Sony A7 vs Nikon D610

[kamajan999]

Is there any real practical difference in IQ? According to DXO they are pretty much the same except for high iso where the D610 have an advantage, but is that advantage big? Is it even noticable? Is it worth to even consider the D610 over the A7? 

 

Im confused!

[Username]

`   

    

I use both. They are both very good but  

for OOC jpegs the 610 is visibly better. 

    

IQ is not a worthy goal, it's a distraction. 

I neeeevvvver check out or DXO or any 

similar data. I CANNOT say that all my

lenses deliver equal results, but I CAN 

say that DXO etc are toadally incapable

of predicting the keepers. 

[kamajan999]

`   

    

I use both. They are both very good but  

for OOC jpegs the 610 is visibly better. 

    

IQ is not a worthy goal, it's a distraction. 

I neeeevvvver check out or DXO or any 

similar data. I CANNOT say that all my

lenses deliver equal results, but I CAN 

say that DXO etc are toadally incapable

of predicting the keepers. 

 

 

How many % roughly would you estimate your D610 is doing better than the A7? Btw, I only shoot raw.

[Guest Jaf-Photo]

The sensor is the same. Nikon has a different colour style with slightly less warmth and saturation. But if you shoot raw, you can tweak that.

 

If you're choosing between the two cameras, it may be more useful to take a system view. Factor in lenses, accessories, performance, size, weight etc and make your choice based on that.

[Username]

How many % roughly would you estimate your D610 is

doing better than the A7? Btw, I only shoot raw.

  

I did specify I was speaking of OOC jpegs. For raw 

there's no important difference. If you want a "%" 

estimate about the better jpegs from Nikon, I can 

use a different way than "%" to offer a quantitative 

answer. Consider how increasing ISO will gradually 

"rot away" visible [eyeball judged] IQ. Consider the 

effect of going from 800 to 1600 or going from 1600 

to 3200. I'm using that "upper midrange" here cuz a 

change from 100 to 200 or 200 to 400 is noticeable,  

but doesn't leap out at you, cuz those are all fairly 

high IQ ranges. But when IQ "rot" starts to be very 

visible even on casual inspection, you REALLY see 

the effect of doubling your ISO quite unmistakably.  

  

So OK, let's call the 800->1600 bump, or even the 

1600->3200 bump "one full IQ step". Depending on 

BOTH the level of detail AND the amount of smooth

tone in the image, the 610's advantage over the a7II

is approximately "one full IQ step". Certain images 

look to be less than a 1/2 step. Others look like way 

beyond one step. One full step is only an average, 

and again, this is for jpegs judged by eyeballing the 

overall image, plus some peeping. 

  

For raw images, I've read that Nikon's greater bit 

depth allows more extreme correction of images 

that demand quite a bit of extra DR. But in my own 

use, I find no need or use for that. Perhaps I shoot 

scenes that are less demanding "DR-wise" ?  

   

A non-quantitative description that I have used in 

discussions about "eyeballed IQ" is that if one gets 

used to Sony jpegs, then the Nikon jpegs seem like 

OOC direct tiff files. This is not just a casual visual 

assessment. I can definitely say that Nikon jpegs will 

tolerate more tonal "push" or "pull" before they show 

telltale digital artifacts like peppering or a "tiled" look.  

   

Clearly this is all about the "jpeg engines" cuz with 

raw files, the differnce is too small to concern me. 

I'd give operational features more importance than 

any difference in raw flles ... for MY use. YMMV. I've

read some very negative rants about Sony's lower

bit depth and their compression scheme. I put no

faith in ANYONE's opinion or observations when it

is delivered as a RANT. I have never seen negative

remarks about Sony raw files that were NOT in rant 

mode ... so take that FWIW :-) 

[kamajan999]

So if I expose "correctly" as I want it in the end and maybe adjust minimal (Max 1/3 stop push or pull) I should see no practical difference in IQ no matter what iso setting.

[Username]

So if I expose "correctly" as I want it in the end and maybe adjust minimal

(Max 1/3 stop push or pull) I should see no practical difference in IQ no

matter what iso setting.

     

" .... no practical difference in IQ no matter what iso setting."    

 

That would be for raw files. For jpegs you wouldn't likely notice a 

difference from 400 ISO on down, but from 800 upward the D610 

will allow double the ISO at the same IQ as the a7II. IOW Nikon's 

ISO 1600 IQ looks as good as Sony's ISO 800 IQ, given a typical 

scene involving both in-focus details and smooth tone areas.   

   

I'd never accept a camera that can't do raw files, but not cuz I'm 

into processing them. To me they are insurance against disaster, 

like a life jacket or parachute. I'd be uneasy without them, but I've 

become the "jpeg maestro" cuz so many cool in-camera features 

are jpeg-only. 

   

Acoarst in order to avoid deploying life jackets or parachutes one 

must steer clear of icebergs and ice storms in the first place ! And 

it's also beneficial to fly a DC-3 rather than a BizJet :-) If you can't 

get there at 180 knots, mebbe you should reconsider whether it's 

worth going at all.   

   

Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here…

Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members!

  

The retirement age for DC-3s is as yet unknown, but we do know 

that the workers who built them retired and died long before your

mama was even born, maybe before your grandparents had met.

They are as obsolete as cockroaches. It's something to consider 

any time you're afflicted with GAS :-) 

    

FWIW, jpegs from the 610, and also the 750, range 9MB to 15MB 

vs 5MB to 8MB from the a7II ... and both cameras have the same 

pixel count [24MP].

[kamajan999]

I only do Raw  

[kamajan999]

I have been struggling with GAS for many many years, BUT I think I finally settled down a little bit. Since I got the A7 (mark 1) for a couple of weeks ago (My local shop had a super deal on it) (As well as using my D800E which I am not interested in trading in for the D850) I am calm, maybe it comes with age? 

 

However, I really appreciate all the input, not that I would get rid of the A7 for a D610, just that I'm curious and interested in both the artistic and technical side of things

 

Btw I have been having super fun doing bokeh panoramas with the A7 and manual lenses

[Guest Jaf-Photo]

I have been struggling with GAS for many many years, BUT I think I finally settled down a little bit.

Occasional bouts of lethargy are part of the affliction

[kamajan999]

Occasional bouts of lethargy are part of the affliction