K3 vs A6500, to switch or not to switch

Culture · 04-04-2018, 10:34 PM

Originally posted by Sliver-Surfer

Talkemount.com is very friendly and feels alot like pentaxforums.com except without

Thanks for this. It was nice to see go there. Phew!!! the handball shots on that first page are amazing.

---------- Post added 05-04-18 at 08:38 ----------

Originally posted by redcat

First impression on the A6000 and FE 28mm f2, the combo is very fast, like really really fast, i click the back button focus and it lock focus instantly ! That might be the lens (internal focus) or both body+lens, so the Sony AF speed is exactly as advertised, the face tracking is very good if there is 1 face in the frame (more faces will confuse the camera and it will focus on the bigger face

).
That's the good, now the bad, as many already mentioned, the menu is horrible, the control is less than optimal and the grip is so small and slippery (i could drop the camera any moment if i hold it with one hand), and the AF speed doesn't translate the accuracy when using f2 (i usually use the widest aperture for portrait shots) and eye-AF is not always there (if the person is not directly facing the camera), eye-AF also takes more time to lock focus (way slower than face tracking !)
The IQ is ok for me, color is good, exposure is good (tend to over-expose a tiny bit but nothing to complaint about), sharpness is good if focus correctly.
That's the first impression, i'll play with it a little more before making any conclusion

I also held the A6000 a few weeks ago in my hand. The ergonomics was not good. Not if you are coming from a dslr. Grip is too small.
I have not held the A6500 but I understand the grip is better. Still not dslr.
I wondered why you chose the A6000 but you might have your own reason. Especially if you are just using it for your kids and not professionally.

redcat · 04-05-2018, 01:43 AM

Originally posted by Culture

I wondered why you chose the A6000 but you might have your own reason. Especially if you are just using it for your kids and not professionally.

I just borrow from a friend (who happens to have a A6000) and not buy any new body yet, I'll get familiar with the Sony A series to see if it's worth the switch

I might to after the A6500 or A7 III if the Sony A series match my needs (kids and portrait photos)

redcat · 04-23-2018, 09:32 PM

Update on the Sony AF : the AF is still really fast in real-life shooting, i used it to shoot my ~2yo daughter and the AF is snappy, if she is not running too fast then it can focus quick enough (combo : A6000 + FE 28/2), i use face detection because eye-AF is not available for AF-C on A6000 (it's avai on A6500, A7R2...). But again the AF is quick but not always spot-on, i do see some out of focus results but can't really blame the camera, my child move quite a lot

So i think the AF of Sony (body + lens) is really good, as it's advertised and as many shooters already confirm. Still hesitate to sell my Pentax gears to jump ship because Sony lacks small+awesome lens like FA77 which would match the small mirrorless body, someone review the TechArt adapter and it looks like the adapter AF is not that great

surfar · 04-23-2018, 11:02 PM

Originally posted by redcat

he TechArt adapter and it looks like the adapter AF is not that great

It depends on the lens, watch all the youtubes.It works but may be limited to certain situations.Theres a cheaper adapter that piggybacks the TAP firmware(its a direct copy).

Sony native lenses costalotta if you want the good ones but you can probably get by with some basic ones.The 24-105 f4 has just won an award and it covers wide to short telephoto.

redcat · 04-23-2018, 11:54 PM

Originally posted by surfar

The 24-105 f4 has just won an award and it covers wide to short telephoto.

thanks for this info, very informative, i'll definitely check that lens

Culture · 04-25-2018, 03:06 AM

For the cost of the Techart I dont think you should go that route.
I think you should go native. The Sony FE 50 1.8 seems to be quite cheap.

**Rondec** · 04-25-2018, 03:15 AM

Originally posted by Culture

For the cost of the Techart I dont think you should go that route.
I think you should go native. The Sony FE 50 1.8 seems to be quite cheap.

I think redcat is saying that he really likes his Pentax glass (read quality combined with size). The Sony 50 f1.8 is a fine lens, but it isn't the same as an FA 77.

**UncleVanya** · 04-25-2018, 06:40 AM

Originally posted by Rondec

I think redcat is saying that he really likes his Pentax glass (read quality combined with size). The Sony 50 f1.8 is a fine lens, but it isn't the same as an FA 77.

But autofocus may be important and that adapter isn't getting a lot of great reviews.

redcat · 04-27-2018, 12:21 AM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by Rondec

I think redcat is saying that he really likes his Pentax glass (read quality combined with size). The Sony 50 f1.8 is a fine lens, but it isn't the same as an FA 77.

