pecohen Loc: Central Maine

I use a Sony A6000 and love it. Maybe some day I'll upgrade to an A6300 or an A6500 or something yet to be released, but for now I'll stick with the A6000.

But I have big hands. Years ago I tried to learn to play a mandolin but decided my fingers were simply too big for that job - even playing a steel-string guitar was a challenge so I settled on a classical guitar in large part because of the wider string spacing. That being said, I find no problem at all using the A6000. My suspicion is that in most cases (I do recall once trying to shake hands with someone and not being able to reach around his hand with mine), this problem is an imagined one and it is more of an issue of habit. If you are used to a big camera then the A6000 is apt to feel odd to your hands at first. But that feeling would probably dissipate with a few weeks of using the A6000 and then that old favorite would begin feeling odd.

johneccles Loc: Leyland UK

If you are considering going mirrorless I would having a look at Olympus or Panasonic M43 cameras they both as good as each other.
Some models don't have viewfinders so bear this mind when choosing which one suits you needs.
I have two Olympus cameras, an EM10 and an EPL-5 there are newer models of both but I don't want to upgrade them yet.
I have three lenses, 20mm prime, a 25mm prime and a 14-45 zoom which are Panasonic, my favourite lens is the 20mm f1.7 prime which is very small and produces excellent images even in poor lighting condition.

Pier23

Newbie here, so please forgive any protocol errors in my first post.

I shot professionally for years -newspapers then as part of my wife's and mine comminications consultancy. I always shot Leicas or Nikons - film. My wife went with a Nikom D7000 several years ago and loves it since it so closely (forgive me) mirrors her old film camera.

A couple years ago, I went digital with the Sony A6000. For half the size I have the same sized sensor as my wife's Nikon. And I haven't lost any investment in my old Nikon glass. With an adapter, I can use my old 300 or 500 mm lens, although obviously these don't autofocus.

If you go mirrorless, you NEED an eye-level viewfinder. The screen does not work outside. The Sony kit zoom lenses for the A6000, which range from 16 mm to 220mm (two separate lenses, not one) are adequate but nothing to scream about. But they serve my purposes right now. Sony autofocus lenses are not cheap, and quite limited in what is available.

Shop sensor. Everything else flows from there. IMHO, micro 4/3 is fine for what it is but for me the APS-C was the smallest I was willing to go.

Would have preferred full-size sensor, but cost, lens and body sizes made that option impractible for my purposes.

Enjoy! FUN decision time!

pithydoug Loc: Catskill Mountains, NY

If you want the latest and greatest technology go mirrorless. Not only are they lighter but the guts compared to the mirrored are changing faster with outstanding quality. The major parts of R&D money are going into the new stuff. Sometimes the decision is hard especially if you have a $$$lens$$ that become obsolete. Quite a few of the heavy hitters in my club are swapping the big iron for smaller and screaming about the better quality and their pictures show it.

FWIW, I'd go mirrorless.

magpix Loc: St. Michaels, MD

Yes, smaller and lighter are their major advantages that made me sell all my Nikon gear for the Fuji X system. The Fuji XT-2 is styled like a DSLR, and its ergonomics, with easy-to-read dials for ISO, shutter speed and exposure compensation make shooting fun again. Aperture is quickly set using the aperture ring on the Fuji lenses. 2-Way tilting LCD is also a big plus. High res EVF is fantastic, and lets you see the exact exposure with histogram before you shoot. A big reason for me choosing Fuji was its selection of very sharp lenses, especially the primes. (Typically, they're also less expensive than the larger, heavier Nikon or Canon glass.) Auto focusing on the new Fuji XT-2 is as fast as my Nikons. Build quality and weather sealing on the camera body and lenses are superb. But I highly suggest you try holding these cameras in your hand before you make a decision. I tried the Sony, and it just didn't feel right. The Fuji fits me like a glove. But above everything else, the quality of the images is impressive, and Fuji's film simulation modes make shooting jpgs a viable alternative to shooting RAW in certain cases. I think the better mirrorless systems (Fuji, Sony and Olympus) have finally caught up to the performance of DSLRs. Good luck. It's a great time to to be buying a new camera!

