What I Like About Sony's Approach to Camera Models

[YellowJersey]

One of the things I like about Sony's approach to cameras, particularly the A7 line, is that it goes less for a strict vertical product lineup with a clear flagship and then a steady removal of features towards the base model (which is what most other companies do) and goes more for a horizontal product line up where you have multiple cameras that are more tailored to a specific task or type of shooter rather than a specific price point. (holy runon sentences, Batman!)

 

 Take Canon, for example, in DSLRs. You have the 1Dx series at the top that is usually the lowlight/speed king (highest price point, all features), the 5D series below it that usually features high(er) resolution (mid/high price point, fewer features), and then the 6D series below it that is usually lower resolution and basic autofocus (low/mid price point, fewest features). The thing that annoys me about this approach is that it doesn't work well for people whose needs and budget don't fall neatly into one of those models/price points.

 

 Sony is seemingly unique in that it offers three models (the A7 series, and four if you count the A9) into a more horizontal product line up that offers very similar features but each model tailored to a different kind of shooter. To a certain extent, the A7r is just the A7 with more MP, the A7s is just the A7 but better in low light and video, the A9 is just the A7 but with high fps. The A7 isn't so much the entry-level camera, but rather the standard model and the other models are different flavours of the A7. Not a strictly horizontal product lineup as cameras that come out later tend to have more/better features and there is some differentiation to meet price points, but not nearly to the same extent as other brands.

 

 Obviously, Sony's not perfect. But this is one aspect of Sony's approach that I really like in comparison to other brands.

[GDRRiley]

yep, I've mostly decided that I'll be moving off of canon and onto sony over the next 1-3 years slowly as I can get good prices on used gear.

A7RIV will likely become my photo body

a A7IV or A7SIII being my GF video and photo body

if we don't have an a7SIII then an a7SII for night photos cus I love taking photos with just moonlight and fast primes

[YellowJersey]

2 hours ago, GDRRiley said:

yep, I've mostly decided that I'll be moving off of canon and onto sony over the next 1-3 years slowly as I can get good prices on used gear.

A7RIV will likely become my photo body

a A7IV or A7SIII being my GF video and photo body

if we don't have an a7SIII then an a7SII for night photos cus I love taking photos with just moonlight and fast primes

But we do have an A7SIII.

[GDRRiley]

11 minutes ago, YellowJersey said:

But we do have an A7SIII.

I'm saying if she gets a more hybrid over the more video focused a7SIII 12mp is probably fine for her

[YellowJersey]

11 hours ago, GDRRiley said:

I'm saying if she gets a more hybrid over the more video focused a7SIII 12mp is probably fine for her

Ohhhh ok. I got you.

[YellowJersey]

18 hours ago, GDRRiley said:

I'm saying if she gets a more hybrid over the more video focused a7SIII 12mp is probably fine for her

Just be aware that the A7SII still a noticeable star-eater problem. I have an A7RIII and haven't noticed any issues.

[GDRRiley]

2 hours ago, YellowJersey said:

Just be aware that the A7SII still a noticeable star-eater problem. I have an A7RIII and haven't noticed any issues.

a star eating problem?

[YellowJersey]

1 hour ago, GDRRiley said:

a star eating problem?

It's part of the automatic noise reduction (spatial filtering). Basically, when using long shutter speeds (more than 3.2 seconds) there's an aggressive noise reduction algorithm that tends to mistake smaller stars for noise or hot pixels and remove them from the image. So the A7sII was not great for night sky photography. The third generation A7 cameras still have it, but it's not nearly as aggressive, so I've had no noticeable problems when shooting the stars on my A7rIII. 

 

https://petapixel.com/2017/05/04/star-eater-issue-no-longer-recommend-sony-cameras-astrophotography/

 

 Just out of curiosity, what do you think the A7sIII is lacking for photos?

 

 

[GDRRiley]

13 minutes ago, YellowJersey said:

It's part of the automatic noise reduction (spatial filtering). Basically, when using long shutter speeds (more than 3.2 seconds) there's an aggressive noise reduction algorithm that tends to mistake smaller stars for noise or hot pixels and remove them from the image. So the A7sII was not great for night sky photography. The third generation A7 cameras still have it, but it's not nearly as aggressive, so I've had no noticeable problems when shooting the stars on my A7rIII. 

 

https://petapixel.com/2017/05/04/star-eater-issue-no-longer-recommend-sony-cameras-astrophotography/

 

 Just out of curiosity, what do you think the A7sIII is lacking for photos?

 

 

okay so sony made some mistake in NR, I don't do star photography, often just landscape and street at night

 

for me I'd get an A7/A7R for the higher MP, I've already got a cine camera and if my GF has the A7S a video first hybrid, I'm after a stills primary video 2nd body