Still camera

[AHoyThere 0]

It's time to get a different still camera.

This post got me looking at the newly announced Sony a6000.
http://www.dropzone.com/cgi-bin/forum/gforum.cgi?post=4599050#4599050

So, what would be wrong with using this camera...

http://store.sony.com/mirrorless-dslr-camera-zid27-ILCE6000/B/cat-27-catid-All-Alpha-a6000-Cameras?_t=pfm%3Dcategory

With this lens...

http://store.sony.com/20mm-f-2.8-wide-angle-lens-zid27-SEL20F28/cat-27-catid-All-Alpha-a6000-Cameras?_t=pfm%3Dproduct_cross_sell%26pfmvalue%3D27-SEL20F28

And this shutter release adapter?

http://www.gethypoxic.com/browse/still-camera-switches.html?page=shop.product_details&flypage=flypage.tpl&product_id=150&category_id=13

Any thoughts on this set up?
Good? Bad? Pros / Con?

Fast focus, light weight, fast frames per second shutter release. I'm not seeing a whole lot that can go wrong with this setup.
It's just different from the standard Canon DSLR's that I've always used. I don't really know anything about 'mirrorless' cameras. And my Canon lenses won't work on this camera without an adapter.
But I'd use it as a dedicated freefall still camera.

What do you think?

[DSE 5]

From all initial appearances, it's a very nice setup. I won't have one to shoot with til second week of March, but I'm impressed thus far.
Caution, if you DO decide to use an adapter, be sure it's a good one. I've twice seen cheap plastic adapters rip off on deployment, costing their owners a lens. Stick with metal adapters, and for the Sony NEX mounts, they're not cheap.

[gowlerk 2,190]

If this is able to use a wired switch I may just be all over it. But I am curious. Why does Sony call this camera a DSLR? Am I misunderstanding the meaning of SLR?

Always remember the brave children who died defending your right to bear arms. Freedom is not free.

[AHoyThere 0]

Just planning to keep the Canon Lenses with Canon bodies.
But it's good to know the option is out there.

In some regard, two of these cameras would not be too bad. One for stills and a second one for video.

But there's no Hypeye for a camera like this.
Is there?

[AHoyThere 0]

gowlerk

If this is able to use a wired switch I may just be all over it. But I am curious. Why does Sony call this camera a DSLR? Am I misunderstanding the meaning of SLR?

And this shutter release adapter ...
http://www.gethypoxic.com/...0&category_id=13

The Sony version of a wired switch...
http://store.sony.com/remote-control-with-multi-terminal-cable-zid27-RMVPR1/cat-27-catid-All-Cameras-Alpha-DSLR-Accessories

Cheers

[Gib78 0]

Greetings all

I am also looking at this setup as I want a camera that will tick all boxes for me not only for skydiving. I take it that the standard 16-50mm would not be wide enough for skydiving operations?

Gib

[DSE 5]

16mm is plenty wide (often too wide) for skydiving stills. The 16-55 is perfect for most skydiving work.

[Gib78 0]

Hi DSE

Thanks for your input, that's good to know. Not wanting to thread drift too much, but on a similar theme of wide enough lenses, for video I have my eye on the following model. While I understand that on the modern handycams it is not possible to swap lenses as such, my general impression from the threads I have read here are that the lenses are wide enough in standard form. In regards to that,I have pretty much decided on the following for video. (possibly has the model number 540 in the states)

http://www.sony.co.uk/electronics/handycam-camcorders/hdr-pj530e

It also seems to tick all the boxes. Can you see any issues with using this out the box as such for skydiving, as I have not noted any (that's not to say that there are none)?

Thanks.

Gib

[ChuckMartin 0]

gowlerk

If this is able to use a wired switch I may just be all over it. But I am curious. Why does Sony call this camera a DSLR? Am I misunderstanding the meaning of SLR?

A SLR means it uses one lens. The way that it was done for years is with a mirror and that is what people have come to think about it as. Besides a SLR there are twin lenes and rangefinders, both of which the image to the film (or digital media) and what you see can be different. The biggest advantage to a SLR is that what you see is what will be on the "film". Why they call this a SLR is because what you see though the viewfinder is what you will take a photo of. Is it really a SLR? No and yes. You do get the same image from one lens but then you could say a cell phone is a DSLR also because you only use one lens and no rangefinder on that either. Seems like its marketing more then anything.

[Zlew 0]

Got my first weekend of jumping on a similar setup this weekend.

Nex 3N with the 20mm pancake lens, Exit Equipment switch/plug.

Still early, but so far it looks like it is a significant improvement over the EPM1 that I was shooting last year.

I got a steal on the lens on ebay, and found the camera on Amazon for ~300.

What has impressed me so far- great image quality, very fast auto focus and burst shooting rate, excellent low light results.

I'm sure the a6000 will be even better.

[markbdaniels 0]

Nice thing about the A6000 is its super fast hybrid auto-focus - it can shoot at 11 fps with AF inbetween each and every shot.

The 3N has slower contrast detect AF so as far as I know, in burst mode it locks the AF on the first shot and if your subject moves thereafter all the following shots will be out of focus.

[Zlew 0]

Very nice! I may look at picking one up at the end of this year when prices drop.

11fps is awesome! I am actually thinking of turning the burst rate down on the 3N. On the highest setting it seems like it is about 7fps...but taking a single picture is almost impossible even with you hand. Double taps are about the best I can do.