aIpha-cbr

Recently, I went through some of the same focal length envy recently myself. I have a 100-400mm GM which is an awesome lens, but sometimes I want some extra reach. I don't have a 70-200mm so if I moved to a 200-600mm I'd lose the 100mm-200mm range which I don't want to do. Instead, I settled on the 2X teleconverter. It gives me a 200-800mm which I can quickly convert back to 100-400 by taking off the teleconverter. There's always a tradeoff and the maximum aperture is reduced with the teleconverter, but because I don't need the extra reach all that often, it's an easy tradeoff for me to make. IMO, switching to an MFT system for extra reach is a bit of an illusion. The smaller sensor's "crop factor" makes it appear that you get extra focal length, but it's really just the proportion of the frame vis a vis the subject that changes. Personally, I prefer a high-resolution, full-frame sensor that I have the option to crop to something like an MFT size if necessary. Cameras like the A7R V and A7CR are incredibly versatile in this regard.

This is an interesting topic. Innovation is where the path forward takes a radical course change and progress makes a giant leap ahead. I don't disagree with you about the A6000 being a massive leap forward. It's a little like the Bell X-1, the plane that Chuck Yeager flew to break the sound barrier in 1947. The supersonic planes that have come after the X-1 have long since outpaced its capabilities, but the X-1 was the plane that opened the door to all of the massive advancements that followed. One thing I think Sony continues to do extremely well is to look to the future rather than cling to the past. I've been in this industry long enough to remember when reps from other companies publicly and privately dismissed mirrorless. As Schopenhauer said (yes, I am brining a 19th century philosopher into a discussion about cameras), "All truth passes through three stages. First, it is ridiculed. Second, it is violently opposed. Third, it is accepted as being self-evident." I don't have my A6000 anymore, but I I recently got an Alpha 7CR. It's a very different camera starting with being full-frame, but like an F-16 shares DNA with the Bell X-1, the A7CR's lineage can be traced back to the A6000.

I've had the 24mm GM since it came out and it's become my most used landscape as well as nightscape lens. The new 16-25mm f/2.8 G is really interesting to me. I have a 16-35mm f/4 which I use a lot in my underwater rig, and I'm thinking about trying the 16-25mm because I mostly use that lens at the wider end and I'd like to have the extra stop in a small lens.

The #FE 14mm F1.8 GM (SEL14F18GM) is NOT discontinued, it's just showing as out of stock kin the Sony store at the moment.

The #FE 12-24mm F2.8 GM has been at or near the top of my list since it came out. I find that I do a lot of my shooting within that range and the 12-24 GM is just so good. The 12-24 GM will complete my version of the zoom trinity: 12-24 GM, #FE 24-105mm F4 G OSS and the #FE 100-400mm F4.5-5.6 GM OSS .

This is a great question. I'm not sure it's an either/or scenario. I have an #Alpha 6400 (a6400) and a #ZV-1 setup for livestreaming. I like that the Alpha 6400 (which I have set up at an angle to my computer) allows for interchangeable lenses (mine has a #Vario-Tessar T* FE 16-35mm F4 ZA OSS on it most of the time) and the ZV-1 is set up for head on. I run both through a capture card which has been very stable. I feel like this setup gives me a lot of versatility. A #ZV-E10 in place of the Alpha 6400 would also be a great solution, but since you already have the Alpha 6400 (like I did), you could keep it and add a ZV-1 and a lens or 2 to expand your setup'd versatility. Of course it depends on exactly what you're doing. You might also have a look at this video with Terry Warfield. (https://alphauniverse.com/stories/vlogging-tips-and-gear-with-terry-warfield/). He talks about gear like the ZV-E10 as well as some of his top vlogging tips.

This is a great topic and we thought we might explore it more on alphauniverse.com. Have a look: alphauniverse.com/stories/only-one-lens-for-one-year-which-would-you-choose/

That 100mm is one of the great sleeper lenses of all time IMO. Truly unique, super sharp and with the STF it creates bokeh like no other.

The #FE 24-105mm F4 G OSS is on my camera 75% of the time as it is and I'm very comfortable working with that lens in just about any situation. That said, if forced to just use a single lens for a year, I might go with the #FE 24mm F1.4 GM . I think it would train me to get closer to the subjects and also force me to get creative and literally "see" in that perspective.

Drew Geraci did this video on some portrait lighting techniques.

I prefer using the back button instead of the half-press on the shutter button to activate AF. It's more intuitive for me and I like having the shutter button dedicated to just one thing, tripping the shutter.

Great. This is exactly what I'm looking for. Thanks for the great feedback.

Glenn has some great tips and resources in his reply. Definitely have a look at Stan Moniz's article on the 500 Rule (https://alphauniverse.com/stories/photo-fundamentals-how-to-get-sharp-stars-with-the-500-rule-for-astrophotography/). It will get you making sharp astro images right out of the gate. Personally, I bought the 24mm f/1.4 GM when it came out specifically for astro.

For ll the vloggers, I'm working up some AlphaUniverse.com content on vlogging and I'd like to learn about your preferred setups. I'm interested in your camera, favorite lens or lenses and any other essentials you use. Thanks.