This week Chris and Jordan do a side-by-side comparison between three high resolution mirrorless cameras: the Panasonic S1R, Nikon Z7, and Sony a7R III to see how they stack up. Which one is right for you?
Put on by Camera Journal Press Club (CJPC), a group of 10 magazine and website publications specializing in photos and cameras, the annual Camera Grand Prix recognizes the best camera equipment released over the previous fiscal year. Last year’s top prize winner was the Sony a9. This year the Lumix S1R has been receiving rave reviews for its sensor quality, which was found to be among the best on the market.
The S1R burst shooting AFC is estimated focus at H, normal focus at M. You'll get a much higher hit rate at M than at H. http://i.imgur.com/QVqEVvr.png
I would choose the Panasonic for features, ergonomics, menu, EVF, UX, IQ.
I never find myself needing fast AF in the four years of shooting. I can only think that sports would be the reason to get a Sony over anything else. Since I couldn't care less about shooting sports well I'll go for the UX instead of the AF :)
And by the way, just to shut you up about your Coolpix condescension, read my captions. If it's not obvious to you that I was helping DPR readers that were on the fence or simply wanting to know more about the P1000 before buying one, I don't know what to say. Those pix are quick snaps to help out DPR readers who unfortunately were utterly failed by DPR's own review of the P1000 that totally missed what the P1000 is all about. Doesn't help that the P1000 needs a lot of light and DPR is in Seattle where there's rarely the kind of light the P1000 needs.
Regarding the testing of the cameras: Perhaps I missed the information, but what lenses were used on each of the cameras? I sent the review to a friend of mine who thought he noted that a Zeiss lens was used on the Sony camera.
the whole world doesn't go on Nikon's firmware time. and lets see when its a few weeks time and No Nikon firmware than what? wait some more? Nikon should maybe try to release a finished product next time.
So funny to see People fight over witch camera is the best, all 3 of them are so good that 99% of the people fighting here would be more then happy with anyone of them..hell throw in the canon rp and it would be more camera then 80 procent of the fighters will ever need
Look you are arguing over so small differences like witch one s the softest, its meaningless cause no one could see any real life difference
Johans81, I'd have to agree. There are plenty of lenses for everyone and auto-focus is better than manual focus for speed, regardless of hit rate. All too very much spoiled
The only one of these bodies that miiight work for me is the S1/S1R. And I'm decades invested in Nikkors and F-mount-compatible lenses. :(
Sony fanb0ys will flipout so I'll just state, for the gajillionth time, that I hate Sony ergonomics, haptics, menus so the spec sheet means nothing at all to me. Eye AF, whatever, I don't need it. You wanna love Sony, go ahead. I don't need to hear why so don't tell me.
The Nikon Z won't work for me because it's toy-small, even smaller than the Sony, and only fits 10-year-old girls' hands properly. Not a fan of the Z ergos either, though they're better than Sony's.
The Panny has enough lenses to get someone started. It's not like someone is going to buy 5 or 6 lenses at the start. Of course the Nikon Z has the entire F catalog from which to choose, along with the Z lenses.
As to AF, all are going to be more than sufficient for the majority of use cases.
The Panny does have one trick up it's sleeve and that is manual focusing: everyone who's tried it says the camera makes MF so easy and fun that they tend to use that more. For some that might be worth it, and more valuable than a bit better AF-C for fast and erratic moving subjects.
Yeah, i think for me the best choice is patience. When Nikon comes out with a serious Z it will likely have the best ergonomics by far, be the best at everything except maybe Eye AF, and take all my F-mount glass. Besides, if they put 3D AF back in, it will just dominate.
I really hate manual focus-by-wire. At least on Sony, which is my only such experience. Glad Lumix appears to be doing a better job of it. Also, the S1R can take Leica SL glass so there's quite a selection out of the gate. If you don't mind selling your house for lenses, lol. 😂
The SR-1 is the only camera I would never buy. I find Sony lenses expensive but the Panasonic lens prices make the Sony seem like cheap bargains in comparison.
I thought the Sony Zeiss 50mm f1.4 was a rip off at $1500 but then Panasonic said hold on we can do better and voila a $2200 50mm lens :O
The Sigma Art lenses are the only real budget options for the Panasonic but they are basically adapted DSLR lenses and I would never want to consider such an option.
If I wasn't wedded to Sony I might have considered the Nikon Z7. A very nice set of lenses that aren't class leading in high price.
What's wrong with 100%-functional adapted DSLR lenses?
Don't think wide throat, super-short flange-focal is anything special. It most definitely is not. EXCEPT FOR extremely wideangle (i.e. 14mm and wider) and extremely fast (i.e. faster than f1.4).
