Sony a7 III.

I have a Sony a6600 and a Sony 200-600. I was wondering if the lens I have and a Sony a7 III. would be a better match.
I still use the Nikon D850/500 f 5.6 most of the time especially for BIF and will keep them.
Thanks, Karl.

Well it depends. Basically, since the megapixels are the same but one is APS-C and the other full frame, you would need to get 1/3 of the distance you are shooting now closer for the same subject size in the frame. But the a73 will be cleaner at high ISO but the a6600 has a newer more advanced AF system...

I do think the larger body makes things a bit easier for action photography. In a money is not an object scenario, the a9II would be far superior to the a73.

I recently sold my A7-3 with Tamron 28-75 lens on it. My feeling is,I think I would like the a6600 with Sony 200-600 much better. You can always rent an A7-3 for a week or so for comparison.

Sony a9/ a9 II with 200-600 (1.4x optional) would be awesome for birds.

Thanks for your advices. a9 sounds good, maybe a used one. (cannot afford a new one)

After all I decide to buy a new Sony a7 III. I cannot afford the a9. I still have an excellent Nikon, D850 that is, for BIF shooting.
Thanks for the advices.

Karl Egressy wrote:After all I decide to buy a new Sony a7 III. I cannot afford the a9. 

Karl, I would be very interested to know how your new camera works with the Sony 200-600 mm zoom. I already have that combo and I am debating if I should get the A7R IV or the A6600 to use with the Sony zoom . I have heard many complaints that the A7R IV AF does not work well with the 200-600 in the Fred Miranda forum, but  only positive comments by EJ Peiker regarding that combo in crop mode, and have heard only good things about the A6600 coupled with the 200-600. Of course the A9's are superior, and so is the price!

Take your time using the A7 III with the zoom and then drop me a line as to how you think the AF system compares to your A6600 regarding BIF images.

KK Hui wrote:Sony a9/ a9 II with 200-600 (1.4x optional) would be awesome for birds.

The 200-600 only has the single focusing motor.  The GM lenses have dual focusing motors, and that makes the diference.

Hi Eduardo. According to a test done by British photographer(s) and published in Mirror-less Comparison Sony a6400 is third in the line up proceeding by Sony a9 and Sony a9 II.
Sony a6600 is much the same in terms of focusing.
Combined it with 200-600 lens seems to be working fairly well.
Today I was shooting with Sony a 7 III/200-600 combo, flying Ospreys and flying Terns. It worked well against blue sky and, calm water but lost the bird sometimes against trees in the background. Next time I might try a different focusing setting. (I used: tracking: flexible spot S)

Thank you Karl for your reply. My A6500 really had a lag issue vis a vis my A7III coupled with the 200-600 mm lens so I sold it to make room for either the A6600 or the A7R4. I believe these 3 cameras (A6600/A7III/A7R4) probably have similar AF capabilities, all below the A9s, but still quite capable.

I assume you are talking about the article " The Best Mirrorless Cameras for Birds in Flight Ranked"  by a Wales photographer. I have summarized his experience with Sony cameras below:

Sony A9 II $4,500
Average:.......96%. very sharp...99% sharp enough
Lens used:  FE200-600mmf5-6.3GOSS

Sony A9 $3,500
• Average: 95% very sharp   / 98% sharp enough
• Last lens used: FE 200-600mm f5-6.3 G OS

Sony A7R IV $3,200
     Average: 60%  very sharp  90% sharp enough
     Lens used: FE 200-600mm f5-6.3 G OSS

Sony A6400 $900
      Average: 80%  very sharp  /93% sharp enough
      Lens used: FE 100-400mm f4.5-5.6 GM OSS

Sony A7 III $2,000
      Average: 77%   very sharp  96% sharp enough
     Lens used: FE 100-400mm f4.5-5.6 GM OSS + TC 1.4x

Based on this article and the Fred Miranda forum, I am holding a purchase on the A7R4 to couple with the Sony 200-600mm lens as folks in that forum assume there is a backfocus issue with that combo. With a better AF GM lens, the 100-400 Sony, both the A6600 and the A7III look quite comprible as far as results in the Wales test. Maybe the crop Sony is all I need if it is equal or even better than the A7III due to reach. Anyways, I am still interested to hear from you if after getting comfortable with the A7III if that would be your preferred camera, vs. the A6600, when you go out solely for BIF action.

Hi Eduardo,
After having and trying the Sony a7 III I returned it to the store and had them ordered a Sony a7 R III as a replacement. I found that the 24 MP of the a7 III
was not enough for me. Today I used the a6600 om my 200-600 lens for BIF mostly. It performed just as well as the a7 III or better and as the pixel coverage at 1.5 crop was 24MP opposed to the a 7 III having 10MP equivalent at a crop size.
I have the Nikon D850 having 45.7 MP and I had hard time to going back on image size. I know the a7 III focuses better but I can always use the a6600 for BIF or the Nikon D850/500 f 5.6 PF ED VR for BIF, so I'm covered. I know it is hard to make a decision and it could be costly if you make the wrong one.
I would wait and do some further research if I were you.
Thanks,
Karl.

"I am also considering renting the camera prior to purchase."
Excellent idea.
Karl.