I agree that having only an LCD can be irritating at times. I believe the NEX 6 and 7 have digital viewfinders (which have been very well received). When I eventually upgrade my NEX 5 I will most likely get one that has a viewfinder.
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DSLR or Mirrorless?
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I agree that having only an LCD can be irritating at times. I believe the NEX 6 and 7 have digital viewfinders (which have been very well received). When I eventually upgrade my NEX 5 I will most likely get one that has a viewfinder.
I just upgraded from a NEX F3 to the NEX 6. The viewfinder is awesome, and it is a great camera.
The only time I use the rear screen on my Nex-7 is when using a tripod or unusual angle shots (overhead or ground level) where the articulating screen works great. If I'm shooting and want to review a shot, I still use the viewfinder so I don't have to take my eye off the camera.
photography noob here looking to get into it same question.
What is best bang for buck when it comes to image quality, DSLR or Mirrorless?
I care not for bulkiness I mean I am a gymnast I can lift my own body weight easily so I am not gonna wuss out if it is going to sacrifice quality for a good price. I know the OMD provides amazing quality but is a cheaper DSLR than that going to get me same or better?
Basing my priorities on this:
Image Quality >
Price >
Features >
Size
What is best bang for buck when it comes to image quality, DSLR or Mirrorless?
I care not for bulkiness I mean I am a gymnast I can lift my own body weight easily so I am not gonna wuss out if it is going to sacrifice quality for a good price. I know the OMD provides amazing quality but is a cheaper DSLR than that going to get me same or better?
Basing my priorities on this:
Image Quality >
Price >
Features >
Size
Sony Alpha A7 vs Canon D70
I have been interested in photography and videography for many years and in past years I have purchased a Pentax SLR, Canon 30D and Sony Camcorder. I was going to purchase the Canon Eos 70D, I have researched and researched and I reached that conclusion because, I shoot 65% stills and 35% video and I thought that the 70D was the camera for me. I suppose the dual pixel CMOS AF technology was just what I was looking for. And...... then came along the Sony Alpha A7 and wow it's just blown the 70D away. The A7 being a full frame and mirrorless and smaller and lighter than the 70D, this will suit my needs. Together with lighter lenses my camera bag will be much lighter in weight. I also think I will have sharper results, although not has sharp as the Alpha A7R. Let us not forget low quality lens will not do the camera justice, so that must be taken into account, also technique and camera settings. I definitely think that mirrorless is the way forward. People have you any thoughts on the A7?
I have been interested in photography and videography for many years and in past years I have purchased a Pentax SLR, Canon 30D and Sony Camcorder. I was going to purchase the Canon Eos 70D, I have researched and researched and I reached that conclusion because, I shoot 65% stills and 35% video and I thought that the 70D was the camera for me. I suppose the dual pixel CMOS AF technology was just what I was looking for. And...... then came along the Sony Alpha A7 and wow it's just blown the 70D away. The A7 being a full frame and mirrorless and smaller and lighter than the 70D, this will suit my needs. Together with lighter lenses my camera bag will be much lighter in weight. I also think I will have sharper results, although not has sharp as the Alpha A7R. Let us not forget low quality lens will not do the camera justice, so that must be taken into account, also technique and camera settings. I definitely think that mirrorless is the way forward. People have you any thoughts on the A7?
The A7 is drool worthy, which I could justify its cost (I'm just a photography enthusiast). I really really like the RX1 which is even more expensive!
I settled for a NEX 6 and the wife got an RX100 mk2, I'm not sure which one I like more.
I settled for a NEX 6 and the wife got an RX100 mk2, I'm not sure which one I like more.
DSLR or Mirrorless?
The A7 is a nice bit of kit but I think that for the average photographer the full frame thing is played up a bit for marketing purposes. It's the latest Megapixel wars really isn't it. Most people aren't going to care about the benefits you gain from full frame against the cost of them. Especially when you consider that a crop sensor matched to the right glass is going to give you amazing results if you know what you are doing with it.
I guess that it may all go full frame one day and we have to start somewhere, but I'd certainly rather have the best combination of lens and sensor that produces the best results rather than having something for bragging rights.