The truth of the matter is that for any length longer than 14mm-ish that short flange-focal is going to require a longer lens barrel. And anything slower than f1.4ish will have a wider lens mount than necessary. But I'll take the wide lens mount simply for more stability, especially with physically long/big lenses.
50mm f1.4 lenses gain nothing at all optically from mirrorless mounts.
You are absolutely right that lens pricing has gotten out of hand though. I do expect that this will have to correct in the near future as every manufacturer comes out with ultra-premium primes. Competition and dusty manufacturer inventory are our friends.
Because you are adding two additional points of failure to your system. My colleague used to use his canon lenses with his Sony A7 III. Worked like a charm till the adapter developed contact issues and used to intermittently malfunction.
If you look at the feedback from Sony users who use supposedly native Sigma art lenses face issues regarding AF among other issues from time to time. It's ok if you are a hobby ist but I have lost shots because adapter issues and a few shots cost me money and reputation. Not a solution I will ever consider in future.
I have the Commlite Nikon F to Sony FE adapter and it sucks. Lol, don't get me started.
I'd expect a completely different experience with the OEM FTZ. Great materials and craftmanship, and no reverse-engineering.
From before the Z's release there's been so much hate on the FTZ And despite user reports of 100% seamlessness and no issues this doubt persists. After decades, i have never had mount electronics connectivity issues. I just don't see 1 added set of connections in a precisely-engineered adapter being a risk worth worrying about. You could just carry a spare FTZ in your bag and fugeddaboudit. 🙂
Are you a pro photographer? I have never met a pro who ever felt comfortable using adapters. Had issues in the past with extension tubes and tele converters as well. Equipment failure is a very big part and parcel when you shoot a ton of photos every year. With heavy use electronics start to fail and an adapter is not built as well as a pro lens or a body. They start to give issues and in simple terms you are adding two additional point of failures to your system. If you are fine taking the risk that's ok. I have had enough issues with adapters that I will never ever go down that road again.
I shoot alongside pros and at that level and occasionally do paid gigs. But since I'm not a fan of hunger i don't rely on photography for money. I basically make enough from photography to pay for whatever gear i want. No more. And that keeps photography enjoyable for me. Exactly the way i like it. But i like and shoot pro gear cuz it gets me the shots and i too value durability and no-excuses performance as well. But does any of that matter?
You mention all these adapter failures. Was one of them ever an FTZ or FT1? Or Canon OEM RF adapter? Because if you're talking about cheapo aftermarket, particularly cross-platform, adapters, well, of course they're going to fail. They're cheap and/or cross-platform, and reverse-engineered. Besides what use would a pro have for a Z other than maybe weddings? Are you a wedding photographer?
But whatever. You don't wanna use adapters, don't. Stay happy with Sony.
Lol yeah I used to shoot a lot more for fun when I was a hobbyist . Now I hardly enjoy my landscape photography.
See you are harping on a particular brand of adapter. I have used Metabones which is actually much more expensive than the Canon and Nikon adapters.
And at the end of the day I face failures from all my equipment and of course some fail more often than others. So my flashes give me trouble the most. Most of the time they misfire, other times there is a contact issue and they don't fire at all till I push them in firmly again.
Sometimes my lenses start giving me issues but that is very very rare.
I try my best to minimize the amount of point of failures in my line of work as much as possible. You can't do away with flashes or lenses or camera bodies but I can choose a solution that doesn't rely on adapters.
Why would I want to use a system that lacks the native lenses I want to use when I have better options out there that actually has what I need ?
I am glad, I do have an A7R III and it competes very well on the market. This cam will continuously get me rolling for the next 2 - 4 years I suppose. Since I just have it since November it feels still very new to me, especially after coming from an A7.
I am really curious, what Canonikons next releases are going to show, but since one started getting serious in lenses, a swap to another system becomes less and less an option at all.
For Panasonic, having a small camera was my main factor for switching from Canon to Sony, this move I'm not intended to reverse. Sure, also a 5d MK4 feels great sizewise, but holding it the whole day? God no :)
Good we have options for everyone these days, for me Sony a7 series ergonomics wherein horrible Panasonics camera would probably fit me much better. We live in good times with options for everyone:)
I agree about horrible Sony ergos. From the very beginning Sony got ergos totally obscenely wrong, in the way they love to try to reinvent the wheel and be proprietary. It is their DNA afterall. They've had many years to swallow their pride and take clues from the kings of ergos; Nikon and Canon. But no. They pretty much stick with the awful formula that they themselves came up with and therefore must maintain is the best for risk of losing face.
