Should I upgrade from a7?

MsDysie · Oct 19, 2015

Hi All, I bought my a7 when they first appeared on the market. I am wondering if I was a little premature in my purchase with all the new equipment that is now on the market.

My thoughts are should I have waited? Should I have chosen the 7r? My primary photography interests are travel, landscape and family shots. Is there a model that may be more suited to me than the plain old a7?

I am happy with it, but would like to hear some thoughts. Also thoughts on the fe 24-240 for travel.

WestO · Oct 19, 2015

MsDysie said:
Hi All, I bought my a7 when they first appeared on the market. I am wondering if I was a little premature in my purchase with all the new equipment that is now on the market.

My thoughts are should I have waited? Should I have chosen the 7r? My primary photography interests are travel, landscape and family shots. Is there a model that may be more suited to me than the plain old a7?

I am happy with it, but would like to hear some thoughts. Also thoughts on the fe 24-240 for travel.

I have the original A7 and I am still happy with it. If anything, I wish I had more AF lenses not a new camera. You say you are happy with yours too. I think seeing all this new tech makes us all question our own gear. However, rather than looking at what the these new cameras can do vs your old camera. You should focus on what you "need" to do. If your camera still allows you to accomplish those goals, continue to enjoy it. If your camera is getting in the way of those goals, then you need a new one.

jalywol · Oct 19, 2015

MsDysie said:
Hi All, I bought my a7 when they first appeared on the market. I am wondering if I was a little premature in my purchase with all the new equipment that is now on the market.

My thoughts are should I have waited? Should I have chosen the 7r? My primary photography interests are travel, landscape and family shots. Is there a model that may be more suited to me than the plain old a7?

I am happy with it, but would like to hear some thoughts. Also thoughts on the fe 24-240 for travel.

If you use your A7 for family shots and travel, I think you will be surprised at how much better it is at AF than the A7R. I have an A7, and bought an A7R recently, and was extremely disappointed in its AF behavior, as well as the very loud shutter noise (neither of which was unexpected, but both were worse than I thought they would be).

To be perfectly honest with you, you would be better served by getting the A7II (or the A7RII) for your purposes as an upgrade, but not the A7R.

Can't tell you about the 24-240mm, though, as I haven't tried one

.

-J

Tristimulus · Oct 19, 2015

Have and use the A7 a lot but seems to be slipping into the A7RII (no way out of this one) despite beeing happy with the A7 over all. Sensor reflections (night shots), no IBIS and no eye focus is good reasons for me. More pixels are also welcome into my world.

But the A7 is still great. Really not much to complain about and the images look gorgeous.

The 24-240 is big and generally rather soft so not on my wish list. Tried one. Great zoom range and great travel lens but a bit soft - so obviously not made for me.

Besides the 24-70 much cover my range despite using the 16-35 and 70-200 more often lately. The 24-70 is compact too. And despite much bashing about this lens my thousands of images taken with mine look very good - unless pixel peeping at the extreme corners. A bit ugly at 100 % but not much of an issue when looking at images in everyday contexts. So much for my point of view about lenses.

But different reasons for getting certain lenses so...

WestO · Oct 19, 2015

Trollmannx said:
Have and use the A7 a lot but seems to be slipping into the A7RII (no way out of this one) despite beeing happy with the A7 over all. Sensor reflections (night shots), no IBIS and no eye focus is good reasons for me. More pixels are also welcome into my world.

But the A7 is still great. Really not much to complain about and the images look gorgeous.

The 24-240 is big and generally rather soft so not on my wish list. Tried one. Great zoom range and great travel lens but a bit soft - so obviously not made for me.

Besides the 24-70 much cover my range despite using the 16-35 and 70-200 more often lately. The 24-70 is compact too. And despite much bashing about this lens my thousands of images taken with mine look very good - unless pixel peeping at the extreme corners. A bit ugly at 100 % but not much of an issue when looking at images in everyday contexts. So much for my point of view about lenses.

But different reasons for getting certain lenses so...

I hear you with IBIS, and the improve sensor stack, but eye AF is already in the original A7. With the improved focusing system or the A7RII it also got better.

golfhov · Oct 20, 2015

It is better on the a7rii but it is on the original a7. I do not know which button it is tied to but it is there. You also must have facial recognition on for eye af to work

biza43 · Oct 20, 2015

No. Just because something new showed up, your camera does not stop working...

getagrip15 · Oct 20, 2015

WestO said:
Trollmannx said:

Have and use the A7 a lot but seems to be slipping into the A7RII (no way out of this one) despite beeing happy with the A7 over all. Sensor reflections (night shots), no IBIS and no eye focus is good reasons for me. More pixels are also welcome into my world.

But the A7 is still great. Really not much to complain about and the images look gorgeous.

The 24-240 is big and generally rather soft so not on my wish list. Tried one. Great zoom range and great travel lens but a bit soft - so obviously not made for me.

Besides the 24-70 much cover my range despite using the 16-35 and 70-200 more often lately. The 24-70 is compact too. And despite much bashing about this lens my thousands of images taken with mine look very good - unless pixel peeping at the extreme corners. A bit ugly at 100 % but not much of an issue when looking at images in everyday contexts. So much for my point of view about lenses.

But different reasons for getting certain lenses so...

Click to expand...

I hear you with IBIS, and the improve sensor stack, but eye AF is already in the original A7. With the improved focusing system or the A7RII it also got better.

sootyvrs · Oct 20, 2015

MsDysie said:
I am happy with it, but would like to hear some thoughts.

