New camera advice
Discussion
I currently have a Nikon D3100 which I use mainly for snapping cars outdoors at shows etc. - I've ever been happy with the end result, photos don't seem as sharp as they could be, which has put me off using it and I just use my phone instead.
A friend at work has just got a Sony RX10 iv, that he raves about, and this has got me thinking about changing mine.
There is so choice in the market and I've no idea if I want another DSLR, or a bridge or to go mirrorless. All I know is that I want something that will give me a better end result than I'm currently getting with the D3100.
So far, after having a quick look around, cameras that have caught me eye are; Sony A7 II, RX10 iv and Canon EOS M50
Which is best out of those three and what else should I be looking at?
TIA
A friend at work has just got a Sony RX10 iv, that he raves about, and this has got me thinking about changing mine.
There is so choice in the market and I've no idea if I want another DSLR, or a bridge or to go mirrorless. All I know is that I want something that will give me a better end result than I'm currently getting with the D3100.
So far, after having a quick look around, cameras that have caught me eye are; Sony A7 II, RX10 iv and Canon EOS M50
Which is best out of those three and what else should I be looking at?
TIA
I only anticipate using it for static car/bike shots outdoors.
I'm not working to any particular budget, within reason.
I had a quick go on the Sony A7 ii today and was very impressed with the focusing system, compared to what I've been used to.
I've decided the new camera must have an easy to use and accurate focusing system with image stabilisation.
What kind of work do you use your RX10 for?
I will have to compare my D3100 with the RX10 at work.
I'm not working to any particular budget, within reason.
I had a quick go on the Sony A7 ii today and was very impressed with the focusing system, compared to what I've been used to.
I've decided the new camera must have an easy to use and accurate focusing system with image stabilisation.
What kind of work do you use your RX10 for?
I will have to compare my D3100 with the RX10 at work.
Ballistic said:
I only anticipate using it for static car/bike shots outdoors.
I'm not working to any particular budget, within reason.
I had a quick go on the Sony A7 ii today and was very impressed with the focusing system, compared to what I've been used to.
I've decided the new camera must have an easy to use and accurate focusing system with image stabilisation.
What kind of work do you use your RX10 for?
I will have to compare my D3100 with the RX10 at work.
The A7ii is a great camera no question - but what lens would you use with it I wonder?I'm not working to any particular budget, within reason.
I had a quick go on the Sony A7 ii today and was very impressed with the focusing system, compared to what I've been used to.
I've decided the new camera must have an easy to use and accurate focusing system with image stabilisation.
What kind of work do you use your RX10 for?
I will have to compare my D3100 with the RX10 at work.
The RX10 is possibly the ultimate do-it-all-in-one solution (no need to worry about lenses obviously as it's built in) - I use it for wildlife and have found it to be very sharp indeed but the sensor is a lot smaller than the A7 so in certain scenarios (eg low light) it will struggle.
It's all a compromise of course and horses for courses
I've used various bridge cameras over the years and found all of them useful for what I wanted them for.
I took photos of cars for magazines, for web, for e-books. I also produced the occasional video.
I used a compact for domestic event photographs.
I've now got a Panasonic G7 with a couple of lenses. It's great and I love the compact nature of the mirrorless type.
The quality is higher and the ability to crop is a welcome addition. I use it for video and the improvement over the bridge cameras is worth the extra money.
So the G7 (with a Panasonic bridge and Panasonic compact) was a good buy and I'm pleased with it.
I went into a camera shop, Parks, just around the corner to me, when looking for a mirrorless. I knew what I wanted but when I tried it against the G7 I changed my mind.
My advice is to go to a camera shop, maybe more than one, and chat to the sales staff. Try a few cameras and see how they feel in the hand. That, I think, is the important point.
I took photos of cars for magazines, for web, for e-books. I also produced the occasional video.
I used a compact for domestic event photographs.
I've now got a Panasonic G7 with a couple of lenses. It's great and I love the compact nature of the mirrorless type.
The quality is higher and the ability to crop is a welcome addition. I use it for video and the improvement over the bridge cameras is worth the extra money.
So the G7 (with a Panasonic bridge and Panasonic compact) was a good buy and I'm pleased with it.
I went into a camera shop, Parks, just around the corner to me, when looking for a mirrorless. I knew what I wanted but when I tried it against the G7 I changed my mind.
My advice is to go to a camera shop, maybe more than one, and chat to the sales staff. Try a few cameras and see how they feel in the hand. That, I think, is the important point.
The issue with "unsharp" images is far more likely the lens than the camera. Decent glass makes a huge difference. As above, what lens are you using?
Since most of your shots don't require zoom look at one of the fixed focal prime lenses perhaps. Great quality images and not overly expensive.