The A7 is a nice bit of kit but I think that for the average photographer the full frame thing is played up a bit for marketing purposes. It's the latest Megapixel wars really isn't it. Most people aren't going to care about the benefits you gain from full frame against the cost of them. Especially when you consider that a crop sensor matched to the right glass is going to give you amazing results if you know what you are doing with it.
I guess that it may all go full frame one day and we have to start somewhere, but I'd certainly rather have the best combination of lens and sensor that produces the best results rather than having something for bragging rights.
I picked up the NEX3, I've noticed it seems extremely slow. Anyone else have any issues? I had the original NEX3, this is the 3F/N, i don't remember it being so slow. I'm talking mostly about the continuous shooting. It does have the original firmware, I'm hoping maybe this is not normal and I can get it fixed. Otherwise I can't use this over my D5100, it would drive me crazy.
Also, anyone know if it is possible to update the firmware using a mac? Or via SD card? Only option Sony gives is with a Windows PC, so I am thinking I will have to find one to use, but I am hoping I could do it some other way.
Also, anyone know if it is possible to update the firmware using a mac? Or via SD card? Only option Sony gives is with a Windows PC, so I am thinking I will have to find one to use, but I am hoping I could do it some other way.
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Nex
I just made the comment over in the 'favorite lens' thread that I cannot recommend the Nex system highly enough if your interest is Landscape / Urban. If you are interested in Sports photography then forget it, the autofocus is slow and the lens choices are still limited ...
The Sony is my travel camera, light with superb image quality, for sport I stick with my Canons.
I just made the comment over in the 'favorite lens' thread that I cannot recommend the Nex system highly enough if your interest is Landscape / Urban. If you are interested in Sports photography then forget it, the autofocus is slow and the lens choices are still limited ...
The Sony is my travel camera, light with superb image quality, for sport I stick with my Canons.
Thanks. The 3NF is too slow, I'm thinking because I like the NEX of getting the 5T which goes from 4 to 10 shots per second.
We'll I went ahead and replaced the 3N with the 5T, I think it was worth the extra money for the faster burst mode. I'm hoping the wifi works well also, I wanted a wifi SD card, now I hope I don't need one. I'm hoping its possible o setup an ad hoc connection to my ipad.
Thanks. Hoping to get out with it this week. But so far love transferring pics to my ipad via wifi
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I researched for months before deciding last November on a Sony NEX 6 mirrorless camera. To answer your primary question, there is no difference in image quality between DSLR and mirrorless cameras. That said, there are differences from model to model in both categories. Pretty much every DSLR and mirrorless camera sold today is capable of taking excellent pictures. There is no perfect camera; each has its strengths and weaknesses, so it comes down to your priorities and budget. Image quality is a function of camera sensor, lens, and the processing algorithms in the camera (the last of which applies more to JPG than RAW images).
For example, the Sony NEX 6 mirrorless and the Nikon D7000 DSLR, both of which are excellent cameras, use the same 16 Megapixel APS-C sensor, which Sony makes. You can spend a little more and get a camera with 24 MP. That will produce bigger files, and pictures with more detail, which is useful if you want to print poster-size photos, or if you crop your photos heavily and blow them up to larger sizes. The trade-off is that 24 MP sensors produce noisier images at high ISO settings in low light. If you want both maximum detail and low noise for low-light/high-ISO photos, you need to get a full-frame camera. In general, they're considerably more expensive than either APS-C or Micro Four Thirds crop-sensor cameras. Given that I was on a limited budget and value low-light shooting over making huge prints, I opted for a 16 MP camera.
Then there's the lens. Most cameras are available with a kit lens, which usually is of medium quality and is moderately priced. You can get better image quality by buying better lenses, which can cost more than the camera body itself. My Sony NEX 6 cost $650 for the body alone, or $800 for the body and a 16-50 mm kit zoom lens. I got it with the lens, and I'm happy with it. There are Carl Zeiss lenses available, which people say are amazing, for $1,000+. Maybe someday...
