Which Sony would you buy?

TeamSy

DIS Veteran
Joined
Nov 23, 2013
Keeping in mind I know nothing about photography… I'm down to the RX-100 MIII OR the Sony A6000 BODY ONLY with this lens: Sony SEL1670Z Vario-Tessar T E 16-70mm F4. The second is WAY more expensive, so I'm wondering if it's worth it for someone like myself who has no idea about photography and just wants a great image??
 
Keeping in mind I know nothing about photography… I'm down to the RX-100 MIII OR the Sony A6000 BODY ONLY with this lens: Sony SEL1670Z Vario-Tessar T E 16-70mm F4. The second is WAY more expensive, so I'm wondering if it's worth it for someone like myself who has no idea about photography and just wants a great image??

Do you see yourself buy other lenses in the future?
 
1 -- Don't take this the wrong way, but without learning about photography, neither camera will give you "great images." They may give you slightly better images than you were getting with your cell phone. The auto on a great camera will produce better pictures than auto on a cheap camera because the camera has some greater capability. But in the end, you will only see some improvement.

2-- As mentioned, do you see yourself buying additional lenses? And WHAT types of pictures do you want to take? Do you want to take safari pictures, for example? If so, you can't really do it with the RX100, and you would NEED additional lenses with the A6000 to do it.

3-- How much of a concern is size? The A6000 is fairly small,but the RX100 is much smaller.

4-- How much of a concern is a viewfinder? The RX100 does have one, but it is small and a bit hard to use, IMO. The A6000 has a nicer viewfinder.

5-- How much real action do you wish to photograph? The RX100 will do fine with kids walking around, but if you want to do sports, for example, the A6000 autofocus is much faster.

6-- Pure image quality --- Will be close. The A6000 has the greater potential for better image quality, if you add hundreds (or even thousands) of dollars in additional lenses. But out of the box, the lens you are considering for the A6000 is a very good lens, but F4. The RX100 lens is "faster" at 1.8-2.8. That means, you can use the RX100 at a lower ISO than you would use the A6000. If you added a 1.8/2.8 lens to the A6000, the A6000 would give you better image quality. But sticking with the F4 lens... the image quality will kinda even out. It will be very close.
 
I was going to get the a6000 with the "better" lens than the kit lens in attempt to not have to change the lens, but I suppose that would defeat the purpose of spending for that type of camera. I don't know why, but I just can't get it out of my head. I have no idea about anything, but maybe it would behoove me to pick up a photography for dummies book or something.

I currently have the Sony HX1 … is the RX 100 M3 lightyears better than what I currently have (and I'll be honest, I've never taken it off the "auto" setting).
 


I was going to get the a6000 with the "better" lens than the kit lens in attempt to not have to change the lens, but I suppose that would defeat the purpose of spending for that type of camera. I don't know why, but I just can't get it out of my head. I have no idea about anything, but maybe it would behoove me to pick up a photography for dummies book or something.

I currently have the Sony HX1 … is the RX 100 M3 lightyears better than what I currently have (and I'll be honest, I've never taken it off the "auto" setting).

A better lens does not mean you don't have to change lenses. There is no such thing as a "do everything" lens. The 16-70/4 is sharper than the regular kit lens, it covers a more useful range. It is supposedly a great lens. But it can't do 1.8-2.8 shots... You may never need to do 1.8-2.8 shots, depends on your style.

Yes, the RX100 is far better than the HX1. Though you never see it in the spec blurbs where the retailers try to mislead customers in regards to the important aspects of a camera.. the real important aspect of a camera is the sensor size. The RX100 has a sensor about 5 times the size of the HX1. It also has more than double the resolution. The HX1 has considerably more zoom -- the only benefit of a tiny sensor.
 
A better lens does not mean you don't have to change lenses. There is no such thing as a "do everything" lens. The 16-70/4 is sharper than the regular kit lens, it covers a more useful range. It is supposedly a great lens. But it can't do 1.8-2.8 shots... You may never need to do 1.8-2.8 shots, depends on your style.

Yes, the RX100 is far better than the HX1. Though you never see it in the spec blurbs where the retailers try to mislead customers in regards to the important aspects of a camera.. the real important aspect of a camera is the sensor size. The RX100 has a sensor about 5 times the size of the HX1. It also has more than double the resolution. The HX1 has considerably more zoom -- the only benefit of a tiny sensor.

Thank you!!! Your information is so helpful!!! What would you recommend I start reading to learn about the different kinds of shots, exposures, lenses, etc?
 
Thank you!!! Your information is so helpful!!! What would you recommend I start reading to learn about the different kinds of shots, exposures, lenses, etc?

"Understanding Exposure" comes highly recommended.

Really, you want to start understanding two fundamental aspects of photography:
Composition -- How to compose your shot to make it the most interesting possible. Things like the "rule of thirds."
Exposure -- How to manage light in your photograph, by manipulating ISO, shutter speed, and aperture.

Learn basics of composition and exposure, and you're good to go.
 


What would you recommend I start reading to learn about the different kinds of shots, exposures, lenses, etc?

I don't know if "Understanding Exposure" goes into lenses (I didn't like the book and returned it). There are some books that discuss when and how to use different focal lengths and this would be good to learn no matter which camera you get since they both have zoom lenses. One of the books that comes to mind is Ansel Adams "The Camera" which debunks the myth that lenses affect perspective (it's true, they don't).
 
"Understanding Exposure" comes highly recommended.

Really, you want to start understanding two fundamental aspects of photography:
Composition -- How to compose your shot to make it the most interesting possible. Things like the "rule of thirds."
Exposure -- How to manage light in your photograph, by manipulating ISO, shutter speed, and aperture.

Learn basics of composition and exposure, and you're good to go.

I don't know if "Understanding Exposure" goes into lenses (I didn't like the book and returned it). There are some books that discuss when and how to use different focal lengths and this would be good to learn no matter which camera you get since they both have zoom lenses. One of the books that comes to mind is Ansel Adams "The Camera" which debunks the myth that lenses affect perspective (it's true, they don't).

Thank you both so much!!!
 

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