Upgrading from the Sony a7 III to the Sony a7 IV

Why the Sony a7 IV is worth the extra $500 for videographers (especially wedding professionals).

In Spring 2023, the a7 III costs $2,000 and the a7 IV is $2,500.  Here are the features that make the upgrade worth the money (or if you are buying a second camera and not sure which to buy).

-  4K at 60 frames per second

-  Unlimited recording time.

-  33 Megapixel photos

- 4K 10 Bit recording

- Improved electronic viewfinder: 3.68m-Dot EVF with 120 fps Refresh Rate

The best DSLRs and Mirrorless Cameras for Low Light Performance

 Which DSLRs and mirrorless cameras have the best low light performance (at high ISOs)?

Sony dominates most of the best low light cameras. Canon and Panasonic also have a few of the top 20 full-frame cameras for low-light performance.

DxO Mark does scientific testing of DSLR, medium format, and crop sensor cameras, and they update their Sensor Rankings chart regularly with the leaders. They have an overall ranking and a "sports" ranking, which rates the highest ISO the camera can capture great quality images.

May 2022 DxO Mark Ranklings by low light performance

1. Canon ROS R3 ($6,000)
2. Sony A7 III (only $2,000, Feb 2018)
3. Sony A7S
4. Panasonic S1R ($3,700)
5. Sony A7R III
6. Sony A9
7. Leica SL2-S
8. Sony A9 II
9. Sony A7R II
10. Sony A7C
11. Canon R6 ($2,500 - Aug. 2020)
12. Sony A7 IV
13. Leica M11
14. Sony A7R IV
15. Panasonic S1
16. Nikon Z6 II ($2,000 - Oct 2020)
17. Nikon Z6
18. Pentax K-1
19. Nikon Df
20. Nikon D3s

Some takeaways from this list.

Sony is the clear leader in low light performance, ranking no 2, 3, 5, 6, and 8 in the top 10. And their 2018 model A7 III (currently 3 years old) takes the number two spot in the rankings, making it one of the best value cameras available on the market. For some odd reason, the A7 IV (successor to the A7 III, scores a lower low light performance at 3379 ISO versus it's older brother at 3722 ISO. That's a 400 ISO difference and the A7 IV is 3 years newer. What is happening here?

Nikon is lagging in low light performance. Their highest ranking camera is #16 on the list. They don't break the top 10 or even the top 15, even though the Z6 II camera was released in October 2020 and is newer than most of the cameras that rank higher.

Canon is barely on the list, and their R3 camera is both less than a year old and is $6,000, putting it out of budget for many professionals. Although they beat Sony's A7 III by almost 300 ISO points at 4,086 versus 3,722. 

Panasonic GH3 camera value in June 2019

Used camera value from different reputable camera stores. These used prices are for the camera body only.  The GH3 was originally released in

B&H Photo
$380
Grade: 9
Condition: Slightly Used
Shows signs of use, but very clean

Adorama
$340
Grade: E-
May have slight wear but only visible under close inspection.

KEH
$367
Grade: EX+
The rating of the equipment is at 90 to 96 percent of original condition. Exceptionally nice, but may have slight wear on finish visible only under close inspection.

Osmo Pocket Price Drop to $325 on Amazon

Amazon recently dropped the price of the popular DJI Osmo Pocket to $325 (a 7% savings over the retail price), likely in an effort to fend off competition from B&H, Adorama, and other popular stores that offer outstanding service, along with their regular retail prices.

My local camera store sells the Osmo Pocket for the $350 suggested retail price, but since gear money is tight, I may not be able to support them this time around.

I'm buying this video gimbal as my next piece of video gear because of it's portability, versatility, ease of use, and the advantage of its larger predecessor that the Pocket does not require a phone to record video.

The Osmo Pocket packs a lot in a very small factor camera, including:

* 4K video at up to 60 frames per second.
* Fast F/2.0 lens allows lots of light to reach the sensor
* 1080p video at multiple frame rates (24/25/30/48/60 fps)
* One inch touch screen LCD so you don't have to drain your phone's battery to record
* Time lapse movie capability
* Connect to a smartphone with lightning or USB-C connector to use as a larger display to record your adventures
* Steady Panorama shots
* 12 Megapixel photos
* Pro mode allows creatives to manually adjust the exposure settings on the camera.
* Can record video and photos on MicroSD cards up to 256GB

* Selfie mode
*

The pocket camera can be paired with accessories like ND filters to achieve more professional looks, a retractable extension stick, and a waterproof case

Only weighs 4 oz and is just under 5 inches long.