Originally posted by UncleVanya

But autofocus may be important and that adapter isn't getting a lot of great reviews.

thanks, both are true, quality + size + AF = dream lens

that's what Sony needs to work on, they have great bodies but their lenses are all bulky, it makes the combo look and feel ridiculously imbalance (their inspiration might comes from the romance of Hulk & Black Widow)

Sliver-Surfer · 04-27-2018, 06:22 AM

Originally posted by redcat

but their lenses are all bulky, it makes the combo look and feel ridiculously imbalance (their inspiration might comes from the romance of Hulk & Black Widow)

You would have to take away the OSS and the very quiet AF motors from the Sony lenses. As well you would have to add 3cm to the Camera. NO THANK YOU! I think you are generalizing and exaggerating. Both systems have mostly great lenses with a few so so lenses.

normhead · 04-27-2018, 06:50 AM

With the release of the A9 Sony pretty much admitted their cameras weren't up to industry standards for build and durability (the same way Pentax admits it's AF isn't up to industry standards.) They said "we are working on it." Which is exactly what Pentax says about their AF. You gotta learn to interpret market speak. "We are working to improve it." means "it sucks".

redcat · 05-10-2018, 03:44 AM

Originally posted by Sliver-Surfer

You would have to take away the OSS and the very quiet AF motors from the Sony lenses

The A6500/A7Rii/A7iii has in body stabilization so any lens will be stabilized (they learned sth from Pentax

) and you are absolutely right about how quiet the AF is, i don't really think about AF noise before using Sony but now that i use it, it make me hear the Pentax AF noise very clearly (which didn't bother me before but somehow bothers me now

)

Originally posted by normhead

"We are working to improve it." means "it sucks".

Exactly, that's why i don't expect a Pentax fast AF or mirroless anytime soon

A9 is too expensive and offers things i don't really need but A6500/A7Rii/A7iii are kinda budget friendly now, i'm still resisting but don't know for how long :|

Culture · 05-10-2018, 04:03 AM

Originally posted by redcat

The A6500/A7Rii/A7iii has in body stabilization so any lens will be stabilized (they learned sth from Pentax

) and you are absolutely right about how quiet the AF is, i don't really think about AF noise before using Sony but now that i use it, it make me hear the Pentax AF noise very clearly (which didn't bother me before but somehow bothers me now

)

Exactly, that's why i don't expect a Pentax fast AF or mirroless anytime soon

A9 is too expensive and offers things i don't really need but A6500/A7Rii/A7iii are kinda budget friendly now, i'm still resisting but don't know for how long :|

Just like you I was think had. It made my head hurt.
I bought my A7III, I have preordered the Tamron 28-75 f2.8 based on initial reviews.
I will order and the A6500 in august along with the sony FE 85 f1.8

Sliver-Surfer · 05-10-2018, 07:48 AM

Originally posted by redcat

The A6500/A7Rii/A7iii has in body stabilization so any lens will be stabilized (they learned sth from Pentax ) and you are absolutely right about how quiet the AF is, i don't really think about AF noise before using Sony but now that i use it, it make me hear the Pentax AF noise very clearly (which didn't bother me before but somehow bothers me now )

Optical Stabilization is more effective than IBIS.I do like the convenience of using ibis with manual lenses however as well.
Sony Did not learn IBIS from Pentax it's been in Sony DSLR cameras since 2006 in A100 a year before Pentax introduced IBIS

**UncleVanya** · 05-11-2018, 11:02 PM

Originally posted by Sliver-Surfer

Optical Stabilization is more effective than IBIS.I do like the convenience of using ibis with manual lenses however as well.
Sony Did not learn IBIS from Pentax it's been in Sony DSLR cameras since 2006 in A100 a year before Pentax introduced IBIS

The data I have seen doesn't seem to support your assertion except for long lenses. Even then the dual implementations seem better still.

If you have some reasonably current test data that shows optical is better at non-telephoto focal lengths I'd be interested in reading it.

