My photography interests began in the early 70s, while in high school when I bought a Minolta SRT-101 Single Len Reflect (SLR) camera that provided TTL (through-the-lens) full aperture light metering. I loved the ability to calculate light exposure without having to carry a hand held light meter. I can’t remember what made me want to buy this camera, but I am thinking it was that the department store where I worked carried this camera and lens and they allowed me to buy it on store credit. While at the time I couldn’t afford a Nikon F2 SLR, which was extremely popular, this camera allowed me to develop some photography skills and spur enough interest to expand the pursuit of improving this hobby.
A few years later, I upgraded to the Minolta XE-7 to take advantages of the existing lens I had, but mostly to enjoy the enhanced features over the SRT-101. I used this camera till I wore out the shutter. Then came a lapse in my pursuit of landscape photography, while I concentrated on family and recording their activities. This entailed using point and shot cameras that I could always take with me to captured record family activities.
This was the norm till I noticed that Minolta had come out with this unique big-zoom compact camera called the DiMage Z2 with great pixel quality for both image and video. However this camera was still primarily used for documenting family activities. The Minolta DiMage Z2 It also was what spurred my youngest daughter’s desire in photography. As her interest grew in photojournalism and portrait photography, the need for a Digital Single-Lens Reflect (DSLR) camera became more and more apparent.
When my daughter and I started looking into getting a DSLR camera, we got introduced to Sony’s alpha mount series of DSLRs. I became very interested in these cameras when the sales representative informed me that the alpha mount was capability with Minolta lens. Realizing that there was a good size used lens market out there at a lower price point than Cannon and Nikon, I made the decision to give it a try. So I bought her Sony a57, then a few months later I bought myself one. At the same time, I began picking up used Minolta lens for her and me to use.
As my interest grew in taking pictures, so did my desire for cameras features necessary to better quality images and capturing details about the image, which led me to getting the Sony a65. I bought this camera to get its built-in GPS feature; the increase from a 16MP APS-C CMOS Sensor to a 24MP APS-C CMOS Sensor; and a sharper Electronic viewfinder that increased from 1440k dot to 2359k dot.
Seeking higher ISO and more features it wasn’t much later I both the Sony a77rii. Though it wasn’t full frame at the time, it was more advanced compared to the a65. But the downsize was that I lost GPS recording, a feature I still long for to this day.
However, I kept longing for more capabilities and less weight. I was wanting to take my camera gear on trips. As I read reviews on Sony mirrorless technology, my intrigue with the newly developed capabilities had me considering moving in that direction. Though this move would mean basically starting over with lenses compatible. This was somewhat disappointing because I had recently invested in the Sigma 150-600mm F5-6.3 DG telephoto zoom.
This was a significant transition, but I had seen the writing on the wall that technology was going to phase out the DSLR. The purchase of the Sony a6300 was the my first mirrorless camera. It soon became apparent what the buzz was about with regards to mirrorless. I recognized the improved sensor sensitivity that offered better night imaging. I love how light the camera was compared to the my Sony DSLR. However, I began to desire a full frame camera and in camera stabilization.
It was about this time that Sony was releasing the Sony a7rIII. The reviews were enough to motivate me to make the move. This has been the stopping point for now. Enough that I bought a second one so that I could keep mounted my two most popular lenses. My favorite FE 16-35mm F2.8 GM and my steadfast all purpose lens FE 24-240mm F3.5-6.3 OSS. For now I haven’t wanted to move to another model. Though I have been impressed by the a7rIV and the a1, I haven’t wanted to pay the exorbitant price for the a1 and I didn’t want to have to upgrade my storage and computer to handle the larger image files. I have been intrigued with the menu system and lightness of the Sony 7c, but not the drop back down to 24.2MP. So I continue on my steadfastness to wait and watch for features that move me to my next camera. Only time will tell.