More technical specs:

Battery charge time is about 2 hours.
It does not have a replaceable battery, but it can be tethered to a USB battery pack to recharge the camera.

Canon 6D vs. 5D Mark III vs. 5D Mark II for high iso performance

Scores from DxOMark website comparing each of the camera sensors:

Canon 6D
November 2012
Overall: 82
Dynamic range: 12.1 Evs
Low-light ISO: 2340

Canon 5D Mark III
March 2012
Overall: 81
Dynamic range: 11.7 Evs
Low-light ISO: 2293

Canon 5D Mark II
November 2008
Overall: 79
Dynamic Range: 11.9 Evs
Low-light ISO: 1815

Except for high-ISO performance, these cameras are all very close with their sensors, even though the 6D and 5D Mark III are over three years newer than the 5D Mark II.

Nikon equipment appraisal, cash value from B&H Photo

Using B&H's online quote service for selling used gear, here are the cash values for various equipment, (as of 8/22/13) assuming a 4/5 condition (signs of use, but very clean) and including all accessories originally packaged with the items.

Nikon 80-200mm f/2.8 lens
$475
$495 like new

Nikon D300
$245
$270 like new

Nikon SB-800 flash
$105
$115 like new

Nikon 18-200mm lens VR
$195
$210 like new

Nikon 50mm f/1.4
$100
$115 like new

Nikon D80
$5 with all accessories  What kind of a joke is this? 

Total of all items (not the D80) at 4/5 condition:
$1,120

Total of all items (not the D80) at 5/5 condition:
$1,205


I was very surprised that the 18-200mm lens was worth almost double the cash value of the SB-800 flash.

B&H haggles you pretty well for the cash.  At these prices, they are almost operating like a pawn shop.  Sadly, they don't increase the value much if the item is "like new".  On average, they only increase the quote by $15 for jumping from a 4/5 to 5/5 condition rating.

There is still some demand for the Nikon SB-800 flash.  If you want to sell it used, I highly recommend selling it on Amazon.com's used marketplace first.  Most items I've listed there with a competetive price sell in 1-4 days.

Right now the SB-800 starts at $245 in good condition on Amazon.  One listing is $220, but it appears to include no accessories.  If your flash is in very good condition with accessories, you should be able to list it at $250-285 and sell it without a problem.

Listed at $250 on Amazon, Amazon gives you a total of $226 if sold.  Subtract $10 to ship the flash with insurance and you get $215 for the flash.  This is a solid $100 more than what B&H would give you, and you'll get the money faster, because you have to wait for the item to reach B&H's location in New York City before you get paid.  Listed at $280, you would net about $245 after shipping costs.

If your budget is tight for new equipment, or you want to invest in accessories for your video DSLR work, it's sometimes smarter to sell on Amazon, or places besides B&H that will give you very little money, depending on the exact item.

Bozeman Camera had these used items on their shelves:

Nikon 80-200mm f/2.8
$695-795

Nikon D300
$559-629

Nikon 18-200mm original VR
$319

Nikon 50mm f/1.4
$265

SB-600
$200

50% of all the above items: $1,019
60% of all the above items: $1,222
70% of all the above items: $1,426
80% of all the above items: $1,630

They estimated that a Nikon D80 would sell for $100 or less.  That's a good estimate, because the lowest used price on Amazon for the camera body is $150 today.  But it's $180 for a working camera.

Used Value of Nikon D300 and Nikon 80-200mm lens

Update: 8/17/13

Nikon 80-200mm
$779 [8+] at BH Photo
$799 [8+] at BH Photo
$829 [9] at BH Photo
$849 [9+] at BH Photo

Nikon D300
$569  [8+] at BH Photo

Nikon 18-200mm
$369 [8+] at BH Photo
$389 [9] at BH Photo

Nikon SB-800 flash
$250+ on Amazon.com used

Nikon D80
$230 [8+] at B&H Photo 

Nikon 50mm f/1.4
No used listings on BH Photo.
$240+ on Amazon for Very Good condition

Prices below gathered on 3/29/13

Nikon D300 used value/price:
$570 - BHPhotoVideo.com, condition: 8+
$529 - Adorama.com, condition: E-
$499 - Adorama.com, condition: E

Nikon 80-200mm f/2.8 ED lens used price:
$839 - Bhphotovideo.com, condition: 9
$799 - Bhphotovideo.com, condition: 8+
$799 - Adorama.com, condition: E

Nikon 18-200mm VR ED-IF used value/price:
$409 - BHPhotoVideo.com, condition: 9+
$399 - Adorama.com, condition: E+
$379 - Adorama.com, condition: E
$379 - BHPhotoVideo.com, condition: 8+
$359 - Adorama, condition: E-

Choosing the Nikon D600 as my next camera

After the D700 was released it looked like a Nikon full-frame camera would finally be within reach of photographers who wanted to spend less than $4,000.

