sfpam

I currently shoot with a Nikon D7100 and love it. Seriously considering upgrading to a Nikon D750 full frame, but concerned about the weights of these cameras/lenses if I travel. So, I am considering the Sony A7 II mirrorless with the 24-240 lens. I know the battery duration is a serious issue. I would love feedback and comments.

I am an intermediate amateur photographer, trying to shoot in manual mode when I can. I shoot small children, landscapes and lifestyle.

Thanks for your help. Love this forum.

JPL

I have a Sony A7r and Nikon D600. I like both of them. Both are also comparable to the A7II and D750 when you think about the weight. And I would say that although the A7II is lighter than the D750 it is not a big difference. In my opinion the compactness of the A7II is more important than the lightness of it.

Like you say the battery life is an issue with the Sony. You have to buy minimum 2 extra batteries for the Sony and that will only get you half the pics you can get on one Nikon battery. But maybe it will be enough for a days shooting. On the other hand you can buy no name batteries and a charger on Ebay for $15-20. I did that and have no problems with those batteries so far.

I think both cameras would give you excellent photos. The D750 probably has a much better autofocus speed and accuracy but for your kind of shooting it is probably not a dealbreaker. If you were buying a camera for sports and wildlife shooting you should get the D750, for your kind of shooting both will do fine. Maybe you should visit a shop where you can handle both of them to make up your mind.

Jcmarino

I love my Sony 7II. Its light weight and the 5 way stabilization is awesome. The batteries are not really an issue. I carry 3 with me for long shoots, they are cheap enough and charge up fast. I have to admit it bugged me at first but now I dont even think about it. I was a Nikon shooter for 40 years, last year I sold everything and went mirroless.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

I like the D750 so much that I got two of them. It might be the last DSLR that I buy. When I need a compact, I use the Sony A6000 that I got on sale a few months ago. I wasn't thrilled with the RX100 series, so I sold them - too expensive for what I got.

Read comparisons and specs, and decide what features are important to you.
(Reviews) https://www.youtube.com/user/TheCameraStoreTV/videos
http://cameras.reviewed.com/
http://camerasize.com/
http://www.imaging-resource.com/IMCOMP/COMPS01.HTM
http://snapsort.com/compare
http://www.dpreview.com/products/compare/cameras?utm_campaign=internal-link&utm_source=mainmenu&utm_medium=text&ref=mainmenu

kcimato

I bought the Sony a 7 ii because I needed a lighter camera also. I went from a Canon 60 D. It does get heavy when you put the lens on. I agree, battery life is awful. I carry 2 batteries plus the one in the camera.i've learned that at the end of the day, I take the battery out to charge it and put a fresh one it.

lwerthe1mer Loc: Birmingham, Alabama

I enjoy my a7ii and am seeing more lenses becoming available for it.

Reinaldokool Loc: San Rafael, CA

I shot Nikon mainly for about 40 years. Still think it is king of the hill. I always laughed at newbies shooting Sony. But when the a6000 came out and I was going for a month of traipsing around Europe, I bought one and an 18-200 lens. Practiced with it for a few months before the trip. I shot some great photos on that trip. Learned to love the Sony. A year ago, I bought an a6300. Of course these are aps-c sensors but I have a completely different opinion of Sony now.

I have now mounted two shows shot almost entirely with these two cameras. Sony's audio offerings have deteriorated over the years. Their tape recorders were our standard when I was working in broadcasting, but they are not anymore. Their microphones were fairly decent then, but never got to the level of Senheiser or even the better Shures. BUT the Sony camera engineers have gone way beyond the competition.

For those wanting the 35mm form factor, I hear nothing but praise for the A7 series.

For me, the capability of my a6300, which has the best auto-focus and follow-focus on the market, and also the fast 11 fps and silent shutter make it perfect for shooting animals and children. I am happy to skip the a6500 and wait for the a6700 (Or whatever they name it.)

sfpam

These are all great comments and I really appreciate the feedback. I may spring for the A7II. Thank you all so much!

CHOLLY Loc: THE FLORIDA PANHANDLE!

There are nothing but positive reviews for the A7II, even though people who are accustomed to DSLR's have to adjust to the mirrorless camera differences.

People complain that you can only get 400 to 500 shots on a charge with a Sony mirrorless compared to 1200 to 1500 for a standard DSLR... but DSLR's don't have Electronic View Finders that allow you to not only shoot in complete darkness, but enable you to preview your image BEFORE you capture it. Everything from exposure to color rendition to depth of field. AND you can review what you just shot... without taking your eye from the view finder. In other words, NO MORE CHIMPING.

Additionally, with the Sony you can share your images instantly with a smartphone or computer... WIRELESSLY.

And let's not even mention the 5 axis, in-body image stabilization (Super Steady Shot) that enables you to shoot stabilized images with ANY lens you attach to that camera.... a POWERFUL advantage.

And then, there is the image quality... which is as good as most Nikons and BETTER than ANY Canon on the market. (Nikons use Sony image sensors.)

You can't go wrong with either camera... but the A7II offers a whole lot more bang for the buck.

sfpam

Thanks for your helpful comments. What lenses do you find most valuable to have?

CHOLLY Loc: THE FLORIDA PANHANDLE!

Depends on your particular style of photography.

And of course... your budget.

I have a good mix of high and medium quality lenses for any purpose; Minolta, Konica Minolta, Sony, Sony G, and Sony Zeiss lenses. When I had my A7RII, I adapted them with the LA-EA4. I did not own any E mount lenses.

I have wide angle primes, normal primes and telephoto primes, as well as a collection of zooms. That way I can cover everything from general landscape to portraiture, sports and wildlife.

But once you decide how you will use the camera, then you can really concentrate on lenses.

I DO NOT RECOMMEND using the A7II for sports or Birds in Flight wildlife photography. It just is not well suited for those uses, regardless of the lens attached.

But there are a number of NATIVE E mount lenses available that will cover your needs.