll do. I have an Olympus E-M1 with the 12-40 Pro but it's a dead system now as well.

My SD14 works fine, SD1 AF isn't working well, it keeps going out of micro AF adjustment, SD15 missing paint, cracked LCD, but works fine, sometimes it has an issue starting up, SDQ-H over heats, and is getting noisier. My lenses are wearing out as well.

So what do you use? High IQ, small, fast, weather sealed.

Thank you

Be safe

Roger J

Use what you have for now. Wait and see if Sony release a higher resolution version of the A7C -- this is a neat camera but it has only 24 Megapixels, so it's not equal to the sdQH for resolution.

The same applies to the Panasonic S5.

Or pick up a spare sdQH and keep it until the one you have dies.

Don

Roger wrote:

So what do you use? High IQ, small, fast, weather sealed.

Thank you

Be safe

Roger J

Difficult.  Leica CL?

I use other camera makes but mostly it’s when Sigma cameras won’t deliver.  I still use my Sony A7S for low light stuff, people pics etc.  It’s 12  MP and produces some lovely (cinema like) images with Zeiss and Leica M mount lenses.  I’ve used it at concerts and friends’ weddings and had many comments that they prefer my amateur pics to the official photos.  Probably blowing smoke up my backside.

I don’t know why people object to Sony because my A7S is old, small, worthless, 100% reliable, has the original batteries and dead easy to set up.  And it still makes, in my opinion, fab photos where my Sigmas would fail.

for a pocket camera to use in similar conditions as my Sony, the Ricoh GR is superb.

But when the conditions are good, Sigmas are tough to beat.

Hasselblad medium format?  Not small though

Roger wrote:

Greetings Sigma People

Here's a simple question, if you were going to shoot a different camera brand what would you pick? Why? It has to be small, excellent IQ like the Foveon, weather sealed, fast and get repaired if need.

<>

So what do you use? High IQ, small, fast, weather sealed.

Hello Roger. I bought a Panasonic Lumix DC-G9 and the  12-35mm G X VARIO ASPH.

Bought for ease of handling and for my M42 lenses because of it's IBIS.

I have two Foveons which I retain out of interest. SD9 and, for IR, SD15. Both have a low image count and should last a good while, probably outlasting me at 80 yrs old.

Roger wrote:

Greetings Sigma People

Here's a simple question, if you were going to shoot a different camera brand what would you pick? Why? It has to be small, excellent IQ like the Foveon, weather sealed, fast and get repaired if need.

My Sigma's are wearing out and breaking down. There are no repairs and I don't think I'll purchase any more bodies, I still have a SD14, SD15, SD1, SDQ, SDQ-H I'm not sure what I'll do. I have an Olympus E-M1 with the 12-40 Pro but it's a dead system now as well.

My SD14 works fine, SD1 AF isn't working well, it keeps going out of micro AF adjustment, SD15 missing paint, cracked LCD, but works fine, sometimes it has an issue starting up, SDQ-H over heats, and is getting noisier. My lenses are wearing out as well.

So what do you use? High IQ, small, fast, weather sealed.

Thank you

Be safe

Roger J

Roger,

If I had nothing right now I would, without any hesitation, get either the Nikon Z7 ii or the Z6 ii with whatever lenses I would choose to go with it (them) including the FTZ to allow for the use of older Nikkor lenses.

Currently I use a Sony A7 ii for people pics when a little bit more speed is required and also in low light situations. I can use all my Sigma SA lenses with the Sony and the Sigma  MC-11, the only reason I got the Sony. I used to use a Nikon D700 but swapped it for the Sony for the reasons stated.

I am not sure that the SD1M and the Quattros cannot be repaired, but they must be sent to Sigma Japan for some repairs.

S

Roger wrote:

So what do you use? High IQ, small, fast, weather sealed.

Sounds a lot like my Sigma fp

In my case it's also to be future proof for the upcoming L-mount Foveon camera.

