Hip Coyote

Switch from what (exactly) to what (exactly) to do what (exactly)? For example, I shoot a micro 43 sensor camera..if and when grand kids get into indoor sports where I need high quality low light, fast shooting, I would consider changing to another system. But as an amateur, shooting various scenes, vacations, a bit of off camera flash, I'm good just trying to get better at what I do with what I have. Because there is a lot of room for improvement!

Opinion only, of course, but many people on this forum are gear-heads who seek the better equipment for the sake and enjoyment of owning better / newer equipment. So, some specifics might help us spend your money.

Happy shooting and happy new year!

azted Loc: Las Vegas, NV.

One benefit is the same processing engine as in the flagship A1. Another is the new 33mp sensor. This is something I will jump on really soon!

Judy795

My friend Kevin who is a pro recently sold all his Nikon stuff—D500, 200-500, other lenses, maybe another camera too and got the Sony a7 iii and the 200-600 and a few more lenses. He had an older Sony too for a while. He does travel, real estate and wildlife and his grandkids. I have not had the chance to talk in person why. He bought an online travel franchise in Jan 2020 and started up traveling again. He retired from a dangerous job a few years ago and I guess this virus isn’t as scary.

Rgandel Loc: South Orange, NJ

The only problem currently if you plan to shoot in RAW is that nether Lightroom or PS can process the raw files from the a7iv.

azted Loc: Las Vegas, NV.

Great, because I use Capture One. Adobe is one herd too many for me to follow!

lreisner Loc: Union,NJ

I own the Sony AR7-4 which I really love. I moved over from the Canon 5d III. My Canon lenses were seriously old and in need of replacement. So the timing for change was right. If you are heavily invested in lenses, you should probably check out one of the Nikon cameras. If you do move over to Sony, check out the Sigma and Tamron lenses. Only the pixel peepers tend to see a difference and their findings seem to split hairs. Once you figure in the price difference of the lenses, for the average person, the non Sony lenses are a no brainer.

ADRAD

A few years ago I switched from a Nikon D600 to Sony AR73. I am able to use my Nikon 14 -24 mm lens with an adapter as well as a macro lens, but my Nikon 70 - 200 mm/F 2.8 lens would never work automatically even with an adapter. I finally bought a comparable Sony lens and am very happy with it. I sold my nikon lens. I am pleased that I switched to Sony mirrorless after so many years with quality Nikon products. Remember, if you are looking for just a lighter camera, it still will be heavy with a heavy lens.

ADRAD

A few years ago I switched from a Nikon D600 to Sony AR73. I am able to use my Nikon 14 -24 mm lens with an adapter as well as a macro lens, but my Nikon 70 - 200 mm/F 2.8 lens would never work automatically even with an adapter. I finally bought a comparable Sony lens and am very happy with it. I sold my nikon lens. I am pleased that I switched to Sony mirrorless after so many years with quality Nikon products. Remember, if you are looking for just a lighter camera, it still will be heavy with a heavy lens.

ORpilot Loc: Prineville, Or

I have both the a7Riv and the a7iii. They both are wonderful. The a7iii has better lowlight abilities than the a7Riv but the a7Riv has better focus and crop abilities at 61mp . A wonderful compromise is the a7iv. Go for it. You only get to spend your tax return once.

baron_silverton Loc: Los Angeles, CA

At this point you are better off staying with Nikon - Nikon has largely caught up in AF and low light (still not quite there but really close and this only matters if you are an event shooter and even then the Nikon's are fine now if you know how to use them).

In every other way the Nikon's are a better choice - better build quality, better RAW file (DR etc.) - your old lenses (any from the modern era) will work perfectly with the FTZ adaptor.

The Z mount has the most potential for the future - Sony E mount already showing limitations - Sony just releases a digital focus breathing solution because they apparently cant compensate with lens design (due to inferior APSC mount presumably).

Nikon Z S line glass is second to none - best hybrid lenses available for 'SLR' type camera (considering the overall balance of IQ and limited focus breathing).


In shorty, most of Sony's first mover advantage is now gone, and as time goes on their limitations will become worse and worse - they will either live with the limitations or have to redesign the mount which means its like starting over anyway.

If you are already in Nikon and have not switched yet (might have made sense a couple years ago) you would now be foolish to do so.

But hey... its your money :)

gwilliams6

What a laugh, you are so wrong and uninformed to the facts. Sony's E-mount is the most widely produced, bought and used mirrorless lens mount in the world, from APS-C cameras, to full frame still and video cameras to top Venice cinema cameras of Academy Award Winning DPs and Directors like Spielberg and James Cameron. Sony has f1.2 lenses and others have f0.95 lenses for Sony E-mount.

Sony has proved the E-mount and more third-party lens makers are making and releasing more and more top E-mount lenses than for any other mirrorless mount. Just the facts. Sony's best lenses are unsurpassed and resolve their 61mp cameras and greater.

