Nikon vs Sony: Wildlife Photography (D850 vs a7R III vs a9)

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Chelsea's trying to decide if she should switch to the mirrorless full-frame Sony a7R III (sdp.io/a7r3). So far, the Sony has won for travel photography and portraits. Will Sony beat Nikon for wildlife photography? Chelsea's standard wildlife photography rig is the Nikon D850 (sdp.io/d850), the Nikon 600mm f4 (sdp.io/n600) and the Nikon 1.4X teleconverter. Sony doesn't currently have a 600mm f/4 lens, but they do have a 400mm f/2.8 (sdp.io/s400gm), and with a 2X teleconverter, the focal length and speed are about the same. Can the a7R III keep up with the D850's focusing? Is the image quality good enough despite needing a 2X teleconverter? How does the Sony a7R III's higher frame rate and silent shooting factor in? And what about the Sony a9-which has an incredible 20 FPS frame rate and a better focusing system?
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[@AnandSriraman]

Curious to know whether you tried using the a7r3 without the teleconverter? Perhaps that makes focusing worse?

[@TonyAndChelsea]

Yeah it def makes it worse, but we can't always get closer to wildlife. We need to match the 600 f4 + 1.4x.

[@AnandSriraman]

@@TonyAndChelsea Sounds fair enough. But makes me wonder, given your results, if one had to use the a7r3, would it be better to not use the teleconverter and crop the photo instead? With the 42MP sensor, it sounds like that might be a better alternative.

[@blakeparry1983]

@@AnandSriraman might as well use the A9 if you're cropping - or the D850 and get all the MP

[@brois841]

@@AnandSriraman the point is that the D850 gives you 45MP resolution without cropping, so you preserve even more details. I think the test is fair, since it's not a 'scientific test' but rather a real-world feeler. My bet it Chelsea might switch to the A9 in the future. Yes, you give up resolution, but the overall package is so much lighter and more versatile, not even getting into specs. If you can nail great shots, 24MP is plenty!

[@AnandSriraman]

@@brois841 Oh, definitely. I don't doubt the tests or the results. I do think that the D850 or a9 are better choices for wildlife. I was just thinking that if you already owned an a7r3 and wanted to do wildlife, then was it better to use a teleconverter to fill the frame or not use it and crop the photo in post for better focusing and a faster aperture. If the focusing without the teleconverter isn't much better on the a7r3 than with it, it's definitely better to use the converter. That's what I wanted to know.

[@GWStudiosGB]

Hi both, not really related to this video but just wondering - does the colour sampling pattern when filming in 4:2:0 or 4:2:2 change in between frames, i.e. is it always the same pixel on the sensor that has colour data recorded or does this move around? Also are still images always colour sampled at 4:4:4?

[@drummingspain207]

I recently switched to Sony and bought the A9. It’s so much fun to use and I’ve never had so many keepers, it’s really changed my photography.... I love it!

[@Jeff-jg7jh]

I "switched", but it was in a milisecond. I went to the famous camera store nearby. I looked at cameras in the case. The next week I went back and looked again. I was going to buy the Big Camera(no research, unlike me) then I noticed the smaller camera. "What's that", I asked. I bought the NEX 6 just for the size. Three cameras later, A6300. I still have a feeling for the D7100 I rented for a couple of days. Kind of lost love.

[@Jeff-jg7jh]

I think it would pay to have someone bring the wildlife in closer than carrier a 5 ton bazooka.

[@michaelroach3553]

I went from like a 65% hit rate on Canon 80d to 90% on the a7iii. Even with the same / adapted lenses. And I don’t mean “good enough” focus, I mean perfect focus. It’s unreal

[@drummingspain207]

@@michaelroach3553 I used my Canon 1D Mark iv with a 300 f/2.8 for sporting events and my energetic dog. Like you, I was missing too many despite decent settings and no short of practice. I decided to try the autofocus system of the A9 and it's unreal. Although I don't have as much reach (70-200 f/2.8 GM), the quality of my images has improved dramatically. I'm not a 'birder', but it tracks BIF so well, I can actually think about composition while they're flying. I've got some BIF images which, up to just a couple of weeks ago, I thought would always be well out of my reach. As the Aussies say... I'm stoked!! :)

[@DennisMoncla]

@@michaelroach3553 My keeper rate skyrocketed coming from the Canon 7Dii to the Sony A7iii as well. I didn't know images could be that sharp! I totally love it for wildlife. I'm dumbfounded at Chelsea's results with the sister Riii camera. The A9 results were much more to my results but at 10fps more than me lol.

