I am writing this blog post because so many folks are asking me for advise on whether or not to switch camera systems to Sony. I get questions like- How the focus on the Sony Alpha a9 Mirrorless Digital Camera compares to Canon’s top of the line and Nikons top of the line cameras?- the answer I give is: that for me— and I stress for me the Sony a9 has performed better than my Canon cameras ever did. Please note that I had the Canon 1DX II for a couple of weeks before sending it back due to oil splatting which caused speckling around the edges of the frame. I then went back to the original 1DX. It worked great but I really liked the lighter weight 5DIV and found myself giving up faster focus acquisition and rapid fire for what I felt was a nicer image quality.
It was only after not being happy with Canon’s decision not to move forward with a mirrorless system that I even started looking at Sony as an option. After much research, I felt that Sony was a better choice for me. Then, Canon came out with their mirrorless body, it did not get rave reviews so I moved forward with Sony as I felt the other systems would be chasing Sony’s skirt tails for sometime. I have not been disappointed with my switch. I have missed having multiple exposure capabilities but that is about it.
The next question I get a lot is- How does the Sony FE 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G OSS Lens compare to the Canon 600mm II OR version III? The short answer is- it doesn’t. Why, because the 600mm lens is a prime lens with an f/4. The 200-600mm lens is an f/6.3 and with a teleconvertor it is an f/9. So it is not a truly fair comparison. If you ask me how the Sony 600mm lens compares to the version III Canon 600mm lens I would say they are comparable. I like the way the Sony balances and I like being able to use the lighter body of the Sony- but both are tack sharp and expensive!!
The Sony 200-600mm lens is not meant to replace or compete with any prime 600mm lens. instead it is an inexpensive option (about 2k) with a great internal zoom that makes the lens a valuable option when traveling or hiking- when you want a bit more reach than a 100-400mm lens. It is also more manageable for Safari shooting as it can easily be lifted or handheld. It is very sharp and focuses accurately with the Sony a9. I have found that in very low light the Sony a9, 7r3 and 7r4 struggle a bit with focus sometimes.
I can’t tell anyone what is right for them, each person considering the move over to Sony needs to ask themselves a lot of questions. Make a list of pros and cons and see if the system fits your style of shooting. Don’t just switch because you are hearing all kinds of hype. All of the major brands produce excellent options-knowing which works best for you and knowing your gear is most important.
If anyone wanted to get their feet wet, I’d start with a Sony Alpha a9 Mirrorless and a Sony 200-600mm lens for wildlife photography. You could get the a9 II but without an increase in the mega-pixels, I feel it doesn’t warrant the additional cost. I have also heard rumors that Canon will be coming out with some very nice new cameras….
Just my 2 cents, thanks, denise
My Sony Gear:
Sony Alpha a9 Mirrorless Digital Camera
Sony Alpha a7R III Mirrorless Digital Camera
Sony FE 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 GM OSS Lens