Replacing my dead Panasonic 70-200 f4

[Nomad Nate]

I still have the samyang 14 2.8 somewhere. you're right, bad build quality - but it was an earlier EF model. Not sure if they've improved since. I'm really curious to see how viltrox does. Not gonna lie - I'm a bit spooked by your experience Paul. My s5ii has some dials and spots on the body that have me wondering if it will hold up for the 10 years or so that I was hoping to own it.

 

[pdk42]

Did you buy the Sigma new or used? I am a big fan of telephoto landscapes and find they're often more engaging than wider-angle work.

I bought it used for a very good price (£450). I'm still dabbling with these longer focal lengths so didn't want to spend too much. But so far, I'm liking the IQ from it. It also seems to have decent OIS/Sync IS so it works well hand-held even at 400mm.

The Sigma 50/2 is excellent and for static subjects will provide great quality. It's not weather sealed though.

I confess that my 50/1.8 doesn't get a lot of use. If I'm shooting a prime it's usually the Sigma 35/2 that I use and I absolutely love it. I guess I'm more of a 35mm type than 50mm. So, I'm in no hurry to swap it.

 

[pdk42]

Not gonna lie - I'm a bit spooked by your experience Paul. My s5ii has some dials and spots on the body that have me wondering if it will hold up for the 10 years or so that I was hoping to own it.

For the moment I'm sticking to Panasonic bodies. I like their UI and their features and so far I've not had any bad experiences. On top of that, my S1Rii is under warranty until June 2030 so it would be crazy to sell out now.

But I'm definitely done with Panasonic lenses, esp realising now how much better a job Sigma does with after-sales care.

 

[Quentinquirelino]

...

But I'm definitely done with Panasonic lenses, esp realising now how much better a job Sigma does with after-sales care.

Luckily Sigma has overall better lens choices compared to Panasonic. At least for me, it would be harder forgo Sigma lenses then Panasonic lenses.

 

[Miker]

I like Sigma lens but they are all over the map with respect to filter sizes which is annoying.

 

[Prosecutor]

I'm really leaning towards the Sigma 70-200 f2.8. I know it's a great performer and I have a lot of respect for Sigma lenses. And I could add a TC to get me to a 283mm f4 or a 400 f5.6. Has anyone used it with the TCs?

It´s my favorite lens.
With TC2011 ooc:

Sigma 70-200 mit TC2011 ooc

von Prosecutor | 28.02. – 26.10.2024 | 12 Fotos

eu.zonerama.com

 

[Hythloday]

I'm a bit spooked by your experience Paul. My s5ii has some dials and spots on the body that have me wondering if it will hold up for the 10 years or so that I was hoping to own it.

As a former Pentax user I read about the SDM problem of some lenses. I had the notorious Pentax 17-70mm lens which had a failure rate of 32%. The survey was done in 2012 and people could report whether their lens functioned OK or failed. The Pentax 16-50mm had a failure rate of 35%. I have had the 17-70mm for some 16 years and never had a problem. My second copy was also OK.

I now use L mount gear for over a year and use Leica and Panasonic bodies. I feel that Panasonic cameras are better suited for photographers who like adapting almost every feature that can be changed. In some ways I like my Leica bodies better: more robust and easier to change certain features, especially the SL3-S. Panasonic cameras are OK but I accidently press the wrong button sometimes and later find out that the aperture has changed. It took some time to find out which feature I had to change. I only use Lumix lenses. The zoomlenses have a nice range and are quite universal in the way they are built. Of course a lens can break down but in case it happens it should be my first broken lens in 45 years' time. I don't like a mix of brands which zoom clockwise and anti-clockwise.

 

[Nomad Nate]

Maybe I'm just becoming an old man, but I feel like photography gear was a bit more robust during the DSLR era. Maybe because there was no expectation to be light or compact. Having a big honking camera was a statement that said, "I'm the photographer here, step aside."

