Yet another what to get, Sony.

Yet another what to get, Sony.

Author
Discussion

jdscott

Original Poster:

8 posts

106 months

Tuesday 10th November 2020
quotequote all
Hi,

Been thinking of upgrading for a while. Currently have Sony SLTA57, upgraded kit lenses to Tamron SP 24-70mm F/2.8 USD Di and the same in 70-200mm.

I'll be staying Sony.

Mainly Landscape and Motorsports.

Like the idea of the RX100, but feel its not quite right.

So, what to go for? Don't want to go mad on the budget, willing to go used .

Cheers in advance.

James

sgrimshaw

7,389 posts

256 months

Wednesday 11th November 2020
quotequote all
jdscott said:
Hi,

Been thinking of upgrading for a while. Currently have Sony SLTA57, upgraded kit lenses to Tamron SP 24-70mm F/2.8 USD Di and the same in 70-200mm.

I'll be staying Sony.

Mainly Landscape and Motorsports.

Like the idea of the RX100, but feel its not quite right.

So, what to go for? Don't want to go mad on the budget, willing to go used .

Cheers in advance.

James
RX100 is a compact so not really an upgrade to a DSLR, they're highly recommended though (any version).

Did you mean the RX10?

What exactly are you looking for, what do you consider an upgrade of your existing camera to be?



jdscott

Original Poster:

8 posts

106 months

Thursday 12th November 2020
quotequote all
Hi,

Think most newer cameras will be an upgrade.

Asking the knowledge here as unsure. Would like better AF (mainly quicker) and fps increase. Nothing fundamentally wrong but its 8 yrs old.

thanks

jdscott

Original Poster:

8 posts

106 months

Thursday 12th November 2020
quotequote all
Regarding the RX100, that's what I meant. Its that capable and small, but always had DSLR or Film with interchangeable lenses. So would be quite a change and don't think i'm ready yet. If I had the money I'd buy a RX100 and another DSLR.


sgrimshaw

7,389 posts

256 months

Thursday 12th November 2020
quotequote all
The RX100 is a lovely compact, well thought of on here too.

With regards to upgrading from the SLT-A57, Sony only released 4 A-mount bodies after that camera and of those only two are "current" .. the A77 Mk2 and the A-68.

Chances are you'd be looking at used to find one.

Since 2015 (when the new A-mounts stopped) Sony has been putting most of it's efforts into the Compact System/MirrorLess range, these use the E-mount lenses.

You can get adaptors to use A-mount lenses on them, the Sony one's aren't exactly cheap but are very good.

Depending on budget, something like an A6000 (or any iteration of it) would seem quite an upgrade to the A57 ... the focussing speed when using an e-mount lens is something else. The later versions are even quicker.

One thing to note though ... generally speaking, the e-mount cameras do not have in-body stabilisation (which the A57 has), they rely on lenses with OSS built in.


sgrimshaw

7,389 posts

256 months

Thursday 12th November 2020
quotequote all
jdscott said:
Hi,

Would like better AF (mainly quicker) and fps increase.
I might be wrong, but isn't the A57 capable of 12fps?

Again, might be wrong, but I don't think any of the later A mount bodies get close to 12 fps.

JonChalk

6,469 posts

116 months

Thursday 12th November 2020
quotequote all
I share the same interests and if you can stretch to the RX10M4 (or the M3), I have found it to be the perfect do everything camera.

Pixel-peepers might suggest that the smallish sensor won't compete with FF or DSLR - well, yes, but that's not the point.

Fast focus, high fps even in RAW, 600mm effective zoom - what's not to like?

+ video in 4k or up to 960fps (not both!)

I came to this off an A7ii + a few lenses, and will never go back based on performance, size, weight, ease of use.

sgrimshaw

7,389 posts

256 months

Friday 13th November 2020
quotequote all
JonChalk said:
I share the same interests and if you can stretch to the RX10M4 (or the M3), I have found it to be the perfect do everything camera.

Pixel-peepers might suggest that the smallish sensor won't compete with FF or DSLR - well, yes, but that's not the point.

Fast focus, high fps even in RAW, 600mm effective zoom - what's not to like?

+ video in 4k or up to 960fps (not both!)

I came to this off an A7ii + a few lenses, and will never go back based on performance, size, weight, ease of use.
"Bridge" cameras often get a slagging on here, but the RX10 is pretty much in a class of it's own.

I bought the M3 to take on a touring holiday of India, so pleased I did! Saved me lugging a lot of kit around and the results are excellent.

OP - keep your eye on Amazon. They often have some cracking deals on Sony kit, especially on or around Black Friday. Last summer I got an A7 with kit lens, from them for £659 and it qualified for the Sony Cashback running at the time of £100. So that was an A7 Kit for £559 ..... it's currently listed on Amazon for £744 !


