hello world :)

[photo41]

my name is Valentin and I shoot in Southampton UK on an older alpha 6000 that still runs smoothly but I feel that I need to take a full frame step ahead.
I used the kit lenses for some years (with limited success and joy). The menus for an ex Canon user are intimidating. Things have dramatically changed last week when I've purchased a 50mm/1.8 prime and all of a sudden the images were sharp from one corner to another
In an otherwise unwise spree, I've bought on ebay an Alpha 7 RII but it proved to be defective and now is wrapped to be send back.
But the bug is there and I will be looking for a full frame and the advice here to put it to good use
I am interested in landscape, architecture and vegetation/wildlife
I am passionate on panoramic 360 degree photography - I use now an Insta360 but along the time I have spend many hours stitching fisheye pictures (Tokina 10-17 and Sigma) on Canon 5d

It's great to be here and I look forward in learning about my alpha

 

[Richard A]

Hi @photo41. Welcome to the forum.

 

[iamdlewis]

If you are looking to move into full frame with Sony than you should look at the Gen 3 or newer bodies for the A7 lines. There was a huge leap in technology between gen 2 and gen 3 plus the batteries used in gen 3 are compatible with newer releases.

Menu systems are all frustrating regardless of device type till you learn them or figure out how to make them useful to you.

 

[evacguy]

my name is Valentin and I shoot in Southampton UK on an older alpha 6000 that still runs smoothly but I feel that I need to take a full frame step ahead.
I used the kit lenses for some years (with limited success and joy). The menus for an ex Canon user are intimidating. Things have dramatically changed last week when I've purchased a 50mm/1.8 prime and all of a sudden the images were sharp from one corner to another
In an otherwise unwise spree, I've bought on ebay an Alpha 7 RII but it proved to be defective and now is wrapped to be send back.
But the bug is there and I will be looking for a full frame and the advice here to put it to good use
I am interested in landscape, architecture and vegetation/wildlife
I am passionate on panoramic 360 degree photography - I use now an Insta360 but along the time I have spend many hours stitching fisheye pictures (Tokina 10-17 and Sigma) on Canon 5d

It's great to be here and I look forward in learning about my alpha

Hi Valentin, welcome aboard. I'm looking forward to seeing your work - especially some of your panorama's.

 

[photo41]

If you are looking to move into full frame with Sony than you should look at the Gen 3 or newer bodies for the A7 lines. There was a huge leap in technology between gen 2 and gen 3 plus the batteries used in gen 3 are compatible with newer releases.

Menu systems are all frustrating regardless of device type till you learn them or figure out how to make them useful to you.

it's not imminent due to budget restrictions. I wonder if it would be ideal to wait until a new release (vi?) appears and maybe then the prices go down??? Is there a predictable period/season when those things tend to happen?

 

[photo41]

Hi Valentin, welcome aboard. I'm looking forward to seeing your work - especially some of your panorama's.

feel free to browse 360 images at my profile on 360cities: https://www.360cities.net/profile/valentin-arfire - there are many other better skilled panorama photographers - maybe take a look at the panoramas from my profile page (to see mine)

 

[Unframed Dave]

Welcome aboard. Don't get too hung up on FF, I went for it because I do a lot of bird photography and need the cropability. There again, a lot of folks take some really good wildlife with OM's M43!

 

[photo41]

Welcome aboard. Don't get too hung up on FF, I went for it because I do a lot of bird photography and need the cropability. There again, a lot of folks take some really good wildlife with OM's M43!

thank you

 

[photo41]

it's not imminent due to budget restrictions. I wonder if it would be ideal to wait until a new release (vi?) appears and maybe then the prices go down??? Is there a predictable period/season when those things tend to happen?

someone smarter and better informed said:
Sony typically releases new flagship cameras every few years, with recent models launched as follows:

• Sony A1: Introduced in January 2021.
• Sony A1 II: Announced in November 2024, featuring enhanced speed and performance compared to its predecessor. The Verge
• Sony A7R V: Released in October 2022.

Based on this pattern, Sony's flagship models are updated approximately every 3 to 4 years. Current rumors suggest that the Sony A7 V is anticipated to be announced in the early months of 2025. Additionally, there is speculation about a potential Sony A7R VI release in late 2025, possibly around November. LOS40Sony Alpha Rumours

 

[iamdlewis]

You should figure out what features you need.

For landscape, architecture and vegetation an A7iii or A7iv would be good so would an A7Riii or A7Riv or A7Rv. For wildlife it really depends on what that means to you. Unless you really want to do birds in flight stuff, which is best with the A9 or A1 lines any of the A7 or A7R mentioned would be fine. The A1 is the flagship camera and can do everything but if you don't need 20 or 30fps then it is better to get an A7 or A7R and a good lens instead of the A1.

Sony has sales a few times a year with used prices tending to fall shortly after the release of a new generation of the line.

 

[FowlersFreeTime]

Welcome aboard! If the youtube influencers hadn't swayed me to the a6400, I would have stayed with my a6000 longer, such a good intro to the Sony lineup.
I never made the jump to full frame, but if I were in a position to buy one this year (brand new) I'd expect sales on A7IV in Q3 as we get closer to the rumored announcement of the A7V.

 

[Thad E Ginathom]

Hello Valentin, and welcome!

I started my current photography lifetime with an a6000. Even today, just picking it up makes it feel like a miracle: it is so featherlight! Nonetheless, I soon moved on to an a6500, increased my lens collection, and spent a few happy years taking some lovely pics with that camera. I still love it in ways that I can't love bigger and heavier kit. I still take it on holiday with me.

