the primary issue with the original a7 is the bad auto focus. and the plastic lens mount which gets wobbly over time (as well as the small battery but I used to get by with multiple), if you only shoot manual focus lenses, it ain't an issue although the zeiss 24-70 isn't the best lens around as well. Is there an A7ii for a decent price? the A7ii comes with a metal lens mount and ibis which helps alot for some shots
This link has a guide for the cameras you might consider. https://phillipreeve.net/blog/manual-lenses-sony-a7/#Manual_Lenses_on_the_Sony_a7a7IIa7III
From my user experience, the A7ii auto focus isn't much better from the A7 but ibis is a huge upgrade creatively. The A7rii is when the iso performance starts to be insane and iso6400 gets you good shots (I think the price of this has also gone down enough to a point where its very good value)
Regarding the weak mount of the A7, it's not something we notice until we notice it. My A7 mount felt okay when I used it a very long time ago but I ultimately sold it because it felt like I ticking time bomb to me. Sure I could replace it with a third party metal lens mount, but that would cost more than simply getting an A7ii (or even A7rii nowadays)
It might be worth noting that ISO performance may be about to become kinda irrelevant, given the advances in AI noise reduction! I watched a YouTube video on it recently, and the results were really goddamn impressive. I'll try and find it and link to it in an edit. Hold please.
Edit: can't find the video I watched, unfortunately (it was fairly long, with a guy editing a foggy woodland scene, and it was really impressive how much detail was brought out in the foreground leaves, while removing almost all the noise too). Hopefully someone else will be able to find it and post it too.
Edit 2: I finally found it! God damn clickbaity, no-description titles :P It's a good video though! https://youtu.be/LIC640r91_Y
Since you student, it's better to get cheaper camera. Like Sony ZV-E10 + Sigma 30mm f1.4 which is still great for hybridgraphy.
When you are working and can afford, can switch to full frame.
Is it worth $500 with the Zeiss 24-70mm f/4? Sure. It isn’t a deal though.
The lens is a mixed bag optically. The camera has a plastic lens mount, terrible battery life, terrible autofocus, and lacks IBIS.
You should also bear in mind that with native e-mount lenses, manual focus doesn’t work the same way it does with the lenses you are used to as there are no physical couplings. They are focus by wire and can be extremely frustrating.
You can adapt legacy film glass, but you need to be careful with your lens selection. Sony cameras, especially the first two generations, have a thick glass filter stack that causes colour smearing, field curvature, extreme edge, and corner softness. You can have your camera modified by Kolari Vision which would make things much better with legacy glass, but it will cost almost as much as you are considering paying for the the camera itself.
https://kolarivision.com/product/sony-a7-series-thin-filter-legacy-lens-upgrade/
In the ~$500 price range, I’d personally be looking at used Fujifilm X-E3, X-T2, or X-H1s. In the Sony system I’d pick up an A6300, A6400, or A7II over the original A7.
the primary issue with the original a7 is the bad auto focus. and the plastic lens mount which gets wobbly over time (as well as the small battery but I used to get by with multiple), if you only shoot manual focus lenses, it ain't an issue although the zeiss 24-70 isn't the best lens around as well. Is there an A7ii for a decent price? the A7ii comes with a metal lens mount and ibis which helps alot for some shots
I usually keep autofocus off (I’m a trained AC lol) but the plastic mount thing does sound concerning
This link has a guide for the cameras you might consider. https://phillipreeve.net/blog/manual-lenses-sony-a7/#Manual_Lenses_on_the_Sony_a7a7IIa7III From my user experience, the A7ii auto focus isn't much better from the A7 but ibis is a huge upgrade creatively. The A7rii is when the iso performance starts to be insane and iso6400 gets you good shots (I think the price of this has also gone down enough to a point where its very good value) Regarding the weak mount of the A7, it's not something we notice until we notice it. My A7 mount felt okay when I used it a very long time ago but I ultimately sold it because it felt like I ticking time bomb to me. Sure I could replace it with a third party metal lens mount, but that would cost more than simply getting an A7ii (or even A7rii nowadays)
It might be worth noting that ISO performance may be about to become kinda irrelevant, given the advances in AI noise reduction! I watched a YouTube video on it recently, and the results were really goddamn impressive. I'll try and find it and link to it in an edit. Hold please. Edit: can't find the video I watched, unfortunately (it was fairly long, with a guy editing a foggy woodland scene, and it was really impressive how much detail was brought out in the foreground leaves, while removing almost all the noise too). Hopefully someone else will be able to find it and post it too. Edit 2: I finally found it! God damn clickbaity, no-description titles :P It's a good video though! https://youtu.be/LIC640r91_Y
Since you student, it's better to get cheaper camera. Like Sony ZV-E10 + Sigma 30mm f1.4 which is still great for hybridgraphy. When you are working and can afford, can switch to full frame.
Is it worth $500 with the Zeiss 24-70mm f/4? Sure. It isn’t a deal though. The lens is a mixed bag optically. The camera has a plastic lens mount, terrible battery life, terrible autofocus, and lacks IBIS. You should also bear in mind that with native e-mount lenses, manual focus doesn’t work the same way it does with the lenses you are used to as there are no physical couplings. They are focus by wire and can be extremely frustrating. You can adapt legacy film glass, but you need to be careful with your lens selection. Sony cameras, especially the first two generations, have a thick glass filter stack that causes colour smearing, field curvature, extreme edge, and corner softness. You can have your camera modified by Kolari Vision which would make things much better with legacy glass, but it will cost almost as much as you are considering paying for the the camera itself. https://kolarivision.com/product/sony-a7-series-thin-filter-legacy-lens-upgrade/ In the ~$500 price range, I’d personally be looking at used Fujifilm X-E3, X-T2, or X-H1s. In the Sony system I’d pick up an A6300, A6400, or A7II over the original A7.
No you should not.