Camera gear discussions

Discussion in 'Photography and Cameras' started by Bill-P, Oct 15, 2015.

  1. Ash1412

    Ash1412 Friend

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    Ya not overthinking it Sony is to the camera market what Android is to the phone market, they make the sensor in just about every consumer camera and phone out there except Canon cameras and some Samsung devices. Cameras are learning from phones and becoming integrated do-it-all consumer imaging solutions. The lens front is mostly the only place left where there's room for improvement, with the cameras abilities already being pretty much maxed out for their sizes.
     
  2. Zhanming057

    Zhanming057 Friend

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    Do you use 70-200mm FL's? If not really frequently, I think that you should consider the MK4/5. The MK7's lens gives up about a full stop at every focal length from 24 to 70 for the extra reach. So instead of ISO 800 you need 1600 and so on. The video side of things have improved a lot, not sure how important that is to you but TBH, I think that every one of the RX100 bodies is good enough for casual video and not nearly sufficient for professional videography.

    Agree that if size is not a rigid constraint, a A6000 series body with a few small lenses gives you a lot more versatility including the ability to use a flash setup on-the-go. For me the RX100 is too small without a half case, and I rarely pocket it even though the form factor is very pocketable. If you want to completely replace the Nikon system, an A6300/6400 could also be a good backup body.

    Compared to Canon and Nikon, Sony is about 3-4 years ahead on the mirrorless game and while Canon and Nikon are still working out the quirks on their 1st gen bodies, Sony had that happen back in 2014-15 and is now on gen 3 or 4, and the experience is a whole lot more cohesive and smooth because of that. That did come from dumping the Alpha mount entirely...but you have to break a few eggs, and it's not as if people would have bought into the Minolta system en masse anyways. For years Canon neglected to invest in their in-house foundries (and to be fair, up to 2012-ish they had zero need to) and kept using the same outdated sensors, and Nikon is constrained by Sony's chip performance as well as their own scale. Nikon pretty much lives on the Olympics cycle and simply isn't in a position to pour cash into consumer-grade bodies. This is all while Sony did major, 2-year updates to full frame bodies.

    Back when the original A7 came out I was working as a contracted Sony photographer, and I shot E mount alongside Canon for a few years before that. To me it was always obvious that Sony's mirrorless system would take off, because they are more vertically integrated, don't have the baggage of an existing ecosystem, and can afford to iterate quickly and get people into the fold. That plus the inherent cost and performance envelop advantages of mirrorless.

    But to your point, Sony is weird because in the hardware and component sense the company is highly integrated but in another, there's lots of little fiefdoms and products suffer because politics. Sony has no less than four groups developing headphones (the recording equipment people, the Z1R/Z7 people, the IER-Z1R people, and the JE people). When they can keep their act together, though, the end products can definitely be market-leading.
     
    Last edited: Oct 3, 2019
  3. YMO

    YMO Chief Fun Officer

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    Back when I had my basic DSLR it did came with a basic kit zoom lens that was similar to 70-200mm years back. I didn't use the 200mm too often. However, at times I was glad I had the 200mm due to the distance (taking a still of a croc in a pond in FL. Don't want to be near it, but I want a shot).

    Video would be helpful, but not 100% needed. However, I do like that the MKVII has a Mic jack, so it gives me the flexibility I need if I want to go in that direction. I always like flexibility when I can, because you just never know.

    Then again, I could be happy with the MKV and call it a day. I might be a little ugh without the 200mm when the moment is right.

    Well I sold my Nikon, and the only camera I have is the Sony Xperia 1 Smartphone. Sony up'ed their game on their Smartphone camera. But it's still a Smartphone with a small sensor. I can only think that something like the RX100 will slay the camera of the Xperia 1 any day of the week (unless the camera tech on the phones get better, which it will).

    If I had money to spend on glass, I would honestly do the A6000 series camera. Only problem is that that glass isn't cheap. Yes I can get a few cheaper Prime Lens for $200 a popish and my picture quality will go up over a Zoom Lens, but then I'll have to swap them out in the wild and then worry about which lens might do best in a perfect shot that I might have limited time on.

