Why I’m (Not) Going Mirrorless: Volume II
Hi, my name is Tom, and I have GAS. No, not that kind of gas. Gear Acquisition Syndrome. I love toys, but (unfortunately) I’m a little too old for more Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles action figures. Instead, my insatiable thirst for new toys results in me buying camera equipment. You might have gleaned as much from this site’s many camera reviews and my brash decision to go mirrorless that I documented in Volume I of this Why I’m Going Mirrorless series.
Most of the time, this isn’t a problem. I do my homework, and the new gear I purchase helps me improve my photography. I’ve had zero regrets with the cameras I’ve purchased. Until now, with the Sony a7R II.
In this case, my regrets extended further than just what I had purchased. I made the decision to go “all-in” on mirrorless, and sold a lot of my DSLR gear as a result. I sold 2 camera bodies, several lenses, flashes, and even a large camera bag (that I’d “no longer need”). If there’s any silver lining, it’s that I sold a lot of DSLR gear that was just sitting around, collecting dust in order to fund the Sony a7R II. Thankfully, I sold more of this stuff than I did “important” camera gear.
In some regards, it was a half-baked plan from the outset: a couple of the lenses and adapter for Nikon lenses that I wanted for the Sony a7R II hadn’t even been released when I made the jump. My plan was to purchase them once they were released, which was supposed to be March 2016 (four months later…all three items still aren’t available).
This proved especially problematic when it came time for our recent trips to Japan and China. Leading up to the Japan trip, I had two incomplete camera bags. I held out hope that the adapter and lenses would appear in stock on Amazon or B&H until a week before the trip, at which time I realized I was in a bit of a pickle.
Knowing I couldn’t possibly complete my Sony bag, I borrowed what I needed for the Nikon bag. It worked decently as a temporary, interim solution, but was less than ideal. The same problem arose two months later before our Shanghai trip. Borrowing wasn’t an option, so I decided to take both systems and hope for the best with my patch-worked bag.
I’ve learned a lot in the past several months, both in terms of the Sony full frame mirrorless system’s inherent strengths and weaknesses, and my personal utilization of the equipment. You could say I’ve had a bit of buyer’s remorse in the process. In Volume I, I lamented that my biggest complaint was the lack of lens selection. This was something I thought I could overcome thanks to new releases, adapters, and by cherry-picking lenses that would work well for me.
I downplayed this in my head, only to be discouraged by delays in the shipment of announced lenses and adapters, frustrations in pricing of new releases, and a lack of further developments. Then I priced out other lenses I’d want that were available–the 85mm f/1.8 or f/1.4 and 35mm lens f/1.8 or f/1.4–and the cheapest options totaled $2,700. With no third party options (save for Zeiss, I guess?) available, you’re stuck with first party lenses that cost more than even their Canon and Nikon counterparts.
Then there was the size issue. This is a startling realization every full frame mirrorless photographer is bound to have unless they downgrade from fast glass. It wasn’t such a revelation for me since I had done research beforehand and knew mirrorless wasn’t inherently smaller (as I wrote in Volume I), but I thought it would be for me since I would be downsizing on my ultra-wide angle lens and would be assembling a bag of smaller lenses.
Initially, I had a euphoric sense of liberation in carrying a smaller bag–or no bag at all–when I used the Sony a7R II. After a couple of months, the “honeymoon” phase of this liberated feeling wore off. It became less easy to overlook the compromises I was making in favor of carrying less gear.
I realized there were certain sacrifices I wasn’t willing to make once I used those smaller lenses more. The Sony 24-240mm is a capable lens and the nicest superzoom I’ve ever used, but somewhere along the way during the past 5 years, I guess I’ve become a gear snob? While its sharpness was perfectly sufficient, its slowness was not. (If I were strictly a methodical landscape photographer, this wouldn’t have been an issue.) I became frustrated that it (obviously) didn’t offer f/2.8 lens performance. I began seeing that the ideal and reality of mirrorless–for me, at least–were two different things.
