Life after the Sony A99...

Hi there,

Since 2013 I've been the proud owner of a Sony A99. Wonderful camera, and had lots of fun with it in combination with a Sigma 12-24, Sigma 50 and Sigma 70-200 set of lenses.

However, on new years eve, minutes into 2022, as I was photographing fireworks, I get a camera error and it seems like the shutter died on me. Great way to start the year!

I'll probably get it repaired, but it did make me think whether it'd be time for a new camera.

As most of my photography is done while travelling (incl long hikes in the mountains), the idea of moving to something lighter appeals to me & hence am happy to consider E mount cameras (with A to E mount adapter for now, but ultimately moving to E mount lenses step-by-step).

The big question is: with so many variations and generations of E-mount sony bodies, which are the ones I should consider? My main subject is landscape photography. Except for low-light performance, the A99 did the job (24MP was sufficient too). I don't do video. I probably want to consider a used model, to save on cost.

Advice much appreciated!
Boyan

Edited by boyanphotography - 04 January 2022 at 15:23

Fixing what you use now is always best!

But......
If light&small(ish) is your goal. Please, take a good look at the A6--- series camera. Not a fullframe sensor, but the 24 MP plus the 10-18mm & 70-350 & the FE1.8/35 would settle just fine a very packable set which is close in reach to what you are using now. At more then half the weight?

Surely this cam + lenses all can be bought a second prices as they have been out for some years now. Not cheap, but will get you going for the next years to come.

My 2 cents

BTW - just seen an article on DP Review which says Sony have stated that they have stopped taking orders for the A7c and A6600 and that the a7II and a6100 have reached their 'end of life' due to the ongoing chip shortage DPReview.

Best regards, Neil.

Hello

This firm is doing repair for a reasonable price they converted my A7M2 for IR, well done
https://www.customkamera.de/
May be they do the needed repairers for you A99

If you have an A99 and if you are used to the fully articulated screen, the A7m4 with the la-ea 5 adapter
would be a good combination, but camera and adapter will not be less in weight.

The combination A7M3 and an la-ea4 adapter did not made me happy, made me buy new lenses.

If you want to save weight you may need to consider APSC, but after I got use to full frame I am in the process to sell my a6500.


Regards

boyanphotography wrote: Hi there, Since 2013 I've been the proud owner of a Sony A99. Wonderful camera, and had lots of fun with it in combination with a Sigma 12-24, Sigma 50 and Sigma 70-200 set of lenses. However, on new years eve, minutes into 2022, as I was photographing fireworks, I get a camera error and it seems like the shutter died on me. Great way to start the year! I'll probably get it repaired, but it did make me think whether it'd be time for a new camera. As most of my photography is done while travelling (incl long hikes in the mountains), the idea of moving to something lighter appeals to me & hence am happy to consider E mount cameras (with A to E mount adapter for now, but ultimately moving to E mount lenses step-by-step). The big question is: with so many variations and generations of E-mount sony bodies, which are the ones I should consider? My main subject is landscape photography. Except for low-light performance, the A99 did the job (24MP was sufficient too). I don't do video. I probably want to consider a used model, to save on cost. Advice much appreciated! Boyan

The A7RII is arguably the best deal for landscape use. It will even autofocus A-mount lenses with motors fairly well. It does have the worst battery life, but it also comes with two batteries and a charger. The A99II uses the same sensor as the A7RII and A7RIII.

The A7RIV is a bit more capable especially with screw-driven A-mount lenses using the new LA-EA5 adapter.

I liked the A7II. It has a very similar sensor as the A99. The A7III and A7C have a much improved 24 MP sensor. The A7C got the new real-time tracking which can be useful. The A7IV looks to have the best AF of the normal Sony's--better in some ways than the A9. I am thinking of switching to the A7IV from the A7RIV.

The Sony LA-EA4 adapter acts pretty much the same on any E-mount body, though the recent ones like the A7IV don't support any AF with it. The LA-EA4 uses the phase detect sensor from the A55/A580 cameras and limits AF-C in bursts to the "LO" frame rate. It can focus better than the on-sensor phase-detect. It has cross-point sensors for instance, so it can detect vertical contrast while the sensor phase-detect won't detect it at all unless you rotate the camera.

Edited by QuietOC - 04 January 2022 at 19:52

Hello

The la-ea 4 adapter is clunky, that is really disturbing on a small body, additionally you lose 30% of light by the semitransparent mirror.
The Adapter use only the focus points in the middle of the view finder.
The combination of the la-ea5 adapter and the A7 M4 deliver focus points most over the view finder.
Coming from the Sony A99 and using the la-ea 4 with the A7M4 adapter this is a downgrade.

I am not sure if your lenses have ultrasonic drive, if so you could also use the la-ea 3 adapter and the Sony A7M3
The AF performance dependent on the adapter, lens combination.

After I had tested the first nativ E Mont lens I did want more for better performance, avoiding the chunky adapter and more AF points.
By the way
The nice thing about mirrorless, it is easy to adapt almost any old lens, that is grate fun I use legacy Glas quite regularly.

Regards

Edited by nurWolfgang - 04 January 2022 at 22:42

You're correct, Phil.
The light loss of the SLT's is overhyped. The problem of the LA-EA4 is the AF system, not the mirror.