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Archive 2018 · A7r2 or A7r3?

Dustin Gent
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p.1 #1 · p.1 #1 · A7r2 or A7r3?

going to get back into digital, and I am torn between these cameras. I bought an A7r last year and it was ok. The A7r2 is better than what I had, so I will be happy with both. I never paid any attention to the A7r3 (or to be honest the A7r2 because the price was way out of my budget at the time), but I keep hearing how much better it is than the A7r2.

Fast forward to present time, where both are within my budget. I have two lenses, both Contax - so no autofocus is needed. I am leaning towards getting a lens and the A7r2 (maybe the C/Y 21mm)

Better battery life and better LiveView is probably at the top of the list.

Mar 04, 2018 at 03:50 PM

Surfnsun
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p.1 #2 · p.1 #2 · A7r2 or A7r3?

Dustin Gent wrote:
Better battery life and better LiveView is probably at the top of the list.

Given that it’s within your budget and those are your priorities, then I’d recommend the A7rlll all the way. The new and improved liveview is a major hit, especially among MF users.

Mar 04, 2018 at 04:00 PM

Douglas L
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p.1 #3 · p.1 #3 · A7r2 or A7r3?

From what I could tell, you mostly do landscape. I would just pick up a used A7RII. It's a marvelous camera for landscape stuff, particularly with the available apps which are no longer available in the 7RIII. As for battery, just carry a couple extra, they are so light anyway. I have both. The better FPS and AF or other operational advantages the 7RIII has over the RII will do little for your usage. IMHO.

Edited on Mar 04, 2018 at 05:41 PM · View previous versions

Mar 04, 2018 at 05:23 PM

thrice
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p.1 #4 · p.1 #4 · A7r2 or A7r3?

The loxia isn't much more $ than the 21 C/Y and is superior in every conceivable way. I would get the A7RII and put the extra change toward a 21 loxia no doubt.

Mar 04, 2018 at 05:32 PM

Arka
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p.1 #5 · p.1 #5 · A7r2 or A7r3?

If you don't care about AF and speed, I think the A7R II should be fine for you. It costs a lot less, and the only real disadvantage that is relevant to landscape photographers using MF lenses is the poor battery life compared to the III (so you'll have to carry extras in the field). But that said, I think the A7R III is a much better camera.

Mar 04, 2018 at 05:37 PM

DannyBurkPhoto
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p.1 #6 · p.1 #6 · A7r2 or A7r3?

I think that you and I are viewing this from the same point of view, so I'll throw in my thoughts. I'm strictly MF and shoot mainly landscape and flower closeup work. I've had an A7R2 since late 2015; when the "3" came out, I decided not to get it since it didn't have increased resolution.

A month ago, I decided to get the 3 after all. Many of the other features sounded nice, such as the improved EVF, better battery life, touch screen (really nice to select focus point) and although limited in usability, pixel shift. Another factor was that I was keeping a 5DSR sitting in the closet as a backup, and I wanted to sell it before it lost more value, and then turn the A7R2 into the backup. Other features of the 3, such as improved AF and frame rate, are useless to me and I basically ignore them.

Now that I have it, I like it a lot, and the features I've mentioned above (plus other minor points, such as a much better menu) are all nice to have. If I hadn't wanted to sell the Canon, I probably wouldn't have upgraded. All this to say...if the features I've mentioned sound like something that's important to you, get the 3. If you want to save quite a bit of $$ and omit a few niceties, the 2 will produce images that are just as good. Honestly, for the way that you and I shoot, there isn't a huge difference between them.

One more point. I agree regarding above comments on 21mm choices. Unless there's a reason why you prefer the C/Y rendering, the Loxia is certainly the better lens technically, and far lighter and easier to store in a bag too. I had a 21 ZE and replaced it with a Loxia when I bought the A7R2. I'm very happy with that choice and wouldn't go back.

Mar 04, 2018 at 06:06 PM

Dustin Gent
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p.1 #7 · p.1 #7 · A7r2 or A7r3?