The D700 was announced by Nikon in July 2008, only a few months before Canon would answer back with the 5D Mark II.

For anyone shooting video, the 5D Mark II would be the answer for the next several years.

Would Nikon ever release a full-frame camera with HD video shooting for less than $3,000?

In September 2012 Nikon released the D600, a 24 megapixel full-frame camera with HD video.  The initial retail price was $2,100. 

DxOMark tested the D600 in September 2012 and the overall score was 94 out of 100, making it the number 3 camera on their list of every digital SLR on the market.  The only other two camera that beat it's overall score are the Nikon D800 ($3,000) and Nikon's D800E ($3,300).

As of June 2013, the D600 still ranks #3 in the DxO camera sensor database.

After seeing the D600's video and time-lapse capabilities with these German filmmakers, I had made my decision to save for the D600 instead of switching all my camera gear to Canon and getting a 5D Mark II.


Major photo outlets like B&H and Amazon have offered the Nikon instant rebate of $100 off, so the camera is $2,000 through June 1st, 2013.

$2,000 package (after $100 instant savings) offered by B&H through June 1st, 2013.
included free:
Ruggard Commando 35 DSLR Shoulder BagWatson EN-EL15 Lithium-Ion Battery Pack (7.0V 1800mAh)SanDisk 32GB SDHC Memory Card Extreme Class 10 UHS-I

Retail price of these items on B&H's website:

Commando 35 DSLR Shoulder Bag - $35
Watson EN-EL15 Lithium-Ion Battery Pack - $35 (Nikon brand is $60)
SanDisk 32GB SDHC Memory Card Extreme Class 10 UHS-I - $40
--------
$110 retail value of free items

Canon 5D Mark II vs. Mark III

I'm considering buying a Canon 5D Mark II for video production, because it would be within my price range if I sold my most expensive lens (80-200 f/2.8) as well as my current Nikon D300 camera body.  The Mark III would have to wait until I shot either a few more weddings or wait until the successor model is released and the Mark III drops in price.

Used 5D Mark II models in top condition cost about $1,400 on Adorama.  B&H only has one right now in a 7 rating condition.

Current price: $1,800 (sale)  vs. $2,975 (sale)
Regular prices: $2,200 Mark II vs. $3,500 Mark III
B&H's special price on both cameras includes a SanDisk 16GB CompactFlash Memory Card Extreme 400x UDMA (valued at $57)

Information via Wikipedia Canon Mark 5D Mark III page:

22.3 megapixels compared to 21.1 megapixels
61 Point AF + 41 Crosstype AF compared to 9 Point AF + 6 Assist Points.
100–25600 ISO compared to 100–6400
6 frames per second continuous shooting compared to 3.9 frame/s
100% viewfinder, compared to 98% coverage
Larger 3.2-inch (81 mm) LCD with 3:2 aspect ratio, compared to 3.0-inch (76 mm) at 4:3.
Dual card slots—one CompactFlash (CF) with full UDMA support, and one SD (including SDHC and SDXC cards, but does not exploit the UHS-I speed class). The Mk II has only one CF slot.

Film and Video shot on the (2008 model) Mark II:

An episode of House from the 2010 season was filmed entirely on the Mark II.
Black Swan (also used 16mm film and the 7D)
Drive (some shots)
127 Hours (used the 5D Mark II, 7D, and other cameras)
Like Crazy (filmed entirely on the 7D)
Some shots in Limitless (2011) were made on it.
The Bourne Legacy (some shots)
The Avengers (some shots), also some using the 7D.
Captain America (some shots)
Medium TV Show (7D for some shots)

Panasonic Lumix TS2 video recording times

Charts via:  Panasonic DMC-TS2 product page

Waterproof Cameras

(image via Gizmodo)

The Panasonic Lumix DMC-TS1 might be a better choice for a waterproof camera, since it's not so bulbous.

