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

Yes, I'm often wide open but it's only 1.8 and my shots from other, faster, combos (D800 + 58/1.4, 5DII + 50/1.2) were tack sharp more often.

99.999% of my shots are focused by single flexible spot on the nearest eye.
The way these cameras work with on chip focusing this is very hard to understand and completely against my own experience of pretty much a 100% hit rate.

Whatever the issue is I hope you get it sorted.
 
Last edited:
I'd like to get some spare batteries and a standalone charger for my A7ii, though the genuine Sony ones are hella expensive. Can anyone recommend any cheaper versions?
I bought my additional battery and charger off the auction site beginning with e. I think they were listed as for Nex. They work fine with my A7.
 
I'd like to get some spare batteries and a standalone charger for my A7ii, though the genuine Sony ones are hella expensive. Can anyone recommend any cheaper versions?
ex pro whites be about 15 quid each

charger wise, no idea, i use some usb ones as well as the sony ones.
 
on the missed focus, ive heard of that before, no idea whats causing it, it shouldnt do it, but it can happen
 
The way these cameras work with on chip focusing this is very hard to understand and completely against my own experience of pretty much a 100% hit rate.

Whatever the issue is I hope you get it sorted.

Thank Alan. As I understand it the A7 and A7R have different AF systems which is why I'm keen to hear from anyone who has moved from A7R to A7R2.
 
Last edited:
Yes, I'm often wide open but it's only 1.8 and my shots from other, faster, combos (D800 + 58/1.4, 5DII + 50/1.2) were tack sharp more often.



99.999% of my shots are focused by single flexible spot on the nearest eye.
I never use this but have you tried the built in eye focus might be worth a go also a possible cause is the lens needs adjusting in the menu for tack sharp
 
As I understand it the A7 and A7R have different AF systems which is why I'm keen to hear from anyone who has moved from A7R to A7R2.

The a7r2 is better than the a7r, but I believe it's still slower than the a6000 when it gets a bit dimmer. Hth.
 
I never use this but have you tried the built in eye focus might be worth a go also a possible cause is the lens needs adjusting in the menu for tack sharp

Good suggestion but the A7R only has face recognition not eye focus. A6000 has it and it is not something I'd recommend.

Not sure about lens adjustment as more shots are tack sharp than not but still fewer than I'd like.
 
Last edited:
The a7r2 is better than the a7r, but I believe it's still slower than the a6000 when it gets a bit dimmer. Hth.

A6000 is certainly faster than the A7R but I've only used it with the 16-70 f4 which has a fair bit more latitude. One thing that can't help is the shutter delay on the A7R. No prob for landscapes etc. but not great for people and kids.
 
A6000 is certainly faster than the A7R but I've only used it with the 16-70 f4 which has a fair bit more latitude. One thing that can't help is the shutter delay on the A7R. No prob for landscapes etc. but not great for people and kids.

I found the a6k much faster than the a7, but it should be, the af system is more advanced. You've used enough cameras now to know which 'tool' does the job. I came incredibly close to getting the a7r2 after selling all my gear, in the end what I had was the better camera for the job and did it for a lot less money so I just repurchased all the gear I had just sold, giant facepalm!!
 
I found the a6k much faster than the a7, but it should be, the af system is more advanced. You've used enough cameras now to know which 'tool' does the job. I came incredibly close to getting the a7r2 after selling all my gear, in the end what I had was the better camera for the job and did it for a lot less money so I just repurchased all the gear I had just sold, giant facepalm!!

It's always a matter of compromise. The A7R is so close to having it all. If I switch back to Nikon, I'll gain the AF I need and lose out on exposure preview and other great stuff that mirrorless does.
 
Guys, I've bought an A7ii off the forum (and probably should just have bought one before trying Fuji again) - looking for some lens advice though, keen on the 28mm as a small option, or the 35 f2.8 but how is the 24-70 f4, it seems to get very mixed reviews?
 
erm really mixed
theres a another 24-70 gm on the rumour site, so you could hold out for that, or get the 28 to whatever cheap, or the travel zoom
 
Good suggestion but the A7R only has face recognition not eye focus. A6000 has it and it is not something I'd recommend.
Sony must have forgot to tell my A7R that it can't do eye AF then because it clearly isn't aware of the fact, and works in exactly the same way as my A7. :)

Guys, I've bought an A7ii off the forum (and probably should just have bought one before trying Fuji again) - looking for some lens advice though, keen on the 28mm as a small option, or the 35 f2.8 but how is the 24-70 f4, it seems to get very mixed reviews?
I don't have the 24-70mm - I'm not sure it offers enough over the 28-70mm to justify buying it. I do currently have the 28mm and 35mm though and both are excellent. The 35 is smaller, lighter, perhaps a tiny bit sharper. The 28 is cheaper, wider, and a stop faster. I picked up the 28mm with the intent of replacing my 35mm and I'll be carrying through with that. Not because it's better than the 35mm, but because I wanted something wider. Your needs may differ, and you'll be happy with whichever you choose.
 
