I really think my ages-old NEX-3 is ripe for an upgrade, but what could I possibly upgrade it to? 6? 7? A6000? A7? Wait for the A7S? Here are my thoughts on this issue...
For what?
Okay, so first, let's observe what I use my NEX-3 for: while earlier, I used it for product and event shoots, since I no longer work for technet.hu, I only do events and friendly get-togethers.
I wanted something that has an electronic viewfinder (I hated the lack of it on the NEX-3) for quite some time now, something with higher usable ISOs than my NEX-3 (where 6400 is the absolute max for pictures destined for the web, and only for friends, not a photography competition), and dials. The NEX-3 has only one dial, and it is actually very annoying. (For those who say "but a standard old-style viewfinder is way better", I don't have perfect vision. I simply cannot tell if a picture is sharp with a regular viewfinder, and since there is no mirrorless camera with an actual prism/mirror viewfinder, it is a moot point anyway.)
Another feature I'd like to have is the quiet shutter. I like doing candid photos without the targets realizing it (again, before anyone cites legalize, during events where they signed this off by buying the ticket and with friends).
The last but not least thing is a possibly quicker startup than my NEX-3, since I still remember the under-a-second startup time of my old Fuji bridge. In fact, the viewfinder and the dial requirements are also from that time.
Regarding the AF, I mainly use a LA-EA2 adapter with Sony Alpha lenses, and on occasion, old manual focus ones. So I really don't use the in-body AF system on anything other than the SEL-16F28 when I want a wide shot.
Elaborating a bit on the ISO performance: I frequently use the NEX to shoot events in relatively dark (think darkened concert hall and house in the evening), even going with a legacy 50mm f1.4 when there is just not enough light for something else.
Mostly I don't use flash. Because it annoys everyone, and because it warns everyone in a hundred meters to look out for me. The only time I use it is bouncing it when I do the very rare product shoots during those events (of handcrafted goods).
Sony NEX-7
The great old love. I wanted this camera since it was first leaked
The bad:
Sony NEX-6
The slightly downgraded, cheaper but upgraded version of the NEX-7.
The good:
The bad:
Sony A6000
I could call this the compromise: cheaper new than the NEX-6 was, with everything that means and a few surprises. I wouldn't want to buy this one unless I get a very good deal.
The good:
The bad:
Sony A7
The first full-frame E mount Sony camera, and the cheapest one.
The good:
The bad:
Sony A7S
The new full-frame king of low-light. As with the NEX-7, I wanted to get my hands on this the moment it became clear just how good the low-light performance can be with this camera. Besides, 12MP is good enough for most of the cases I want my pictures for. If it wasn't for price, I'd get this one without blinking an eye.
The good:
The bad:
I should note that it seems I was quite lucky: the NEX-7 I bought has not only cheap, (€500) but had only 2535 shutter actuations according to this online tool - making it in essence brand new. It has some very light scuffing around the edges of the screen and that's about it. Most likely it was a returned or factory refurbished item, or maybe it spent its years in a local showroom.
I've tried it out with the SEL-16F28 and the LA-EA2 + SAL-35F18 combo, and so far so good. While the SAL-35F18 shades the built-in flash on very short distances, this goes away at about 50 cms.
Low-light is of course not ages ahead from the NEX-3, but frankly, only the A7/A7S was outstanding in that regard, so no surprises there. Anyway, I'll be using this gem for now, and I hope it will do for a while.
For what?
Okay, so first, let's observe what I use my NEX-3 for: while earlier, I used it for product and event shoots, since I no longer work for technet.hu, I only do events and friendly get-togethers.
Needed features
First, it has to be a NEX. I've some lenses and adapted lens for this system, so I'd rather not have to sell them all. Note that I use mostly Alpha-mount lenses with the LA-EA2, due to a number of facts: much greater variety, phase detection AF, price, and that I absolutely hate the electronically coupled focusing ring of the E mount lenses due to their zero mechanical feedback.I wanted something that has an electronic viewfinder (I hated the lack of it on the NEX-3) for quite some time now, something with higher usable ISOs than my NEX-3 (where 6400 is the absolute max for pictures destined for the web, and only for friends, not a photography competition), and dials. The NEX-3 has only one dial, and it is actually very annoying. (For those who say "but a standard old-style viewfinder is way better", I don't have perfect vision. I simply cannot tell if a picture is sharp with a regular viewfinder, and since there is no mirrorless camera with an actual prism/mirror viewfinder, it is a moot point anyway.)
Another feature I'd like to have is the quiet shutter. I like doing candid photos without the targets realizing it (again, before anyone cites legalize, during events where they signed this off by buying the ticket and with friends).
Regarding the AF, I mainly use a LA-EA2 adapter with Sony Alpha lenses, and on occasion, old manual focus ones. So I really don't use the in-body AF system on anything other than the SEL-16F28 when I want a wide shot.
Elaborating a bit on the ISO performance: I frequently use the NEX to shoot events in relatively dark (think darkened concert hall and house in the evening), even going with a legacy 50mm f1.4 when there is just not enough light for something else.
Mostly I don't use flash. Because it annoys everyone, and because it warns everyone in a hundred meters to look out for me. The only time I use it is bouncing it when I do the very rare product shoots during those events (of handcrafted goods).
