p.7 #1 · Why are people not buying Sony's Swiss Army knife "A7cr"
swldstn wrote:
I’m sure I’m not typical but I need a compact camera for travel and as a second camera backup.
I already own A1’s (2x) and A7RV but there are times neither of these satisfy the expression “The best camera is the one you have with you” and the compact Sony’s facilitate that for me.
I’m trying to decide if that compact body is the A7CR, A7CII, or the A6700. I’m not a pro these days and video is not a need I have. Each has different strengths and I’m crazy so I am evaluating them all actively. A7CR has a great sensor that is cropable, the A7CII I think has the best low light performance and still higher resolution, and the A6700 packs the smallest but only if you buy APS-C lenses to go with it that add another set of lenses. I much rather buy smaller full frame lenses, if they can be had, to augment my GM and GM II lenses. I will use the smaller GM primes on the A7Cx bodies if it is no bigger than the 35mm f/1.4 GM but those don’t pack as well a I-Series Sigma but they do have better IQ. So I use both.
In the end it’s all about trade-offs and compromise which is different for everyone. There is no perfect solution and those seeking it will fail to get out and shoot. Just my humble opinion.
Why I am looking at the A7cr is the ability to make a nice compact system for street and documentary and still be able to use the same camera with a different set of lenses for detailed landscape work. Many of my trips include both types of photography and having a camera that can excel at both is very enticing.
p.7 #2 · Why are people not buying Sony's Swiss Army knife "A7cr"
Michael Everet wrote:
Not only size difference but look at the weight difference. The Q3 is right up there with the A1 (715 vs. 737 grams), and this for a fixed-lens camera. The Q3 is Leica's R1 -- which I wish Sony would bring back. As for me, I'm in my 80s, I have worked professionally in the past, but right now a smaller, lighter, high-res camera is a God-send. Partly because the resolution allows me to limit the lenses I need to carry-- hit APS-c mode and still get good resolution, as well as general cropping.
I wish they would. It was such an excellent camera and must have been popular enough for Sony to do 3 versions.
The Q3 is 43g heavier than the A7CR with 24mm G prime lens.
The Q's lens better than anything Sony make that is a similarly sized and miles better than Sony's 28 f2.
Not sure if the Q's lens is better than the RX1 35mm Carl Zeiss.
I don't think the A7CR and Q3 are that closely comparable but I can understand why some might class them as being similar.
The RX1RII was only 507g and you cannot buy a Sony lens that is as good for the A7CR.
p.7 #3 · Why are people not buying Sony's Swiss Army knife "A7cr"
nhsonyshooter wrote:
Never thought I'd be the one kinda defending Sony on this one. Right now there are "new" and basically new A7cr's on the buy and sell board for 2400, 2600 dollars. Not sure what those 14 people are waiting for. I'm just curious why people are not scooping these up. The camera is far from perfect I'm the first to admit but for those prices I just don't see a better camera across brands. Yes I hate all flip screens, it sucks but I'll live with it till the day the A7crii is released. The EVF is OK. At least useable now. Would I like full mechanical to 8000, sure. Are there other nit picks, yup. But still with all that said I bought mine at full retail and still think it is great. I have been using a couple of RV's so basically I knew what I was getting and what I was missing. I call it a swiss army knife because surprisingly I actually have been using the extension grip when shooting wildlife with the 100-400 + 1.4x. It actually feels better in the hand then my RV. Didn't see that coming. The beauty is it goes on and comes off in like 4 seconds.The weight difference people under estimate. I know I did. When I opened the box and lifted it out the first thing that popped into my head was "crap, some replaced it with a fake". Totally caught me off guard. Quickly unscrewed the cap and hey there is a sensor and internals in there. The missing EVF on the top is also a huge advantage in packing things out. I like using Temba BYOB bags 9 & 10 mostly. I started using them to pack out in my hiking backpacks but ended up using them as everyday bags. Not fashionable but simple. I can fit a 70-200 Gii, 20-70, 35GM and the A7cr in a temba 10. Not to mention other stuff, table top tripod, RSS Clamp, filters, battery etc... I could never get all that in with an RV. Trust me I tried. At the end of the day Sony did what Sony does best. They held things back for version 2 and it sucks. But in the meantime the camera is still fantastic and the most versatile I have ever owned. I have been waiting too long for a FF sensor in an APSC body.. For all those on the fence. Rent one, see if it works for you. This camera is light years better than the original A7C. It might surprise you.
