reverendray

After having Nikon equipment for 40 years or so I have made the decision (and have ebayed it) to sell off the Nikon stuff and then move to a Sony platform. The reasons are, if totally honest with myself, two. First is that I used a Sony once and it made excellent printed raw files, as good as the Nikon D810 I still have and use. Second is it was time to change one of my main hobbies to generate some more and new activity in my life now that I am close to 80 years old. Learning to use a new platform will challenge me and i need more of that in life now that I am not doing anything 9-5 anymore. Being honest with myself, I was totally used to the nikon, good and bad, so moving to a new platform will be somewhat of a challenge. Sony is finally making some good glass, they have finally started making pretty well sealed cameras, and price is the photo market has become somewhat of a type of cooperative agreement between manufactures on what and how to price. Know yourself before you make a decision like this and don't B.S. yourself into thinking it s about technical issues. There is really no bad stuff coming from any manufacture these days. So, go your own way and know why you are going there will make it a lot more fun too.

DavidThompson Loc: Asheville, NC

I’m almost 73 and retired and I have a D750 - recently a Hedgehog commented negatively about the 750 and of course Nikon kind of gave it a thumbs down when they came out with the D780? I’m impressed with the eye detect and focus for people and animals. I am considering Sony’s A1 but I haven’t had any interest in video, it doesn’t do stacking. The Nikon mirrorless is big for old guy hiking. So I am with you but curious - which Sony you considering.

DavidThompson Loc: Asheville, NC

I’m almost 73 and retired and I have a D750 - recently a Hedgehog commented negatively about the 750 and of course Nikon kind of gave it a thumbs down when they came out with the D780? I’m impressed with the eye detect and focus for people and animals. I am considering Sony’s A1 but I haven’t had any interest in video, it doesn’t do stacking. The Nikon mirrorless is big for old guy hiking. So I am with you but curious - which Sony you considering.

reverendray

About 15 years or so ago when sony came out with the mirrorless, I tried one on rental. It did take great pictures and the IBIS was amazing to me. I have watched the development of the IBIS and also the mirrorless sensor shutter. Both impressed me too. However, the real reason I am switching is not really equipment differences so much as learning a totally new system. I do mostly landscape/candids and requests. The nikon I used was the D810 that was really great for it's time. However, the real honest reason is I want something different to fool around with and also have to learn. It was different enough for it being #2 and #1. Nikon still builds the rugged cameras great for landscape, having banged it around the mountains of the west, through Europe, and it always worked and took excellent pictures. So, bottom line is I want something new to do, learn and play around with now before I catch the happy hunting ground.

Gene51 Loc: Yonkers, NY, now in LSD (LowerSlowerDelaware)

Taking your topic title literally but differently from what you intended, the best reason to move to Sony is their groundbreaking autofocus system based on lots of hybrid focus sensors on the image sensor - giving the Sonys the reputation of providing unerringly accurate focus that is the most responsive among all of the cameras on the market.

reverendray

Well you are right about how much they have developed.....and frankly are now probably the leader in terms of techno research and development. I do a lot of blowups and so it takes good pictures to work with or your stuff looks like crap. The Sony I played with back then was the first one of there run. Build was not quite up to what you need to go up in the rockies and hang on a ledge and the camera gets banged around while the sudden shower comes up.

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

Full frame cameras without a swinging mirror inside can be smaller, but they aren't that much lighter. Fast professional full frame lenses weight about the same no matter what FF camera they mount to. The combined net difference between DSLR and mirrorless is negligible.

SteveG Loc: Norh Carolina

Love your attitude and look on life! Ignore the naysayers and do what you want! I have Sony for years now and love it. I'm sure you will too!

reverendray

Thanks.....well if at my age it isn't fun......don't do it.

SteveG Loc: Norh Carolina

I'm not too far behind you so, I know what you mean!

billnikon Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont

I have two things to tell you.
#1. Your quote, "and price is the photo market has become somewhat of a type of cooperative agreement between manufactures on what and how to price" is fake news. There is NO cooperative agreement between manufactures", that is price fixing and it is illegal in most countries.
#2. I also shoot with Nikon and Sony. Do not count Nikon out quite yet. That is why I am keeping my feet in both systems for now. I have found nothing better for birds in flight besides Group Auto Focus, sadly Nikon chose not to include it on the new Z9. With my D500 and D850 I nail birds in flight with GAF.
If your going Sony and your a wildlife shooter, I recommend the Sony a9 (same guts as the a9II and cheaper) and the Sony 200-600 mm zoom, argumentatively the sharpest zoom lens on the market today.
So, to sum up, your current Nikon system is great for wildlife photography. I would wait a year and see what Nikon brings out, I continue to get just as sharp an image with Nikon as I get with Sony.
I use Zone focus with the a9 and my keep rate is just under what I get with my Nikon's using GAF.
So, please think hard before you switch.
I know several folks who have shot Nikon, sold it all and went to Sony, who now are selling all of there Sony and going to the Nikon Z9.
Again, your patience my be rewarded.

billnikon Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont

tcthome Loc: NJ

Canisdirus

You're not kidding there.
I was out shooting for kicks yesterday and was tracking a black vulture flying low...
All sorts of brush and branches flew by my EVF...the Sony kept that bird in perfect focus...in and out of the brush interference.
That was the A7RIV...their 'landscape' camera.

Add to that...Sony has the best and deepest glass lineup in the world right now.

Gitchigumi Loc: Wake Forest, NC

I recently bought another camera and, as part of the selection process, I had a spreadsheet going that compared various full frame cameras. I looked at both DSLRs and mirrorless, all from Nikon. Total was about 10 cameras. One of the data columns was weight of the camera body. Much to my surprise, they were all within a few ounces of each other, regardless of whether they were DSLR or mirrorless. So, I didn’t see any weight advantage to the mirrorless cameras.