Hey thanks guys for the insight! As for why the C/Y 21mm over the Loxia, it is due to the fact I want to be able to use it on my Contax RX. However if i can find one for a good deal, i wouldn't be opposed to it

Mar 04, 2018 at 07:41 PM

philip_pj
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p.1 #8 · p.1 #8 · A7r2 or A7r3?

'The loxia isn't much more $ than the 21 C/Y and is superior in every conceivable way.'

Loxia 21mm used: $1000-1050, new: $1500
Contax 21mm used: $1400-1900.

Leaving aside drawing style preferences (classic vs modern), the market is seldom wrong. What will the Loxia 21mm be worth in 25 years time? I don't suggest anyone buy an older lens unless they know the source, but perfect color correction and classic glass has enduring appeal. If the style satisfies, the cheaper lens is good enough in this case, and is more suitable for a small camera series. MTF are very close with all CZ 21mm lenses since the 1993 CY release, as Zeiss struggled not to fall behind.

Mar 04, 2018 at 08:19 PM

mikethevilla
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p.1 #9 · p.1 #9 · A7r2 or A7r3?

If you're only shooting manual focus and stills, the A7RII will do you plenty fine. I don't see any reason to jump to the newer camera.

Mar 04, 2018 at 08:37 PM

Steve Spencer
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p.1 #10 · p.1 #10 · A7r2 or A7r3?

mikethevilla wrote:
If you're only shooting manual focus and stills, the A7RII will do you plenty fine. I don't see any reason to jump to the newer camera.

Although I shoot almost exclusively manual focus and I am not upgrading to the A7rIII from the A7rII, I think there is a reason that will matter to a good number of MF shooters--the EVF. The A7rIII has a better EVF that is reported to work better with manual focus and you can set the magnification for the first button press as well. Those features (especially the EVF) may matter to a lot of MF shooters.

Mar 04, 2018 at 08:43 PM

GMPhotography
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p.1 #11 · p.1 #11 · A7r2 or A7r3?

For me personally the A7rII drove me crazy with it’s slow speed so no love lost selling it and I don’t care if you shot the slowest way possible it was a freaking turtle regardless what you type of photography you do. Some folks it does not bother them. Not me

But I do like many other upgraded features as well on the A7R3 so it’s been a very pleasant upgrade on many levels. But I’m a commercial photographer so I have no choice on what I shoot. I shoot everything that pays, well almost.

Mar 04, 2018 at 08:53 PM

Dustin Gent
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p.1 #12 · p.1 #12 · A7r2 or A7r3?

GMPhotography wrote:
For me personally the A7rII drove me crazy with it’s slow speed so no love lost selling it and I don’t care if you shot the slowest way possible it was a freaking turtle regardless what you type of photography you do. Some folks it does not bother them. Not me

But I do like many other upgraded features as well on the A7R3 so it’s been a very pleasant upgrade on many levels. But I’m a commercial photographer so I have no choice on what I shoot. I shoot everything that pays, well almost.

Interesting to hear it was slow. The A7r2 HAS to be quicker than the A7r, right? That is what I had. Slow to start up was annoying

Mar 04, 2018 at 09:50 PM

GMPhotography
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p.1 #13 · p.1 #13 · A7r2 or A7r3?

Yes it is faster than the A7r. Playback, camera on and AF where big issues for me. Plus more

Mar 04, 2018 at 10:05 PM

DannyBurkPhoto
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p.1 #14 · p.1 #14 · A7r2 or A7r3?

And no worries about shutter vibration with the 2 or 3.

Mar 04, 2018 at 10:54 PM

justruss
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p.1 #15 · p.1 #15 · A7r2 or A7r3?

GMPhotography wrote:
Yes it is faster than the A7r. Playback, camera on and AF where big issues for me. Plus more

One trick on the playback/chimping front-- a total kluge, mind you-- is to shoot small or medium jpg w/ RAW. The jpgs allow near-immediate chimp-zoom, whereas chimp-zoom on raw files is like molasses. Great for checking AF/sharpness.

