Experts! I need your advice! Another RX100 M3 vs A6000

[TeamSy]

I recently got the Sony RX100 M3. It's a great camera for someone like myself, who knows nothing about the right ISO, etc. I found that it's not a great underwater camera, even in the super expensive housing (the battery gets exhausted)... I also think the heat from the container ruined the lens cover, and it now gets stuck when turning it on and off. I never realize it until I see black on the top and bottom of my photos - eek!

ANYWAY, aside from that, its been a great camera, but I'll be sticking with my GoPro for underwater. I LOVE the flip screen - super easy to take selfies!! Anyway, my only real complaint about the camera is its lack of zoom. I originally was deciding between the RX100 M3, but now a part of me ALSO wants to get the A6000. I like the idea of being able to get different lenses, but I'm less thrilled about having to lug a big bag around WITH all the different lenses and having to change them. Maybe it's just something I need to get used to, but I think I'd like to give it try.

So my question for the experts is: How is this lens for a starter? http://store.sony.com/dt-16-105mm-f...id27-SAL16105/cat-27-catid-All-A-Mount-Lenses. I read the kit lenses sort of suck (especially compared to the lens that's currently in the RX100 M3, but how does this one compare? It seems like a decent, versatile lens to get started??

 

[fractal]

The SAL 16-105 is an Amount lens and will not fit an A6000 (Emount) without an adapter. You would need the LA-EA2 or LA-EA4 adapter for Autofocus.

The lens to consider in Emount for the same range is the Sony E 18-105mm G f/4. This lens has in built stabilization and constant f/4 aperture.

 

[havoc315]

That's not an E-mount lens, and will not work on the A6000 (technically, it can work if you add an expensive adapter, but you will lose some functionality).

As you stated, each camera will have different strengths.

The advantage of the RX100 is the extreme portability, with image quality that can come very very close or exceed an APS-C camera with kit lens. (For example, there are some circumstances where the RX100 may produce better images than the A6000 with kit lens).

The A6000, on the other hand, has higher POTENTIAL image quality. That is, if you invest more in lenses, you can really get vastly superior image quality. Lenses like this:http://store.sony.com/sonnar-t-fe-5...t-27-catid-All-E-Mount-Lenses?_t=pfm=category

Though even this: http://store.sony.com/e-50mm-f1.8-o...ount-Lenses?vva_ColorCode=000&_t=pfm=category -- Will give you very very good image quality, better than what you might get from the RX100.

To top it off, the A6000 will have a faster superior autofocus system. It will allow you to change lenses -- to telephoto lenses and ultra wide angle lenses, as well as primes.

In terms of size, the A6000 is not HUGE. And the size is somewhat dependent on the attached lens. Stick on the kit pancake 16-50, and you end up with the same range as you get from the RX100, in a pretty darn compact size. (Though in this case, the image quality is so-so).

So it's a choice between super compact, ready to get great images out of the box, without thinking of other lenses, but with limited range and limited potential..

vs

Medium sized. Where the quality of the images will depend on the quality of the attached lens. With the possibility of shooting from ultrawide to telephoto, and higher potential images -- if you want to invest in the price and size of additional lenses.

To put it in perspective... I weighed by prospective camera bag for my upcoming Alaska Disney cruise -- About 15-20 lbs. (It's a full frame Nikon dSLR with lenses). In comparison, a pretty full A6000 system isn't going to weight more than 5-8 lbs... so seems pretty small and compact in comparison. (I go with my large huge system AND a rx100).

 

[TeamSy]

The SAL 16-105 is an Amount lens and will not fit an A6000 (Emount) without an adapter. You would need the LA-EA2 or LA-EA4 adapter for Autofocus.

The lens to consider in Emount for the same range is the Sony E 18-105mm G f/4. This lens has in built stabilization and constant f/4 aperture.

You're right. I saw the on sale price and got carried away. Damn. Getting the adapter would also then defeat the sale and like you said the autofocus.

How would you say the Sony E 18-105mm G f/4 lens compares to the one that's on the RX100 M3?

 

[fractal]

You're right. I saw the on sale price and got carried away. Damn. Getting the adapter would also then defeat the sale and like you said the autofocus.

Similar, you'll give up a faster maximum aperture for some more range on the long end. The sensor on the A6000 is vastly superior so image quality will be better. There is a Sony Zeiss E 16-70 APS-C lens for the A6000 but that goes for about $1,000 and the reviews on it have been spotty.