Pride is a beotch, and that's why Sony sucks.
But for you Sony-lovers, more power to you. I love you all. Enjoy your Sony gear as much as you possibly can, and please don't bother to tell me why everything I just said is wrong. You have your reasons for loving Sony and I'm fine with that. I have my reasons for hating Sony, so please be fine with that.
I'm not the only person who think the pics captured by A7R3 is very soft with lack of details in comparison to Panasonic S1R and Nikon Z7. "The Lumix S1R and Nikon Z 7 run pretty much neck and neck across the ISO range. We normally expect to see resolution fall at higher ISO settings, but the Panasonic and the Nikon held out extremely well. The Sony A7R III was not quite in the same league. It matched the others for resolution at ISO 100, but its performance dropped off noticeably as the ISO setting was increased." https://www.digitalcameraworld.com/reviews/panasonic-lumix-s1-r-review picking A7R3 in 1st place for image quality is very questionable to me even in DPReview studio scenes A7R3 softness is quite obvious. I downloaded raw pics of all three cameras from image resources : https://www.imaging-resource.com/PRODS/panasonic-s1r/S1RhSLI12800NR1.RW2.HTM https://www.imaging-resource.com/PRODS/sony-a7r-iii/A7R3hSLI012800NR0.ARW.HTM ... You can compare yourself.
@ alucard1357: Do you really think that there are differences in image quality that matters for these cameras? There might be visible differences for those 200% pixel peepers. For photographers who care about image content, other factors, like reliable and fast autofocus, is way more important.
Fact is that if we got a mix of 50 images taken with these cameras, neither you nor me could tell which picture was taken with what camera, judged from a strictly technical/image quality point of view.
Softness? Lens? Raw converting profile? Amount of sharpening? What contrast is preferable, since too much is too much? Or are you talking about default in-camera jpg settings, set to keep highlights and shadow detail?
I do agree that any differences in IQ are likely to be negligible for the vast majority of users. Indeed this generally holds true these days with comparisons of any cameras in the same category.
That's why I recommend people choose a camera based on the one they enjoy using the most; the one that feels the best. The best camera is the one you enjoy using, because that's the one that will motivate you the most to take photos, and that will mean you get the most practice and improve your photography skills the most.
Photography is not about the gear but about framing, composition, lighting, etc. If you improve that you will do a whole lot more for your photos than by gaining a slight advantage in high IOS performance or DR. And I say that as someone who is as much a gear head as anyone.
@ Magnar w: Do you really think that there are differences in autofocus that matters for these cameras? There might be visible differences for those shooting 300km/hr racing cars. For photographers who care about image content, other factors, like large format print quality, is way more important.
@ Josg683: We that also shoot action appreciate fast and precise tracking autofocus. Only those, like you, who shoot static scenes all day, think that autofocus doesn't matter ... :-)
Well done Sony, being a proud owner of 1 i know what it can do, However i feel that Panasonic should lower their price point for the S1R, its mega expensive compared to both the Nikon and Sony and i feel a lot more would buy 1 if priced the same, id deffo have 1 to replace my G9 but not at its current cost..i suppose time will tell.
I am not in the market for any of the cameras in this video but I enjoy the two presenters. While photo equipment videos always seem to have an abundance of numbers and statistics that are hard to deliver smoothly, I like the way they do it and add some humor too.
I don't know why I bothered to watch, other from mild curiosity. I am NOT a professional and will NEVER have the money to purchase a body let alone a system, no matter how much I warp justifying the expense.
IMO a7riii pics are very soft (even in raw!) with lack of details compared to panny s1r and nikon z7 especially in common sensitivities like 1600 to 6400.
according to studio scenes pics s1r also present better color (raw and jpeg) in most and common ISO ranges, after all picking the sony in 1st place for image quality is very questionable to me.
In reality you would be hard pressed to find any meaningful differences in IQ between the cameras.
The differences are largely splitting very technical hairs at the margin, in order to be able to declare a ranking.
Buy what you like to use; that's the key. It's more important to have a camera that you enjoy using...that's the whole point of photography for most of us, isn't it? And guess what, if you are worried about IQ, the camera you love to use will motivate you to take more pictures and get better at your craft, and voila, you will end up with far better images than some minute difference in technicalities.
Any differences in sharpness at base ISO between these cameras would be almost entirely attributable to the lens used or other factors (IBIS, f-stop etc).
DR and high ISO performance is another matter, but on these the Sony has the edge (though for many users and use-cases, the differences will not be a deciding factor).
Shot on the GH5. Only a few short clips of video. Only a few photos taken with the cameras. Then, talk, talk, and more talk. I must be the only one here who wants to see a video of what the cameras can do, not listen to these guys try to be YouTube stars.