This meant that I’d–realistically–have to purchase a 70-200mm f/2.8 lens to go along with the slew of other lenses on my wish list. At this point, I sized up my theoretical camera bag and realized literally everything in it would be as large or larger than their DSLR counterparts, save for that ultra-wide and the camera body. Cumulatively, the two systems would be really close to one another in size…and $2,000+ apart from one another in price (in Nikon’s favor). At was at this point that I had an, “oh shit, what have I done!” moment of clarity.
Not wanting to be too hasty in going back to Nikon and repurchasing the stuff I’d sold to (re)complete my camera bag, I decided to head to Shanghai with both my Sony and Nikon gear. A heavy proposition (ironically, in the quest to lighten the load, my camera bag was the heaviest it has ever been), but one that would allow me to avoid purchasing more, and take more time to test what I had in the field to see if I’d have a change of heart.
That trip only further solidified the decision. My plan was to use a dual sling camera strap to carry the Nikon D750 and Sony a7R II, Doc Holliday style. Early on, it was clear that would not work. I do feel a bit like Doc Holliday with my “draw” on the Nikons, as I can adjust settings via muscle memory and be ready to shoot within moments. However, my approach with the Sony is more like Shaq trying to make a free throw. This is partly on me…but it’s partly on Sony.
Previously, I assumed the confusing menu system would just take time to get used to, and I wouldn’t be fumbling for controls, hitting the wrong buttons. Several months later, I still have the same problems. There’s no way around this: Sony’s menu system is an unmitigated disaster and its button layout is poor.
To be sure, the buttons are highly customizable, so you can get around some of this–but not all of it. In dynamic shooting situations, there have been shots I have missed because even after months of regular use, it’s easy to make mistakes with the Sony. I’ve used Canon cameras far less, and I haven’t had this degree of issue with those, so I think it’s fair to say that this isn’t all on me.
Fumbling for settings caused me to miss at least 10 shots on our Shanghai/Hong Kong trip. The startup lag (something I hadn’t even considered previously) caused me to miss another ~3 shots. Not being able to see properly via EVF while shooting into the sun caused me to miss another ~5 shots. It also caused me to waste considerable time as I switched to the D750 on more than a few occasions in these scenarios so I could see. Another ~5 shots were missed due to the time it takes to move the AF area. All told, that’s too many missed shots.
I could potentially get past the slightly larger camera bag and maybe even the higher cost (the quality on those Zeiss lenses helps…), but missing shots is a tough pill to swallow. There’s a bitter feeling I’m left with when I miss shots. It’s one thing when it’s due to my own dumb decisions. That only motivates me to do better. When it’s the camera’s fault, I get frustrated and discouraged.
A lot of this is highly personal, and my goal here is not to scream “AVOID SONY FE MIRRORLESS AT ALL COSTS” just as my goal with Volume I was not to say “SELL EVERYTHING AND BUY SONY NOW!” As I wrote in the first post, I think mirrorless and DSLRs each have advantages, both deserving a seat at the photography “table.” That sentiment remains true, even if my personal take on mirrorless has soured a bit.
The fact remains that the Sony a7R II has a ton of selling points that I covered in the previous article but glossed over here (IBIS, 4K video, tilt screen, WiFi, high ISO performance, etc.), and all of those advantages remain significant. Sony has an incredible thirst for innovation that has lured a lot of technocrats into its camp. However, for me at least, the shortcomings have overshadowed the benefits. The operative part of that sentence is “for me.”
I’ve been underscoring the personal nature of this all, but I think that bears a lot of emphasis, since so much of what’s written online about mirrorless v. DSLR treat the topic as an epic battle of good and evil, dark and light, and choosing entrenched positions. I don’t see that as the reality. (I will write a Sony a7R II review that is more objective and isn’t all “me, me, me” in the near future.)
So, if this is all so personal to me, what are the key takeaways that can be gleaned from my ramblings?
- Price out your complete, theoretical mirrorless camera bag before making the jump. The cost may surprise you.
- Don’t assume mirrorless will enable you to take “shortcuts” with lenses. If you’re used to fast glass (and/or autofocuses lenses), stick with that.
- Don’t assume that you’ll develop the same comfort level or “feel” for any new camera over time that you have for your current camera. It might happen, but it might not.