[@lintownboy]

wow that eagle shot at 04:38 thats the power of having a great sensor like the D850, amazing photo.

[@MrMuleTech]

Too true, a great shot that is... however I'm confident both the Sony A7Riii and A9 would have also nailed that shot perfectly well... It's shot from a fantastic angle giving the focus system a much easier job and also provides great contrast as well.

[@prestonflick5359]

I own an a7r3 and a sony 400 2.8 and i never had the out of focus problems you mentioned...

[@TonyAndChelsea]

Have you shot it with the 2x side by side with the D850 + 1.4x? That's what we did.

[@prestonflick5359]

The 400 2.8 I have not used my teleconverters yet, nor have I ever used anything but Sony mirrorless. But I went on weeks of safari and birding using mainly a7r3, and at times my a9, using the 2x teleconverter often and 1.4x. For fairly still subjects I had no focusing problems, like you showed with a perched bird. With all that said, I’m currently selling my a7r3 because I vastly prefer using the a9.

[@prestonflick5359]

For the a7r3 I find continuous AF in normal wide mode to track wildlife the best, but the tracking feature on the a9 is almost cheating

[@rvg1997]

That was your first mistake. The A7RIII will work flawlessly with the 1.4 but with the 2.0 it does not do as well. I use 1.4 with the A7RIII and have taken over 40 shots( BIF's) in a burst with everything in sharp focus.

[@milanmedek3555]

You are the best

[@PavlosPapageorgiou]

Casually holding up a decent car's worth of gear...

[@karyleianawildernesscapes]

Lol right?!

[@ggreyshade]

both of these a9 and a7r III were updated to the recent firmware too?

[@Prafulla_Nighot]

What happen to your continues shooting in a7riii , something wrong with it. Same happened with my camera i did reset everything, and and shooting works seamlessly again. I did reset on reset thing on a7iii. Please try this at once.

[@TrailQuest]

Check out a7R3 Menu 1/submenu 5/Priority Set in AF-S or Priority Set in AF-C. My camera was originally set to Balanced Emphasis. This could be why some of your images are out of focus.

[@DennisKapatos]

I wonder if AF with the A7R3 would have been better without the teleconverter?

[@nobimathew9092]

How to White balance.d 850..In white balance bracketing only magenta and green..No blue and amber ?

[@vladepast4936]

Does the Riii has a new firmware or it is still an old one? Thank you. For the video.

[@ScottSmith-td3pe]

I can rely on my D850 to do everything I need it to phenomenally, and then some. Don't feel the need to switch to mirrorless for my pro bodies at all. If something ain't broke don't fix it. I do kinda get a little GAS for the in body image stabilization though, gotta admit, that would be nice sometimes.

[@bobsharpie6583]

Slow shutter speed Ibis is good for a soft focus effect with all edges sharp,

[@c.raychowdhury7388]

Great video...loved the comparisons and the conclusion. Do you always use a grip with the D850 for wildlife?

[@jasond1500]

Thanks guys, Currently shooting with a lumix g9 w/ 100-400mm tracking is alright and the 800mm equivalence gives it decent reach but I find it lacking a bit in the sharpness/resolution department. Talking to someone while I was shooting in a refuge he was using a 5DSR with a 400 2.8 and my god were his photos sharp just looking at the back screen even heavily cropped in. I was waffling with the A9 but with only 24mp I fear I'll have basically the same issue perhaps not as bad with the sharper 2.8 glass but not worth dropping $15k. Curious if you'll do a follow up with the A7RIV?

[@Abhi-ul5nv]

What's the buffer size of the sony A9? And D850?

[@Djoarhet001]

So I would like to get into the Sony system. I mainly do landscape photography but wildlife always captures my attention. I was debating between the a7III and the a7rIII. But now I feel like I should also consider the a9, but it's so goddamn expensive. Any recommendations?

[@Camrographer]

have you considered a gimble with a monopod to give you additional support? Or does that get in the way of your composition/reaction time?

[@TonyAndChelsea]

We'll use support if we're in a blind waiting for an animal to appear. It just gets in the way if you might shoot flying birds.

[@Camrographer]

@@TonyAndChelsea That makes sense. Thank you for replying!

[@ashwinmistry9464]

Thanks for great information I like Sony glass mainly 200-600 but I am using Nikon d500 with 200-500. Do you thing which other Sony camera give good enjoyment and budget friendly? A9 is good option but which other can you recommend?

