The Amazing Sony A1/A7/A9/APS-C & Anything else welcome Mega Thread!

snerkler said:
I'd need to crop mine to about 400% to get a shot like that :LOL: The other day when out on the bike I saw one hovering about 20ft up, 10 ft away from the roadside :headbang:

Edit: Here you go, 4 x enlargement in Gigapixel and 100% crop, good detail eh? :ROFLMAO: :ROFLMAO: :ROFLMAO:

View attachment 393218
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At least you can tell it was a buzzard :-)
 
nandbytes said:
I swapped from A1 to A7IV. Blackout free shooting was certainly nice but it's not end of the world.
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I'm not sure I could live without it now if I'm honest, there'd have to be something really really really great to tempt me away from it.
 
I actually prefer to have black out - it confirms I've taken a photo. If I use silent shutter on the A7 then I often wonder if the shot happened and I take many more than I want while sometimes missing some because I'm reluctant to shoot.
 
ancient_mariner said:
I actually prefer to have black out - it confirms I've taken a photo. If I use silent shutter on the A7 then I often wonder if the shot happened and I take many more than I want while sometimes missing some because I'm reluctant to shoot.
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You can set a box around the frame to flash on the A9's and A1 to show when a shot's been taken (y) I actually have the shutter sound on some of the time too.
 
ancient_mariner said:
I actually prefer to have black out - it confirms I've taken a photo. If I use silent shutter on the A7 then I often wonder if the shot happened and I take many more than I want while sometimes missing some because I'm reluctant to shoot.
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I have found the switching on the sound on the A9 helps to confirm in my mind the photo has been taken.
 
snerkler said:
You can set a box around the frame to flash on the A9's and A1 to show when a shot's been taken (y) I actually have the shutter sound on some of the time too.
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Me too
 
snerkler said:
I personally think the user experience of the A7RV will be better than the A9, better grip, better evf, better LCD, more tracking subjects....

However, the A9 does have one big ace up its sleeve, blackout free shooting.
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For action, the blackout free shooting is a game changer. I had trouble following erratic subjects before on the A7IV as each time I used the shutter it was like a glitch, and by the time you see the frame again, the subject was gone. With blackout free shooting you can follow and shoot at the same time whilst keeping the subject in your frame - definitely a big advantage for sport and action. You also know what you got - as you see what you are getting as your hold the shutter down. You see what's being captured as it's being captured unlike on the A7IV using the mechanical shutter. I find the electronic shutter on the A7IV not very useful for panning and fast action due to the way things become warped and stretched. The stacked sensor and amazing buffer are a real pleasure to use - you just have so much more control
 
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nandbytes said:
One has to make do with whatever they can afford.

Sure, I just think A7IV is better than both A9 and A9II as an overall body.
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Each has their advantages - for me - I could probably have afforded an A1 if I had sold my A7IV, but I needed 2 bodies. I'm really happy to have an A7IV and an A9. A7IV for better resolution, bird eye AF, nicer ergonomics, easier use of the menus. But the A9 doesn't wear like the A7IV which I use in mechanical shutter mode only. My A7IV is a bit expensive to use per shot compared to the A9 based on my usage.
 
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gilbouk said:
Each has their advantages - for me - I could probably have afforded an A1 if I had sold my A7IV, but I needed 2 bodies. I'm really happy to have an A7IV and an A9,
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they do indeed but "overall" as a well rounded body I prefer the A7IV.
 
nandbytes said:
One has to make do with whatever they can afford.

Sure, I just think A7IV is better than both A9 and A9II as an overall body.
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I’d have the A9II out of those (y)
 
sjh2008 said:
A quick sanity check,

I currently have an A7R2 and mostly shoot landscapes, but i am enjoying also now taking photos of wildlife / birds etc with a Sigma 100-400 lens with it set in APS-C mode for the extra reach.
I don't want to upgrade to a 200-600 due to size / weight, the 100-400 is as big as i want to carry / manage.

I have been thinking of upgrading to another body due to the slow AF of the R2 and lots of missed shots.
I am primarily an EVF shooter so a decent EVF is important to my user experience.

