UKC

I'd be interested to hear from you if you've used a Sony A6000 in the hills. I like the look of the compact size + big sensor + ability to switch lenses, including (with a converter) my old OM lenses. But will it be robust outdoors, and give better pics than my current Canon G12?

In reply to gammarus:

The older NEX 7 is a better camera, I looked at both and got the NEX - the EVF and tri-navi system are FAR superior and generally it's a bit cheaper.
Love mine to death!

In reply to gammarus:

I have an a6000. Coming from point and shoot so can't compare much to other 'decent' cameras. But I like it a lot and have now got brave enough to ski with it in my pocket. Seemed like a good quality vs. size compromise to me!

In reply to Hertz32:

Interesting. Better, but cheaper? Where did you get your NEX7?

In reply to gammarus:

I have bought a Nex 6 or A6000 many times

But i never have had as the lens range is more limited than say Nikons, unless you use a convert for the Alpa series lenses. Now of course there are some great lenses but most are not cheap or small. The big stumbling block for me was the lack of an affordable consumer zoom. But if you have done you home work and know you can get the lenses that you want it' is a great system and a great camera

I also have a hunch that the manual focus legacy glass thing is hard work and not great on image quality

http://www.imaging-resource.com/lenses/olympus/50mm-f1.8-om-f.zuiko/review/

In reply to John Clinch (Ampthill):


I use an A7ii now meaning that my legacy 35mm film lenses are native to its sensor size, but my old NEX-7 served well with a focal reducer to 'uncrop' the image circle. Some images here ... http://www.flickriver.com/photos/88898381@N02/sets/72157654474285168/

In reply to gammarus:

I am using Nex6, a predecessor of Nex6000, and it is a cracking camera. Full DSLR capability and image quality without the bulkiness. Mind you, the lens choice is still poor (although is getting better) unless you are willing to go full manual and use legacy lenses.

All my recent photos are using the nex6 and relatively a cheap kit lens 16-50.

In reply to gammarus:

I use the NEX-6, which as others have said, is the old version of the A6000. In a tight case it's compact enough to clip to your harness, and certainly small enough to be comfortably stuffed in a rucksack. I have the f1.8 50mm for portraits, the cheap Sony zoom (55-210? I think) which is rubbish, and a Samyang f2.0 12mm wide angle which is fully manual and fantastic.
This gallery is all taken on this camera: https://www.flickr.com/photos/105585253@N07/

In reply to moffatross:

does this actually improve image quality? the extra glass makes me think not. i can't really see the point apart from the extra f stop and maybe to save on wide lenses

just got some new legacy glass for my 5100- chinon 50/1.7, helios 58/2, jena 135/3.5, pracktica 300/4 for about the same price as a focal reducer..

In reply to malk:

>"does this actually improve image quality? the extra glass makes me think not"<

Definitely not, and extra glass will always detract from sharpness at a pixel peeping level. But IMO, that kind of 'image quality' is not all it's cracked up to be, because in real life, we rarely use photos at 100% resolution. What the extra glass does is let you make a tiny camera with an APS-C sensor function similarly to a full frame camera with any old SLR lens and the point for me isn't to 'save on wide lenses' but to be able to carry a cheapish camera that can give a 'filmic' look and that's fun to use. Here are a few taken with a Sony NEX-5N (body is about £100 on ebay).

Long exposure at summer festival (Sony NEX-5N with Hoya 28-50 & focal reducer) ...
https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/402/19927560929_8a9222aa34_h.jpg

Boris bikes at Waterloo (Sony NEX-5N with Minolta MD 35-70 & focal reducer) ...
https://c2.staticflickr.com/2/1559/26230241770_e4dbf416e3_o.jpg

Waiting at Carlisle station (Sony NEX-5N with Minolta MD 35-70 & focal reducer) ...
https://c2.staticflickr.com/2/1483/26503099115_d0a634bfc1_h.jpg

In reply to moffatross:

I don't want to show my ignorance but what is a "focal reducer"?

I had planned to get a Sony [still not sure what model] + adaptor and use my old Zuiko lenses: do I need a fr as well?

In reply to gammarus: Not that I know, I don't have what you are talking about, just an adapter?

In reply to gammarus:

it's like an adapter but with extra convex lens to reduce the focal length (and increase light gathering-also called a speedbooster?)- so eg you can get the equivalent 35mm focal length of legacy lenses on an APS-C sensor

In reply to malk:

OK - thanks for the info