Mrs WR seeks advice from PH camera gurus....
Discussion
Hello everyone,
Hope you can help....
For a few years now I have been the very happy owner of a Sony NEX5N but in recent months I have been considering buying a new camera. There is absolutely nothing wrong with the camera and lenses apart from the fact I don’t feel I am getting the same picture quality I think I once did. I have over the years done the cleaning operation a few times but that has never seemed to make any difference in my humble opinion.
Like with other items frequently being used I wonder if the poor camera is now flagging a bit after taking in the region of 50,000 photos over the past 4 possibly 5 years.
I’m not a professional but I do have a keen eye for a good shot and prefer to let the camera do most things on auto for me which has worked 99% of the time.
I have experimented with the different settings and some of the features are quite quirky eg choosing just to pick up the red in a shot as opposed to all colour.
You may ask why I bought this fab camera with all its great features and not really used it to its full potential? Well my response to that would be I get the results I need on minimum pfaff so why make it any more complicated than it needs to be. I’m not a technophobe and I can use equipment to its full potential but prefer to keep things simple wherever I can.
I did do some research before purchasing the camera but it was also recommended to me by a good friend who is an excellent photographer and discussing it with her confirmed it was the right one for me at that time.
Anyway, without boring you all with too many finer details I have been having a look and think I have found a camera that would suit my needs, but I am toying between getting the body with the basic 16-50 mm lens, or there is another option of a combined package which includes the larger lens 55-210mm but do I really need that?
I ask this because I currently have all 3 lenses for my NEX5N, the middle one I have used the most, the smaller one reasonably often but have rarely used the largest one as it is quite heavy and is probably best used with a tripod. I have never done that as I am always mobile taking shots so don’t want the hassle of using/carrying a tripod. I have tried using the large lens with the camera sat on a stable surface but even then I have been disappointed with the quality of the shots.
Originally I was going to ask if my 55mm-210mm lens from the NEX5N would be compatible with the Sony A6300 but I do wonder if the same size lens that is sold specifically for the A6300 would be lighter and therefore easier to use.
I’m not 100% decided on this set up just yet and if anybody has any suggestions for something else that would fit the following criteria more appropriately then I am happy to investigate further. I appreciate the time people will be taking to share their advice and sensible comments (hopefully).
To sum up I would ideally like to keep the cost to below £700. Have just the one lens that will take decent sized wide interior shots – we visit a lot of National Trust and English Heritage properties as well as landscape and distance shots. Produces excellent quality photos regardless of the skill of the user and needs minimum input from me for altering settings between different types of shots.
Thanking you in anticipation,
Mrs WR.
Hope you can help....
For a few years now I have been the very happy owner of a Sony NEX5N but in recent months I have been considering buying a new camera. There is absolutely nothing wrong with the camera and lenses apart from the fact I don’t feel I am getting the same picture quality I think I once did. I have over the years done the cleaning operation a few times but that has never seemed to make any difference in my humble opinion.
Like with other items frequently being used I wonder if the poor camera is now flagging a bit after taking in the region of 50,000 photos over the past 4 possibly 5 years.
I’m not a professional but I do have a keen eye for a good shot and prefer to let the camera do most things on auto for me which has worked 99% of the time.
I have experimented with the different settings and some of the features are quite quirky eg choosing just to pick up the red in a shot as opposed to all colour.
You may ask why I bought this fab camera with all its great features and not really used it to its full potential? Well my response to that would be I get the results I need on minimum pfaff so why make it any more complicated than it needs to be. I’m not a technophobe and I can use equipment to its full potential but prefer to keep things simple wherever I can.
I did do some research before purchasing the camera but it was also recommended to me by a good friend who is an excellent photographer and discussing it with her confirmed it was the right one for me at that time.
Anyway, without boring you all with too many finer details I have been having a look and think I have found a camera that would suit my needs, but I am toying between getting the body with the basic 16-50 mm lens, or there is another option of a combined package which includes the larger lens 55-210mm but do I really need that?
I ask this because I currently have all 3 lenses for my NEX5N, the middle one I have used the most, the smaller one reasonably often but have rarely used the largest one as it is quite heavy and is probably best used with a tripod. I have never done that as I am always mobile taking shots so don’t want the hassle of using/carrying a tripod. I have tried using the large lens with the camera sat on a stable surface but even then I have been disappointed with the quality of the shots.
