Should I sidegrade / change systems?

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Einholt

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Hello all, my first post here, here Is my photography history, a few years ago I got a Fuji S6500fd and used it for 18 months to learn the ropes until I realised I had outgrown it, 5 months ago I bought a second hand Sony A290 with kit lens, a cheap sigma 4-5.6 zoom (the pull out zoom one) a polarising filter, a set of ND filters, a 16gb SD card and a wireless remote)

I have now got to the point where I am pretty comfortable with the camera but I really miss live view (especially for close up creative photography which I am keen on) and loathe the viewfinder for tricky shots, I have a bad back and neck so using it when I am over a subject or down low gets painful pretty quickly and I wish it had more buttons to quickly change settings.

So now I find myself not knowing what to do, if I upgrade to another Sony camera in the beginner DSLR range I can get live view but not the extra buttons I would like (if I am wrong please correct me :) )

I am not particularly invested in the Sony Alpha system at the moment and will be able to sell it for the price I bought it for but I am about to start investing in some new lenses starting with a 35mm prime so I figure if I am going to change systems now is the time to do it.

Out of the cameras I have looked at the Nikon D3100 stands out at the moments as it has live view, has the extra buttons I would like and I can get a second hand one from my local LCE for £270 with the kit lens so all I would need to buy is filters and a remote to get back to where I am now.

Would you say this is a smart move?

If I did get it I would also be getting the Nikon AF-S DX 1.8 lens but also wanted to ask if this lens not having VR is going to be a problem when using it as a walkabout lens? or is there a VR version in this lenses price range? one of the things I really like about sony is the inbuilt steady shot.

Sorry for the long and confused post, thanks for reading and for any insight you can give me ;)
 
You absolutely need something with a swivel tilt LCD.
What's your budget? Which entry-level DSLRs have one?

Do you use Jpegs or RAW?
With a bad back something small and light might be best, provided it has the swivelly LCD.
 
Swivel tilt would be lovely :)

Budget would be £400ish for body+kit lens+a 35mm prime, at the moment would hope to have added filters, cheap wired shutter release, a 70-300mm, a decent tripod with ball head, an ok off camera flash, a cheapish macro lens and a macro focusing rail by mid next year, at which point I will probably think more creative lenses ie wide angle, fisheye and lensbaby, with looking at investing this much in 12 months I want to make sure I have the right system.

My nectk and back are fine with the a290s weight, its just when I have to crane my neck in weird positions / have to hold position over the viewfinder when the camera is at a mid to low height.

Still using Jpeg mainly but starting to switch to RAW and will be shooting RAW in future.
 
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What buttons are you missing? The a290 was a camera with limited buttons and features, built during a time when Sony seemed confused.

If I had a beginner Sony DSLR, I would be looking at the Sony a33 when you consider your needs. A better screen than the newer a37, tilts vertically unlike the a35 and while the newer a3xs get the highly praised 16mp sensor - the 14.2mp sensor (an updated version of your current sensor) is a great performer.

If you really like using liveview then you need to try a Sony SLT first, as that's the major pro for the SLTs.
 
Micehorns said:
What buttons are you missing? The a290 was a camera with limited buttons and features, built during a time when Sony seemed confused.

If I had a beginner Sony DSLR, I would be looking at the Sony a33 when you consider your needs. A better screen than the newer a37, tilts vertically unlike the a35 and while the newer a3xs get the highly praised 16mp sensor - the 14.2mp sensor (an updated version of your current sensor) is a great performer.

If you really like using liveview then you need to try a Sony SLT first, as that's the major pro for the SLTs.
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Wanting more shortcut buttons, as for SLTs really not sure as the verdict still seems out on them and ofc there is a good bit to still iron out, review wise the d3100 seems to have a good rep which drew me to it with few problems whereas there do seem to be issues with the slt reviews I have read, still open to the idea of slts but just being cautious, although there is something I definitely like about the alpha system, aghhhh so confused!
 
Einholt said:
, as for SLTs really not sure as the verdict still seems out on them and ofc there is a good bit to still iron out
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disagree on both - they are pretty well sorted now & the verdict really comes down to whether or not you prefer the pros/cons of an OVF or those of an EVF & whether losing under 1/2 a stop of light is a big issue to you or not.
If Liveview is important to you (& it seems to be) then Sony's Liveview AF is the fastest.

The D3100 was Nikon's entry level body & I suspect that you will come upon similar limitations as you did with the A290.
If I was you I would be looking at a 5 series body in either Nikon or Sony.
 
Try the A57. It's more mid range. Sony are doing cash back at the moment so you should be able to get one for around £400 ish.

I know my a580 has buttons for drive mode, iso and a few other things including depth of field preview. Only really annoyance is the in-body stabilisation is in the menu not a switch on the back. Rear screen folds out and tilts too. The a290 is very basic in comparison.

Nikon 3100 doesn't have in body AF motors so it limits what lenses you can use with it too.
 
