Cameras
PHOTOGRAPHY GEAR GUIDE: CAMERAS
Sony E-Mount Mirrorless Cameras
Sony a7RII
The a7 series flagship fullframe mirrorless camera does it all. With 42.4mp resolution, 5-Axis Image Stabilization, internal 4K recording and the best AF system of all the a7-series cameras. It’s like a medium format camera in the palm of your hand – only better.
Sony a7SII
This update of Sony’s 12.2mp low-light monster adds 5-Axis Image Stabilization, SLOG-3 and best-in-class dynamic range at high ISOs making it a great choice both for native 4K video and for stills in near darkness.
Sony a7II
Sony a7II features 5-Axis Sensor Shift Stabilization, 40% faster Phase-detection AF, an all metal body and lens mount, a beefier grip and feel and the same 24.3mp you know and love from A7. Though it lacks the most-advanced features and resolution of the a7RII, it’s the biggest bargain of the a7 line-up.
Sony a6000
Entry level a6000-Series APS-C mirrorless camera offers fast Phase-detect AF with the best features of NEX-6 and NEX-7. Its 24.3mp CMOS sensor and BIONZ X image processor produces high-resolution still images and full HD movies with good low-light quality and sensitivity to ISO 25,600.
Sony a6300
Everything you love from a6000 plus wider-coverage 425-point phase-detection system with a 169-area contrast detection system for quick and precise focusing performance. It offers 4K video recording with 2.4x oversampling from full width of the sensor and S-Log3. Improved sensor design offers better low-light quality and sensitivity to ISO 51,200.
Sony a6500
Sony’s Top-of-the-line APS-C mirrorless camera offers all the features of a6300 plus 5-Axis Image Stabilization for up to 5 stops image stabilization. Also adds a LSI Processor and larger buffer for improved performance for longer HFR and continuous bursts.
Sony a5000
Sony’s update of the NEX-5N camera I used when I appeared on The X-Factor to shoot the show’s ten finalists. APS-C 20.1 mp CMOS sensor and BIONZ X image processor to produce high-resolution still images and full HD movies with marked low-light quality and sensitivity to ISO 16,000
Sony A-Mount Cameras
Sony a99 II
Sony’s newest flagship fullframe A-mount camera share the 42.4MP back-illuminated AF sensor and 5-Axis Image Stabilzation system found in a7RII. It’s the best DSLR-style camera ever made with the fastest AF in its class!
Sony a77 II
An excellent update of the Sony a77 featuring fast and accurate 4D AF. Full AF 1080 in 24, 30 and 60P featuring a sensor with an identical pixel count to the a99. Sony’s 16-50/2.8 is not your basic kit lens – it’s the perfect all-around focal range for APS-C cameras.
Fixed Lens Cameras
Sony RX1R II
Fullframe mirrorless compact body with a fixed Zeiss 35mm/F2 leaf-shutter lens offers high flash sync speed using the same 42MP sensor with 399 point Phase-Detection AF from in a7RII. RX1R II adds a pop-up EVF and the world’s only variable optical low-pass filter along with low-pass bracketing mode.
Sony RX100 VA
The latest generation of the best compact camera ever gets updated for performance with a new LSI processor and large buffer that allows 24 FPS, and double length HFR clips to all the good stuff included in previous versions. It offers the World’s fastest1 (0.05 sec.) hybrid AF system with 315 Phase Detection AF points and pop-up EVF.
Sony RX100 IV
The 4th generation of the best compact camera adds 4K internal recording, slow motion at 960 fps, 480 fps, or 240 fps – and even better pop-up EVF with the same fast Zeiss Lens and Large 1′ Sensor and the ability to Shoot RAW. I’m a big believer in always keeping a camera with me, so I often slip a compact camera in my pocket for those times I don’t take a larger camera.
Sony RX100 MIII
The first RX100 Camera to add 180 degree tilt screen that’s perfect for Vloggers. If you don’t need 4K or the high frames rates of RX100 V or RX100 IV, save a few bucks and still get the same fast Zeiss Lens, Large 1′ Sensor and the ability to Shoot RAW.
Sony Cyber-Shot DSC-TX30
The perfect inexpensive slip-in-your-pocket-cam. Sure I know you got you iPhone for that, but this 18.2MP camera with 5x optical zoom lens is waterproof to 33′ (10 m), shock-proof to a drop of 5′ (1.5 m), freeze-proof to 14ºF (-10ºC) and dust-proof for worry free shots at the beach.
