G9, a7 II, 6D, or D750

Have a budget of arnd 2000USD. Wanted to "upsize" from Oly EPL6 to full frame for dynamic range & better performance in the dark. Am a hobbyist so I want a camera I can grow into. BUT I shoot some video too.

Main contenders are G9 and a7 II.

SOS

If you can cope with the size and more importantly the weight of FF lenses then go that way if on the other hand you want to travel light then stick with m43. The pros and cons in terms of IQ, noise, DOF are all I am sure well known to you.

Aydereal wrote:

Have a budget of arnd 2000USD. Wanted to "upsize" from Oly EPL6 to full frame for dynamic range & better performance in the dark. Am a hobbyist so I want a camera I can grow into. BUT I shoot some video too.

Main contenders are G9 and a7 II.

SOS

Those 2 cameras are very different beasts. G9 is sports/action and video and A7II is for more leisurely genres. I suspect the G9 will provide the 'wow factor' for performance but the A7II will win comfortably in image quality.

I'm guessing you won't be splashing out a lot of money on glass so the size/weight differences may not be a consideration. However using FF with no big/fast and expensive lenses is kind of a waste - may as well get a Sony RX1R? That way you get a taste of the best but are not left drooling over lenses you can ill afford!

I'm still watching A7II 2nd hand prices myself because I'd like to trade-up my Canon 5D so I can better utilise a lot of legacy lenses that rarely come out of the cupboard.

My question would be "what do you use your pictures for?"

Whilst I would agree that larger formats do give better image quality, I doubt that the quality difference would be very noticeable unless you are making huge prints or taking pictures for billboards!

I know the technical experts will probably disagree, but just my opinion.

I have tried switching to another brand (Sony), but have just sold the last of that gear.  Luckily, I kept my m43 gear and I am very happy using it.

Good luck, whatever you choose.

Aydereal wrote:

Have a budget of arnd 2000USD. Wanted to "upsize" from Oly EPL6 to full frame for dynamic range & better performance in the dark. Am a hobbyist so I want a camera I can grow into. BUT I shoot some video too.

Main contenders are G9 and a7 II.

SOS

If you want better DR and shoot in the dark I guess Sony would be your best choice since video doesn't seem to be your forte....but to tell you the truth my EM1M II which would be very similar to the G9 are above excellent cameras...i mostly do portrait photography and a lot of video lately (in dim lighting conditions) and never yearn for FF ......

Aydereal wrote:

Have a budget of arnd 2000USD. Wanted to "upsize" from Oly EPL6 to full frame for dynamic range & better performance in the dark. Am a hobbyist so I want a camera I can grow into. BUT I shoot some video too.

Main contenders are G9 and a7 II.

SOS

I usually get confused with this kind of questions. Aha, you have $2K for a new body, but you are talking about a Panasonic, a Sony a Canon or a Nikon, and they don't share the same lens mount. So have you even considered that $2K for the body will be the least of your concerns? If you already have a heavy investment in m43 lenses, and you dump everything and start over in another format, the camera body will be a small part of the whole cost. Lenses is where the big money will be.

Unless you only use a camera with the kit lens.

What is your budget for lenses?

Andrew

Martin Ocando wrote:

Aydereal wrote:

Have a budget of arnd 2000USD. Wanted to "upsize" from Oly EPL6 to full frame for dynamic range & better performance in the dark. Am a hobbyist so I want a camera I can grow into. BUT I shoot some video too.

Main contenders are G9 and a7 II.

SOS

I usually get confused with this kind of questions. Aha, you have $2K for a new body, but you are talking about a Panasonic, a Sony a Canon or a Nikon, and they don't share the same lens mount. So have you even considered that $2K for the body will be the least of your concerns? If you already have a heavy investment in m43 lenses, and you dump everything and start over in another format, the camera body will be a small part of the whole cost. Lenses is where the big money will be.

Unless you only use a camera with the kit lens.

