Photography and Cameras

[NM]

One point to remember is weight. I love my DSLRs, and have looked at, but did not like, mirrorless. As I see it, their only advantage is weight. I’m carrying the D800 around Europe at the moment, and it’s quite a lump. My wife has elected to use only her iPhone, and it’s amazing what she’s managing to get. And it fits nicely in her pocket.

Indeed, phones are great for capturing the moment of a sight-seeing tour. Quick, easy and convenient. I guess that is why I have not taking this track until now.

I don’t know that the pixels argument is quite the same as Bill Gates and the 640 comment. It really depends on what you want to do with the images, and how large a print you intend making. And you’ll need to get into the proper commercial photographer printing (not the Officeworks) to see any advantage on your wall.

You are, of course, assuming images will be printed. I think back to the digi camera I bought and took on a RTW holiday back in 2003. The full resolution was 2040x1560 pixels. And amazing the printed onto 10x7" paper quite well. But now when I look at them on the 4K OLED TV (see above). they don't fill the screen in native resolution. So in a few years time, when we have an entire house wall painted with OLED pixel paint, and its normal to be watching movie images on a virtual 64K resolution wall section (yeah, I know ... what is the chance NBN 3.0 will deliver the bandwidth needed) 30+ MP images may not be enough.

I am interested in you dislike of mirrorless. What in particular did you not like? Was it the EVF vs optical VF? Battery life? Image quality - some claim no difference when using the same lens, image sensor and processor, auto-focus capability? or found that mirrorless models were not offering the same features/specs as DSLR?

 

[jb747]

In large part the optical VF.

 

[NM]

Well, after a lot of talking with experts, talking with not-so-expert but opinionated acquaintances, lots of reading and watching reviews and opinions, collating my own comparisons from published product specifications and feature lists, handling lots of different cameras and lenses, I finally came to a decision. And my decision is not what I expected when I first started this journey.

I started out with looking at mid-level DSLR cameras, initially the Nikon D7500 and Canon EOS 80D. The D7500 looked like the winner. But then the Canon EOS 90D came into the mix and in typical technology fashion leap-frogged the slightly older Nikon product. The 90D looked the goods. But then that pointed me at the Canon M6 Mk II which has the same basic guts as the 90D, but mirrorless. So then I started looking at mirrorless options and that opened a whole new set of options and comparisons.

And in my case I do not have a cupboard/draw/shelf full of investment in legacy items like lenses of a specific type that would see me locked into a specific manufacturer or technology type. So all options were on the table.

So in the end, I agreed with many of the "experts" that mirrorless is the future and DSLR has a limited future in the world in which I am going to be participating (in my photography). So I fairly quickly narrowed the main contenders to Canon EOS M6 Mk II, EOS R, EOS RP, and Sony A6500/6600 or A7 Mk III. The cost step to full-frame models (EOS R/RP and A7 III) seemed justified for the capability enhancement.

If just interested in stills, the EOS RP would likely have been the winner (size, weight, price, capability), but it' video capability is somewhat nobbled (cropped 4K, limited FHD that is lens dependent). The EOS R is more expensive, but missing some of the features/capabilities of the newer, smaller, entry level RP so not great value in the current point in the cycle - perhaps a Mk II will see it leap-frog back to where Canon would like it to be positioned, but when?. The A6600 is pretty much a paper camera right now with nothing shipping locally (pre-orders only). So I looked more into the A7 Mk III and it has come up trumps for me.

Initial purchase is Sony A7 III, with 50mm F1.2 and 24-70mm F4 Zeiss lens. Add a couple of memory cards (SanDisk Extreme 128GB (UHS-I) and Lexar Professional 256GB UHS-II (1667x), and a second Sony battery, carry bag and tripod. Then later will look at adding a 70-200mm F4 G lens or 70-300mm F4.5-5.6G Lens and maybe a something like a 16-35mm F4 Zeiss lens (both about $1500 each, so will not be in a hurry).

Yes, the A7 III has some limitations/compromises, but for the price it packs a lot of features and superior performance to most others in its size/price bracket.

 

[JessicaTam]

Well, after a lot of talking with experts, talking with not-so-expert but opinionated acquaintances, lots of reading and watching reviews and opinions, collating my own comparisons from published product specifications and feature lists, handling lots of different cameras and lenses, I finally came to a decision. And my decision is not what I expected when I first started this journey.

