When I bought my A1, I had an A7RIII as my first full-frame Sony. I sold it to help with the A1 fund and kept my original A9. I was looking at some old shots with that camera and was remarking to my wife about how much I liked them and the camera that took them.
I'm considering selling the A9 and buying a used camera as backup to the A1. At age 72, I'm less active traveling, and I'm fortunate to have areas near my home to photograph the things I love to photograph, including my own yard. I have established a pollinator/hummingbird garden with water features on our 1.5-acre homeplace. My age also plays a part in my buying decision.
Considerations:
Backup for primarily static images of birds and wildlife. Creator's App use would be good.
As much as I liked the R3, I would likely go to a newer model.
R4A or R5 fitted with the 200-600
A7 V (new) fitted with the same lens.
A1 I, less likely a choice since it will primarily be used as backup.
I would appreciate thoughts on this from anyone willing to share. Thanks a bunch.
It is not that I regretted selling it, but with all the cameras that have come along since, I recall the R3 most fondly. That camera improved my photography and it was a joy, and produced many many of my favorite images.
I am a bit older than you and I am forced to prefer lighter, more compact gear. My days of heavy glass are over, with 500 grams-ish being about my limit now. I tried compact bodies, I even tried APSC. No joy. I do have an A7R6 on order and we will see how that goes. I expect it to be fab.
But maybe the most exciting part as it pertains to your post is that I just found a really premium aA7R3 on the forum and bought it. It comes Tuesday! Barring any surprises I will probably keep that camera forever. I'm excited!
I recently bought an A1, upgrading from an A7R III.
Going to the A7R III after a while of not using it, I noticed a few things:
- EVF is much less pleasant
- It is slow (wanted to switch to APS-C from a programmed button, the camera won't let me, still busy writing to the card, and it was not a burst...)
- I have to remind myself to use the mechanical shutter in some circumstances.
The IQ, though, is still great, no issue there. The EVF in daylight is the most annoying issue. I wanted to exchange it with an A9, because I don't need 42MP (my A1 has the pixels if I need them) and I prefer speed, but the A9, bar the mark III, has the same EVF resolution.)
From your list, I'd choose the A7V for the overall performance, but if EVF is important, the A7R V will do better IMHO. It's also cheaper on the used market.
To me, cameras have been tools. Unlike screwdrivers and wrenches, they contain technology that can become outdated compared to newer models over time. But we all know not all newer models are better, so at the same time I am not usually an early adopter. Given all that whenever I sold a camera, it was to gain a feature or features that simplified use or capture, or enhanced my image output in some meaningful fashion. In that I cannot recall any regrets, nor have I ever rebought a model I sold. I’m not particularly nostalgic about tools
Regret may be a bit strong, but I really did enjoy that camera. It did a great job for me. When I have needed the backup, the R3 would have served me better, even though I have shots as good with the A9.
I appreciate the thoughts on choosing another model as well. I really have been leaning towards one of the 5s.
Though I have sold a few shots, I am strictly a hobbyist, so these aren't tools to me, but I sure understand the sentiment.
No regrets selling cameras. I usually sell when replaced by something better. I still have a couple old point and shoot. A canon s95 that my daughter uses and a canon G7x II that I keep in my bag as an always with me.
I did recently pick up a second body. My main camera is a7Rv. About the only thing it doesn’t have is speed. So I picked up an a9. It acts as a backup, low cost body, and it can shoot fast no blackout. I was thinking about an a7iii, but I don’t think I would ever pick it up. In almost every way the A7rV beats the a9 except fps and blackout free.
So I would ask the reason for the backup. Then can the backup fill any niche the main camera doesn’t? If you do some careful comparison shots on a tripod, the only thing an a7riii might do better is be a cheaper body if you don’t want to carry the main camera. Or scratch a nostalgic itch. I think the a7Rv can do a number of things an a1 can’t, not that it is better just different.
I don’t get too hung up on selling something. I figure I can always buy it back if I change my mind. I just repurchased a sigma 45/2.8. Going to see if the a9 has any better luck focusing it. Also would like better quality in a daily carry. The a9 and sigma should make an image that beats the G7x.
I sure can identify with your considerations. I had and loved my A9. I completely missed the A1 and went with the A7CR and X2D(ii). Last six months spent inside taking care of sick dog, so been thinking about where to go from here. I sold my A9 some time ago and the A7CR left a bit over a month ago. I also have the A7Rvi on order and expect it to improve upon my main issue with the A7CR..the EVF. Yes, I had the A7Rv and regretted selling it to obtain the smaller A7CR. Don’t get me wrong, I downsized all of my lenses at the time and the A7CR was great, but the EVF ruined the shooting experience for me. My surrounds are North of Dallas and likely not as many birding opportunities as in your area, but my cars can attest to the fact that there still are quite a few birds. I’ve never considered shooting flying dinosaurs, but watching all the A7Rvi/100-400mm videos piqued my interest. Looks like it is a great pairing for all but the fastest moving birds, or the 300mm + optional 1.4 teleconverter. So, maybe I’ll become the oldest novice BIF photographer.
Yes. 100%! I regret selling my first Sony A7c with a Sony 40mm f2.5 G, and Sony 85mm f1.8 a couple of years ago. Only two reasons why I sold it were because there were no AF 16mm prime options at the time (only Viltrox, and the one I purchased had problems communicating with my A7c, so I returned it). Second reason was that I thought I could use my Canon R6II at the time for everything including travel photography.
