I have both systems too - the XT3 and the ZF is my setup as well! Some people need extra funds so need to sell everything before they can switch, which is understandable.
Great video.. your style is refreshing.. I like your scientific method where you back up statements with facts. I have found many of your statements to really hit home. The main one that I have experienced myself is having too many options leaves you always wondering if you made the correct choice and can lead to not getting the shop because you spend to much time worrying about what you don’t have with you. Keep up the great work..
Hi Jack, Love your unique story telling style and your channel is so insightful, while i appreciate your work is street photography as a father myself i would love to see more content around how you approach documenting your own family photography and what focal length you find best for this.
Hi Matt, thanks so much for taking the time to comment. Always open to ideas for videos on the channel, and love talking about family photography. Will go into the list! As for focal length, I would love to shoot 50mm all day long but it is a little tight for family shots especially for travel. 35mm-40mm is a good sweet spot
@@BokehTherapy ,thank you for coming back to me, i really appreciate you taking the time to reply. I understand its hard to balance content you create with what your current audience want to see, but i really feel there is a big gap out there that needs to be filled in terms of documenting family life at home and while travelling.
@@user-vy1bs3zh9d videos purely about family photography don't perform very well on RU-vid (the audience skews young maybe?) so I'll need to find new ways to package those videos. Thanks for your patience while I figure it out!
I'm disappointed that 8K oversampled recording is still limited to the same 30fps in the Canon R5 Mark II even though their own R5C already got DOUBLE that (8K oversampled 4K at 60fps) years ago. Also, the Nikon Z8 and Z9 had 8K oversampled 4K60p years ago. SONY PLEASE give us 8K oversampled 4K60p in the a1 ii !!!!!!!!!! 8K60p is a must but please also give us oversampled 4K recording at 60fps or even 120fps!
@@BokehTherapy Yes, but preferably OVERSAMPLED 4K60p and not binned / line skipped 4K60p. Whether or not your footage is oversampled (full sensor readout downsampled to 4K) makes a HUGE difference. Oversampled 4K footage has almost as much detail as 8K footage but is MUCH easier to work with. I would be very disappointed if Sony limits oversampled 4K to only 30fps. I don't want to buy the Nikon Z8 but if the a1 ii doesn't offer oversampled 4K60p I will have no choice but to go with the Z8 and adapt some Sony lenses onto the Nikon body. Competitors had it for years so Sony should at the very least match oversampled 4K at 60fps or maybe even go beyond that. I hate how Canon artificially crippled the R5 Mark II to only 30fps for oversampled 4K recording when the R5C has also proven that the image processor could handle 8K oversampled 4K at 60fps
Great video Zeroed on the zf, but Was confused about my first Lens to go with my zf (Nikon or 3rd party lens) For the street photography and occasional night Any advice would be appreciated Thanks
I would go for the Nikon 50mm f1.8 S. It is the best autofocusing 50mm I've used, even made a whole video about it: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-ooRSQrvToCM.html&lc=UgyYAFuYzlrITLjr6QJ4AaABAg It is a bit more expensive than $500 new, but you can find it on sale or buy it used?
The nikon 50mm 1.8 S lens has been one of my favorites since I picked it up early 2019. The first time I used it, I was blown away by the 3d pop that it created. The only other lens I owned that was as sharp as this while offering great bokeh was the Sigma 105mm 1.4 art EF mount that was adapted to my Sony a7r3.
It is still amazing how under the radar it is. I would be including the lens as a bundle every chance I get with every Z camera, but Nikon is very conservative with their marketing for some reason. Thanks for watching!
Spotted the Viltrox 56 1.7 in this short and had to click through. Great video! Really glad to see the viltrox holds up well for the price, as a new shooter with an old xt30 I've been after something smaller, lighter and faster than my XF18-55 without dramatically sacrificing IQ, so I think this is the ticket.
Yes I am amazed at the third party lenses that are coming out. The 56mm from TTartisan is very nice as well (but bigger and heavier). Thanks for watching!