If you can run to it G series lenses (with the gold band) are superb pro quality.
Since most of your shots don't require zoom look at one of the fixed focal prime lenses perhaps. Great quality images and not overly expensive.
If you can run to it G series lenses (with the gold band) are superb pro quality.
These were shot on a D3100 using a Tamron 18-270mm lens back in 2012. Neither the lens nor the images are going to be winning any awards any time soon, but I feel they look ok from a "sharpness" point of view. Do these look "unsharp" to you or are you seeing other issues which give you cause to believe that the camera body is at fault?
I was using the D3100 kit lens.
Update:
Today I went to Jessops, Meadowhall to see what was on offer. Fortunately both the Nikon and Sony reps were present so I was able to pick their brains (turns out the Nikon rep works as a freelance photographer for some of the car mags) and I ended up buying a Nikon Z6 with Z 24-70 F4 kit lens and p/ex the D3100 for which they gave me a fair price.
It's strange how things turn out as when I left the house this morning the Z6 wasn't even on the radar.
The staff in Jessops were really helpful and I was able to compare shots taken in the mall with my D3100 and the Nikon/Sony cameras that I was interested in to help me make my mind up. The results from the Z6 and A7 iii were much better than the D3100 and I just preferred the handling and general use of the Z6
It will be next w/e before I actually receive the Z6, so I'll let you know my initial impressions and how I get on with it.
Many thanks to everyone that has participated in this thread and given me help and advice.
Update:
Today I went to Jessops, Meadowhall to see what was on offer. Fortunately both the Nikon and Sony reps were present so I was able to pick their brains (turns out the Nikon rep works as a freelance photographer for some of the car mags) and I ended up buying a Nikon Z6 with Z 24-70 F4 kit lens and p/ex the D3100 for which they gave me a fair price.
It's strange how things turn out as when I left the house this morning the Z6 wasn't even on the radar.
The staff in Jessops were really helpful and I was able to compare shots taken in the mall with my D3100 and the Nikon/Sony cameras that I was interested in to help me make my mind up. The results from the Z6 and A7 iii were much better than the D3100 and I just preferred the handling and general use of the Z6
It will be next w/e before I actually receive the Z6, so I'll let you know my initial impressions and how I get on with it.
Many thanks to everyone that has participated in this thread and given me help and advice.
Edited by Ballistic on Monday 27th May 06:24
eltawater said:
Before you rush out and buy into a whole new camera system...
What lens are you using with the D3100?
What settings are you using?
Can you show us some examples of what you consider to be "not sharp" ?
Too late!!What lens are you using with the D3100?
What settings are you using?
Can you show us some examples of what you consider to be "not sharp" ?
I'm siding with eltawater here, I still use a D5100, the kit lens is a limiting factor, not the camera. I've moved to the 35mm 1.8, and a sigma 17-50 2.8 and can't say I have any issues with sharpness.
Hope you're pleased with the new kit (£2,000 vs £200??), would be interesting to see some comparison shots posted once you find your way round the new camera.
Ballistic said:
I was using the D3100 kit lens.
Update:
Today I went to Jessup's, Meadowhall to see what was on offer. Fortunately both the Nikon and Sony reps were present so I was able to pick their brains (turns out the Nikon rep works as a freelance photographer for some of the car mags) and I ended up buying a Nikon Z6 with Z 24-70 F4 kit lens and p/ex the D3100 for which they gave me a fair price.
It's strange how things turn out as when I left the house this morning the Z6 wasn't even on the radar.
The staff in Jessup's were really helpful and I was able to compare shots taken in the mall with my D3100 and the Nikon/Sony cameras that I was interested in to help me make my mind up. The results from the Z6 and A7 iii were much better than the D3100 and I just preferred the handling and general use of the Z6
It will be next w/e before I actually receive the Z6, so I'll let you know my initial impressions and how I get on with it.
Many thanks to everyone that has participated in this thread and given me help and advice.
Not sure if you have a memory card for it already but I would hang fire as I picked a Z6 up from Jessops at the metro centre a couple of weeks ago and a 64gb card came boxed with the camera, they had no idea how long Nikon would be doing this unfortunately, agree on the handling nice and balanced Update:
Today I went to Jessup's, Meadowhall to see what was on offer. Fortunately both the Nikon and Sony reps were present so I was able to pick their brains (turns out the Nikon rep works as a freelance photographer for some of the car mags) and I ended up buying a Nikon Z6 with Z 24-70 F4 kit lens and p/ex the D3100 for which they gave me a fair price.
It's strange how things turn out as when I left the house this morning the Z6 wasn't even on the radar.