Interesting... But if one wants to take a picture of an elephant, or Pinocchio lying, there should be at least an option to select the part of the nose to focus on...
If it can't track a trunk, it's of no use to me. As a pro boscis photographer for such publications as Snouts Illustrated and Playnose, this is extremely important to me.
If I had to choose right now, I would get the Sony. But, I will likely wait for the second generation of the Z6 when the initial flaws are corrected, more native Z mount lenses are available, and more Tamron lenses are compatible with the adapter. Besides the big advantage it has for me as a Nikon shooter, handling is a pretty high priority for me. The experience of shooting in the field is perhaps more important than the other features as image quality, for example, is outstanding for each. I look forward to the Sony 7AIV v Nikon 7ZII video.
Tamron 35, 100-400. I think most Sigma Art lenses either are or soon will be compatible. I am looking forward to third party lenses made with the Z mount. Sony has the Tamron 28-75 as a great, versatile combo. That, to me, is a big advantage for those buying right now.
For a new entry in the mirror less field, the Z6 does very well against the mature A7III. I expect the next generation to be as large a leap past this camera as the Sony 7AIII is from the 7AI. The 7AIV will break new ground but Nikon will have an advantage if the Sony is released first. Plus, by then, the Z will be more appealing to dedicated Nikon shooters like me as there will be many more lenses available in addition to the camera upgrades.
I got too many lenses to switch, not retired yet. Money goes to other things. I use the f to z adapter. I got 3 tameron lenses. All 3 works, ok 2 of them works fine, the newest one the 35mm f1.8 is slow and sometimes you have to restart the camera. Tameron will need to update the 35mm f1.8. I need to harass them for a firmware update. Oddly the older tameron I have the vc1 works fine. i got one sigma it works fine too. All nikon works fine except the one with the af-d AF screw driver.
At this point you can't really go wrong with either and just list your top 5 uses and that should lead you to which features appeal to you more. For me I'm sticking with Fuji as I love the UI and video specs (XT3) and compactness of the entire system. I am looking forward to the XH2. In theory with an APSC sized sensor and a medium size body of the XH series it should have a GH5 level IBIS. I'm fantasizing of course but I can't wait for XH2 + Sigma 18-35 1.8 combo
Another plus for Nikon users is that the Z cams are whisper-quiet (and can be switched to totally silent) - as opposed to the D series, which sound like the crack of doom by comparison. If you're shooting documentary, stage or portraits, that's important. They also feel a lot lighter than the '850 and have much the same ergonomics, which makes them an easy switch.
They still have that irritating menu-diving rigmarole to switch to back-button focusing, though. Panasonic gets that exactly right, and it's an absolute dream by comparison. Depending on your shooting style, of course.
Yes..that's really the key. Try out the cameras and see which one you like better to use; which one feels the best and is most enjoyable.
Why choose a camera less enjoyable to use based on another's opinion or some specs? We do this for the joy of taking photos. Why buy a camera you don't enjoy using as much?
As for the quality of your photos...the camera you enjoy the most is the one you will use the most, and hence that will take you furthest in developing your photography skill, technique, and style.
All of these cameras are so competent that it really does come down more to a matter of joy and fit.
That is reason. I did bring my buddy to the shop. Even when I asked her to try out A7r3 after her hands stuck with D850 for minutes, she almost threw away A7r3 with a few seconds trial and commented....It didn't feel right. Band royalty also counts a lot here.
DPR should be diving deeper into the differences between storage media.
Yes it is true that Nikon Z-Series only has one single card slot. But durability is what matters. XQD uses SLC memory over MLC for SD.
That makes a huge difference in durability and failurerate.
When one takes into account that SD memory storage is made to endure 20GB a day over 3 years and XQD is made to endure over 1TB a day over a sequence of 3 years it is obvious what memory type is the most safest to use and why this single card slot doesn't really matter that much.
It is a story untold and DPR should educate users as CFexpress is the next big thing in memory soon.
People seem to be talking over storage media as if they are all the same. However they are not and it is such a shame that people are so badly informed about this kind of media and why it matters.
Not saying Z-series would be best camera, but it is not such bad choice for media as people are made to believe.
Can't even stand factual arguments, need to name others trolls all the time!
My single Nikon forum posting was extremely interesting, since I posted what a Nikon fan presented in the Sony forum and he also said that the Nikon forum were much nicer. Well, I turned the content upside down and posted this, and the Nikon forum members went bananas! Sure the mods had to warn me, after tons of complains! Hilarious!!! HILARIOUS!!!