Sony has increased their market share for sure - the data I used is from 2023 but different sources have different numbers. Canon is still leading for now despite losing market share. Thanks for watching
Thanks so much! I've been dealing with both Canon and Sony shooters' crossfire in the comments haha, glad to see someone thinks I'm on the right track with this one.
Don’t make me cry. A rangefinder zf is too good to be true unfortunately. Nikon doesn’t make rangefinder cameras and Leica m cameras are just way too expensive. But I kind of agree… I think I’m actually just going to save up for a Leica m11 for a few years and ignore Nikon . If Leica made the cl full frame it would destroy the market but Leica are still insisting on their optical rangefinder design. Sucks man. I know pixii did something but it’s aps-c. Nikon rangefinder with evf and if they got rid of ibis or downgraded it so they could make the body really small would be ideal
The M10R is fantastic - a fair bit cheaper than the M11 on the used market without as many quality assurance issues at launch. Wish it had a better EVF option though
Thank you for the correction, the A1 does go on sale every now and then, in Australia it’s close to $10K. Lose perspective on pricing for an international audience
Yes it is, most mechanical sensors are. But one more part to wear out (if you’re doing continuous shooting this will accelerate wear and tear), and electronic sensors mean faster video specs too
Still recommend this camera, but perhaps A7Cii over it because of pricing. You’re way ahead of me, that video is coming in 2 weeks time. It’s in the schedule!
A1 is in a different league. Especially in low light. Really impressed by it. Excellent videos with Gyrodata. Photo taking is incredible again especially in low light paired with so many great E lens. Again depends what your application is. For me nothing beats the A1 if you use it for both photos and videos. If you application is not what the A1 can do with one camera, then you don't need one. Also I don't know why people compare a 3 to 4 year old camera to a today's one, technology is a leap frog game.
The A1 is way ahead of its time both in feature sets and (sadly) price. Maybe the A1 Mark 2's biggest feature will be a reduced price? Looking forward to what comes next, thanks for watching.
I feel like Sony is a threat to themselves. Over saturation, maybe due to product segmentation, and lack of timely software updates. In thinking about the Sony a1 ii, I would ask myself if it would make things easier and how it would help me improve from what I have now. Personally at a point where I need to stop looking at hardware and specs and work on myself lol If I didn’t have the a9iii, I probably would have made the switch to the Canon R5ii Is that Jordan 1 defiant on your feet? As always, great video Jack.
Oh you got the A9iii! Congrats, it's an amazing bit of kit. I knew you'd appreciate the Jordan 1 defiant - they're actually my very first pair. Back when Jordan 1s were hard to get, now they're sitting at retail every where
Hope you get paid to shoot those high school basketball games! I tried out the A9III in Tokyo - like the beefier grip, and how it was just silently amassing gigabytes worth of shots and data haha.
The perception is that Canon is behind in the tech, but they’re still leading sales by a fair margin. There’s some barrier Sony hasn’t crossed yet for a big segment of photographers? Haha but yes more third party lenses for everyone please
@@BokehTherapy Canon's lead in sales is primarily contributed by lower-end models and wholesale makes up a considerable portion. Take R100, R50, M50ii, for example. Agencies use them to take passport photos in which all you need good SOC jpeg and a kit lens. The professionals around me in North America are 75% Sony shooters, and the rental statistics can back up my claim.
I've witnessed that too in Australia. Photo agencies are switching their gear to Sony. Can't wait to see the next gen of cameras across all the brands.
@@BokehTherapy Associate Press was one of the earliest major adopter of Sony gear. And now on all the big stages they can been seen. Take that recent Trump photo, for example. Imagine using the bigger R1 with that flip out screen and bigger lens, it's less convenient than a9iii and a light GM2 lens.
Interesting times ahead. I'm hopeful Sony will not only innovate the tech but also continue refining the shooting experience - rising tide lifts all boats.