If you are happy with it, then why are you considering a different camera?

I think it's easy to follow the crowd who frequent "GEAR" forums when you hear all the "Must" have features... "Game Changer" comments etc...

Most enthusiasts (myself included unfortunately) suffer from GAS (Gear aquisition syndrome) to some lesser or greater degree and frequent forums talking about how inadequate older technology cameras are and that you should get the latest greatest...

I would recommend that if you are "happy", you should save your money and carry on taking images or spend the money elsewhere

In truth, you won't probably notice any increase in IQ in most cases changing camera bodies but you do gain in features which you should ask if your current camera is limiting your photography...

Saying that, it's alway exciting receiving a new toy to play with lol

Good luck with making your decision...

MsDysie · Oct 20, 2015

Thanks everyone for your feedback.

Looks like I will hold steadfast with my a7 for the time being, but will start putting my nickels away for the a7rII or equivalent when the time comes. I am a big hit of the Sony line, right from the dsc P3 - how times have changed! I don't want to change any time soon.

Still think I will further investigate the 24-240 though!

sportyaccordy · Oct 20, 2015

I wish I had IBIS. You can probably get away with shooting EF lenses, which would open things up a lot and give you (slow but accurate) AF.

Tristimulus · Oct 20, 2015

getagrip15 said:
getagrip15 said:

Trollmannx said:

Have and use the A7 a lot but seems to be slipping into the A7RII (no way out of this one) despite beeing happy with the A7 over all. Sensor reflections (night shots), no IBIS and no eye focus is good reasons for me. More pixels are also welcome into my world.

But the A7 is still great. Really not much to complain about and the images look gorgeous.

The 24-240 is big and generally rather soft so not on my wish list. Tried one. Great zoom range and great travel lens but a bit soft - so obviously not made for me.

Besides the 24-70 much cover my range despite using the 16-35 and 70-200 more often lately. The 24-70 is compact too. And despite much bashing about this lens my thousands of images taken with mine look very good - unless pixel peeping at the extreme corners. A bit ugly at 100 % but not much of an issue when looking at images in everyday contexts. So much for my point of view about lenses.

But different reasons for getting certain lenses so...

Click to expand...

I hear you with IBIS, and the improve sensor stack, but eye AF is already in the original A7. With the improved focusing system or the A7RII it also got better.

Click to expand...

rogerjosem · Oct 20, 2015

MsDysie said:
Thanks everyone for your feedback.

Looks like I will hold steadfast with my a7 for the time being, but will start putting my nickels away for the a7rII or equivalent when the time comes. I am a big hit of the Sony line, right from the dsc P3 - how times have changed! I don't want to change any time soon.

Still think I will further investigate the 24-240 though!

I upgraded from my beloved A7 to an A7r (keeping my A7 as backup, usually with large MF lenses) and I am very happy I did. The A7r has a noticeably higher IQ but I would recommend to stay with your A7 at least until an A7III is released to market.

The FE 24-240 is not a lens that will take the most out of your A7. You will sacrifice too much picture quality for convenience. For that price and weight you can get a small kit of very good primes instead.

--
Warm Regards,
Roger
https://www.flickr.com/photos/96461835@N07/albums/72157657689345971
https://www.flickr.com/photos/96461835@N07/albums/72157657281391678

golfhov · Oct 20, 2015

I have not used it.

Just curious what lenses do you have? You may find a new lens a much better upgrade for the dollar.

The A7r is nice but it has it's own quirks. Also if you do not need the extra resolution you are throwing your money away. The a7rii throws in a few more features but is VERY expensive right now

robbinsbox · Oct 20, 2015

just assign eye af to one of the custom buttons. use it a lot, great feature. (on the a7 im talking about)

robbinsbox · Oct 20, 2015

i wanted to chime in but have not tried the 24-240 so the following is hot air.

Better a smaller sensor bridge cam like the rx10 or the panny for less than the weight of the 24-240. My hunch is that it would be a fair bit sharper too (not really checked this out to be fair). I guess I just thk that it is a waste to use a jack of all trade/meh lens, though undeniably versatile) lens on such cameras. Why bother wasting all that detail.

Other options which would be smaller and probably sharper would be a micro 4/3 or aps-c two lens combo.

Lightshow · Oct 21, 2015

MsDysie said:
Thanks everyone for your feedback.

Looks like I will hold steadfast with my a7 for the time being, but will start putting my nickels away for the a7rII or equivalent when the time comes. I am a big hit of the Sony line, right from the dsc P3 - how times have changed! I don't want to change any time soon.

Still think I will further investigate the 24-240 though!

Use it till it dies, or till you have enough saved up for the next gee-whiz camera.

Mario Groleau · Nov 4, 2015

robbinsbox said:
just assign eye af to one of the custom buttons. use it a lot, great feature. (on the a7 im talking about)

golfhov · Nov 4, 2015

I just double checked mine. Go into the custom button settings and eye af is an option. Firmware 2. I believe that you must have face detect on and it only works in single AF

chris234612323 · Nov 4, 2015

golfhov said:
I just double checked mine. Go into the custom button settings and eye af is an option. Firmware 2. I believe that you must have face detect on and it only works in single AF

I tried it on my camera but not sure if I got it to work. Do you press it once or hold onto it for eye-af?

Should I upgrade from a7?

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