I have the Zeiss 24-70mm f4 and it's a great lens, happy with it :)
 
Guys, I've bought an A7ii off the forum (and probably should just have bought one before trying Fuji again) - looking for some lens advice though, keen on the 28mm as a small option, or the 35 f2.8 but how is the 24-70 f4, it seems to get very mixed reviews?

It may be that I'm just a fan of the 50mm FoV but I think that the 55mm f1.8 is pretty much essential if you own a A7 series camera :D

Just on the 35mm f2.8, it's been on my camera since I bought it and I think it's excellent and I can only see myself replacing it if someone brings out a 35mm f1.8 of the same bulk, weight and image quality.

Will you be using any manual lenses Chris?
 
Last edited:
Sony must have forgot to tell my A7R that it can't do eye AF then because it clearly isn't aware of the fact, and works in exactly the same way as my A7.
:).

You entirely right of course, it's so long since I set up the custom keys - at least three months - that I forgot it was there. I'll give it a try although I dont hold out much hope. :)
 
Yes, I'm often wide open but it's only 1.8 and my shots from other, faster, combos (D800 + 58/1.4, 5DII + 50/1.2) were tack sharp more often.



99.999% of my shots are focused by single flexible spot on the nearest eye.

Have you tried using a single focus point, but rather than moving the point, using back button focus to lock and move the camera instead? That way you lock focus on the eye and then recompose - a) saving time & b) you'll always get your eyes in focus. I used to do what you do many, many years ago - but couldn't go back to that now, this way is much safer.

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DjFXXAdNsbQ
 
Have you tried using a single focus point, but rather than moving the point, using back button focus to lock and move the camera instead? That way you lock focus on the eye and then recompose - a) saving time & b) you'll always get your eyes in focus. I used to do what you do many, many years ago - but couldn't go back to that now, this way is much safer.

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DjFXXAdNsbQ

Thank you for the suggestion but I do focus with the back button and I've tried focus and recompose with the A7R but it hasn't helped one way or the other.

I'm still interested in that direct comparison from someone on here who has moved from an A7R to A7Rii.
 
Thank you for the suggestion but I do focus with the back button and I've tried focus and recompose with the A7R but it hasn't helped one way or the other.

I'm still interested in that direct comparison from someone on here who has moved from an A7R to A7Rii.

Ask @jonneymendoza , he moved from an A7s which has better AF than the A7r to the mk2. Not many round these parts that have a mk2. IME the A7 series are fine cameras if you dont need that instant lock in all conditions. You know how to use your cameras so I highly doubt it has anything to do with your technique or settings, youve just hit a limitation of your equipment.
 
Ask @jonneymendoza , he moved from an A7s which has better AF than the A7r to the mk2. Not many round these parts that have a mk2. IME the A7 series are fine cameras if you dont need that instant lock in all conditions. You know how to use your cameras so I highly doubt it has anything to do with your technique or settings, youve just hit a limitation of your equipment.
AF is better on the a7r2. Lowlight it's just as good as the a7s. I actually have a example of a pic I took last Friday on my side gate at night. My side gate is black yet it nailed focus on it with ease
 
AF is better on the a7r2. Lowlight it's just as good as the a7s. I actually have a example of a pic I took last Friday on my side gate at night. My side gate is black yet it nailed focus on it with ease

Makes sense, the A7r is only rated to 0EV, A7s is -4EV which is very low and the A7r2 I believe is -2EV so it would be similar, esp with the 35 1.4 Zeiss youre using.
 
It may be that I'm just a fan of the 50mm FoV but I think that the 55mm f1.8 is pretty much essential if you own a A7 series camera :D

Just on the 35mm f2.8, it's been on my camera since I bought it and I think it's excellent and I can only see myself replacing it if someone brings out a 35mm f1.8 of the same bulk, weight and image quality.

Will you be using any manual lenses Chris?