I find the corporate strategy interesting too strangely enough. How does a brand overcome the legacy of Canon? Hard to say, Sony’s come the closest though. Thanks for watching
@BokehTherapy first of all, who cares? Despite saying that, value at same quality level is cost divided by usability*features. One great feature was autofocus. Sony keeps growing in his customer compartment, and Canon keeps declining. 29 lens shares RF Mount. 24 are native, only one third-party with af, the rest is manual. 3 of them are apsc (three) but there are influencer keep pushing apsc from Canon. With the cost of an R5mkII I bought an z6III for video and an a7rV for photos (respectively 200lenses with Z mount on it and 300 in E mount out there) and I have some room for a couple of lenses.
Such a deep and technical video but enjoyable to watch. Your intro of being a scientist by day intrigued me as I once studied bio-chem in university about 30 years ago but decided to change majors to something more practical (money earning wise) than a science degree. I watch quite a bit of camera youtube channels and I’ve realized I’ve watched almost all of your videos except on one about zf settings (I’m not a Nikon shooter but will watch it tomorrow) One channel said, most of the cameras these days are so powerful that if you pick up any mirrorless from any camera brand it’s probably more than enough. I own and use one of canon’s latest the r6mk2 and it’s amazing in every aspect but it was too big to carry around for street and daily life with those big f1.2 lens. I recently picked up a 2019 model, m6mk2, and a 5 year old camera had all the features that I really want, mostly eye af. The 14fps is just a nice to have. But today I took my puppy in my yard and took photos of her running around and f1.2 and 30fps, is a nice to have, not necessary but nice to have. Which makes me think, there’s really no point in upgrading cameras anymore for me for now as it’s way more than I need for my skill set. Better time is spent mastering my craft instead of lusting over gear. Also the r5mk2 is nice to have but it’s also $5800 cad, which is quite a bit of money for fun, but you gotta enjoy life as you only live life once so I can argue either way. Since picking up the ‘old’ 2019 camera, a smaller foot print, I enjoy taking photos and carrying my camera everywhere. It’s 2 tones silver and grey so it gives a semi retro look but with canon insides which I’m most familiar with. Keep up the great work and love your channel
Yes all the cameras are great, lots of passion for brands in our community. That’s what keeps the companies profitable! Really appreciate your time in watching all my videos, more to come soon!
I would say the Nikon Z8 is still a better value of the 3, Canon still doesn't have 3rd party lens offerings and I'd say as a whole Nikon has better glass options for varying budgets. Since Sony got to the top of the mountain they seem to be less customer oriented now, ignore their customers requests for added features via firmware, or even feature requests. A lot of people were begging for 2 card slots on the A7CII and Sony just said, nope, you get what you get because we know best. The era of the Sony Dictatorship is here and probably here to stay for a while until they get toppled.
Totally agree. Z8 is a fantastic camera, Nikon wants to win back market share so is probably the most willing to give customers what they want for the next few years. Thanks for watching!
Thanks for another great video! I really love the historical context you provide, in this video and others. It is interesting to hear about, as I wasnt following any of this until recently. Generally I love to see new camera releases to see what is new and reflect on how it might change the market. I also agree that Sony always seems so much of a technology company, trying to push innovations, but ultimately seems to lack some intangible element that many of the other camera companies have.
@@BokehTherapy yeah, they are really helping push the industry forward, which is great! I am doing well thanks! I just took some photos at a rock concert and was really impressed with how the 50mm 1.8s did.
I tried out the Sony A1 recently and was very disappointed! I get now what Ken Rockwell means when he says using a Sony feels like operating an old school VCR. Also, what I didn't understand is why when you hit the shutter very quickly in succession, what you see is the video feed jitter as opposed to seeing a pristine video feed like the Z8/Z9. I guess it doesn't have the dual stream technology that the Z8/Z9 has?
