Should I stick with Sony or change for my new DSLR?

sduk

sduk

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Hi folks, I know there are loads of threads on this sort of topic so will try to keep it brief :)

I currently have a Sony A200 and have bought the following lenses for it:

- 50mm f1.8
- 75-300mm
- 10-24mm wide angle

Plus a battery grip, remote shutter release and extra Sony batteries and charger.


I have had it for about 5 years and am starting to realise its limitations and am looking into upgrading.

Should I stay with the Sony A series? I was looking at the A77 and it means all my lenses and accessories will still be useable.

Or is now the time to change to a Canon or Nikon? and build up the collection of lenses and accessories?

The Sony A77 gets good reviews and is priced about £900. Is it worth spending that on a Sony or would the other equivalent brands be "better"?

I guess another advantage is I have a good understanding of the A series camera workings.

thanks in advance,

Sammy
 
the A200 was my first dslr :) Good little cam, but I too began to find it limited after a while. All that sifting through menus to change controls. I jumped at a great priced used D200 from there and been Nikon ever since. But ... I could just as easily have upgraded to an A450 or 500 at the time. I'd probably be using an A77 or A99 now if I'd stayed Sony.

It's a personal thing, nobody can really advice you on it. Have you tried out any other brands? felt them in your hand, tried out the controls etc? Ergonomics is a big deal. Maybe the Sony would suit you better? and you already have lenses to go. From what I have seen around, the newer Sony bodies are getting good reviews.
 
Staying with sony will likely give you better value for money. I'd have a look at the A65 & A57 as well. Both are a lot cheaper than the A77 and will still be lots better than the much older A200. There are also a few A580s kicking around. There also well worth considering if you have any sigma lenses as they often need modification to work with the SLTs.

Basically if you're happy with what sony offers then it isn't a waste of money as you have in body IS and automatically any lens you buy becomes stabilised. Nikon/Canon can't say this.

Unless canon/nikon have a lens that you really, really want and sony don't offer it (like the mpe-65) then there isn't that much reason to switch if you are already happy with the basic handling and such like. If you're not happy with some aspect of that which the later sony models don't address then switching is a better idea.
 
The biggest question is whether you like the evf or not. Lots of people don't and thats all Sony make now. If you don't like them look else where.
 
The A77 is a big step up from the A200 across the board - the only negative (from some peoples perspective) is the EVF, but I woull be very surprised if you did not find it a significant step up from the OVF on the A200 - it will be much bigger and brighter, sufficiently so to counteract any negatives.

If fact, the only problem I can see is that you may find the A77 shows up any weaknesses in your existing lenses - the 75-300 is likely to be the biggest issue there.

Changing systems - it all depends on what you think the future holds!

While the Sony lens range in undoubtedly smaller than Canon or Nikon, it has all the major boxes ticked, the main 'gap' being longer primes - but these are £2k+ each, so for most people they are 'unavailable' (financially) anyway.

It's worth going into a decent camera shop and giving comparable models (price wise) to the A77 a go - then consider what you get for your cash, and how much it would cost to switch lenses.
You may find staying with Sony is the best option.
 
You can pick up a genuine, new UK stock A77 body for ~£800 if you shop around.
Currently Sony have cashback on A37/A57 & A65 but not A77.

Coming from an A200 I am sure that you would love the upgrade in capabilities & handling of either A77, 60D or D7000.(bear in mind that both D7000 & 60D are probably due for replacement shortly)

Pluses of staying with Sony - your existing batteries, lenses & probably remote will work on a new body.
The best Liveview AF & AF in video going.
You are used to Sony menu systems.

Downsides: as mentioned 24MP may show up your existing lenses.
Lenswise there is very little that isn't now available for A mount & what isn't is usually very specialised & expensive. & of course eveything is stabilised on an Alpha giving you some options that don't exist for Canon & Nikon.

EVF/OVF - this is very personal as some people prefer OVF but some people prefer what EVF brings to the table. I suspect that it depends what you shoot & your style.

At the end of the day it's your money & your choice so think out what is important to you & then go to a shop & handle the options.
 
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thanks everyone for the quite replies, really helpfull.

can I ask what EVF and OVF is/are?

My main issue is going to be money. Having just got married and trying to save up to sell my flat and get a house, this (and my wife haha) are big things to consider.