Just because you can lift a big DLSR and, perhaps eventually, a bag full of lenses (which are bigger and heavier than lenses for mirrorless cameras), it doesn't mean you'd necessarily want to over time. I did fine for 15 years with a 35-mm Minolta Maxuum film-based SLR and a back pack full of lenses, a flash unit, film, etc. When good-quality digital point-and-shoot cameras started coming out in 2001, I mothballed my SLR rig in favor of a Nikon CoolPix, which I upgraded to a Canon PowerShot in 2005. They produced photos that were good enough for me at the time, and I didn't miss the weight and bulk of my SLR rig, especially when I traveled. Last year, when I decided to upgrade to one of the much-better cameras that are available today, I realized I missed the creative flexibility of an interchangeable-lens camera. I came close to buying a Sony SLT-A65 (which technically isn't a DSLR but is the same size and weight as most DSLRs), because it would accept all of my old Minolta lenses. But I remembered why I'd abandoned my old SLR in favor of a point-and-shoot, and the small size and light weight of the NEX 6 won out over the slightly lower price and slightly bigger feature set of the A65.
DSLRs do have advantages over mirrorless cameras. Because the bodies are bigger, most DSLRs have more controls on the body, which means less wading through complicated menus to change settings. You can take more shots with a single battery charge on most DSLRs. If action photography (e.g., sports) is a major interest of yours, DSLRs focus more quickly, although I'm not sure all of them do, so read the reviews.
Once I'd decided on a mirrorless camera, I narrowed it down to the Sony NEX 6 and the Olympus OMD EM5. The EM5 is rated better in a couple of areas. The NEX 6 is better for video, which is important to me. The EM5 has weather sealing, which is a nice feature, especially here in the rainy Pacific Northwest. But Sony dropped the list price on the NEX 6 and also put it on sale last November, so it was $300 cheaper than the EM5, which ultimately clinched the deal for me. What I really wanted was the EM1, but that would have cost $1,000 more than my NEX 6. And if I was going to spend $1,800 on a camera and lens, then I might as well have waited for the full-frame Sony A7, which was about to be released, for $2,000. It can be a slippery slope. Ultimately, I'm thrilled with my NEX 6.
For you, if you're 100% certain that you don't care about smaller size and lighter weight, then a DSLR will give you a few more features (but not necessarily better image quality) than a comparably priced mirrorless camera. Had I not had a collection of Minolta lenses, and had I not cared about size and weight, I probably would have gotten a Nikon D7100, which gets outstanding reviews.
A couple more things: If you're looking into interchangeable-lens cameras, you're going to be buying into a system. Camera bodies will improve as technology improves, but lenses, flashes, and other accessories likely won't improve much. If you buy good lenses and other accessories, you can upgrade to better future models of whatever camera body you buy now, and you won't need to sell those accessories.
The last thing: Don't pay too much attention to the opinionated spec-obsessed posters on the various forums, especially if they claim that one brand or model rules, and all others are crap. Yes, Camera X might do slightly better than Camera Y on the corner of the text chart in low light at ISO 6400 when the corner is blown up to 500%, but under real-life conditions, that won't matter. Camera Y likely will be slightly better in some other area.
Good luck on whatever you decide!
Amazing post my friend. You answered all my questions in one go! I am swayed toward mirror less now
Just need to think if I want to include video in my list or not then I can make a better decision. Thank you again.Edit: For me weather sealing is a very tempting thing since I enjoy getting out and about in any kind of weather. The only thing stopping me is do I want video or not. So I see myself going the Sony or Olympus route
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Excellent advice ... what he said
thank you very much for backing it up
Amazing post my friend. You answered all my questions in one go! I am swayed toward mirror less now
Edit: For me weather sealing is a very tempting thing since I enjoy getting out and about in any kind of weather. The only thing stopping me is do I want video or not. So I see myself going the Sony or Olympus route
Glad I could be of help!
