Author Topic: Sony A6000  (Read 17054 times)

  • Offline Serious

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Sony A6000
on: November 14, 2014, 08:34:32 AM
Thinking of getting a new camera, my old Canon is getting a bit short on pixels now. It's also a big big. Anyone had experience of this Sony? Seems there are now adapters that allow Canon lenses to be fitted and work properly, although focusing seems a little slow and there is a little more flare it would enable me to use my old lenses. Because the Sony is thinner the adapter doesn't need a lens to change focus so sharpness should be the same.

Watched a few reviews from Pros, most seem happy with the Sony cameras and at least one uses it exclusively outside of the studio.

Re: Sony A6000
Reply #1 on: November 14, 2014, 09:21:43 AM
Why not skip the middle man and get a Canon? It will make buying more lenses much simpler.

My advice as always is to go here and pick the model at the price you want to spend:

http://www.mpbphotographic.co.uk/used-equipment/used-digital-slr-cameras/used-canon-digital-slr-cameras/?keyword=&curr_min_price=&curr_max_price=&min_price=0&max_price=3900&out_of_stock=&view_all=&filter=price+ASC


Formerly sexytw

  • Offline Serious

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Re: Sony A6000
Reply #2 on: November 14, 2014, 15:15:13 PM
My old camera is a 40D. I've kept track and neither Canon or Nikon have upgraded their cameras as much as technology would allow. My present canon is now too heavy for ease of use. I certainly wouldn't use it as an 'every day' camera (then I don't even get to the front door every day now)

Despite having a Canon body most of my lenses aren't Canon ones. The most used recently is a Tamron.

TBH this is just something I'm considering at the moment. I'm after something that may be impossible, or just impractical. A camera that I can carry around easily with a single lens but also use my old lenses to increase functionality.

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Re: Sony A6000
Reply #3 on: December 08, 2014, 06:33:34 AM
Still thinking about this. There are several other options I could go for too. I would like a touch screen on the back.

Then am I still capable of getting enough use out of what is an expensive camera? It was also announced back in February so is there a replacement in the pipeline? I guess it's going to be after Christmas before any decisions are made.

  • Offline zpyder

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Re: Sony A6000
Reply #4 on: December 08, 2014, 16:53:44 PM
When I worked in a camera shop, I was surprised by how highly everyone rated the Sony Cameras, including their compact camera line (I think the premium one is the RX10 or RX100). If bulk is an issue consider the compacts? I think the overall consensus where I used to work, was that the Sony sensors were getting quite good for low light and autofocus stuff, close to SLR levels etc...

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Re: Sony A6000
Reply #5 on: December 19, 2014, 03:31:30 AM
I've got a couple of compacts, they are too physically small for me. I could easily get another bridge camera but what would I then do with the lenses I have? The camera in my PDA is pretty neat too, huge screen gives easy viewing except in bright light, does surprisingly good video too.

TBH the more I look at the problem  the more I think it's a psychological one rather than anything else.

Seems that Nikon use the same Sony sensors from the A6000, A7 and A7R in their DSLR range.

Re: Sony A6000
Reply #6 on: December 19, 2014, 18:48:07 PM
Yup. Most lenses can be converted between the different makes. May lose auto focusing or auto aperture control sometimes but they will work.

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Re: Sony A6000
Reply #7 on: December 07, 2015, 15:28:24 PM
Finally bought one, well Sony did give a £100 cash back offer so should end up costing me under £400.

Managed to get out with it today and try taking some pics. My only problem is that the on/off switch is at the shutter control and in the same place as my old Panasonic bridge camera's zoom control so instead of zooming in and out I end up switching it off :/

Other than that it seems fine, much lighter than my Canon 40D.

Now to look into getting a lens adapter.

Will put up some pics in a few days, although the weather wasn't good today at least it wasn't windy and raining.

  • Offline zpyder

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Re: Sony A6000
Reply #8 on: December 10, 2015, 10:04:51 AM
If I were to do a major kit switch up, I'd probably go Sony. Though I'd probably be tempted to just get the latest RX100 and be done with having to have different lenses and the likes. I get the impression Sony is starting to really be a competitor with Nikon and Canon.

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Re: Sony A6000
Reply #9 on: December 18, 2015, 15:11:14 PM
For fast moving sports Canon still have the edge but I have taken photos with the A6000 that I would never have managed with my old Canon 40D

OK, photos, hope this works



Lighthouse at Whitley Bay

Same

WW2 bunker close to base of lighthouse

View towards Whitley Bay from lighthouse

Very poor light photo taken in my brother's house. Lens Canon 75-300mm on Comlite adapter.

