Going mirrorless (Page 8): All three make systems so good that in all likelihood, you the photographer will be the limiting factor, so in terms of performance, it probably doesn’t...

TriX Loc: Raleigh, NC

MonetDIY wrote:

If you were starting fresh, no system in hand, with a $3,000 budget, would you go Nikon, Canon, or Sony a7iii?

All three make systems so good that in all likelihood, you the photographer will be the limiting factor, so in terms of performance, it probably doesn’t matter - whichever one feels best and most ergonomically friendly to you.

MonetDIY

TriX wrote:

All three make systems so good that in all likelihood, you the photographer will be the limiting factor, so in terms of performance, it probably doesn’t matter - whichever one feels best and most ergonomically friendly to you.

Thanks, and good to know. I have a Nikon 5000 and 3100 kits and been dissatisfied w sharpness when shooting my paintings, even w tripod. My iPhone is sharper. The a7iii’s sharpness even in high ISO seems amazing. Was ready to get the Nikon 7500 w 18-300mm lens until I read of the a7iii. :)

TriX Loc: Raleigh, NC

MonetDIY wrote:

Thanks, and good to know. I have a Nikon 5000 and 3100 kits and been dissatisfied w sharpness when shooting my paintings, even w tripod. My iPhone is sharper. The a7iii’s sharpness even in high ISO seems amazing. Was ready to get the Nikon 7500 w 18-300mm lens until I read of the a7iii. :)

Sony makes excellent systems, but since you know the Nikon menu system, you might look at some of their cameras as well. You didn’t mention what glass you are using and if you calibrate your lenses, but if I had 3K to spend in the Nikon system and wanted to photograph paintings, I’d buy a D850 (or D810) and one of their excellent prime lenses like the Micro Nikkor 105mm f2.8 (Nikon shooters, weigh in here with your recommendations). I guarantee that if set up properly, the results will be tack sharp.

TriX Loc: Raleigh, NC

duplicate...

Ched49 Loc: Pittsburgh, Pa.

MonetDIY wrote:

Thanks, and good to know. I have a Nikon 5000 and 3100 kits and been dissatisfied w sharpness when shooting my paintings, even w tripod. My iPhone is sharper. The a7iii’s sharpness even in high ISO seems amazing. Was ready to get the Nikon 7500 w 18-300mm lens until I read of the a7iii. :)

Did I read that right...your iphone takes better photo's than your D5000 and D3100?

MonetDIY

Ched49 wrote:

Did I read that right...your iphone takes better photo's than your D5000 and D3100?

Yep. The kit zoom lenses just aren’t as sharp, even on a tripod at f8 or f11, 250-500/sec at ISO 100-400. Weird.

MonetDIY

Maybe the prime lens is key for capturing the detail in the paintings. Always sharper than a Nikon zoom?

GrandmaG Loc: Flat Rock, MI

MonetDIY wrote:

If you were starting fresh, no system in hand, with a $3,000 budget, would you go Nikon, Canon, or Sony a7iii?

That’s easy! Sony a7iii for $2000 and a used 24-105/4 lens for $1000 (to start!). Later, a prime lens for low light and a wide angle lens would be added, plus a flash and extra batteries.

tomad Loc: North Carolina

MonetDIY wrote:

If you were starting fresh, no system in hand, with a $3,000 budget, would you go Nikon, Canon, or Sony a7iii?

Sony A7 III with Sony FE 24-240 f3.5/6.3 zoom lens.

joer Loc: Colorado/Illinois

cygone wrote:

I've decided to sell all my Nikon to KEH except fo... (show quote)

I have used KEH as well as MPB many times and had good experiences with both. I prefer MPB because they process the gear and send payment more quickly. One average the gear is valued about the same between them.

joer Loc: Colorado/Illinois

Ched49 wrote:

Did I read that right...your iphone takes better photo's than your D5000 and D3100?

That doesn't surprise me. NEF files are meant to be processed whereas the phone does all the processing using very sophisticated algorithms providing excellent results with little or no effort.

Phones are designed for people that don't know photography and don't want to learn, and there is nothing wrong with that.

MonetDIY

joer wrote:

That doesn't surprise me. NEF files are meant to be processed whereas the phone does all the processing using very sophisticated algorithms providing excellent results with little or no effort.

Phones are designed for people that don't know photography and don't want to learn, and there is nothing wrong with that.

No surprise there. I wish I could manipulate the default settings of my iPhone. That’d be cool.

MonetDIY

tomad wrote:

Sony A7 III with Sony FE 24-240 f3.5/6.3 zoom lens.

That’s exactly what I’m considering. Wish it were like the Nikkor 18-300mm.

MonetDIY

Btw, I’ve read using an a7iii adapter w a non-Sony lens is not as good as using a Sony lens. True? What is lacking?

TriX Loc: Raleigh, NC

MonetDIY wrote:

That’s exactly what I’m considering. Wish it were like the Nikkor 18-300mm.

And that could be the problem with your sharpness issue. Ultra wide range zooms are convenient, but a compromise in terms of both speed and sharpness. And inexpensive zooms are never going to deliver max sharpness. If max sharpness is your goal, then you need to limit yourself to either a limited zoom range (like 3:1) or primes, and buy high quality (probably expensive) lenses. Also, since you mentioned shooting paintings, you should consider a “flat field” prime lens. Since I’m a Canon shooter, I’ll let a Nikon guy suggest the appropriate lens, but it sounds like your lens or your technique is the issue, not your body.