Nice that this post impressed you so much that you remember me! :-)
The difference Magnar is I do not find myself compelled to comment/troll on the Sony forum or in Sony articles. This is obviously not a Nikon exclusive article, however that does not change that your tone in response to the OP was trollish. He was just stating that the XQD benefits are often not highlighted and you then proceeded to pounce.
@Magnar, yes, it is trollish to say one good feature doesn't help offset other perceived shortcomings because the two have absolutely no relationship to each other. It's like asking if a car's good fuel economy helps if that car doesn't come with a good stereo system.
@ Horshack: So discussing features directly related is not trollish, but taking the whole system in account is trollish? Well.
My impression is that many are very quick to label commenters who they don't agree with as trolls instead of arguing, trying to make themselves look like saints ...
@Magnar, Yet you didn't take the whole system into account. You discussed a single unrelated feature (AF), in a response to another single feature that was referenced by the OP (XQD), again two features which have no practical relationship to each other. Being a troll is not a function of the content discussed but instead the intention of the discussion.
All cameras, including Sony's, have both strengths and weaknesses, and each person has to decide which matters most. Seems absurd to claim that the pros are somehow made pointless by the cons.
I guess everyone in this thread forgot that Eye EF is coming in a firmware update for Nikon? After that, the only REAL drawback is the activation of tracking AF. As a Nikon shooter I was disappointed that the tracking AF is so cumbersome to use compared to 3D tracking, I was sure that Nikon would keep things as similar as possible to ease transition between D to Z. I haven't used any Z camera yet as I'm not in the market, but by the time I'm considering it I think that one hang up will be cured. Sony has to be given a proper nod for the efforts in MIrrorless photography, they have a great product overall with fairly minor draw backs (handling, no future media formats, weather sealing). Glass is a long game no matter who is making the body, and I suspect in a year or twos time it will be a 3 or 4 way 6 of one, half a dozen of the other comparison between the major players.
Those slc chips (they are not actually slc, it's a lie) will do nothing for broken pins, power urges, corrupted data, lost cards, etc... That's why you need redundancy. This theoretical extra reliability is meaningless, because using the card too much is not how photographers usually loose data.
Duncan M, what you're saying is that the XQD fail less, not that they're failproof. If an XQD fails on a single card camera, you're done.
It doesn't matter how much cards fail. What it matters is if you're covered when they do. I never had a card fail, but I still want to be sure that when it happens, I'm safe.
The only take home for me is that Canon can't even compete in this test. 10 years of lowering the bar Canon and Panasonic's maiden FF camera trounces your EOS R. Heck even the lower res models trounce you. Canon will release in their minds what will be high end that will barely compete and then Sony will release A7R4 and Nikon Z8.
I think they just don't have a high res ML. That is why there is no Canon in the test. Btw I don't like the Canon cameras anymore. But the lenses they release seem remarkable.
Yes nice lenses, shame about the camera features is an old tune that needs changing. Thye do a lot right with the EOS R, but got a lot wrong and are too proud to get Sony to give them a cutting edge sensor with fast read speed which would cure a lot of their ills.
The Panny has the better IBIS, the the better EVF, it does 10bit, and it does 60p. That's waay too many advantages to pass up.
Only the Z6 offers an advantage which is the Autofocus and the 12bit RAW options coming up, but honestly 60p & 10bit & the EVF are better for pro video.
Amazing how the Sony is now at the bottom of the three for video!
It's a great time for hybrid shooters and video enthusiasts. There's one big player obviously missing from this market who previously had a good reputation for it. I'd love to see how they could compete with the others if they put in the effort.
Ridiculous how Canon created this entire market, started the Cinema EOS program and dumped the entire thing. It's sad really. Canon's image, colours, DPAF, codecs, ergonomics, reliability, lens mount, all make up for a great video MILC, they just haven't out it together yet for the C200 to exist
Yea it's a great shame, many people inlcuding myself bought into the Canon system because of cameras like the 550D and 5D2. Now we have been abandoned by Canon. I agree things like colours and reliability are greatly beneficial to video users but even features like DPAF are not that far above the competition now.
Hopefully something will change soon. Trouble is I have been saying that for about 5 years.
Ebrahim, what did Canon leave? I think they shifted their advanced video efforts to Cinema line. Canon Cinema line cameras are quite popular among indie movie makers because these cameras are not very expensive. Plus once you set your colour settings the output doesn't need too much edit in the post.
Canon do full frame 4K for £25K+. Sony, Nikon and Panasonic do it for £1500-£2000. Sure, the Canon cinema cameras are excellent and better than the £2000 cameras but why not give us the option? Even for good APS-C £4K you need to spend £4500+ with Canon. There's really no excuse for Canon anymore.
