I’m an owner of many Sony cameras that have very different capabilities. At the top end I own a Sony A1 and A1 II both used for wildlife and birds in flight. For every day carry I’m using an A7CII and A7CR for their small size and portability.
My newest camera bought at the send of last year is the A7V for general shooting and it covers most of my needs.
Then there is my A7RV. For the past few years it was the camera I used for landscape, architecture, and portrait work.
I thought I might upgrade but in reality I’m not sure I really need it as much but I also think it’s still very good for the usages I originally bought it for. I’ve considered selling it but was very surprised by how little it appears to be worth now.
At B&H they are still asking $3498 for it new but for a used body KEH and MPW have dropped its price to purchase it to about $1800. That is almost a 50% drop in price. With that kind of reduction I’m wondering if it’s even worth selling. After all the camera still takes great images even though it’s been replaced by a better model. Here it appears to sell for $2100 - $2200 I think.
It's an obsolete camera not worthy of a real photographer. However, I have a good heart so I collect obsolete cameras! I am willing to take it off your hands for a bargain price. I just want to help you out with the burden of possessing an obsolete camera.
While it will be worth less the longer you wait, that's true of anything, but definitely a point worth considering.
Given what you already own, I can't think of what you'd really gain from the A7R6. Yes, it's AF is faster and stickier than the A7R5, but you have the A1's. IQ may be a teeny bit better for static images, but frankly, I'm not sure the 9% more total pixels, which translates to about a 5% linear image size gain is relevant for most of us. Apparently it also has 1 added stop of DR, but these cams already have a lot of DR, so I'd ignore that unless you're running into DR/exposure issues.
But then... According to other owners of both, the A7R6 AF is close to the A1ii's, but not quite. So perhaps one thought would be to sell the older A1 and A7RV, and get an A7R6 as a replacement of both at virtually zero net cost to you? Only real downside I can think of is the A7R6 takes a new and different battery, so that adds an additional bit to your kit and outing planning...
mudlake wrote:
My possibly unwanted opinion: sell all your cameras except the A1 II and the A7R5. I would go nuts if I had to choose between all those cameras!
The A1 II could be your one and only camera, but the A7R5 might compliment it with its slightly higher resolution for landscapes. Sell, sell! 🙂
Thank you all so far for the comments and the recommendations. As far as keepers the A1 II and the A7CII or A7CR are definitely keepers since there are times that the smaller cameras are really needed.
Right now the A1 is my backup to the A1 II when out birding but do you think the new A7R VI can replace it as the backup for birding? If so then I could sell both the A1 and A7RV and put the money toward the new A7R VI. Of course the new battery of that system for an existing Sony user is considered a little bit of a negative right now.
swldstn wrote:
Thank you all so far for the comments and the recommendations. As far as keepers the A1 II and the A7CII or A7CR are definitely keepers since there are times that the smaller cameras are really needed.
Right now the A1 is my backup to the A1 II when out birding but do you think the new A7R VI can replace it as the backup for birding? If so then I could sell both the A1 and A7RV and put the money toward the new A7R VI. Of course the new battery of that system for an existing Sony user is considered a little bit of a negative right now.
Keep the comments coming. Thank you again....Show more →
I think the A7RVI works fine, or more than fine as a backup to the A1II for birding. Since you already have the A1II, I would use the A1II as the main camera for birding.
swldstn wrote:
Thank you all so far for the comments and the recommendations. As far as keepers the A1 II and the A7CII or A7CR are definitely keepers since there are times that the smaller cameras are really needed.
Right now the A1 is my backup to the A1 II when out birding but do you think the new A7R VI can replace it as the backup for birding? If so then I could sell both the A1 and A7RV and put the money toward the new A7R VI. Of course the new battery of that system for an existing Sony user is considered a little bit of a negative right now.
Keep the comments coming. Thank you again....Show more →
Yes, the A7R6 is a credible backup to your A1ii, and precisely why I suggested earlier it could replace both the A1 and A7R5. Again, the only nit will be the different, albeit better, battery. And frankly, the A7R6 while a bit bigger only weighs a few ounces more than the A7C’s, PLUS the finder is so much better, you may in fact find yourself offing one or even both of them. After I used the A7R6 on one short trip as a test run, I knew I wasn’t going to be grabbing my A7Cii anymore for anything and sold it. The lone remaining advantage to the A7C’s, is they don’t look like serious cameras. But after I black out the Sony name and model logos with gaffer tape, the A7R6’s don’t look very pro either, they look like older no name cams. FWIW
Mod it. You could do a Kolari UT mod and pair it with some excellent CV M-mounts that aren't available on Sony, not to mention the ZMs and, if you haven't already fallen victim to red-dot fever, Leica, plus a few Chinese outfits that make interesting stuff.
You could get it IR modded for false color shooting. Kolari does that, too.
Or you could get it mono modded by Daniel at Monochrome Imaging. If you go that route, I highly recommend going full spectrum. IR mono is just another way to control contrast.
@swldstn My honest take is that you have way too many cameras and the justification that you're sharing feels made up.
Having owned all these bodies at some point, I see no need to own anything other than the A1 II if you can afford one. It's a crazy expensive excel-at-everything frankenstein with no weaknesses or blind spots that could be closed by adding another body.
No, the R-series doesn't really offer meaningful boost in resolution over the A. Sure, 67 is a bigger number than 50, but the difference is not seen in reasonable sized prints, and even in large prints, it is very small.