Happy Holidays to all. ...Show more →
I think you are reading what you WANT to read into this. Moreover, your title is click-bait IMO. Seeking attention?
I am seeing only two unsold ones in the b&s section while many more already sold. If I contemplate about buying from someone here, I may add their post to my watch list only to see if they go down in price later (if they can't find a buyer at the asking price). I personally find the current asking prices too close to the retail price to be worth buying from person and possible associated risks. Besides, they often ask for Paypal fees on top of shipping cost and that brings the price further closer to the retail price. Moreover, buying used generally means no warranty. All that just to save $200-$300 is not worth it, IMO. Beside from time to time, Sony offers sales which brings down the retail price to that of those advertised here. There are also education deals in US. So it's very possible to get a brand new one with warranty from store at a price even lower that those posted at the b&s section here (particularly considering we are close to boxing day sales too). One may only have to be patient.
p.7 #4 · Why are people not buying Sony's Swiss Army knife "A7cr"
It's interesting observing how much attention the A7CR gets. So many _absolutely_not interested in the camera having to tell the world that it's much better to buy an A7RV instead.
All kind of forum tricks... not for the pros (a pro.... who decides what is for a pro or not?), you can't use it with a 600mm f/4 lens (as if the A7RV is comfy with the same lens, lol) the half shutter makes the camera unusable (while the A1 is fine), and so on. As a last possible solution, you may, if nothing else exists, perhaps use it as a backup for the first backup.
In the mid 70's the Olympus OM-1 caused a similar reaction...
I want a small and light weight camera with the maximum amount of pixels. That's it. We are all different. Our cameras may be different as well.
Keep it coming... ;-) Just try to at least keep the numbers right.
p.7 #6 · Why are people not buying Sony's Swiss Army knife "A7cr"
Having the A7riv and 28-200 and A6700 and 18-135 (and other lenses for both, too), I can say, for me, there is a noticeable difference in size and weight. In hand or in bag. I've tried some "mirror-less" bags that the A7Riv, especially with an L bracket, just doesn't fit well. Or at all. Or won't fit with the other contents the maker suggests could fit.
Context is important. If one's regular daily walk-around carry is 2 bodies and 3 f2.8 zooms and a couple of fast primes, yeah, one is unlikely to feel the difference and probably the A7Rv makes more sense. If one is looking to a "one lens" approach, isn't carrying a bag, is teetering on the "Nah, I'll just use my phone." side of things, then they are looking at it quite differently.
Once one goes to a bag of some sort, things can change some. A comfortable, properly sized bag that one isn't struggling to carry or access, and a well selected lens or two, then an A7CR can still be a choice versus the A7Rv. While I don't have them, I'm pretty sure I'd notice the difference between an A7RC and 70-350 and an A7Rv and Sony or Sigma 100-400.
p.7 #8 · Why are people not buying Sony's Swiss Army knife "A7cr"
Difference between: Sony 100-400 and a7cr (1); and Sony 100-400 and a7rv (2) is around 10%. Worthwhile comparison because this long zoom weighs around the equivalent of 3-4 lenses of normal weight that a person might carry with any ILC camera, say for travel.
10% is around 200 grams here, so if the a7rv guy uses just one 200g lighter lens of his 3-4 lens kit = equality of weight of overall kit, assuming all else is equal. Of course, only one of these cameras will feel comfortable with a hefty lens aboard, say 600g or more.
A pretty good rule of thumb here is that the lens should not weigh more than the camera body, for general use involving movement around streets, rocky paths, scrambles etc. The grip GP-X2 adds 75g, so your a7cr all-up rises to 590g, eating away at your advantage outlined above. And reducing your percentage difference to under 7% - not so much, easily overlooked. Just the facts. Best to know going in.
