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Repair a7R III and/or a new camera?

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dbrusco View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Quote dbrusco Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Topic: Repair a7R III and/or a new camera?
    Posted: 10 June 2024 at 21:35
I'd posted the problem with the camera previously (dropped it and the media slot door is not aligned so doesn't close). I haven't sent it in to be evaluated yet (mostly because I've been using it), but I also see what the issue is after looking more closely. That time I had dropped it was on a hard floor, and it looks like it had hit on one of the corners where the door is, apparently enough so there's a slight change in the alignment.
Before I discovered that, the estimate without seeing it was "Possibly the card door, rear case and front base ring have to be replaced." at $585. So at least that, if the slight "dent" in the case can be fixed with a replacement of the entire media slot holder part.

Is it worth trying to fix that?
I take mostly macros of arthropods (insects, spiders etc.) and with the addition of the Raynox 250, or using the Laowa (rarely, especially in field) tiny things in the order of 1- to a few mm. Sometimes it isn't quite enough. Plus the Flashpoint/Godox MF12 (I almost always need to use flash).

The next iterations of the a7R don't seem like they're for me at this point. The IV has fewer megapixels, and the V has more but I hesitate to spend that much given my proclivity to tripping and landing on my camera/lens/flashes (I usually wait until a camera has been out for a while and can be gotten for a lower price, anyway).

I'd appreciate some opinions/suggestions/other Sony I haven't considered, especially from people who have used the newer iterations. I'll rent something if I end up sending the a7R III in.
 



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Hezu View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Quote Hezu Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 10 June 2024 at 22:16
Originally posted by dbrusco dbrusco wrote:

The next iterations of the a7R don't seem like they're for me at this point. The IV has fewer megapixels, and the V has more but I hesitate to spend that much given my proclivity to tripping and landing on my camera/lens/flashes (I usually wait until a camera has been out for a while and can be gotten for a lower price, anyway).
Both α7R IV and V have the same amount of megapixels, 60 - so more than α7R III has. Are you mixing α7R IV and α7 IV? The latter of course, has less megapixels.
I have used every iteration of α7R series and obviously the newest version is the most advanced, although certainly already III and IV were pretty good. On the other hand, I can name few new features that could offer advantages for somebody who takes macro photos: 1) more flexible screen, which can be a lifesaver if you want to take low angle shots and especially if in vertical orientation, 2) focus bracketing function, although focus stacking still must be in done on computer rather than inside camera, 3) insect eye detection in AF. The latter obviously only works with AF lenses.
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Post Options Post Options   Quote AudioDoc Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 10 June 2024 at 23:50
I think brusco was referring to the A7iv (33Mp) not the A7riv (61Mp).

Can you get an estimate? You won't know the cost of repair until you do. Perhaps someone here has repaired the A7riii with the same issue?

If the camera is otherwise working well and the cost of repairs are not too high, yes it's worth repairing considering the price of the newer models. Yes, it doesn't have all the bells and whistles of the newer models, but that 42Mp sensor is excellent. If you can get everything in focus for your macro work with the A7rIII without the auto focus bracketing, why spend a couple thousand dollars more for a new A7rV and And if you don't need the extra Mps of those cameras.

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dbrusco View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Quote dbrusco Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 14 September 2024 at 19:34
I still haven't sent in my a7R III to repair/replace the section with the media slot door (and possibly other things).

But another thing is happening and I'm not sure if it can be fixed. This has happened with my previous Sony cameras, at a point after years and lots of use, the dials or buttons on the back and front get worn (and/or perhaps gunky) and settings get changed. Some of it is because I have the camera clipped to my waist pack as well as having it on the strap, and depending on how often I'm using it, I may not clip it for a little while. So certain things on the rear might get bumped.

However, now the shutter speed has started to change seemingly by itself, and the dial is on the front top. If I'm using the flash, which is most of the time, it doesn't have HSS and shutter speed pretty much stays at 1/250. It'll flip to 1/350 or even higher and then I get a black frame.


As far as the dials/buttons on the rear, what mostly gets changed supposedly by bumping (or maybe the same issue as the front dial) is the Drive Mode. Most of the time it's on single shooting, once in a while I'll use low burst but that tends to eat up battery. Usually it gets changed to timer, so when I press the shutter, nothing happens. Or to some bracket mode and then I end up with extra files and I don't realize it until I go to download the files.

Is that something I could deal with myself?

Edited by Micholand - 15 September 2024 at 19:26
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