I should explain that I am a car photographer (static cars) and mainly use my 10-24mm lens and the 50mm. So losing quality on the 75-300 is not really a problem.

I just dont know if I want to start again with a new brand and worry I wouldnt be able to buy the equivalent lenses I need.

I take it with the new camera (the A77 for example) that the process time would improve a lot from my A200?

At the moment I take a 1 minute exposure and it takes 1 minute to process. Does my head in!

Also with the increase in sensor quality and megapixels would the image quality improve?

thanks for the help :D
 
EVF= Electronic Viewfinder
OVF= Optical Viewfinder

EVFs apparently take a bit of use to fully appreciate the benefits but those who stick with them through that usually say that they wouldn't go back to an OVF.
Give it a few years & almost (if not) all vfs will be EVF.

You could buy an equivalent 50/ & wide angle in Canon or Nikon fit.

I take it that you have long exposure NR on?
 
thanks, I'm sure I can get used to the EVF.

I know I could buy those two lenses but I dont know if I could get them straight away and I need them for my shoots :) pushing my luck with my wife to get the new camera haha

I dont even know what long exposure NR is haha :)
 
EVF = Electronic View Finder
The A77 has a very high resolution OLED screen in the viewfinder, which allows it to add all sorts of additional information to what you see, and to make it modify the display for under / over exposure, for example.
The display can suffer when you pan rapidly, or in some artificial lighting situations.

OVF = Optical View Finder
A 'traditional' viewfinder, where you see an image through the lens by means of a Penta-Mirror (entry level) or Penta-Prism (higher spec models).

The A200 OVF is reasonable for an entry level DSLR, but is a poor relation to the OVF you find on top-end Full Frame DSLR.
 
sduk said:
I dont even know what long exposure NR is haha :)
Click to expand...

When you take a long exposure, 'noise' will increase as the sensor literally heats up. To counteract this, the camera can be set to automatically take a second shot with the shutter closed - this will give it a shot of just the 'noise', which it can 'subtract' from the original image to remove it.

So you take a 1 min shot, then the camera automatically takes a 1 min shot to generate the noise removal image.
 
long exposure NR (noise reduction) basically takes a 2nd equivalent exposure with the shutter closed & subtracts it to compensate for stuck pixels.
Sonys automatically remap for stuck pixels every month so probably don't suffer as much as some brands that don't. Also a modern CMOS sensor is less prone to noise due to long exposures compared to a CCD like that in the A200.
If you take long exposure NR off you'll be able to work a lot quicker but may have to do some NR in post processing.

btw the EVF in an A77 is going to look massive compared to an A200's optical vf.
 
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In five years there are a lot of advances in every make of Camera.
However there is very little change the the quality of the actual photographs people take.

Things have become easier and quicker over a great light range, And the detail now captured is far higher than most people can use.

You certainly don't need to change your camera if you don't need nor will use any of the recent advances.

Sony are middle of the road cameras, like Minolta before them, they do innovate and they do have fine qualities, but they are not yet the "Best" what ever you think that means.

If money is not important they would not be the first choice for many people, and the move to SLT's is not for everyone either.

I have found it impossible to chose a camera for other Photographers... it is such a personal thing...
But every so often we all get the urge to have a spend up, whether we need to or not.
It keeps the camera trade afloat and ensures the flow of new toys for us all.

But the quality of photographs over the past 60 years has stayed much the same.
 
Have a look at the Sony a65 its a cracking Camera- I know I use one


Les :D

However- if you do switch I'd be interested in your 10-24mm :D
 
No vertical grip for A65 if that is a potential issue but certainly with cashback it's a lot cheaper whilst maintaining most of the actual imaging pipeline of the A77.
A77 has a stronger frame & moisture & dust protection.
Perhaps most importantly it has a 2nd control wheel (once you are used to 2 you would miss it going back to only 1).

http://blog.gmcamera.com/2011/08/26/sony-alpha-a65-and-a77-feature-comparison/
 
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yeah that was putting me off, you can get a grip for the A77. I really love the grip on the A200.

Would probably sell the A200 and if I could get £100 then that would help towards the extra cost of the A77.

It's the A77 I keep coming back to :)
 
A200 is worth more than £100 - alternatively a backup body is rarely a bad thing to have.
 
The elephant in the room ;
rjbell said:
The biggest question is whether you like the evf or not.
Click to expand...
EVF/OVF can be nothing serious or the single most important barrier to using cameras, depending on your eyesight/brain.
I actually like my Olympus & Panasonic EVFs but the Sony ones are not comfortable for me.

