BirthdayGirl30
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Bought the 6500 and the 4/18-105 G! Now I have a lot to learn.
Thanks for all the help.
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Ok! Lots of great input here.
My local camera shop has a pre-owned 6500 with the 18-105 G lens for $1200. It seems like a decent deal. How much will I regret not getting the new kit with the 18-135??
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I left DSLRs and have been shooting with Sony Mirrorless for several years and couldn't be happier with the combination of compactness and image quality. I started with the two kit lenses (both stabilized) and gradually added various upgrades. I have both an A6000 and an A6300 because I've always been a two-body, minimal lens change shooter. The A6300 is a bit more advanced than its older sibling but the A6000 is still being produced. Sony decided a while ago that rather than churn out a stack of different models with minor differences, they would use their still-capable older models as entry-level as newer models were introduced. the A6500 is the latest model and currently the top of the line in their APS-C cameras. All three have a huge list of modes and features. Here's a quick list of the differences.
A6000
24MP
10 frames per second (FPS) burst shooting
1080p video
179 Phase detect and 25 contrast detect focus points
ISO 100-25600
High-resolution viewfinder
$750 - two-lens kit
A6300
24MP - New design with better readout speed.
10 FPS burst shooting - 8 FPS with real-time viewfinder update
Up to 4k video video
425 Phase detect and 169 contrast detect focus points
ISO 100-51200
Larger buffer for continuous shooting
$1050 - two-lens kit
A6500
24MP - New design with better readout speed.
sensor-based image stabilization
(any lens attached, even adapted lenses are stabilized)
10 FPS burst shooting - 8 FPS with real-time viewfinder update
Up to 4k video
425 Phase detect and 169 contrast detect focus points
ISO 100-51200
Much larger buffer for continuous shooting
High-resolution viewfinder - faster refresh
$1750 - two-lens kit
I'm not a video guy but all of these cameras take incredible video.
Gallery shot mostly with kit lenses:
Galleries shot with A6000 & A6300 and a variety of lenses:
http://galleries.pptphoto.com/paccoast2016
http://galleries.pptphoto.com/fallcolor
http://galleries.pptphoto.com/allure
My reviews of both the A6000 and A6300:
http://www.pptphoto.com/reviews/reviewframe.html
There's 2¢ or so from a big fan of Sony's small cameras. :)
Dave
High-resolution viewfinder - faster refreshTHANK YOU!!
So the million dollar question is - should a newbie start at the bottom or go right for the $6500? What will I see as the biggest differences as a beginner? When I want to upgrade?
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Hmmmmm. Now I’ve been reading a bunch and I sort of like the idea of the Mirrorless. I’d like to spend around $1,000ish for the camera and a lens for Alaska. Not as married to the Canon this morning.
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The Canon lenses I have are just the basic kit lenses that came with the camera.
I would like a new interchangeable lens camera that I can learn a bit about and eventually really decide if I want to upgrade to a better interchangeable camera. I’d like this to be the second start of a new hobby.
I am open to other options besides Canon, for sure. Though, somehow I kind of like the *idea* of a Canon. I used to shoot on a film Canon as a hobby back in high school and it kind of stuck with me. But I am certainly open to good options.
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Hi all! I would have guessed this would be a frequently asked question, but maybe I am the only loon who has decided I can’t go to Alaska without a new camera and hobby!
I’m leaving for an Alaska cruise in a few weeks. We’ve waited forever to go and our favorite souvenir is pictures! 13 years ago I bought a Canon Rebel to take adorable pictures of my then toddlers. Technology has come a long way and I have pretty much switched to pictures with the phone camera. Three major trips worth all on the iPhone and some actually ok shots.
But, it feels very much like the phone camera is not going to cut it for Alaska, and I’d also like to start using the camera for some hobby time now that the kids are all grown up. In Alaska, we’re doing a glacier hike, a fishing trip, and whale watching.