Ownership of the A7V "for general shooting" makes no sense either. TBH I don't understand what "general shooting" even means, but whatever it means, the A1 will do it just as well, letting you enjoy a much nicer EVF in the process.
Even the C-series is not meaningfully smaller once you mount a lens on it. I had this GAS-induced fantasy of a "travel camera" too, and I picked an even smaller one (Fuji X100VI), and in the end I admitted that I'm fooling myself because it goes into the same shoulder bag for the same situations as the A1.
Again, since you asked, my honest take is that you have a severe case of GAS and you're drowning in cameras you don't need. Sell everything except one.
So just own up to it: your real question is about GAS, not cameras. Ask something honest like, "Hey folks, how do I turn my GAS into pure enjoyment?" and you'll get far better advice on squeezing every last drop of dopamine out of your wallet. You can build a studio and have a ton of fun with strobes, reflectors, light filters and modifiers. There's a world of macro. There are drones. Even a seemingly boring tripod opens the door to new possibilities (have you seen Titarenko's city of shadows?). Collecting camera bodies, especially from the same brand, gets boring quick.
old-gregg wrote:
@swldstn@ My honest take is that you have way too many cameras and the justification that you're sharing feels made up.
Having owned all these bodies at some point, I see no need to own anything other than the A1 II if you can afford one. It's a crazy expensive excel-at-everything frankenstein with no weaknesses or blind spots that could be closed by adding another body.
No, the R-series doesn't really offer meaningful boost in resolution over the A. Sure, 67 is a bigger number than 50, but the difference is not seen in reasonable sized prints, and even in large prints, it is very small.
Ownership of the A7V "for general shooting" makes no sense either. TBH I don't understand what "general shooting" even means, but whatever it means, the A1 will do it just as well, letting you enjoy a much nicer EVF in the process.
Even the C-series is not meaningfully smaller once you mount a lens on it. I had this GAS-induced fantasy of a "travel camera" too, and I picked an even smaller one (Fuji X100VI), and in the end I admitted that I'm fooling myself because it goes into the same shoulder bag for the same situations as the A1.
Again, since you asked, my honest take is that you have a severe case of GAS and you're drowning in cameras you don't need. Sell everything except one.
So just own up to it: your real question is about GAS, not cameras. Ask something honest like, "Hey folks, how do I turn my GAS into pure enjoyment?" and you'll get far better advice on squeezing every last drop of dopamine out of your wallet. You can build a studio and have a ton of fun with strobes, reflectors, light filters and modifiers. There's a world of macro. There are drones. Even a seemingly boring tripod opens the door to new possibilities (have you seen Titarenko's city of shadows?). Collecting camera bodies, especially from the same brand, gets boring quick. ...Show more →
JUST to play devils advocate....and I would have to go back and re-read OPs post to see if it's relevant for his uses, but the A1 lineup doesn't have a full mechanical shutter, which can be useful at times.
I understand, I think, what you’re trying to say. I will say that I typically take two bodies with me when I’m out shooting birds and wildlife. Right now that is my A1 II and A1 that are both outfitted with battery grips and l-brackets that makes them heavier but tailored towards what they are being used for. The problem is I don’t like stripping them down to do more casual shooting.
So those cameras stay in my larger backpacks. Then there is the camera(s) I rotate in my light shoulder bag which is really now either the A7CII or A7V these days or if necessary both. I like the way they focus and the their 33 Mpixel sensors.The A7CR and A7RV are typically the two currently left sitting at home these days since due the huge files they generate that I rearly take advantage of.
old-gregg wrote:
@swldstn@ My honest take is that you have way too many cameras and the justification that you're sharing feels made up.
Having owned all these bodies at some point, I see no need to own anything other than the A1 II if you can afford one. It's a crazy expensive excel-at-everything frankenstein with no weaknesses or blind spots that could be closed by adding another body.
No, the R-series doesn't really offer meaningful boost in resolution over the A. Sure, 67 is a bigger number than 50, but the difference is not seen in reasonable sized prints, and even in large prints, it is very small.
Ownership of the A7V "for general shooting" makes no sense either. TBH I don't understand what "general shooting" even means, but whatever it means, the A1 will do it just as well, letting you enjoy a much nicer EVF in the process.
Even the C-series is not meaningfully smaller once you mount a lens on it. I had this GAS-induced fantasy of a "travel camera" too, and I picked an even smaller one (Fuji X100VI), and in the end I admitted that I'm fooling myself because it goes into the same shoulder bag for the same situations as the A1.
Again, since you asked, my honest take is that you have a severe case of GAS and you're drowning in cameras you don't need. Sell everything except one.
So just own up to it: your real question is about GAS, not cameras. Ask something honest like, "Hey folks, how do I turn my GAS into pure enjoyment?" and you'll get far better advice on squeezing every last drop of dopamine out of your wallet. You can build a studio and have a ton of fun with strobes, reflectors, light filters and modifiers. There's a world of macro. There are drones. Even a seemingly boring tripod opens the door to new possibilities (have you seen Titarenko's city of shadows?). Collecting camera bodies, especially from the same brand, gets boring quick. ...Show more →
FWIW I have the A1ii, A7RV and A7V but I always take two bodies out when I go. I normally put the 600GM or 300GM on the A1ii and a macro lens or shorter zoom on the other body. I can’t imagine having that many bodies for anything. Honestly I sorta regret buying the A7V because I am so used to having high mp bodies. I am considering selling it and the RV and buying the new A7RVI for a second body to use with the A1ii. I would at least get down to three if I were in your position.