A7IV
2k Grey
33mp
14mp in APS-C mode
Fast AF
AI for birds
Good resolution for landscapes / wildlife
Average EVF resolution 3.69mp
Poor LCD resolution 1mp
Never going to use the Video functions
Will need to use mechanical shutter to get 10fps


A9
About 1.5k
24mp
10mp in APS-C mode
Same EVF as A7IV
Slightly better LCD resolution
Very fast AF / FPS
Electronic Shutter
NO bird AI
Blackout free EVF
Never going to use the Video functions
Never going to get firmware updates
Low resolution in APS-C mode compared to other models


A7R5
Latest model
2.8k Grey
61mp
26mp in APS-C mode
Superb EVF 9mp
Good LCD 2mp
Latest AI for birds / animals etc
Never going to use the Video functions
Will need to use mechanical shutter to get 10fps
Will get later firmware updates

I would probably most of the time shoot in MRaw at 26mp for normal photography as i dont need 61mp resolution or file sizes, and then set to 61mp when on a landscape specific outing with tripod etc.
For wildlife 61mp in crop mode so 26mp with the added 1.5x reach on the 100-400 which allows more crop ability 26mp v 14 or 10mp.

All cameras are within budget, A1 is sadly not in budget.

At this point the A7R5 is top of my list.

Have i missed anything in terms of spec / advantages / negatives of each model

Any thoughts ?
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Gold said:
Agree that the A7R5 is probably best but the other option would be to keep the A7Rii for landscapes and seeing what the rumored A6700 is like, expected announcement on 12th July.
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This ^^ sort-of works imo.

Especially so if you may be out shooting both landscapes & wildlife at the same time. Having landscape on one body & wildlife ready to go on another body can be very convenient.
 
LeeRatters said:
This ^^ sort-of works imo.

Especially so if you may be out shooting both landscapes & wildlife at the same time. Having landscape on one body & wildlife ready to go on another body can be very convenient.
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Yep, not having to swap lenses would be nice. That being said if I’m out doing landscapes I can’t be bothered to carry my tele lens as well as my tripod and filters :oops: :$
 
snerkler said:
Yep, not having to swap lenses would be nice. That being said if I’m out doing landscapes I can’t be bothered to carry my tele lens as well as my tripod and filters :oops: :$
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:plus1:

In fact if I am out doing anything other than specifically wildlife/sports I don't carry my 200-600mm.
Having said that I've had really great success traveling with 70-350mm.
 
snerkler said:
Yep, not having to swap lenses would be nice. That being said if I’m out doing landscapes I can’t be bothered to carry my tele lens as well as my tripod and filters :oops: :$
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I swap lenses every few seconds but just recently I haven't been able to do so without bunnies. must be the weather and conditions.

While I'm here... Thingies in the park... Pergear again.

DSC02639.jpg

Reflections at f1.4.

DSC02640.jpg
 
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woof woof said:
I swap lenses every few seconds but just recently I haven't been able to do so without bunnies. must be the weather and conditions.

While I'm here... Thingies in the park... Pergear again.

View attachment 393279

Reflections at f1.4.

View attachment 393280
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I do swap lenses, but in an ideal world I would have a spare body although when I go to motorsport events I'd need 4 bodies :lol:
 
I’m sat waiting to hit the order button on a 2nd Sony body - but hesitant on the basis of Nikon’s catch up. Z8 has me pondering.

DSLR new bodies turned over less often - this down to slower innovation. But their Z8/9 strategy looks to keep evolving the hardware through firmware - auto capture on the Z9 for example. Which means they have left a lot of headroom in the processor/internals. This was Olympus strategy - always big leaps in firmware.

Will there be less GAS with Nikon with the Z8/9 having a 5 year span where Sony seem to max the hardware and turnover every 3?

Z8 price over A1 is substantial and depreciation will therefore be less. Is there that much more in the A1 over Z8?

Nikon seem to be catching up with glass and better in some areas.

Before I spend any more on Sony need to consider if my money sits better with Nikon’s strategy over Sony’s.

Anyone else moved to the Z9 or Z8 from the Sony A1 or running both systems? Any real world comparisons of the systems side by side? May have to sit and see the side by side reviews of the 200-600mm v 180-600mm.

I would lose on switching - but long term outlay may be reduced if Nikon continue down the firmware route.

I know there will be a lot of - be happy with what you have. And don’t get me wrong - I am. But will a switch now be beneficial
In the pocket over the longer term?
 