Roger wrote:

Greetings Sigma People

Here's a simple question, if you were going to shoot a different camera brand what would you pick? Why? It has to be small, excellent IQ like the Foveon, weather sealed, fast and get repaired if need.

My Sigma's are wearing out and breaking down. There are no repairs and I don't think I'll purchase any more bodies, I still have a SD14, SD15, SD1, SDQ, SDQ-H I'm not sure what I'll do. I have an Olympus E-M1 with the 12-40 Pro but it's a dead system now as well.

My SD14 works fine, SD1 AF isn't working well, it keeps going out of micro AF adjustment, SD15 missing paint, cracked LCD, but works fine, sometimes it has an issue starting up, SDQ-H over heats, and is getting noisier. My lenses are wearing out as well.

So what do you use? High IQ, small, fast, weather sealed.

Thank you

Be safe

Roger J

Nikon Z for me.

Johan Borg wrote:

Roger wrote:

So what do you use? High IQ, small, fast, weather sealed.

Sounds a lot like my Sigma fp

In my case it's also to be future proof for the upcoming L-mount Foveon camera.

It would probably be excellent also for astrophotography if you are inclined to do so

Roger, as much as you shoot, I think you ought to check out the new Nikons. 45 MP is pretty good, and the dynamic range is great. I'm very happy with my D810 and the 85mm f1.4 G. Now I need to get a couple of wider lenses, and I think I'll get art lenses (24-35mm f2 Art and 50mm f1.4 Art). I still need to get the Nikon 14-24mm f2.8 G for my D810, but that is one amazing lens, and I look forward to having it to use for years to come. I'll probably end up with a Nikon D850 evenually, to step up from 36 MP to 45 MP, but only when they come down in price significantly. If Nikon steps up to the plate with a Z8, and a 90 MP sensor (or even Sony's new 60 MP sensor), I will look forward to getting that camera, rather than a Sony A7r IV. I don't think I'll go to Canon, even though they do have that nice rear filter adapter system. I'd have to get a Sigma 14-24mm f2.8 Art in another mount. With the Nikon Z8 it will be easy for me. I can just use adapters to use my Sigma SA mount lenses, like I could with a Sony A7r IV.

I would use ~ Panasonic S5 and Sigma SA to L mount adaptor.

If you didn't have the waterproof requirement I'd suggest a Sony NEX 7 with kit lens from eBay for $350. Small, light and high quality, though it does have a AA filter.

Sony NEX 7 with Pentax 135 f2.5 K mount f5.6

mike earussi wrote:

If you didn't have the waterproof requirement I'd suggest a Sony NEX 7 with kit lens from eBay for $350. Small, light and high quality, though it does have a AA filter.

Sony NEX 7 with Pentax 135 f2.5 K mount f5.6

I use a NEX 7 and I'm happy with the camera body, but finding good lenses for it are a struggle.  They are either too big, too expensive, or not very good, and sometimes all three.

Unfortunately I sold my Canon 28mm LTM lens many years ago because that would be perfect.

Jan

Jan

Roger wrote:

Greetings Sigma people

Thank you for your replies. I see we have a a lot of great ideas. I need small as I've been contracted to work on an article called "we're all in this together." Big cameras with big lenses aren't a good idea, and a cell phone isn't going to work. It has to be weather sealed, tilt screen, no AA filter, lenses that work on a film camera as I'll be shooting slide film also and I didn't want to carry two systems.

I love the Foveon for the IQ and I own enough EX DG lenses to work on both my SA7n, SA9, and my SDQ SDQ-H SD14 SD15 SD1, but my gear is breaking and I need to make a decision soon. I can get a Nikon loaner Z camera and lenses, but I fell like a traitor to Sigma if I go that route. I've had a great working relationship with Sigma sense the 1980's great people and company. Nikon's adapter doesn't work with all the lenses and size is an issue. My Olympus works, but it's a dead system like my SD's and the SA mount. I believe in using what you have, and not buying just to be buying. I don't need the latest and greatest toys. I just need to work and get this assignment done. At 69 it may be my last.