Ebrahim, wonder what percent of FF camera owners take 4K video. Honest question. Maybe you do, some other does, but what % buyers actually buy these cameras for 4K video.
I would guess only about 5% actually shoot and produce videos while there are another say 30-40% that ASPIRE to do so and feel better having it with them but never actually finish any video work. Video is much harder than photography.
I am not sure what you are referencing when you state that the Sony Ar7iii presents better image quality than a Z7 or Pany S1R. Are you kidding me? The High Res Multi shoot mode of the Panasonic S1R kills the Z7 and the Sony for both absolute IQ?Detail and lower noise.
For some the high res mode will be an amazing feature. Lloyd Chambers, who primarily shoots landscapes and still objects, calls it a big game changer.
As with all tools, it depends whether you need/want it or not. But it does seem to be a great implementation. One key is that it puts it all together for you in camera, rather than having to do that yourself in a program like Photoshop.
It's not gimmick, there clear resolution advantage and less moire etc.
S1R seem to have better implemention though, as it can cope much better with moving elements and results in higher resolution advantage. Better for landscape photos.
i have to say for Landscapes its pretty good, i dont own 1 but have a G9 which does the same 80mg, when on a shoot in the Alps with both that and my older R2, the hi-res shots the G9 pulled were amazing when compared. Be nice to try it someday. Sonys version is a little more temperamental but works good on the r3
If you want high resolution, stitching is a much better option. It handles movement better, it bypasses the resolution limit of the lens and you can even get shallower depth of field with it.
Other than the lens selection on Panasonic, all other comparison points are splitting hair. While Sony has more native lenses, Nikon F-mount lenses AF near perfect on Z6/Z7 (way better than the adapted lenses on Sony). The IBIS on Nikon works significantly better than Sony. Crude bicycle test aside, Z6/7 work well as sports cameras and BIF (many videos available for that). The real issue is not tracking, but limited buffer. OTOH Sony actually offers quite a bit of customization, and seven settings bank and while it never claims weather sealing, it is pretty well sealed from the top if flash shoe is covered.
I would say that for people needing more compact glass and/or only focal lengths below 100mm, or with significant lens budget (for longer, very expensive lenses), Sony makes more sense. Nikon hits the middle ground with all-over decent and economical lens selection and decent body. Panasonic is very expensive and should be avoided for now (or get the S1).
Thanks for allowing me inside of your head rent free!
BTW, tell us what great and new insights you have brought to any discussion recently? It seems that you too are repetitive in your anti-everything-not-Sony crusade.
As i mentioned in another thread recently, love the subtle humor. Half the clips of Jordan, where i assume Chris is behind the camera, are way OOF. If that wasn't intentional, my apologies Chris : )
The relatively small size of the Sony a7III (r) is exactly one the main reasons it is so successful. Max file quality in an as compact as possible body matters. The same goes for lenses, wherefore the oldest E-mount primes 35mm, 55mm and the Batis are the most appealing ones to me as they offer very good optical performance whilst still being comparatively compact and lightweight. Sigma lenses and Panasonic bodies are no alternatives for me as size and weight limitations do not seem to be an objective in their design. The funny thing is that the relevant enthusiast buyer base is aging, yet weight and size of lenses and bodies are increasing.
The Panny s1r grip and body is the closet thing to a dslr when I was trying it out in the store. The EVF is good as nikon z. I think the milc tech is finally good enough, and I just easy moved from the d750 to a Z6. I had milc along my dslr for a long time. Sony nex3 and A7, Panny gm1 all felt like a toy or camcorder, until I started using the z6, the evf don't feel unnatural like the old a7 (low res, saturated contrasty). Can't wait for the AF firmware update this month for the Z6. The AF coverage is the main reason I switched, mostly for framing outside the dslr zone. Grant if nikon had PDAF on live view like canon did, I might of stayed, but nikon live CDAF as a joke. I did use it for sometimes. And upgrade for video too, as liveview Af is the same joke.
In reality most of the differences are minor to the vast majority of users. This reminds me of the days of HiFi audio when people would struggle to differentiate between products and would choose to highlight that one brand could outperform another at a frequency very much outside the range of human hearing.
What does matter are the differences that are glaringly obvious. For instance, Panny seems to have broken new ground with that EVF. That alters the very experience of using the camera.
I'm flattered that you know me so well! I have a follower!
And like me you too are predictable: basically you assert that: every camera other than Sony is bad, Sony cameras are perfect, and Sony is on its way towards world domination of the camera market.