[@simianinc]

I’m curious to know how the a7iii compares. Apparently, it shares some of the sensor focusing features with the a9 that the a7r III does not. Maybe the A7III could be like the d500 is to the Nikon line or the 7D Mk II is to Canon - a lower priced camera that can be used for sport/wildlife.

[@garyroach2000]

Nice comparison. Unfortunately both are too big and too expensive for me at this point.

[@tegelfloorbreda3786]

For almost every one

[@grandpa212]

This is why we need the a9R XD

[@JetBen555]

42mp @ 20fps 😁😁

[@Originalimoc]

@@JetBen555 I think it's doable and coming.

[@dykemamechanical]

or an a7r iv....

[@KenCheng]

my bet is that the a9 MkII will be at least 36MP, but I don't think they will ever release a "R" for the a9 series. But I could be wrong

[@anandhua.b4589]

@@KenCheng I'm from the future and a9ii has almost all the same specs

[@randomstuff53078]

What about changing the D500 with 200-500 for the A9 with the new 200-600? Would you do that change?

[@childchanel]

Guys, would you recommend me to buy eos RP or something different, as my first full frame... usually I'm shooting architecture/cityscapes, and sometimes stars and landscapes....now I'm using 1200d

[@brois841]

What's your budget? What features are important to you? For example: resolution, image quality, ease of use, price, ergonomics, specific lens availability, etc. There are so many factors. EOS RP is generally considered 'meh,' compared to other modern cameras available, but it'll still a huge upgrade to your 1200d and one of the cheapest (new) FF options available. Consider your lens choices as well.

[@dykemamechanical]

no. I tried it. Spend a few hundred more and get the Sony A7iii or the canon R if you must stay Canon. The RP is SLOW....... very slow....... did I say it is slow?

[@childchanel]

Thank you guys for replying... considering that I don't shoot any actions, one-two times per year....fps for me isn't problem....and budget I can push max to 1300$...so I don't know...main question is for me is it good for cityscapes and architecture....and lenses, here I can find in very good condition, secondhand, fairly cheap....so is it go or pass 😀

[@brois841]

​@@childchanel again, you're moving from an old Canon APS-C, so any FF would be an upgrade. I wouldn't rely on the RP for even once-per-year action shooting. Anyway, your best bet is EF glass; huge secondary market and lots of good glass out there for relatively little money. The only question is, do you adapt it to the Canon EOS RP or the Sony A7 II w/MC11 or maybe even a used Canon FF? Personally, I think I'd go for the RP... adapting is natively supported, most of the things that are crippled shouldn't effect you, it's a newer system, you'll have access to RF glass in the future and it's more user-friendly.

[@gewglesux]

I think a Gitzo tripod, BH55 and a Wemberly swivel might sort out the weight issue

[@camerasutra247]

Exactly real wildlife photoraphers have proper gimbals I will do my video on the A7Riii and show that it is a amazing camera even for wildlife.

[@gewglesux]

I’m almost there. I’m waiting for the new 500mm. That and the wemberly and I’m good to go. I’m new to wildlife shooting. I’m sure I’ll screw it up somehow.

[@james26bmouth]

Would you consider the a7iii for wildlife due to auto focus system being similar to the a9?

[@TonyAndChelsea]

It's def not as fast as the a9.

[@james26bmouth]

@@TonyAndChelsea that is very true but much less expensive

[@lourivera913]

A couple of points: Yes, a 600mm lens is heavier than a 400mm lens but the point should be that one of these companies HAS A 600mm LENS and the other DOESN'T. The D850 is not a competitor to the A9. The goalposts are being moved here. The competitor to the A9 is the D5. This should be at least mentioned in the review. Lastly, why no comment on the handling of these long lenses with each company's grips and bodies? Good weight balance while not getting hand cramps is important to pro photographers.

[@Everest314]

Good points. Nikon has a 400/2.8 as well right? Why not compare those two? 4:34 sounds like she does like the Nikon grip better, though.

[@lourivera913]

@@Everest314 Exactly. Nikon has a 400/2.8. Comparisons should be apples to apples regarding lens weight. I did miss her comment on the grip. My fault. I just think it's a huge factor with these cameras given that image quality is so good with all of them. Shooting comfort is a big deal for not missing shots.

[@Everest314]

@@lourivera913 I guess that depends a lot on your physique. Then again, if those big lenses don't give you back problems etc. they are probably a good workout. :D It probably also depends on whether you drive the lenses around in your car to your locations or carry them around yourself. For me, the 150-600 lenses are already too big and heavy and I opted for a 100-400 because I want to carry it with me on hikes and in the hand luggage on planes etc.

