This guide is for someone who is new and interested and starting in photography. I will be reviewing basic camera terminology, a little history lesson on digital camera development and how we have arrived at the current offerings we have today, and a guide as to camera selection for the current Sony lineup of cameras.
Since digital cameras still trace their design evolution to their film counter parts the terminology surrounding them is still consistent with the film camera even on an all-digital platform. In this guide you will find these terms used 35 mm, ISO, SLR (single lens reflex), and fps (frames per second). Unique to digital cameras we will cover these digital terms Full Frame, APS-C, Cropped Sensor, DSLR (digital single lens reflex), Mirrorless, resolution. For this discussion I will be focusing on the replaceable lens style camera systems.
When film cameras made the transition to digital, we had the advent of the DSLR camera. SLR describes how a mirror reflects light in the camera from the lens into the viewfinder, the mirror must move out the way for the film to be exposed when the shutter button is pushed. The digital sensor replaces the film in the DSLR, and the mirror must also move out the way for the sensor to be exposed to capture an image.
Mirrorless digital camera systems are an evolution of the DSLR camera. They have removed the mirror system. The sensor is exposed and digitally relays what the camera sees to a digital viewfinder. Without a mirror system the camera is built more compact and saves on weight. Lenses designed natively for mirrorless camera systems can be lighter weight than their equivalent DSLR models too.
The popular shooting size using 35 mm film carried over to digital. The digital sensor on the cameras discussed here will either be using a 35 mm sensor also known as Full Frame, or a cropped sensor of the 35 mm which is called APS-C. Note that the Full Frame sensors can be shot in APS-C mode, but the sensor resolution is reduced. This is a way to crop into an image/scene or digitally zoom in while shooting in the field. All cameras presented here in the Sony lineup use the Sony E Mount lens standard. If you purchase an E-Mount lens it will work on any of these cameras. There are APS-C lenses and Full Frame lenses. These lenses will work differently depending on the camera body as follows.
- APS-C Camera + APS-C Lens = Lens Works as Normal
- APS-C Camera + Full Frame Lens = x1.5 Lens Crop Factor Applied (ex. 50 mm lens becomes 75 mm lens)
- Full Frame Camera + APS-C Lens = Switches to APS-C Mode, Loose Resolution vs Full Frame
- Full Frame Camera + Full Frame Lens = Lens Works as Normal
Pro Tip: If you plan to stay on an APS-C camera you can save money by purchasing APS-C lenses as these are cheaper. However, if you are going to start off on APS-C and upgrade in the future, purchasing Full Frame lenses from the start means you only must purchase lenses once for both systems to take full advantage of the Full Frame camera later.
In addition to selecting the sensor format on the higher end platforms you are balancing three parameters, resolution, ISO, and speed. Therefore, I do not recommend investing in these platforms until you have a clear understanding of what you want to shoot and implications of selecting one camera body over the other. This does not mean I recommend everyone must start on APS-C first, you just must clearly know what you want to photograph before jumping into Full Frame. I never shot APS-C myself and moved directly to Full Frame since I knew I was going to be doing landscape photography.
For resolution, think of a blank sheet of paper as representing the 35 mm sensor. Now divide that sheet into 10 squares versus a sheet divided into 100 squares. The more squares on the sheet the clearer the image will be resolved or displayed. That is resolution, making increasingly discrete boxes on the sensor to resolve the image. Resolution is described by the megapixel (MP) count of the camera.
ISO deals with how sensitive the sensor is to collecting information in lighting conditions. The darker the environment the higher the ISO needs to be. Film was given different ISO ratings. Going back to the sheet of paper and box illustration, the larger the box the more surface area and light the sensor can collect in that box while the camera shutter is open. Therefore, the ISO performance of the camera will be better. The smaller those boxes the less light collected and the lower the ISO performance. Therefore, resolution and ISO are in opposition to each other. You cannot get both, it is a tradeoff. Cameras will have a standard ISO range defined where they normally operate. There are extended ranges of operations in certain conditions available as well.
The final parameter is speed or number of frames per second. For digital cameras this has more to do with data buffering, recording, and not overheating of the camera. A lower resolution camera will help with data buffering and recording since image sizes are smaller. The amount of data buffering can be mitigated on high resolution cameras by lowering the total number of frames that can be taken at that speed. I have listed in my chart Sony’s max speeds, but these can vary even by 50% or more depending on shooting conditions, memory cards used, type of image formats saved. I am just providing a basic highlight summary, review detailed specs before purchasing.
Use the diagram below to select and review camera options for your needs. If that camera does not meet your needs move over or down per the diagram to select the next one. Once you find a fit you can cross compare that model against others in other manufacturer camera lines. Note that you will be investing not only in the camera body but the lens system and accessories as well. Some manufacturers keep their lens mounts proprietary and that limits lens options, other open it up so you can purchase lenses from other manufactures.
Consumer Alert: If purchasing the Sony A7RIII or Sony A7RIV be careful of which version you are purchasing. Sony upgraded these versions mid production. The newest versions of these cameras will carry an “A” designation in the model number, Sony A7RIIIa and Sony A7RIVa. However, you might only be able to see this on product packaging. Retailers might not list this properly online. If pricing looks off or the designation is not noted ask before purchasing to clarify which one you are buying.
I do not cover the multitude of compacts that fill the gap between your phone and Mirrorless systems because honestly, I do not think they bring much value compared to where phone camera technology is today. The best camera for you is the one you use, be it your phone or a Mirrorless camera system. If you want something that is convenient, easy to use, portable, integrates well with social media then your phone is likely your best option. Remember it is not the equipment that will make you a better photographer, it is you working on your photography stills that will make you a better photographer.
Pro Tip: Rent before you buy. Cameras and lenses are a major investment. Try them out to see if you like them before purchasing by renting. I have used www.lensrentals.com but there are other companies available as well. If traveling you can also have equipment shipped to a FedEx store near your vacation destination, so you do not have to fly with the equipment. Pick it up at your destination and ship it back before you leave.
What do I shoot with? My first digital camera was a compact, the Pentax Optio 550. It was a 5x optical zoom and 5MP camera which I purchased back in 2003. At the time DSLRs were only 6 MP. That resolution difference is not significantly different at three times the price. To put in perspective DSLR had just entered the consumer market in 2000.
Fast forward to 2016, I used my Sony Xperia Z3 Compact phone with me on vacation out to the Black Hills of South Dakota. That camera was 20.7MP a considerable difference from my Pentax. I shot most of that vacation trip on my phone over my camera. Until that trip I had not really paid attention to how phone camera performance had developed. It made me consider if phones were that good, what was the state of current camera technology. At that time Canon and Nikon were still firmly entrenched in DSLR and Sony was at the forefront of the new Mirrorless revolution. There was and still is some debate between the two technologies in certain circles but even Canon and Nikon have made the move now.
In 2017 I started shooting on the Sony A7RII. Since I shoot landscapes, the high-resolution sensor fits best with my shooting style. Even with the lower ISO performance it still works for astrophotography. I purchased my camera before the Mark III came on the market, so prices were lower on the Mark II. The Mark II has features that were removed on the Mark III so the new features while nice were never a huge incentive for me to upgrade since they favored other shooting styles. The case to upgrade to the Mark IV is stronger but I do not plan to while my current camera is still working. Despite its age it still supports even the newest lens releases, so unlike other technology you do not have to keep replacing the body every few years if you do not want to.
Cost Saving Tip: If you are interested in a particular model, but you want to save money you could consider purchasing an older generation. You will give up certain features but depending on your shooting style and interests this might be an acceptable trade.