Thanks

Stay safe

Roger J.

Roger,

What you have is working still even if they are suffering from heavy use. Why not pick up  a  little used  SD15  & SD1M in good condition until the FFF L mount comes on stream probably in 2021. If it does not appear the SD15 & SD1M will last at least as long as the well used ones you have now.

I believe the SD1Ms can be repaired in Japan as can the Quattros if they cannot be done locally to you.

Olympus  is not a dead system nor will it be anytime soon.

Finally at 69 you still only a boy.

S

jande9 wrote:

mike earussi wrote:

If you didn't have the waterproof requirement I'd suggest a Sony NEX 7 with kit lens from eBay for $350. Small, light and high quality, though it does have a AA filter.

Sony NEX 7 with Pentax 135 f2.5 K mount f5.6

I use a NEX 7 and I'm happy with the camera body, but finding good lenses for it are a struggle. They are either too big, too expensive, or not very good, and sometimes all three.

Unfortunately I sold my Canon 28mm LTM lens many years ago because that would be perfect.

Jan

Jan

Depends on what lenses you want. The above lens goes for around $60 on eBay.

I like my Fujis.  Small, easy to use, and the higher end models such as the X-T3 are weather sealed.

There is no shortage of legacy lens adapters for the Fuji x-mount.  Mostly, though, I use third party manual primes that mount directly to the camera, such as the Meike 35mm F1.4 x-mount ($110).  I don't know of any of these that would be weather sealed though.

Another brand I recommend for Fuji mount lenses is Opteka.  Not weather sealed either.

Many Fuji lenses are weather resistant, but they are also completely electronic, focus by wire and so on.

I have a X-E1 and an X-T3 and one Fuji lens, the 50mm F2 WR.  The "WR" means weather resistant, but not to the level of Olympus high end micro 4/3.  The X-T3 is also "weather resistant".

For the size and weight of my sd Quattro and its 24mm F1.4 Art lens, I can carry a X-T3 and three manual primes (35, 50, 85 or something like that), but usually I just decide what I will use that day and bring only the camera with that lens.

I also have a Panasonic Lumix ZS100 small camera.  I can get excellent results from it but it cannot be used in a hurry:

Downsized to 1/4 original pixels

mike earussi wrote:

jande9 wrote:

mike earussi wrote:

If you didn't have the waterproof requirement I'd suggest a Sony NEX 7 with kit lens from eBay for $350. Small, light and high quality, though it does have a AA filter.

Sony NEX 7 with Pentax 135 f2.5 K mount f5.6

I use a NEX 7 and I'm happy with the camera body, but finding good lenses for it are a struggle. They are either too big, too expensive, or not very good, and sometimes all three.

Unfortunately I sold my Canon 28mm LTM lens many years ago because that would be perfect.

Jan

Jan

Depends on what lenses you want. The above lens goes for around $60 on eBay.

That's one great thing about the e-mount.  You can adapt pretty well anything to it.  I have some SMC Pentax lenses that do well on my NEX plus the Rokinon 14 manual focus is excellent.  My Sigma 30 1.4 is also pretty good.  However, all my Sony zooms are disappointing. and the Sony 16 is terrible.  Unfortunately none of my primes have anti shake so I am stuck with the zooms if I am walking around without a tripod.

Jan

I also use Fujifilm as like the OP I am getting older and a SDQH with several lenses is a burden when traveling. I mainly use a Fuji X100V which is weatherproof when fitted with a filter , small, light weight, practically silent leaf shutter, built in ND filter and a fill flash, great for what I need, downsides... fixed lens, zoom with your feet or get the wide or tele conversion lens, excellent IQ not up to Sigma but can be used in more situations plus it is a joy to use this style of camera. I also have a Fujifilm XT1 which I use with longer zooms and M42 glass but look at the XT4 with IBIS it may be just what you are needing. I have a feeling my Sigma gear may need a new home soon.