The competition
Sony NEX-7
The great old love. I wanted this camera since it was first leaked
The good:
- EVF
- trinav
- 24MP
- supposedly quicker startup
- somewhat weather-sealed body
- magnesium body
- can be found used for under €600 if you are lucky
- hotshoe
- pop-up flash
- electronic first-curtain shutter
The bad:
- Contrast detection AF
- not that much greater ISO performance
- hotshoe is an old, obsolete Minolta one without any future
Sony NEX-6
The slightly downgraded, cheaper but upgraded version of the NEX-7.
- Hybrid AF
- ISO hotshoe
- EVF
- quite cheap (~€450) used on eBay
- ISO somewhat better
- pop-up flash
- electronic first-curtain shutter
The bad:
- Only one dial
- ISO not that great
- body is not high-end magnesium
- not really good dial placement
Sony A6000
I could call this the compromise: cheaper new than the NEX-6 was, with everything that means and a few surprises. I wouldn't want to buy this one unless I get a very good deal.
The good:
- EVF
- best AF (that I won't be using)
- auto-ISO option in manual mode (very good if you use old MF lenses)
- pop-up flash
- electronic first-curtain shutter
The bad:
- EVF is of lower resolution
- price somewhat high due to being new (€600+) on eBay
- no digital level
Sony A7
The first full-frame E mount Sony camera, and the cheapest one.
The good:
- cheap and small for a full-frame
- magnesium body
- 24MP
- EVF
- weather-sealed body (unofficially)
- ISO hotshoe
- low light ISO is about two/three steps better than APS-C
- FF makes wide angle lenses even better (not that I have any FF wides...)
- electronic first-curtain shutter
The bad:
- somewhat bulky
- price still double that of any used/eBay APS-C NEX
- no built-in flash
- buying a KIT and selling of non-full-frame lenses and the LA-EA2 would have to be mandatory (a minimum of LA-EA4, sigma f1.4 35mm, sony f1.4 50mm, or about another €1500)
- available native lenses are very expensive and there aren't many (yes, very high quality, but I don't pixel peep and generally I don't need the pixel-perfect performance of a Zeiss)
- problems with quick startup
- FF means my 70-300 won't be as long as on an APS-C
Sony A7S
The new full-frame king of low-light. As with the NEX-7, I wanted to get my hands on this the moment it became clear just how good the low-light performance can be with this camera. Besides, 12MP is good enough for most of the cases I want my pictures for. If it wasn't for price, I'd get this one without blinking an eye.
The good:
- mind-blowing low-light
- 4K and 120 fps video (slow mo is 720p-only)
- dials
- EVF good even in low light
- magnesium body
- weather-sealed body (unofficially)
- FF makes wide angle lenses even better (not that I have any FF wides...)
- silent mode is absolutely silent
The bad:
- 4K external-only (+€2000 if I ever want to use it)
- sometimes 12MP is just too low, especially in crop-mode I'd have to use with most of my lenses for a time,
- quite high predicted price (double of A7, or quadruple of any used NEX)
- not available used / in most parts of the world
- except in low light, where it shines, the AF is supposedly inferior to the A7 and the A6000, maybe even to the NEX-6
- everything that I mentioned with the A7 (so another €1500)
Which one to choose?
In the end, I caved in. While it would be tremendously great to change to FF, and there is a great KIT deal with the A7 for ~€1300 right now (yes, it is the same in $ in the US, but import charges/VAT would make sure it would cost more that way), the sheer price of having to change all my lenses to FF (I have a great Tamron 70-300, a 35 and a 50 for Alpha mount, the 16mm and the kit 16-55 for E mount and the LA-EA2 adapter). Most of the APS-C Alpha/E-mount lenses have no FF equivalent, and those that have are quite pricy. While I do plan on buying a Sony/Minolta 70-300 F2.8 down the road, I'd rather not have to spend that much on what has been only my hobby and not my livelihood for some time now.The lucky one
So in the end I bought a used NEX-7, with the promise that it will get delegated to the role of second camera next year if I ever get a good deal on a A7 or an A7S. Yes, buying the A7 kit would be nice, but frankly, it costs too much with the eventual lens exchanges for now. If the NEX-7 turns out to be good, I might even stall till one or two new generations of the full frame NEX's pass. In the mean time, I might get some lens upgrades, like the full frame Sigma 35mm f1.4 instead of my current APS-C-only f1.8 Sony.I should note that it seems I was quite lucky: the NEX-7 I bought has not only cheap, (€500) but had only 2535 shutter actuations according to this online tool - making it in essence brand new. It has some very light scuffing around the edges of the screen and that's about it. Most likely it was a returned or factory refurbished item, or maybe it spent its years in a local showroom.
I've tried it out with the SEL-16F28 and the LA-EA2 + SAL-35F18 combo, and so far so good. While the SAL-35F18 shades the built-in flash on very short distances, this goes away at about 50 cms.
Low-light is of course not ages ahead from the NEX-3, but frankly, only the A7/A7S was outstanding in that regard, so no surprises there. Anyway, I'll be using this gem for now, and I hope it will do for a while.
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