I think this is the camera to make me switch ... Sony A73

RocketCowboy

Senior Member
And, in the meantime Nikon has released software updates to make the D3300 and D5500 cameras (both introduced in 2013) fully P lens compatible. However, we are still waiting for the same update for the D7200 (introduced in 2015).

Seems to indicate where they think the P lenses fall ... fully in the consumer space and not something a prosumer would be interested in.
 

Iansky

Senior Member
Having fallen foul of the hype and been down the DSLR to mirrorless (Fuji XT2 & XPro2) route, as good as they are and very capable cameras that deliver great results, they did not meet my requirements for focus tracking and blackout was an issue at high speed tracking / shooting so switched back to Nikon.
I absolutely love the D500 for wildlife & sport and it is head and shoulders above what the Fuji's offered so although the Nikon is bigger than the Fuji (but actually smaller than the Fuji with battery grip) I am satisfied.
I wish you well with the Sony and hope it does meet all your expectations.
 

spb_stan

Senior Member
It depends on your style. Sony has no interest in ergonomics,requiring menu diving for many common on-the-go settings.So pros tend to shy away because Canon and Nikon have catered to those who want full control,and have a camera in their hand for a long time.With most Sony products, they have to be considered short-term replaceable items. Parts for models out of production zoom up and make repairs shockingly expensive. That is one negative feature, parts stocks drop and are not replenished so a 5 year old Sony is essentially a right off. I found that same corporate-wide policy a major headache some time ago. I bought one of their digitial multi-track sound recorder, a PCM-3324 that was $125,000 and the remote control head was another $18,000. As soon as they dropped production, 2 years later the parts were no longer available for the most part and a few common wear items that had been $15 each suddenly were $310. their solution: buy the new PCM-3324HR for only $186,000. My Swiss made Studer tape decks had parts availability for 33 years!! and still worked great.

When I found that my friend's Sony camera just 3 year old was no longer serviceable, I knew they were pulling the same thing with photographers.I don't have the money to replace a $3000 camera every 2 years r less, especially one with an extremely short buffer and over a minute of dead time to clear the buffer before a new shot can be made. Casual shooters don't seem to mind that but that is a non-starter for anyone from a serious hobbyist to pro. Having to carry extra batteries even for short sessions is not what I will tolerate in a camera that also is uncomfortable. I would rather invest in a company which supports me. If the Nikon mirrorless is designed for advanced hobbyists or pros I would be interested in that. If it is not a home run as their first effort,I will upgrade to the D850, the best 35 camera made right now. Otherwise my D800 does more of what I need than any Sony I have seen. If someone can't get the shot with the excellent D500 or D8x0 it is not the camera.
 

Woodyg3

Senior Member
Contributor
I understand wanting mirrorless features, but I'm not interested in buying a crop of new lenses to replace what I already have. Nikon will eventually have the mirrorless camera I want, I suspect. In the meantime, I am hardly suffering with my Nikon DSLRs. :)
 

mikew_RIP

Senior Member
I understand wanting mirrorless features, but I'm not interested in buying a crop of new lenses to replace what I already have. Nikon will eventually have the mirrorless camera I want, I suspect. In the meantime, I am hardly suffering with my Nikon DSLRs. :)

I see very few reasons for anyone shooting any kind of action photography to move to mirrorless, i had to and infact did move back for a few months.if your not shooting action thats a different story but for action stick with DSLRs as long as possible.
 

Woodyg3

Senior Member
Contributor
Glowing reviews, it's clearly a great camera, but here are a couple of things that might be seen as shortcomings. Just thought I'd post in case those considering haven't heard these pieces of info. I suspect most people who view this vid will still want the camera after viewing. :)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=123YrKAofpo
 

Texas

Senior Member
I need to get with the program and watch some vid''s.

Would learn something, no doubt.

But 10 minutes of a self-declared youtube star for two 'tips or hints' is just too much for me. I have a tv for watching video. I think watching some 20 minute "take the wheel off your car" videos ruined me.
 

Daz

Senior Member
I see very few reasons for anyone shooting any kind of action photography to move to mirrorless, i had to and infact did move back for a few months.if your not shooting action thats a different story but for action stick with DSLRs as long as possible.