[@lourivera913]

@@Everest314 No doubt, for the weight, different people with different physiques will have different experiences. What I was referring to is the deeper grips on some cameras (like Nikon) handle the weight much better in terms of hand comfort. I shot the A7Riii and the Nikon Z7 before deciding on purchasing the D850. Before trying them, I was willing to finally switch to a mirrorless system. While I found the Z7 grip a big improvement over the Sony, I still felt it was still too small to shoot a 70-200 or larger all day.

[@Everest314]

@@lourivera913 Ah you meant the body grip, sorry. Yeah, I also prefer the heftier grip of a DSLR. Even a smaller DSLR on a bigger tele lens feels a bit weird to me. But as the lens grows into those enormities like a 400/2.8 or 600/4, do you really still notice that much of a difference anymore?

[@Noealz]

I got nervous just watching you dual wield those lenses, I can't imagine dropping one ㅠㅠ

[@4thNebula]

Chelsea-I really appreciate your practical real world comments and comparisons as well as comments about aesthetics on the photos. I really feel I can understand what gear to use and how.

[@dynamicworld6822]

Dear Sir/Madam I'm interested to buy a6400 camera for wildlife photography, please suggest me. My budget $700 to $900 , I'm confused about d7200 n a6400... Which is best for wildlife photography?

[@TonyAndChelsea]

check sdp.io/whichcamera

[@orangeblack1285]

I wonder if the 1.4x converter would make a difference on the a7. I had heard much more good about the 1.4x then about the 2x one

[@bobk4438]

I can't afford anything in this video.

[@williamvesterberg1107]

What about now😂

[@RobBlight]

Chelsea have you tried the Nikon 500PF? I know it doesn't quite stack up to the 600/4 in terms of optical power, but it's SO easy to handle and works amazing with the D850.

[@MatthiasAI]

but the a9 is equivalent to the D5 or 1dx mk2 isnt it? This seems like a non contest but its a decent comparison in differences.

[@DennisMoncla]

But you get the same results using the A7iii as well except it only shoots 10fps. They have the same focus system.

[@Dekpk90]

How about d850 + 500pf combo for wildlife?

[@jaimeduncan6167]

They did a review, it's excellent. But you can't never have enough light or reach and they can afford the 600mm

[@gordonklau]

I wonder if you're going to do another review of this when the new Sony 200-600 5.6-6.3 lens come out in a few days. How that fares versus the 400mm 2.8 with 2x tele and the new lens with 1.4x tele.

[@sikotryne]

Was this with firmware 3 ? Was surprised the results were so bad with TC

[@barbarachamberlain5521]

Did the A7riii have the latest firmware?

[@Everest314]

3:22 - Do I want megapixels or a better chance to get a sharp image? Is that really a question that needs asking or are you just making a point?

[@stuartschaffner9744]

@Mr. Kattan , that sounds reasonable. I notice that sports images often have an adrenaline-buzzy edge to them. I have heard some wedding photographers say that they like a bit of softness.

[@hiepvophan]

@Mr. Kattan She said she's not going to make the switch now with Wild Life since the D850 is good enough for tracking and she prefers the OVF experience. And I agreed with her. the D850 has the resolution, the tracking ability, fps and the OVF instead of compromising between the low res A9 and high res A7RIII. Of course, this could very well be different when Sony releases the 600/4. For my style, the A9 is a perfect camera.

[@mspates5982]

This was a very good comparison! I am a landscape and wildlife photographer living in Florida! I shoot with the a7r Mark 3 for all. One thing I would question is whether or not Chelsea turned off image stabilization in her camera when she was panning. Normally for birds in Flight you're shooting at a higher ISO and you don't need image stabilization. That image stabilization when panning can work against you, causing your images to be blurry. There's no doubt about it the A9 with the new firmware 3, is awesome at tracking birds in flight. The hit rate on a Sony A9 is a lot better then on my a7r Mark 3. I don't use the teleconverter on my Sigma 150 to 600 mm unless I'm dealing with birds or animals that are not moving very fast. In most cases before I put the teleconverter on I'm always shooting with the 1.5 crop in camera which gives me right around 19 megapixels. It's almost like looking through a telescope. But I get the shot and it's always Sharp. I never use that combination for birds in Flight it just does not work.

