rancherpix wrote:
Which Sony camera does the updated (firmware 2.00) Z6 III most closely approximate-A9 (first version), A7 IV or some combination? Just trying to figure out where this updated version fits in the scheme of things.
There's really no good analog. The Z5ii is the A7iv (low end full frame). No Sony has the hybrid sensor of the Z6iii...the Z6iii is pretty well ahead of the A7iv and A9/A9ii in total features, performance and value prop, and under the A7Rv.
My refurb Z30/16-50 kit along with a refurb 12-28 arrived in the past hour. Actually very well packed! The kit was in its own box with the body and lens in bubble wrap bags plus extra bubble sheets to fill out the box. The 12-28 was similarly in its own box in a bubble wrap bag with extra bubble sheets to fill out its box. Both of those boxes put in a larger box for shipping in which they had very little space to rattle around and a few air pillows were put inside to fill in the few gaps.
Everything looks brand spanking new. At the risk of jinxing myself, a very quick out the front door test appears to show both lenses aren't suffering from any sort of severe or obvious decentering. Need to do some more detailed testing, but naturally I'm assuming the 16-50 is going to have some corner variation which is fine for a kit lens. Fingers crossed the 12-28 tests out nicely as that's my biggest interest.
I've got to say, the Z30 with the 12-28 feels like a dream canyon hiking kit. It is quite light and reasonably compact. The OIS will help in deep shadows if I'm not cracking out a mini-tripod. The 18-42mm FF equivalent range is just about perfect for narrow canyons. A three or four exposure pano stitch can get to an UWA FF equivalent of around 12-13mm. And of course the negligibly small 16-50 can come along to cover out to 75mm FF equivalent for occasional tighter compositions.
I'd written the Z30 off entirely when it was announced, and honestly pretty much had written off Nikon DX as well. But dang, I think this will make me really happy on day hikes!
RoamingScott wrote:
There's really no good analog. The Z5ii is the A7iv (low end full frame). No Sony has the hybrid sensor of the Z6iii...the Z6iii is pretty well ahead of the A7iv and A9/A9ii in total features, performance and value prop, and under the A7Rv.
Yes, there does seem to be an unaddressed gap between Sony's entry level unit and the A9 III & A1 II luxury/premium models. The A7R V is essentially a specialty product.
rancherpix wrote:
Yes, there does seem to be an unaddressed gap between Sony's entry level unit and the A9 III & A1 II luxury/premium models. The A7R V is essentially a specialty product.
Sony has every capability of making non-lazy, well thought out product lines, but they don't because there's more money in it (in their mind) to force people to buy too much camera for what they really need.
My Zf arrived today. It was pitifully packaged, basically the 40mm lens and the camera body were both in a bubble wrap bag with little but 1 layer of bubble wrap separating them. But fortunately no harm no foul from it.
Running some tests on it.
It's definitely less of a brick than I anticipated, but it certainly has some heft to it. Coming from a Z8, everything feels 'light'.
Enjoy everyone! The devil made us do it. The fortunate thing is now that I have the Z8, it will be at least 12-18 months before I could actually hope to convince my wife that a 180-600 or anything else is a good idea so I won't post any more of these as I won't be watching
