I may have misspoke. Head spinning with prices but I know the Sony a7 111 ended up over $4000 anyhow. Just trying to be practical and ease the itch for something new to play with in a reasonable fashion. That whole thing about smaller sensors less quality pics still has my head questioning all.

I am still in love with the Sony a7 111 but to purchase the lens I require and all the separate gear needed to get going along with the extended warranty that I believe anyone needs it comes out around $5000. I had set a budget for $2500 then raised it to $3500 and decided I really shouldn't keep changing my goal. I hope they will be a little more affordable in a year or so and I will buy one then. That was my ultimate camera choice. This was my first time dealing with B & H and perhaps I am naive and still learning...and yes very lucky to get all this good advice...but 3 different salesman there said the mirrorless camera is just the removal of 1 mirror inside the camera...I don't know how many mirrors a camera has...and the price was too high right now as so trendy. I do think if they are as good as the Sony a7 seemed that they are the future. I just need to wait for the pricing to level out. Meantime I learn on a tried and true heavier model.

Ok so I could go either way as you all know. The biggest problem I have is that I will not get the zoom I am used to unless I go with the bulkier camera. I love the Sony products and will probably end up with both in the future. New trendy whatever you want to call it is expensive right now and will get cheaper and better over time. I want to experiment as most of you have already done and that is why you are as knowledgeable as you are. You have already been there and done that. I decided I want to wait to buy the mirrorless camera when I can get a used version at a lower price.

Ordered my new camera thru B & H and what a pleasure they are to work with. The salesman actually talked me out of spending too much money. That was refreshing! I now understand there really is no way around weight versus good zoom capacity. I will probably have to get some kind of tripod that hooks to your chest for longer shoots but I am ready to learn so much more and excited! I was educated on how mirrorless cameras are a trendy phase and not worthy of the extra funds. I am getting a Nikon D7200 and a 150-600mm lens. There will be a learning curve and I will probably be asking a lot more silly questions. I am much further along now then I was! I did ask about Nikon photos being flatter and I now understand that Sony and Nikon are somewhat comparable with Canon leaning more towards warmer colors. The salesman told me the Sony RX would never be up to par of what I already presently use w the 50x zoom. Just maybe I have passed on something that some of you did not know! Wouldn't that be amazing! Thanks again for all the help! I hope to love my new camera but there is a 30 day return policy so I took the leap of faith!

Hey Paul

Thanks for all your patience with me.

In all fairness I did not get to test out any Olympus cameras. Wish I could.

My last big question is about a bunch of blogs I read on the full frame versus the "crop sensor". Some photographers say that it is a bunch of bs, and just a way to charge more money? That there is no such thing as a crop sensor?

So now you have me worried about whether it is worth the extra expense to buy the full frame versus the camera w more megapixels and "crop sensor" If I spend less on the main body I have more money for the better lens? Any thoughts?

I was amazed by the clarity of the Sony a7 111 and the reach of the zoom was as good if not better then my 50X ..higher IQ lens? Larger sensor? I knew pretty much from the start that I would go mirrorless. I think the full frame camera is also a good choice. The less expensive version did have more megapixels but the reviews call those camera pics pre-cropped with a supposed better end product w full frame. I don't understand all of that but I liked what I tried and could see a difference. I had a very fair salesperson who gave me all the options without pushing me towards anyone camera. Trying to buy something cutting edge and the price is always higher on the latest so I am sure I am overpaying. We all gripe when it goes on sale later. Thanks for the advice on B & H. I probably will purchase from them. Just couldn't handle the New York City thing. Wish they had a branch more accessible.

Thanks Larry!

Thanks Matsuo!

Okay all you Ugly Hedgehogs...I did the road trip to Best Buy which is my only option out in the country here. I tried out the Nikon and it didn't do it for me. I tried out the Cannon and it felt clunky. I already made my mind up that I am not going for the Sony RX 10 but I do seem to have an affection for Sony products.

I may disappoint some of you with my choice but I can see how much the preference thing comes up in all the comments. I guess I prefer Sony. The buttons are familiar to me. I fell in love with the new light weight mirrorless Sony Alpha a7 111 full frame. I am not one to shoot a lot of videos so this version suits my needs. It is expensive and I will have to start with the FE 70-300mm lens which will still probably shoot me past my budget of $3500 but not by much. I need to shop it as I never think that Best Buy has the best buys!

I don't totally grasp the full frame being better but I am getting there. Since they had another choice that was much less expensive and was 24 mp versus the full frame with 12 mp. My brain can't decipher all the techy stuff you have thrown my way. I see there is much experience and knowledge with all of you. Thanks for sharing!


I haven't jumped down the rabbit hole yet so if there are any really serious objections to this choice other then it's price give me the run down. And if there are any suggestions on the best place to buy I would greatly appreciate that. There are no combo deals right now at Best Buy. The camera body is on sale for 2800 and the lens is 1149.99.

Todays shot that could be much better with different equipment:

So if I buy a lesser zoom with a bigger sensor I will have the ability to take these far off shots with better quality/clarity? This I assume would mean cropping and enlarging which I am told is not a good idea with photoshop which is what I use as you lose too many pixels? So how would I accomplish this?

Larry if the Sony RX 100 IV is only 25X then that wont work for me. The adds and examples they show in reviews describe it as a zoom that goes on forever so I thought there was some magic component that made it better.

I appreciate all of you for taking the time to educate me. I am so glad I joined this site Larry!

Hopefully I appear to be a little more knowledgeable in my responses.

I have tried to sell my work on Fine Art America. I am feature 15 times a day, get a million compliments and know that my eye and passion are intact. I have made few sales but am not willing to give up!

Does anyone else think that Nikon shots are too flat compared to Sony? I was leaning towards Nikon as all the heavy hitters have told me this is what they use?

Azted

Well said and something I had not heard before. Thanks for this new knowledge

Thanks Jack. You read all the reviews. Some highlight all the good and some really tear the RX 10 apart. I'm considering buying the RX 10 over the Nikon 900 as the reviews are better even though it is much more costly. But I do need to go to a good camera shop to get the feel of size and weight of all. Guess I need a much bigger budget to improve zoom with a mirrorless camera and interchangeable lens. I thought $3500 might be enough. Considering used again for that choice...