[@MeAMuse]

Hey Chelsea - Cool video! Surprised at how poor the A7R3 was, may have to wait for A7R4 or A9R.... I do have a question though - Did you happen to get a feel of whether an A73 would be closer to A9 or A7R3 in terms of AF performance for wildlife?

[@bunkermagnus]

I liked this video, because I could watch you talk about paint dry, and enjoy it! :)

[@rjgthuro]

Could you please do a video on teleconverter f stop loss in different shooting scenarios? I was shooting eagles in a Alaska with the a9, 100-400 G master, and a 2x. There was a distinct loss in both clarity and color when I got to those longer ranges. That paired with the 24mp resolution cost me some keepers but I ultimately got the shot (editing for sharpness required unfortunately). Thank you and awesome video!

[@rjgthuro]

@@markrigg6623 I think it was "condensed" for sure but not a terrible video. To say that the Riii is worthless for wildlife is absurd, but these are honest "opinions". They're allowed that.

[@MrMuleTech]

Question: Did you remember to set the "Display Quality" & ""Finder Frame Rate" to "High" in the menu? (I've found this helps with fast-moving subjects and interested to know what settings you were using). Also as per Douglas Squires comment, did you also check your settings on the focus system to get the best out of the A7Riii?

[@TonyAndChelsea]

Yes to both. We've also been working with the Sony engineers. The a7R III just doesn't have the most powerful focusing system... you'll notice with the new lenses that they only loan the reviewers the a9.

[@MrMuleTech]

@@TonyAndChelsea very interesting, thanks very much for the confirmation... I might need to try that so some time.. only have the 7Rii and 7Riii currently and find the later much better.. not had issues outdoors yet but indoors I do at times but in low light..

[@rlpring78]

Can you re-do this test using the new Sony 600mm with the A9 & A73?

[@vhc7764]

Also in inclimate weather.

[@vivekanandareddychundi5230]

how about Nikon p 1000 compared to the above 2 cameras for Wildlife photography?

[@TheAegisClaw]

That's a joke right?

[@Photo-ms1mo]

I wonder how the Sony A99 would compare..?

[@guyjordan8201]

Bring on the a9R. THough comparing the 600 to the 400 was not going to end well for the Sonys.

[@rlpring78]

How about the A7III?

[@michaelliang2855]

I have information from other a7Riii user saying no problem with Sony's 100-400 mm with 1.4x extender. Don't know if it is just the 2x teleconverter problem.

[@johnclarke9506]

Michael Liang I have the a7r3, 100-400 and 1.4x extender. It’s not a rig for fast moving wildlife. You will get a keeper or two but not many. I use it for more static wildlife and lunar silhouettes. Moon moves slowly enough for me!

[@danielmolina7834]

I think the evf looks worse because of the refresh rate?

[@eei6255]

Absolutely Fabulous Video Thanks Always Enjoyed !

huh okay interesting... i think i have to try the d850 xD i have the a7rIII and i'm ultra happy i must say, you had the firmware update for animal eyeaf right? idk maybe i'm fanboying too much with the sony but i'm happy ^^

[@johnbonotto7637]

Chelsea we need the A 7R IV in flight bird review!

[@Chopperbob56]

Great Job Chelsea !!! All great cameras but I still always end up loving the 850 resolution.

[@MSchumacherfan]

I wish you included the Nikon d500 🙏🏻

[@minusinfinity6974]

George Coleman I have the D500 and the A9 and I do not have the EVF issues Chelsea was complaining about. The A9 is superior to the D500 and from what I can gather the D500 has a slight edge over the D850 in AF. I also own the A7R3 and it’s not in the same class as the A9 or D500, but it is not terrible and I am able to get a good % of keepers with the A7RIII, but the others are much higher keeper rate. The good news the next gen EVF from Sony is a big step up in resolution and refresh rate so I doubt there’ll be any complaints about EVF after that. I wouldn’t swap my D500 for the D850 for birding since I spend so much time cropping I rarely would get the benefit of the extra resolution of the D850. Also you need the grip and bigger battery and adapter to get the D850 to 9fps and then it weighs 0.5kg more than the D500 and has a smaller buffer and costs over 2x as much.

[@mnstar53]

The D500 is a joke. I had one for three weeks and sent it back. If you are comparing crop sensor to crop sensor cameras, I guess it comes out all right. But far too much noise when compared to a full frame camera, and while the focus may be fast it is not accurate.

[@jpdj2715]

Tried Nikon PF glass?

[@theosphilusthistler712]

Based on this I'll speculate that Chelsea can open pickle jars.

