Switching to Sony
Sony has sought to grow their full frame market share largely by getting high end shooters and enthusiasts to switch from Nikon or Canon, or to generally upgrade from APS-C. With the release of the A7iii, a powerful full frame camera for under $2,000, I suspected that many people who had been on the fence might make the switch.
I decided to seek feedback from some photographers who made the switch with the current generation of Sony full frame cameras.
This isn’t a scientific survey by any means. Nor is it meant as an advertisement for Sony to encourage people to switch. The goal was just to get some real people feedback. So others might understand the reasons for and against switching or upgrading.
A professional shooter moving from Canon to Sony
Rob is a professional wedding and portrait photographer in upstate New York. Rob owned the very best of Canon cameras, shoting with the Canon 5d Mark IV, 5Ds and 1Dx. He made the switch to the Sony A7riii. His truly incredible work can be found here.
What left you unsatisfied with the Canon system?
I don’t know that I was “unsatisfied,” I think I was just bored. I shot with a Canon 5D Mark IV, 5Ds, and the 1Dx. They are great cameras, however, I was seeing Youtube videos of people using the latest and greatest technology from Sony, and this made me think…what am I missing? I had been brand loyal to Canon for almost 15 years. I even survived the dreaded 1D Mark III. My first Canon was the 10D! I spent A LOT of time on Youtube this winter watching how other photographers were using their Sony gear, and this made me very curious.
What was the deciding factor that put you over the edge to switch?
There were 2 things.
- I LOVE the Sony focus system. With Canon, I had to constantly worry about where my focus point was…I was constantly using the joystick to fling the focus point from one side of the screen to the other, and then when I flipped the camera to a vertical position, I had to worry about where that focus point was. The Sony system gives me SO much more flexibility in how I focus the camera. I can focus on a specific spot if I want, or I can focus on the nearest face, or I can focus on the nearest eyeball! This makes shooting people SO much more accurate…I can think about other things than my focus point. PLUS, the Sony system has SO MANY focus points! With the Canon system, I was limited to the somewhat restrictive focus points. Here is one of my favorite graphics to illustrate…
Which focus screen would you rather use? 🙂 With Sony, there is no “shoot then recompose,” instead, you just focus where you need the camera to focus. I’ve seen people who don’t understand the Sony focus system say, “Why do you need that many focus points?” Well, the Sony system can lock on to a subject, and track it all over the frame. It’s not about choosing the focus point that is 15 rows down, 10 across, etc.
There are focus modes for every situation one would need. I photographed an ice skating show in Cleveland last weekend. I had LOTS of time during their rehearsal to test out the different focus modes of the A7R3. I always stayed away from the “auto” modes, thinking that “I’m a pro…I don’t need auto anything.” Lol. I tried “Wide” focus mode and let the camera choose where the focus should be. (How many pro photographers let their camera choose their focus point!?!?!?) It was AMAZING. It locked on to the skaters like white on rice. And tracked them flawlessly as they whizzed from side to side on the rink.
2. I LOVE how Sony listens to their users! Many photographers had complaints about the A7RII (low battery life, one card slot, no joystick, etc.). EVERYTHING that people complained about was fixed in the Mark III. They truly listen to their customer base. I can’t say the same for Canon. I felt like with Canon, their newer models had a few new bells an whistles, but the 5DIII to the 5DIV wasn’t that big of a jump. And Canon is VERY slow to update their cameras. However, they seem to have time to work on silly projects, like developing a $70,000 50-1000mm lens. Why?!?
After having actually used the Sony system, what’s the biggest gain compared to your Canon?
I use the A7RIII. Biggest gain is the focus system. Almost every shot is tack sharp!
Have you found any advantages that surprised you, that you weren’t expecting?
I was surprised with how fast the camera is. 10 FPS is much faster than the 5D line. I was also surprised at how customizable the Sony cameras are. I can customize any button to do anything I want. Canon doesn’t allow this.
What do you miss? What disadvantages have you found in the Sony A7riii compared to your Canon cameras?
There are a few build quality issues that I’ve found. The memory card door feels flimsy. The battery door feels cheap. Also, the hot shoe is an accident waiting to happen. The Canon cameras were built like tanks.
What is the likelihood that you could switch back to Canon?