I will probably look to pickup a 55mm eventually as I do find when I use a 50mm that I really like it, I just tend not to have it on the camera much.

I've been very tempted with the Loxia 35mm f2 lens and the manual focusing does appeal but I'm sure there must be other older manual glass (or even newer stuff like Voightlander) that's good and a lot cheaper than the £900odd price of the Loxia, at that price I'd almost be tempted by a used Distagon 35 f1.4... although it looks huge!

I've used Canon FD glass before in my Micro 4/3 days and found it a joy to manual focus with and that was before focus peaking so I might look to pickup a few pieces of manual glass.

I'm sure this won't be a full on goodbye to DSLR, I've always said that ideally I'd like a Nikon FF system and a compact system, although if I find the A7ii does most things then it would be hard to overlook an A7rii once prices settle down a bit!
 
I keep thinking of selling my Canon FD and Olympus Zuiko lenses and just keeping the Rokkor's but for the price I'd get for them it probably isn't worth the hassle and I don't need the money...

The Rokkor 35mm f1.8 and f2.8 are nice lenses as are the rest of them. At the moment I'm leaning towards just having the 28-70mm which I never use :D together with the AF 55 and 35mm and relying on the Rokkor 24, 28, 85 and 135 and the 50mm f1.2 too when I want something different, which isn't all that often.

PS.
Voigtlanders look lovely though... very tempting. Had one on my Bessa and regretted selling it.
 
Last edited:
Must be mad doing bleeding edge stuff like applying this.
It worked BUT only after turning off McAfee real Time Protection

I've only ever updated firmware once in my life and it was for my A7, can't say that I noticed any great improvement.

Can you see any improvement?
 
Blimey that is a long wait thanks may consider the Sony 90mm macro or the 70-200mm f4 however the weight of the Batis is tempting

Many thanks
Well having bought a 28-70mm from the forum as a temporary measure i have placed my self on a waiting list for a Batis 85mm they think maybe mid October however i have a few doubts if or when it will become available should i weaken i will order an alternative :eek:
 
Could always just get a legacy 85mm f1.8/2 and use it via a cheap adapter? MF but cheapish fun :D I have 3 :D
 
Could always just get a legacy 85mm f1.8/2 and use it via a cheap adapter? MF but cheapish fun :D I have 3 :D
I did think of that however as an official numpty and not knowing the correct lens and adapters my main reason was light weight at just a pound in weight it must be near the lower end of the scale :runaway:
 
hehehe :D

Legacy lenses are easy. All you need is a lens to camera adapter. For example Canon FD to Sony A7/Nex. Adapters are available from the various auction sites from under £10 and upwards and entering a search of lens mount to camera mount should get you there.

I used cheap £10 adapters on my MFT cameras and more expensive Novoflex adapters on my A7. The Novoflex adapters are a shade under £100 each. I did initially buy a cheap Nex adapter to use on my A7 and although it worked with most of my lenses including 28mm it got in the way and caused vignetting with my 24mm which isn't too surprising as it's a Nex adapter and Nex are APS-C. So, the lesson I learned was to double check that adapters are suitable for full frame cameras. Other than that I've had no problems with adapters and legacy lenses.
 
I did think of that however as an official numpty and not knowing the correct lens and adapters my main reason was light weight at just a pound in weight it must be near the lower end of the scale :runaway:

i think its pretty much the same weight as a equivilent canikon one, but it will be better image quality

and 40mm is great, buy a 40mm 1.4 or f2 voightlander or leica, and they actually are small light and fantastic, vs most of the fe glass which is actually middling weight and size for most lenses.... but fantastic (for sony) price and quality

my 40mm 1.4 takes a 46mm filter :D
 
i think its pretty much the same weight as a equivilent canikon one, but it will be better image quality

Are you sure about that? The 85 1.8G is 78.7 x 73.7 cm vs 81 x 92 mm and 350g vs 475g. The G costs £339 vs Batis £909! Time will tell wether its better or if it comes close to justifying costing almost 3 times as much.

The G is ridiculously good value for money. Its in DXOs top 3 85mm lenses.
 
Last edited:
Almost pulled the trigger on an a7rii last night. Then it hit me I could buy a d810 and d750 for the same price. Hmmm what to do..
 
Almost pulled the trigger on an a7rii last night. Then it hit me I could buy a d810 and d750 for the same price. Hmmm what to do..

Or a D750/D810 body and some lovely lenses for the price of the A7rii body alone.
 
Back
Top