How about buying a used example of one of their last proper crop DSLRs? Great prices right now and good kit.
 
Ulfric M Douglas said:
The elephant in the room ;

EVF/OVF can be nothing serious or the single most important barrier to using cameras, depending on your eyesight/brain.
I actually like my Olympus & Panasonic EVFs but the Sony ones are not comfortable for me.

How about buying a used example of one of their last proper crop DSLRs? Great prices right now and good kit.
Click to expand...

Actually, that is a very viable option.

If you stick with Sony, then a s/h A700 (the predecessor to the A77, but with a traditional DSLR design, great OVF) can be had for under £400 - spend the £500 you save over the A77 on a good lens (or two, depending on choice of lens and new or s/h).
 
Terrywoodenpic said:
In five years there are a lot of advances in every make of Camera.
However there is very little change the the quality of the actual photographs people take.

Things have become easier and quicker over a great light range, And the detail now captured is far higher than most people can use.

You certainly don't need to change your camera if you don't need nor will use any of the recent advances.

Sony are middle of the road cameras, like Minolta before them, they do innovate and they do have fine qualities, but they are not yet the "Best" what ever you think that means.

If money is not important they would not be the first choice for many people, and the move to SLT's is not for everyone either.

I have found it impossible to chose a camera for other Photographers... it is such a personal thing...
But every so often we all get the urge to have a spend up, whether we need to or not.
It keeps the camera trade afloat and ensures the flow of new toys for us all.

But the quality of photographs over the past 60 years has stayed much the same.
Click to expand...

You say middle of the road compared to say what?

The A77 is certainly not middle of the road, and up there with the big boys with ground breaking features for the price?

24.3 megapixel sensor
12FS
Continuous Phase Detection autofocus
19-point autofocus
magnesium alloy with weather sealed body
Buit in GPS
etc etc

Where else you going to get that on a sub £1k camera?

I not biased as I have used Canon and Nikon in the past, also in progress of getting another Nikon body ;)


Anyhow to the OP I think you definitely should go have a try of one at least if you can?


I would highly recommend it if funds allow? :)
 
there is an A580 for £350 in the classifieds forum here.
 
mufftrix said:
You say middle of the road compared to say what?

The A77 is certainly not middle of the road, and up there with the big boys with ground breaking features for the price?

24.3 megapixel sensor
12FS
Continuous Phase Detection autofocus
19-point autofocus
magnesium alloy with weather sealed body
Buit in GPS
etc etc

Where else you going to get that on a sub £1k camera?

I not biased as I have used Canon and Nikon in the past, also in progress of getting another Nikon body ;)


Anyhow to the OP I think you definitely should go have a try of one at least if you can?


I would highly recommend it if funds allow? :)
Click to expand...

I do not care for The SLT concept any more than I cared for the Pelicle many years before. It causes light loss, is virtually impossible to clean and has a comparatively short working life.

Minolta and Sony ( with many of the same designers and engineers) do innovate and they do have fine qualities, as I said above. But in professional terms they are still middle of the road, as they have always been. Sony as sensor designers and makers are perhaps more important to the industry than Sony as camera makers. Just as Kodak were more important as film makers than camera makers.

Cameras, at an advanced level, are a platform for lenses and systems, and are in many terms disposable, as technical advances progress. It is more important to chose a system than a camera to achieve continuity.

At the moment Sony do not seem to be offering much consistency.
 
Terrywoodenpic said:
I do not care for The SLT concept any more than I cared for the Pelicle many years before. It causes light loss, is virtually impossible to clean and has a comparatively short working life.
Click to expand...

What a load of crap. Impossible to clean? Not at all. Short working life? The SLT mirror is a £75, user replaceable part. How much does it cost to replace a Canikon mirror box?
 
Johnd2000 said:
What a load of crap. Impossible to clean? Not at all. Short working life? The SLT mirror is a £75, user replaceable part. How much does it cost to replace a Canikon mirror box?
Click to expand...

I have no Idea, I have never had to replace one In a lifetime of Professional work.
 
Terrywoodenpic said:
I have no Idea, I have never had to replace one In a lifetime of Professional work.
Click to expand...

And it's clear you've never owned an SLT, yet that doesn't stop you making up rubbish about them.
 
