MT Shooter Loc: Montana

Not exactly "praise", but it was a good camera at a good price. And no, I did not try any other lenses than the one it came with, like you said, because I had no other lenses to fit it.
And no, I don't sell mirrorless cameras in my store, but I do accept them as trade-ins regularly. I currently have the A7 I have already mentioned, as well as a Panasonic Lumix FZ70. All of these cameras are good in their own right and fill a need for many people. Since I sell most of my work and cannot get the image quality from them that I get from my Nikon D800's I do not use them myself at all. Have I ever said they were not worth owning? absolutely not. They do fill a niche, and fill it well, for many users. If I thought they were worthless I would not even take them in on trade.
Your NEX-7 was literally like new when I took it in, did I mislead you in any way as to its condition or abilities? Not at all, if I did please post so here or anywhere else you would like.
Being in the business of dealing in used gear allows me to do "hands-on" testing of a vast array of cameras and lenses and I feel very fortunate to be able to do so, it helps me a lot in making evaluations for myself as well as my customers. If the Sony A7 series had a bigger selection of available stabilized lenses (ala NOT having to use an adapter) I would be a big fan of it. The fact that Sony originally promised 20 lenses for it when it was introduced, and has failed miserably in fulfilling that promise, has soured me on the cameras somewhat, that is very true. Sony does not produce all of their own lenses and is at the mercy of the manufacturers that do build many of them, so its not all their fault, but they really do need to step up their game and get with lens line before other cameras surpass their quality and do offer a varied lens selection.

azted Loc: Las Vegas, NV.

Your integrity is intact, as I am totally happy with the camera, and any praise you gave the camera was well deserved. The build quality is very nice, just smaller and lighter! I do agree with you about the need for more lenses without utilizing an adapter. But since I have purchased the adapter, it opens up a whole world of older Sony, Minolta and third party lenses that are very cheap, and versatile. The adapters for F mount lenses are a little less admirable because they do not focus to infinity.

For those that say the electronic viewfinder is the problem, I can only say that seeing your manual adjustments as you make it is the most worthwhile job a camera can do! Go Mirrorless!!

Newsbob Loc: SF Bay Area

The main reason to go mirrorless is weight. If weight isn't an issue, don't bother.

I bought the Sony A7 and like it, but not as much as my Canon 5DIII.

The EVF interferes with shooting when it brings up the "review" image, even if only briefly. The EVF image is also obviously not as crystal clear as an optical viewfinder. So I sometimes can't see details such a person's expression.

The Sony A7 line suffers from a lack of zoom lenses. There are several nice mid-range zooms to pick from, but only one telephoto that is over-priced, and no wide-angles. You can use an adapter to use Sony A and E lenses but why go to that effort and expense? If you want prime lenses, there are various ones available, but mostly overpriced.

Overall, I think I made a mistake. Don't follow my example.

Grizzly Loc: USA

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A lot of people would love the Sony A7 FF. Sony does suffer from a total lack of len's compared to Canon/Nikon and 4/3 camera's but I believe they are coming. I have a NEx 6 and find the EV OK - and it will zoom in the same as looking at the 3 inch screen on the back of the camera. I frequently check detail, facial "expressions etc. to determine if another shot is warranted. I like it better than the 3" inch screen.

Hang on to it. It is a little expensive for me, but I think a neat "little" camera. What would you do with a Leica M3 for example with just a 50mm lens?

Just my opinion.

countryman60951 Loc: Bourbonnais, Il

I purchased a Sony a7R about 2 months ago with a FE F1.8 55mm prime lens. Has good build quality and the pictures are awesome. Still learning of all its capabilities and really enjoy the less weight hanging around my neck when I am doing a tour of one of my shows that last at least 8 hours.Since getting this Sony I have only used my Canon 7D one time. Nothing wrong with the 7D but it will soon be offered for sale here on UHH. DO I have complaints about the Sony, yes. First the battery life does not seem to be that long. 2nd, Lack of lens choices, however I plan to purchase the 70-200mm G lens and with the 2 lens, with the 2 lens will do 95% of what I photograph. The other 5% will be done with my Canon SX50HS camera. This Sony is the 1st full frame camera I have owned and as I said I am well pleased with it.