Never, in a million years, would I switch back. Sony has given a new excitement to my photography.
What changes would you like to see Sony make moving forward?
I would like the ability to control the file size. (M Raw, S Raw, etc.). I’d also love a little beefier of a body. It’s almost too small for my hands.
Are you adapting Canon lenses? What are your favorite Sony lenses?
I would consider myself a pixel peeper. So, I decided to only use Sony GM glass. Plus, I’m not a fan of using adapters. The focus accuracy seemed hit or miss in the videos I’ve seen.
My favorite is the 85 1.4 GM (Purchase by Amazon here). Bokeh for days. 🙂
What advice would you give those considering switching from Canon to Sony?
- Get on Youtube and watch as many videos as you can so you know what you’re getting into. The Sony system isn’t for everyone. If you aren’t “tech-savvy,” this camera isn’t for you. You really need to unlearn what you may know about your current system and relearn it the Sony way.
- After you’ve watched the Youtube videos, watch them again.
- Make sure you give yourself a few months of practice before you use the camera professionally. Every single time I see someone complain about the Sony camera having “hiccups” or not focusing properly, it is almost always user error. (Or caused by using adapted lenses) The camera is just a tool…just an extension of the artist’s brain…so you have to know the proper settings without thinking about it.
Who should or shouldn’t switch?
People who should make the switch are those who are bored with their current gear, open to new ideas and new ways of thinking, and tech-savvy.
Nikon Enthusiast Jumps to the Sony A7iii
Richard from California was a Nikon D750 shooter (just like your editor). He considers himself an advanced family and vacation photographer.
What left you unsatisfied with your Nikon D750 and Nikon system?
Size and weight. Technological innovations. I can see technology moving into the mirrorless world. However, Nikon and Canon were standing still. Nikon even used Sony sensors for key models.
Sony A7riii vs Nikon D750 gripWhat was the draw of the Sony system over the Nikon?
Sony kept making improvements. They eye detect (let alone face detect) autofocus really caught my eye, but Sony’s basic autofocus system and how the focus points were spread out and the number of them were what really swung me. Nikon sort of kept up, but only on the flagship models. I came from the D200, D7000, and D750. I’m a bang for my buck guy, because I’m not a pro and the $1,000 difference between the midrange model and the flagship model makes a huge difference to me. When the Sony A7iii came out with 95% of the features that their flagship models had, I was sold.
(Editor’s note: Upon introduction of the Sony A7iii, I felt it filled the spot in the market that was previously occupied by the D750 — A great general purpose full frame shooter that gives maximum bang for the buck. Dpreview obviously agrees as they make the comparison explicitly here.)
What were the deciding factors that made you switch now to the Sony A7iii?
The price, autofocus system, and added features (extra custom buttons, my Favorites menu, joystick, and touch panel altogether). The added features showed Sony listens, improves, and offered incredible value. Clean (to my eye) shots at ISO 6000 was important, and the A7iii finally hit that with the feature set I wanted (was never interested in the A7S series as the megapixels were too low since I often have to crop a lot). In short, the added features combined with the clean (to me) ISO 6000 at the $2,000 price point tipped me over.
After using the Sony A7iii for a while, what have been the biggest gains compared to your Nikon system?
The custom buttons. While a little confusing at first and a bit hard to set up, the fact that there are so many allows me to have the most used functions at my fingertips. Makes adjusting on the fly much easier. I liked how Nikon had dedicated buttons for most of my most used features, but I didn’t like where they were placed (such as in a vertical row along the screen). It required pulling my eye from the viewfinder and looking carefully to make sure I hit the right button. Sony spaced out the custom buttons and placed them in places I can find just by feel or muscle memory.
Did you find any advantages in the Sony A7iii that you weren’t expecting?
The EVF is very cool. One of those, “I didn’t know what I was missing until I used it” deals. I was placing a lot more faith in RAW and Lightroom than I really should have with a traditional DSLR.
What negatives have you found, compared to your Nikon D750 system?
Battery life isn’t quite as good, although the new battery is big enough for 90% of my needs as I don’t shoot video with it (yet).
Did you find any disadvantages that you weren’t expecting?