Can someone get me started on my quest for a new camera (and also what lens)? I know you are going to ask for budget - and I just don’t know. Since I am not professional level or even hobby level now - definitely an entry level budget for the body, but I might drop some cash on the lens if there was a great one that I could use with upgraded body?
Do I need image stabilizer on the lens?
Any help would be appreciated.
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View from MDR last night
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Stunning photos
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Yes there is they use the same space as BB Kings. There were no frmos on glacier day. I will post other schedules.
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Oh, yay! We’re bringing my mother in law along, and I know she will enjoy this.
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This is a possible stupid question from a HAL newbie - is there America’s Test Kitchen on board? I don’t see any demos on the itinerary.
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After dinner we rushed down to the preview and back in our cabin from our balcony we waved hello and goodbye to the Westerdam! Good night all, I have limited internet!!
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Speaking of internet - does your phone have cell service??
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Was the coffee in Explorations passable? Best part of my day is my morning coffee and I was so looking forward to having a cup on my balcony in the AM. Willing to spend the $ and head to the Crow’s Nest for decent coffee.
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Thanks for this review. We’re sailing on the NA in August and can hardly wait.
What type of camera are you using for these amazing shots?
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First, I'm sorry this is so late! This is my very first trip report on CC, even though I've actually written some up in the past. I would always be so late with getting them written and downloading/organizing photos that I was embarrassed to even submit them. So, I didn't.
But, it seems like there just have never been a whole lot of photo reports for Alaska cruises during my searching the last few years, so I'm doing this anyway! By the way, our cruise was in September 2017. Some things may have changed, but most will be the same. I just hope that my crazy number of photos will show those who have never been to Alaska just why I name it my favorite trip so far. It is just gorgeous.
So, hop aboard and I hope you enjoy!
LaRose
Thank you for posting, regardless of timing. We have Alaska planned for this year and I LOVE every single picture and piece of information I can get my hands on.
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Thanks for this Live report! We board the NA at the end of the summer and this helps pass the waiting time.
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We're crazy inmates from the Pacific Northwest, so we're used to rain and chill, and we melt when it gets above 80 degrees Fahrenheit. So we did rent a Retreat Cabana on the Eurodam for our 7-day Alaska cruise last May, 2017. We got lucky with the weather. Here are some photos:
On departure day from Seattle:
https://twocruisingsisters.files.wordpress.com/2017/05/img_0027.jpg
Glacier Bay Day:
https://twocruisingsisters.files.wordpress.com/2017/05/img_0356.jpg
Split Pea soup, a Holland America tradition, and a mimosa, both enjoyed in the cabana:
https://twocruisingsisters.files.wordpress.com/2017/05/img_0449.jpg
There were some chilly and blustery days, but the cabana attendants brought us blankets and hot coffee, spiked with a little something, to help us keep warm. The weather was mostly cooperative though, and having a cabana all week really made the cruise special for my sister, who was awaiting hip and knee surgery, and couldn't maneuver her way around the outside decks and the bow as she usually does on these Alaska cruises.
Wow! Yes. That really helps me feel like we will enjoy the space and the views.
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Thanks for asking this. We’re booking the Family Retreat Cabana for Alaska, and someone asked why on Earth we would because of the chill. Now, I am worrying.
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I do think you’ll be fine but we were on the Eurodam and the people in the cabana next to us complained a a couple that had another couple hanging out with them in a standard cabana.
The attendants Explained to the complainers that they could have their friends drop in to visit but, after a while, when it became clear that the visitors had no plans to leave, the attendants politely asked the visitors to leave. We felt that the people weren’t making noise, etc. but we think the attendants felt pressure from the other cabana residents (the one couple who complained) so they had to enforce the rules.
I do think there is a difference between hosting another couple in a cabana the whole time and having our kids visit us in ours. If it becomes a problem, we’ll kick them out OR rent another for the remaining days - I just don’t see any of us sitting in a different cabana than the family one, so I’d rather use the $$ for other things. Hopefully, there won’t be anyone complaining or counting. Equally as hopefully, the teen club will be interesting enough for the kids that it’s not an issue.