I wrote that the A6400 was neither 'fish nor fowl'. I think the body design, which evolved iteratively from a much simpler form factor has reached it's natural end.
It's too heavy, large and doesn't have IBIS, but I think the D850 is a fantastic camera. It's also beautiful to look at.
Many of the m43 lenses are optically outstanding.
Canon invented the scroll wheel. Before that we used slider switches and buttons. It's probably the single most important usability feature of the last 35 years.
It might seem strange, but I think if you guys met each other in real life, you'll get along pretty well.
And I'm quite *sure* that you'd prefer each others company to that of many members of your DPR "camps". If anything, it'd be much more interesting. ;-)
RubberDials: I would love to get MILCman and ThoughtsRus in the same conversation. The ultimate Sony booster vs the ultimate mirrorless/Sony hater. I see either of their names and I don't even bother to read what they have to say anymore. Kind of like throwing out the high and low scores in figure skating.
Hey, I give Thoughts a run for his money in hating current mirrorless offerings, don't forget about me! Lol! :D
I love the potential of mirrorless though, I really truly do, no BS. But they just fall so short of good DSLRs in what matters to me that all this crazy praise Sony gets for spec sheets and truly totally unfounded AF praise sets me off.
I'll be all over mirrorless when they finally match DSLRs in what matters to me. I'm already praising the S1R on ergos. Still not as good as Nikon DSLR ergos at the same price point, but pretty good. 2 or 3 years from now when mirrorless has caught up, you'll see a totally different tone from me...
One of my favorite themes is, The Release of New Product Does Not Turn The Old One Into A Piece of Slag. It's still the fine image making machine it always was. And it's healthier on the wallet as well.
I see my sister make amazing pictures with the 850 in and out. I do not believe these cameras will do any better pictures. However, I just cannot use any not mirrorless anymore. I just cannot accept moving exact focus points to exact positions (i.e. not eye-af), focus and recompose or choosing a specific focus point. I cannot anymore chimp after a pic and look a the exposure and readjust hoping that what I just re-did will not compromise the raw dynamic range. Those old cams are dead tech to me. Those who can handle them as pros... Good, keep them, use them. They are no worse. You are good operators. I just cant anymore.
@Thoughts R Us I have to admit that I am liking less and less fstoppers. I do not find their content very good. Even the article you mentioned has a click bait title: the article never mention about best world photographers. It talks of obvious agencies strategies and the proven reliability vs unproven reliability. And to be honest, in my opinion they are overly confident about how long DSLRs will be around. Mistake we have seen before, ask Kodak.
There's an entire paragraph on the importance of "agencies" for pro photogs. I would be shocked if they made it ten more years. I suspect 5 or 6 tops. The paradigm of the company-supported pro is as dead as the flippy mirror -it just hasn't been buried yet.
With the advent of mirrorless interchangeable lens cameras, infrared photography is easier than ever before. Barnaby Britton took the plunge, converting a Panasonic Lumix S1R to full-spectrum infrared. Here's how it's going.
The Sony a7 IV is the company's latest mid-range full-frame mirrorless camera, but it's common to see the older, higher-end a7R III for a lower price. So which makes the better purchase?
The four firmware updates bring improved autofocus performance in a number of different shooting modes, as well as support for Nikon's new FTZ II mount adapter and Nikkor Z 24-120mm F4 S lens.
In addition to 5.9K Blackmagic RAW recording for the S1H, the S1, S1R, S5 and BGH1 are also receiving firmware updates to being a slew of new and improved features.
The Fujifilm X100VI is the sixth iteration of Fujifilm's classically-styled large sensor compact. A 40MP X-Trans sensor, in-body stabilization and 6.2K video are among the updates.
The Nikon Zf is a 24MP full-frame mirrorless camera with classic looks that brings significant improvements to Nikon's mid-price cameras. We just shot a sample reel to get a better feel for its video features and have added our impressions to the review.
Sony updates the ZV-1, giving the vlog-centric compact camera a 18-50mm equivalent F1.8-4.0 lens that's now wide enough for less cramped selfie mode videos.
OM Digital Solutions has updated its flagship high speed camera just two years after launch. The latest version includes more memory and some performance and handling tweaks.
If you want a compact camera that produces great quality photos without the hassle of changing lenses, there are plenty of choices available for every budget. Read on to find out which portable enthusiast compacts are our favorites.
What's the best camera for travel? Good travel cameras should be small, versatile, and offer good image quality. In this buying guide we've rounded-up several great cameras for travel and recommended the best.
What’s the best camera for around $2000? This price point gives you access to some of the most all-round capable cameras available. Excellent image quality, powerful autofocus and great looking video are the least you can expect. We've picked the models that really stand out.