[@jackolantern7254]

She opens jars for Tony & Justin 😂

[@JohnDrummondPhoto]

Chelsea closes jars extra tight just to tick Tony off.

[@adamaj74]

Yep, I believe she is Xelayan.

[@_rhapsodist]

Are you guys going to the Sony announcement?

[@neelsfer]

How would the Canon Eos R feature with focusing etc

[@TonyAndChelsea]

Oh it's REAL bad with telephoto lenses. Check our EOS R review; we tried it with the 600 f4.

[@mvdeehan]

What about this animal eye SW upgrade for the A7RIII? Did you have it?

[@TonyAndChelsea]

Oh that's not useful for this stuff at all, but yeah, we have that FW update.

[@mvdeehan]

Thanks for the quick response!

[@duncanwallace7760]

I agree about EVFs. I really don't like them as much as optical, despite their obvious advantages.

[@HappyGrl41]

How many times a week do you work out your arms and shoulders to be able to lift any of those huge lenses? Even if I could afford any of that gear, I wouldn't be able to lift it.

[@IEnjoyCreatingVideos]

Great video Chelsea! Thanks for sharing it with us.👌👍😎JP

[@AlanMorrisSF]

You mentioned a few times, the feature of the Nikon that keeps me with it: The experience of shooting with the optical viewfinder. I feel more confident with the Nikon than I do with the sony, even if the results are comparable.

[@ke3vgm747]

Chelsea, thanks for the video and appreciate the effort here. I do have the both lens and camera setup and strictly used tor the wildlife for almost an year now, I do understand your comments regarding A7R3 EVF and 400mm, it takes sometime to get used to by it. With A7R3 , I only used 1.4 TC and 400MM, the AF slows down with 2X TC in low light situation so I rarely use it for the BIF with 2X TC. Nikon 600MM and 600 E FL is great setup and used mostly to shoot the eagles at Conowingo dam and it does a great job. For the Sony, it take some time to get used to with EVF but if you use long enough, it is a great setup for wildlife, lately 90% of my outing involves 400MM + 1.4 TC with A7R3, and 100-400 GM with A9, I love handholding and this is a great setup for that. I don't think that I have missed any shot with this setup, after some practice. The point is that you need spend some more time before you make decision on performance, I had the same feeling initialy but now I have change my mind and actually waiting for 600mm from Sony so I can settle with one system, it's hassle to maintain both system. I do enjoy your videos and hope to see the comparison again in future after some use.

[@aengusmacnaughton1375]

Cool -- might have missed a few things -- was the Sony 400mm lens on top of a 2x teleconverter (giving you 800mm)? And the A9 really did a lot better than the A7RIII -- what's the rough price difference between the two cameras? Maybe the next-gen Sony will have all of the great features of the A9 but with a better EVF....

[@HSNG10]

Were you using the 2x convertor with the Sony's? That'll explain your AF frustration, especially with the a7RIII. Should redo this with the new Sony 200600 and the 600 prime lens.

[@subirthapa8542]

Maybe compare the D5 and the A9 with same lenses too, than A7r3 and D850, I would suggest you guys comparing the D850 and A7r3 for day to day and Street Actions

[@vivekhura]

Hi Tony n Chelsea i was desperately waiting for this video as i am just upgrading from my Canon 77d+55-250 stm for wildlife (mamals mainly)photography.I was considering d850+200-500 f5.6 nikon combo,i have tried the combo and love it...would be upgrading to a prime later.Then this mirrorless is the future and Sony leads the pack thing caught me,so i considered a7riii+100-400gm combo but couldnt get to try one long enough.I appreciate the lightweight nature of combo but the Sony body feels too slippery , the grip feels inadequate and the buttons feel fiddly whereas with d850 i find the feel very natural in my hand the button layout is very logical and well designed.Can you guys please make a comparison video with the entry level lenses too.I would be building up an entire system now either with sony mirrorless or nikon dslr and i want it to be futureproof too...please suggest which one to choose...

[@MsPernickety]

Why did you use the A7R3 it is not an action camera. You don't mention what Fstops or settings you use either.

[@andrzejjaniak6849]

Neither is d850 and it still does a better job. She uses high mega pixel cameras as she shoots other types of photography as well, it is a comprehensive comparison.

[@mvdeehan]

I almost bought the a7RIII and 3 lenses. I think I will wait now. Not going to start with a D850. Wonder if I can rent a camera.

[@Noizydev]

Cant i vlog with thats?