The unexpected was the “feel” of the camera. Ergonomics. I don’t mind the smaller size. My pinky actually can squeeze onto the grip. But the buttons and overall feel when holding the camera isn’t smooth. It’s somewhat awkward. Fuji, a direct mirrorless competitor, just feels more natural when holding and shooting. Nikon is far, far better. Even though I didn’t like where some of the buttons were placed, they felt a lot better when pushing them, using them, etc. Canon is the class leader by far in this area. It just feels the most natural to hold and use their cameras. It’s not a dealbreaker by any means, but it highlights what I mean when I say Sony’s were designed by engineers who have never used a camera in their lives. It’s like they took a bunch of written tech specs and requirements, and engineered a camera to hit all the required elements. All technical and robotic. No feel, or art, or human interface designer was ever used.
What do you miss about your Nikon D750?
The feel. Everything on my old system felt more balanced, natural, etc.
What are the chances you switch back to Nikon?
None. The technical features I gained trump “feel”. That and the size. Everything fits my bag better. Just as the “feel” of the camera is a small thing that matters a whole lot more than it should, the smaller size differences make a lot more difference than a pound really should. Everything is just a little less tight, a little less heavy. When walking around, I notice it. It’s kind of like using a little sternum strap or waist strap on a backpack. It’s a tiny difference that feels more of a difference than it would seem. I’m not the biggest guy, so I think it affects me a lot more than a guy a few inches taller.
What should Sony improve in the next generation?
More fine tuning. Better ergonomics. Look at the praise Fuji and Canon get. Copy them. You can’t get a patent on most of that stuff (although Apple tries). Make the button presses a little softer. The shape of the buttons less sharp and more ergonomic. Fine tune the size, shape, and color of the info you see in the screens. While keeping up the improvements in autofocus, IQ, and dynamic range.
What advice would you have for those considering switching?
The only [Nikon shooters] who should stand pat are current D500, D850, or D5 owners. It wouldn’t make sense to get a Sony A7iii (or any other Sony model) as a replacement or even as a second body (easier to share lenses from the same family; I’m not a big fan of adapters). Anyone else should seriously consider the A7iii unless you MUST have a crop (for the extra zoom range inherent in crop) or a rugged, weather sealed body. Sony’s weather sealing is atrocious, and their “partial” weather sealing on the A7iii doesn’t even deserve to be called that. I don’t think they’re pro level bodies, but any enthusiast likely will take enough care to shelter their camera enough (or just avoid shooting in bad weather) that the horrible weather sealing won’t be an issue. Between the autofocus system and abilities of this 24 megapixel sensor, any other Nikon user willing to go full frame has a very compelling reason to just switch to Sony.
As a side note, I’ve always shot Nikon. However, it turns out that most people I know shoot Canon so I’m somewhat familiar with Canon having used their gear to help take photos for them, etc. And, I pay attention when Canon releases stuff, etc. I’m not impressed with Canon’s new releases. I think EVERY Canon user should switch to Sony, unless you’re a pro totally embedded into their system. For your “average” pro who has regular people clients (like wedding photographers, portrait shooters, model shooters, non-pro sports shooters, non-A list concert shooters, etc.), I still think those people should switch to Sony. Between the A7iii, A7Riii, and A9, those 3 cameras are compelling replacements for anything Canon has short of a 1DX and Canon’s lenses.
Dave Pierce is a friend of this blog and posted about his planned transition to full frame here. He is a travel and family photography enthusiast. He shot Sony A-mount before moving to Sony E-mount, but has always shot APS-C. He upgraded to full frame for the Sony A7iii. (View his work here)
What left you unsatisfied with APS-C?
To be honest, nothing with the cameras. With the exception of very low light situations, I was and am satisfied with the quality of the images I get on my A6x00 cameras. Though the images were coming out well, I was ready to invest in better lenses to reduce some of the effort needed to squeeze nice images out of “ok” glass. The scarcity of quality APS-C only lenses left FE lenses as the only native E-mount option and though they would all work perfectly well, the crop factor would put some limits on the wide end of available lenses (where I do a lot of my shooting).
What do you shoot?
Anything and everything. Travel, family events, a few weddings, sports, wildlife, flowers, macro, astrophotography, product, abstract. Primarily I shoot travel these days since that is what both my wife and I love to do. Grandkids get a lot of attention these days.
