DSLR Dilemma

S

SnappyM

Suspended / Banned
Messages
3
Edit My Images
No
Hi all

First post here so hope people can help advise me or guide me in my thoughts. The options are going around in circles and I can't decide what to do for the best.

Situation is this. I have a Sony A77 and have started taking photography way more seriously to the point where I'm getting people asking me to do a few weddings. Great stuff and this is something I'm keen to work towards. I already have a collection of Sony lenses such as the Sony 70-200 f2.8 and 16-50.

However...the performance of this camera is pretty dire in low light. Yesterday I did a wedding and was not allowed to use flash which is pretty common. I went up to ISO1600 and the noise was pretty bad. A few weeks ago I shot a christening for a friend and had to use ISO3200 and again the camera struggled. Other than that, I love the A77.

I've been saving money towards another camera and I am thinking of the following:

Nikon D700 or D7000 and buy a Tamron 28-75 f2.8 for now until I get more cash

or wait for the Nikon D600 and/or the Sony A99 to be available. At which point either the price of the other cameras will drop or I will take a loan out to get the new ones.

The advantage of the first option is I can get going now. The downside is that prices may drop when the new cameras come out or I may be so bowled away with the new features I may regret being impatient.

What would you do?
 
Are you shooting in RAW, or using the A77 Jpegs?

If the latter, get a copy of LR 4 (free 30 day trial available) and try RAW - the ability to handle higher ISO levels will be significantly improved.

Are you looking at the noise on screen at 100%, or on prints?

The A77 is 24MP, which means that noise will be more apparent when viewed at 100% than on a 12 MP (D700) or 16MP (D7000) camera.
You need to compare 'like for like' when comparing noise. Try looking at prints (10x8, for example) and see if the noise still looks bad.
 
You have some expensive gear there i would personally upgrade to a FF with the funds from the sale. But wait for the announcements at photokina in 2 weeks.
 
You have at least £2.5k tied up in the A77 - you would do better getting the FF A850 or A900 if you cannot wait.

Alternatively, cut your losses and move to Nikon, but the income from your wedding shoots had better be good, and regular for you to make up the money you have lost on the A77 and the 200mm lens.

Has anyone else commented on the "noise". I find that the only people who comment on noise, over-processing, blown-out highights etc, are the people who take photography seriously.

The person who wants a picture either likes it or they don't. They don't tend to get the magnifying glass out to inspect the extent of the vignettes. I would say stick with the A77, wait for the A99 and good luck with your wedding shots.
 
SnappyM said:
Hi all

First post here so hope people can help advise me or guide me in my thoughts. The options are going around in circles and I can't decide what to do for the best.

Situation is this. I have a Sony A77 and have started taking photography way more seriously to the point where I'm getting people asking me to do a few weddings. Great stuff and this is something I'm keen to work towards. I already have a collection of Sony lenses such as the Sony 70-200 f2.8 and 16-50.

However...the performance of this camera is pretty dire in low light. Yesterday I did a wedding and was not allowed to use flash which is pretty common. I went up to ISO1600 and the noise was pretty bad. A few weeks ago I shot a christening for a friend and had to use ISO3200 and again the camera struggled. Other than that, I love the A77.

I've been saving money towards another camera and I am thinking of the following:

Nikon D700 or D7000 and buy a Tamron 28-75 f2.8 for now until I get more cash

or wait for the Nikon D600 and/or the Sony A99 to be available. At which point either the price of the other cameras will drop or I will take a loan out to get the new ones.

The advantage of the first option is I can get going now. The downside is that prices may drop when the new cameras come out or I may be so bowled away with the new features I may regret being impatient.

What would you do?
Click to expand...

Stop pixel peeping, your viewing audience will not notice noise at standard viewing/print sizes. They will not even know what noise is, never mind how to look for it.
 
If I were you I'd grab a set of faster primes to get a bit more of the available light in tricky situations. The "easy choice" cheapo plastic 35/1.8 and 50/1.8 are great VFM. Even the 85/2.8, though no "faster" than your 70-200, is easier to hand-hold at slower shutter speeds.

Also, expose as far to the right as possible to keep the noise at bay. The live histogram is a big help here.

In my experience, the Sony 16mp sensor is ever-so-slightly better than the 24mp at high ISO's but you'll lose more in body-functionality than youd gain by "downgrading". The a850/900 sensor is better, but you'd still be wanting to go b&w by about ISO 2000, if you're anything like me.

I'd wait for the a99 before making any drastic decisions about changing brands. If you don't, though, I'll make you an insulting offer on your 70-200/2.8! ;-)
 
The photos look much better now I've PP'ed them.

Logic dictates that I wait until Sept/Oct before making a decision. Hopefully by then I'll have saved up some more as well. I'm just not a patient guy!

I just keep lusting after a FF camera but the D7000 was the camera I nearly bought but in the end decided on the A77.
 
SnappyM said:
The photos look much better now I've PP'ed them.

Logic dictates that I wait until Sept/Oct before making a decision. Hopefully by then I'll have saved up some more as well. I'm just not a patient guy!

I just keep lusting after a FF camera but the D7000 was the camera I nearly bought but in the end decided on the A77.
Click to expand...

I hope you are planning on buying TWO bodies if you are getting into paid photography. You need a backup for when your main one fails.
 
maybe use a tripod to shoot in lowlight
if the wedding needed good photos why using flash is a problem ?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top