I just ordered a Sony a6500,
But Why? Answers other than my own are welcome!
When I bought my a6000 nearly two years ago, I was fairly sure that the a6500 was the better choice, but...
-- It's years since I took more than the occasional snap with the compact that lived in my bag. I simply did not know if I would redevelop photography enthusiasm. But I did know that I wanted to get better photos than my compact would take.
-- The price difference. Not insurmountable if I waited a few more months. But WIN (Want it now (then)). And if I
hadn't developed the enthusiasm:
more money sitting on the shelf.
-- The two-kit-lens a6000 deal seemed to be giving me the most for my money.
Only the last item was a complete mistake. I quickly found that I needed a faster prime lens or two, and the kit lenses are the least used.
Enthusiasm was not a problem. I don't take the camera everywhere, but always to weddings, functions, outings, and the several carnatic concerts a week that I attend. I have taken more photos than I have time to look at properly. Although I do have enough time to know that I take better concert portraits now than I did two years ago. And I am able to share them with some of the artists. Not to mention millions of cat pics, of course, although it is hard to know if the
cats actually like them, whereas I get positive remarks from the musicians
.
So, it turns out that the camera spends very little time on the shelf. And I really like the weight, size and feel of my a6000. So I have ordered a heavier, slightly larger a6500!
Why?
I had been thinking to post,
"Given the same photographer, does an a6500 take in-any-way-better pictures than an a6000?" Too late: it is on the way. I'm going to be finding out anyway. None the less, any thoughts and/or reasons-why/not are welcome. It is the same sensor, but the electronics are different. It's faster... but I photograph music rather than dance, so how burst, etc, behaves is not very important to me.
IBIS is the main thing. The number one reason. I want all the help I can get. And
some help with non-Sony-OSS lenses is going to be better than nothing.
Custom Buttons one extra,
plus the MF-AF/AEL switched button. I
am going to use all those things.
Level It's going to be nice to be able to see a level in the viewfinder. I've improved, but I'm not good enough. (Yes, it is a lot cheaper to correct in Gimp)
Body with extra sturdiness, weather and dust resistance. Although I don't think that any of my lenses are ???. But lenses are things that can and will happen in the future.
Auto-Focus* seems to be seriously updated. Difference in practice I have yet to find out.
Better menu layout: Well, it couldn't be worse! Seriously, a positive, if a smaller one.
Touch Screen I used to think would be wonderful. The internet seems to think otherwise, especially for those of us who prefer eye-to-EVF-nose-to-screen over using the LCD for taking pics. So the other (apart from IBIS) major change is not a priority for me, and I am well-prepared for it to be a disappointment.
I'm doing my homework --- enthusiastically! I've leafed through the Sony manual online, and I'm reading the Friedman guide. There are dozens of small differences (A lot are movie-related: I don't really do video) and I'm interested to know anything that others suggest I should put at the top of the list to check out. Especially if they have done a similar upgrade. Or if you all think I am a fool with too much money and too much GAS (Actually, it cleared out my non-family savings
)
And, If I have anything useful to say, I'll add my experience when it happens.
It is probably important to add that, whilst I sometimes go on holiday and take snaps of the world, and even take the occasional macro of a bug or flower (much more practice needed), most of my photography takes place in concert halls and weddings. Relatively low light and subjects that don't sit still.
By the way. Did I consider...
-- The a6400. No: no IBIS.
-- The a???? probably on the way. Yes: I expect it will be everything I've ever dreamed of, and have a price to match.
*I predict that the new Sony APS-C camera battery will only last five minutes unless the
focus on what you are thinking about feature is disabled. How else are they going to be able to
continually claim
World's fastest auto-focus? lol.