I got back into photography as a hobby a few years ago with a micro 4/3 camera. Previously I did not shoot primes, now I learned to love them. I also realized that 50mm is my favorite focal length, I could go on a 3-week trip to an exotic location with a 50mm lens with no regrets.
I love micro 4/3 for portability, but what I occasionally want is serious background blur. I am thinking about getting into full frame again (which I shot last time in the days of film cameras).
Specifically, all I need it a full frame body + a 50mm lens, around f/1.7. A bit wider lens is ok to, up to 40mm. At least 16 Mpixels would be nice.
The emphasis is on price and compactness. What I do not specifically need is IBIS, extraordinary dynamic range, latest AF, or a mount with a future, I am OK with phased-out 10 yo tech. I am OK with both DSLR and MILC, though I am happy to pay a not-so-large premium for a smaller MILC.
The benchmark is a Sony A7C(i) + a Sony 50mm f/1.8 lens, this is about 1100 EUR used. I thought DLSRs would be cheaper, but full frame DLSRs hold their value very well apparently, then I would rather get a recent camera for the same price.
A Canon EOS 5Diii would be about half the price, and would still be nice.
When you’re quoting focal lengths here, are these all Full-Frame equivalent focal lengths? Because a 40mm full frame lens will have a much wider field-of-view than a 50mm MFT lens.
I recently bought a used 5D III for around £400 and have been using it exclusively with a cheap Canon EF 50mm f1.8 and have been getting some beautiful and very sharp pictures. For the price I think it’s fantastic.
It is a heavy and bulky body though, so perhaps doesn’t meet your criteria. The lens is light though.
Z5 goes for €750 and Z 50mm f/1.8 is €350 over on MPB. It’s a bit pricey, so alternatively you could get a Z 40mm f/2 at €190, which will also make the camera more compact.
Yes I’ve heard very good things about it, some call it the best in class.
There is like 4x more expensive f/1.2, but in the shared f-stop range it performs almost the same
I was referring to your earlier comment about your “favourite” lens on MFT being 50mm and it wasn’t clear you actually meant 25mm (50mm FF equivalent FoV).
I’ll put in a good word for Nikon D800. I bought mine in 2013, and use mostly manual-focus AI-S lenses. Certainly not state-of-the-art, and I suppose the classic F-mount is now considered a dead end, but plenty of lenses are available, eg from MPB.
I have looked at all the great suggestions in this topic and this is the closest to what I am looking for.
I think that the current generation of 50mm f/1.8 lenses (from Sony, Panasonic, Nikon, etc) are fantastic, but freaking huge; I have been to a store and handled the Nikkor. I would rather get a small f/1.8 lens, even if it is optically not the very best possible. I am willing to make small compromises.
f/1.4 lenses are even bigger and more expensive.
As much as I like Panasonic, I think that in the case of the S5 I would be paying for the video capabilities, which would not use. I think I could get a camera with much better AF for the same price.
If you don’t need something that’s optically perfect it seems like a good option. One of my favorite lenses is my Samyang 45 mm f/1.8, but it’s not as small.
50mm f1.4 lenses are tiny when older DSLR designs. Most have a nice range of looks depending on f stop. I argud that the spherical aberration etc wide open is more a feature than a bug considering it disappears when stopping down and gives access to a range of looks in one lens.
DSLR bodies aren’t as huge as some imagine and the flange distance give design advantage for 50mm (disadvantage for wide angles).
I have an old Nikkor 50 mm / 1.8 lens, and it’s not large at all. Has no motor, freies in the body too drive it. It’s soft wide open, but very sharp when stopped down just a bit.
The Z lens above is likely much better corrected but as we know from cinematography well corrected isn’t always better. It depends on what look you’re after.
Can’t edit my post but I looked up the weight and it turns out the Z-6 III and the D600 weigh exactly the same! 760g according to my first search engine results.
