jaymatt wrote:
I'm thinking of purchasing a Sony Alpha a6000 or an a6500.
If any of you have experience with either of these cameras, would you care to share your opinions? This would be my main camera, and I shoot mostly landscape-type photos, along with a smattering of whatever comes along.
Thanks in advance for your offerings.
Yes, I have an A6000. It is a major battery eater. It will go thorough a battery so fast you will not believe. I bought it to carry instead of my Nikon D7000, because the nikon weighed so much it was hurting my neck the longer I carried it. The A6000 does take great pictures, but I could not stand the battery problem. I had to carry 4 batteries so I don't run out. Then it takes half the night recharging all those batteries.
That's certainly a deal breaker for m
i did not have a battery issue with a6000. I always carried 3 extra batteries in addition to the one in camera for a day trip. Two of the batteries were 3rd party. I don’t remember using more than 2 at a time. I didn’t shoot a lot of videos and turned off the camera when not shooting. I do remember however when I forgot to turn off the camera, the battery was exhausted after an hour. But, I didn’t know how much charge was left. The batteries were small. Weight wasn’t an issue.
There are double chargers too. You can charge 2 batteries at a time.
noeT wrote:
i did not have a battery issue with a6000. I always carried 3 extra batteries in addition to the one in camera for a day trip. Two of the batteries were 3rd party. I don’t remember using more than 2 at a time. I didn’t shoot a lot of videos and turned off the camera when not shooting. I do remember however when I forgot to turn off the camera, the battery was exhausted after an hour. But, I didn’t know how much charge was left. The batteries were small. Weight wasn’t an issue.
Same for me with my a6300. Initially, unfamiliar with the camera, I didn't turn my camera off after shooting, and drained the battery (only had the OEM battery at the time) pretty quickly. Quickly trained myself to turn the camera off after each shot (unless I was taking several at a time), and got a couple of spare 3rd party batteries and a charger. The other thing I did was turn off known battery drains, like airplane mode and silent shooting, and haven't had any problems since. I always carry a spare (sometimes two) if it is going to be a long shooting day. And I always leave the house with the battery in the camera at full charge.
Hank Radt wrote:
Same for me with my a6300. Initially, unfamiliar with the camera, I didn't turn my camera off after shooting, and drained the battery (only had the OEM battery at the time) pretty quickly. Quickly trained myself to turn the camera off after each shot (unless I was taking several at a time), and got a couple of spare 3rd party batteries and a charger. The other thing I did was turn off known battery drains, like airplane mode and silent shooting, and haven't had any problems since. I always carry a spare (sometimes two) if it is going to be a long shooting day. And I always leave the house with the battery in the camera at full charge.
Same for me with my a6300. Initially, unfamiliar w... (
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There is a small sensor beside the eyepiece. When you put your eye up to the view finder it turns on the EVF, electronic view finder. The EVF is powered by the battery. If you do not turn the camera off and put it into your pocket or bag it will rundown the battery EVF can be turned on by this sensor becoming blocked. Also because the camera is smaller and lighter than than the larger DSLR so the smaller batteries have less juice, this is just the nature of the beast. If you carry extra batteries and remember to turn the camera off you should be good to shoot all day.
Tip, above select wheel is the function button labeled with Fn. Pressing this brings up a short cut menu for fast access to changing the settings, so you do not have to go through the menu every time to change settings. You can change what settings are used and can save three versions of these settings. So, for instance, you can have these set for standard, portrait and landscape pictures with your preferences. The camera is difficult to learn but when learned is extremely flexible in how to use the camera. Still this camera does not appeal to everyone because of the menu system.
Drala2k wrote:
There is a small sensor beside the eyepiece. When you put your eye up to the view finder it turns on the EVF, electronic view finder. The EVF is powered by the battery. If you do not turn the camera off and put it into your pocket or bag it will rundown the battery EVF can be turned on by this sensor becoming blocked. Also because the camera is smaller and lighter than than the larger DSLR so the smaller batteries have less juice, this is just the nature of the beast. If you carry extra batteries and remember to turn the camera off you should be good to shoot all day.
Tip, above select wheel is the function button labeled with Fn. Pressing this brings up a short cut menu for fast access to changing the settings, so you do not have to go through the menu every time to change settings. You can change what settings are used and can save three versions of these settings. So, for instance, you can have these set for standard, portrait and landscape pictures with your preferences. The camera is difficult to learn but when learned is extremely flexible in how to use the camera. Still this camera does not appeal to everyone because of the menu system.
There is a small sensor beside the eyepiece. When ... (
show quote)
If you go to the settings tab in the menu (the one like a gear) and go down the list to FINDER/MONITOR you can choose between auto, viewfinder and monitor. When I am not using the camera I set it to monitor (not auto or viewfinder). Monitor setting turns the evf off and saves the battery.
I’ve had the a6000 w/kit lens for two years & I love it. The camera has very sharp & fast auto focus, is light weight & is an all around pleasure. However, the menu is confusing & the paper manual almost useless. Buy a third party help book.
Lilka wrote:
Iâve had the a6000 w/kit lens for two years & I love it. The camera has very sharp & fast auto focus, is light weight & is an all around pleasure. However, the menu is confusing & the paper manual almost useless. Buy a third party help book.
I recommend David Bush’s Book. Well written Book and David is open to answering emails.
David Busch’s Sony Alpha a6000/ILCE-6000 Guide to Digital Photography
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01GB2FFO6/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_WBQ3zbMQDCGJ8
Lilka wrote:
I’ve had the a6000 w/kit lens for two years & I love it. The camera has very sharp & fast auto focus, is light weight & is an all around pleasure. However, the menu is confusing & the paper manual almost useless. Buy a third party help book.
Also Gary Friedman's book:
http://www.friedmanarchives.com/alpha6000/ is outstanding.
I primary shoot a Nikon d71000.
I got the a6000 on a really good sale. I like its size, making it great for travel. Not much to not like about it, except that the lenses in the e mount can be a bit pricey.
The 6000 is an older model, so it can be had for a lot less than the 6500. Look at the features to see if it is worth the extra cost, I decided that it wasn't, so I went for the 6000. You may think that the new features a worth the extra cost, but I didn't, and I am very happy with the 6000. The in body stabilization in the 65oo is something to add to the stabilization of the ISA on the lens, giving you an extra axis. I didn't think that it was worth the extra cost, and stuck with the stabilization in the lens. That was my choice.
If you do get the 6000, look at the Gary Fong videos on YouTube, he tells you how to set it up and how to use it. Of course he does it for all Sony cameras. He is a great teacher.
BHC
Loc: Strawberry Valley, JF, USA
What are you yelling about?
BHC wrote:
What are you yelling about?
Word just means agree. No big deal mate.
BHC
Loc: Strawberry Valley, JF, USA
jccash wrote:
Word just means agree. No big deal mate.
Thanks. I never heard that one before.
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