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We did the same thing for our February (school vacation week) cruise on the Nieuw Amsterdam, since the 2 Family Retreat Cabanas were already booked when I tried to reserve one the August prior to the cruise. We were hosting our son, his wife and two teen daughters so this arrangement (booking both a Retreat Cabana for us and a LIdo Cabana for them) worked out well since they had a dedicated place to connect and we had our own place to relax. During the week, the Cabana Stewards mentioned several times that our family was welcome to come up to visit us, but we didn't take them up on that offer. So I think the rules are not set in stone and you'll be fine with your one Family Retreat Cabana. The main thing to keep in mind is that the area is supposed to be a "retreat" and many (like me) like to read, snooze, have lunch and quiet conversation, etc. Based on your posts, I think your family of 5 will be fine with what you've booked.
Thanks for the real-world feedback. Since there really hasn’t been anyone saying the area is very strict, and I know we will behave (and tip!) I do think we’ll be fine. And if it is not fine, either we’ll get another adjacent cabana or we won’t allow more than 4 at a time to use it.
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I will be honest and say that I am glad they do not allow the option to add more people because there are some people who will run the attendants ragged with food orders and drink orders etc. Then when other people want to get a drink they have to wait unnecessarily.
I have seen supervisors come up and tell people that they have too many people in their cabana so I think it depends on complaints from other users, again I’m speculating, and what the attendants themselves can see being a problem.
I think they could still limit it. There’s easily room for 6-8 in there, and they could do a 4 included $30 extra per person type of thing. I guess it would be a bigger deal on warm cruises?
I am 100% sure we would not run anyone ragged OR garner any complaints from other cruisers. The teens are quiet and will likely be listening to their headphones or reading a book. They may have 0 interest in coming up there regardless. We’ll adjust our usage and expectations according to how it goes the first day or so.
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I’m not trying to be snarky, I swear! I’m just curious why you would have a cabana on a trip to AK? Cabanas are outside by a pool correct?
We’ll be sailing to AK in mid-July and it sounds like it will be quite chilly on deck most days. Are the cabanas heated?
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We’re booking the family cabana up on the deck that’s uncovered....mostly because the kids have an inside cabin and I figured we’d want to be up on the deck together over crowded onto our balcony. We’ll be super happy to have a place to sit and hang, where the teenagers can find us and us find them. My mother in law is considering the trip as well, and since she would be a single cruiser in an inside cabin, I thought maybe she would use it too. I guess I am a true Floridian, because it never even dawned on me that it would be too chilly to use it.
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Last year HAL started offering deals with non-refundable fares...which would get the booker a lower fare. NOT! What happens is that if and when HAL further reduces the fare (even well below what was booked with their non-refundable fare) they will not allow you to re-price the cruise. So what HAL has done is lock the customer into a higher fare. The only alternative is to cancel the booking, sacrifice the deposit, and then perhaps rebook (or maybe just forget it and look to a different cruise line).
So I will repeat my warning...do not make the mistake we made and get sucked into a non-refundable fare and think you are getting a good deal! You are likely getting screwed.....
Hank
Yes! We had the same thing happen. The only silver lining is that I don’t even look at the pricing anymore. Cross that off my list of worries!
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Found this on the "Manage My Bookings", "Buy Gifts and Indulgences Page" for an upcoming cruise:
So it does still say 15 beverages total. It wasn't easy to find though and they've gotten rid of the search feature for the site, it seems.
Do you know where I could find a price list for bottled water, soda, and coffee on board? I can not imagine 15 glasses of wine a day, so looking to figure out if this is a value for me.
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Good Hobby Camera for Alaska
in Photo & Camera Discussions
Posted
No joke! I am almost more excited about the camera than the trip. I know I won’t even be able to scratch the surface by the time we leave for this trip, but I can tell I am going to love learning how to use it well. I truly appreciate all the advice.