This is an important point. An other other point is that a camera like G9 does not have that much better image quality in the first place (except in pixel-shift mode; it's not FF). Perhaps something like G80/85 or E-M10 mk III (or E-M5 mk III when it's available) could offer better video and handling, while saving part of the budget for lenses, accessories and software.

Another option is to go for full frame, but $2000 is probably not enough to get a decent kit. Of course, APS-C is in between.

Overall, it's a positive problem, because E-PL6 is already very capable camera.

The A7II was a disappointment for me. The ibis is not even near as good as in m43s. And Sony lenses tend do be very expensive (maybe with the exception of the 28mm and 85mm). Also the camera interface is not the best.

6D and D750 are excellent, but I am a mirrorless fan.

The G9 is a camera  I am also looking at. But you should also look at the G85 or the Gx85, which are great and not as expensive.

You can also put fuji cameras in your mix. They seem to be great.

For me, m43 is still Kay main choice considering interface, lens size and ibis.

Aydereal wrote:

Have a budget of arnd 2000USD. Wanted to "upsize" from Oly EPL6 to full frame for dynamic range & better performance in the dark. Am a hobbyist so I want a camera I can grow into. BUT I shoot some video too.

Main contenders are G9 and a7 II.

SOS

Have you read the DP review for the Sony? Given your requirement for low light performance they did not think the performance was good in that area.

"Not so good for fans of low light photography"

Also you mentioned you wanted to switch to FF so why is the G9 one of your top contenders?

Before deciding on a body/system I recommend you first consider the lens system, both for cost and size.  To accomplish your stated goals you will want fast lenses and better optical quality than the standard kit lens.

If you only have a limited budget can you get the body you want and also a few lenses to cover your needs, or is cost going to be one of the factors in your selection of a sensor type?

If I had $2,000 and wanted to upgrade to a new body and some decent fast lenses certainly m4/3 is going to be a solid option if you can live with the smaller sensor (you did not mention why you felt you needed a larger sensor, big prints?).

Another consideration is image stabilization.  WIth m4/3 you can shoot handheld in situations that would require a tripod for FF or increasing the ISO, which then affects the quality you hoped to gain with FF.

The argument for m4/3 is you already have the 20mm f/1.7, add the 45/42.5mm option and you have two solid lenses for low light situations.  You could consider a lower cost option for the body to start and use your extra funds to purchase another quality lenses, maybe one of the f/2.8 zooms.

A G85 is a well rounded camera for the cost that produces about the best you can get from the 16MP sensor and shoots 4K video as well.  If you prefer Olympus then the EM10 Mk 3 or EM5 is worth looking at.

But then lenses choice is also important in consideration of a m4/3 body as some features in the newer cameras only work with the manufactures lenses.  I have mostly all Panasonic lenses so I would stay with a Panasonic camera at this point if I was going to upgrade.

Good luck with your decision and enjoy whichever camera you select

You have done this before, but apparently never got around to it:

New G7 or 2nd hand EM5 mkii

Aydereal wrote:

Have a budget of arnd 2000USD. Wanted to "upsize" from Oly EPL6 to full frame for dynamic range & better performance in the dark. Am a hobbyist so I want a camera I can grow into. BUT I shoot some video too.

Main contenders are G9 and a7 II.

SOS

I was in the Oly club for 8 years, and this year, I bought myself new D750.. E-M1 is still going with me, but as a backup, and I rarely use it. When you get used to the IQ of larger sensor, and much much better DR, m43 stays in the bag.

Yeah, it will be a bit bulkier, but not that much, I'm using my E-M1 with the battery grip, and with the 12-40 Pro, it's a little bit lighter than my D750 and 24-120 f4 which is great combo, cant say anything bad about that lens, it's great, versatile, sharp, has good IS, good for portraits and for landscape.

But, the only thing I'm missing with d750 is that awesome IBIS that Olympus has. But Sony has one, if you go FF with IBIS, you will not regret.

You're in the Micro 4/3 forum. Get the G9.