markwilliam1

I’m a Sony enthusiast. Is Sony finally getting some respect from professional photographers ie Cannon and Nikon users? Seems there is little bashing on Sony anyone.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Opinions change slowly, but more pros are using Sony now.

mas24 Loc: Southern CA

Sony does not make DSLRs anymore. Only Mirrorless and DSLTs, translucent mirror. They also make crop sensor mirrorless quality cameras, such as the a6000 series. Sony just announced that an a6700 crop sensor camera is on the horizon. Sony's most recent full frame cameras are the a7iii, a7riii, and the a9. Canon and Nikon are doing mirrorless. We will have to see how Nikon's newest full frame mirrorless will do. It hasn't been released yet. Nikon is now getting on the mirrorless bandwagon. Finally.

markwilliam1

Odds are Sony will make the sensors for the new Nikon and Cannon mirrorless cameras.

amfoto1 Loc: San Jose, Calif. USA

Sony is making some fine cameras and lenses. And, in fact, most Nikon use sensors that they've bought from Sony.

Canon makes all their own sensors. Has done so since 2001. In fact, they were making CMOS sensors, which everyone has switched to now, some years before Sony.

A major difference is that Canon and Nikon each have far more extensive systems of lenses and accessories, such as a pro might need. If you look at specialty lenses, the differences are even more stark.

For example, Canon has five Tilt-Shift lenses and Nikon has four similar Perspective Control lenses... Sony has none.

Or, consider macro lenses. Sony offers three: one APS-C (30mm) and two full frame (50mm and 90mm). Canon offers six: two APS-C (35mm, 60mm) and four full frame (65mm, two 100mm, 180mm). Three of Canon's TS-E lenses are near-macro 1:2 designs, too (50mm, 90mm and 135mm). Nikon calls theirs "Micro" but offers 5 lenses: two DX/crop (40mm, 85mm) and three FX/full frame (65mm, 105mm, 200mm). In addition, two of Nikon's PC lenses are near-macro 1:2 designs (45mm, 85mm).

Or, how about super telephotos (400mm and longer primes)? Canon offers six: 400mm f/5.6, 400mm f/4 DO, 400mm f/2.8, 500mm f/4, 600mm f/4 and 800mm f/5.6. Nikon offers four: 400mm f/2.8, 500mm f/4, 600mm f/4, 800mm f/5.6. Sony offers one: 400mm f/2.8. Most Canon telephotos use fluorite elements. Many of the Nikon now do too. None of the Sony do.

How about telephoto zooms? B&H Photo lists 21 Nikkors to choose among (ranging from $109 for a 75-300mm to $12,400 for a 180-400mm w/built in 1.4X teleconverter). They list 15 Canon (from $129 to $11,000 for a 200-400mm w/1.4X built in). In comparison, Sony offers three: 70-300mm ($1150), 70-200mm ($3000) and 70-400mm ($2200).

Or just look at the systems as a whole. While there's some duplication in each of them, B&H Photo lists the following: 32 Sony lenses (20 full frame).... 86 Canon lenses (68 full frame).... 135 Nikon lenses (101 full frame, though 22 are "vintage" manual focus, while 80 have "modern" in-lens autofocus drive).

Sony lens prices also tend to be higher than comparable Nikon and Canon. For example, look at a workhorse for many pros: 70-200s. Sony's 70-200mm f/2.8 costs $3000. Nikon has two 70-200mm: an f/2.8 for $2800 or an f/4 for $1400. Canon offers four 70-200mm: f/2.8 stabilized $1800 (new version coming soon $2100), f/2.8 unstabilized $1250, f/4 stabilized $1300, and f/4 unstabilized $600.

Pros shooting action such as sports also still prefer optical viewfinders. Only the most recent electronic viewfinders are up to the task. Earlier ones had a time lag that made them impossible to use for action shooting.

Another concern with pros, cameras with electronic viewfinders also tend to be much harder on batteries. They typically get a lot fewer shots per charge because the EVF has to be powered on continuously while it's in use. An optical viewfinder draws no power at all much of the time. The Canon 1DX Mark II is rated for around 1200 shots per charge, which is about average for a camera of this type. Nikon claims a pretty amazing 3800 shots per charge with their D5! In comparison, a Sony a9 fitted with a dual battery pack is rated for less than 1000 shots per charge. (Note: The Sony uses a smaller battery. It's more comparable to these Canon & Nikon models when the Sony is fitted with dual battery pack accessory. Also, actual shots per charge varies a great deal.. there are numerous power saving tricks users can do with any of these cameras. Above calculations are manufacturers' CIPA ratings claims, which are supposed to be based upon highly standardized testing procedures.)

Another major factor is that Canon and Nikon each have Professional Services departments which support their pro users with discounted & expedited repairs, loaner gear and more. CPS and NPS even are on-site at major events such as the Olympics, Super Bowl, etc. Sony now has a Pro Solutions division, too... but it's comparatively new and doesn't have near the proven track record of the other two manufacturers.

le boecere

The A99 II and the A77 II are not DSLR cameras?

https://www.sony.com/electronics/interchangeable-lens-camera-products/t/interchangeable-lens-cameras?cameramount=a-mount

markwilliam1

Great response Thanks! I never could afford a quality Nikon or Cannon system. Both companies make Awesome systems. I look forward to how their new mirrorless system will compare to the Sony a9. I agree quality Sony glass is very expensive. Don’t think Sony will ever catch up to lenses made by Nikon or Cannon. Will be Very Interesting!

markwilliam1

Technically the Sony’s are DSLT or mirrorless as the mas24 stated.

le boecere

Mark, do you mean "catch up" in quality, or in quantity?

le boecere

Thank you for that clarification.

markwilliam1

I meant catch up in quantity. Sony makes Excellent glass!

le boecere

Got it! Thank you.

User ID

SLT Sonys are an oddity.

The camera is a "mirrorless" live view camera
as concerns all viewing and recording functions.

The viewfinder is an EVF. If you happen to be
using manual focus, it's no different than any
other live view camera, just like an a6000 or a
Canon M50.

If you are using autofocus, then the SLTs differ
from all other live view cameras. That singular
function, the AF, is grafted onto the front of an
otherwise normal typical live view camera. It's
why the body is "SLR depth" and not shallow
like other live view bodies ... because the front
"bump out" contains a throw-back AF system
from actual SLRs, and so there's a reflector in
the bump out to divert some of the image up
to the AF sensor located where an SLR viewing
system would be located ... except that there's
no viewing system up there, just some sensors
borrowed from an old viewing system. These
sensor handle the AF chores, and nothing else.

You can actually "build your own" a77 or a99
SLT camera out of either an a6XXX or a7XXX
e-mount camera. Just snap on an LA-EA4 and
the job is done. You've got a live view camera
with an appendage on its front that does only
one thing: it diverts some of the image to an
an old SLR AF sensor and drives A-mount AF
lenses into focus.

`

BebuLamar

Yup! The A77, A99 and their II version look like DSLR outside but they are really mirrorless. Their translucent mirror is only for AF and not for viewing and thus you might call them mirrorless but absolutely not DSLR.

le boecere

Sounds like the best of both worlds ~ mirrorless & DSLR

Wonder why they're not more popular than they are.....