- Consider how valuable the camera’s features are to you, but don’t give too much weight to those that could and should make their way to your current system in due time. (Unfortunately, Canon and Nikon DSLRs are unlikely to get in-body image stabilization anytime in the near or distant future.)
The net result of this is I find myself ready to jump ship again, this time to bounce back to Nikon. The Nikon 70-200mm f/2.8 VRII was recently on sale, so I already picked that up. I need a couple more things to (re)complete my Nikon camera bag, but I’ll get them in due time. I’m still hesitant to sell the Sony a7R II, if only because I still haven’t had the chance to test that Voigtlander 10mm f/5.6 “hyper-wide” angle lens, and I have this nagging feeling/hope(?) that it will be the magic bullet that vindicates my decision to get the Sony. I’m not quite sure what to do about that, especially since I don’t like throwing good money after bad, but if and when I figure it out, I’ll update you…
Until then, I’m back on the Dark Side. Long live the Nikon Darth-750! 😉
Want to learn more about photography to take great photos in the Disney theme parks and beyond? The best place to start is Tom’s Ultimate Disney Parks Photography Guide, which covers a variety of topics from links to tutorials, tips, and tricks to recommendations for point & shoots, DSLRs, lenses, and more!
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Your Thoughts
Do you agree or disagree with my thoughts on the Sony full-frame mirrorless system? If you’ve made the leap to mirrorless, how are you liking it? If you’ve been hesitant to try mirrorless, why? Are you considering going mirrorless? Any questions? Share your thoughts in the comments!
As a proud owner of a Sony a6000 that upgraded from a point and shoot. The mirrorless is great if all you wanted was a small camera that can take good pictures on a Disney ride or night parade. If you already have a DSLR, i see no good reason to go with mirrorless, unless the weight really, really bothers you.
Tom,
While I agree with your points on the Startup time, menu config and sun issues, I think most of the issues are with trying to take DSLR shooting styles and assuming they translate to mirrorless cameras (sony in particular). They really do require a new style of shooting with the EVF, focus modes and all the crazy tech inside.
The point about autofocus area movements is a good example – that is really a vestige of old school DSLR shooting, while the new Sony’s have lock on dynamic autofocus modes that eliminate the need to move around AF squares.
As for the price…it is no surprise that Sony mirrorless is crazy $$$. Their 2.8 zoom lenses require a mortgage payment, but they are so new, so prices have not fallen. Nikon and Cannon have had the luxury of years and years of inventory, a developed second hand market, lots of third party options and expertise. Sony is really 3-4 years old I imagine will slowly catchup.
Given the 6300 is such an amazing camera, I bet the A7 series 3 bodies with its tech will finally surpass Nikon/Canon and fix many of the autofocus and speed issues.
I converted from a D750 to Sony A7rii and have yet to look back. I adore the 70-200 F4 lens, but agree their walk around zoom options suck bigtime…though their zeiss primes are amazing.
Thanks for the follow up post. While I didn’t go all in like you did selling some of my gear I do feel the same as you that buying this was a mistake. While I had the spendable money when I went to buy my camera, I’ve never spent that much at one time one something before. As soon as I had the camera and lens purchased and at home I was saying to myself “WTF did I do?” I’ve had it for maybe two months now and have hardly used it. Also like you I wanted a zoom lens and a wide angle lens for landscape and was shocked at how expensive the lenses are. I was also surprised that with the 24-240 lens attached I swear the camera now weighs as much as my Nikon D90 with the 55-300 attached which is what I use most of the time.
Hi Tom, I’ve been reading the site voraciously for a few weeks. Thank you for all your work and the focus on photography is a big part of what I love.
Your comments on the Sony system are ones I have heard from many. Especially about the PITA menu system. The lack of affordable lens options other than adapting old manual focus ones is a big turn-off. But most of all, I just don’t like the images I see from Sony. The Second Gen A7 series are ok, but there is still something odd and flat to my eye.
I DID however go mirrorless. Based on my rather limited budget I could have bought an entry-level Nikon or Canon. Instead I bought a barely used Fuji X-E1 with their incredible 18-55. I also adapt some old manual Konicas and a nice old Nikon 75-150 for telephoto work. The E1 is no speed-demon in AF, but it is nicely accurate with the 18-55 and I enjoy the process of using the old glass manually. Best of all, it gets clean images at high ISOs.