Micehorns said:
What buttons are you missing? The a290 was a camera with limited buttons and features, built during a time when Sony seemed confused.

If I had a beginner Sony DSLR, I would be looking at the Sony a33 when you consider your needs. A better screen than the newer a37, tilts vertically unlike the a35 and while the newer a3xs get the highly praised 16mp sensor - the 14.2mp sensor (an updated version of your current sensor) is a great performer.

If you really like using liveview then you need to try a Sony SLT first, as that's the major pro for the SLTs.
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I agree - Sony got rather confused and churned out too many models, some of which were actually downgrades on what came before. :| They (finally) have a logical line-up with the A37, A57, A65, A77 now though. Only thing with the A33 is I think the evf is not quite as good as the current ones (A37, A57) but if live-view is more important to the OP then perhaps not an issue?

Homebase (of all places!) were selling the A37 for £270 last weekend (price after using discount code and Sony cashback) but the screen on that is not so great and anyway the offer has ended.

A57 is about £400 after cashback and there is cashback on the 35mm lens too making it around £120 - but that is £120 above the OP's budget of £400 for both.

On the other hand the D3100 is a cracking bargain at the moment at £265 brand new with the kit VR Lens (after Nikon cashback): http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00403MA4M/1567/ref=nosim - cheaper than the second hand one at LCE! The Nikon AF-S DX 35mm f1.8G Lens is £138 which makes the total package £403 - right on budget.

Another option (lighter, smaller) would be a micro four thirds camera - the Olympus E-PL3 has the tilt screen and is £169 body only at SRS: http://www.srsmicrosystems.co.uk/64...hite-Digital-Camera-Body---WEEKEND-OFFER.html
A 'normal' prime would be the Sigma 19mm (cheaper) or the excellent Panasonic 20mm f1.7. Probably not enough controls on the E-PL3 for you though, so perhaps look at the Panasonic G3 which is more dslr like in styling and also has a swivel screen - it's £299 here with the kit lens, so £249 after cashback:
http://www.abc-digital-cameras.co.uk/Panasonic-DMC-G3-with-14-42mm-Black-Olympic-Single.html Again the Sigma 19mm (£135) micro four thirds mount or the Panasonic 20mm (£220 after cashback) will both work on this too.
 
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Definitely interested in the A57 but as the price is starting to go up I need to ask what extra am I getting over the A290 bar the FPS increase, a sensor that's a bit better and a tilt swivel LCD screen, how much more would I have to spend to get a major upgrade / go full sensor?
 
Einholt said:
Definitely interested in the A57 but as the price is starting to go up I need to ask what extra am I getting over the A290 bar the FPS increase, a sensor that's a bit better and a tilt swivel LCD screen, how much more would I have to spend to get a major upgrade / go full sensor?
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The a57 would give you a much better camera in every respect UNLESS you can't live with an EVF. It's a much bigger upgrade than the price alone would suggest.

I know it's been said, but its worth repeating. Sony have the best live view implementation, by some margin.

A full frame camera is going to bust your budget by well over a grand, unless you go for 2nd hand. Trouble is most older FF cams don't have articulating screens and all are a good deal heavier than APS-C cams.
 
Johnd2000 said:
The a57 would give you a much better camera in every respect UNLESS you can't live with an EVF. It's a much bigger upgrade than the price alone would suggest.

I know it's been said, but its worth repeating. Sony have the best live view implementation, by some margin.

A full frame camera is going to bust your budget by well over a grand, unless you go for 2nd hand. Trouble is most older FF cams don't have articulating screens and all are a good deal heavier than APS-C cams.
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Thanks for the information, A57 is looking like a winner at the moment, just need to go and give it a test run, now my next question, should I upgrade now and sell off all my old kit and just be left with camera + kit lens or get a 35mm prime now and a few other bits now then upgrade in 4-6 months when I can afford to sell the A290s body only and keep the rest of my kit (I think this is the sensible option), also the A57 may have dropped in price or there might be a better new model at its current price point
 
Einholt said:
Thanks for the information, A57 is looking like a winner at the moment, just need to go and give it a test run, now my next question, should I upgrade now and sell off all my old kit and just be left with camera + kit lens or get a 35mm prime now and a few other bits now then upgrade in 4-6 months when I can afford to sell the A290s body only and keep the rest of my kit (I think this is the sensible option), also the A57 may have dropped in price or there might be a better new model at its current price point
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Just a guess, but the A57 price is more likely to go down than up as a replacement model gets nearer. That won't be until next year though and of course the A57 will still be a good camera even when the new model comes out.

You could pick up the 35mm prime for your A290 at £114 now (after cashback) and wait a few months to see if there are any deals on the A57? The cashback ends sometime in January but in the past I have seen prices drop (on bodies not lenses) by a similar amount to the cashback amount as soon as the cashback offer ends.