[@daffandrifaizz9064]

Yes you can bro! 🤣

[@PKmode]

So just a couple of things to mention. One, I think removing the 2.0TC and replacing it with the 1.4 would have yielded better results. Particularly for the R3 as once focus was nailed, cropping in would have given a similar or better result to the A9 with 2.0. Second, if you wanted the frame rate higher on the R3, turn the electronic shutter back on. It sounded like it was on mechanical and limited, hence the slower FR. Regardless, great content as always.

[@natekong3596]

Canon: "Am I a joke to you? "

[@deeyammy783]

LOL!

[@MrRaikorish]

Yes u r my friend 😆

[@michaelroach3553]

They’ve crippled their mirrorless so bad, lightweight is their selling point 👀

[@touringband]

Michael Roach crippling their cameras usually implies they’re holding back features. From what we can see at the moment, canon doesn’t have any advanced features for mirrorless yet anyway :-P

[@jamesdiederichs1382]

Yes, the biggest.

[@sgpork]

Dont have the 400mm prime.. but i do have the 100-400. Very often. i find even 400mm isnt enough for wildlife.. Unless you are sure you can go nearer to the subject.. 400mm for sports is good though.. i feel.

[@JohnDrummondPhoto]

I finally gave up my beloved Canon 400mm F/5.6L for a Tamron 150-600 F/5-6.3 G2 because the Canon just wasn't long enough for wildlife, especially birds. I wish it were faster but I don't have $10K lying around for a 600mm F/4.

[@mauriceaustin3442]

what about the Panasonic S1? Have you considered it? Went to the camera shop to buy the a7RIII and they changed my mind. I love it

[@TonyAndChelsea]

No wildlife lenses at all for it.

[@guilhermeteixeira3841]

Tony and chelsea I have a huge doubt! Every time that you buy a lens you need to calibrate the autofocus? Do you think that is very important?

[@TonyAndChelsea]

No don't do that unless you're having an AF problem where it is consistently missing focus in the wrong direction.

[@guilhermeteixeira3841]

@@TonyAndChelsea thanks for the advice :)

[@AlphaShooters]

Great comparison Chelsea. I can only dream of owning that 400mm GM! I took my a7R III + 100-400 GM to Borneo shooting wildlife last year and can't say I had any issues with tracking or nailing the shots. The low light under the forest canopy was more of a challenge though, the 400/2.8 would have been most welcome! Sure the tracking on the a9 is faster and I generally prefer to grab the a9 for birds in flight, but the cropping power of the a7R III still makes it a powerful tool for wildlife shooters.

[@theboss069]

You should have made a fair comparison without the teleconverter and same lenses. Teleconverter always limit focusing and image quality. Also I think it was bad settings and human error not getting the bird focused, because hundreds of other reviews on KZbin conclude much better focusing performance with the A7r III.

[@nordic5490]

Ismail Gündogan on the birding forums people are not using the a7r3.

[@TonyAndChelsea]

There is no Sony 600mm f4, that's why we had to use the 400mm f2.8 with an extra TC. And trust me, we know how to focus the Sony. We've been trained by their engineers. We use the a7R III ALL THE TIME. And we got the a9 to focus just fine.

[@theboss069]

@@TonyAndChelsea I shot birds a few times with my A7 III and 70-300 4.5-5.6 G and got at least 80% of the shots in focus. I can't imagine the A7r III being that worse and other reviews suggest that also. What is your general experience with AF tracking of the A7r III? Is it always like in the video or is it significantly better without the teleconverter?

[@Wychfyre_]

Would it not be fair to use a 400mm with 2x tele on the Nikon too?

[@Wychfyre_]

for weight comparison at least

[@MikeHeller]

@@Wychfyre_ or a 600mm on a Sony? Wait, you can't... :)

[@MrPiffSmiff]

Or a 500mmPF

[@TonyAndChelsea]

The incumbent is the 600 f4 and Sony doesn't have a 600.

[@anthonyngochoch3496]

Teleconverters (esp 2X used here) impacts significantly on the AF performance so it'd only be fair to use it without the Teleconverter to evaluate AF versus Nikon

[@ih1786]

Thanks Chelsea - one of the most honest reviews I've seen in a long time.

[@Kit2Canada]

You'd not recommend a monopod?