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04-04-2018, 10:34 PM	#61
Culture Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Vaasa Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 818	Originally posted by Sliver-Surfer Talkemount.com is very friendly and feels alot like pentaxforums.com except without Thanks for this. It was nice to see go there. Phew!!! the handball shots on that first page are amazing. ---------- Post added 05-04-18 at 08:38 ---------- Originally posted by redcat First impression on the A6000 and FE 28mm f2, the combo is very fast, like really really fast, i click the back button focus and it lock focus instantly ! That might be the lens (internal focus) or both body+lens, so the Sony AF speed is exactly as advertised, the face tracking is very good if there is 1 face in the frame (more faces will confuse the camera and it will focus on the bigger face ). That's the good, now the bad, as many already mentioned, the menu is horrible, the control is less than optimal and the grip is so small and slippery (i could drop the camera any moment if i hold it with one hand), and the AF speed doesn't translate the accuracy when using f2 (i usually use the widest aperture for portrait shots) and eye-AF is not always there (if the person is not directly facing the camera), eye-AF also takes more time to lock focus (way slower than face tracking !) The IQ is ok for me, color is good, exposure is good (tend to over-expose a tiny bit but nothing to complaint about), sharpness is good if focus correctly. That's the first impression, i'll play with it a little more before making any conclusion I also held the A6000 a few weeks ago in my hand. The ergonomics was not good. Not if you are coming from a dslr. Grip is too small. I have not held the A6500 but I understand the grip is better. Still not dslr. I wondered why you chose the A6000 but you might have your own reason. Especially if you are just using it for your kids and not professionally.

04-05-2018, 01:43 AM	#62
redcat Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2014 Location: Paris Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,939 Original Poster	Originally posted by Culture I wondered why you chose the A6000 but you might have your own reason. Especially if you are just using it for your kids and not professionally. I just borrow from a friend (who happens to have a A6000) and not buy any new body yet, I'll get familiar with the Sony A series to see if it's worth the switch I might to after the A6500 or A7 III if the Sony A series match my needs (kids and portrait photos)

04-23-2018, 09:32 PM	#63
redcat Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2014 Location: Paris Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,939 Original Poster	Update on the Sony AF : the AF is still really fast in real-life shooting, i used it to shoot my ~2yo daughter and the AF is snappy, if she is not running too fast then it can focus quick enough (combo : A6000 + FE 28/2), i use face detection because eye-AF is not available for AF-C on A6000 (it's avai on A6500, A7R2...). But again the AF is quick but not always spot-on, i do see some out of focus results but can't really blame the camera, my child move quite a lot So i think the AF of Sony (body + lens) is really good, as it's advertised and as many shooters already confirm. Still hesitate to sell my Pentax gears to jump ship because Sony lacks small+awesome lens like FA77 which would match the small mirrorless body, someone review the TechArt adapter and it looks like the adapter AF is not that great

04-23-2018, 11:02 PM	#64
surfar Pentaxian Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: mid nth coast,nsw Photos: Gallery Posts: 6,137	Originally posted by redcat he TechArt adapter and it looks like the adapter AF is not that great It depends on the lens, watch all the youtubes.It works but may be limited to certain situations.Theres a cheaper adapter that piggybacks the TAP firmware(its a direct copy). Sony native lenses costalotta if you want the good ones but you can probably get by with some basic ones.The 24-105 f4 has just won an award and it covers wide to short telephoto.

04-23-2018, 11:54 PM	#65
redcat Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2014 Location: Paris Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,939 Original Poster	Originally posted by surfar The 24-105 f4 has just won an award and it covers wide to short telephoto. thanks for this info, very informative, i'll definitely check that lens

04-25-2018, 03:06 AM	#66
Culture Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Vaasa Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 818	For the cost of the Techart I dont think you should go that route. I think you should go native. The Sony FE 50 1.8 seems to be quite cheap.

04-25-2018, 03:15 AM	#67
Rondec Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Gladys, Virginia Photos: Gallery Posts: 27,650	Originally posted by Culture For the cost of the Techart I dont think you should go that route. I think you should go native. The Sony FE 50 1.8 seems to be quite cheap. I think redcat is saying that he really likes his Pentax glass (read quality combined with size). The Sony 50 f1.8 is a fine lens, but it isn't the same as an FA 77.

04-25-2018, 06:40 AM	#68
UncleVanya Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2014 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 28,385	Originally posted by Rondec I think redcat is saying that he really likes his Pentax glass (read quality combined with size). The Sony 50 f1.8 is a fine lens, but it isn't the same as an FA 77. But autofocus may be important and that adapter isn't getting a lot of great reviews.

