Sony SLT A99 w/24-70 f/2.8 CZ lens vs Canon 5d mark iii w/ 24-70 f/2.8 ll lens: Funny thing happened on the way to the Canon store. I ran into a Sony A99 and went all weak kneed. Can...

NYjoe Loc: US/UK

Funny thing happened on the way to the Canon store. I ran into a Sony A99 and went all weak kneed. Can anyone help me compare these two cameras? I shoot mostly in natural daylight, landscapes, architectural, oddball portraiture. I print as large as I can - 24x32 vicinity...and I crop like a banshee. 70% B&W, 30% color. I look forward to your ever informative always entertaining commentaries.

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HEART Loc: God's Country - COLORADO

Snapsort comparison: http://snapsort.com/compare/Canon-EOS-5D-Mark-III-vs-Sony-SLT-A99

Versus comparison: http://versus.com/en/sony-slt-a99-vs-canon-eos-5d-mark-iii

Depending on your personal lens setup, and preferences, you can make the call. Good luck!!

lukan Loc: Chicago, IL

NYjoe wrote:

Funny thing happened on the way to the Canon store. I ran into a Sony A99 and went all weak kneed. Can anyone help me compare these two cameras? I shoot mostly in natural daylight, landscapes, architectural, oddball portraiture. I print as large as I can - 24x32 vicinity...and I crop like a banshee. 70% B&W, 30% color. I look forward to your ever informative always entertaining commentaries.

Save yourself $1000 and get the A99 and Zeiss. For your purposes, it's better. It's a tremendous rig; I know, I used to shoot it! :thumbup:
For sports, the 5D3 setup is better, for your purposes, the A99. :-D

SharpShooter Loc: NorCal

Joe, the a99 is like the cute little dinosaur in your avatar, and the 5lll is like the big green guy standing behind you.
Not everybody needs the big green guy!
Now, if we could just get you to stop cropping like a Banshee, I'll bet your photography would improve by 100%. :lol:
SS

lukan Loc: Chicago, IL

SharpShooter wrote:

Joe, the a99 is like the cute little dinosaur in your avatar, and the 5lll is like the big green guy standing behind you.
Not everybody needs the big green guy!
Now, if we could just get you to stop cropping like a Banshee, I'll bet your photography would improve by 100%. :lol:
SS

1.) Get a longer lens to have to crop less.
2.) Get closer (by walking) to the actual subject you want to photograph and then make a print of.
3.) The EVF in the A99 drove me batty, but I shoot things that move more than things that pose for me (I'm trying to get more posers into my photography diet, by the way!).
That EVF will either grow on you or piss you off enough one day that you'll want an optical viewfinder. Then you'll sell the A99 + lenses and get the 5D3 + lenses. That day might never come, but if it does, you heard about it here first.
4.) The 5D3 has better low light/low noise performance on the actual picture, than does the A99. I would estimate it to be at least 1 1/2 stops (maybe more). For you, that doesn't really matter, but it might if you crop like a Banshee and print in B&W. The grain might screw up your details... ;-) :-D

amehta Loc: Boston

NYjoe wrote:

Funny thing happened on the way to the Canon store. I ran into a Sony A99 and went all weak kneed. Can anyone help me compare these two cameras? I shoot mostly in natural daylight, landscapes, architectural, oddball portraiture. I print as large as I can - 24x32 vicinity...and I crop like a banshee. 70% B&W, 30% color. I look forward to your ever informative always entertaining commentaries.

I'm curious why the Sony A7r/Nikon D800 aren't in the conversation? For most people, 36mp instead of 24mp isn't a big difference, but you seem to be the exception.

lukan Loc: Chicago, IL

amehta wrote:

I'm curious why the Sony A7r/Nikon D800 aren't in the conversation? For most people, 36mp instead of 24mp isn't a big difference, but you seem to be the exception.

... and especially for the type of photography the OP is doing, 36mp would seem to be a natural draw...
But in either Sony case, there's still the EVF; which might be OK with portraits, landscapes, etc.

NYjoe Loc: US/UK

SS...have you seen my pics? I generally crop for straightening, centralizing and small perspective adjustments and stitching the best of two images. Massive 100% crops us usually destroy the IQ .... But you never know especially with high MP. I think I'd have a d800e if it weren't for the better quality and variety of the canon L glass (24-70 ll)...as well as that damn fixed flash! .but as always I keep all options open for the sake of creative latitude.

amehta Loc: Boston

NYjoe wrote:

SS...have you seen my pics? I generally crop for straightening, centralizing and small perspective adjustments and stitching the best of two images. Massive 100% crops us usually destroy the IQ .... But you never know especially with high MP. I think I'd have a d800e if it weren't for the better quality and variety of the canon L glass (24-70 ll)...as well as that damn fixed flash! .but as always I keep all options open for the sake of creative latitude.

The Nikon 24-70mm is no slouch. What "fixed flash"?

lukan Loc: Chicago, IL

NYjoe wrote:

SS...have you seen my pics? I generally crop for straightening, centralizing and small perspective adjustments and stitching the best of two images. Massive 100% crops us usually destroy the IQ .... But you never know especially with high MP. I think I'd have a d800e if it weren't for the better quality and variety of the canon L glass (24-70 ll)...as well as that damn fixed flash! .but as always I keep all options open for the sake of creative latitude.

The major manufacturers all make excellent 24-70 f2.8s. Nikon, Zeiss (Sony), and Canon, as well as Tamron and Sigma. It's very competitive in that focal length...
Just depends on what you want to shoot.

cntry Loc: Colorado

Get the Sony and save the $1100...the differences aren't that great.

NYjoe Loc: US/UK

Amehta, re: a7r....limited lenses selection and there are some reports of light leak. Shy of first model year purchases. re: d800: 36 MP is a big consideration but 5d mkiii seems to have the edge for tonal quality. Don't like the fixed nikon flash and Canon 24-70 ll is my idea of a perfect lenses for what I do....unless you have any idea's in that regard. As always....open to suggestion.
J.

cntry Loc: Colorado

lukan wrote:

Save yourself $1000 and get the A99 and Zeiss. For your purposes, it's better. It's a tremendous rig; I know, I used to shoot it! :thumbup:
For sports, the 5D3 setup is better, for your purposes, the A99. :-D

:thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup:

NYjoe Loc: US/UK

The pop up...its so entry level.

lukan Loc: Chicago, IL

NYjoe wrote:

The pop up...its so entry level.

Forget about that stupid flash. Go get the fv60l (or whatever the 60's initials are), and just use that. It's simply terrific, especially in bounce mode.