Do you have many lenses? That seems a good starting question. I have too many Sony mount lenses to consider swapping systems.
 
simonbe said:
I’m sat waiting to hit the order button on a 2nd Sony body - but hesitant on the basis of Nikon’s catch up. Z8 has me pondering.

DSLR new bodies turned over less often - this down to slower innovation. But their Z8/9 strategy looks to keep evolving the hardware through firmware - auto capture on the Z9 for example. Which means they have left a lot of headroom in the processor/internals. This was Olympus strategy - always big leaps in firmware.

Will there be less GAS with Nikon with the Z8/9 having a 5 year span where Sony seem to max the hardware and turnover every 3?

Z8 price over A1 is substantial and depreciation will therefore be less. Is there that much more in the A1 over Z8?

Nikon seem to be catching up with glass and better in some areas.

Before I spend any more on Sony need to consider if my money sits better with Nikon’s strategy over Sony’s.

Anyone else moved to the Z9 or Z8 from the Sony A1 or running both systems? Any real world comparisons of the systems side by side? May have to sit and see the side by side reviews of the 200-600mm v 180-600mm.

I would lose on switching - but long term outlay may be reduced if Nikon continue down the firmware route.

I know there will be a lot of - be happy with what you have. And don’t get me wrong - I am. But will a switch now be beneficial
In the pocket over the longer term?
Click to expand...
It's difficult to know if Nikon is adopting a strategy of allowing for future improvements in the design - or if things planned for the initial release were held back because they weren't ready in time, and they're only now able to add them back?

You can read things both ways, and it's only when you have a history of several models, over a number of years, that you can determine which is the case.
 
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simonbe said:
I’m sat waiting to hit the order button on a 2nd Sony body - but hesitant on the basis of Nikon’s catch up. Z8 has me pondering.

DSLR new bodies turned over less often - this down to slower innovation. But their Z8/9 strategy looks to keep evolving the hardware through firmware - auto capture on the Z9 for example. Which means they have left a lot of headroom in the processor/internals. This was Olympus strategy - always big leaps in firmware.

Will there be less GAS with Nikon with the Z8/9 having a 5 year span where Sony seem to max the hardware and turnover every 3?

Z8 price over A1 is substantial and depreciation will therefore be less. Is there that much more in the A1 over Z8?

Nikon seem to be catching up with glass and better in some areas.

Before I spend any more on Sony need to consider if my money sits better with Nikon’s strategy over Sony’s.

Anyone else moved to the Z9 or Z8 from the Sony A1 or running both systems? Any real world comparisons of the systems side by side? May have to sit and see the side by side reviews of the 200-600mm v 180-600mm.

I would lose on switching - but long term outlay may be reduced if Nikon continue down the firmware route.

I know there will be a lot of - be happy with what you have. And don’t get me wrong - I am. But will a switch now be beneficial
In the pocket over the longer term?
Click to expand...
I think you can only answer this with a crystal ball, and even then it will be down to individual preference tbh. My own feeling based on nothing but gut is that when Nikon catch up firmware updates will be far less forthcoming. The Z8 is certainly very competitively priced, how it stacks up against the best we'll have to see.

Without knowing what gear you currently have, and what you will go for in the future it's difficult to know which will make better financial sense. I'm the last person you should get advice from about keeping gear long term, but I'm really struggling to see what else we need these days. Sure, new models will come out and all the youtubers will say how the current gear has suddenly become rubbish and we need the new fangled thing ;)
 
simonbe said:
I’m sat waiting to hit the order button on a 2nd Sony body - but hesitant on the basis of Nikon’s catch up. Z8 has me pondering.

DSLR new bodies turned over less often - this down to slower innovation. But their Z8/9 strategy looks to keep evolving the hardware through firmware - auto capture on the Z9 for example. Which means they have left a lot of headroom in the processor/internals. This was Olympus strategy - always big leaps in firmware.

Will there be less GAS with Nikon with the Z8/9 having a 5 year span where Sony seem to max the hardware and turnover every 3?

Z8 price over A1 is substantial and depreciation will therefore be less. Is there that much more in the A1 over Z8?

Nikon seem to be catching up with glass and better in some areas.

Before I spend any more on Sony need to consider if my money sits better with Nikon’s strategy over Sony’s.