Agree with Guy: A7rII was a major jump ahead of the A7r in terms of speed, af, etc, but left the rII still a little behind the fastest DSLRs. The rIII is like a DSLR killer in terms of speed/use. The rII hit the level I need to get my job done, and I am therefore in no rush to upgrade. The rIII or iv (I do want more resolution) will be a welcome improvement when I get around to upgrading one day...

Mar 05, 2018 at 02:31 AM

sirimiri
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p.1 #16 · p.1 #16 · A7r2 or A7r3?

DannyBurkPhoto wrote:
And no worries about shutter vibration with the 2 or 3.

Shutter shock borked my pano sweep on Saturday...a 200mm lens, shooting with the A7R at 1/90th every image wasted...

Mar 05, 2018 at 03:47 AM

Viramati
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p.1 #17 · p.1 #17 · A7r2 or A7r3?

The only reason not to go for the A7rIII (if it's in your price range) is the lack of play memories apps especially the smooth reflection app. I had thought of keeping my 2nd A7rII just for this but in the end the advantages of the upgrade for me were just to hard to resist

Mar 05, 2018 at 04:20 AM

chez
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p.1 #18 · p.1 #18 · A7r2 or A7r3?

I shoot landscapes with my A7R2 and have no problems nailing focus using the rear LCD and the speed is really no issue as well. Like Viramati said another big plus is the play memory apps which are very nice for landscape. I'd pick up a used A7R2 for $1,500 and spend the rest of your money on more glass. That will get you more bang for the buck than spending all your money on the A7R3 which for landscape photography really does not buy you much over the A7R2 and in fact loses a very valuable feature, the play memory apps.

Mar 05, 2018 at 09:13 AM

GMPhotography
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p.1 #19 · p.1 #19 · A7r2 or A7r3?

His priorities are better battery life and better live view. If that’s the case the A7R3. Not to mention a host of other improvements. I would never cripple my shooting on anything with a older generation cam when a new one has many improvements. The A7R3 has far better battery life and the new battery that will be used in future cameras and have better live view , better EVF for manual focusing. Plus the speed is far better. I don’t buy backwards and I don’t recommend it. Save your money till you can afford it. Far better resale as right now the A7rII has dropped to half price used from 3200 new in a short time. Not saying a A7R3 will hold it’s value any better as that’s hard to predict but I think it will hold better for much longer in the cycle. There are ways around the smooth app. Which I never used but I do understand folks like it. My problem here is folks say landscape but what happens if someone hires you to shoot some action, your screwed. As a hobbyist you really want to think like a Pro and have a more balanced all around camera. You never know what 6 months from now may bring and you want to shoot other things that a faster operating camera will bring. Personal I would never limit myself but that’s me and I recommend not doing that. But dio what you like it’s your money. I’m not speaking of my own needs but I am speaking in general and your not getting that advice only personal ones on what folks are doing. Think broader than that. Take the 40k feet view of your world

Good luck on your choice and have fun. I’ll graceful leave this thread

I forgot to add this which is important. It also depends on your long and short term view. If you plan on a year from now than the A7rII might be fine but if like holding on to something far longer than get the latest tech and to be honest I don’t know how much more they can improve the A7rIII. Right now it’s pretty perfect so that is something to think about

Edited on Mar 05, 2018 at 09:47 AM · View previous versions

Mar 05, 2018 at 09:31 AM

chez
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p.1 #20 · p.1 #20 · A7r2 or A7r3?

Dustin, I have no idea how you shoot landscapes, but if you primarily use a tripod and rear LCD for composition and focus, then the EVF of the A7R3 will not really help. The rear LCD screen are basically the same and I've never had problems nailing focus using it zoomed in.

As far as batteries goes, I get roughly 350 images from a battery which does me fine for a day of shooting. I always carry a spare just in case...very small and light.

As far as resale value, the A7R2 has already dropped in price whereas the A7R3 has not...you know which will lose the most value a year from now.

You can easily buy the Loxia 21 with the money difference between the A7R2 and 3...which IMHO will go much further in helping get you great landscape photos than any of the enhanced features of the A7R3.

But that's judt my opinion based on shooting landscapes with my A7R2.

Mar 05, 2018 at 09:43 AM

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