Why I Moved from Sony to Canon (and Why Sony Is Still Brilliant)
If you've followed my work for a while, you might have noticed a change in the kit bag. After a lot of time shooting Sony, I've moved over to Canon. This definitely isn't a "Sony is bad" post. Here's the honest version of why I switched, what I love, and what I still miss.
Where I'm coming from
I spent a lot of time with Sony. I shot on the a7 III, the a7R IV and the a7R V, mostly paired with Sony's G and G Master lenses. They're seriously good cameras and lenses, and I knew that system well.
Why I switched
The short answer is that I simply enjoy the experience more with Canon. I'm now shooting on a Canon R5 with some better RF lenses, and when I pick it up, it just feels right. Photography is a growing part of my working life alongside coaching canoe slalom, and when you're out in all weathers or working a long wedding day, enjoying the tool in your hands really matters.
It's not one headline feature. It's small things adding up: how the camera feels and how my files look once edited.
Handling: big hands, happy hands
This is the most practical reason. I've got big hands, and Canon bodies are nicer for me to hold. The R5 has a deep, chunky grip, and reviewers regularly point out how well it suits larger hands. Imaging Resource described it as having a nice deep handgrip with softer, rounder edges than Sony's more angular bodies, and Photo Review said the grip moulding "will suit users with large hands". That's exactly how it feels to me.
On a long day, whether that's walking in to a remote spot or following a couple from the morning prep to the first dance, a camera that sits comfortably in your hand makes a real difference.
Files and colour
I want to be fair here. I love the images from both systems. Modern cameras are all brilliant, and with a good edit you can get a lovely result from any of them.
That said, I prefer Canon, and specifically the look of the Canon files once they're edited. They just land closer to how I want my images to look, for outdoor scenes and for people. Colour is subjective, so this is very much my taste rather than a scientific verdict.
I think photographer James Reader and I see Canon in a similar way. In his video Why I Shoot Canon (After Trying Every Camera System), he's careful to say colour is personal and the brands are close, but he likes the starting point Canon files give him. That's pretty much where I've landed too.
Lenses
On the lens side, I've built my kit around three of Canon's L-series lenses, their top-tier line. Between them they cover the focal ranges I need:
RF 15-35mm f/2.8L – my wide option. It's for big landscapes, dramatic outdoor scenes and wide shots of a wedding venue or a busy dance floor.
RF 50mm f/1.2L – the one for people and atmosphere. Portraits, couple shots and quiet details look lovely with that shallow depth of field, and it copes well when the light drops in the evening.
RF 70-200mm f/2.8L – my reach lens. It's great for sport action and for catching candid wedding moments without getting in anyone's way.
Together they're my L-series trinity. For now, they give me a great setup for lifestyle, portraits and close-up sport action, and the 15-35mm is wide enough to show off the narrowboat I call home. At some point I'd like longer zooms to make sport and wildlife more reachable, but that's for another day.
What I miss about Sony
Honesty time. Sony is a fantastic system, and it does some things better. The big one is lens choice: Sony's E-mount has a huge range of third-party lenses from brands like Sigma and Tamron, which gives you a lot of options at lots of price points. Canon's full-frame RF mount is far more limited in that department, so you tend to buy Canon's own glass, which isn't cheap. And the G Master glass I used was excellent.
I also miss a couple of things on the bodies themselves. Sony's electronic viewfinder is excellent, and I got used to their articulating screen. That said, when it comes to the rear screen itself, the Canon one just looks way better to my eye, which makes reviewing shots out in the field a real pleasure.
Who should consider switching?
If you're happy with Sony, I honestly wouldn't rush to switch. The cameras are excellent and switching systems is expensive. But if you:
have bigger hands and never quite felt comfortable holding your camera,
find yourself not enjoying the shooting experience as much as you'd like, or
keep editing your files towards a look that Canon gets you closer to,
then it's worth getting a Canon in your hands. Hire one or borrow one for a weekend before you sell anything. It's all personal preference in the end, and the best camera is the one that makes you want to go out and shoot.
Shot on Canon from here on
All of my outdoor, adventure and wedding work is now shot on Canon. Longer zooms can wait. For now, these three have me covered.
If you're planning an adventure shoot or a wedding and fancy a chat, have a look at my Contact page and drop me a message. I'd love to hear what you've got in mind.