Automatic focus with adapter can be an issue but it can be manual focused too.
Last Edit: December 18, 2015, 15:19:03 PM by Serious #187;

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Re: Sony A6000
Reply #10 on: March 31, 2016, 15:42:03 PM
Finally got a Tamron 90mm f2.8. I have only use it manual focus but the variant I have is effectively manual focus so... Camera can produce some really nice photos with it too  :w00t:.

The main problem I'm having is finding good glass from companies other than Sony to fit the E mount. I can use a converter for A mount lenses.  The are often advertised for the Sony/Minolta A mount and may have a screw head for a body mounted focus motor. The Sony adapter for this is over £200.

I had a choice for the above Tamron 90mm: buy the cheaper adaptor without the motor and go for a £350 lens, cost £450: buy the lens I got with the more expensive adapter, again about £450. Either of these would have provided at least some form of autofocus. Or buy the cheaper version of the lens and cheaper adapter - cost about £300.

I can use lenses designed to fit Canon and other mounts via adapters but the camera often takes two or three seconds to focus and in many cases won't provide autofocus at all. That means higher speed photography is difficult or impossible, forget sports unless you can use manual focus old style.

In even moderate weather the back LCD can be almost impossible to use, This may be an issue with me rather than the camera - gotta read manual sometime. The eyepiece is fine even in bright conditions. You are not going to risk eye injury photographing into sun, unlike a DSLR.

Overall I am very positive about this camera, but, unless they manage to get more 3rd party glass available for the E mount then I can't recommend it. The camera is actually good but the range of lenses is limited.

  • Offline zpyder

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Re: Sony A6000
Reply #11 on: April 05, 2016, 18:53:40 PM
I know it doesn't help you in your current situation, but whenever I have a friend ask me for "What camera?" advice, usually one of the main things I say is Canon and Nikon have a large second hand market, allowing you to get good glass at reasonable prices, along with "what do your friends use?" (As it means you might be able to borrow lenses). I've only recently started to mention Sony as a viable alternative to those two brands, but with the caveat of the lack of lens options.

Like you though, I hope that changes in the future.

  • Offline Serious

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Re: Sony A6000
Reply #12 on: April 09, 2016, 15:59:59 PM
The Sony cameras do have a lot going for them, small, light, versatile. Then due to the short body there are things that it can do others can't, like use lenses for other makes without altering the focus.

There are also corrective adapters that reduce the footprint of 35mm lenses to fit on the APS-C sensor. That makes the image from a 10mm lens show correctly rather than be a pseudo 16mm.

Lots of photographers now have multiple makes of camera, it may be an idea for me to get a canon body.

  • Offline zpyder

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Re: Sony A6000
Reply #13 on: April 09, 2016, 21:43:37 PM
The issue I have with adapters and converters is that you're either going to be losing light and/or adding extra bits of glass into the mix, so image quality is going to take a knock.

For run of the mill images it might not be an issue, but stock agencies and the likes tend to be quite exacting and so for some of the work I do it's not an option :(

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Re: Sony A6000
Reply #14 on: April 12, 2016, 02:04:05 AM
The normal adapters are either very thin, in which case they move the focus of the lens slightly, or have a lens, in which case you have to take the glass quality into account.

 Adapters for the Sony E-mount go between the camera and lens, but as the camera is thinner than Canon and Nikon cameras, due to no mirror. That means there is no need for extra glass to correct the lens, and the only issue is going to be stray light bouncing around. When a lens is included it is a focal reduction lens, X0.72. That puts all the light that would fall on a full 35mm sensor onto the smaller Sony. Effectively it increases the sensor size back to 35mm, although it loses a small amount of light and maybe quality.

Beyond that is the focusing issue and this might just be a game changer...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JFoeZ0c7iLo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aHNT6G9U-Jo

An adapter with built in electronics with the data from the lens converted for Sony bodies. There is a USB port so you can update the on adapter data too, so it should be future proof. Focusing seems far faster than previous adapters and more positive. Then it's still in beta, not available yet.

Question is will it be equally good with other Sigma lenses and non-sigma lenses? It would certainly be nice to have one of these with the data for Tamron and Nikon or Canon lenses.
Last Edit: April 12, 2016, 02:07:13 AM by Serious #187;

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