If for school property, nikon and canon. Firstly they are a lot robust than other cameras. Important if intended to pass to future students. Secondly for photography session on school activities, you want people to notice who is the photographer. The big camera and strap with big nikon/canon sign will make people give way for shooting. It works, seen many times. A6000 will make most non photographers think as point and shoot with the kit lens on. Lastly nikon and canon has way way more picture shots per battery than any mirrorless.

This post has been edited by DaddyO: Jun 10 2015, 04:56 PM

That's if you pit photographers with big cameras together in one group. Went to a cosplayer convention with my mirrorless camera (and pancake lens), first thing i noticed people generally just ignore me and pass in front of me while shooting. But you will always see people dodging big cameras like nikon/canon even with their sizable kit lens on it.

There are two kinds of photographer. One that need to make people know they are there to take photos and one that are there to be discrete. A6000 or RX100 is kinda like the latter with it's smallish body.

Secondly this if this is meant as school camera, you want the camera to be easily noticed. Camera like Rx100 feels like will get lost somewhere if you misplace it.

Lastly and to me the biggest reason, the number of photos you can shoot with dslr in single battery waaaaayy outnumber mirrorless. You can just let your camera "on" the whole day (lcd off of course) on standby and take a picture in short notice. Sure you can have extra battery on standby but feels like hassle if you happen to be in middle of a crowd.

Of course big bodies like sony A77 also works but the price........

Also, you want to argue and explain so much to the Principal why sony is much better than canon/nikon when at the end of the day the camera does not belong to you? And when at the end of the day, you are just shooting auto mode?

This post has been edited by DaddyO: Jun 10 2015, 10:16 PM

I too agreed with the statement. But the camera TS will buy is not for personal use. He's not buying a "travel" camera or for personal use. He's buying it for school use. Beginner camera like nikon 3300 or canon is plenty enough and generally they are not that heavy if TS not going to buy big lenses. Also, for sports use, in near future if require tele lens, nikon/canon tele lens are much easier to find even for second hand.

I really don't mind A6000 if TS decides to buy that in the end as I agreed it's a great camera. But try explaining that to his principal.

This post has been edited by DaddyO: Jun 10 2015, 10:29 PM

come on lah. I don't own dslr but I did use them before. I know the picture quality is on par between mirrorless and dslr. But different cameras have their own place and purpose.

You can't tell a client that you will be using RX100 mkIII for the wedding shoot, otherwise you get the boot. A6000 paired with big ass lens may get attention but TS is not buying camera for the purpose of using different lens.

This post has been edited by DaddyO: Jun 10 2015, 10:38 PM

A6000 pair with what big lens (I don't recommend sony a6000 kit lens for wedding cause I checked and it's really meh)? And why compare with A7S since similar size? Also is your friend getting paid as wedding photographer or as friend's favour photographer? Again, I'm not disputing image quality. I'm just offering opinion on public perception on cameras and "personal" opinion on how not to deal with the hassle with TS principal.

Anyway we are getting out of topic so I'm ending here. I believe TS already made up his mind.

This post has been edited by DaddyO: Jun 10 2015, 10:54 PM

And precisely my point. They don't have time to "Notice" your camera. No, not the school kids. The parents, audience and spectators if you happened to be in the crowd. So they just jump in front of your camera and don't care about your existence until you point a big ass camera.

Look I'm not saying small camera is bad. Given TS situation with the principal asking him to buy a camera under school/sponsor budget who most likely think that big camera equals professional and TS recommends him smallish a6000, you want him to get in trouble is it?

If it's TS's own money to buy own camera, I would recommend a6000/Fuji/rx100mk III/panasonic/olympus/etc hands down. You don't have to buy the best of the best for principal/sponsor who don't pixel peep much as long as it looks "good enough" and satisfy their budget.

This post has been edited by DaddyO: Jun 10 2015, 11:19 PM

Thank you! Finally someone gets my point (and possibly TS's, I think) and I like the analogy. .

It's a good point. BUT I'm pretty sure TS's principal/sponsor only knows the word "DSLR". Imagine if TS tell them, he used the sponsor's money to buy Iphone 6 because he thinks the camera is good enough, TS will get spanked.

I believe the "intimidating" part is when you trying to photograph random strangers, not when they know/anticipate you taking photos of them.

A6000 kit lens to my eyes does not do the camera much justice. If you not planning to buy better lens for a6000, rx100mkiii (no advice on mk1 or 2) has much better faster lens. Heard that mkiii also have better video performance than a6000 too. Of course some compromise due to the sensor size in terms of bokehness and versatility due to fixed lens. Also depends on ergonomic preference, a6000 is gripper and easier to hand hold. Mkiii evf is a strain to use.

This post has been edited by DaddyO: Jun 11 2015, 09:33 AM

Or go Fuji. Love their jpeg straight out if you not bother with raw.

This post has been edited by DaddyO: Jun 11 2015, 09:31 AM