Sony just announced they have developed the first ever dual layer stacked sensor for 2x the dynamic range and reduced noise. Not Canon, not Nikon. First for cellphones, then for larger sensor cameras. Sony Imaging has been and still remains the World's leader in digital image sensor technology, not Nikon, not Canon.

https://www.phonearena.com/news/sony-new-image-sensor-may-offer-better-dynamic-tange---noise-reduction_id137236

Sony has been first to develop designs and patents for the first curved digital sensors and curved sensor lens, another game-changer for photography .

https://www.digitalcameraworld.com/news/sonys-new-curved-image-sensors-could-shake-up-the-whole-camera-industry

Not just for cellphones but patents for medium format curved sensor cameras and five curved sensor medium format lenses also:

https://www.sonyalpharumors.com/more-patents-disclosing-a-sony-medium-format-camera-concept-with-curved-sensor/

Canon is doing its best to rush and copy Sony's lead here. Nikon is nowhere to be found with curved sensors.

Sony, Canon and Nikon are all racing to be the first to perfect and release fullframe global shutters for consumers. Global shutters already exist in some smaller formats, in some cinema cameras and in some industrial cameras, but not yet in fullframe cameras. Another game-changing development.


Sony still sells the most mirrorless cameras, yes more mirrorless than Canon and Nikon, check the CIPA numbers. And Sony sells the most fullframe cameras, counting DSLR or mirrorless, than any other maker including Canon and Nikon. Just a fact. Look it up if you don't believe it.

And Sony makes and supplies more digital image sensors throughout the camera industry than any other company, from smartphones, through compact, bridge, APS-C, fullframe and medium format digital cameras for a host of different camera makers, including many Nikon models.

And the top Worldwide news services like Associated Press, All Gannett media outlets, All British Media and more , have ALL chosen Sony mirrorless over mirrorless from Canon and Nikon as their exclusive gear brands for their still shooters and videographers.

Read and learn the facts, not your make-believe.

https://alphauniverse.com/stories/why-the-associated-press-just-switched-to-sony/

https://petapixel.com/2021/11/17/sony-is-now-the-exclusive-camera-provider-for-gannett-and-usa-today/

https://www.dpreview.com/news/4545693607/the-uk-largest-news-agency-partners-with-sony

Sony will never just sit on the sidelines and give up its mirrorless leadership in innovation and products.

FYI, I shot pro Nikon and Canon for over four decades (both brands) before moving over to Sony in January 2017 and I am a career photojournalist and also a longtime Professor of Photography at a state university having taught hundreds of photo students, and mentored many others to their own professional careers.

I wish Nikon, Canon, Fuji, Panasonic, Olympus, and all makers the best, as we all win when they push each other to even greater innovation. But lets get the facts straight.

https://www.facebook.com/GSWilliamsPhotography

https://www.facebook.com/groups/3048747915213474

Cheers

azted Loc: Las Vegas, NV.

Thank you gwilliams6, you say it so much better than any of us!

Hip Coyote

Excellent info. I did read that Canon developed a sensor that is much more capable at shooting in low light situation. Sony is king of the sensors, however. If and when I jump into a new system from my M43 Oly (due to low light needs), I will add Sony to my list of considerations. I do, however, think there will be a complete disruption in the industry as AI gets more and more robust. Looming out there is the "Tesla" of imaging that makes us all re imagine how photography is done. I think the notion of better glass, more pixels, bigger sensors may become obsolete with new tech. A fun time to be in the hobby.

Happy shooting and happy new year.

baron_silverton Loc: Los Angeles, CA

It's great how personal you are taking this. Your points don't change a thing that I said about the Nikon system itself which stand irrespective of whether or not the Sony E mount has deficiencies.

Even if it is conceded that the E mount is perfect, it does not change the crux of my point to the person that posed the question.

In the case of this person that already has Nikon, switching now is not necessarily the best move economically for them as they already have gear than the Nikon platform is now arriving on par with the others - this is also a fact.

As an example, the Z9 is factually the most advanced 'SLR' type video camera on the market today - this is not opinion - it is fact. There is no doubt that Sony will respond and match or surpass the Z9 soon, and then Nikon will respond and Canon etc. etc. etc.

My point to the questioner was simple: why switch now (2022) if you are already in the system and invested. In 2017 when you switched there was a better case for switching - now it makes more sense to stay where you are - if its Sony stay with Sony, if Canon stay with Canon and if Nikon stay with Nikon - pretty simple.

PS. I also have been shooting for over 30 years and have plenty of photo credentials - this is not relevant to the point being made.

For every article you present with your POV there are several that disagree so I am not interested in getting into a war of citing different sources.

I get that you are invested in Sony and want to defend Sony - but there is no need. I concede that the Sony system is very good and has many merits - it is not the 'best' at everything - it has flaws - that is a fact.

In the end, we agree on the most important thing: it is great that all of these companies are innovating - this makes each one of them better. There is no doubt that Nikon is better today because of Sony and that Sony will put out even more extraordinary things as a result of the Canon R3 and Nikon Z9 - so we should all rejoice in the competition and commend it. I think we agree on that, which is all that really matters.

Happy New Year.

joer Loc: Colorado/Illinois

Having had Canons, Nikons and others, before I switched to Sony, I must admit that they all feel different and after a while the one that feels the most comfortable is the one used the most. Muscle memory goes away quickly.

It is sort of like a pair of shoes...they never feel best when new.