Panasonic Lumix DMC-TS1
#3 on Consumer Report's compact cameras list
4.6x zoom (28mm wide angle)
Battery life: 340 shots
720p video
2.5 x 0.9 x 3.9 inches
Amazon: $244 (6/5/10)
Abe's of Main: $275

** Amazon price was $280 in early Spring 2010.

Canon Powershot D10
#7 on compact cameras list and recommended camera
3x zoom
Battery life: 220 shots
can be submerged up to 33 feet
bulky
4.1 x 1.9 x 2.6 inches
Amazon: $300 (third party)

Canon PowerShot D10 review -- Engadget
Priced at around $300 on the streets, we'd say that you'd be hard pressed to find a better bargain considering just how flexible this is.

Toughcam Battle: Canon PowerShot D10 vs. Panasonic Lumix DMC-TS1 - Panasonic - Gizmodo

Camera buying decision

Consumer Reports' digital camera ratings from the December 2009 issue helped me narrow down my camera choices to get the best bang for my buck.

What I wanted:

• A camera with good image quality for less than $250, ideally around $200.
• Image stabilization
  
• Decent ratings across the board
• A camera released in 2009
  
• A camera with a good recommendation from Ken Rockwell, if possible
  

The contenders:



Canon Powershot SD780 (Subcompact)
$200
Battery life: 210 shots
1600 ISO
Image stabilizer
Face detection self-timer
Optical viewfinder
3x zoom (35mm film equivalent: 33-100mm)
1280 x 720 video
#10 on the Consumer Reports rating chart of 57 cameras and a recommended model.
Ken Rockwell recommends this camera on his recommended cameras page and says this on his review page: "The SD780 is the smallest good camera I've ever used. I'd suggest it as a first choice for a pocket tag-along digital camera."

Canon Powershot SD1200 (Subcompact)
$150
Battery life: 260 shots
ISO 400
Image stabilizer
Face detection self-timer
Optical viewfinder
3x zoom (35mm film equivalent: 35-105mm)
640 x 480 video
#2 on the Consumer Reports rating chart of 57 cameras and a recommended model.

Canon Powershot A1000
$168 (silver)
Battery life: 450 shots
ISO 100
Image stabilizer
Optical viewfinder
4x zoom

Consumer Reports: Best Digital Cameras

Consumer Reports, July 2009

Subcompact

#3 Nikon Coolpix S610 $220 Recommended
- very good image quality
- optical stabilizer
- wide angle

#8 Canon Powershot SD1100 IS Elph $150 Recommended
- very short next shot delay (excellent)
- very good image quality
>> Also available: the 10MP Canon Powershot SD1200 IS Elph, $230, with
face detection self timer.

Compact

#2 Canon Powershot A1000 IS $140 Recommended
- very good image quality
- one of the highest battery life ratings (450 shots)

#3 Canon PowerShot A590 IS $110 Best Buy
- Good image quality
- 450 shot battery rating
- excellent next-shot delay


Consumer Reports rated the Nikon D300 and D90 to have "max ISO with best quality" at 3200.

Wide Angle Zooms via Ken Rockwell

Based on the fact that most of the professional photographers I respect and admire have a wide-angle zoom, and that they force you to get closer to the subject, this is my next big photo gear purchase.

Ken Rockwell highly recommends the Tokina 11-16mm for just about every camera, except for the low-end Nikon D-SLR's without an AF motor (D40/D40x/D60/D5000), which he recommends the new Nikon 10-24mm.

The Tokina is faster [than the Nikon 10-24mm], built better and costs less, but it won't autofocus on many cameras.

If you have a heavy DX camera that can autofocus with the Tokina, like the D300, D200, D2X or D1X, I'd get the Tokina.

Excerpted from Ken Rockwell's Nikon 10-24mm lens review.

The Tokina 11-16mm is currently $599.95 at B&H and $699.89 on Amazon sold by 17th Street Photo.

Camera RAW and DNG

Camera RAW and DNG Converter update list for mac and windows.

The last camera RAW formats supported by Photoshop CS3 (unless you convert to DNG, which is supported back to Photoshop CS^[1]) via: Camera RAW 4.6

• Nikon D700
• Nikon D90
• Canon 50D

Support for the Canon 5D Mark II was added in the 5.2 update on 11/24/2008. Support for the Nikon D3X raw files was added in 5.3 update on 3/3/2009.

Caveat: RAW Files from the D3X and Canon 5D Mark II can only be opened with Photoshop CS4, Lightroom 2, or the DNG Converter, and most people are probably not going to take extra time to use the DNG converter. Most photographers that are dropping $3,000 or $8,000 for a camera should easily have the $200 to upgrade.

Camera RAW general information page that lists the current update.