What was the deciding factor that made you upgrade now?
Low light capability. I am primarily an ambient light shooter and the availability of clean imaging at ludicrously high ISO levels was the final straw. There were actually other deciding factors (plural) which included the aforementioned lens availability and of course, the pricing. The sensor performance was the tipping point, though.
What advantages have you found in the Sony A7iii compared to your Sony A6300?
High ISO performance and to a lesser extent, autofocus. Image quality is better but really only at higher ISO. Autofocus is also fairly equal under normal conditions. This isn’t a knock on the A7 III but a compliment to the A6300. Both cameras have 24MP sensors and at normal photo-friendly light levels with equivalent lenses, the difference is nearly impossible to differentiate. The A7III has better dynamic range but the A6300 is no slouch and again, in normal situations it’s pretty much a tie. As soon as you pass ISO 1600, the A7 III with it’s much larger sensor starts to pull away and from there on up the gap widens quickly to where you can easily see the primary reason I went to full-frame. The A6300 has excellent autofocus, including Eye-AF, but the generational improvements in processing along with nearly full image coverage put the A7 III in a class I’ve never experienced when finding focus gets tough. The FE lens availability is another big gain, but hard to pin down as a distinct gain since the FE lenses work fine on the A6300.
Were there any advantages that surprised you once you started using the Sony A7iii?
There wasn’t a lot of detail available covering the level of control customization or some of the cool features in the menu, so that was a pleasant surprise.
Any unexpected disadvantages?
Depth of field was an unexpected challenge. Bigger sensor means shallower depth of field for a given focal length. The advantage is that getting an isolated subject with a defocused background is considerably easier. The disadvantage is getting everything you want in focus to actually be in focus is considerably more difficult.
Disadvantage: Size. Honestly not much of a disadvantage. With the walkabout f/4 zooms attached, the difference is pretty minimal. I was actually surprised at how small the A7 III body was, having not handled one from the series for a while.
Sony A6300 compared to the Sony A7riiiAny chance you will go back to strictly APS-C?
I made the switch for specific features and performance perks and I just don’t see APS-C development bypassing full-frame in those areas. The diminishing price premium for full-frame leads me to believe that full-frame is going to be getting the most attention from the Sony developers. Since you said “exclusively”, I’ll add that I have no intention of getting rid of my APS-C equipment. They are just too darn handy to travel with when you have to go light. A solid performer like the A6x00 series and whatever the next flagship will be makes for a great 1.5x telephoto booster or second body with a complimentary lens mounted on it while walking about on a tour. I will likely upgrade one of my APS-C bodies if the next big APS-C thing rings the right bells and blows the right whistles.
Where should Sony improve the next generation?
Since Sony is doing ok by me for now, I’ll nitpick:
The menu is very much improved and actually has fairly logical groupings. Still needs work.
The touch screen has very limited value to me since I do nearly zero video and it already can move the stills focus point. Tap-tap to shoot would be a good addition. Filling out the touch options with all the features for video and such would make it a more rounded unit.
Bring back apps or include the actually useful ones as “modes”. And while we’re on that subject…
What is so freaking hard about an in-system intervalometer? (I’d settle for native tethered smartphone support of an intervalometer function in PlayMemories if I had to)
Should APS-C shooters consider now a good time to upgrade?
All of the following presupposes that you enjoy photography and actually need and want to move to full-frame. I do and didn’t want to move up for a very long time. There is no shame in shooting with an APS-C camera and nobody ever told me they hated a picture of mine because it was shot with a non-”professional” camera. If you are using a Sony A6x00 camera, you already have a camera that is the equal to pretty much any APS-C camera out there and maybe the addition of a really good lens or two would do the trick.
[Some questions a shooter may ask themself…….]
Do you have a vast disposable income?
Do you shoot daily? Weekly? Monthly? Only when you travel?
Do you shoot with a Sony A6x00 camera, love the size, performance, 24MP image quality and typically travel light? – Trick question. APS-C is for you…for now. That’s where I was for several years and why, when I finally went to full-frame, chose the slightly larger A7 III because of my appreciation of the tiny APS-C Alphas.
Have you reached the point where you know how to use your equipment and understand the science behind photography well enough to make informed decisions about exposure and techniques that will improve your images?