I started out with looking at mid-level DSLR cameras, initially the Nikon D7500 and Canon EOS 80D. The D7500 looked like the winner. But then the Canon EOS 90D came into the mix and in typical technology fashion leap-frogged the slightly older Nikon product. The 90D looked the goods. But then that pointed me at the Canon M6 Mk II which has the same basic guts as the 90D, but mirrorless. So then I started looking at mirrorless options and that opened a whole new set of options and comparisons.

And in my case I do not have a cupboard/draw/shelf full of investment in legacy items like lenses of a specific type that would see me locked into a specific manufacturer or technology type. So all options were on the table.

So in the end, I agreed with many of the "experts" that mirrorless is the future and DSLR has a limited future in the world in which I am going to be participating (in my photography). So I fairly quickly narrowed the main contenders to Canon EOS M6 Mk II, EOS R, EOS RP, and Sony A6500/6600 or A7 Mk III. The cost step to full-frame models (EOS R/RP and A7 III) seemed justified for the capability enhancement.

If just interested in stills, the EOS RP would likely have been the winner (size, weight, price, capability), but it' video capability is somewhat nobbled (cropped 4K, limited FHD that is lens dependent). The EOS R is more expensive, but missing some of the features/capabilities of the newer, smaller, entry level RP so not great value in the current point in the cycle - perhaps a Mk II will see it leap-frog back to where Canon would like it to be positioned, but when?. The A6600 is pretty much a paper camera right now with nothing shipping locally (pre-orders only). So I looked more into the A7 Mk III and it has come up trumps for me.

Initial purchase is Sony A7 III, with 50mm F1.2 and 24-70mm F4 Zeiss lens. Add a couple of memory cards (SanDisk Extreme 128GB (UHS-I) and Lexar Professional 256GB UHS-II (1667x), and a second Sony battery, carry bag and tripod. Then later will look at adding a 70-200mm F4 G lens or 70-300mm F4.5-5.6G Lens and maybe a something like a 16-35mm F4 Zeiss lens (both about $1500 each, so will not be in a hurry).

Yes, the A7 III has some limitations/compromises, but for the price it packs a lot of features and superior performance to most others in its size/price bracket.

Welcome to the Sony family!

 

[drron]

I have one big regret with photography.One of my registrars in Tasmania when doing locums offered to teach me how to take good photos.i had plenty of excuses such as not wanting to get up at 5am to get the best light.
Today that registrar is a professional photographer.He is a go to for the Venice Biennial and leads National Geographic photography tours especially to Iceland.It would cost me quite a bit to get what I could have for free.

 

[smckay]

First of all, excellent background to your choice. Not sure if I said it but I take my photos for me not others so your choice is your own.
I think the mirrorless will be great. I can see a point where I go across to that.

The only thing I'd want is GPS, but I do a lot of travelling and like to be able to review where each shot was taken.

 

[Cossie]

Tripods? I need one for travel and as my camera lens setup is quite heavy, it has to be light to go in my carry on, hopefully.

There are quite a few photographers on here, or partners of people on here, I'm interested to know what they use.

 

[smckay]

Manfrotto BeFree carbon. BeFree Carbon fibre Travel Tripod with Ball head, black
2/3 the size of a typical tripod so will go into your carry on bag easy and as is full carbon fibre is light.

 

[coriander]

I currently use a Gitzo Mountaineer 4-section with RRS medium quick release head and matching L-plates on my cameras: carbon fibre, light, rigid, collapses down to fit inside my carry-on.
Very happy with it....... but.....
I'm currently waiting for (supposedly next week) delivery of the Peak Design Traveler Tripod (preordered as KickStarter contributor); I love their stuff and am interested to see how it compares to my Gitzo.

 

[kookaburra75]

Initial purchase is Sony A7 III, with 50mm F1.2 and 24-70mm F4 Zeiss lens. Add a couple of memory cards (SanDisk Extreme 128GB (UHS-I) and Lexar Professional 256GB UHS-II (1667x), and a second Sony battery, carry bag and tripod. Then later will look at adding a 70-200mm F4 G lens or 70-300mm F4.5-5.6G Lens and maybe a something like a 16-35mm F4 Zeiss lens (both about $1500 each, so will not be in a hurry).
Yes, the A7 III has some limitations/compromises, but for the price it packs a lot of features and superior performance to most others in its size/price bracket.

