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Camera recommendation with good autofocus and low light capabilities

Started Dec 10, 2021 | Discussions
tio_patatas New Member • Posts: 2
Camera recommendation with good autofocus and low light capabilities

Hi! I'm looking for a mirrorless aps-c camera with good image quality, autofocus and low light capabilities in the $1500 price range with lens.

I'm thinking the Sony A6500 or the Fujifilm XT-3.

I would love some feedback on anyone that has these cameras or for some recommendations on other cameras in that price range.

Thanks very much in advance!!

Sony a6500 Sony SLT-A65
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PHXAZCRAIG
PHXAZCRAIG Forum Pro • Posts: 19,651
Re: Camera recommendation with good autofocus and low light capabilities

Nikon Z50 with 16-50 lens sells for about $1000.

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Barmaglot_07 Contributing Member • Posts: 633
Re: Camera recommendation with good autofocus and low light capabilities

I have an A6300, which has the same autofocus capability as the A6500. It's okay, but in low light, not stellar. While not mirrorless, Nikon D500 is still considered the unmatched king of autofocus in challenging conditions such as blackwater diving (low light, fast-moving small translucent subjects in a soup of particles).

That said, if you go with Sony, A6400 and A6600 have newer and better AF than A6300/A6500. A6100 also has it, but it lacks an electronic level, which I find very useful in my A6300. A6600 main advantage over A6400 is that it has a much larger battery, so you can easily go through a 3-5 dive day without opening the housing, but it's more expensive, and does not have a pop-up flash, so you will need a flash trigger, which adds more cost.

 Barmaglot_07's gear list:Barmaglot_07's gear list
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kelpdiver Veteran Member • Posts: 5,564
Re: Camera recommendation with good autofocus and low light capabilities

tio_patatas wrote:

Hi! I'm looking for a mirrorless aps-c camera with good image quality, autofocus and low light capabilities in the $1500 price range with lens.

You'll need to be a bit more specific here.   Is this intended for UW use?   Someday in the future?  Make sure you like the options for housings for the model.

$1500 for the body and a lens (which?). or the housing and ports as well?

The mirrorless specific lenses tend to be pricier, whereas if you can make use of the former generation (like EF lenses on a Canon R), then there is a lot of well priced used inventory.

low light isn't as important underwater- you have focusing lights and strobes.  But for the APC size, I think Nikon or Sony .   Look to the used stuff if you are thinking about UW - may be able to do most of it for less than 2 if you're willing to go back in time a bit.

Interceptor121 Veteran Member • Posts: 8,691
Re: Camera recommendation with good autofocus and low light capabilities
1

tio_patatas wrote:

Hi! I'm looking for a mirrorless aps-c camera with good image quality, autofocus and low light capabilities in the $1500 price range with lens.

I'm thinking the Sony A6500 or the Fujifilm XT-3.

I would love some feedback on anyone that has these cameras or for some recommendations on other cameras in that price range.

Thanks very much in advance!!

Invest in strobes nothing can bring back color once it is dark at depth

 Interceptor121's gear list:Interceptor121's gear list
Sony a1 Panasonic Lumix DC-GH5 II Panasonic Lumix DC-GH6 Panasonic Leica DG Macro-Elmarit 45mm F2.8 ASPH OIS Canon EF 8-15mm f/4L Fisheye USM +24 more
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