If you decide to reconsider mirrorless, you might want to check out Fuji. While they are crop sensor the newer models have plenty of resolution and Fuji lenses are some of the best being made.
Welcome back. We held your place in the DSLR mirrored line. Feel free to pick right up where you were.
well I value your reviews on equipment so this is good to read. I read the first review and went out and purchased the A7ii (but kept my Nikon D750 just in case). Now I’m second guessing myself after reading this second review…because I too have found some annoyances with this camera. Though I’ll wait for your next article assessment before I jump to selling my Sony at this point. The camera is a bit annoying compared to the Nikons or Canon’s but I wonder if its just me not being use to this new technology, versus the Nikon. Time will tell.
I’m still not totally sure what I’m going to do with the system, but I’ll report back with a part 3 to this series once I figure it out. I’m not ready to call it quits just yet given all of the money I’ve already dumped into the system. On the other hand, I don’t want to spend even more money only to jump ship in the next few months.
I’m in nearly the same boat. I bought a Sony A7ii last year as a previous Nikon dSLR user, and almost a year later my fingers still don’t know which buttons and dials do what. Changing the AF area is MADDENING. The lack of available lenses was something I knew and considered before buying, but I really thought more lenses would be available by now at reasonable (not cheap, but reasonable) prices.
Luckily I didn’t get rid of any of my Nikon gear, so there is no barrier for me going back, but I haven’t quite given up on Sony yet. I love using my old Minolta lenses with an A-mount adapter. The focus peaking makes using those old manual focus lenses a lot more fun. The A7ii won’t ever be my only camera, but it’s still a fun toy to have in my bag!
P.S. I’m taking the Sony to Disney for the first time in August and planning to mainly carry the 28mm f/2 lens. I’m aiming for light, all-purpose for some good snapshots. I hope it doesn’t let me down!
I keep hearing about that 28mm f/2 lens. Maybe that’s something I should consider as I try to put together a light bag…
I rented the 28mm f/2 last year to try it out, then rented the 25mm f/2 for a trip to Paris in December. The 25mm is awesome, but it’s not $850 better than the 28mm. If you’re looking for a light lens that won’t break the bank (especially for a secondary camera), I highly recommend the 28.
I think it’s important to note that the size and weight of a camera system is more a function of sensor size than mirrorless vs DSLR. A couple of years ago, I switched from APS-C to Micro Four Thirds, and now I have a MUCH smaller and lighter gear bag, even with f/2.8 zooms and fast primes.
The Commlite adapter is available, and I’ve been using it. It works very well with *some* Nikon lenses. For example, it works very well for me with the Nikon 85/1.8.
I have a suggestion for you — Trade your A7rii for the A6300. Like you, I’m a D750 shooter. But I happily use my A6300 as a backup and lightweight alternative. For example, I just came back from Universal Orlando, which isn’t very camera friendly — so I only brought the A6300. Between being APS-C AND being mirrorless, it actually does save a lot of weight/bulk/size compared to dSLR. I mostly used the 10-18/4 and 24/1.8, along with gorilla pod for long exposures. I didn’t bring the Commlite adapter on this trip, but I have used it with the Nikon 85/1.8 and Tamron 45/1.8 for good results.
In other words, I use the Nikon d750 when I want optimal results, and am willing to carry the weight. I use the A6300 when I need to go small and I’m willing to make a little sacrifice.
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I’m so glad to see a gear related post this week. While this does solidify my view on mirrorless, it does beg the question for those looking to make the switch is the D750 , D500 make more sense or the possible replacement to the D750 make the wait worth it? Like your self and many photographers G.A.S. Is real and I am trying to avoid making a switch that I may regret especially knowing full frame will require the sale of some apc items. Opinions ?
On a side note tom I think the vlogs are off to a great start
If I it wasnt the fact you need a full frame I would tell you to check the Fuji X-T2. I got the X-T10 and it’s a joy to use. Betters lens than Sony, good price and just a joy to use. Everything is at finger reach and the picture quality amazing right out of the camera. It’s the main reason I went with Fuji after looking a good while at the A7. It was simply a better experience and more fun to use the Fuji.