What's funny is that this mentality very much exists here in Tajikistan. I had photographers lining up to check out my 70-200 f4 when I was selling it. Mainly because it looks like a serious lens and these guys spend weekdays hanging out at parks and national monuments trying to make a few bucks snapping portraits of people walking by and looking like a "real photographer" is part of the marketing.

I had no idea about those Pentax lenses though. I never owned anything Pentax but I thought they were supposed to be pretty robust.

I've been having a blast playing with my DJI pocket 3, but the thing is so delicate feeling. I kind of want to buy a DJI nano to go with it to have something water proof and absolutely miniscule to keep in my sling bag or even mount to my sling bag to capture discreet POV footage if I end up doing some online content about living abroad (still figuring that out).

 

[xaviergut]

In some ways I like my Leica bodies better: more robust and easier to change certain features, especially the SL3-S.

What's your opinion on the recent 4.0 update for the Leica SL3-S? Can you take high-resolution handheld photos? Can you record video to an SSD?

This photographer was very positive about it:

 

[Jayneboo]

What's your opinion on the recent 4.0 update for the Leica SL3-S? Can you take high-resolution handheld photos? Can you record video to an SSD?

This photographer was very positive about it:

Yes and Yes apparently.. more depth on the SSD recording:


I have no experience with the SL3s but I'm trying a friend's SL3 at the moment. Yes, autofocus apparently is improved with that latest update, it's not amazing, the Sigma BF has better AF, possibly attributed a little to 24 megapixels versus 60, but really AF still needs to step up. Other than AF, it's a lovely bit of kit.

 

[Hythloday]

What's your opinion on the recent 4.0 update for the Leica SL3-S?

The update to 4.0 was very easy. All the settings were as before. With the SL2-S you have to store the settings and import them.

I bought my SL3-S mid December. I don't make videos, but just pictures. My standard setting is AF single, mid point, because I want to decide how the camera focusses and what should be sharp. I had read some reviews, but battery life is better than what I read in the reviews. The SL3-S is a bit smaller and less weighty than the SL2-S. What I like about Leica cameras is that they come in a sealed box with a card on which the name of the technician who assembled the camera and the name of the person who checked the camera. Quality control is expensive. I understand why many people think that Leicas are overpriced. A Panasonic with a 18-40mm or 20-60mm lens is at bargain offers is a better deal. But I don't mind paying for quality control.

 

[xaviergut]

Yes and Yes apparently.. more depth on the SSD recording:


I have no experience with the SL3s but I'm trying a friend's SL3 at the moment. Yes, autofocus apparently is improved with that latest update, it's not amazing, the Sigma BF has better AF, possibly attributed a little to 24 megapixels versus 60, but really AF still needs to step up. Other than AF, it's a lovely bit of kit.

Thank you, Jayneboo. The Leica SL3-S looks like a mix of the Lumix S5 II X and the Leica SL3... I'd like to try it... Maybe someday I'll rent one from the Leica store in Vienna

 

[xaviergut]

I only use Lumix lenses

Just out of curiosity, what Lumix lenses do you use with your Leica SL3-S?

 

[Hythloday]

Just out of curiosity, what Lumix lenses do you use with your Leica SL3-S?

The Lumix 24-60mm.

 

[Markuswelder]

For the moment I'm sticking to Panasonic bodies. I like their UI and their features and so far I've not had any bad experiences. On top of that, my S1Rii is under warranty until June 2030 so it would be crazy to sell out now.

But I'm definitely done with Panasonic lenses, esp realising now how much better a job Sigma does with after-sales care.

Honestly, I'd get rid of it now. It's obviously eating you up, there's hardly a day goes by where you don't post about how disappointed you are with Panasonic. And that ends up showing in your work. If you're not enjoying it, what's the point? Sell up, move on, enjoy yourself. Life is too short to be constantly upset about your camera lenses. Be happy.

 

[Jonathan-Mac]

Maybe I'm just becoming an old man, but I feel like photography gear was a bit more robust during the DSLR era. Maybe because there was no expectation to be light or compact. Having a big honking camera was a statement that said, "I'm the photographer here, step aside."

