Just updating people on the way I decided to go:
Closest to my option 3 - make some sales and buy a Leica M240. I'm currently the high bidder on such a used unit - <1 yr old with <1000 clicks and all box contents.
I'm selling: Leica M9, Canon 100-400mm, Canon 50mm f/2.5, Sigma 180mm f/3.5 macro, Olympus 50mm f/3.5 macro, Sigma macro ring flash.
I did go and look at the Sony A7 but...
Shutter sound and vibration was huge
Manual selection of focus points was a nightmare - the shop assistant showed me how twice and twice I exited manual selection when meaning not to. For my model work, I need to pickle focus points really quickly. I think the A7 really needs a little joystick/thumb stick to be viable in the studio.
When I asked myself what would I rather have in the studio, a Sony A7R or a Canon 5D MKIII, it was a no-brainer. So I'm keeping my 5DIII, my 24-105 f4/L, my 16-35 f/2.8L II ands my 85mm f/1.2 L. I'll then have an M240 too with a Zeiss 50mm f/1.5, Zeiss 28mm f/28, Jupiter 12 35mm and a Jupiter 9 85mm f/2.
I discounted the MM because I shoot a lot of black and white! Counter-intutive but the truth is I don't want to use glass filters and I rely on being able to select the red channel to bring out faces quickly and consistently. I figure the M240 has a bit more flexibility.
If I find the M240 is all I need in the studio then I'll dump the remainder of the Canon kit and buy an exotic Leica lens.
If the eBay bid falls through, I've got a good option at a dealer in Manchester for a couple of hundred extra pounds.
Here's hoping.
|