My hunch is that the Sony A7V & A7Siv will have more megapixels, a partial - stacked sensor, and un-cropped 4k60. Do you have a link to the live talk video mentioned?
Not to my knowledge - needs HDMI out? I never shot RAW video while I had the camera, too cumbersome of a workflow compared to a simple 10 bit h265 4:2:2 codec
Your lighting was perfect for the livestream Jack. Sony could really kick Canon in the kidneys in the A7S3/FX3, but will they. Never before did we think a stacked sensor would be in a camera under $4000, then Nikon Z6 III offered a partially stacked sensor. Could Sony surprise us with a global shutter in the he a7S4? If I was Sony, I'd wait until 2025 and make it happen. This would shock and sell very well, and help them take market lead. What do you think?
Thanks again for the invite Simon, was a lot of fun! I think the play might be to bring the cost of stacked sensors down dramatically. A global shutter without the (minor?) IQ compromises of the A9III would be amazing but still too expensive. Thanks for stopping by the channel!
it will be interesting to see if the e mount restrics sonys innovation, there is a limit to what it can do from a glass point of view and stabilisation as the is not much room to spare there. do they launch a new mount that gives them that room? or can they leverage AI to help solve it instead??
As much as I agree with the point about firmware updates at Sony and how deprioritized they are, the rest of the video doesn’t make much sense to me. A four year old camera is finally being passed on some features by a brand new one. Not exactly breaking news. And as a wildlife photographer, the A1 still competes with the likes of R5mkii and Z8. A bit better on some aspects, a bit worse in others. Probably the only point that’s valid to me but you don’t make, is that the A1 doesn’t justify its very hefty price premium anymore. And I do a fair amount of street photography too, I don’t understand the struggles you have with the A1. For me the better viewfinder alone has me pick the A1 over the A7cR any day. I don’t have much doubt that Sony will make a big jump forward with the A1mk2, it’s been too long to simply be a minor refresh. Even if it is just going to the A9iii body and all its advancements, and a slightly faster sensor, it will make the A1mk2 into a worthy successor. But I suspect they’ll have a few more tricks up their sleeves (new AF ai chip is my bet, they will have made progress over 2+ years).
The thing I'm finding as I talk to more and more photographers is that everyone's shooting experience is very subjective. As for street photography, something more casual looking (say the A7C line) doesn't intimidate people as much and it's easier to not bruise the scene. Thanks for taking the time to watch and comment, I'm looking forward to what Sony comes up with next.
I own and shoot a Canon R5 V1 and several Sony bodies like the A1, A7R5, and the compact C A7CII, and A7CR. I did shoot Canon with both film and all my DSLR but mirrorless really motivated me to add Sony. Very happy with Sony since the G and GM glass came along. While I used to shoot sports, landscape, architecture, event, portraits, and wildlife are my focus so I no longer buy 24 Mpixel cameras and haven’t invested yet in $10,000 telephoto lenses. I did originally pre-order the Canon R5 II but with all the cameras I own I changed my mine and will look again at the end of the year. I’ve focused a lot more on my compact body and lenses for travel. Do want to see what Sony can do as an A1 II.
Compact bodies are hopefully the next trend camera brands try to chase. It really is very convenient and gets more people into the hobby. Thanks for watching, hope you manage to try out the R5 II before making your decision at the end of the year.
@@BokehTherapyI switched from a Fuji X-T3 to a Sony A7iv and a couple of Sigma I series lenses, and while the Fuji was lighter with the small f2 primes, Fuji’s better 1.4 lenses narrows the weight differential. I also find the Sony feels more solid and the dials are not as loose as the Fuji. The autofocus of the Sony is on another level. The move by Sony to make smaller lenses like the 2.5 g series, and more compact bodies like the A7 Cii, could very well make APSC into a lower cost niche for casual shooters, rather than trying to keep up with pro level and prosumer systems.
Sony got a lot of the things right in the last few years, hope they start focusing a lot more on the shooting experience and camera design too. It won’t take much, they have the resources. Thanks for watching!
