Mirrorless camera suggestions? (Specs, price range, uses, etc., listed): Hoggers, I have a customer who needs a few mirrorless cameras in the $500-600 range. One of the intended uses...

cabunit Loc: SE Connecticut

Hoggers, I have a customer who needs a few mirrorless cameras in the $500-600 range. One of the intended uses is to capture sharp, READABLE information from posters (say, 2x3 feet) in a single frame, often in poor light (sometimes requiring ISO 3200 or greater). Format is not an issue, that is, either 4/3 or APS-C will work. I can research all the particulars at B&H, but I can't test the IQ.

For example, the Sony Alpha a6000 fits the bill in all respects, but the 16-50 kit lens gets some poor reviews, and buying just the body and adding a better lens is out of budget.

Specific questions for those with experience: Is the kit lens THAT bad? Is there a better choice in that approximate price range, such as the Lumix DMC-G7, that has better IQ with the kit lens?

Many thanks, folks!

Rongnongno Loc: FL

This reads like you have done some extensive research already...

My only suggestion is to ask specific questions to folks that own the cameras you are looking at to get an answer that is pertinent and .. focused.

Right now everything will be all over the place.

burkphoto Loc: High Point, NC

G7 w/25mm f/1.7 Panny lens. About $750 ($600 + $150). Kit zoom is slow.

mas24 Loc: Southern CA

I saw a few days ago that B&H had a Sony a6000 crop sensor mirrorless camera with 16-50mm lens for about $548. A friend bought this camera and paid more than the above price. The price was lowered because of the newest versions. The a6300 and the a6500. He used this camera on a European 2 country vacation. Impressive camera, I must admit.

Cdouthitt Loc: Traverse City, MI

Epl7 ($350)is on close out. Couple it with a 25 1.8 ($300) or 45 1.8 ($300) or sigma 19 2.8 ($200) or 60mm 2.8 ($240)

Or hit the used market.

cabunit Loc: SE Connecticut

Rongnongno wrote:

This reads like you have done some extensive research already...

My only suggestion is to ask specific questions to folks that own the cameras you are looking at to get an answer that is pertinent and .. focused.

Right now everything will be all over the place.

Yes, looks as if it's shaping up that way. I tried to ask the specific question about the a6000, but you're right, needed to spell it out better. Thanks for your input.

cabunit Loc: SE Connecticut

mas24 wrote:

I saw a few days ago that B&H had a Sony a6000 crop sensor mirrorless camera with 16-50mm lens for about $548. A friend bought this camera and paid more than the above price. The price was lowered because of the newest versions. The a6300 and the a6500. He used this camera on a European 2 country vacation. Impressive camera, I must admit.

Thanks for the reply. Saw the same deal on the a6000, but as stated, am looking for feedback on the image quality with the kit lens. Will look at the other models you mentioned.

cabunit Loc: SE Connecticut

Cdouthitt wrote:

Epl7 ($350)is on close out. Couple it with a 25 1.8 ($300) or 45 1.8 ($300) or sigma 19 2.8 ($200) or 60mm 2.8 ($240)

Or hit the used market.

Many thanks for the specifics. Will check them out. The used market isn't a likely option as they want to keep it simple with a few of these off the shelf without hunting around.

Cdouthitt Loc: Traverse City, MI

What other things are they going to be shooting?

cabunit Loc: SE Connecticut

Cdouthitt wrote:

What other things are they going to be shooting?

Well, thanks, it's mostly documentation, and it's all indoors, usually in challenging light. The cameras will be used during workshops, where discussion groups brainstorm various ideas, put them on stickies on posterboard, then create handwritten concept boards (the posters) to formalize their work. It's possible that they'll get used for snapshots during the discussions (sometimes there are crude models made of equipment prototypes), but they're mostly concerned with capturing all the ideas that come out of the talks, so sharp, readable images--especially considering the gamut of handwriting styles--are key.

Cdouthitt Loc: Traverse City, MI

cabunit wrote:

Well, thanks, it's mostly documentation, and it's ... (show quote)

I'd think that a Panasonic lx-100, or camera would be more than capable...or even a Sony rx100 series

Wingpilot Loc: Wasilla. Ak

You asked about the Sony A6000 with the kit 16-50 lens. It's not a bad lens at all. In fact, it produces some pretty decent images. It's just not in the same league as a more pro-oriented lens.

RWCRNC Loc: Pennsylvania

I have the Sony a6000 with the kit lens. It is not a great lens but fairly good. Would not be good in low light though.

pecohen Loc: Central Maine

cabunit wrote:

Hoggers, I have a customer who needs a few mirrorl... (show quote)

The kit lens has never seemed that poor to me - but of course you could do much better if the budget permitted.

However, it sounds as though having a fast lens would be more important than having zoom capability. If there is not much variation in the size of the posters you should be able to determine what length lens you need - I would guess a wide angle lens would be appropriate - maybe 18 mm or so, but that is just a guess. Determining what focal length is needed for the size of the poster from one or two feet would be the first order of business, but if you can settle that issue then there should be a variety of choices for a lens. Sigma has some fairly inexpensive fixed lenses that should work well, or if the budget is very constrained then you can probably pick up an adapter and an old fixed lens that is quite fast for only a few dollars. Of course that puts the camera in manual focus, but the A6000 makes that pretty easy to use.

jimkh

Check out You Tube and Gary Friedman's "Undisclosed facts about the A6300". In the beginning of that he does a bit on the "kit" 16-50 lens which explains why it's a good lens for the Sony line. Basically, Sony's line corrects in-camera for the lens.