did I do it wrong?

[jackandthebeancurd]

After almost a year pondering what camera should I buy in order to upgrade from point and shoot.

I was going to buy the a6000. It has great performance in a small body. And the price with kit lens is just in my budget (under $1000. The price was about $800)

And then my brother insist me on buying a Nikon D5300 instead. The reason because Sony camera accessories are very hard to come by and the e-mount lens isn't well developed. Also he said Sony camera are really sensitive and prone to damage. But the problem is that the D5300 body is quite heavy for my shaky hands and it's way over my budget ($1200 with 18-140 kit lens, and yes for a third world country citizen a $400 difference is very big. It's $200 over my original budget).

So, I put my trust on my brother experience. I think I can use the 18-140 kit lens for a long time before needing to buy a new lens, so the over budget wouldn't be a big problem in the long run. Also thought my hands would get used to the weight.

And now after a few days, I start to have second thoughts. Maybe I should have buy the a6000. It's smaller and lighter. The D5300 proved to be quite heavy for my shaky and skinny hands. Many of my hand held shots are shaky. But that could be prevented most of the time, thanks to the VR feature of the lens.
Also the price have been bothering me a lot, even after I bought it. Being a poor person sucks lol. I can't even get a refund.

Sure the photo I took with the D5300 are really a great satisfactory. I still haven't learnt yet how to bring the best out of this camera. But I still have this regret-y kind of feeling. Maybe because I didn't know if I made the right decision.

So what do you think?
Did I made the right decision?
Or did I messed up?

Should i sell it as second hand item and buy the a6000?
Should I keep it?

 

[jalywol]

After almost a year pondering what camera should I buy in order to upgrade from point and shoot.

I was going to buy the a6000. It has great performance in a small body. And the price with kit lens is just in my budget (under $1000. The price was about $800)

And then my brother insist me on buying a Nikon D5300 instead. The reason because Sony camera accessories are very hard to come by and the e-mount lens isn't well developed. Also he said Sony camera are really sensitive and prone to damage. But the problem is that the D5300 body is quite heavy for my shaky hands and it's way over my budget ($1200 with 18-140 kit lens, and yes for a third world country citizen a $400 difference is very big. It's $200 over my original budget).

So, I put my trust on my brother experience. I think I can use the 18-140 kit lens for a long time before needing to buy a new lens, so the over budget wouldn't be a big problem in the long run. Also thought my hands would get used to the weight.

And now after a few days, I start to have second thoughts. Maybe I should have buy the a6000. It's smaller and lighter. The D5300 proved to be quite heavy for my shaky and skinny hands. Many of my hand held shots are shaky. But that could be prevented most of the time, thanks to the VR feature of the lens.
Also the price have been bothering me a lot, even after I bought it. Being a poor person sucks lol. I can't even get a refund.

Sure the photo I took with the D5300 are really a great satisfactory. I still haven't learnt yet how to bring the best out of this camera. But I still have this regret-y kind of feeling. Maybe because I didn't know if I made the right decision.

So what do you think?
Did I made the right decision?
Or did I messed up?

Should i sell it as second hand item and buy the a6000?
Should I keep it?

If you are uncomfortable with the size and weight of the camera, then you did not make the right decision by getting the Nikon.

However, shaky shots can happen on any camera. You need to work on your holding technique, and keep the shutter speed up (or use a tripod). That will not change with the Sony vs the Nikon.

The moral of the story is, you should trust your own judgment when buying a camera for YOUR use, not the opinion of someone who does not have your own shooting priorities.

That being said, if you still want the a6000, then sell the Nikon and get it. Your wrists will thank you, and you will use the camera a LOT more than you will the Nikon.

-J

 

[SQLGuy]

I would ask what lenses and accessories you were interested in. There's pretty good coverage in native E-mount, autofocus lenses for everything except really long and/or really fast telephoto lenses.

I would also disagree about the "delicacy" of Sony's E-mount cameras. I've been using them for the past four years (first a NEX-5, then a NEX-7, and now an A7). I bring them everywhere with me and haven't been terribly careful. The only problems I've had have been peeling anti-reflective coating on the NEX-5 and NEX-7 screens. I don't think my A7 is as rugged as my D200, but I would certainly say it's on par with or better than my wife's D5100.

If weight is a concern, you might want to return the D5300 and switch.