Originally I was going to ask if my 55mm-210mm lens from the NEX5N would be compatible with the Sony A6300 but I do wonder if the same size lens that is sold specifically for the A6300 would be lighter and therefore easier to use.
I’m not 100% decided on this set up just yet and if anybody has any suggestions for something else that would fit the following criteria more appropriately then I am happy to investigate further. I appreciate the time people will be taking to share their advice and sensible comments (hopefully).
To sum up I would ideally like to keep the cost to below £700. Have just the one lens that will take decent sized wide interior shots – we visit a lot of National Trust and English Heritage properties as well as landscape and distance shots. Produces excellent quality photos regardless of the skill of the user and needs minimum input from me for altering settings between different types of shots.
Thanking you in anticipation,
Mrs WR.
Wacky Racer said:
For a few years now I have been the very happy owner of a Sony NEX5N but in recent months I have been considering buying a new camera. There is absolutely nothing wrong with the camera and lenses apart from the fact I don’t feel I am getting the same picture quality I think I once did. I have over the years done the cleaning operation a few times but that has never seemed to make any difference in my humble opinion.
What do you mean by 'picture quality'?I'm fairly sure the inherent quality of a digital camera doesn't deteriorate with time. Are you getting fussier about the results, or is it a case of upgradeitis/need to spend cash?
Simpo Two said:
Wacky Racer said:
For a few years now I have been the very happy owner of a Sony NEX5N but in recent months I have been considering buying a new camera. There is absolutely nothing wrong with the camera and lenses apart from the fact I don’t feel I am getting the same picture quality I think I once did. I have over the years done the cleaning operation a few times but that has never seemed to make any difference in my humble opinion.
What do you mean by 'picture quality'?I'm fairly sure the inherent quality of a digital camera doesn't deteriorate with time. Are you getting fussier about the results, or is it a case of upgradeitis/need to spend cash?
Thanks for the response.
If it was a car then yes I would be guilty of upgradeitis. However not in this case. I guess now you have put it so succinctly I am seeing other peoples photographs and the quality appears to be much better than mine and I am mistakenly blaming the camera for getting worn out.
But if what you say is correct that digital cameras do not deteriorate with time, then it is very much a case of I would like to improve on what I've got by purchasing a camera with current technology which will hopefully give me the results I seek.
Have you any suggestions? Thanks in advance.
I can't recommend any particular camera as my DSLRs are 2006 vintage! But you know what? Apart from high ISO ability they can turn in results as good as the modern ones. I suspect there is mileage in yours that hasn't been extracted yet. But to be sure, can you post a comparative example of (a) your best work (b) something you've seen that's simliar but better and you wish to emulate it and can't? Then we can see if it's camera, technique or processing causing the problem.
A6300 is in your budget, just, with cashback
http://www.wexphotographic.com/sony-alpha-a6300-di...
It might be worth considering the A6000 as well.
http://www.wexphotographic.com/sony-alpha-a6000-di...
Given your normal subject matter, you probably won't see a big difference in the A6300 over the A6000 ... both will be a huge step up from your current Sony NEX5N.
Comparison here:
http://www.trustedreviews.com/opinions/sony-a6300-...
Your current lenses will fit all Sony E-mount cameras.
http://www.wexphotographic.com/sony-alpha-a6300-di...
It might be worth considering the A6000 as well.
http://www.wexphotographic.com/sony-alpha-a6000-di...
Given your normal subject matter, you probably won't see a big difference in the A6300 over the A6000 ... both will be a huge step up from your current Sony NEX5N.
Comparison here:
http://www.trustedreviews.com/opinions/sony-a6300-...
Your current lenses will fit all Sony E-mount cameras.
Hi Guys
Thank you all for taking the time to read my post and replying.
Simpo that is a good suggestion for the photo comparisons but unfortunately, I’m not able to provide photos to visually explain the picture quality between my camera and photos of others as the ones most easy to find tend to be of people and I don’t feel it is right to be sharing those images. There have been landscape photos I could probably use but are not just to hand and I would have to trawl through online albums to find them.
I’m sure my technique hasn’t changed in 5 years, maybe only to improve, so I don’t feel that is the issue.
As with all other technology most things improve significantly as time goes on and I know whilst I do get good results that myself and others are impressed with, I’m sure they could be better with improved technology.