[@TonyAndChelsea]

In some situations but not flying birds

[@LandscapePhotoSurvival]

We need to give much more time producers to align mirrorless system to wildlife photography. First of all- batteries. This thing needs improvment because everything needs power, more than dslr Second- body reaction when is in sleep mode and you wait for animal. Takes too much time and evf is basically a screen so when is really dark every light is like lighthouse. (Dslr top screen too) Third- with dslr vf you can watch particular part of terrain even when camera is sleeping I agree that ML system is future but I personally waiting for wildlife improvments.

[@stuartschaffner9744]

I really like this comparison review, but wildlife is a big subject. For a good second opinion, I would check out Mark Smith from Florida. He shoots mostly birds and uses both Nikon and Sony. However for Sony, all he uses is the A9 with the GM 100-400mm f/4-5.6. Many of his shots either use this lens straight or with the 1.4x teleconverter. There is also the issue of weight, as Chelsea mentioned. Mark Smith and a number of other wildlife photographers also mention this. I certainly hope that, whenever Sony gets around to releasing normal-sized wildlife glass, they include the lightweight technology of the f/2.8. The primary competition for those of us who care about weight would be the Nikon 500mm f/5.6 (not 4, sorry) with the phase-Fresnel lens. I haven’t personally used it, but many wildlife photographers rave about its light weight.

[@Trigger-xw9gq]

Um, the 500PF is not an f/4.

[@stuartschaffner9744]

C F , sorry. It’s an f/5.6.

[@HS-fk6hb]

Love these kind of video's!!😁

[@Matthews_Media]

I would really be interested in seeing a video on how the Sony a6400 + 200-600mm compares to other cameras for wildlife like the D500 + 200-500mm. (Budget under $2000 used) I am on the fence between those two but I am looking to capture mostly wildlife video so I am leaning towards the Sony a6400 with 200-600mm. You've done some short reviews on the a6400 but nothing in depth.. Especially combined with the 200-600mm..Would be awesome!

[@bobhowtoandtravel9551]

Because it was so annoying, I made a video on how to stop taking blurry photos on the A7III using auto iso SS to force ibis to work right

[@stefanski8620]

Why aren't you using D500 for wildlife instead of D850?

[@MidsierramusingBlogspot]

I use the A7R3 when I expect perched shots like with nests. I use the A9 with BIF. Can't be the resolution of the A7R3

[@MichaelKantormusic]

Do you feel there is a big difference in image quality with more megapixels ? On a sunny day it’s great but once I crank up the iso in my a7r4 it all goes bad. Been debating trying the a9(2). Thanks in advance for the reply.

[@pauloclemente8892]

great video

[@MrBrendanLowe]

For someone that's wanting to street photograph, landscape and buildings, was wondering if the vast collective minds here can recommend a camera that primarily has outstanding image quality, and where video is not an issue? Budget is $2000

[@rogerashley8616]

Glad to see ya'll doing bird photography videos again. Nice !

[@zhizuke1]

Why don't you try the nikon mirrorless z6/z7?

[@TonyAndChelsea]

We've tried it. It's not a contender. Check our Z6 review.

[@lindamcmullin785]

Thank you for including the a9 in this review! I was thinking of trading in my a9 for an a7riii for wildlife and birds in flight for increased "cropability" and resolution and you may've just saved me from a bad mistake. Appreciate it a lot, and thanks for all the hard work and explanations y'all give to help us out!

[@brois841]

You may not have noticed, but this video was conveniently sponsored by LensRentals. They do body rentals too ;). I wouldn't rely just on this brief test to make a major decision like that. Definitely try it and see how it works for YOU. There are always so many variables, everything from camera settings, the particular lens/TC, expectations, style of shooting, firmware and whatever else. You wouldn't make a car buying decision based on a review and someone else's opinion, would you? I'd go test drive something that's of interest to me.

[@lindamcmullin785]

@@brois841 Good points. Just wish I didn't have to choose between the a9's no-blackout shooting, speed and accuracy, and the a7riii's better resolution yet fewer in-focus shots. From everything I've researched, these are the choices... Irritating. But you're right, I could certainly try one out for myself. I tend to forget about renting. Thx!😊

[@elementrage]

When did y'all record this? It's June and you're in a puffer coat!

[@heritageparkinc]

I thought it was me!!! I used the A7RIII at an airshow, and I missed soooooo many shots. I think next time I’m going to rent an A9 and see if I can different results.

[@JoSe-rl1wk]

Well, i don‘t get the argument of the weight. Any camera with a 600mm lens on it will be heavier than one with a 400mm lens.

[@leokudara2497]

Rpg?

[@shankhanilsarkar2161]

Please redo this kind of field test with new sony 600mm gm & 200-600mm g lens...😃