I haven’t done any research into the Fuji system at all, but I’d be reluctant to invest in that system simply because it’s Fuji. Just as I wouldn’t buy a DSLR that’s not CaNikon because of third party support and brand longevity, I worry about buying into a mirrorless system aside from Sony’s. While they may not have great lens support now, I think over time Sony will gain a commanding share of the mirrorless market, and with that, more third party support.
At least, that’s my guess. Who knows what will actually happen.
Sorry to hear that your not happy with your new gear. It’s hard you do the research squeeze the trigger and it dosnt work as you thought.
On another note the shaq quote was almost as good as calling the presidents dinosaurs from your dino post.
Welcome Back.
Nice honest read.
I switched from a Pentax APS-C DSLR to a Sony a6000. It took a month to adjust to the controls, but after that I haven’t looked back. I once was a professional photographer , and I Was always carting around a ton of film gear. Now that photography is a serious hobby and not an occupation, light weight and simplicity is what I look for. The Sony is the perfect travel camera for me now. I will still keep the Pentax gear. There’s nothing wrong with liking and using multiple brands. Go with whatever works best for your shooting style and photography goals.
From what I’ve heard, the a6000 series is a really compelling option if you’re not looking for a full frame sensor. As smaller sensors make significant advancements, maybe this is something I should consider. Not anytime soon given what I’ve already dropped on Sony FE, but at some point down the road…
A PG-13 rated post that ALSO takes a dig at Shaq’s free throw abilities? Well done, sir!
I have the Nikon D600/D700 but wanted something lighter – so got the a6000 when they announced the a6300 (so got it cheaper) this spring. After playing with it for a few months with the standard 16-50 it came with I just got two lenses for it, the 10-18 f/4 and 18-105 f/4. As of right now I will stick with that to keep a lighter bag (which is why I got the camera). I have kept all my Nikon gear with all of my fast glass and macro lenses because I didn’t want to re-buy it and I don’t think sony’s offerings quite match up and I am also disappointed with the third party options. I also agree with you on the Sony menus – they are not that intuitive and I still fumble with them and I am normally really quick switching setting with my Nikon bodies. I feel better that I am not the only one struggling to get used to the Sony menus – I say – blame the camera!
I’ll give you more fuel for the fire. After 18 months I turned my A7 on one day and it was just dead. First I called Sony and they shortly diagnosed it was either a mother board or power source issue. They told me I could send it in, but that it’s a pricey fix. So I took it to a local camera shop and they told me at minimum it’s a $400 fix. They said they see lots of Sony products come through like that and the Sony support is outsourced and terrible. The consensus was that Sony products are “disposable” while Canon and Nikon commit to fixing their products.
So, long story short I went out and bought a Canon 6D and the 50mm f1.2. I’m in the same boat you are. However, I don’t know if I’m going to sell off all my glass this time because I wish I would have kept my Canon gear. I’m still a bit in shock over the whole thing because I loved my Sony. But I’m not going to go out and buy a $1500+ camera and throw it out every year or two. My story may be unique, and I hope it is with so many people making the switch! I was a pretty early adopter, it will be interesting to see if the market shifts again as people encounter these issues.
If you need to sell the Sony quickly, just give me a shout! 😉 I’ll come out and pick it up, even.
Thanks for writing this. As a Nikon shooter planning a move from a D7100 to D750, I’ve struggled with the idea that I should have been looking at Sony from the go. The points you mention make me feel better about sticking to my guns with my beloved Nikon.
I am indeed sorry about the gear you sold. Although I am thoroughly enjoying the 8mm Rokinon I bought from you. What a fun lens!
I shoot with the Sony a6000, but never shot with a DSLR. Coming up from a point and shoot, it has simply been fantastic. A little bummed to see that you haven’t found the same with the full frame, but I’ve found my camera and lens to be fast and reliable. I recently purchased the Sigma 30mm f1.4 that came out for the FE mount, and it has performed extremely well around the parks. This past weekend I shot with a Nikon D5300 at a friend’s party, and was aghast at how slow it was. Obviously different strokes, different camera opinions but for those that are stepping up into shooting with more control, I’ve found navigating the Sony to be simple.