Mirrorless camera purchase assistance

[Darmok N Jalad]

(EDIT NOTE) - Oops, this was an old thread from Sept 2017 suddenly resurfacing. Content is the same for others considering, and updates with newest model.

Went through the same thing as upgrading wife's point-n-shoot long zoom canon. The zoom was so long that many times she would lose or couldn't find the subject on the LCD, and had no viewfinder so the sun would wipe out the LCD further complicating things. Small and had a viewfinder were her two requirements. Sony, Panasonic and Olympus models were the short list, and of them, Sony was the smallest with the largest sensor. Daughter had/has a 5000 with the attached external viewfinder prior to the 6000 being introduced. Son has a mixture of Panasonic/Olympus body and lens and very impressed with the photos he takes. Wife preferred the feel in her hands of the Sony a6000 over the others, so that narrowed it down. Overall takes great pictures, and the fact that it is still sold despite now 3 replacement models speaks for itself. Price hasn't really gone down that much, just appears so as it is the 'low price leader.' I think I paid $1000 for the 2 lens kit (16-50 and 55-210) while that same 2 lens kit is around $850 today, but they usually advertise the camera and 16-50 for around $600. Overall, she has been very happy with it and I have had to show her some of the more advanced features - like manual focus to avoid foreground focus in wildlife shots. Not as intuitive as my a7rII but was able to program one of the buttons to simplify manual focus. Battery life is much better than on the a7rII and they use the same battery.

Doesn't sound like you need a full frame...and yes, lens are significantly more expensive - plus the kit 28-70 was/is cheap, rubberized that I saw several not holding up to store traffic on display. I actually started mu Nikon transition with a borrowed A7, and there is a significant difference with the improvements in the A7II series. If I had to replace my wife's A6000 today would seriously look at the A6400 which was introduced last week. Scratching my head as marketing put it as the A5000 replacement...but frankly it is a A6000 body with viewfinder, not a A5000 form factor. Slotted between the A6300 and A6500, it's superb features doesn't justify the slight premium for the A6500. Prior to it's introduction I was looking at the A6300 with it's stronger video over the A6000 as wife's camera becomes a second shooter for me. Crop sensor is also great for wildlife with the longer effective lens than the same lens on a full frame.

While you are not in a hurry, would suggest playing with them in the various stores. Also might want to rent one for a weekend, etc. See which one you feel most comfortable with.

Yeah, I still debate going back to a Sony, but I do like the smaller lenses of m43. If the a6400 makes the a6300’s price go down, I may have a minor crisis on my hand!

 

[AppleHater]

I strongly suggest thinking long term (meaning next 15-30 years). If you invest in the right system you can keep your lenses for a very long time.

That's what I thought, but Z lenses happened to Nikon ecosystem.

 

[Apple fanboy]

That's what I thought, but Z lenses happened to Nikon ecosystem.

But that doesn’t make f-mount lens obsolete. If anything your options just got better in the second hand market.

 

[harriska2]

I use a Pentax k-01 mirrorless. Weighs a bit, older, but I like it enough. I use my dad's old Asahi 105 Macro honking huge manual lens and it does a surprisingly good job in low light. That said I really am not very good and just play around with stuff.

 

[gkarris]

Do Mirrorless Cameras still stink?

I looked years ago and the Electronic Viewfinder was blurry/pixelated, slow, and the camera info filled the screen to the point where you couldn't even see the subject...

Wow.

Is it still this way?

 

[Darmok N Jalad]

Do Mirrorless Cameras still stink?

I looked years ago and the Electronic Viewfinder was blurry/pixelated, slow, and the camera info filled the screen to the point where you couldn't even see the subject...

Wow.

Is it still this way?

Not really. On modern mirrorless cameras, you can cycle through several display options, including one with no info at all. The viewfinders themselves have also improved, with many using high-DPI OLED displays.

Not sure how long ago you tried one, but it’s probably worth another look if it’s been a while.

 

[willentrekin]

Do Mirrorless Cameras still stink?

I looked years ago and the Electronic Viewfinder was blurry/pixelated, slow, and the camera info filled the screen to the point where you couldn't even see the subject...

Wow.

Is it still this way?

Lol wut? That's like saying "I tried an iPhone 3G when the iPhone 5 came out and I wasn't impressed by either. Screens were small, security was shoddy. Is that how the iPhone XS is?"