Are you serious? Go and look at the Eye and Face detection on the Sony bodies and specifically the A73, you hold down on the button and it LOCKS the eye and will track it over the WHOLE sensor.

Are you seriously saying that a little red dot, that you need to guess where that eye or face is going to be in frame before it gets there is better?


When I found that my friend's Sony camera just 3 year old was no longer serviceable, I knew they were pulling the same thing with photographers.I don't have the money to replace a $3000 camera every 2 years r less, especially one with an extremely short buffer and over a minute of dead time to clear the buffer before a new shot can be made.

Have you seen this camera in action ? Clearly not ... The time for the camera to come on these days is minimal and this camera writes to the card stupidly quick. Yes when mirrorless first came out these were issues ... Not any more.
 

mikew_RIP

Senior Member
Are you serious? Go and look at the Eye and Face detection on the Sony bodies and specifically the A73, you hold down on the button and it LOCKS the eye and will track it over the WHOLE sensor.

Are you seriously saying that a little red dot, that you need to guess where that eye or face is going to be in frame before it gets there is better?




Have you seen this camera in action ? Clearly not ... The time for the camera to come on these days is minimal and this camera writes to the card stupidly quick. Yes when mirrorless first came out these were issues ... Not any more.

Tell me which mirrorless do you use day in and day out for action photography ?

Some are very good but like all cameras they have a lot of hype with them.
 

Daz

Senior Member
Tell me which mirrorless do you use day in and day out for action photography ?

Some are very good but like all cameras they have a lot of hype with them.

I will be using the A73 when I get it for absolutely everything and that would include action photography.

The only reason I havent got it yet is I am not paying retail for it, so I need to wait a little longer ;)
 

spb_stan

Senior Member
So the reports by pros testing it that it is choked much too fast for action shooters are wrong and you, having ever used it have another opinion? The problem with poor buffer clearing kept the a9 from being adopted by sports and action photographers. The ergonomics of the line is panned by most pros who depend on cameras for their income. I do not buy Sony products because their corporate culture, company-wide, minimizes the value and duration of ownership.Try getting Sony gear repaired after its production run stops. It is not just cameras but it is part of their business strategy to churn the market, obsoleting older gear at ever shorter periods. Since I got my D800 6 years ago, Sony has ended support for dozens of models produced after that period.
If you love a camera you never used before is so important and to slag on other brands, why are you not on Sony Lovers Forum instead of hanging out with old fashion camera fans?
 

Horoscope Fish

Senior Member
I will be using the A73 when I get it for absolutely everything and that would include action photography.
I fully admit I'm not a fan of mirrorless cameras - at least not yet - but I wish you good look and great shooting with your Sony; the A73 looks like it's a great camera.
 

Daz

Senior Member
So the reports by pros testing it that it is choked much too fast for action shooters are wrong and you, having ever used it have another opinion? The problem with poor buffer clearing kept the a9 from being adopted by sports and action photographers. The ergonomics of the line is panned by most pros who depend on cameras for their income.

The A9 is not an action camera, not is the D5 or the 1DX so of course its not going to keep up with action, you wouldn't use a Sword to chop an onion ...

If you love a camera you never used before is so important and to slag on other brands, why are you not on Sony Lovers Forum instead of hanging out with old fashion camera fans?

"Slagging off other brands"... I think you will find it isnt slagging off more showing the weaknesses ;) If you havent noticed in my Signature I am currently pretty engrained in Nikon with my kit and I was actually about to add a D850 to the line before the A73 was announced.

PS, I have now used the camera, I have played with one and tested out everything I need to know to make the choice that it is worth the jump from Nikon.
 

dieselnutjob

Senior Member
I still think (and apologise for saying again) that if Nikon wants to stop people de-camping over to Sony then they should offer an FTZ adapter with a motor in it to focus old screw focus lenses, just like the D500, D750, D7200.
In fact this would make a Z6 or Z7 better then the above because the sensor based VR thing would suddenly make your old screw focus lenses better on them than they were on a DSLR.

Sony did this with the LA-EA4.

I'm not sure that many people will buy into Nikon from scratch because of such a thing, but it might just give an existing old Nikon customer another reason to stay with Nikon.
 
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