The grass is always greener… until you make the switch. I’ve been planning to move back from Sony to Canon over the last few years… bought an R, an R8, some lenses. Canon’s UI and ergonomics are nice, although I prefer the Sony (r series) sensors. Having straddled both systems now for 3 or 4 years, I’m going to sell the Canon gear and firmly commit to Sony. Why? Well, Canon still aren’t anywhere with the type of small, fast, weather sealed primes I like. The new 35 f1.4, the R5ii and R1 confirm what I’ve come to realise - their commitment is really to sports and video shooters, not so much travel, street, landscape, studio which I enjoy. What’s helped me decide is buying the a7cr and 16-25. With the extension grip, the cr really has great ergonomics, and the UI is a big step up from previous iterations. Sony’s lenses just feel nicer too, and they have weather sealing at more reasonable price points. Also Sigma’s I-series lenses are fantastic. I used to love Canon’s EF-L lenses… but the RF / RF-L design and plastic used just seems underwhelming and cheap feeling.
It really sucks being in multiple systems - just keeping track of the batteries and chargers is a lot of unnecessary work. Glad you have found a more streamlined workflow - happy shooting!
I agree that Sony lacks a strong connection with its customers. I left Nikon a while back when the A99 was released (I know, I'm dating myself). Sony neglected the A99/A77 group and isn't treating its current customers well. The last Sony cameras I used were the A7III and A7RIII. I returned to Nikon and began exploring Fuji. However, I've since sold all my Nikons, including the Zf, and will stick with my XT5 as it’s more convenient for street photography and travel. As always, great video!
The argument I have heard is that Sony doesn’t need a strong emotional connection because the tech innovation is enough. A pretty sad state of affairs for our camera industry if that is what sells. Great to hear that you have a minimal kit, Fujifilm is getting bad buzz of late but the cameras are more popular than ever
Fuji has been receiving a lot of criticism for its autofocus lately. However, it meets my needs. I understand that with high prices come high expectations, especially since competitors are excelling in autofocus. As for Sony, they might benefit from leveraging their Minolta heritage.
The funny thing is won’t take much - just release a chrome top version to the A7 line and people will run with it lol. I always used single point AF on my Fujis - hasn’t failed me yet
Thanks for this interesting video. I could not disagree more with the statement that Sony makes the best photo cameras. I've shot Nikon (D700), Canon (5D) and Sony(a1). The a1 was **by far** the worst camera I've ever used. Indeed, beyond that I believe it to be the worst purchase I've ever made in my entire life. Given all the hype on youtube about the a1 I was so disappointed in the reality. Image quality didn't impress. Auto focus was underwhelming compared to the hype. Using the camera was a nightmare given the insane software ergonomics. But when I injured my thumb using this camera due to it's tortuous physical ergonomics...I had enough. After little more than 2 months with the a1, I dumped sony: sold all my GM master lenes and the A1; took a financial hit of roughly $2,000. Went with a Canon R3 and could no be happier. Improved auto focus, much better picture quality, and I don't feel like I'm holding a brick when using the camera. I actually look forward to taking photo now and don't feel like my camera is fighting me every step of the way. 🙂
Thanks for watching and commenting - I agree with your assessment overall. I didn’t have a good time using the A1 while I owned it, couldn’t quite put my finger on why. Took a lot of reflection to figure out it wasn’t the right tool for me. Interesting to hear about your experiences, especially relating to ergonomics. Are you interested in the R1?
Considering the R1 has an identical body to the R3 and improved the autofocus I would definitely consider upgrading. Beyond ergonomics, the main question I ask myself when considering any camera is will it improve my chances of getting the shot i want. I shoot mostly people and fast moving subjects and if the camera doesn't get the shot then what's the point? To that end autofocus is primary for me after considering ergonomics. The question for me then becomes: After selling the r3, would I spend roughly 3500 dollars and upgrade to the R1 to increase my chances of getting the shot by, let's say, 15 to 20%? Fortunately, I'm in a financial position to say yes I would pay $3,500 to increase my chances of getting the shot by 15 to 20% However, if I was not in the financial position I am in now, let's say this was 5 to 10 years ago, my answer would probably be no I would not upgrade. Though not perfect, I usually get the shot with the r3.... anecdotally speaking, roughly 90% of the time.