Delderby Loc: Derby UK

I was taught that what is needed for string instruments is "fingers like little hammers" - finger tips curling down on to the frets - vertically (unless barring with the forefinger). You would have had greater problems if you had short fingers, unable to reach across the neck. I understand your "getting used to" theory - that is sound. But - when you are trying to decide what feels best (in a camera store e.g.), surely there is no time for "getting used to". Therefore perhaps small cameras are better for small hands?

jmizera Loc: Austin Texas

I think there is no question about this. The main hold up has been the viewfinder quality. The advantages are many as mentioned here. I do think manufacturers get overly obsessed with just how teeny they can be made, at the cost of ergonomics. Looking at you here Sony. Though it would not necessarily be my first choice at the price point. Panasonic hit a pretty good balance with the GH4. Just big enough to be useable. If I had the money to buy new now, it would hands down be one of the Sony A7s.

repleo Loc: Boston

You won't go wrong with the A6000. Two recommendations: 1. Get David Busch's guide to the A6000 (available a Nook book) 2. Get the Sony 18-105mm; f/4.0; G Oss lens as your first lens. It may be the only lens you will need. Also, consider getting one of the Canon / Nex smart adapters if you have decent lenses for your 60D.
Happy New Year and enjoy your A6000.

djlouden Loc: Ocala, Florida

I have both the A6000 and now the Canon M5. The Sony has faster focus so for in my comparison.
The M5 has about the equivalent features of the 80D, though it will take me a little while to get used to the M5 menu structure and controls.

If you have many Canon lenses you will be better served by the M5. At the moment they are offering the EF lens adapter free with the camera purchase. Other brand lenses don't work or barely work from my tests.

Neither the Sony nor the M5 will replace my DSLRs. I just don't like the feel of the smaller cameras when trying to do serious shooting, BIF for example. I'll use the mirrorless for times when I'm not specifically on a shoot.

Just my opinions of course. Others will be weighing in with there's.

Happy shooting

Cdouthitt Loc: Traverse City, MI

Just sayin'...it rocks...not cheap, but it checks a lot (if not all) of boxes on what I want in a camera.

http://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-431625-1.html

tdekany Loc: Oregon

While it may sound like I am defending m4/3, I really am not. We all have our preferences, but if m4/3 is good enough for Pulitzer Prize winning and Nat Geo photographers I think statements like yours is not based on actual personal experiences. But again let me repeat it. You can give me medium format gear and my shots would still suck. There is very little difference in IQ between m4/3 and APSC. Besides that, for most of us amatures, what do we do with them snaps? You will see excellent work with full frame gear, and you will see terrible shots with FF setups. There are also amazing photos taken with m4/3 and there are also no shortages of snaps taken with m4/3. We are most definitely the weak link, never the gear if we are talking about an award winning shot. Enjoy 2017!

pecohen Loc: Central Maine

I agree that it is good to try out a camera before you buy. But the criteria should not include something so arbitrary as "does it feel right". If you think this is a requirement then just stick with whatever camera you have - it's probably the only one you will find that feels right.

If you find you cannot push one of the buttons without pressing one of the other ones, then sure that is a good reason to reject it - you cannot just get smaller fingers to use. If you cannot grip the camera to keep it steady or you worry about dropping it that is another good reason to look elsewhere. But a vague feeling that camera just does not feel right is much the same as it not being familiar. With use that will change.

tdekany Loc: Oregon

Imagine if you are a small female - should that person just take your suggestion on getting a huge body that would not only feel uncomfortable, but may also be too heavy. It has to feel right to really enjoy a camera, and I can tell you that also from personal experience. I used to use an Olympus one em5 that is a smallish camera - once I sold it and bought the em1 which is somewhat larger, it fit me like a glove. While it will not improve my snap shots the experience of using it is day and night.

Cdouthitt Loc: Traverse City, MI

Keep in mind, using dslr lenses on a smaller mirrorless body, while a great way to re-use existing lenses and expanding the available lenses in a system, often leads to an unbalanced setup as well as a setup that ends up being almost as equally large as a dslr setup...which IMHO defeats the purpose of going mirrorless. Look for a mirrorless system that has a great variety in native mirrorless glass. Often times native glass will work better/faster than adapted glass.

Pier23

Understood, and I am not ruling out the M4/3 categorically. I admit to a format bias from my film days - the bigger the negative the better the image. But one can't take a 4x5 everywhere and Eisenstadt managed some good snaps with the lowly 35mm.

If the OP's needs run to Facebook posts and other low demand uses, then the world open up. Are wall murals in the future? Then other considerations enter.

Here is another consideration: buy used, one generation old. Savings are huge, the disadvantages of being a generation behind minor, and if you decide you want something different, you have not committed all funds to one new option. Very few used cameras are shot out.

And here is to 2017!