Go check out a Sony a7iii, or even a Sony a6400. Or something from Fuji.

Canon and Nikon both released mirrorless models this past year, but I'd argue Sony is the one advancing the form factor and tech, with Fuji (and probably Panasonic) doing pretty well, as well.

I've had a Sony a6000 with a couple of great lenses (an 18200 and a 35) and it's served me ridiculously well across a variety of contexts, including an Alaskan cruise, multiple dog shows, and trips to Manhattan and London.

 

[gkarris]

Lol wut? That's like saying "I tried an iPhone 3G when the iPhone 5 came out and I wasn't impressed by either. Screens were small, security was shoddy. Is that how the iPhone XS is?"

Go check out a Sony a7iii, or even a Sony a6400. Or something from Fuji.

Canon and Nikon both released mirrorless models this past year, but I'd argue Sony is the one advancing the form factor and tech, with Fuji (and probably Panasonic) doing pretty well, as well.

I've had a Sony a6000 with a couple of great lenses (an 18200 and a 35) and it's served me ridiculously well across a variety of contexts, including an Alaskan cruise, multiple dog shows, and trips to Manhattan and London.

That seems to be the consensus online, these are great cameras... at 1K - 3K dollars for just the body...

Holy crap, they better be good...

What about the rest of us? Budget or used ones - still horrible?

 

[Darmok N Jalad]

That seems to be the consensus online, these are great cameras... at 1K - 3K dollars for just the body...

Holy crap, they better be good...

What about the rest of us? Budget or used ones - still horrible?

You just have to go try some out. Keep in mind you may be expecting more from the camera than your budget will allow. What was the last mirrorless camera you tried?

 

[gkarris]

You just have to go try some out. Keep in mind you may be expecting more from the camera than your budget will allow. What was the last mirrorless camera you tried?

was thinking about trying one out - just get a used one, hence the question.

Are there problems with dust on such an exposed sensor?

 

[guzhogi]

Never had a mirrorless, but have a Sony a67 & 99. They take really good pictures. They also have builtin GPS, which I like for outdoors work. I find many 3rd party lens manufacturers make lenses for Sony now, so you could find a lens you like pretty easily. Affording it is another question…

 

[Darmok N Jalad]

was thinking about trying one out - just get a used one, hence the question.

Are there problems with dust on such an exposed sensor?

I don't know. I've never experienced it personally. I think you can run into the same issues with a mirrored DSLR as well. I've always found changing lenses a bit unnerving!

 

[willentrekin]

That seems to be the consensus online, these are great cameras... at 1K - 3K dollars for just the body...

Holy crap, they better be good...

What about the rest of us? Budget or used ones - still horrible?

You can get a nice a6000 package for around $300.

It'll take better pictures than your $1300 iPhone Xs.

 

[mpfuchs]

was thinking about trying one out - just get a used one, hence the question.

Are there problems with dust on such an exposed sensor?

One of the nice features of the Canon EOS R. It shuts a little curtain overtop of the sensor when you take the lens off.
(Actually it shuts it when you turn the camera off, so you still need to remember to do that before taking the lens off)

 

[gkarris]

You can get a nice a6000 package for around $300.

It'll take better pictures than your $1300 iPhone Xs.

Actually, I have a $180 used iPhone SE

I ordered a used NEX-5N for $135 to try out...

 

[tizeye]

was thinking about trying one out - just get a used one, hence the question.

Are there problems with dust on such an exposed sensor?

I have had dust on my Nikon DSLR's as well as my Sony mirrorless. The biggest difference is the extra step you have to take on the Nikon flipping up the mirror into the locked position to clean the sensor. Usually just clean with air blower, but still on the liquid swabbing kit originally purchased for the Nikon. Air blowing (and the camera's menu item for sensor cleaning) usually do the trick. Also easy to remove dust specs in Lightroom which is my signal that time to clean the sensor.

 

[willentrekin]

Actually, I have a $180 used iPhone SE

I ordered a used NEX-5N for $135 to try out...

I think I had one of those before I upgraded to the a6000.

Depending on the glass you get and your skill, the NEX-5N will probably take better photos than an iPhone XS, too.

I mean, that's the thing. Any pro will tell you the best camera is the one you have with you. You have to learn to do great things with your camera, but even then Ansel Adams said the most important thing is where you stand.

Anyway, have fun with the 5. It's a great little camera.