RX1-wise, there were excellent reasons many of us wanted a companion camera (say the 'RX2') with a 75m or 85mm on board. One kilogram with two cameras, no dust, leaf shutter quiet, tiny, super results, take anywhere, shoot anywhere. The ship sailed away, however, another opportunity lost. No one mainstream made anything like it.
p.7 #9 · Why are people not buying Sony's Swiss Army knife "A7cr"
bluehawaii wrote:
Great lens. Just a shame to turn the A7CR into a 900g boat anchor with it and crop like anything to gain back 15mm of focal length.
But if I want a 35mm image, I would just put my Sony 35 2.8 lens on the A7cr…why would I crop? Being stuck with a fixed lens camera…how do you get the 20mm image…especially when there is movement happening.
p.7 #10 · Why are people not buying Sony's Swiss Army knife "A7cr"
chez wrote:
Why I am looking at the A7cr is the ability to make a nice compact system for street and documentary and still be able to use the same camera with a different set of lenses for detailed landscape work. Many of my trips include both types of photography and having a camera that can excel at both is very enticing.
This is the exact reason I bought one. And- with the supplied grip I found it performed great for portrait work with either my 50 GM or 135 GM. Not as good as my A1 due to the custom dials that are muscle-memory at this point, but if you don't find yourself fiddling around a lot with adjustments on a shoot, the a7cR is more than capable.
p.7 #12 · Why are people not buying Sony's Swiss Army knife "A7cr"
chez wrote:
But if I want a 35mm image, I would just put my Sony 35 2.8 lens on the A7cr…why would I crop? Being stuck with a fixed lens camera…how do you get the 20mm image…especially when there is movement happening.
Yes but then we're back to needing a larger body again.
Why? I have an old A7r and use the Sony 20 1.8 on it without any problems.
Your logic then says that Sony should make a camera the size of the Nikon z9 so we can use lenses like the 100-400. And how big of a camera do we need in order to stick the 600gm on it.
p.7 #15 · Why are people not buying Sony's Swiss Army knife "A7cr"
chez wrote:
Why? I have an old A7r and use the Sony 20 1.8 on it without any problems.
Your logic then says that Sony should make a camera the size of the Nikon z9 so we can use lenses like the 100-400. And how big of a camera do we need in order to stick the 600gm on it.
Sure, but isn't the whole point of the A7CR it's svelte proportions?
p.7 #17 · Why are people not buying Sony's Swiss Army knife "A7cr"
bluehawaii wrote:
Sure, but isn't the whole point of the A7CR it's svelte proportions?
That's not my logic at all.
Then I have no idea what you logic is. My view is I can make a very compact travel kit built around the A7cr and just by changing the lenses used on it to my Zeiss ze collection, I can have a very capable landscape kit.Yes, the A7r5 can be used for the same purpose…but with a cost in weight and bulk when carrying the camera.
p.7 #18 · Why are people not buying Sony's Swiss Army knife "A7cr"
nepali wrote:
I didn't post that link to show that Viltrox is great. I posted that to show that Q3 quality can be had with A7CR as well.
At 1/2 the price. Hmmm, I wonder if there is a market for a red dot sticker ( 🔴 ) that can be put onto the A7cr…seems like that is the basic difference between the two cameras…oh and $3000.
p.7 #20 · Why are people not buying Sony's Swiss Army knife "A7cr"
chez wrote:
Then I have no idea what you logic is. My view is I can make a very compact travel kit built around the A7cr and just by changing the lenses used on it to my Zeiss ze collection, I can have a very capable landscape kit.Yes, the A7r5 can be used for the same purpose…but with a cost in weight and bulk when carrying the camera.
The thread was (I think) asking why they're not selling like hot cakes.
I thought it looked incredible and wanted to buy it so I tested it (A7CII). Wasn't so hot on the screen. Decided against it.
Doesn't mean I don't think it's a unique camera as I said in the first post. The IBIS, AF, size and many other features are unparalleled.
Someone said earlier they thought Sony may have wanted to test the market by sharing most features with the A7CII. I think that's possibly close to the truth and understandable.
In 2019 if someone had said you can have all this (61mp FF, 8 stops, even better AF) in your a6600 sized body, WITH a 50mm f2.5 prime we may not have even believed them. But it has happened.
