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

I'm still waiting on Amazon and the 35mm lens, it just says out of stock instead of pre-order.
 
robj20 said:
I'm still waiting on Amazon and the 35mm lens, it just says out of stock instead of pre-order.
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It only goes on sale next month (December) so everywhere will be out of stock until then. It's listed as a 'pre-order' item everywhere else - so it seems they have just described it as out of stock instead of pre-order - but you can pre-order it because if you add it to your basket and checkout it says "Order now and we'll notify you via e-mail when we have an estimated delivery date for this item." Price has dropped a wee bit further too, now @ £587.19: Sony SEL35F28Z E-mount Carl Zeiss Sonnar T Lens for 35mm Full-frame Cameras Pre-order price at Wex is £749.00!
 
great western cameras get there's tomorrow, I think. There in swindon
 
Laudrup said:
What R lenses were you looking at?
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Looking at a 21 f4 for landscapes (£500), 50 1.4 (£800) or f2 (£350) and a 90 f2 (£350) and a 135 2.8 (£300). All used obviously. I'm a bit uncertain as to the multiple types of R lenses but I think the 3-cam ones are OK. They are bigger than M lenses but the prices are very keen.
 
Prices of a7 on panamoz via bank transfer are very tempting indeed! Gotta be the cheapest way into ff. I just don't fancy forking out on another collection of lenses already running A mount and crop E mount!
 
Aggghhh! Got major lens indecision. I have a Leica M 90 and 135 waiting for me to check them out, but the R lenses look fab as well. I need to look at how big/heavy they are. Just hedging my bets, I have an M and R adapter, and a Canon EF adapter just in case. I suspect my 24 1.4 Canon will be rather coolio. And I must try the 400 2.8 on the A7R as well.

All I need now is the bloody camera!
 
I wasn't interested in the A7 or A7r when I first saw them unveiled but seeing some of the shots taken they look very good.
Returned another faulty D600 (oil spots) and I've been looking at the D610 or D800 but after writing the A7/A7R off as too expensive they're looking good from a price point of view v the Nikons
 
chrism_scotland said:
I wasn't interested in the A7 or A7r when I first saw them unveiled but seeing some of the shots taken they look very good.
Returned another faulty D600 (oil spots) and I've been looking at the D610 or D800 but after writing the A7/A7R off as too expensive they're looking good from a price point of view v the Nikons
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Only problem... lenses. You can choose from a massive 3 native lenses. The slow kit lens which seems to have AF issues or unreleased 35mm and 55mm, the 35mm is slow at F2.8 and £600 and the 55mm is nice but £750. People who use MF and legacy are the people who this camera will make sense to (at this stage imo).
 
Brazo said:
Prices of a7 on panamoz via bank transfer are very tempting indeed! Gotta be the cheapest way into ff. I just don't fancy forking out on another collection of lenses already running A mount and crop E mount!
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The prices on there are making me consider the A7R again.
 
twist said:
Only problem... lenses. You can choose from a massive 3 native lenses. The slow kit lens which seems to have AF issues or unreleased 35mm and 55mm, the 35mm is slow at F2.8 and £600 and the 55mm is nice but £750. People who use MF and legacy are the people who this camera will make sense to (at this stage imo).
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I've ordered the kit lens for occasional use but even if I hadn't I'd say that we have to reserve judgement until the lens is out there in numbers as I've read two reviews so far, one claiming quick focus and one claimings slow...

I'd rather the 35mm was f1.8 but f2.8 isn't the end of the world. As before, I agree that both primes seem to be expensive given the image quality of the Sigma 50mm f1.4. I'd pay more for a more compact and lighter lens of the quality of the Sigma but the massive price of the Zeiss over the Sigma seems a little harder to swallow.

Personally I'm surprised at the greater interest in the A7R, the A7 seems much more attractive to me with it's on chip focus thingies. I have no need for a great many more mp's and even 24 seems overkill as even 6mp seems to be enough for great results at A3.
 
woof woof said:
Personally I'm surprised at the greater interest in the A7R, the A7 seems much more attractive to me with it's on chip focus thingies. I have no need for a great many more mp's and even 24 seems overkill as even 6mp seems to be enough for great results at A3.
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One thing youre forgetting the A7r has a rrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr. Makes it much better.
 
I'd like a 10 or 12 mpx sensor in the A7, how about an A7-Minus Sony?
The sensor size, shallow flange and decent price are good for me : the big files are a negative, but I'm not aiming to crop or peep or landscape with the thing.
 
Ulfric M Douglas said:
I'd like a 10 or 12 mpx sensor in the A7, how about an A7-Minus Sony?
The sensor size, shallow flange and decent price are good for me : the big files are a negative, but I'm not aiming to crop or peep or landscape with the thing.
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Marketing dept just wouldn't undersand it.
 
theurbanclown said:
Circa 2k.
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theurbanclown said:
Fairly standard amount.
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And how many of those are keepers? 2000 a day seems ridiculous to me, but then I don't know the average of a 'Pro' which I'm assuming you are. I went to North Wales for 3 days and took 78 photos, but 90% were printable to canvas. But that may be my diehard mindset from those heady film days.