    And that, I'm like since I want to get back into taking higher end stills with some videos, I was thinking maybe the RX100 is a good starting point. All the basics in one device. Learn to use it, have fun with it, and able to take it to the max so you know whats the real limitations of the camera. Then again, the money I could be spending on a RX100 I could get a A6000 series body. Also some times I want Auto Full just for that shot when someone is getting punched in the face (saw that once and I was like dammn I wanna get a still of that).

    Then again, the RX100 might be smaller on my ends. But the size and able to put it in a messenger bag. It was a pain to bring the Nikon around since it was bulky.

    Also helps that Sony is a major company that I feel like they are putting major money into their cores products. I remember when their Digital DAPs were crap. Now we know what their higher end Walkmans can do.

    Didn't know that. That would explain why some camera folks were like the Sonys were crap but they were on to something.

    Some things will never change. DAP tapes anyone? Sony Music vs Sony Electronics.


    Edit: @Zhanming057 your thoughts on the RX100 VA?
     
    Last edited: Oct 3, 2019
  4. Zhanming057

    Zhanming057 Friend

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    @YMO If you can find a used A6300, that might leave enough in your budget for two primes or a nicer-than-kit zoom. Don't buy the 16-50 or the 18-55 if you can do better, those are holdover kit zooms at best. The physical hot shoe is extremely useful for portraits, still life, pretty much anything where you don't want an off camera flash.

    Either way, go used, Fred Miranda or check the B&H used section.

    Re: RX100 VA, I didn't even realize they did this. From the specs it looks like the exact same camera as the RX10 V with updated firmware, no idea why they discontinued the original and release a rebranded version, but knowing this I'd recommend the "updated" one if you can find it.
     
  5. YMO

    YMO Chief Fun Officer

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    Thanks for the info. I was looking around and I noticed that the prices for the really basic A6000 aren't bad. That would leave me enough $$ to get better lens. I learned from a wise guy when you are buying camera to put a little more money on the glass than the body. Bodies can always change, but the lens stick with you.

    I might do that instead than the RX100. But I do love the small and practical uses of the RX100. Decisions Decision. I'll research more and make a decision by next year.
     
  6. YMO

    YMO Chief Fun Officer

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    @Zhanming057 the more I was thinking, the more that maybe it isn't a good idea to go for a RX100. I have a feeling that it won't take too long for a Smartphone to get close to the shots of a RX100. Plus, the Smartphone is just always with me (and not the RX100). I have a feeling that if I jump on the RX100, it won't get much use as I hope.

    So next year I'll jump on a A6000/APS-C camera. Honestly, I don't know which one to get. Maybe you can give me some pointers, and perhaps others as well.

    After thinking about it, this is what I would prefer:

    * Still quality above video. Quite frankly I don't care video the more I think about it.
    * Good menu system where it's easy to access the manual settings for ISO/f/etc.
    * I can go above the A6000 easy either new or used (thanks for the site links, it'll help for used gear), but honestly do I really need to go above A6000 if the goal is just for stills? I know you said try to see if I can get a A6300, what about the A6500 or the newer A6400? The A6600 is just out of my price range.
    * Zoom lens are nice, but honestly I'm more of a Prime Lens type of person. Get one/two Prime Lens and get a good quality Zoom down the road.

    Thoughts?
     
  7. iFi audio

    iFi audio MOT iFi Audio

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    He does indeedo!

    I also like a wee bit ranty style of Theoria Apophasis. Huge Fuji nerd with tremendous knowledge and many useful hints about vintage gear.

     
  8. Friday

    Friday Friend

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    @YMO A photographer I follow just gave the Fuji XF10 a very favourable review. May not be up your alley if interchangeable lenses are a must for you, but might be worth looking given its apparent price-performance ratio.
     
  9. Partytime

    Partytime Facebook Friend

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    The Fuji’s are great cameras, I’ve owned and shot with a lot of them.