Terrywoodenpic said:
I do not care for The SLT concept any more than I cared for the Pelicle many years before. It causes light loss, is virtually impossible to clean and has a comparatively short working life.

Minolta and Sony ( with many of the same designers and engineers) do innovate and they do have fine qualities, as I said above. But in professional terms they are still middle of the road, as they have always been. Sony as sensor designers and makers are perhaps more important to the industry than Sony as camera makers. Just as Kodak were more important as film makers than camera makers.

Cameras, at an advanced level, are a platform for lenses and systems, and are in many terms disposable, as technical advances progress. It is more important to chose a system than a camera to achieve continuity.

At the moment Sony do not seem to be offering much consistency.
Click to expand...

You seem to have a very strong opinion without any substance?

short life as in what? the shutter on the A77 is rated to 150K and as John says the mirror is a consumable that is a 5 min job to change?

Consistency? They have just launched the A99 full frame SLT along with 2 more compact system cameras? There are more new lenses also on the horizon etc?

I think you must be lost in a time warp not to see that Sony is now a genuine alternative to Nikon and Canon?

Have you read the reviews on the A77 even?

It not fair to take over the OP thread so not going to get into a battle and am sure the OP will make a considered decision especially as they have experience of an older Sony model?
 
so back on topic, went into town today and tried out the Sony A77. What an upgrade from mine! was totally sold on it so bought it :D

Also managed to sell my A200 to my cousin so that helped discount the price to me :)

thanks for all the good advice, really helped me make my decision. Just need to persuade my wife to let me buy the grip and a new lens for it :D
 
Congrats! Xmas came early for you ;)
Have fun & take lots of pics.
 
thank you mate :) the main reasons were as soon as picked up the camera I was familiar with the menu's and operating system. I love the EVF and all the extra new features.

Plus I dont have the outlay of buying new lenses and I can continue shooting as I did before.

So fancy having the live display on the back. Will take a bit of getting used to but I think unless it is a tripod or rig shot I will keep looking through the EVF :)
 
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Congratulations on the a77 - cracking bit of kit. That said I love my a65

good shooting with it fella

Les :thumbs:
 
Well done and am sure you will love the new features ;-)
 
Johnd2000 said:
And it's clear you've never owned an SLT, yet that doesn't stop you making up rubbish about them.
Click to expand...

Only the Canon pellix.

I have read the many forums detailing peoples problems and concerns with SLT's. I concede they do have some advantages at this stage, though I feel it will prove to be a developmental dead end. as will all other forms of mirrors in front of the sensor, including traditional ones.
 
Terrywoodenpic said:
Only the Canon pellix.

I have read the many forums detailing peoples problems and concerns with SLT's. I concede they do have some advantages at this stage, though I feel it will prove to be a developmental dead end. as will all other forms of mirrors in front of the sensor, including traditional ones.
Click to expand...

You don't give up do you ha-ha! :lol::lol::lol:

The OP has bought his weapon of choice now and everyone else happy for him? :shrug:
 
Terrywoodenpic said:
Only the Canon pellix.
Click to expand...
different materials & technology so the problems that afflicted the Pellix with mirror fogging should not occur.

read the many forums detailing peoples problems and concerns with SLT's.
Click to expand...
most of whom have never tried 1 for any length of time.
Yes, they have pros & cons but so does any camera.

I feel it will prove to be a developmental dead end. as will all other forms of mirrors in front of the sensor, including traditional ones.
Click to expand...
we all know that they are going to be a dead end - AF on sensor once perfected will see to that (or Lytro or software processing after the fact in some shape or form). It's only a matter of time.
But SLT does have benefits now.
 
I half wish I had stayed with Sony instead of moving to Nikon, but only in the regards that, for the equipment I want to buy, I was consistently finding cheaper alternatives with the Sony.
I love my Nikon, and genuinely prefer it to the EVF systems (purely personal preference if you ask me), but wish I could buy a Nikon flash for the price I paid for my HVL42AM Sony. I also fell foul of the AF-S AF-D differences in lenses (so the older lenses aren't available to me).
When out shooting with a mate who has the A65 (iirc) there is very little difference between the two, the Nikon only really wins on noise, where the Sony destroys the Nikon in fps etc.

Bet you are over the moon with the A77, I started with an A200, then an A350. Sony really do make some cracking cameras and the menus are superb.
 
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