Are you happy with your images but have a nagging feeling that they could be better? DO you see flaws that other don’t? (Google the Dunning–Kruger effect).
If you answered yes to the last one honestly, then maybe a more capable camera really can help you make better images.
Editor’s Notes and Comments
I was really surprised at the excitement with which people answered my questions. Though contrary to all that enthusiasm, I would recommend against switching for most people. But some critical notes:
- Neither “switcher,” whether from Nikon or Canon, mentioned improving image quality and for good reason. Some of us (including myself at times) may pore over DXO scores, championing a tiny point advantage in dynamic range or noise performance. But in reality, when comparing modern full frame cameras, you aren’t going to see massive game changing differences in image quality. Every year, there will be a new sensor that ekes out slightly better image quality. These minor differences aren’t really a basis for anyone to change brands.
- Not mentioned by anyone, switching is EXPENSIVE. You will take a loss selling your old gear. Sony doesn’t have a huge library of affordable lenses likely forcing you to pay a premium.
- All 3 respondents mentioned autofocus as a reason to switch! Gone are the days when dSLR was considered to have superior autofocus, though it still may be superior in some situations. For many uses, we are now at the point where the Sony autofocus is superior to any traditional dSLR. Between eye-AF and focus points over the entire frame, these are big pluses for the Sony system.
- Everyone mentioned the customization as a big plus. The Sony menu system is infamous, it is horrible. But there is a fantastic degree of customization, allowing the camera to be made much more powerful. (My A7iii/A7riii customization recommendations are here).
- Size is a common theme. One should not switch to a Sony full frame camera thinking they are suddenly going to be pocketing their camera, thinking they are going from a brick to a feather. But the Sony cameras are a bit lighter than dSLRs. Some lenses, especially wide angle, are a bit lighter. This can add up, and make a noticeable difference in your camera bag. If you shoot a lot of 1.4 lenses and telephoto lenses, you probably won’t appreciate a major difference in size and weight. For those shooting aps-c, the Sony A7iii is a full frame camera that is pretty comparable in size to aps-c dSLRs. So it’s a chance to upgrade without increasing size.
My Upgrade/Switching Advice
Don’t switch in an effort to chase better image quality. But you should consider switching if you just feel like you could use the spark of something new and different. Consider switching if you think features like the EVF, live view, and autofocus system will help your work flow. If you’re an aps-c user of any brand, and you feel you are being limited by the aps-c sensor, the Sony A7iii is probably the best full frame upgrade you can find for the price. So here are the things you should consider:
- Price out the switch/upgrade. Realistically consider what lenses do you need within your first year of shooting. If you can afford an A7iii but won’t be able to afford any lenses for years, it would be silly to even consider it.
- Get your hands on an A7iii/A7riii body and see if you like the feel. It is very subjective, it’s not something you can just read about. You may love the smaller size and form factor. You may find it totally uncomfortable in the hand. I passed on the original A7 because I hated how it felt in my hand.
- Ask yourself why you are considering switching. Nikon and Canon will likely do full frame mirrorless this year. The cameras are unlikely to be as advanced as Sony at first. So if Sony is offering a long list of features that excite you, such as silent shooting, fast frame rate, eye-AF, IBIS, then maybe consider switching. But if it’s just a matter of curiosity about mirrorless, maybe you should wait and see what Canon and Nikon end up doing.
- If you’re an aps-c shooter, you will eventually consider full frame. Full frame will continue to get cheaper and smart phones will continue to improve. So you will likely hit a point where your skills have progressed to a point, where upgrading to full frame is the next step to improving your photography. And we are approaching a point where smart phones are nearly as good as aps-c, giving further reason to step up to full frame for serious shooting. Depending on your budget and skill level, you might already be at that point where it makes sense for you to upgrade.
- If you do switch from another brand, don’t get frustrated. The Sony mirrorless cameras are a bit different. You may have to take time to customize. You will have to take time to understand the autofocus system, which is simply different.
If you are planning on purchasing the Sony A7iii, please use our Amazon link. It won’t cost you any more, but you will help support this site. My goal is only to continue to publish it without taking a loss.
If you have any questions or comments about switching to the Sony system, please leave a comment below!