You can't go wrong with either a Sony NEX or an Olympus OMD. From what I've read, the OMD doesn't take bad video the NEX just takes better video. Likewise, in those areas areas of still photography where the OMD surpasses the NEX, the differences aren't huge. Aside from weather sealing, another point in the OMD's favor is that it uses Micro Four Thirds lenses, which are less expensive and more plentiful than Sony's E-mount lenses. Aside from the $300 price difference, the other reason I chose the NEX 6 over the OMD EM5 is that the NEX will accept all my old Minolta A-mount lenses, with an adapter. They're bigger lenses than E-mount lenses, though, so it would somewhat defeat the purpose of buying a small mirrorless camera, but at least I have the option. A good strategy for you might be to get the OMD EM5, learn how to use it, and start collecting whatever lenses you want. It might be all the camera you'll ever need, but if you do outgrow it, you can step up to the EM1, or whatever their top-of-the-line MFT camera is then, and still keep your lenses. As for weather sealing, bear in mind that most lenses aren't weather sealed, so if you plan to go out in really bad conditions, make sure you're using a weather-sealed lens (which the kit lens is) or use a Ziplock bag as a weather-proof camera and lens case, which people actually do.
Another thing you'll want to get is software to organize and edit your photos, which is where much of the fun comes in. I'm on a Mac and use Apple Aperture for organizing and basic editing, although more people seem to prefer Adobe Lightroom these days. For more advanced editing, I use Adobe Photoshop Elements 12, which does most of what full Photoshop does for a fraction of the price, and I also bought the OnOne Perfect Photo Suite 8 plug-in collection, which has lots of great preset filters. Many people also like the Nik plug-in suite, which is similar, but I got the OnOne suite on sale.
Glad I could be of help!
A good strategy for you might be to get the OMD EM5, learn how to use it, and start collecting whatever lenses you want. It might be all the camera you'll ever need, but if you do outgrow it, you can step up to the EM1, or whatever their top-of-the-line MFT camera is then, and still keep your lenses. As for weather sealing, bear in mind that most lenses aren't weather sealed, so if you plan to go out in really bad conditions, make sure you're using a weather-sealed lens (which the kit lens is) or use a Ziplock bag as a weather-proof camera and lens case, which people actually do.
Another thing you'll want to get is software to organize and edit your photos, which is where much of the fun comes in. I'm on a Mac and use Apple Aperture for organizing and basic editing, although more people seem to prefer Adobe Lightroom these days. For more advanced editing, I use Adobe Photoshop Elements 12, which does most of what full Photoshop does for a fraction of the price, and I also bought the OnOne Perfect Photo Suite 8 plug-in collection, which has lots of great preset filters. Many people also like the Nik plug-in suite, which is similar, but I got the OnOne suite on sale.
Ubele, thanks for the great info, Since you use a Mac and a NEX, can I ask you about updating the firmware? I have the NEX5T, it's on version 1 firmware. I can't update on my Mac so I borrowed a windows PC. The updates won't run in 64bit Mavericks and while the PC sees the camera the updater doesn't. I'm now thinking the NEX5T doesn't use the firmware for all/most of the other NEX5 cameras? I can't seem to figure out what the latest firmware is, and if it is v5 like the others I can't figure out how to update it. Any ideas for me? Thanks
I didn't know there was a firmware update for the NEX until I saw a mention of it on this forum a couple days ago. I'll look into it and see if I can find out anything.
I found Sony's software page for the NEX 5 series, and there's no mention of the 1.02 firmware upgrade, so apparently that only applies to the NEX 6 and 7:
http://www.sony.co.uk/support/en/product/NEX-5/updates
On the NEX 6 page, it says that if you're running a 64-bit version of OS X, you need to start your Mac in 32-bit mode, but you don't have to do it for OS 10.8. There's no mention yet of OS 10.9 (Mavericks). I found a couple of threads on dpreview by people who bricked their NEX 6 or 7 by attempting to install the 1.02 upgrade in Mavericks in 64-bit mode, but trying again in 32-bit mode or with a Windows PC fixed the problem. I got my NEX 6 in November, so I might already have 1.02 -- I'll check when I get home.
Thanks for checking. I'm not sure what you mean by 1.02 firmware upgrade. On the link you sent it says Ver05, my camera is on V01. But somewhere, the US site, your link is to the UK site, it had specific models of the NEX5 listed. Do you think that V05 in the link is for all NEX5 cameras including the NEX5T?
The stock firmware is the latest for the 5T. There is lens firmware for some of the lenses to allow for phase detect autofocus.
Sony great cameras but very rarely update camera firmware. I would love Sony to add auto temporary RAW disable on modes that don't support it.
Sony great cameras but very rarely update camera firmware. I would love Sony to add auto temporary RAW disable on modes that don't support it.