It's a brave new world with Sony Mirrorless (Page 2): I have an a6000 and recommend David Busch's book if you can find it. There are also lots of good Youtube videos on how to set up...

timcc Loc: Virginia

shughes wrote:

If you shot Kodachrome ASA 12, you know where I co... (show quote)

I have an a6000 and recommend David Busch's book if you can find it. There are also lots of good Youtube videos on how to set up and use the camera. If you shoot raw, Capture One has a free pp program for Sony that is excellent. The Sony menu system can be a bit intimidating at first, but once you select the setting features you most commonly use, you can assign them to the several "custom" buttons and the 12 "function" settings for quick and easy access. The a6000 is a great camera -- perfect for travel.

repleo Loc: Boston

Get David Bush's Guide to A6000 in Nook format from Barnes and Noble and load it to your phone. Great advice on setup and how to use the various functions.

dsmeltz Loc: Philadelphia

Hank Radt wrote:

I think you can use either the Sigma or the Tamron with an adaptor, if you're so inclined: http://briansmith.com/best-150-600mm-superzoom-for-sony-a7rii/.

But I get that you may not want to - personally I prefer a native lens.

Yeah, I am not a fan of adapters, especially on third party lenses. If the adapter would performer that well, then the third party manufacturer would just make it as a mount option for the lens. No adapter needed. I know! Metabones! Now it is a third party lens and a fourth party adapter! No thanks. I will wait until the lenses are developed for the e-mount.

Toment Loc: FL, IL

shughes wrote:

If you shot Kodachrome ASA 12, you know where I co... (show quote)

Get a good guide to the camera. Gary Friedman was very helpful.
http://www.friedmanarchives.com/

gmccaleb Loc: East KY / South AL

shughes wrote:

If you shot Kodachrome ASA 12, you know where I co... (show quote)

I purchased a Cotton Carrier Camera Vest for my d 7100 and 150-600mm lens. It holds the camera very well and releases quickly to take photos. It's balanced well on the shoulders and back so there's no strain. Using a monopod for walking and shooting stability would also help. Something I've considered. I'm 66 years old and female. I need to lift weights to hold that beast lens, or take photos from my car and use the window as a tripod. That works very well, just remember to turn the motor off or you will get vibrations from it. I bought an a6000 this summer for a trip to Greece. I'm more of a visual/auditory learner and watched Youtube videos to set it up and just took off shooting. It's such a pleasure to use! I bought the camera with the two kit lenses and recently bought a 50mm. It's perfect for photos of my grands and I'm going to learn to video with it before Christmas. It's super fast focus and sharp as a tack! Soooo light in my arthritic hands. To say I'm in love with it is an understatement. I took portrait style photos yesterday with my d7100 and 85mm lens and also the Sony and 50mm lens. Both were fantastic. Perfectly sharp and beautiful bokeh. I only had a couple out of over 200 that were out of focus. A real feat for me. Oh, and for carrying? I purchased a fanny pack from ebags.com and it held both lenses, extra batteries and some filters, no problem. I measured before I ordered and got the right size. Only fault I've found so far is battery use. You will need extra batteries. Enjoy!!

Gerry_R

I bought the a6000, bought the course from Gary Fong, and have since updated /upgraded to the a6500. I've since bought a Altura sling bag to carry the camera and 3 lenses, which has made the transition easier. Fong's course was just what I needed ( another older person). It is astonishing how very powerful the a6000 series is, warts and all. Even quite pleased with the performance of the 16-50 kit lens, til it died.
I've come from a beloved Canon 40D, and am still learning bout what one can do with this platform. I also bought David Busch's book: Sony Alpha a6000 Guide to Digital Photography. Both purchases are / were terrific and helpful. I now have to decide if I'm keeping my 40D and the old lenses.....

le boecere wrote:

The a6000 has been my go-to camera since April of 2014. I'd suggest that it will fit in the leg-pocket of a pair of cargo-pants (without the rubber eye-piece), but don't plan on it fitting in a "shirt" pocket, regardless of how big the shirt. And, with one of the "pan-cake" lenses, as well. Give yourself a chance to get used to the menu, and you're apt to get very attached to the a6000-series.

shughes

Thank all of you so much for taking the time to give me guidance on good third party literature for the Sony a6000. The Sony manual just isn't what I've been accustom to. I will use the camera only for landscape shots taken while hiking. When I get to my destination(s) I will break out from my pack the Nikon D7200 and the lenses I need to photograph my specific subject matter. Thanks again!

