Dilemma...D3100 or Sony Alpha 580

Origin · 11 Mar 2012 at 20:58

I currently own a D3100 with the 18-55 and 55-200 along with a couple of batteries and a cheapo remote timer. Yesterday in the post I received a Sony Alpha 580 with the 18-55 lens from my Uncle with a note telling me it was mine if I wanted it or to trade it in and get some bits for my Nikon, or vice versa.

I can see from somewhere like snapsort that tecnically the Sony is actually a better camera than the D3100, but realistically, what are my upgrade paths going to be like? Would I better off for now keeping the 3100 and getting extra things like flash, prime lens etc. Or swap over to the Sony? Primarily I've been doing rugby photos at my local club so the fps is helpful

Ideas please..

D.P. · 12 Mar 2012 at 01:28

I would ditch the Sony. You already have a nice twin lens setup with the Nikon, just add a flas and or fast prime.

Origin · 12 Mar 2012 at 08:29

I've been thinking that, but I had a quick play with the Sony and fps on it is rapid (to me anyway, 7ps with what seems like a large buffer) and that would be very good for me for the rugby. My concern though is the apparent lack of market for Sony lenses etc.

As an alternative to both, should I trade in / up both and get a better Nikon as I am already starting to see the shortfalls of the 3100 for me when shooting. I had a play with someone elses 50D at the weekend and that was nice to use (not thinking of switching to Canon though)

Does anyone know a good place to get valuations on the kit I do have?

ShakenNstirred · 12 Mar 2012 at 08:46

sell the sony and the body of the D3100 and get a D5100

Demon · 12 Mar 2012 at 13:52

I'd actually say keep the Sony.. sell the D3100.. (Controversial, I know!)

The reason is, contrary to the notion you are limited in lens choice on Sony, I don't think this is true when looking down the 'moderately' priced end.

The reason I say this is that second hand lenses and KM compatibillity open up a reall plethora of good choices. (And s/h lenses don't depreciate that much so the cost of changing systems can be reduced).

For example, the excellent 'Beercan' KM 70-210 f/4 is £100-£140 secondhand and there are a lot for sale
Then you have the KM 28-75 f/2.8 and 17-35 f/2.8-3.5 as well as cheapish 50 f/1.4's these pop up all the time for good prices.
Even a new Sony 16-50 f/2.8 is significantly cheaper then the Canon 17-55 or Nikkor 17-55 lenses..

Then you have the fact it has in-body IS, this means cheaper lenses get IS automatically, so even the walk-around Sony 18-250 works out quite a bit cheaper then the Nikkor 18-200VR..

Over and above all those, you still get all the 3rd party lenses in most mounts, so there will always be those options.

Just an option, I have just gone back from Nikon (D5100) to Sony (A77) and have zero issues in finding some decent quality glass down the more moderately priced end of things..

Origin · 12 Mar 2012 at 14:28

Demon said:
I'd actually say keep the Sony.. sell the D3100.. (Controversial, I know!)

I'm seriously considering this option. I've had trade in quote from LCE for the cam, spare battery and the two lenses for £245 unseen (subject to verification from them) this would go some way to a zoom for the Sony. Is this even a fair price, or should I look at selling it on the MM? I'm still waiting for MBP to get back to me.

Thanks for the help so far guys.

Demon · 12 Mar 2012 at 14:55

Origin said:
I'm seriously considering this option. I've had trade in quote from LCE for the cam, spare battery and the two lenses for £245 unseen (subject to verification from them) this would go some way to a zoom for the Sony. Is this even a fair price, or should I look at selling it on the MM? I'm still waiting for MBP to get back to me.

Thanks for the help so far guys.

That's stupidly low..

For example, on Avforums Classifieds, there are serveral D3100's that have popped up very recently. e.g.
http://www.avforums.com/forums/digi...le-nikon-d3100-14-2mp-w-18-55mm-kit-lens.html

I'd say D3100 + 2 Kit lenses + battery should fetch closer to £400 second hand!

So get it on the MM!

Columbo · 12 Mar 2012 at 15:06

As an ex Sony owner I'd say keep the A580 as well.

The glass availability argument that is sometimes put forward is a non issue. I never once felt like I couldn't find the lens I wanted.
There are some superb lenses available at very reasonable prices and because of the in-built IS every lens has stabilisation.

Also Sony's method of Live View is class leading and is something I miss but at higher ISO's Canon & Nikon are quite a bit better in the equivalent bodies.

Also because of how Sony's Live view works, the viewfinder sometimes feels a bit narrow / small which may be an issue to some people.

I only moved to a Nikon because the friends I shoot with all own Nikon's so it made sense that we could all swap lenses and accessories.

MikeHunt79 · 12 Mar 2012 at 17:14

I'd pick up a nice prime lens for the Nikon.

Maybe the Nikkor 35mm 1.8?

Origin · 12 Mar 2012 at 20:30

Demon said:
That's stupidly low..

For example, on Avforums Classifieds, there are serveral D3100's that have popped up very recently. e.g.
http://www.avforums.com/forums/digi...le-nikon-d3100-14-2mp-w-18-55mm-kit-lens.html

I'd say D3100 + 2 Kit lenses + battery should fetch closer to £400 second hand!

So get it on the MM!

Thanks for this, MBP came back with a lot higher price than LCE, so at least I know that LCE were really just taking the micky. :mad:

ManCuBuS said:
As an ex Sony owner I'd say keep the A580 as well.

The glass availability argument that is sometimes put forward is a non issue. I never once felt like I couldn't find the lens I wanted.
There are some superb lenses available at very reasonable prices and because of the in-built IS every lens has stabilisation.

Also Sony's method of Live View is class leading and is something I miss but at higher ISO's Canon & Nikon are quite a bit better in the equivalent bodies.

Also because of how Sony's Live view works, the viewfinder sometimes feels a bit narrow / small which may be an issue to some people.

I only moved to a Nikon because the friends I shoot with all own Nikon's so it made sense that we could all swap lenses and accessories.

This sounds good to me, I can always swap back to Nikon later, I really do plan on pretty much only getting one or two more lenses and a flash for a while. So switching to Nikon / Canon later in time, would not be so bad considering this is a decent camera for free.

MikeHunt79 said:
I'd pick up a nice prime lens for the Nikon.

Maybe the Nikkor 35mm 1.8?

At the moment, that's not going to be much good to me, my primary use is sports (rugby) photography for my local club (I am unable to play due to injury so took up photography) and the higher fps of the Sony will be of great help to me. (twice as fast in standard burst mode, and more in shutter priority mode.

Ksanti · 12 Mar 2012 at 22:46

Stick with the Sony; nothing quite matches the Sony 70-400 for sports from what I've heard as a long term sports photography goal.