I went through a similar path when deciding to finally retire my Canon A-1 and Olympus OM-4. I liked the mirror-less bodies, mainly for the weight and compact size. However, my budget couldn't stretch to the Sony cameras, and when B&H had a special, went for the Samsung NX300 with two lenses - short and long zooms, and have added a 30mm F2 pancake lens since then. Great camera and lenses, although I went down a dead end as Samsung has got out of the mirror-less camera business. But, I won't be changing soon.

 

[kookaburra75]

Let’s start with something that has not been said here....

I have two friends who are professional photographers. They would take better pictures with a brick (the building sort) than most people with a Nikon D850. If the equipment you have cannot do the job you want it to do, then it’s time for new equipment. But, the nut behind it has to be using it to its full potential, otherwise it’s just an exercise in gear collecting.

The best thing you can do, before buying anything, is to go and do a photography course. Meet-up has plenty, and they range from basics to very advanced portrait work. Then buy a camera.

Agree. I was fortunate in my younger years to know a couple of press photographers who passed on a heap of tips and tricks, and a love of black and white photography and the old school photographers. The key one was that you set up the shot in your mind first, before lifting up your camera up to your eye.

 

[UP4014]

Phone technology has moved on, however whenever I look at a moving photo on a phone compared to a DSLR, they are cough. Flying out to the USA on Thursday, taking the whole kit, with the lens selection will adjust to each day.

Look at a phone lens and the one on you Nikon or Canon.

All about the optics.

For those looking at mirrorless don’t forget it chews through your battery a lot faster.

 

[coriander]

For those looking at mirrorless don’t forget it chews through your battery a lot faster.

Ken Rockwell quotes the Sony A7RIII as 530 shots, IV 670, better than my D7200.

 

[UP4014]

Ken Rockwell quotes the Sony A7RIII as 530 shots, IV 670, better than my D7200.

When I shoot my ‘action’ train shots I line it up 6 to 10 times before the shot or more.

I guess it depends on the type of subjects you shoot.

I’ve only spoken to other who shoot trains and transport, it was they who told their biggest drawback was battery life compared to DSLR.

Oh for the days of slide film where you were careful with every shot.

 

[Cossie]

When I shoot my ‘action’ train shots I line it up 6 to 10 times before the shot or more.

I guess it depends on the type of subjects you shoot.

I’ve only spoken to other who shoot trains and transport, it was they who told their biggest drawback was battery life compared to DSLR.

Oh for the days of slide film where you were careful with every shot.

digital film is cheap, unless you make the mistake of buying an aldi (medion) card which fails and because you haven't downloaded the shots, you loose 800+ photos!

 

[coriander]

Oh for the days of slide film where you were careful with every shot.

... and you didn't know what you had until 10 days after the trip (or in my case coming back from Sth America with what turned out to be 84 rolls of blank slide film: no Dona Teresa, Porto Vehlo, Encarnacion-Asuncion, Rio Turbio, Esquel... still weep at the thought).
I never skimp on memory cards - only use Sandisk, back up to 2x WD Passports every night one in safe all the time), best shots uploaded to both dropbox and Google drive; dropbox photos are also swept to my NAS at home at 1.00am every day. cough perhaps, but I'm a honours graduate of the school of stupid mistakes.

 

[jb747]

On the other hand, having less shots made you be careful, and not treat the camera like a machine gun.

 

[UP4014]

On the other hand, having less shots made you be careful, and not treat the camera like a machine gun.

I still try and do the same with digital as if I was using Kodachrome 25. Think about the shot, the background, poles growing out of things and shadows. The machine gum approach gives me 150shots I won’t look at again!

 

[smckay]

With experience you stop machine gunning and take the shot you want. I'm over bringing home 5,000+ shots.
As has been said previously, compose the shot in your mind then take it. This works for your statics, things like wildlife I have 11fps and I use 'em all

 

[Borisdog]

On the other hand, having less shots made you be careful, and not treat the camera like a machine gun.

Yep, and OTOH sometimes you just catch stuff and just hold down the button!!!!!

Then pick the good one.