Anyone else moved to the Z9 or Z8 from the Sony A1 or running both systems? Any real world comparisons of the systems side by side? May have to sit and see the side by side reviews of the 200-600mm v 180-600mm.

I would lose on switching - but long term outlay may be reduced if Nikon continue down the firmware route.

I know there will be a lot of - be happy with what you have. And don’t get me wrong - I am. But will a switch now be beneficial
In the pocket over the longer term?
Click to expand...

On the firmware, this reminds of the days when people were harping on about Fuji's kaizen and to me that was bit meaningless because Sony APS-C bodies I had were as good on day 1 (in terms of AF) as Fuji was after 4 firmware updates!
that is not to say nikon is not doing a good job, I think they are doing a much better job than Sony actually on firmware updates.
But as a baseline having watched loads of reviews Canon/Sony still seems a wee bit ahead than Z9 on the autofocus.
Personally I would suggest buying based on the capability of the cameras today and not what is promised. camera companies break "official" promises (remember nikon DL), let alone unofficial ones and rumours of firmware updates.

I think ultimately in longer run canon/sony/nikon will all catchup to one another and any comparison in terms of AF capability will basically be a moot point.

Now if you only care about telephoto lenses then nikon are definitely way ahead IMO. for an enthusiast like me I can dream to own likes of Z400/4.5 and Z800/6.3 one day and actually use them in the field. I will never own or be able to use lenses like 400mm f2.8 or 600mm f4. And in this case I am not sure Sony will ever catchup up :(

But personally I also own other lenses none which canon or nikon have alternatives for - 14GM, 24GM, 35GM, 50/1.2GM, 85DN, 20-70G

I don't think Sony releases bodies as often as people think they do. They have just been around a lot longer and have a lot of lines. Each gets updated roughly on a 3-4 years cycle which isn't too bad. Obviously Sony also sell a lot more bodies than Nikon does and they also have/make more money than Nikon. So they can probably afford put out a few more bodies in general and also makes business sense to do so if they are able to sell them.

Basically if telephoto was all I cared about I would probably swap to a Z8 (with 400mm f4.5+TCs).
Overall Sony is still ahead. the 180-600mm based on early reviews doesn't seem too much of an upgrade over Sony 200-600mm which I already have. Its not a lens I would swap whole systems for.
 
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woof woof said:
Do you have many lenses? That seems a good starting question. I have too many Sony mount lenses to consider swapping systems.
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I have most bases covered 16-600mm. But bought well so wouldn’t be massively out of pocket. Some compromises 1.4 for 1.8 in the 50/85mm primes. 1.8’s get rave reviews.

If I bought grey and some 2nd hand hand could get the same set up for very little difference.

Think someone has already said about the 400mm f4.5 which is not in Sony’s locker that would also be tempting.
 
nandbytes said:
But personally I also own other lenses none which canon or nikon have alternatives for - 14GM, 24GM, 35GM, 50/1.2GM, 85DN, 20-70G

I don't think Sony releases bodies as often as people think they do. They have just been around a lot longer and have a lot of lines. Each gets updated roughly on a 3-4 years cycle which isn't too bad. Obviously Sony also sell a lot more bodies than Nikon does and they also have/make more money than Nikon. So they can probably afford put out a few more bodies in general and also makes business sense to do so if they are able to sell them.
Click to expand...
You own the 20-70mm? That went under the radar, what do you make of it?

I think Sony were criticised a while back for releasing body after body, but it's become apparent that they are different line, 7, 7R, 7S etc and as you say they aren't updated as often as we think. For example there was 3.5 years between the RIV and RV, 3.5 years between the 7III and 7IV, however there was only 2.5 years between the A9 and A9II. But they seem back on track as the A9III is now set for end of 2022/beginning of 2023.
 
simonbe said:
I have most bases covered 16-600mm. But bought well so wouldn’t be massively out of pocket. Some compromises 1.4 for 1.8 in the 50/85mm primes. 1.8’s get rave reviews.

If I bought grey and some 2nd hand hand could get the same set up for very little difference.

Think someone has already said about the 400mm f4.5 which is not in Sony’s locker that would also be tempting.
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Sounds like you're fancying the swap, and if you are and can afford it then why not, life's too short (y)
 
Faldrax said:
It's difficult to know if Nikon is adopting a strategy of allowing for future improvements in the design - or if things planned for the initial release were held back because they weren't ready in time, and they're only now able to add them back?