I'll be honest to not keeping up with camera announcements, but I'll look more in to this, as anything FF perks my interest. :)
 
2Thumbs said:
And how many of those are keepers? 2000 a day seems ridiculous to me, but then I don't know the average of a 'Pro' which I'm assuming you are. I went to North Wales for 3 days and took 78 photos, but 90% were printable to canvas. But that may be my diehard mindset from those heady film days.

I'll be honest to not keeping up with camera announcements, but I'll look more in to this, as anything FF perks my interest. :)
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I'd say about 1 in 4.
 
Battery life and shots... I'm pretty sure I'll get more than stated. I can't remember what the total is for my G1 but I've never run into trouble and usually come home with the battery indicator full. Leaving the back screen off and turning the camera off when I don't expect to be shooting for a few minutes seems to make the battery last long enough for me and I'll be very surprised if the Sony is any different.
 
woof woof said:
Battery life and shots... I'm pretty sure I'll get more than stated. I can't remember what the total is for my G1 but I've never run into trouble and usually come home with the battery indicator full. Leaving the back screen off and turning the camera off when I don't expect to be shooting for a few minutes seems to make the battery last long enough for me and I'll be very surprised if the Sony is any different.
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As I recall the G series are rated much the same as the Sony, and that was always fine by me. Only once did I have an issue, waiting for train, train arrives behind me, beep of death from camera! Cue swearing and frantic searching of bag for spare battery and the resulting image is still in use by railway in question on their website. :thumbs:

I do the same as you, keeping it off until needed, I do the same with all my cameras actually, force of habit!
 
in terms of body size with a big lens, its more the height of the camera that matters imo, having it fill the hand in that area helps alot, same with flash on top.
so id just get a cheap battery grip off ebay :)
 
email from WEX, "please call to confirm your delivery options, if we don't here from you in 14 days we will cancel the order" Phone them up, "yep it'll be with you in 4 days". (Like it already says in the email) So why did they need me to call exactly? :cuckoo: Ah well, A7R next Week! Yay! :D
 
Alan Clogwyn said:
email from WEX, "please call to confirm your delivery options, if we don't here from you in 14 days we will cancel the order" Phone them up, "yep it'll be with you in 4 days". (Like it already says in the email) So why did they need me to call exactly? :cuckoo: Ah well, A7R next Week! Yay! :D
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Ah, You posted as I was typing.... Same here...

Just got an email from Wex to say that cameras are in stock. I had to ring them to confirm that I still wanted it... which struck me as odd as I ordered it... Anyway, they say I'll have it next week.

I wish my Minolta adapter had arrived but hey-ho, can't be helped. I gave my sister an adapter and 50mm f1.7 so I may borrow the adapter back until mine arrives and I do hope it is the correct adapter this time and not another set of extention tubes.

Do you have anything to use on the camera?
 
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When are the 35mm due? Seems daft to sell a body and no lenses.
 
robj20 said:
When are the 35mm due? Seems daft to sell a body and no lenses.
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Not sure about UK but the US site says:

This item will be released on December 1, 2013. Pre-order now. Sony Model: SEL35F28Z Note on Availability: Due to high demand we anticipate being unable to fulfill all customer orders with our first allocation. Product supply from Sony is very limited. Your place in line will be maintained, and we will not charge your credit card until we ship the product: http://www.amazon.com/Sony-SEL35F28Z-Camera-Lenses/dp/B00FSB79KU/bibs
 
Picked up my A7r from LCE Derby a few hours ago. Still reading manual. A really nice fit in hand.
As expected the 35mm not shipped yet. Got an a/e mount adapter and 2nd hand Minolta 24-105. Fingers crosed for 35mm on Monday. So busy over next few days so might be next week till I get a good play.
 
woof woof said:
Do you have anything to use on the camera?
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Got Nikon and OM adapters so I can use 24/2.8, 50/1.4 and 100/2.8 Zuikos, 35/1.4, 35/2, 50/1.8, 50/2.8, 85/1.4, 70-210/4, 80-200/2.8 and 16/2.8 Nikon stuff. When suitable adapters arrive I'll also have 50/1.4 Pentax M and 58/1.4 and 45/2 Minolta.

Basically a good selection of stuff to be getting to grips with! I'm on the hunt for a high quality slide copier too so I can digitize my negatives in higher resolution and with more adjust-ability than my old Minolta scanner allows.
 
twist said:
Only problem... lenses. You can choose from a massive 3 native lenses. The slow kit lens which seems to have AF issues or unreleased 35mm and 55mm, the 35mm is slow at F2.8 and £600 and the 55mm is nice but £750. People who use MF and legacy are the people who this camera will make sense to (at this stage imo).
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The 35mm is slow, if it was f1.4 or even maybe f1.7/8 I'd seriously consider snapping up an A7 + 35 combo,.
 