Thanks for your suggestion Therainmaker but I’ll pass on that if you don’t mind. I’m sure that model is an improvement on mine but it’s the word ‘used’ that is holding me back, but I do appreciate that the model is no longer available as a new purchase option.
sgrimshaw I have found websites in addition to those you have suggested, where I can purchase the A6300 for just a fraction over the £700, thank you for taking the time to look though. There is also a site selling the twin lens bundle and umpteen (mostly useful) accessories for a tad over the 1k.
I also appreciate the website you shared with the comparisons of the A6000 and the A6300 but I feel after having read it the extra monies are worth spending on the upgraded model. Whilst comparing I decided to have a look at the A6500…. being sensible though the extra features for me are not worth the extra money even though I usually have a habit of buying the best available in a class just to ensure I have the best at that moment in time, but sensibly not so in this case.
Thanks also to you Lynchie999 although you had my mind boggling with the mention of the crop sensor lenses – not something I’d given much thought to.
I feel now I am ready to purchase the A6300 with the standard lens it is supplied with and happy to see that I will be able to use the lenses from my NEX5n rather than having to purchase the extra lens for the new camera.
Thanks again guys. I know Mr WR normally trusts the advice and opinions from members of the various forums whenever he has previously sought it.
Thanks again.
Mrs WR.
Thank you all for taking the time to read my post and replying.
Simpo that is a good suggestion for the photo comparisons but unfortunately, I’m not able to provide photos to visually explain the picture quality between my camera and photos of others as the ones most easy to find tend to be of people and I don’t feel it is right to be sharing those images. There have been landscape photos I could probably use but are not just to hand and I would have to trawl through online albums to find them.
I’m sure my technique hasn’t changed in 5 years, maybe only to improve, so I don’t feel that is the issue.
As with all other technology most things improve significantly as time goes on and I know whilst I do get good results that myself and others are impressed with, I’m sure they could be better with improved technology.
Thanks for your suggestion Therainmaker but I’ll pass on that if you don’t mind. I’m sure that model is an improvement on mine but it’s the word ‘used’ that is holding me back, but I do appreciate that the model is no longer available as a new purchase option.
sgrimshaw I have found websites in addition to those you have suggested, where I can purchase the A6300 for just a fraction over the £700, thank you for taking the time to look though. There is also a site selling the twin lens bundle and umpteen (mostly useful) accessories for a tad over the 1k.
I also appreciate the website you shared with the comparisons of the A6000 and the A6300 but I feel after having read it the extra monies are worth spending on the upgraded model. Whilst comparing I decided to have a look at the A6500…. being sensible though the extra features for me are not worth the extra money even though I usually have a habit of buying the best available in a class just to ensure I have the best at that moment in time, but sensibly not so in this case.
Thanks also to you Lynchie999 although you had my mind boggling with the mention of the crop sensor lenses – not something I’d given much thought to.
I feel now I am ready to purchase the A6300 with the standard lens it is supplied with and happy to see that I will be able to use the lenses from my NEX5n rather than having to purchase the extra lens for the new camera.
Thanks again guys. I know Mr WR normally trusts the advice and opinions from members of the various forums whenever he has previously sought it.
Thanks again.
Mrs WR.
The dpreview web site has an archive of camera tests that make use of standard studio sets as well as random roaming sample shots.
They have applications that allows up to 4 test shot images to be compared on screen.
This is rather useful but at some point between the NEX 5N and the A6300 the application was updated (as far as I can tell) and the NEX 5N is part of the old application with the A6300 (and A6500) being in the new application library.
However the NEX 5T is in the new set although I have no idea how that compares to the the 5N.
A quick comparison of the 5n and a6300 (or 6500) seems to suggest you would indeed expect to see significantly improve results at a technical level.
If the sort of subject matter you shoot would benefit from a technical advance in resolution (notably) then the comparison suggests you will be well pleased with an update. (The difference between the a6300 and a6500 was less obvious. Indeed a very quick look seemed to suggest to me that the 6300 was marginally preferable.)
There again, lenses may be a factor. I have not looked at that aspect of the comparison - just dived in for a 2 minute observation session.
They have applications that allows up to 4 test shot images to be compared on screen.
This is rather useful but at some point between the NEX 5N and the A6300 the application was updated (as far as I can tell) and the NEX 5N is part of the old application with the A6300 (and A6500) being in the new application library.
However the NEX 5T is in the new set although I have no idea how that compares to the the 5N.
A quick comparison of the 5n and a6300 (or 6500) seems to suggest you would indeed expect to see significantly improve results at a technical level.