What's funny is that this mentality very much exists here in Tajikistan. I had photographers lining up to check out my 70-200 f4 when I was selling it. Mainly because it looks like a serious lens and these guys spend weekdays hanging out at parks and national monuments trying to make a few bucks snapping portraits of people walking by and looking like a "real photographer" is part of the marketing.

I had no idea about those Pentax lenses though. I never owned anything Pentax but I thought they were supposed to be pretty robust.

I've been having a blast playing with my DJI pocket 3, but the thing is so delicate feeling. I kind of want to buy a DJI nano to go with it to have something water proof and absolutely miniscule to keep in my sling bag or even mount to my sling bag to capture discreet POV footage if I end up doing some online content about living abroad (still figuring that out).

I think in Europe and the US there remains an attitude that good photography gear is big and that explains why mirrorless, especially m4/3s, was taken up faster in Asia, where they like their gear smaller.

Pentax gear in general is more robust than just about anything of similar price from any other camera maker, but they have had some design failures such as the SDM debacle, which tye unfortunately have never recognised and took many years to resolve. In fact it's not even fully resolved now as some of those dodgy SDM models are still available new. My K-3 feels much more solidly built than my S5, 6D or any other digital ILC I've owned, and it's seals are better too. It's one of the main reasons I'd have liked to stick with them if they had a FF system that suited me.

 

[xaviergut]

I'm trying a friend's SL3 at the moment

Hello again, I forgot to ask: How does the 60MP sensor in the Sony A7CR/A7R5 compare to the sensor in the Leica SL3? I'm referring to the image quality they produce. While I imagine it depends a lot on the lenses, is there a noticeable difference? To the point of talking about what's called the "Leica look"?

 

[Jayneboo]

Hello again, I forgot to ask: How does the 60MP sensor in the Sony A7CR/A7R5 compare to the sensor in the Leica SL3? I'm referring to the image quality they produce. While I imagine it depends a lot on the lenses, is there a noticeable difference? To the point of talking about what's called the "Leica look"?

It's the same sensor and the only difference is in the colour science, how Leica Engineer's tweaked and programmed or whatever it is they do. I'm sure you are not referring to the Leica looks that you can download to the camera via the fotos app (it's a very good app these days), they're fun if you shoot jpgs and want to play, I guess like LUTS on the Panasonic.

It's just about the user experience, it's a far nicer camera in the hand, I've always appreciated the Leica UI and I have M lenses that I definitely prefer to use on a Leica body.
I haven't done it, but I'm pretty sure if I put the same lens on the A7RV and the SL3, there would be no distinguishable difference once tweaked in Lightroom in a couple of seconds, before that tweak, to my eye the Leica DNG is just a bit more pleasing.

 

[xaviergut]

only difference is in the colour science, how Leica Engineer's tweaked and programmed or whatever it is they do.

Thank you, yes, that's what interests me: if the Leica engineers can do something with the sensor to make it appear to have more contrast, saturation, or a 3D pop effect (if that depends on the sensor and not the lenses). I've used my brother's Sony A7CR, and the level of detail is impressive.

 

[Jayneboo]

Thank you, yes, that's what interests me: if the Leica engineers can do something with the sensor to make it appear to have more contrast, saturation, or a 3D pop effect (if that depends on the sensor and not the lenses). I've used my brother's Sony A7CR, and the level of detail is impressive.

I wanted to add, I don't think there is anything that will give better image quality in L mount than an SL (any iteration) body in combination with an SL APO lens, certainly not the zooms 24-90, 90-280 and having used/owned at one time or another the 35/50/75 and 90 SL Apo Summicrons, they are special, but they all come with "special" price tags. Fine if you can afford them or earn a living from them, Sigma do just fine for me when it comes to autofocus lenses these days.

When folks refer to the Leica Look, I'm not sure it's these lenses that people are talking of though, far more likely to be the Mandler era lenses.