Sony equipment compatibility help

[Tri Danimal]

I currently have the Sony A7iii, I have it "split custody" with a partner. I am leaving on my honeymoon for a few weeks and I wanted to have a camera with me. I am thinking about gettign the Sony A6000 or A6300. I know the A7iii is a full frame sensor and the A6000 is an APS-C sensor. They both have the E-Mount lens mount.

My question if I get an A6000, can I use the lenses on the A7iii? I'm not too sure if the sensor type will make a difference on the lenses. Im planning to head to my Local Camera Store this evening after work to see what they have and ask some questions. I thought I would ask you guys so I can speak intelligently at the camera store.

I would be getting the A6000 with the kit lens 16-50mm kit lens. My biggest concern is budget for a better camera for this trip I will need to get a body and a lens but I also dont want it to look like im a tourist.

I also can't tell is the A6000 shots video, if it doesn't I will get the A6300 instead.

[dje]

Hi Daniel

Congratulations on your wedding!

The sensor size does make a difference. Sony makes two ranges of lenses for their E mount cameras. Those with just "E" in the description (eg E 16-50) are designed to work on cameras with an APS-C sensor and will not work properly on a camera with a full frame sensor, particularly around the edges of the frame. Those lenses whose description includes "FE" (eg FE 16-35) are designed for full frame cameras. These could be used on either full frame or APS-C cameras because they are designed to cover the larger size sensor properly.

That said however, I believe the A7III has a "crop mode" feature which allows the use of a lens designed for APS-C on it by restricting the area of the sensor used to the APS-C size.

I use an A6000 with the 16-50 kit lens for travel and am very pleased with it. It does shoot video. The A6000 is better value for money than the A6300 in my opinion. Interestingly Sony have continued the sale of the A6000 despite the release of two newer models, the A6300 and the A6500. It must still be selling well!

Dave

[rpcrowe]

Here is a comparison of the A6000 and the A6300... I can't vouch for the validity of the comparison...
https://www.trustedreviews.com/opini...-a6000-2943927

BTW: It seems like there is a very small margin between the prices of the A6000 and A6300 on the used market in the USA.

Here's an A6000 for $300 in Irvine...
https://orangecounty.craigslist.org/...686051727.html

Here's an A6300 with kit lens here in my town of Escondido for $750
https://sandiego.craigslist.org/nsd/...673215722.html

If I were a Sony shooter, I would pick up the A6000 as a second body for$300

[Charlie Woodrich]

The Sony settings are so numerous you may be better off renting a a7III and using your split camera as a guide to duplicate the settings so there is no re-learning process. This way you don't have to learn a new camera and can concentrate on the shot and not the gear.

[rpcrowe]

I can vouch first hand that you can use full frame lenses designed for the A7 (series) on a 6xxxx (series) camera. I have just received the full frame kit lens 28-70mm f/3.5-5.6 to use on my new (for me - I purchased it used) A6500 and it works flawlessly.

The 16-50mm kit lens is smaller than the one that I purchased but, I do like the 70mm side better than 50mm. The 28-70mm is certainly light weight.

I plan to back this up with a relatively fast wider lens which (IMO) should make a relatively decent travel kit.

[rpcrowe]

One anomaly that I have noticed with some Sigma lenses that have e-mount compatibility and possibly with some Sony lenses for their crop sensor mirrorless cameras.

Not all of these lenses can take advantage of all the focusing capabilities of the 6*** series. Some lenses, like the Sigma 19mm and 60mm f/2.8 DN models, for crop senor cameras, do not allow eye focus and may not allow focus over the entire frame like some (but, not all) Sony lenses are capable of. I don't know which, if any, Sony lenses have this problem but, I seem to remember reading of at least one lens that does.

I wish that there was a chart which would list the focusing capabilities of the various e and fe mount lenses, both OEM and third party, on the various Sony mirrorless cameras.

This is a big problem for me since one of the primary reasons (the other being the small form factor) that I bought the A6500 is its great auto focus capabilities.

However, if a lens does not fully integrate with the mirrorless camera models (I have not heard that any full frame cameras/lenses ave this integration problem) it certainly, for me anyway, negates much of the value of the camera.

I understand that some Sigma Contemporary and Art lenses with Canon EF mounts will, if adapted with a Sigma MC-11 Adapter, retain all of the focusing capabilities of the various Sony mirrorless cameras.