The staff in Jessup's were really helpful and I was able to compare shots taken in the mall with my D3100 and the Nikon/Sony cameras that I was interested in to help me make my mind up. The results from the Z6 and A7 iii were much better than the D3100 and I just preferred the handling and general use of the Z6
It will be next w/e before I actually receive the Z6, so I'll let you know my initial impressions and how I get on with it.
Many thanks to everyone that has participated in this thread and given me help and advice.
Good thing too really as Sony XQD G series cards are eye wateringly expensive. I've just bought a 64GB version from Amazon US for £128 delivered which is daft when a 128GB sandisk sd card is £15-£20.
I'm hoping CFExpress when it finally gets going might bring the price down if other manufacturers get in on the act.
I'm hoping CFExpress when it finally gets going might bring the price down if other manufacturers get in on the act.
dc2rr07 said:
Not sure if you have a memory card for it already but I would hang fire as I picked a Z6 up from Jessops at the metro centre a couple of weeks ago and a 64gb card came boxed with the camera, they had no idea how long Nikon would be doing this unfortunately, agree on the handling nice and balanced
There was some confusion over the memory card; according to the Nikon rep they used to include a 32gb card (worth £100) with the camera, but this deal has now ended. Fortunately for me Jessops managed to find me the last Z6 that includes the 32gb memory card (the Z6 is brand new, not ex display, and is coming in from Belfast, hence the one week lead time). You have done really well to get a 64gb card included.Oddly enough, before I went into Jessops, I was browsing in Curry's and got chatting to a woman who was in a similar boat to me; looking to upgrade her D3200, which she used for wildlife and indoor concerts, and was interested in similar camera's to the ones that I was considering.
Edited by Ballistic on Sunday 26th May 11:24
Edited by Ballistic on Monday 27th May 06:24
Edited by Ballistic on Monday 27th May 06:25
Ballistic said:
There was some confusion over the memory card; according to the Nikon rep they used to include a 32gb card (worth £100) with the camera, but this deal has now ended. Fortunately for me Jessup's managed to find me the last Z6 that includes the 32gb memory card (the Z6 is brand new, not ex display, and is coming in from Belfast, hence the one week lead time. You have done really well to get a 64gb card included.
Oddly enough, before I went into Jessup's, I was browsing in Curry's and got chatting to a woman who was in a similar boat to me; looking to upgrade her D3200, which she used for wildlife and indoor concerts, and was interested in similar camera's to the ones that I was considering.
Yes it sweetened the deal a bit, have noticed the cost of the camera kit has come down since I purchased it so in effect I paid for the card anyway, such is life Oddly enough, before I went into Jessup's, I was browsing in Curry's and got chatting to a woman who was in a similar boat to me; looking to upgrade her D3200, which she used for wildlife and indoor concerts, and was interested in similar camera's to the ones that I was considering.
You’ve got some incredible kit on the way, enjoy 
I’m in a similar position with a D3200, however I wanted to learn and understand the camera more before upgrading as I think I’m the weak link at present. While learning portrait I bought a cheap 50mm prime lens for £50 (Yongnuo), the quality of the images is incredible compared to the kit lens
Still plan to upgrade long term. Feeling like I’m breaking into a password locked safe every time I want to manually adjust settings is a pain in the arse
How much were you offered trade-in out of interest?
I’m in a similar position with a D3200, however I wanted to learn and understand the camera more before upgrading as I think I’m the weak link at present. While learning portrait I bought a cheap 50mm prime lens for £50 (Yongnuo), the quality of the images is incredible compared to the kit lens
Still plan to upgrade long term. Feeling like I’m breaking into a password locked safe every time I want to manually adjust settings is a pain in the arse
How much were you offered trade-in out of interest?
Baby Shark doo doo doo doo said:
How much were you offered trade-in out of interest?
They priced the body and lens separately, which in total came to £148, which is roughly half of what I payed for it new.Used D3100 with kit lens seem to go for around £175 from a dealer so they haven't got much in it.
So I got the new Z6 on Friday - a nice Brucie bonus was that it came with a 64MB memory card, not the 32MB that I was expecting.
I went to a local car show yesterday morning, so no time to really learn and explore the camera. The sample pic was taken in Auto, using auto focus.
Below is a comparison between old D3100 and new Z6
D3100
Z6
What are peoples thoughts?
My eyes can tell the difference and I've achieved the end result that I was looking for.
PS. The Z6 pic was taken on the way to the show, not at it.
I went to a local car show yesterday morning, so no time to really learn and explore the camera. The sample pic was taken in Auto, using auto focus.
Below is a comparison between old D3100 and new Z6
D3100
Z6
What are peoples thoughts?
My eyes can tell the difference and I've achieved the end result that I was looking for.
PS. The Z6 pic was taken on the way to the show, not at it.
Edited by Ballistic on Sunday 2nd June 09:07
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