 

[jackandthebeancurd]

Thank you. Lesson learnt, the hard way.
But do you think getting the a6000 is a better choice, in term of features and IQ?
Or maybe it's not that much of a difference to justify the hassle of selling it? I know the Nikon kit lens is much better than Sony's kit lens and I can use it for a long time before considering buying a new lens.
Sorry for the questions sounds stupid. It's my first time buying an ILC

 

[jackandthebeancurd]

I really just want to buy 1 multipurpose lens. Like the one they attached to FZ1000 or RX10. Something like SEL 18200?
I disliked changing lens every now and then.
Reduces the risk of getting dust on the sensor. I actually managed to get a dust on my D5300 sensor the first day I got it, when I attached the lens for the first time LOL

 

[Timbukto]

You already bought it, and you can not get a refund. What is the point of having buyers remorse? The D5300 is not that heavy, it is probably just the superzoom which on emount would have moderate weight as well. As for reliability you do know Nikon has had an endless supply of refurbs of the D3300 or D5200 for super cheap?

Nikon will have poor resale when anyone can buy a near identical refurb 5200 for $400. Keep it and shoot it, maybe you are not supporting the lens right. Then again the A6000 kit lens has an entirely different weight and size class.

I would prefer the A6000 over entry level Nikon, but its not a bad camera. If your resale will just make your financial situation worse, than keep it...seems like you do not have the luxury of refund anyhow. If you have a buyer lined up that will not lowball, go for it. If you can not return it seems like you have crappy service and support in which case why not see what the cheapest imports you can buy are?

If you just started photography more than likely you are trying test shots indoors with a slow lens and the camera is choosing slow shutter because it has VR. This is NORMAL. This is assuming your hands are small and skinny via natural diversity and you do not have some actual illness. If you do not have any medical issues more than likely you just need more experience.

 

[jalywol]

Thank you. Lesson learnt, the hard way.
But do you think getting the a6000 is a better choice, in term of features and IQ?

I would never have bought a DSLR. I've owned both a D200 and D90, and once I went to mirrorless (I used M43 for almost 4 years and now have an A7), I NEVER went back. DSLRs feel like large dinosaurs to me now.

The only thing that DSLRs are better at overall is continuous tracking autofocus. Otherwise, you have more flexibility with the Sony. In terms of IQ, the Nikon JPGs are a little nicer than the Sony JPGs, but if you decide to use RAW to process your images, you are going to have a hard time picking one over the other.

Or maybe it's not that much of a difference to justify the hassle of selling it? I know the Nikon kit lens is much better than Sony's kit lens and I can use it for a long time before considering buying a new lens.

It's an interchangeable lens camera. If you are planning to use a single lens and don't want to change lenses, you might actually be better served with a large sensored superzoom. There are a few out there now that are pretty good.....

There are also other advantages to the Sony....if you decide to give manual focusing a try, you can buy a whole lot of legacy or vintage manual focus lenses for not a lot of investment, and they will work quite well with inexpensive adapters. You can't do that with the Nikon....

Sorry for the questions sounds stupid. It's my first time buying an ILC

Not stupid questions. You are trying to figure out the right thing for you. It's a lot of information to work your way through when you are new at it.

-J

 

[Bruce Oudekerk]

I wrote this while watching TV... and in the meantime there were 5 responses...I'm going to post his anyway, no matter how redundant.

I don't own either camera so I have no ax to grind here but you've really answered your own question. There are MANY extremely proficient photographers using the a6000 successfully. Yes, you probably made a mistake but if you have to live with it, at least you have a great camera to learn the art of photography and you will be limited mainly by YOU, not the camera.

As to your valid main complaints:

Get a cushioning strap. I use the Tamrac Boomerang with a MUCH heavier walk-around camera/lens combo than you have. There are other straps that are similar, you choose, but they all help remarkably with the all day carry weight. Its actually sort of freaky.

Learn good technique for shooting. Squeeeeeeeze the shutter button which means you do not jerk the camera.

Perhaps most importantly from what you have said (if I read it right) is holding the camera properly while squeezing off that shot. You should press the viewfinder against the head with both elbows firmly but comfortably pressed against the rib cage. Those three points produce rigid static/isometric tension that greatly reduces camera shake and gives the VR a fighting chance. Its one reason I'll never have a camera without a VF of some sort. Apparently there are quite a few human tripods lurking in these forums that don't feel the need to do this.

Bruce

--
http://www.pbase.com/misterpixel

 

[40daystogo]

If you have shaky hands, a lighter weight camera may not help. Some people say it is easier to hold steady a heavier camera.

Try getting a monopod and see if that helps.

 

[jackandthebeancurd]

I couldn't find a superzoom with APS-C sensor though. I actually considered getting an FZ1000 but apparently it's not available in my country.

