Upgrade path after the a99ii?

[subferno]

I have the a99ii pre-ordered but I am having second thoughts. Those reasons include A mount's future and lens support.

I shoot portraits, landscape, and sports for hobby. Do I need the camera now? No, but I can put it to use quite fast. I currently do not have any Sony bodies or lenses. It is the ideal camera that I have always wanted Sony to make. If I were to go all in with the A mount system, it would cost me about $10,000 for body and lenses or more to duplicate my current Nikon system.

What if the a99ii is the last flagship A mount or there are no more lens refreshes? What do i do with my A mount lenses? How well will they adapt if I were to switch to a7r2? Or should I invest in a budget a7r2 and build out my lens system until the a9 comes out?

 

[leonche64]

What's a budget A7RII?

It's the A7Rii that you buy off of craigslist in a parking lot from a gaunt guy with shaky hands that doesn't know the lens isn't part of the camera.

--
Ted

Are you talking about Daryl?

 

[tbcass]

You're not wrong in taking a wait and see approach. That's what I 'm doing. I already own cameras I'm happy with.

 

[tbcass]

It's always good to have a backup. If I buy an A99ii I will certainly keep my A77ii but my A77 will be gone.

 

[subferno]

Just watching out for my investment.

Now that you've heard from several contributors, how have you decided to 'manage' your investment?

I have canceled my preorder. I have no doubts the camera itself will be amazing. I will check the reviews to see how current A mount lenses hold up as well as any new announcements.

When I upgraded from 14MP crop sensor to 24MP crop sensor (A77) a few years ago I was rather worried that the increased resolution would decimate my large stable of A-mount lenses, several of them second hand old Minolta lenses, or Sony rebranding and "digital" recoatings of old Minolta optics. I can't afford modern top quality OEM glass. I'd read all the dire warnings here about high MP cameras outresolving pretty much every existing lens except the very best. I feared that this 24MP crop sensor camera would retire half my lenses and require some expensive upgrading.

I was surprised and delighted to discover that this wasn't the case! Even my poorer IQ zooms were noticeably improved in detail resolution, just not as much or as obviously as my best lenses were improved. It seems this new sensors "outresolving" good existing lenses is a fiction propagated by armchair photographers who get their opinions by reading what other armchair photographers write rather than getting out of the armchair and doing their own experimental tests.

Am I not right in saying that the pixel density of this new A99ii is slightly less than that of my 24MP A77?

 

[subferno]

I will check the reviews to see how current A mount lenses hold up as well as any new announcements.

Here's a sample with current AMount lenses. Watch it full screen 4K.

I've been very pleased with a7RII fitted with Minolta and Sony lenses. Never a complaint. Always client compliments.

May I ask what kind of image sizes or ultra cropping needs make you feel current glass may not be up to task? I personally can't fathom any job IQ requirements that leave AMount glass lacking. This true for newest ZA's and also for Minolta legacy lenses.

I can't imagine a gallery print size that would snuff AMount lens/sensor quality. If you produce museum grade murals, then perhaps a Phase One super pixel camera/lens combo is where you need to look.

It's easy to get caught up in the super IQ ultimate peeper frenzy. Makes for excellent heated conversation and good talking points amongst fellow shutterbugs. But consider that most client print is catalog or magazine size at best. Most ads are half or quarter page, or web resolution. Banners and billboards are printed half or quarter resolution and viewed from afar. Modern print r.i.p.s are very sophisticated for enlarging. The most popular home decor art sizes are 11x14 through 24x36. All of it easily handled by any old 10MP camera fit with a 1970's era lens. Though some stock photo agencies have minimum requirements, I believe the AMount offerings exceed them handily.

I've got a dozen magazine covers and twice as many published fashion editorials shot with a 3mp Fuji S2 fitted with a Tokina 28-70 lens from the 80's. I truly believe the pixel wars ended a long time ago. But there are a few Johnny Reb's that can't accept the war is over.

The reasons for a99II are not all about ultimate IQ. That's nice, and appropriate to be up with the rest of the pack. But the real reasons are for excellent ergonomics, EVF convenience/advantage, robust reliability, second to none viewing angles, higher action AF hit rates, dual card security, wide lens range, etc... Everything that makes a refined tool enjoyable to use. These are the basic issues that allow the camera/lens to disappear, and allow photographer to concentrate more upon the subject.

Just when we tick all the boxes for unquestionable highest IQ available in the known universe, some low rent pinhole photographer comes along and steals the day with ultimate artistic expression that doesn't give a hoot how many pixels went in to making their high priced images.

--

Here to help. Here to learn.

You have brought up a lot of good points. In my heart, I truly see the a99ii providing the best experience with speed, accuracy, and image quality. My subjects and shooting behavior may not warrant any better glass than what A mount provides. Who knows, I may put my order back in once the reviews start coming out that proves me wrong and everyone in this thread right.

What are the chances of that?

 

[tqlla]

I don't remember if it was from the MP race or not but I recall Sony saying their newer E mount lenses are able to resolve more. I interpret that as saying older ones won't be as efficient, or A mount lenses.

According to DXO, the 2470GM isnt that sharp, they could have had a bad copy though.

I cant wait to see a legitimate F2.8 test: Zeiss 24-70mm vs GM 24-70mm. The 85mm GM though, looks fantastic, as does the 55mm F1.8

 

[Douglas F Watt]

Just watching out for my investment.

Now that you've heard from several contributors, how have you decided to 'manage' your investment?

I have canceled my preorder. I have no doubts the camera itself will be amazing. I will check the reviews to see how current A mount lenses hold up as well as any new announcements.

When I upgraded from 14MP crop sensor to 24MP crop sensor (A77) a few years ago I was rather worried that the increased resolution would decimate my large stable of A-mount lenses, several of them second hand old Minolta lenses, or Sony rebranding and "digital" recoatings of old Minolta optics. I can't afford modern top quality OEM glass. I'd read all the dire warnings here about high MP cameras outresolving pretty much every existing lens except the very best. I feared that this 24MP crop sensor camera would retire half my lenses and require some expensive upgrading.

I was surprised and delighted to discover that this wasn't the case! Even my poorer IQ zooms were noticeably improved in detail resolution, just not as much or as obviously as my best lenses were improved. It seems this new sensors "outresolving" good existing lenses is a fiction propagated by armchair photographers who get their opinions by reading what other armchair photographers write rather than getting out of the armchair and doing their own experimental tests.

Am I not right in saying that the pixel density of this new A99ii is slightly less than that of my 24MP A77?

 

[markintosh13]

I don't remember if it was from the MP race or not but I recall Sony saying their newer E mount lenses are able to resolve more. I interpret that as saying older ones won't be as efficient, or A mount lenses.

Bear in mind that it is in the best interest of a brand, any brand, to sell you "the new hotness" - preferably at higher prices. This is often done with the introduction of a new innovation, feature or benefit - this is why we now have mens razors with seven blades.

A higher MP sensor will always resolve more detail than a low MP sensor, even with the same lens. A higher MP sensor with a more advanced lens, may in turn resolve even more.

For example, I saw tests of an A99 with a Minolta 70-210 F4 "beercan lens" - which I eventually bought for all of $49 - compared to a $3,600 (Cdn) Sony lens that was several decades newer. The more expensive lens did indeed perform better. Was it $3,551 better? I looked at the crops, the centres, the corners. The new Sony lens was indeed better. To some it might indeed be worth the price differential. To me it was not.

 

[digidownunder]

Many people are still happily using the 8 year old A900 and posting beautiful photos taken with it.