Deciding Between Nikon D810 and Sony A7R: I would welcome any constructive advice regarding my choice between the Nikon D810 and the Sony A7R. I am moving up from a Nikon D5300, so I...

jackpi Loc: Southwest Ohio

I would welcome any constructive advice regarding my choice between the Nikon D810 and the Sony A7R. I am moving up from a Nikon D5300, so I will need to buy new lenses in either case. I shoot mostly nature, landscape, and architecture. I don't shoot sports or action. I don't expect to shoot in rain or snow. Lenses available from Sony for the A7R satisfy my current needs without an adaptor, except for a wide angle and macro lenses. I can use an Sony NEX wide angle lens without an adaptor (it provides 12-16mm focal length on the A7R) and am willing to wait for a macro lens to be released. The quality of the Sony lenses appears to be very good and the 55mm lens is outstanding. I usually use manual focus, and the focus peaking option in the A7R seems like it would be very useful. I also like the lower weight and cost of the A7R. Have I considered everything, or have I failed to consider other important factors.

speters Loc: Grangeville/Idaho

jackpi wrote:

I would welcome any constructive advice regarding ... (show quote)

Maybe you should rent one for a week and give it a workout to see which experience you prefer!

tramsey Loc: Texas

Here's a pretty decent comparison. I also think what speters said is GREAT advice.

http://snapsort.com/compare/Nikon-D810-vs-Sony-A7R

oldtigger Loc: Roanoke Virginia-USA

jackpi wrote:

I would welcome any constructive advice regarding my choice between the Nikon D810 and the Sony A7R. ... I shoot mostly nature, landscape, and architecture. I don't shoot sports or action. ... The quality of the Sony lenses appears to be very good and the 55mm lens is outstanding. I usually use manual focus, and the focus peaking option in the A7R seems like it would be very useful. I also like the lower weight and cost of the A7R. ...

get the sony,, you would not be happy with a 6 pound D810 rig.

MT Shooter Loc: Montana

oldtigger wrote:

get the sony,, you would not be happy with a 6 pound D810 rig.

6 pounds??? Gee, mine only weighs 2 pounds 3 ounces. Maybe I should have gotten the solid gold model? ;-)

oldtigger Loc: Roanoke Virginia-USA

MT Shooter wrote:

6 pounds??? Gee, mine only weighs 2 pounds 3 ounces. Maybe I should have gotten the solid gold model? ;-)

is it wearing a 3.3 pound 70-200/2.8 or a 7 pound tamron 300?

actually i shouldn't tease, though i like the weight (because its what i'm used to) the banging and lifting and dragging is getting a bit old and the light weight rigs are looking more attractive every day.

Mormorazzi Loc: Temple, Texas

I know you've narrowed down your choice to two cameras, but take a look at the Nikon D610. The D810 beats the A7R, but the Nikon D610 beats the D810 by one point ... and it's $1,300 cheaper! It has a lower pixel count, but many photographers prefer not to have to store the A7R's and D810's huge files. I have the D600 and absolutely love it!

http://snapsort.com/compare/Nikon-D610-vs-Sony-A7R
http://snapsort.com/compare/Nikon-D610-vs-Nikon-D810

amehta Loc: Boston

Mormorazzi wrote:

I know you've narrowed down your choice to two cameras, but take a look at the Nikon D610. The D810 beats the A7R, but the Nikon D610 beats the D810 by one point ... and it's $1,300 cheaper! It has a lower pixel count, but many photographers prefer not to have to store the A7R's and D810's huge files. I have the D600 and absolutely love it!

http://snapsort.com/compare/Nikon-D610-vs-Sony-A7R
http://snapsort.com/compare/Nikon-D610-vs-Nikon-D810

Take snapsort with a grain of salt, they sometimes can't get some simple numbers right. They indicate that the D810 has 1 storage slot, but it has both a SD and CF slot. Is that worth a point in their final score? :-)

And the "huge file" complaint by many photographers is just stupid. The D610 files are 2/3 the size, does that mean they are merely "very large"? If your computer can handle one, it can handle the other.

amehta Loc: Boston

oldtigger wrote:

get the sony,, you would not be happy with a 6 pound D810 rig.

The Sony rig would, by extension, be 5 pounds. Light as a feather compared to 6 pounds! :lol:

amehta Loc: Boston

jackpi wrote:

I would welcome any constructive advice regarding ... (show quote)

It really comes down to one thing: the electronic viewfinder (EVF) on the A7R. If you like it, get the A7R. If you don't like it, don't get the A7R. For the shooting you describe, I think nothing else really matters.

SonnyE Loc: Communist California, USA

jackpi wrote:

I would welcome any constructive advice regarding ... (show quote)

It appears you already made up your mind.
I say enjoy your new Sony.

SonnyE Loc: Communist California, USA

Mormorazzi wrote:

I know you've narrowed down your choice to two cameras, but take a look at the Nikon D610. The D810 beats the A7R, but the Nikon D610 beats the D810 by one point ... and it's $1,300 cheaper! It has a lower pixel count, but many photographers prefer not to have to store the A7R's and D810's huge files. I have the D600 and absolutely love it!

http://snapsort.com/compare/Nikon-D610-vs-Sony-A7R
http://snapsort.com/compare/Nikon-D610-vs-Nikon-D810

A very valid and excellent point, Deborah.

Racmanaz Loc: Sunny Tucson!

This may help you some, Trey Ratcliff switched from Nikon D800e to the Sony A7r and he found that he was getting sharper images with the Sony A7r.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J1Tn4gI7U_s

joer Loc: Colorado/Illinois

jackpi wrote:

I would welcome any constructive advice regarding ... (show quote)

D810...to take advantage of the full res you will have to buy FX lenses but you can still use your existing one(s) albeit at lower resolution.

Also the AF is so good you won't need focus peaking.

oldtigger Loc: Roanoke Virginia-USA

joer wrote:

D810...to take advantage of the full res you will have to buy FX lenses but you can still use your existing one(s) albeit at lower resolution....Also the AF is so good you won't need focus peaking.

why would the resolution be any less?