Lomography Diana F+ Medium Format Camera
I used to scour the flea markets for vintage with Diana cameras because I love their simplicity and the look you can get with them. Thanks to Lomography for bringing them back. They’re a great way to remind yourself that photography is about ‘seeing.’
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Brian, I’m soon to purchase a Sony A7RII. I’ll likely also got the 16-35 f/4, 70-200 f/4, but the Sony Zeiss 24-70 f/4 I’ve read many reviews and it is not so sharp. I want this focal length as I do the majority of work with it. I’m a nature and landscape photographer always using a tripod and most often use f/11 or f/8 sometimes f/22 for sun bursts. What is your opinion on this focal length for great sharpness? I still have my Canon 24-105 f/4 will this be sharp enough for the A7RII body?
Many thanks
Rita
While the FE 24-70mm is not up to the high standards set by FE 16-35 and FE 70-200 it actually stack up quite well against the competition: https://briansmith.com/sony-fe-24-70-f4-dxo-lens-tests/
Brian and John, I very much appreciate you both taking the time to inform me with your opinions which I value. Native 24-70 f4 it will be. I just received it last week and will go out to the field tomorrow for the first time with the new equipment.
Best,
Rita
Happy shooting Rita!
For what it may be worth my FE 24-70/4 produces outstanding results and earns its keep. Pixel peepers may peer at the corners as much as they like!
I’m with ya John. I’ve had four magazine covers shot with that lens.
I have purchased an A7RII with the 16-35mm f/4 and a 55mm f/1.8. In both lenses the option for eye focus in not available. Sony highlights this as a feature in their cameras however, it seems that not all Sony lenses support this function. If this is true then which Sony lenses support eye focus?
Face detection must be turned on and the focus area must be set for wide or zone.
I’m pretty sure “Eye Focus” is a feature only available when using A-mount lenses and adapter. The camera does pre-focusing when it detects your eye is at the viewfinder. Eye AF is the feature which automatically detects eyes in compositions and focuses on them. If it works the same as the limited non continuous Eye AF in the original A7 you have to assign “Eye AF” to a custom button. I have it assigned to the AF/MF/AEL button on the back of the camera, normally I have standard focus set on it, but flick the switch changes the button to Eye AF for portraits.
Actually I’m confusing it with “Eye-Start AF”.
Brian, I have an A7Mk2 and am using it with the 70/200. What is not clear to me is how to turn off OSS and IBIS when using a tripod. Does it require both camera and lens to be turned off seperately, or will flipping the switch on the lens do the job on the camera too? I cannot find the answer in any Sony documents!
Mike
If you mean the Sony FE 70-200mm F4, you turn image stabilization On/Off using the switch on the lens – not in the menu for any lens with a physical OSS or IS switch.
Thanks Brian. Yes, I did mean the FE 70-200 F4. So the switch on the lens turns off lens OSS and in-camera IBIS – that simplifies things nicely. Mike
Yup. That’s explained in this book. 😉
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Hi Brian,
I learnt so much reading your site. I’d greatly appreciate your advice.
My SLT-A77v died after 8 years and I am looking for a replacement. I shoot mainly cityscape/landscape/still life/travel, and I couldn’t care less about video. I’d like to be able to print my photo poster size though. Which camera under $2k that you would recommend? Also, given all the newer (mirrorless) cameras use E-mount lenses, is it worth to get the Sony LA-EA4 adapter so that I can keep using my favorite lens SAL 16-80 and my other A-mount lenses, or should I get the kit lens to get started?
Thank you very much, and happy Thanksgiving.
Happy Thanksgiving to you as well, Sarah!
Two obvious choices that fit the bill would be the 24mp Sony a7 III ($1,798 Black Friday Deal) or the 42mp Sony a7R IIIA ($1,998 Black Friday Deal)
Sell the SAL 16-80. It won’t cover fullframe and Isn’t up to the AF speed or image quality of E-mount lenses. Instead of wasting money on LA-EA4 – apply it to the cost of a good 24-105 E-mount zoom.
I have found out while shopping for a used one that the RxR1 ii has a “cult-like” following among many street/travel shooters. A used Rx1r ii is still expensive too. If the A7C series was just a little smaller and had the old tilt screen, I would probably go that route.