Hank Radt

shughes wrote:

Thank all of you so much for taking the time to give me guidance on good third party literature for the Sony a6000. The Sony manual just isn't what I've been accustom to. I will use the camera only for landscape shots taken while hiking. When I get to my destination(s) I will break out from my pack the Nikon D7200 and the lenses I need to photograph my specific subject matter. Thanks again!

If you're looking for a good wide angle zoom for hiking, do some research on the E 10-18mm f4 oss. I considered a prime landscape lens, but the reviews on this were convincing and I liked the flexibility of the zoom. My other go to hiking lens is the 16-70 Sony Zeiss which gives me more reach, though at the cost of some width on the lower end. Which one goes on the camera when I start the hike depends on the expected terrain and possible shots.

TheShoe Loc: Lacey, WA

Hank Radt wrote:

I got the a6300 and found the manual trying, at best...not sure who Sony has writing them, but they could do with a serious re-think on how they are written (this was my first digital camera after cutting my teeth on film). Finally, after some advice found on this site, I downloaded Gary Friedman's Guide to my Kindle reader, and now couldn't be happier. Here's a link, if you're interested: http://www.friedmanarchives.com/alpha6000/

It almost seems that one of the first requirements for being a manual writer is that you cannot be fluent in the language you are writing.

rehess Loc: South Bend, Indiana, USA

dsmeltz wrote:

Yeah, I am not a fan of adapters, especially on third party lenses. If the adapter would performer that well, then the third party manufacturer would just make it as a mount option for the lens. No adapter needed. I know! Metabones! Now it is a third party lens and a fourth party adapter! No thanks. I will wait until the lenses are developed for the e-mount.

That depends on what the options are. If someone else gives you equal / better performance natively, then that's great! Since each person is probably looking for a different combination of lenses, this undoubtedly will retard Sony's market penetration, giving the traditional companies a little more breathing room.

dsmeltz Loc: Philadelphia

rehess wrote:

That depends on what the options are. If someone else gives you equal / better performance natively, then that's great! Since each person is probably looking for a different combination of lenses, this undoubtedly will retard Sony's market penetration, giving the traditional companies a little more breathing room.

Which is basically my point. I want Sony to succeed. I want a better range of e-mount lenses at a better price point. When I can get what I have now in performance in a mirrorless, I am going there! I have repeatedly said that, if I were starting out now, I would go mirrorless. If someone was starting now and went mirrorless, by the time they needed the glass the glass would be there. What is there now is great if you are just starting, but not if you are bit into it and cannot afford to keep two or more systems. I know a lot of professionals use different systems for different work. I can't afford that, so I will wait until mirrorless progresses a bit. But if someone is starting now, go mirrorless young man (or woman)!

Hank Radt

TheShoe wrote:

It almost seems that one of the first requirements for being a manual writer is that you cannot be fluent in the language you are writing.

Sad, but true.

But then, maybe it is a deliberate - and smart - strategy. Give Fong, Busch and Friedman the cameras early on and let them profit by writing far better guides than any in-house bureaucratic department ever could. They save costs, we save time, and the entrepreneurial writers make money. The marketplace works!

sirlensalot Loc: Arizona

If/when I am in doubt which set up is best, my a6000 always comes through for me. Coupled with the 50/1.8, the world is my oyster. It is that good. I am looking at the possible choice of adding the 18-105/4 or the Tokina 100/2 Macro. Two different animals for sure, but no decision yet. Budget allows one only.

Gerry_R

Right. I feel the same way, and have been researching what will do best for my needs. We are now able to find quality Prime and Zoom lenses from Sony and Sigma in E mount configuration. I've recently added a Sigma 30mm F1.4 to my Sony a6500 kit , and thus far quite pleased with the results. The price point is competitive, the published reviews appear to be accurate, and Sigma seems to have embraced the mirrorless lens market in general, and the e-mount in particular.

BTW, I just got a K+F dumb adapter for an old Nikkor 50mm F1.4 to my sony. Great piece of glass, and a reminder of times past when everything was manual......

dsmeltz wrote:

I want a better range of e-mount lenses at a better price point. When I can get what I have now in performance in a mirrorless, I am going there!

Dennis833 Loc: Australia

Don't even try to read the manual. These lots of good information available on the net. This page will get you started. http://www.markgaler.com/camera-settings-shooting-landscapes-sony-alpha