04-27-2018, 12:21 AM - 1 Like	#69
redcat Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2014 Location: Paris Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,939 Original Poster	Originally posted by Rondec I think redcat is saying that he really likes his Pentax glass (read quality combined with size). The Sony 50 f1.8 is a fine lens, but it isn't the same as an FA 77. Originally posted by UncleVanya But autofocus may be important and that adapter isn't getting a lot of great reviews. thanks, both are true, quality + size + AF = dream lens that's what Sony needs to work on, they have great bodies but their lenses are all bulky, it makes the combo look and feel ridiculously imbalance (their inspiration might comes from the romance of Hulk & Black Widow)

04-27-2018, 06:22 AM	#70
Sliver-Surfer Pentaxian Join Date: Sep 2011 Posts: 1,558	Originally posted by redcat but their lenses are all bulky, it makes the combo look and feel ridiculously imbalance (their inspiration might comes from the romance of Hulk & Black Widow) You would have to take away the OSS and the very quiet AF motors from the Sony lenses. As well you would have to add 3cm to the Camera. NO THANK YOU! I think you are generalizing and exaggerating. Both systems have mostly great lenses with a few so so lenses.

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04-27-2018, 06:50 AM	#71
normhead Pentaxian Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Near Algonquin Park Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 40,450	With the release of the A9 Sony pretty much admitted their cameras weren't up to industry standards for build and durability (the same way Pentax admits it's AF isn't up to industry standards.) They said "we are working on it." Which is exactly what Pentax says about their AF. You gotta learn to interpret market speak. "We are working to improve it." means "it sucks".

05-10-2018, 03:44 AM	#72
redcat Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2014 Location: Paris Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,939 Original Poster	Originally posted by Sliver-Surfer You would have to take away the OSS and the very quiet AF motors from the Sony lenses The A6500/A7Rii/A7iii has in body stabilization so any lens will be stabilized (they learned sth from Pentax ) and you are absolutely right about how quiet the AF is, i don't really think about AF noise before using Sony but now that i use it, it make me hear the Pentax AF noise very clearly (which didn't bother me before but somehow bothers me now ) Originally posted by normhead "We are working to improve it." means "it sucks". Exactly, that's why i don't expect a Pentax fast AF or mirroless anytime soon A9 is too expensive and offers things i don't really need but A6500/A7Rii/A7iii are kinda budget friendly now, i'm still resisting but don't know for how long :\|

05-10-2018, 04:03 AM	#73
Culture Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Vaasa Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 818	Originally posted by redcat The A6500/A7Rii/A7iii has in body stabilization so any lens will be stabilized (they learned sth from Pentax ) and you are absolutely right about how quiet the AF is, i don't really think about AF noise before using Sony but now that i use it, it make me hear the Pentax AF noise very clearly (which didn't bother me before but somehow bothers me now ) Exactly, that's why i don't expect a Pentax fast AF or mirroless anytime soon A9 is too expensive and offers things i don't really need but A6500/A7Rii/A7iii are kinda budget friendly now, i'm still resisting but don't know for how long :\| Just like you I was think had. It made my head hurt. I bought my A7III, I have preordered the Tamron 28-75 f2.8 based on initial reviews. I will order and the A6500 in august along with the sony FE 85 f1.8

05-10-2018, 07:48 AM	#74
Sliver-Surfer Pentaxian Join Date: Sep 2011 Posts: 1,558	Originally posted by redcat The A6500/A7Rii/A7iii has in body stabilization so any lens will be stabilized (they learned sth from Pentax ) and you are absolutely right about how quiet the AF is, i don't really think about AF noise before using Sony but now that i use it, it make me hear the Pentax AF noise very clearly (which didn't bother me before but somehow bothers me now ) Optical Stabilization is more effective than IBIS.I do like the convenience of using ibis with manual lenses however as well. Sony Did not learn IBIS from Pentax it's been in Sony DSLR cameras since 2006 in A100 a year before Pentax introduced IBIS

05-11-2018, 11:02 PM	#75
UncleVanya Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2014 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 28,385	Originally posted by Sliver-Surfer Optical Stabilization is more effective than IBIS.I do like the convenience of using ibis with manual lenses however as well. Sony Did not learn IBIS from Pentax it's been in Sony DSLR cameras since 2006 in A100 a year before Pentax introduced IBIS The data I have seen doesn't seem to support your assertion except for long lenses. Even then the dual implementations seem better still. If you have some reasonably current test data that shows optical is better at non-telephoto focal lengths I'd be interested in reading it.