Replace an NEX-6?

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Otispunkmeyer

Original Poster:

12,554 posts

154 months

Sunday 14th September 2014
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Not a particularly old camera, nor is it particularly lacking in performance. However, I just don't enjoy using it and so I just don't use it. This annoys me. While I have loved the switch from DSLR to mirror less I am just not happy with this camera anymore. The main reasons, in order, are:

1. The UI stinks to high heaven. This just makes the camera a chore to use.
2. The lenses. There are a decent selection of lenses, but thats all they are. Decent. The best is perhaps the 35 mm F1.8. Oddly, I did try the 24 mm CZ prime and was rather disappointed with it. It lacked the razor sharpness and ludicrously rich colours afforded by the last CZ lens I tried, which was the A-mount 24-70 F2.8.
3. With the above mentioned lens, I have taken perhaps some of the best photos I feel I have taken, so the camera is capable. However, I have to say I am often a bit miffed with the ISO performance with noise being apparent even in some ISO 100 shots. (strangely much less noise at ISO160!)

There are other niggles, but really none of it matters because I just don't enjoy using the damn thing.

So, baring going out to try physically, some new cameras... what do people suggest for something that might be a little more enjoyable to use? I think mainly its the UI... it needs something that doesn't involve drilling down endless lists of unrelated items would be nice, but also a good selection of good lenses. Instantly I know that punts me off in the direction of MFT, but I am unsure about the format and what it means for IQ.

I hear the Fuji mirror less cameras give excellent IQ, with some reviews saying there isn'tt much need for RAW as the jpg's are easily some of the best to come straight out of camera without post processing later. I know they make a good set of lenses as well, but I just don't know what their cameras are like to use.

Penny for your thoughts?

RobDickinson

31,343 posts

253 months

Sunday 14th September 2014
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Fuji x-t1, great interface great lenses fantastic image quality

Otispunkmeyer

Original Poster:

12,554 posts

154 months

Tuesday 16th September 2014
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Looks good, but also looks rather large? It's like the OMD-E1, bit too large for IMO. How is the X-E2?

Golaboots

369 posts

147 months

Tuesday 16th September 2014
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I went down the mirrorless route, and straight back to Dslr.

Mirrorless bodies with a telephoto lens attached become nearly the size of a similar Dslr but harder to hold and are usually a bit slower.
M4/3 is probably the exception on the size front.

StuH

2,557 posts

272 months

Wednesday 17th September 2014
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Well I have a sony a7r which IMO is brilliant - but you might find the UI too similar to the Nex - although I've not seen it.

The 55mm f1.8 FE lense is the sharpest prime I've used. Better even than my all the canon primes I use with my 5D3

marctwo

3,666 posts

259 months

Wednesday 17th September 2014
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Otispunkmeyer said:
However, I have to say I am often a bit miffed with the ISO performance with noise being apparent even in some ISO 100 shots. (strangely much less noise at ISO160!)
What's the native ISO? Just because it's lower doesn't mean it will have less noise. The native ISO on my E-M5 is 200, but there is a 'low' option of 100 that would actually be worse quality, but may be needed to keep shutter speeds below the max.

Otispunkmeyer

Original Poster:

12,554 posts

154 months

Thursday 18th September 2014
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marctwo said:
Otispunkmeyer said:
However, I have to say I am often a bit miffed with the ISO performance with noise being apparent even in some ISO 100 shots. (strangely much less noise at ISO160!)
What's the native ISO? Just because it's lower doesn't mean it will have less noise. The native ISO on my E-M5 is 200, but there is a 'low' option of 100 that would actually be worse quality, but may be needed to keep shutter speeds below the max.
It goes from 100 to 6400 and you have to manually select 6400 or it will stick to 3200. It won't go lower than 100 and there isn't a "low" mode.

A7 did get my interest, not least because the lens mounts are the same. The UI is better than the one on the NEX line from what I have seen, but I haven't had a go with one. Also not sure I want to step up to full frame. Then again, why not?



Edited by Otispunkmeyer on Thursday 18th September 13:10

StuH

2,557 posts

272 months

Thursday 18th September 2014
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Otispunkmeyer said:
It goes from 100 to 6400 and you have to manually select 6400 or it will stick to 3200. It won't go lower than 100 and there isn't a "low" mode.

A7 did get my interest, not least because the lens mounts are the same. The UI is better than the one on the NEX line from what I have seen, but I haven't had a go with one. Also not sure I want to step up to full frame. Then again, why not?



Edited by Otispunkmeyer on Thursday 18th September 13:10
Why not indeed! :thumb up:

The IQ of the A7r with the 55mm lense is spectacular - a major step up from my Canon 5D3 - which is mostly now gathering dust

Otispunkmeyer

Original Poster:

12,554 posts

154 months

Friday 19th September 2014
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LR on my computer already seems to chug with 16 MP RAWs from the NEX 6... 36 MP RAWs from the A7R will surely bring it to its knees!

mr_fibuli

1,109 posts

194 months

Friday 19th September 2014
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Maybe not different enough, but the A6000 has an improved UI more like the Sony's high end cameras, and super fast autofocus that beats a lot of DSLRs. The view finder is lower res than the NEX6 though.

If you want top notch glass you could try some of the new E-mount full frame Zeiss lenses - I think they would work... but then you might as well just bite the bullet and get a full frame body too.

If noise is a big problem then there is the A7s - Full frame, 12mp, designed for ultra low noise / high ISO.

Edited by mr_fibuli on Friday 19th September 17:59