Above $2500 cameras tend to become increasingly specialized, making it difficult to select a 'best' option. We case our eye over the options costing more than $2500 but less than $4000, to find the best all-rounder.
Sigma has announced its 500mm F5.6 DG DN OS 'Sports' super-telephoto lens. The lens has Sigma's latest image stabilization system and uses a linear motor for quick and quiet focusing, according to the company. Sony and L-mount owners can get it next month for $2999.
Sigma's new 15mm F1.4 DG DN diagonal fisheye offers a 180-degree field-of-view and is well-suited to astrophotography with a manual focus lock switch and support for a lens heater. It uses a linear AF motor, supports drop-in filters, and is sealed against the elements. It will be available next month with a $1999 price for E and L-mount bodies.
The Fujifilm X100VI is the sixth iteration of Fujifilm's classically-styled large sensor compact. A 40MP X-Trans sensor, in-body stabilization and 6.2K video are among the updates.
Fujifilm has used its X Summit event in Tokyo to announce the X100VI, the latest version of its premium large sensor compact. We're at the event, reporting from the presentation as it happens.
Panasonic's Lumix DC-S5 II and Nikon's Zf are two very different answers to the question: "what's the best enthusiast full-frame camera for $2000." They share more than you might expect, but with different areas of appeal. Discover the difference.
The Nikon Zf is a 24MP full-frame mirrorless camera with classic looks that brings significant improvements to Nikon's mid-price cameras. We just shot a sample reel to get a better feel for its video features and have added our impressions to the review.
Sony announced that its a9 III pro sports camera is shipping earlier than expected. In fact, you can buy it right now at your favorite retailer for $6000. The a9 III is the first mirrorless camera to use a global shutter, allowing for incredibly fast burst shooting with no rolling shutter.
Nikon's NX Tether 2.0 is out and gives owners of its higher-end mirrorless cameras (plus the D780) a host of new controls. Users can now capture video, get full-coverage live view (wirelessly on the Z8/Z9), adjust numerous shooting settings, and more.
Nikon announced firmware version 2.0 for its Z8 mirrorless camera. The update adds support for Pixel Shift shooting, bird detection, and an Auto Capture function that takes a photo when specified criteria are met.
In recent years, it's become more common for manufacturers to add features or improve camera performance through firmware upgrades. But what obligation do manufacturers have to provide future upgrades when you buy a camera?
OM Digital Solutions' Micro Four Thirds flagship camera sees incremental updates to hardware, autofocus, image stabilization and a few feature tweaks. Through days of rain and rare winter sun in Seattle, we hit the streets to see what it can do in the real world.
After getting a new lease on life in 2023, we here at DPReview are making up for lost time and getting the throttle back up to max. Here's a recap of the reviews and testing we've done this year so far, with more (and more and more) to come as the year goes on!
Sony updates the ZV-1, giving the vlog-centric compact camera a 18-50mm equivalent F1.8-4.0 lens that's now wide enough for less cramped selfie mode videos.
If you blinked, you may have missed it, but the first month of 2024 has already come and gone. Here's a recap of the most noteworthy camera gear announced, released, or put up for preorder this January.
OM Digital Solutions has updated its flagship high speed camera just two years after launch. The latest version includes more memory and some performance and handling tweaks.
Alongside the launch of the new OM-1 II, OM System is also announcing two lenses, a 150-600mm F5.0-6.3 and a reissue of one of Olympus's first Micro Four Thirds lenses, the 9-18mm F4.0-5.6, with an updated body.
The iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Pro are simple to point and shoot, but are quite complex under the hood. If you want to ensure you’re getting the highest quality images, here is what you need to know.
This week, the World Photography Organization announced the shortlist for Student and Youth Photographer of The Year, part of the broader Sony World Photography Awards of 2024. The final selection won't be until April, but you can check out all the contenders right now.
The Nikon Zf is a 24MP full-frame mirrorless camera with excellent image quality, very good autofocus and classic styling that borrows from the manufacturer's film bodies of yesteryear.
Hasselblad has announced the CFV 100C, a 100MP version of its medium format back. The 100C features phase detect AF and face detection when used with the 907X camera and XCD lenses.
The Fujifilm XF 23mm F2 R WR delivers a 35mm full-frame equivalent field of view and stands out due to its small size and weather-resistant build. However, it faces stiff competition from lenses with faster F1.4 apertures. In this review, we tell you what you need to know about this popular lens.
The EOS R100 is the cheapest way to get into Canon's RF-mount system. But, as the saying goes, you get what you pay for, since its older components make the R100 feel dated.
Comments