Originally posted by philbaum I organized a workshop for our club members that involved visiting galleries, getting permission to shoot a piece of art that they liked, photo or painting, and then coming back to a meeting to discuss what they liked or didn't like about the composition. I emphasized that folks were not to take any special effort to get perfect shots, this was composition exercise, nothing else. And to be deleted after the meeting.
So i went out and used a Sony Nex6 to shoot an example of surreal art that i was really impressed with. (Nex6 is an APS sensor with 16mp). This was with the 16-50 kit lens. The clerk even encouraged me to post it online giving credit to the painter. I didn't take any special pains with the shot, but i was surprised how good it was. Today's digital cameras, even relatively inexpensive ones, are excellent with their resolution.
+1 on the nex6, nex5n and the latest with A6000. They are inexpensive, small but quality cameras with features that can surprise you. I get great satisfaction in getting nex 5N to compliment my Pentax K-5 as a travel camera. The more I use the smaller mirror-less cameras, the less I take out the Pentax. I love Pentax but with the lack of new products and development, loyalty takes a step back replacing enthusiasm with boredom and concerns. There are things on Pentax that you will miss in Sony such as great ergonomics, built in SR, simplicity, workmanship, trusted weather proofing and great limited lens line just to name a few. But so far I have great admiration on Sony products and how the company has come through with exciting products with great features and versatility that are reasonable in cost for ownership.
I took this with Sony 5N and a $120 lens with the first version of Sigma 30mm f/2.8
5N, Sigma 30mm f/2.8
AF on 5N is a bit lacking but sufficient for most of my uses. If you go with A6000, the AF will be much improved. What I like about the Sony nex and A7 are the size. Size matters in traveling light with family where the emphasis is more on family and photos take 2nd place. There are times when I carry the Pentax gear, the weight of my bag out-do the purpose of the trip. My current bag for 3 small lenses set up is the Lowepro 100 Event bag. Very tiny setup in comparison to Pentax setup.
Sony 5N with Sigma 19mm f/2.8
Sony nex 5n, kit lens
Sony nex 5n, kit lens
I was so impressed with Sony Nex that when A7 comes out, I jumped on it with a higher price tag. Will chat more on the Sony A7 experience in another thread.
Sony A7 with FE 35mm f/2.8 Zeiss next to Pentax K-5 with FA 31mm f/1.8
[update]
For aps-c Sony, I like the current offering of A6000. I am not yet a fan of Gary Fong but some of his videos are full of valued information. This clip goes with a sales pitch but it is invaluable in this overview of A6000 features. It is long but it captures the essence of A6000 with versatility and packed with features that surprise Gary in awesomeness.
When time allows, I will add my words to my FF story with Sony A7. If I have to give a preview -- I wish I had not gone the FF path with Sony A7 so soon and stay with the aps-c path as long as I can until Sony FE is better developed as in 2015/2016 time-frame.
Sigma 30mm f/2.8 on A7 -- cheapest aps-c lens on A7 with AF and treatable vignette in post processing
Big fan of Takumar on A7 -- MF pentax gear works well on A7
The long version of my FF story with Sony goes later.
Cheers,
Hin