You can read things both ways, and it's only when you have a history of several models, over a number of years, that you can determine which is the case.
Click to expand...
Agree - grass sometimes looks greener. It is interesting that Nikon out out the z9 with a large percentage of its capabilities not coming until a later firmware release. Bit of a strange strategy at the time.
 
snerkler said:
Sounds like you're fancying the swap, and if you are and can afford it then why not, life's too short (y)
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Thanks - just wondering if anyone on here had done similar or is running the 2 side by side. Which is another option before jumping one way or the other.
 
snerkler said:
You own the 20-70mm? That went under the radar, what do you make of it?
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I have been mostly unwell so haven't had much time to take it out.
Just trying in my room and garden, its super nice. Really liking the close focus ability and also the size.

snerkler said:
I think Sony were criticised a while back for releasing body after body, but it's become apparent that they are different line, 7, 7R, 7S etc and as you say they aren't updated as often as we think. For example there was 3.5 years between the RIV and RV, 3.5 years between the 7III and 7IV, however there was only 2.5 years between the A9 and A9II. But they seem back on track as the A9III is now set for end of 2022/beginning of 2023.
Click to expand...
the update between gen 1 and 2 of each line is generally quicker because they try to fix issues as soon as possible. after that its a bit pushed out.
 
snerkler said:
You own the 20-70mm? That went under the radar, what do you make of it?

I think Sony were criticised a while back for releasing body after body, but it's become apparent that they are different line, 7, 7R, 7S etc and as you say they aren't updated as often as we think. For example there was 3.5 years between the RIV and RV, 3.5 years between the 7III and 7IV, however there was only 2.5 years between the A9 and A9II. But they seem back on track as the A9III is now set for end of 2022/beginning of 2023.
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A7r to a7r5 was 9 years. But slower releases on others.

It’s the inaction in the A1 is the worry and a bigger price point to trade up if they make a leap forward.

Nikons pricing is interesting.

Not apples with apples. The Z8 by January will probably be the same grey as the A7RV - £2800.
 
nandbytes said:
On the firmware, this reminds of the days when people were harping on about Fuji's kaizen and to me that was bit meaningless because Sony APS-C bodies I had were as good on day 1 (in terms of AF) as Fuji was after 4 firmware updates!
that is not to say nikon is not doing a good job, I think they are doing a much better job than Sony actually on firmware updates.
But as a baseline having watched loads of reviews Canon/Sony still seems a wee bit ahead than Z9 on the autofocus.
Personally I would suggest buying based on the capability of the cameras today and not what is promised. camera companies break "official" promises (remember nikon DL), let alone unofficial ones and rumours of firmware updates.

I think ultimately in longer run canon/sony/nikon will all catchup to one another and any comparison in terms of AF capability will basically be a moot point.

Now if you only care about telephoto lenses then nikon are definitely way ahead IMO. for an enthusiast like me I can dream to own likes of Z400/4.5 and Z800/6.3 one day and actually use them in the field. I will never own or be able to use lenses like 400mm f2.8 or 600mm f4. And in this case I am not sure Sony will ever catchup up :(

But personally I also own other lenses none which canon or nikon have alternatives for - 14GM, 24GM, 35GM, 50/1.2GM, 85DN, 20-70G

I don't think Sony releases bodies as often as people think they do. They have just been around a lot longer and have a lot of lines. Each gets updated roughly on a 3-4 years cycle which isn't too bad. Obviously Sony also sell a lot more bodies than Nikon does and they also have/make more money than Nikon. So they can probably afford put out a few more bodies in general and also makes business sense to do so if they are able to sell them.

Basically if telephoto was all I cared about I would probably swap to a Z8 (with 400mm f4.5+TCs).
Overall Sony is still ahead. the 180-600mm based on early reviews doesn't seem too much of an upgrade over Sony 200-600mm which I already have. Its not a lens I would swap whole systems for.
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Thanks for your point of view - really appreciate it. I won’t own the 400 or 600mm either - unless a lottery win.

What I have in my kit is the value I have. Recently making some sales to free up for a 2nd body. Which I will sit on for a while maybe hire the Z8 later in the year.
 
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