rob s Loc: La Mesa, CA

I am a Canon 6D + L lenses user and I take this camera with me every single time I think an interesting photographic opportunity might present itself.
I'm sure you know what happens with this system! I've been looking for something small enough to take everywhere but which can deliver DSLR quality at a reasonable price.
A relative visited recently and offered to show some vacation pictures from his NEX 6 through our hi def TV. I was quite impressed. The camera was just a little larger than pocketable but it had an APSC sensor and although he was shooting auto / jpegs the images were excellent, even in some challenging light.
A couple of weeks later a Sony NEX 3N, (same lens and same sensor), appeared on Craigslist for $200. I snapped it up and have been trying it out. My somewhat unscientific appraisal is that this the body and 16 Mp sensor is every bit as good as any entry level DSLR and the kit lens better than most of 'em.
I shoot RAW and post with Lightroom but I've shot this in both auto modes and with the pitifully tiny on camera flash. In all respects it performs very well indeed. The 3N unlike the 6 has no viewfinder but it does fit in the pocket of my usual cargo pants. I have it with me now whenever the 6D is at home.
A little slow to zoom & focus and rapid shooting rate is a bit slow thus not ideally suited to rapid shooting / action photography. This may well be improved on newer models such as the a6000. But otherwise very highly recommended.
Here are some sample images. The top of the mountain is about a mile and a quarter away.
Hope this helps

Full frame. RAW + LR

(Download)

Crop from centre of the above.

(Download)


(Download)

Bonkles Loc: St Albans, UK

Just found an example of the 11 Frames a second feature

3 consecutive photos @ 11 FPS Train Entering Waybourne Station, Norfolk

HG Law

The Sony Mirrorless camera is (as far as I know) the only full frame mirrorless camera. It comes in four different models ranging in price from about $1,000 to about $1,900. I have a friend who owns the A7R (which is the most expensive model) and he swears that it is the best camera he has ever owned. I was impressed with that comment as he has owned many many many cameras. I personally own a Mirrorless Lumix made by Panasonic. I love it. I have owned if for about three years. I have not used my Cannon since I bought the Lumix.

teesquare Loc: USA

I keep seeing Sony as a brand "push"...But lets be fair to the OP...He is going to want to own lenses. And - the Sony system of lenses is comparatively scant - and large AND expensive for quality glass as compared to Oly/Pana.

And the size of the Sony lenses for the "A" series cameras isn't much smaller than typical APS or full frame lenses.

SO - if it is a complete approach you seek - look at BOTH camera body AND lens availability and SIZE.

After all why only get a small body an big ( EXPENSIVE) lenses - if what you are seeking is a balanced approach where the lens and camera both save you size and weight - and can still provide quality output.

Burt Hollen Loc: King of Prussia, Pa

I agree. I was concerned about the EVF before I bought the OMD EM1, but it is so nice and actually prefer it over SLR. Very sharp and you can even see the picture change through the viewfinder as you change settings. Really great for time exposures and you can watch the picture build on the back screen.

CHOLLY Loc: THE FLORIDA PANHANDLE!

They have a PELLICLE mirror. And in comparison to standard DSLR's they ARE close to being mirrorless for all intents and purposes.

I think of them as being a hybrid between a typical DSLR and a true mirrorless. :mrgreen:

CHOLLY Loc: THE FLORIDA PANHANDLE!

Nah; you were correct to begin with. ;)

Unlike the flappy mirror in DSLRs, the Pellicle mirror in OUR cameras allow the majority of the light... about 70% of it... to pass straight through to the image sensor.

Only 30% gets reflected up to the Auto Focus module. Which means speed, speed, speed.

Not so with the flippyfloppy mirrors these other guys use, which reflect 100% of the incoming light up to some dim, dark, low-information, feature starved optical view finder.

In fact, the ONLY way a flappy mirror camera can compete with a pellicle mirror camera for speed is if it costs the same as a used car. Yep... the A77/A77II shoots the SAME speed as a $7K Canon for less than 1/7 the cost. :lol:

(You know that 15fps from the used car comes with strings attached right? If you want full control of your camera and full resolution images, you only get 12fps... the SAME as the Sonys listed above. ;) )

So the A77/77II/99 offers the best of BOTH worlds; mirrorless and DSLR, and without all the calories. :lol:

CHOLLY Loc: THE FLORIDA PANHANDLE!

Bob... you do know you can turn that review image feature off don't you?

And for those who don't like the look or color of the EVF... you DO realize that you can adjust everything from those colors to contrast and brightness don't you?

Gotta know your gear to work your gear properly folks... you gotta know it!

There is absolutely NO comparison between the information you get from an EVF compared to OVFs... ESPECIALLY the current generation of OLED EVFs found in the Sony A7/A77/A99 series of cameras, which a extremely high resolution with nearly instantaneous response.

Mirrorless cameras are the wave of the future... no wait; the 3 highest scoring camera on the DxOMARK sensor rating chart is a mirrorless!!! TODAY!! ;)

Cdouthitt Loc: Traverse City, MI

Today I was shooting with a 10 stop nd filter. With a dslr I wouldn't have been able to see or focus with the filter on...with the em1 and I'm sure any other mirrorless camera, I was able to see the scene perfectly. So much easier to nail the exposure.

CHOLLY Loc: THE FLORIDA PANHANDLE!

Same with the A77II "hybrid" camera. ;)