If the sort of subject matter you shoot would benefit from a technical advance in resolution (notably) then the comparison suggests you will be well pleased with an update. (The difference between the a6300 and a6500 was less obvious. Indeed a very quick look seemed to suggest to me that the 6300 was marginally preferable.)
There again, lenses may be a factor. I have not looked at that aspect of the comparison - just dived in for a 2 minute observation session.
Wacky Racer said:
sgrimshaw I have found websites in addition to those you have suggested, where I can purchase the A6300 for just a fraction over the £700, thank you for taking the time to look though. There is also a site selling the twin lens bundle and umpteen (mostly useful) accessories for a tad over the 1k.
The £150 cashback is with Sony themselves, so as long as you buy from a recognised UK dealer, then you can claim the cashback:https://campaign.odw.sony-europe.com/redemption/20...
There are also cashback offers on other cameras and lenses:
https://www.sony.co.uk/cashback/summer-cashback
sgrimshaw said:
Wacky Racer said:
sgrimshaw I have found websites in addition to those you have suggested, where I can purchase the A6300 for just a fraction over the £700, thank you for taking the time to look though. There is also a site selling the twin lens bundle and umpteen (mostly useful) accessories for a tad over the 1k.
The £150 cashback is with Sony themselves, so as long as you buy from a recognised UK dealer, then you can claim the cashback:https://campaign.odw.sony-europe.com/redemption/20...
There are also cashback offers on other cameras and lenses:
https://www.sony.co.uk/cashback/summer-cashback
Lynchie999 said:
I think I'm going to take advantage of these... going to ditch my remaining a mount kit, and pick up a A6300 and 70-200 F4!
I use the LA-EA2 adapter with my A6000 and all my A-mount lenses work fine. I understand the replacement (LA-EA4?) is even better.Just a thought if you have a lot of A-mount glass.
sgrimshaw said:
Lynchie999 said:
I think I'm going to take advantage of these... going to ditch my remaining a mount kit, and pick up a A6300 and 70-200 F4!
I use the LA-EA2 adapter with my A6000 and all my A-mount lenses work fine. I understand the replacement (LA-EA4?) is even better.Just a thought if you have a lot of A-mount glass.
Lynchie999 said:
I think I'm going to take advantage of these... going to ditch my remaining a mount kit, and pick up a A6300 and 70-200 F4!
From Mrs WR:-Hi Lynchie999 why are you thinking of purchasing the A6300 with the 70-200 F4 lens and neither of the other two lens size options? Just wondering if that is a good combo for myself to buy?
Edit from WR....In plain English please as Mrs WR is a numpty.
Wacky Racer said:
Lynchie999 said:
I think I'm going to take advantage of these... going to ditch my remaining a mount kit, and pick up a A6300 and 70-200 F4!
From Mrs WR:-Hi Lynchie999 why are you thinking of purchasing the A6300 with the 70-200 F4 lens and neither of the other two lens size options? Just wondering if that is a good combo for myself to buy?
Edit from WR....In plain English please as Mrs WR is a numpty.
incidentally, the A6300 is out of stock on WEX, but back in apparently in in about a week!
Thanks to everyone who kindly replied.
Mrs WR has just ordered a Sony ILCE6300LB with SELP1650 power zoom lens (24.2MP,APS-C Image sensor), should be £1028.69 for £779.00 plus £150 Sony cashback on Amazon prime for TODAY only.
Be quick, I THINK they only have ONE left now.
Mrs WR says Thank you everyone.
Mrs WR has just ordered a Sony ILCE6300LB with SELP1650 power zoom lens (24.2MP,APS-C Image sensor), should be £1028.69 for £779.00 plus £150 Sony cashback on Amazon prime for TODAY only.
Be quick, I THINK they only have ONE left now.Mrs WR says Thank you everyone.
Wacky Racer said:
Thanks to everyone who kindly replied.
Mrs WR has just ordered a Sony ILCE6300LB with SELP1650 power zoom lens (24.2MP,APS-C Image sensor), should be £1028.69 for £779.00 plus £150 Sony cashback on Amazon prime for TODAY only.
Be quick, I THINK they only have ONE left now.
Mrs WR says Thank you everyone.
I just came here to post that! - got the body only for £524 inc. cashback! Mrs WR has just ordered a Sony ILCE6300LB with SELP1650 power zoom lens (24.2MP,APS-C Image sensor), should be £1028.69 for £779.00 plus £150 Sony cashback on Amazon prime for TODAY only.
Be quick, I THINK they only have ONE left now.Mrs WR says Thank you everyone.
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