I am a sports photographer shooting Canon for almost 25 years. I have several bodies including some DSLR (1DX MK III) and 2 R3 bodies. I am very happy with the ergonomics of Canon pro-bodies and never found Sony bodies good in my hand. The autofocus is for me by far the best on the market and images coming from the sensor are just stunning. I plan to buy and R1 and an R5 MKII just to have more resolution when needed (it's not so often). Canon long glasses are almost perfect and I couldn't live without my RF 100-300 f/2.8 L IS USM ^^ - I am not saying the A9 III is not a good camera, just saying it won't give me a plus in the real world. At the end of the day overall feeling matter for something you work with every day, and I couldn't be happier with the R1 or R3 esthetics and pleasure to use.
This is what I have heard from all my Canon shooter friends - there’s a reason they’re top of the market! Always interesting to hear others experiences, thanks for taking the time to watch and comment
Always look forward to bokeh therapy. I heard you say you've kept your Sony glass, have you used any adapted to your ZF? Also, what made you drop the a7cr for the ZF? This winter I made the switch to mirrorless with the Z8, which is a bit cumbersome for walking around and travel. Before I bought the Z8 I was looking at the Sony a7cii. I loved how compact it was but the ergonomics and EVF weren't the greatest and was too slow for wildlife and sports. I'm looking at getting a ZF but always find myself dreaming of the a7cii and compact Sony glass for a travel kit.
I haven’t adapted any E mount glass yet - I am afraid the Megadap autofocus adapter is one firmware update away from being broken haha. I still use Sony bodies for video in my day job, having some lenses helps with that while I wait for the next body. The low light performance of the Zf is what made me switch - realise I need that more than resolution. If I had to do it again I would just go for the A7CII to save some money over the A7CR
With respect, I only agree with more firmware updates (which tbf is something all companies should be doing). Sony is known for pushing the technological envelope and delivering the goods that we've never seen before. I hope that they don't spend time chasing trendy "film emulations" since that isn't their strength, instead, give us global shutter in a $3K body or resurrect the RX1 line as Japanese version of the Q3. I hope they continue pushing that envelope more since it drives the rest of the industry forward.
I think they’re great for the industry (everyone uses their sensors right?) but it’s hard being an enthusiast Sony shooter when so much gear comes out and depreciation happens around every corner. Let’s wait and see what happens next, thanks for watching!
@@BokehTherapy Yeah true, I think depreciation really only becomes an issue if people chase the latest and greatest with each release. Personally, looking at something like an A7RV, it's really hard to imagine how it can be a much better STILLS camera in the next generation. I bought mine earlier this year and will probably use it for the next 5-7 years happily (although I wouldn't mind pre-capture and a faster sensor readout :) ).
@@BokehTherapy I'm disappointed that 8K oversampled recording is still limited to the same 30fps in the Canon R5 Mark II even though their own R5C already got DOUBLE that (8K oversampled 4K at 60fps) years ago. Also, the Nikon Z8 and Z9 had 8K oversampled 4K60p years ago. SONY PLEASE give us 8K oversampled 4K60p in the a1 ii !!!!!!!!!! 8K60p is a must but please also give us oversampled 4K recording at 60fps or even 120fps!
Yes for the moment - still looking for a backup body but enjoying the simplicity for now. I am sure I will make things harder for myself shortly haha. Thanks for watching!
Love your narration! I think it's so good it could be your full time job. But the content is also top notch so I'll keep coming back for your videos! Keep up the good work and I hope you have a lot of fun while doing this.
