Used a850 for starter FF? Now that I have my car paid off I can start saving for other things (camera, lenses, photo safaris). My favorite thing to shoot is airshows. I love my a77's...

planepics Loc: St. Louis burbs, but originally Chicago burbs

Now that I have my car paid off I can start saving for other things (camera, lenses, photo safaris). My favorite thing to shoot is airshows. I love my a77's 12 fps but I don't want to necessarily want to spend $3k for a new camera and all my lenses (3) are a-mount. The a850 shoots at just 3fps. Anyone else use this camera for fast action shots?

rwilson1942 Loc: Houston, TX

How about the new A7iii? $2000, 10fps and your A-mount lenses will adapt.

planepics Loc: St. Louis burbs, but originally Chicago burbs

I just watched this video at random...seems pretty impressive.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-9Lz0_uxpDc

SonyA580 Loc: FL in the winter & MN in the summer

The A850, and it's brother the A900, were state of the art when introduced a few years back. For a FF starter camera, either of these would be hard to beat, especially if you have a lot of A-mount glass. If possible, get a shutter count before buying. Anything less than 50K clicks would be OK if everything else is working right.

mas24 Loc: Southern CA

planepics wrote:

Now that I have my car paid off I can start saving for other things (camera, lenses, photo safaris). My favorite thing to shoot is airshows. I love my a77's 12 fps but I don't want to necessarily want to spend $3k for a new camera and all my lenses (3) are a-mount. The a850 shoots at just 3fps. Anyone else use this camera for fast action shots?

You are not going to have a whole lot of success with action sports with a camera that shoots 3fps. Unless you are permitted to use an external flash unit. I would buy a current, possibly used, Translucent Mirror Crop Sensor Sony in A-mount. Any will do. Except the a55. Stay away from that camera. Shutter issues.

mas24 Loc: Southern CA

planepics wrote:

Now that I have my car paid off I can start saving for other things (camera, lenses, photo safaris). My favorite thing to shoot is airshows. I love my a77's 12 fps but I don't want to necessarily want to spend $3k for a new camera and all my lenses (3) are a-mount. The a850 shoots at just 3fps. Anyone else use this camera for fast action shots?

You already have a Translucent Mirror camera. I forgot the a77 series was them. Many indoor sports venues will not allow flash units. Good luck.

planepics Loc: St. Louis burbs, but originally Chicago burbs

mas24 wrote:

You already have a Translucent Mirror camera. I forgot the a77 series was them. Many indoor sports venues will not allow flash units. Good luck.

Most airshows are outdoors :) My first Sony was an a330. I don't have a LOT of glass - 2 Tammy zooms and a Sigma 105 (I like it even though it's a challenge) I see I can get an LA-EA3 and still keep the glass, but I haven't handles a mirrorless yet so I'm unsure if it would be awkward or ugly. Check out the video review. Was also thinking of just saving more money and getting the a99ii (42 MP). I'll probably rent one or another FF this summer to try.

mas24 Loc: Southern CA

planepics wrote:

Most airshows are outdoors :) My first Sony was an a330. I don't have a LOT of glass - 2 Tammy zooms and a Sigma 105 (I like it even though it's a challenge) I see I can get an LA-EA3 and still keep the glass, but I haven't handles a mirrorless yet so I'm unsure if it would be awkward or ugly. Check out the video review. Was also thinking of just saving more money and getting the a99ii (42 MP). I'll probably rent one or another FF this summer to try.

Good luck.

bull drink water Loc: pontiac mi.

you said you wanted to go ff, well I did with the a-850 and never looked back. I rarely shoot in burst so 3 fps is no hinderence. I was lucky enough to find a used one for under $800.00. I retrospect the a-77 does just fine at air shows and battle re-enactments. if you insist on ff then keep your eye out for a used a-850

billnikon Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont

planepics wrote:

Now that I have my car paid off I can start saving for other things (camera, lenses, photo safaris). My favorite thing to shoot is airshows. I love my a77's 12 fps but I don't want to necessarily want to spend $3k for a new camera and all my lenses (3) are a-mount. The a850 shoots at just 3fps. Anyone else use this camera for fast action shots?

I own a Sony A77II and have owned the older white Minolta long lenses. 300 2.8, 400 4.5 are really great lenses and work well and focus fast and accurately with your body. Plus with the A77II they become effectively a 450 and 600. They are heavy, made of metal but you can pick your focus range to speed up focus lock. And best of all these older Minolta glass lenses deliver a unique color palate. Quite nice.

traderjohn Loc: New York City

planepics wrote:

Now that I have my car paid off I can start saving for other things (camera, lenses, photo safaris). My favorite thing to shoot is airshows. I love my a77's 12 fps but I don't want to necessarily want to spend $3k for a new camera and all my lenses (3) are a-mount. The a850 shoots at just 3fps. Anyone else use this camera for fast action shots?

You have nothing more important to use your "extra" money on??

Brucej67 Loc: Cary, NC

I used to have an A850 and an A900, I liked the A900 over the A850 it was faster focusing as well as better handling. I sold all my Sony cameras and lenses and went totally Nikon.

planepics wrote:

Now that I have my car paid off I can start saving for other things (camera, lenses, photo safaris). My favorite thing to shoot is airshows. I love my a77's 12 fps but I don't want to necessarily want to spend $3k for a new camera and all my lenses (3) are a-mount. The a850 shoots at just 3fps. Anyone else use this camera for fast action shots?

Brucej67 Loc: Cary, NC

I used to have an A850 and an A900, I liked the A900 over the A850 it was faster focusing as well as better handling. I sold all my Sony cameras and lenses and went totally Nikon.

planepics wrote:

Now that I have my car paid off I can start saving for other things (camera, lenses, photo safaris). My favorite thing to shoot is airshows. I love my a77's 12 fps but I don't want to necessarily want to spend $3k for a new camera and all my lenses (3) are a-mount. The a850 shoots at just 3fps. Anyone else use this camera for fast action shots?

Blaster34 Loc: Florida Treasure Coast

planepics wrote:

Now that I have my car paid off I can start saving for other things (camera, lenses, photo safaris). My favorite thing to shoot is airshows. I love my a77's 12 fps but I don't want to necessarily want to spend $3k for a new camera and all my lenses (3) are a-mount. The a850 shoots at just 3fps. Anyone else use this camera for fast action shots?

Don't 'Necessarily' want to spend $3K for a camera.....but sounds like you're thinking about it. If you're even thinking of spending $3K, then the Sony A99II or maybe the Sony A7Riii, that would be going to E-Mount cameras, if so then consider the Sony A7iii. Good Luck in whatever you choose planepics

planepics Loc: St. Louis burbs, but originally Chicago burbs

billnikon wrote:

I own a Sony A77II and have owned the older white Minolta long lenses. 300 2.8, 400 4.5 are really great lenses and work well and focus fast and accurately with your body. Plus with the A77II they become effectively a 450 and 600. They are heavy, made of metal but you can pick your focus range to speed up focus lock. And best of all these older Minolta glass lenses deliver a unique color palate. Quite nice.

I rented an a77ii last summer for my trip to Oshkosh (largest aviation convention in the world) along with the 70-400G2...loved the combo. Focus was a lot faster on the -ii body with either lens than the a77 - had my 17-50 and tried both lenses on both bodies and the 77ii/g2 combo was impressive.