Upgrade to Sony a6500
Jun 11, 2018 13:30:24 #
I'm getting back into photography after years of hibernation. I primarily enjoy photographing birds, wildlife, and my romping dogs. I'm considering Sony's a6500 with the Sony FE 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 G OSS for the above (able to utilize the crop factor of the sensor); and the Sony 16-70mm f/4 ZA OSS lens for everyday walk around/general work. I would expect occasional enlargements to 16X20, but not much more than that.
I'd appreciate any comments, or suggestions, on whether I'm on the right track or am missing something along the way.
I'd appreciate any comments, or suggestions, on whether I'm on the right track or am missing something along the way.
Jun 11, 2018 13:51:28 #
CGpilot wrote:
I'm getting back into photography after years of h... (show quote)
I have the a6000 along with the a99ii, a7s, and HV400. Looks like a great setup. You may want to ad a longer telephoto for birds and animals. Happy shooting.
Jun 11, 2018 15:44:09 #
CGpilot wrote:
I'm getting back into photography after years of h... (show quote)
I have the FE 70-300 which I use on my A7Rii. I am very pleased with it, but I don't shoot birds or wildlife. I think you may find it quite heavy and unbalanced on an A6500. Of course you will get the benefit of the 1.5 crop factor, which would bring you up to 450mm equivalent FoV. There is a programable button on the shaft which you can set to focus lock which helps to steady the shot.
The 70-300 lens is sorely in need of a mount collar. I have a A6000 and wouldn't dream of putting the combo on a tripod for fear of either the lens mount snapping off or the tripod mount pulling out of the body. The A6500 body is more rigid than the A6000 but I would still feel nervous of it at full extension.
Jun 11, 2018 18:20:46 #
old school from film days: Don't hold any changeable lens camera by just the body. Use your left hand to hold, focus, and zoom. The right hand balances the body and trips the shutter. Actualy haveing the light weight a6000 body on my 400mm lens makes shooting easier. I just hold the lens and the camera goes along for the ride.
Jun 11, 2018 21:45:40 #
Jun 11, 2018 21:51:20 #
Thank you Repleo,
I thought I had checked the mounting collar, seems so logical that it would be included. I'm going Thursday to physically examine the camera and lens to check out how it feels.
I thought I had checked the mounting collar, seems so logical that it would be included. I'm going Thursday to physically examine the camera and lens to check out how it feels.
Jun 12, 2018 07:45:40 #
I have a 6500 and my 70-300G is almost always on it. It's got reach and close focus and is so sharp.
Jun 12, 2018 09:02:55 #
ORpilot wrote:
I have the a6000 along with the a99ii, a7s, and HV400. Looks like a great setup. You may want to ad a longer telephoto for birds and animals. Happy shooting.
...I concur but before you look for a longer lens, investigate the menu settings for Clear Image Zoom (CIZ). With the 1.5x crop factor your field of view is 450mm max, as previously stated, which you can then double with CIZ to 900mm, with very minimal loss of image quality (IQ,) without spending any additional funds beyond your stated original choice providing the 70-300 gives you satisfactory IQ and you don't mind shooting .jpg only. After you explore those options, your needs will become clearer and you can make a more informed decision.
Jun 12, 2018 09:59:08 #
Jun 12, 2018 10:01:05 #
Jun 12, 2018 11:47:02 #
CGpilot wrote:
Thank you Gessman, wasn't familiar with CIZ, will definitely follow up with that.
CIZ upsizes an image in-camera and does it in a "content aware" manner so it doesn't merely enlarge an image degrading it in the process. I recently put a thread on uhh about it if you'd like to see some bad examples of how it works. It's a short thread and really needs to be read thoroughly right to the last comments. I keep threatening to do that over and use better examples but time is short. It's a very interesting and useful feature with which Sony has come up. That thread... http://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-512458-1.html
Jun 12, 2018 12:06:46 #
gessman wrote:
...I concur but before you look for a longer lens,... (show quote)
- just keep in mind that like all things photographic - in order for the CIZ to give you the best results you can not have any motion or focus blurring ( maximize you image quality !) ...
Jun 12, 2018 12:18:26 #
imagemeister wrote: - just keep in mind that like all things photographic - in order for the CIZ to give you the best results you can not have any motion or focus blurring ( maximize you image quality !) .
..
- just keep in mind that like all things photographic - in order for the CIZ to give you the best results you can not have any motion or focus blurring ( maximize you image quality !) ...
...aye, and I failed to do that in the example thread I posted but then that wasn't the totality of my purpose, part of which was to discuss potential effectiveness of the IBIS in the a6500 and my ability to handhold 1680mm shooting at 1/500th sitting inside shooting out with a slight breeze blowing my rope around - very bad technique and execution. I'll do better next time and thanks for the reminder. 
Jun 12, 2018 12:47:48 #
gessman wrote:
img src="https://static.uglyhedgehog.com/images/s... (show quote)
One of these days maybe I should do a test - CIZ, vs tele-extender, vs a raw crop and pixel enlargement using the default Adobe Bi-Cubic "smoother" algorithm !
- except I have never shot raw - not sure I could PP it. 
How do you rate the AF using the Canon 400 and the Sigma MC11 ?? - that is my biggest question.
..
Jun 12, 2018 13:53:38 #
imagemeister wrote:
One of these days maybe I should do a test - CIZ, vs tele-extender, vs a raw crop and pixel enlargement using the default Adobe Bi-Cubic "smoother" algorithm ! - except I have never shot raw - not sure I could PP it.
How do you rate the AF using the Canon 400 and the Sigma MC11 ?? - that is my biggest question.
..
- except I have never shot raw - not sure I could PP it. How do you rate the AF using the Canon 400 and the Sigma MC11 ?? - that is my biggest question.
..
The combo seems to work great so far in a few impromptu tests. My "L" lenses consistently snap into focus faster than my 5d2 even with my EF1.4x II TC. I'm really pleased and with the IBIS in the a6500 the 400 feels like a whole 'nuther lens. I've been "sidelined" lately and I'm anxious to get out chasin' some critters. I think I'm gonna like it a lot.
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