Looking at all the prices of the price and then the sale price. The A7M3, even though released in February 2018 (still like yesterday to me), has held its value even with the A7M4 out and little off. It should go back to original price again soon. I mean I started with the A7S in ’14 and did not upgrade till ’17 to A7RM2 mainly for the IBIS/bright monitoring (yes another hidden gem) and even with the A7S in my bag I used it for both day and night. The key issue for both is the on camera apps, that few even know about and new buy and downloads ending this September, the “Digital Filter” was used for Astro and surf/water smoothing and still use because I do not have to take a bunch of filters with me.
The A7M3 is the beginning of the cream on top camera with 24.2MP (double the A7S and A7SM2) just the right size for fast capture to SD and downloads but also for storage and up loads to the web. It is an all around winner for birds with 10 FPS, and with great AWB for astro capturing even the high in the atmosphere gas colors like the A7S. The beginning of capturing a dark image but post getting less noise in shadows and with a base ISO 100 but two other ISO’s steps when noise gets smoother the second 12800 but the first 640 (best place to start). There is more!
If looking at price accounting for inflation it is about the same as a Canon/Nikon in 2010 before there was IBIS or ISO noise smoothing or affordable software (Sony started with C1 at $30 when PS/Lr did not even have dust removal and at $800 ea and each full update.
The A7M3 is the best bang for the buck starter and just for info the A7M2 is still selling new since 20 November 2014 when IBIS first came out at $1699 and today at $999 but still unbelievable after a decade later but in camera years equals a light year. Example my Canon T2i at 2010 was deleted from Canon site just after 3 years, I paid $800 with two lenses and was the days having to use the makers SW for post processing.
Right now Canon/Nikon are just starting mirrorless and playing catch up with Sony as well a leaving their buyers of DSLR’s holding the bag of cameras/lenses and still no on camera apps.
So for a new camera that will not only hold its value but you can grow your lens collection even the old (E 10–18mm F4 OSS APS-C Ultra-wide Zoom Lens with Optical SteadyShot of 2013 still selling for $800 using in both APS-C and FF) that will be even great for years the A7M3 is hands down a great pick for the first.
Also you may be too young to know who started the silenced camera and no flashes at all Washington Hill news photo ops, awesome to see the change when already having.
Sony history is so long it is hard to keep short. Thanks the Brian Smith’s first books I found at a bookstore showing all that could done with step by step with images also, I feel I have a gold mine of gear from the beginning, not bragging just Fact!!!!