I got the full-frame itch and bought an a7iv about 18 months ago. I bought it most specifically because I wanted to get cleaner pics at ISO 3200 and above. I did, and I do, and there's no way, now, that it wouldn't be the camera I take to the Indian-classical concerts I photograph.

That's the upside. The downside is very real: the cost and weight of the lenses for full frame.

Here's one way that works: say, for example, that you take a lot of portraits with an 85mm lens on an APS-C camera. You move to full frame: you now need a 135mm lens for the same composition!

If you are happy with the pics that you are getting on APS-C there is no need to go full-frame. You can update a heap of functionality such as generations of auto focus, whilst sticking to a beautifully small camera with a range of affordable, lighter lenses.

Of course, you can still buy full-frame lenses for your APS-C camera, as I'm sure you know. You might want some stunning GM quality regardless of weight and price and APS-C gives you that freedom --- and 1.5 times the reach too.

I don't shoot video at all, and almost never take bursts, and 90% of my photography is either in the concert hall or the garden --- so my horizons are limited. I had one good reason to go FF, and it did work out for me. But I still sometimes wonder if it was really worth the cost, of which the camera itself is only the beginning.

Whatever new baby you choose, and for whatever reason, I'm sure you'll love and enjoy it.

("I want one!" is a very good reason. At least it is for those of us who don't shoot for a living and don't need to justify the cost of kit in earnings)

 

[photo41]

Hello Valentin, and welcome!

I started my current photography lifetime with an a6000. Even today, just picking it up makes it feel like a miracle: it is so featherlight! Nonetheless, I soon moved on to an a6500, increased my lens collection, and spent a few happy years taking some lovely pics with that camera. I still love it in ways that I can't love bigger and heavier kit. I still take it on holiday with me.

I got the full-frame itch and bought an a7iv about 18 months ago. I bought it most specifically because I wanted to get cleaner pics at ISO 3200 and above. I did, and I do, and there's no way, now, that it wouldn't be the camera I take to the Indian-classical concerts I photograph.

That's the upside. The downside is very real: the cost and weight of the lenses for full frame.

Here's one way that works: say, for example, that you take a lot of portraits with an 85mm lens on an APS-C camera. You move to full frame: you now need a 135mm lens for the same composition!

If you are happy with the pics that you are getting on APS-C there is no need to go full-frame. You can update a heap of functionality such as generations of auto focus, whilst sticking to a beautifully small camera with a range of affordable, lighter lenses.

Of course, you can still buy full-frame lenses for your APS-C camera, as I'm sure you know. You might want some stunning GM quality regardless of weight and price and APS-C gives you that freedom --- and 1.5 times the reach too.

I don't shoot video at all, and almost never take bursts, and 90% of my photography is either in the concert hall or the garden --- so my horizons are limited. I had one good reason to go FF, and it did work out for me. But I still sometimes wonder if it was really worth the cost, of which the camera itself is only the beginning.

Whatever new baby you choose, and for whatever reason, I'm sure you'll love and enjoy it.

("I want one!" is a very good reason. At least it is for those of us who don't shoot for a living and don't need to justify the cost of kit in earnings)

Thank you so much for the lovely welcoming.
The advice is consistent and , of course, much appreciated.
I frankly don't think I remember much about my first except that it was a folding body on a medium format film that, at the time, I was taking to process at a studio at the corner
It must have happened in the late '70s.
Many moons later (and sadly not much wiser) I am now shooting for my pleasure. Having been for a while a professional photographer (Cannon) on the 24-70 with the red line, 50mm/1.4 and a few other fish eye lenses ,like sigma 8 mm and tokina 10-17 were the main daily workhorse. All those were bought at the time brand new and it was a big investment .So I can say I am used to the weight and the pricey lenses. But of course that's light compared to what I carry with and for my Hasselblad 500: when going out for landscape I have at least one but usually two lenses, one or two magazines, tripod and that rounds about 5-6 kg. Makes decision taking process thorough...
I like details, I shoot landscape, architecture, trying my luck with art reproduction lately
In a bit distant plans there are some books
Definitely I try to enjoy taking the pictures and make the process as its product meaningful. Still a long way to get pictures I think and dream of

 

[Thad E Ginathom]

Wow, that's a lot of experience and a lot of great gear there!

My very first camera came from Woolworth, cost around seven shillings, and took b&w roll film. I dropped it and broke it. There were various since then, but the biggest landmark was my Olympus OM1n. If only cameras were still that neat and light. I only ever had the standard 50mm lens. I still have it,but don't intend doing film photography again.

After that, a few point&shoots, bridge, and bad phone snaps. And now Sony Alpha cameras and e-mount lenses with a fairly decent range of both aps-c and FF lenses.

I like detail too. I like to be be able to see eyelashes and skin texture.

 

[photo41]

If you are looking to move into full frame with Sony than you should look at the Gen 3 or newer bodies for the A7 lines. There was a huge leap in technology between gen 2 and gen 3 plus the batteries used in gen 3 are compatible with newer releases.

Menu systems are all frustrating regardless of device type till you learn them or figure out how to make them useful to you.

Thank you very very much for the advice - just bought an A7Riv with enough megapixels to challenge medium format and smarter than me.
A 105 macro from Sigma Art series should do wonders with it

 

[Thad E Ginathom]

just bought an A7Riv

Wow, great! Congratulations... Enjoy