My regrets caused me to go out and buy another A7c two months or so later. Unfortunately, my "new", replacement A7c does not perform as well as my first A7c. Also, I've stayed away from re-purchasing the Sony 40mm f2.5 G and Sony 85mm f1.8 because I remember the hassle of having to return several deffective copies (decentering issues) until I finally got good copies. So, I stuck with just getting 3 Tamron lenses which (for me) have always been great right out of the box.
I would love to go to a retailer and be able to try out several copies of the Sony 40mm f2.5 G in person in order to pick the perfect one like the one I had before.
Camera regrets... Generally no, I don't recall regretting selling a camera. But a few days ago I was going through my old albums (mostly from the Canon DSLR days). Glancing at the EXIF data I saw the familiar names 20D, 5D, 5D II, 5D IV, Fuji X-T3, etc fly by... and I thought that it would be cool if I kept **all** of them. Perhaps have them on display in a nice glass cabinet or something.
BillinTexas wrote:
I'm considering selling the A9 and buying a used camera as backup to the A1.
I do not understand the concept of a "backup" outside professional event or travel photogaphy, when a client expects me to have a Plan B for when my gear fails. But I am not an event photographer. I'm a casual one, mostly photographing things around me, just like you. If my camera stops working, getting another one takes a few mouse clicks and a day of waiting. Electronics depreciates fast. I'd rather put the money into lenses, or literally anything else other than an unused "backup" body.
Note to self. Don’t try better EVF’s so I can continue to enjoy photography with my technologically archaic A9.
Manu-K1 wrote:
I recently bought an A1, upgrading from an A7R III.
Going to the A7R III after a while of not using it, I noticed a few things:
- EVF is much less pleasant
- It is slow (wanted to switch to APS-C from a programmed button, the camera won't let me, still busy writing to the card, and it was not a burst...)
- I have to remind myself to use the mechanical shutter in some circumstances.
The IQ, though, is still great, no issue there. The EVF in daylight is the most annoying issue. I wanted to exchange it with an A9, because I don't need 42MP (my A1 has the pixels if I need them) and I prefer speed, but the A9, bar the mark III, has the same EVF resolution.)
From your list, I'd choose the A7V for the overall performance, but if EVF is important, the A7R V will do better IMHO. It's also cheaper on the used market. ...Show more →
old-gregg wrote:
Camera regrets... Generally no, I don't recall regretting selling a camera. But a few days ago I was going through my old albums (mostly from the Canon DSLR days). Glancing at the EXIF data I saw the familiar names 20D, 5D, 5D II, 5D IV, Fuji X-T3, etc fly by... and I thought that it would be cool if I kept **all** of them. Perhaps have them on display in a nice glass cabinet or something.
I do not understand the concept of a "backup" outside professional event or travel photogaphy, when a client expects me to have a Plan B for when my gear fails. But I am not an event photographer. I'm a casual one, mostly photographing things around me, just like you. If my camera stops working, getting another one takes a few mouse clicks and a day of waiting. Electronics depreciates fast. I'd rather put the money into lenses, or literally anything else other than an unused "backup" body....Show more →
I click every day. The camera goes out to acclimate in the morning before I do. I don't want a day or three break. I have always had one.
Not sell, but I gave away my Mamiya RZ Pro II kit with 50 and 110 lenses to my local film lab for workshop classes, and I'm not sure they even use it for that purpose. I do know they charge to rent it during use of their studio, which is antithetical to my intentions of donating it.
I started photography in 2013 and the NEX6 was my first "real camera". After using it for 4.5 year it was time to upgrade, and I bought an A6500 in 2017. I sold the NEX6 to help fund for the A6500.
In 2022 I "upgraded"again and made the leap to fullframe, and bought a used A7R3. I sold my A6500 and all APS-C lenses.
I'm still using the A7R3 and still realy like it, no need for an upgrade. Only thing I'd like to see in a new camera is a smaller form factor, so my next camera may be the A7C series.
I don't regret any of the upgrade steps that I made, but I do regret selling my first camera, the Sony NEX6. It was a nice little camera that served me well and made me fall in love with this hobby. Looking back I should have realy kept my first camera and one of my favorite lens on that camera , the light SEL35F1.8, just for sentimental reasons.
I don't have long history in camera's and not much to compare with, but for me the A7R3 is a special camera. Images are fantastic, great resolution and dynamic range, capable of night photography, and reasonably fast AF. The camera does all I need and has never let me down.
If I upgrade in a couple of years (I still hope to use the camera for a couple of more years) I will make sure to keep my A7R3.
I miss my A9, which was my first mirrorless camera (coming from the Canon DSLR world). I bought it because it was small and fast, and I loved shooting it. I sold it to buy an A1 and although that's a more capable camera than the original A9 I'm not as fond of it. I guess it's a version of "first love" for mirrorless that is coloring my memories of the A9, but I definitely miss it's more compact size, especially now I have an even bigger A1ii (my first A1 is relegated to backup duties).
Another camera I have fond memories of is an old Canon Powershot S40 I had in the early 00s. It went everywhere with me and I still have a ton of photos from that era that bring back fond memories. After the S40 I plunged into the dSLR world and the sheer mobility of a point and shoot was lost, along with the many improptu photo opportunities.