Here is a definitive article on the focusing of these lenses:
https://www.dpreview.com/reviews/sig...-lens-review/4

And here is the pertinent excerpt:

"Historically, third party lenses haven't always been compliant enough with the lens-mount standard to able to make use of every bit of tech that own-brand lenses can, especially in terms of autofocus. The original Sigma DN lineup of F2.8 primes for mirrorless spring to mind in this respect. They were only able to use the very center of the Sony a6000's phase-detect AF coverage area, resorting to contrast-detect AF outside this region.

Thankfully, with the 30mm F1.4 DN and the a6000 series, this is no longer the case. The lens is able to make use of all of the a6300's PDAF coverage area, although it will quickly jump back to CDAF when focus is placed outside the PDAF area."

[dje]

Richard I bought a Sigma 19mm f2. 8 E mount for my a6000 recently and was somewhat dis-appointed in it. The images I took handheld of family members were not as sharp as those from my 16-50mm kit lens. I did some tests on sharpness with the camera tripod mounted and manually focussed and found the lens to be quite sharp, a bit better than the kit lens. So I put the problem down to a lack of image stabilisation in the Sigma lens. From memory the shutter speeds being used were around 1/60s. However given what you have written above, I'm thinking that I should explore the effectiveness of the AF more fully. I'll have a look at this when I return home in a week's time.

Dave

[rpcrowe]

Dave.

My A6500 auto focus system has many similarities to my Canon DSLR AF but, has enough differences to make the new system a bit confusing at first.

This video clears up many of the confusing points for me - especially how to actuate the eye detect AF system.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c3aMkSeMXh8

What I need to do now is to decide which button that I desire for eye AF.

The A6*** line, especially the A6500, is very customizable. However, much of my DSLR experience in setting up the camera doesn't pertain to the A6500.

I was able to grab a short time away from the house (while a painter was doing my office) and stopped in at the SIGMA presentation at a local camera store. The presenter could not tell me about the AF capabilities of the Sigma lenses with the A6500.

Definition of an expert: Someone from out of town with a Power Point presentation

[Tri Danimal]

I went with the Sony A6500 with the Sony 18-135mm lens. I was also gifted the 16m F2.8 from a friend.


On a side note, is there any need to try to install something like Magic Candle (I think thats the name) for the A6500?

[dje]

I went with the Sony A6500 with the Sony 18-135mm lens. I was also gifted the 16m F2.8 from a friend.


On a side note, is there any need to try to install something like Magic Candle (I think thats the name) for the A6500?

You are probably referring to Magic Lantern which is software designed to manipulate the firmware of Canon cameras. As far as I know it's Canon only.

[Tri Danimal]

You are probably referring to Magic Lantern which is software designed to manipulate the firmware of Canon cameras. As far as I know it's Canon only.

Yes, Magic Lantern is what I was thinking of. Is there something similar for Sony Alphas? is it needed?

[dje]

Yes, Magic Lantern is what I was thinking of. Is there something similar for Sony Alphas? is it needed?

Not for Sony as far as I know. I'm not very familiar with it and frankly would not be keen on using something like this.

Dave

[rpcrowe]

Daniel,

I also have a Sony A6500 which I am still learning to use. My mid range zoom for that camera is the 28-70mm f/3.5-5.6 lens. I also got the 16mm f/2.8 lens at an exceptionally good price on craigslist but, I have not even put it on my camera yet.

I am wondering what you think of your 16mm f/2.8 lens?

I have just learned to set up the A6500 for eye-AF...

Here's a real simple explanation of the eye-AF setup on the A6500...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R-UCtnzem9A

[Tri Danimal]

I am wondering what you think of your 16mm f/2.8 lens?

I haven't really gotten a chance to use the 16mm yet. I spent that last 2 weeks on my honeymoon traveling with the 18-135mm lens and it was pretty awesome. I will be getting out more for camping and day trip adventures now that the wedding is over so Ill have a chance to use it more. Come to think of it, We are heading out with friends this Friday evening to a local octoberfest celibration. I think I will just throw on the 16mm for the outing; its nice and compact. Since it will be crowded I'll be close to my subjects (Beer, Food, and Friends) so that makes sense.

I have just learned to set up the A6500 for eye-AF...

Here's a really simple explanation of the eye-AF setup on the A6500...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R-UCtnzem9A

I will definatly check this out tonight.