I would have liked 1.4 but the size would have been bigger. Sony have said that they will be concentrating on smaller high quality glass, from what I've been reading the 35mm is a very good lens which it should be given the price!
 
I have mine! LCE cocked up and ordered me an A7 instead of an A7R, but as luck would have it I managed to get an A7R from Camera World in London who had just taken a delivery (all sold now). I also have a Leica R 2/50 and a Leica R 90/2.8 which are both lovely, with a Novoflex adaptor that does add about 2cm to the lens length. The M adapter is a lot thinner. The lenses were £550 for the pair - amazing for such quality glass.

It's dark so instead of taking pics I have done a shutter sound comparison for you all...

http://tobinators.com/blog/index.ph...shutter-sound-comparison-sony-a7r-v-the-rest/

Enjoy!
 
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chrism_scotland said:
The 35mm is slow, if it was f1.4 or even maybe f1.7/8 I'd seriously consider snapping up an A7 + 35 combo,.
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Since going digital and buying wider aperture lenses I've done lots and lots of test shots between MFT, APS-C and FF including apertures from f0.95 on MFT and f1.4 on APS-C and FF and I've come to the conclusion that for me the wider apertures are not essential.

For me any differences in ISO and image quality caused by moving from f1.4 through the aperture range to f2.8 are effectively pretty much negated by modern cameras and modern processing software to the point that I don't need the widest apertures in real world shooting and can get a quality I'm happy with at f2.8.

So that leaves DoF. My little comparative tests have convinced me that it's only at about the f2.8 point that the differences to the wider apertures become significant so whilst I'm a little disappointed that the 35mm is f2.8 and not f1.8 I think for me the disappointment is largely psychological and looking at it a little more dispassionately I'm pretty sure that f2.8 will be enough... for me.

Yes, f1.8 would be better... but in the real world I think that with modern cameras and software f2.8 is just enough.
 
I think this probably sums it up...

1.4_vs_2.8.jpg
 
Welll.... there you go... but personally I've never had more than ISO 3200 available and f2.8 seems to allow usable shutter speeds for indoor shooting in the lighting I've encountered. Plus I shoot raw and process in CS5.

Years ago all I had was an f4 lens and 1600 film...
 
I just paired a Canon 17-40l to the A7R and even that looks a large combination and way too oversized but it'll be good while Sony sort out a UWA.

Personally the A7R is fine for me as I'm a landscape photographer. No need for these fast lenses etc. F/4 will do. Only wish I had f2/8 for night skies. But maybe a prime will solve that.

The primes are expensive, very expensive but given that the camera is £600 less than a D800e then it doesn't seem so harsh IMO.
 
Granty_ said:
I just paired a Canon 17-40l to the A7R and even that looks a large combination and way too oversized but it'll be good while Sony sort out a UWA.

Personally the A7R is fine for me as I'm a landscape photographer. No need for these fast lenses etc. F/4 will do. Only wish I had f2/8 for night skies. But maybe a prime will solve that.

The primes are expensive, very expensive but given that the camera is £600 less than a D800e then it doesn't seem so harsh IMO.
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I think the A7 is cheaper than the Canon 6D and I think that the Sony has a better spec... I may be wrong... but I think that the camera is well priced but I do agree that the lenses seem OTT. I keep thinking about the Sigma 50mm f1.4, a stonkingly good lens IMVHO and at a good price and I would pay more for a lens of the same quality if it was smaller but I'm not sure how much more :D

Just getting back to the aperture and Twist's poor looking examples, what camera where they taken with?

I don't file my pictures by camera type etc, they're just in folders by location or such like and I have no software that can sort through them so it's difficult for me to find exemples at ISO 3200 and f2.8 or smaller but I'm sure, no certain, that I've had better results from all of my cameras at ISO 3200 than that 6400 shot. If the A7 can match what I've got from lesser cameras at 3200 I think I'll be happy enough.

I do have a "test" folder that I shove shots into now and again and when I looked I found this G1 ISO 3200 shot...



That was taken hand held at 23:01 upon returning home one night just because I liked the look of the flower. As you can see after minimal procerssing in CS5 there's no noise to complain about and to be honest I'll be very surprised if the Sony can't match that at 6400 and possibly even higher too and if it does I think that I'll be happy even if stuck at f2.8.
 
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Fast primes are still important today for low light shooting, particularly where the subject is moving and you can't use flash. Therefore I can see people wanting both of these primes (good work Sony! :D)

Example, I needed ISO 5000 to freeze this shot at f/2 on my 6D:


Baby Oscar and friend by <<BackToTheFuture>>, on Flickr
 
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