A57 was announced in March and came out in April/May so it will probably be at least 5 -6 months before any new model (although you never know with Sony!) and possible bargain prices on the old model. So on the other hand you could upgrade now and enjoy the camera now rather than waiting 4/5/6 months. :D
 
You have some very good points, I would love nothing more than the A57 in my hands soon but I also really want the prime now to give me some quality glass, also there is the issue of being limited to the kit lens, I would lose the reach of my 200mm zoom lens and the range of focal lengths it gives me
 
heidfirst said:
If Liveview is important to you (& it seems to be) then Sony's Liveview AF is the fastest..
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?
Panasonic and Olympus have faster liveview focusing, although Sony's is the only phase-detect system with liveview at the same time. (Not counting Nikon 1, too tiny, not in the race.)
Panasonic also do very good tilt-swivel touch-screen LCDs and their G3 is a bargain right now since they are pushing the newer G5.

For mostly landscapes I'd vote for a sony with swivel LCD unless you have the budget for a good wide lens, then maybe consider other systems where the lens leads the purchase.
 
Ulfric M Douglas said:
?
Panasonic and Olympus have faster liveview focusing,
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I think that you'll find that they don't (they may well do in some particular carefully chosen & worded sector like CSC) compared to an Alpha especially for moving subjects.
 
I went ahead and got the 35mm lens and absolutely love it, will post some pictures up later, I will upgrade next year when I have more funds.

One thing I would really like though is a cheap macro lens for 1.1, can anybody recommend one with ok to decent quality for as little money as possible, either an alpha mount or any other one that I can get an adaptor for, would preferably like something for the £30-50 range, AF is not important as will only be using it indoors on a tripod and will get a better AF one next year.
 
There is a Cosina macro lens (aka plastic fantastic) which is a 100mm f3.5 AF macro lens and comes with an adaptor for 1:1 - quite hard to find though and probably more than £50? (Completed listings on ebay shows a Canon mount one sold for £65 for example, no current listings for a Sony mount one though).
http://www.dyxum.com/columns/articles/lenses/cosina_100_35_macro/cosina_100_35_macro_review.asp

I have the older manual focus version which was £35 but mine is an Olympus OM mount, so I use it on a Sony Nex with an adapter. There is an AF version in Minolta/Alpha mount but like I said hard to find. You may be better off just getting a Marumi or Raynox as you can use them on any lens and a Raynox 250 is only £38: http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/...r&tag=1567&=electronics&qid=1352228530&sr=1-1 - (or the Raynox 150 is £34). I have the 150 and it gives great results.
 
applemint said:
There is a Cosina macro lens (aka plastic fantastic) which is a 100mm f3.5 AF macro lens and comes with an adaptor for 1:1 - quite hard to find though and probably more than £50? (Completed listings on ebay shows a Canon mount one sold for £65 for example, no current listings for a Sony mount one though).
http://www.dyxum.com/columns/articles/lenses/cosina_100_35_macro/cosina_100_35_macro_review.asp

I have the older manual focus version which was £35 but mine is an Olympus OM mount, so I use it on a Sony Nex with an adapter. There is an AF version in Minolta/Alpha mount but like I said hard to find. You may be better off just getting a Marumi or Raynox as you can use them on any lens and a Raynox 250 is only £38: http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/...r&tag=1567&=electronics&qid=1352228530&sr=1-1 - (or the Raynox 150 is £34). I have the 150 and it gives great results.
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Funny you mention the raynox, I have the 250 and cannot seem to get frame filling 1.1 shots with it, maybe I am doing something wrong?
 
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Been doing more research and pretty interested in a a580 when I buy a new body, I think the reasonable price for some pretty major upgrades over my a290 without the last few niggles of the slt range that will be gone by the time I upgrade body in x years time, and due to the lower body price I could upgrade a little bit sooner and invest the savings in better equipment.
 
Einholt said:
Been doing more research and pretty interested in a a580 when I buy a new body, I think the reasonable price for some pretty major upgrades over my a290 without the last few niggles of the slt range that will be gone by the time I upgrade body in x years time, and due to the lower body price I could upgrade a little bit sooner and invest the savings in better equipment.
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A580 is a cracker. It's basically a squeakily built Nikon d7000. Good luck in finding one for sale. They're like hen's teeth.
 
Einholt said:
Funny you mention the raynox, I have the 250 and cannot seem to get frame filling 1.1 shots with it, maybe I am doing something wrong?
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It might be the distance to the subject. Getting this right is critical with the 250.

I don't know exactly what that distance would be on your camera. I use the 250 (and the 150, and the 202 and the [Canon] 500D) on my G3, with its nice swivelly screen, which I use with a home-made LCD hood, for close-ups, which is about all I do, quite often at weird angles. With the 250 on the G3 the working distance between the subject and the lens is about four inches. If you aren't fairly close to that (or whatever the, probably rather similar, distance is for your setup) you won't get a sharp image (and if you are using autofocus, you won't be able to gain focus).
 
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