 

[jackandthebeancurd]

Yeah I checked with the store and they don't have a return policy. Well, it's not a common practice in my country. So I guess it would be best to make do with what I have.

 

[biyabo]

While I feel that you might have been better served with the A6000, I am not sure if it is worth it for you to try to sell this camera used and purchase the A6000. You would be losing probably 30% of the money you spent in trying to sell it, so you're taking a 2nd large risk. Because who knows? Maybe you won't like the A6000, or you will realize that it wasn't so much better or different than your D5300 after all.

You have a very capable camera in your hands. Just purchase a decent tripod to take pictures with, or if you want to be a little more mobile, a monopod. What I do recommend though, is not purchasing any further accessories for your D5300. Then, several months after owning the D5300, you will learn more about photography and what you want out of a camera. Maybe 6 months from now at least, you can decide if you want to sell it and buy a different camera.

 

[jackandthebeancurd]

Thanks! I didn't know such thing exist. Or maybe I should just use the camera more. Maybe my hand could get use to it.

 

[jackandthebeancurd]

Great point. Thank you very much. I'll keep it and see how I'll do in the next few month.

 

[40daystogo]

Get a unipod or monopod. It's a one-legged tripod.

Loading…

www.bhphotovideo.com

 

[GaryW]

While I feel that you might have been better served with the A6000, I am not sure if it is worth it for you to try to sell this camera used and purchase the A6000. You would be losing probably 30% of the money you spent in trying to sell it, so you're taking a 2nd large risk. Because who knows? Maybe you won't like the A6000, or you will realize that it wasn't so much better or different than your D5300 after all.

Yes, but how is he going to figure out if he would prefer the A6000? At some point, he'll have to try... something...

You have a very capable camera in your hands. Just purchase a decent tripod to take pictures with, or if you want to be a little more mobile, a monopod. What I do recommend though, is not purchasing any further accessories for your D5300. Then, several months after owning the D5300, you will learn more about photography and what you want out of a camera. Maybe 6 months from now at least, you can decide if you want to sell it and buy a different camera.

This would be my suggestion. Since you can't return it, just make use of what you have and see if you can make it work. If it works out OK, then great! If not, you'll have to see how much money you can get out of it combined with whatever new money you save. If you're that tight on cash, then that limits your options. I would make sure that you do not impact your financial situation first, particularly on something that is more of a hobby and non-essential.

I'm not so sure that the A6000 will be cheaper, if you factor in a bigger zoom lens. The 18-105 is $600. If you can live with the 16-50, it is cheaper tho.

Anyway, you might just be having normal "buyer's remorse", having spent a ton of money. I'm sure the Nikon is a fine camera, so I'd give it a try, but if the size/weight keeps bugging you, then plan on changing when it seems financially reasonable.

I also agree with the comment that if you're not going to makeuse of interchangeable lenses, you might look at a fixed-lens camera, like the RX100 III. It would be smaller still, and yet close to the same quality.

 

[jackandthebeancurd]

I'm still trying to get used to the size of this camera. But I've decided to give it a chance instead of making impulse decision, just to regret about it later, again.

Thanks for your advice.

 

[Giklab]

Hi.

Where the heck do you live? Every store should have some form of return policy for at least a few days. Go to the store and ask, people are usually friendlier than a contract.
If returning the camera is actually not an option, I'd second the previous suggestions - just use the camera for a while, maybe it will grow on you.
And tell your brother how you feel.

 

[val1]

Thank you. Lesson learnt, the hard way.
But do you think getting the a6000 is a better choice, in term of features and IQ?
Or maybe it's not that much of a difference to justify the hassle of selling it? I know the Nikon kit lens is much better than Sony's kit lens and I can use it for a long time before considering buying a new lens.
Sorry for the questions sounds stupid. It's my first time buying an ILC

no. The nikon and the sony should be about the same in image quality etc. I think the nikon 5300 is a great camera, and I would not make myself crazy over differences. In terms of parts, in most countries there are alot of more nikon lenses, flashes etc available at lower prices. So while the nikon may seem more expensive, it will end up being cheaper in the long run if you add parts. (Just check out the number of decent cheap nikon flashes. Ebay is filled with nikon used lenses. E mount lenses are fewer and farther between.)

The sony weights less and is smaller. If the nikon weight is enough that it makes you want to not carry and/or use the camera that is a problem. You need to decide if that is worth the difference and trouble.

 

[sybersitizen]

I really just want to buy 1 multipurpose lens. Like the one they attached to FZ1000 or RX10.

Maybe you should just buy one of those cameras.