Your 2025 Gear Wish List

[AlphaWorld]

I know. It has been a couple years since they released a lens that has held any real interest for me. Then this year the A1ii, 400-800, they broke my HVAC system and now the 100 macro.

I better check my HVAC!

 

[Madrab]

Sigma 300-600mm F4 - possibly.
I shoot a fair amount of sport and also enjoy wildlife photography, although I haven't done any wildlife stuff since a good friend of mine who I used to go with suddenly passed away. I am currently shooting with the Sony 200-600mm and thought it was pretty good for the price. Now I have got the A1 mk 2, I'm not so sure. The images are noticeably softer than those from my Sony 100-400mm GM lens. For my 60th we plan to go on a photo safari, and I'd love a faster, sharper lens. I've reached out to Sigma to see if there is anywhere local where I could try their 300-600mm F4 lens out, but I'm just hitting a blank wall. I'd really like to try one of those out and see if they are worth the additional price from my 200-600mm

Just to reach out with regards to the Sony 200-600mm I too found the lens soft on both my Sony a7iii, and later the Sony a7riv I thought was slightly better, but still wasn't happy, since selling the 200-600mm I bought the tamron 150-500 lost a bit of reach, but in my opinion it's far better lens for birds and wildlife, I now seek the Sony a1ii, which will be my last body, as I have reached a certain age in other words just an old git, I would be keen on finding out how impressed you are with the Sony a1ii, awe the best to you and your family.

 

[AlphaWorld]

Just to reach out with regards to the Sony 200-600mm I too found the lens soft on both my Sony a7iii, and later the Sony a7riv I thought was slightly better, but still wasn't happy, since selling the 200-600mm I bought the tamron 150-500 lost a bit of reach, but in my opinion it's far better lens for birds and wildlife, I now seek the Sony a1ii, which will be my last body, as I have reached a certain age in other words just an old git, I would be keen on finding out how impressed you are with the Sony a1ii, awe the best to you and your family.

The A1 II is a massive upgrade from the A7RIV in every way but pixel count (and 50 vs 60 isn't a huge difference) I really liked the A7RIV for a long time, and kept it when I got the original A1, but the A7RIV pales against the A1 II:

• Sony's newest AF system - and it works superbly
• the awesome rear screen - higher resolution and much more manoeuvrable
• a viewfinder with a lot more detail and a larger view
• lossless compressed files - all the detail of uncompressed, but size cut by almost half
• shooting at 50Mpixel at 20fps for long bursts - awesome when shooting birds (OK, 15fps with third party lenses!)
• pre-capture for when your reflexes aren't quite quick enough!
• the new comfortable body shape (my little finger fits on the camera at last!)

I'm feeling the age, too, and I have zero regrets about buying the A1 II - the new viewfinder is easier with glasses, and the extra size helps my eyes

 

[Madrab]

The A1 II is a massive upgrade from the A7RIV in every way but pixel count (and 50 vs 60 isn't a huge difference) I really liked the A7RIV for a long time, and kept it when I got the original A1, but the A7RIV pales against the A1 II:

• Sony's newest AF system - and it works superbly
• the awesome rear screen - higher resolution and much more manoeuvrable
• a viewfinder with a lot more detail and a larger view
• lossless compressed files - all the detail of uncompressed, but size cut by almost half
• shooting at 50Mpixel at 20fps for long bursts - awesome when shooting birds (OK, 15fps with third party lenses!)
• pre-capture for when your reflexes aren't quite quick enough!
• the new comfortable body shape (my little finger fits on the camera at last!)

I'm feeling the age, too, and I have zero regrets about buying the A1 II - the new viewfinder is easier with glasses, and the extra size helps my eyes

Many thanks for that, looking like I will be making the jump albeit a bit of money.

 

[Chris 3754]

Just to reach out with regards to the Sony 200-600mm I too found the lens soft on both my Sony a7iii, and later the Sony a7riv I thought was slightly better, but still wasn't happy, since selling the 200-600mm I bought the tamron 150-500 lost a bit of reach, but in my opinion it's far better lens for birds and wildlife, I now seek the Sony a1ii, which will be my last body, as I have reached a certain age in other words just an old git, I would be keen on finding out how impressed you are with the Sony a1ii, awe the best to you and your family.

We are on the same photo journey as I also find myself as vintage as my film cameras (which by the way are cool again and I have found myself in the "cool guy" position when I use them with young folks around who are curious). I recently upgraded from the a7iv to the a1ii with absolutely no regrets other than seeing my bank account $7k USD lighter. I found the a1ii to be a leap ahead of the a7iv in all aspects. Like you, I consider this my last camera body purchase, but hey, who knows.

I had the Sigma 150-600 Sports which was TACK SHARP at all settings. I made an emotional decision to trade it on a Sony 200-600 after hiking hours to see nesting owls with fledglings, only to find 600 was not enough reach and I could not add a teleconverter. I also did not like that the Sigma body extended when zoomed. I found that if I closed the Sony 200-600 at least two stops I could get it sharp. In the end, the debate is losing two stops vs Sigma's lack of a teleconverter and extending body.

 

[Madrab]

We are on the same photo journey as I also find myself as vintage as my film cameras (which by the way are cool again and I have found myself in the "cool guy" position when I use them with young folks around who are curious). I recently upgraded from the a7iv to the a1ii with absolutely no regrets other than seeing my bank account $7k USD lighter. I found the a1ii to be a leap ahead of the a7iv in all aspects. Like you, I consider this my last camera body purchase, but hey, who knows.

I had the Sigma 150-600 Sports which was TACK SHARP at all settings. I made an emotional decision to trade it on a Sony 200-600 after hiking hours to see nesting owls with fledglings, only to find 600 was not enough reach and I could not add a teleconverter. I also did not like that the Sigma body extended when zoomed. I found that if I closed the Sony 200-600 at least two stops I could get it sharp. In the end, the debate is losing two stops vs Sigma's lack of a teleconverter and extending body.

I also had the sigma 150-600 contemporary when I had the canon 7d mkii, I also was impressed with that.

 

[Chris 3754]

I also had the sigma 150-600 contemporary when I had the canon 7d mkii, I also was impressed with that.

Sigma really makes great lenses! My first one was a 75-250 for my Canon AE-1 that I purchased in 1980 in the Army post exchange. It too was a great lens for its time considering old zooms.