Cameras and Lenses
SONY A7R V
An almost perfect machine. It does what it's supposed to do at an exceptionally high level. Refreshing features like the new menu system, improved AI autofocus and 8 stops of in-body image stabilization are worthy upgrades.
It handles beautifully and is extremely customizable, letting you set up nearly every button and dial to suit your needs. Overall, the best image quality I've ever experienced.
Amazon: Buy Here
Tamron 25-200mm f/2.8-5.6 Di III VXD G2
A natural upgrade to the old 28-200mm. It stops down a bit sooner than its predecessor, but gains quite a bit on the wide side. It has faster AF motors, making it quicker overall, an external USB-C port for the Tamron Link device, and improved sharpness at both the center and the edges across the zoom range.
Tamron also claims the weather sealing has been improved over the previous version. It also gains a custom button, which I use for temporary center-spot AF.
It lives on my camera almost all the time, although the 55mm has changed that a bit (see below).
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Viltrox AF 55mm f/1.8 EVO
This is not your regular nifty fifty. It's 5mm longer, which doesn't really make much of a difference, but the image and build quality are far better than your typical plasticky prime. With weather sealing, a declickable aperture ring, an AF/MF switch and a configurable button, it improves on the manufacturer's nifty 50mm f/2 by a lot.
My main use for this lens is shooting vertical panoramas at twilight, although it also works as an everyday walk-around lens, depending on the environment. It might feel tight in the cramped streets of Rome, but it's more than enough for regular street photography.
My first lens ever, a 1978 Nikkor 50mm f/1.4, taught me all I know about photography. It took me way too long to return to this focal length. In fact, I've used this one daily since I got it. I'm in love with its performance.
Amazon: Buy Here
Viltrox AF 14mm f/4 Air
I'm not really a wide-angle shooter. I prefer a good old panorama over shooting too wide and dealing with distortion of all kinds. But this little bugger is one sweet lens. It's as wide as I'll ever need, not as fast as I'd like, but fast enough for museums and the occasional astro shot in a pinch. I'm having tons of fun with it, and with enough space around your subjects to avoid distortion, it's great for group shots.
You can't beat the price. At under $180, it's a steal. Look for discount codes; they're always available.
Amazon: Buy Here
Sony FE 100-400mm f/5.6-8 OSS
The lightest full-frame superzoom in the 100-400mm range, beaten only by a hair by the Canon version. After really trying to carry the Tamron 50-400mm around, size and weight win, even if it means dealing with a higher ISO and a bit more noise. It also accepts teleconverters, although I wouldn't even think of using the 2x.
It's sharper than my copy of the Tamron 50-400mm in the same range, especially at 400mm, where the Tamron really struggled. And it's half the weight and 30% shorter, which matters even more.
Amazon: Buy Here
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