ETA - the RX10 is a chunky beast of a camera, similar size to the A57

https://camerasize.com/compare/#313,722


Edited by sgrimshaw on Friday 13th November 09:19

JonChalk

6,469 posts

116 months

Friday 13th November 2020
quotequote all
sgrimshaw said:
"Bridge" cameras often get a slagging on here, but the RX10 is pretty much in a class of its own.
I agree - to call the RX10 series a "bridge" is to do them a massive disservice - before the A7ii, I had a Canon 7Dii + a load of lenses, and the RX10 outperforms anything the Canon 7D can do.

The *only* disadvantage is not being able to fit a very wide angle lens, and I don't really miss that.

sgrimshaw

7,389 posts

256 months

Friday 13th November 2020
quotequote all
JonChalk said:
The *only* disadvantage is not being able to fit a very wide angle lens, and I don't really miss that.
Would agree there, but I've never found myself thinking "I wish I could get wider for this situation"

jdscott

Original Poster:

8 posts

106 months

Friday 13th November 2020
quotequote all
Thanks for the replys.
I realise about the mounts, I'd either sell or get an adaptor. I ruled out the RX10s as could see no benefit over the RX100s.
Sony, as you say haven't updated any A mount camera for years. So was thinking and expecting E-mount suggestions.

JonChalk

6,469 posts

116 months

Friday 13th November 2020
quotequote all
jdscott said:
Thanks for the replys.
I realise about the mounts, I'd either sell or get an adaptor. I ruled out the RX10s as could see no benefit over the RX100s.
Sony, as you say haven't updated any A mount camera for years. So was thinking and expecting E-mount suggestions.
Not dissing your reasons as they're yours, but RX10 has:

Much longer zoom,
Higher fps,
Much faster focussing, with way more focus points

(these three will make motorsport photography much easier / better)

Wider apertures throughout,
Flash shoe,
Splash and dust resistant,
Longer battery life,
Better EVF and monitor,
Arguably much more ergonomic.

Escapegoat

5,135 posts

141 months

Saturday 14th November 2020
quotequote all
I've been through a lot of Sonys: A7ii, A6000, A6500, RX100ii and have just decided to buy a used RX10iii for mooching about through Winter (when I don't like to swap lenses - rain, condensation, etc). Have used the A7 and A6nnn with the LA-EA3 and LA-EA4 adaptors and A-mount lenses. Those worked well enough for me, and A-mount lenses are a bargain compared to anything on the E-mount.

RX100 series is a great pocket rocket and the latest ones with bigger zoom range and advanced AF are incredible. But for me the RX100 ergonomics for manual modes doesn't work, and I prefer a 'proper' EVF.

If the OP doesn't mind the small size and related compromises, then go for the RX100. But the A6nnn series is far more friendly. I think I had the most useful all-round package with the A6500 with 18-135mm lens.

jdscott

Original Poster:

8 posts

106 months

Saturday 14th November 2020
quotequote all
Thanks for the replys.

Escapegoat, you say for mooching about over winter, what do you use at other times?

RX10 iv £1499
A6600 £1250
A7 iii £1545

Ignore the fact with the latter two that lenses are required.

The RX10s do look good.

What would be your choice and reason.

More confused than ever.

Think a visit to a shop in a few weeks is required.

Escapegoat

5,135 posts

141 months

Sunday 15th November 2020
quotequote all
After all of the Sonys that I mentioned above, I gravitated to a Fuji X-T2, which has (for me) perfect ergonomics with dedicated aperture and shutter speed dials. That camera's APS-C sensor is not quite as good as the FF Sony A7ii in low-light - but it doesn't really matter to me. I'm not doing poster-size prints and I've learned to stop the (modern but totally pointless) habit of 1:1 pixel-peeping when viewing back at home.

FWIW, I never buy used, because of those prices you listed. My A7ii was £480, the X-T2 was £400, etc. I'm too poor to pay >£1000 on a camera that's just for fun. smile Although if Fuji launched an RX10-competitor, I'd be very tempted.

Escapegoat

5,135 posts

141 months

Sunday 15th November 2020
quotequote all
Forgot to say that if you don't mind a grey import, the RX10iv can be had for about £1150 new. Might be some bargains and/or cashback offers over Black Friday, too.

Escapegoat

5,135 posts

141 months

Thursday 19th November 2020
quotequote all
Hey OP. Did you decide yet?

For fun, here's a shot of the RX10iii with my other Sony. Both are miracles of packaging. The gobsmacking thing is that they both have the same sensor!

The RX10 is a great lens with a small sensor attached and a big body to make it handleable. The RX0 is a no-frills lens (24mm and fixed f4 aperture) and the same small sensor in an 'action cam' format (underwater-sealed, shockproof)



I just received my RX10iii and have now done a couple of dozen test shots, including some low light (no choice with the current gloomy weather). While it'll definitely do for my general walkabout use, it's low-light performance isn't very good. If low-light doesn't matter, then you're OK.

To be brutally honest, an A7-series camera with even the kit 28-70mm lens would be far better (just not as much zoom range, obviously). And it wouldn't be much (if any) bigger or heavier. You can see more here: https://j.mp/3lNgR7T

If you don't need the size (for ease of handling) the top models in the RX100 - same sensor size as in the two cameras pictures above - would be a compromise worth considering.