    Ive never truly gotten on with them Bc I just don’t like the colors and the rendering. Doesn’t look “real” enough to me, if that makes any sense.

    Word of advice to anyone shopping, try and demo a Fuji XMOS sensor camera before you buy and look at the Raws on the computer. They have a look, a lot of people love that look. I could never get into it.

    The Fuji sensors are a bit “colored” to use the audiophile term....
     
  10. Zhanming057

    Zhanming057 Friend

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    @YMO The A6000 upgrades are mostly video and speed related and I don't think that you'll have an issue with any one of them. The 6300 is probably your best bet and won't depreciate as much as the newer models.

    Regarding prime lenses, what do you shoot mostly?
     
  11. YMO

    YMO Chief Fun Officer

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    Thanks for your honestly. 35mm for prime back when I had the Nikon. It was a good middle ground between wide and too close.
     
  12. Zhanming057

    Zhanming057 Friend

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    If you can swing it, the 24mm F1.8 is the best lens in this FL and should be available used for a hair below $500.

    If you mean 35mm (as in 50mm Full frame FL) then Zeiss has the Touit 32mm which can be found for around $400.

    I recommend going with one of the better primes - buy used and resale value will also be better. If you're thinking about getting an A7 later on, you'll need to swap these out (or go straight for one of the FE lenses in which case you probably won't get 35mm equivalent within you budget).
     
  13. YMO

    YMO Chief Fun Officer

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    Thanks for both recommendations. My goal is for now pick up one good Sony Prime and one good Sony Zoom and try them out for awhile to see which direction I would like to go. If I need a really long FL, then I would use a really long zoom. Honestly, I have a feeling that the Zoom Lens will be quite useful at moments but I'll be mostly using Prime Lens.

    With that being said, my ATM plan is get the Sony 35mm f/1.8 OSS for my starter Prime and the Sony 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 OSS for my Zoom. Why not the Sigma Prime as my entry level Prime? I don't like how bulky it is. I really prefer lighter weight on a Prime. How's the weight on the 24mm F1.8 + Touit 32mm? I'll deal with the weight on a Zoom, but I dunno if I can on a Prime.

    I'm planning to stick to APS-C for awhile.
     
    Last edited: Oct 5, 2019
  14. Zhanming057

    Zhanming057 Friend

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    Go with the Touit over the Sony. The small premium is worth it for the gains (faster focusing, sharper lens, etc.) if you want to stick to APSC long term. If you're not feeling a zoom, don't go with a zoom. Almost everything in the range of "casual" photography can be done with a 35mm equivalent if you put in some work. Having options helps, but the big zooms mostly get in your way if you're not sure you need the reach or width.
     
  15. YMO

    YMO Chief Fun Officer

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    Glad you are on point. People were complaining about the noise from the Touit 32mm. Thoughts from your experience?
     
  16. iFi audio

    iFi audio MOT iFi Audio

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    Yes! And organic! No resolution/detailing freaks but Fuji's colour science is very appealing. Plus, I like them for making the most affordable (still expensive tho) mid format out there. They didn't even bother with FF gear...
     
  17. zerodeefex

    zerodeefex SBAF's Imelda Marcos

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    FWIW, after I got the 32mm Touit, I basically never removed it from my A6000 when that was my main camera. It's an awesome lens. AF is slightly slower than the Sony 35mm lens but I found myself getting consistently better shots using both side by side for months.
     
  18. Zhanming057

    Zhanming057 Friend

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    Yeah for video the AF noise could be a bit distracting if you also want to use an on camera mic, otherwise I think that it's the best E mount 50mm equivalent lens. My impression is that for working distances (2m+) the 32mm AF's faster than the 35mm 1.8, but it's been a few years.
     
  19. Partytime

    Partytime Facebook Friend

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    They’re MF cameras are super cool!

    love the rangefinder styled one.
     
  20. Deep Funk

    Deep Funk Deep thoughts - Friend

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    Addicted to Fuji-colours, guilty. My Pentax K5 is wonderfully sharp yet I still wanted my colours to have more presence. Makes pictures come alive, hard to explain...
     

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