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

addicknchips said:
Compared to? What do you want to use it for?

I found it fine for portraits, landscape and anything that isn't really moving too much. Tracking is where it runs into problems.

The camera itself if very small and light. It might feel really odd if you have been used to full frame dslr. Doesn't feel like it's built wonderfully well, but can't argue with the image quality.
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Currently have a 7D.

Shoot mainly landscapes and the occasional wildlife (usually still) or air shows.

Considering this or the GX8 (this is £250 more)
 
Tom Green said:
Currently have a 7D.

Shoot mainly landscapes and the occasional wildlife (usually still) or air shows.

Considering this or the GX8 (this is £250 more)
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You're going to struggle with long lens choice... unless you buy the 100-400g master. The 7d AF is far superior. For landscape stuff you'll be alright.
 
Tom Green said:
Yeah wondering if I'd be better with the GX8 for that as it's a 2x crop and lenses are available.
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Also looking at your gear list I think you're going to have to spend considerably more money than what you have at present. Sony is not a cheap system, the camera is but the lenses are very expensive... there's hardly any cheaper lenses and generally FF glass is more expensive.
 
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twist said:
Also looking at your gear list I think you're going to have to spend considerably more money than what you have at present. Sony is not a cheap system, the camera is but the lenses are very expensive... there's hardly any cheaper lenses and generally FF glass is more expensive.
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Yeah I would, good point though! I also have a sigma 18-35mm which is about £500 to go in the fund!
 
Tom Green said:
How bad is the AF in reality?
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The AF is obviously perfectly ok for stuff like landscape, posed people shots and slow moving stuff. As for overall speed I'd say it's probably about the same or a bit faster than my old Canon 20D/5D, not that fast in todays terms and I'm sure a modern DSLR will be faster and I'm certain that a modern MFT camera will be faster as I own two :D All is not lost though as for speedy stuff you could always anticipate, go manual, hyperfocal or zone or some other technique to get the shot. Image quality wise I'm pretty sure that an A7 will beat your 7D to its knees and leave it crying on the floor (if you go looking for the differences) so you take your choice, speedy AF with the 7D or FF image quality in a small A7 package.

I think you should think about what you want to shoot, the results you want and how to get them. You should also take a look at the lens options and the prices. Another thing to think about and IMO one of the strengths of the A7 system is the ability to use just about any lens. I mostly use the excellent Sony/Zeiss 35mm f2.8 and 55mm f1.8 and also have a number of manual lenses for fun use and also to cover the focal lengths I don't use so often and therefore don't want to spend a lot buying modern AF lenses.

I think you should also think about the pros/cons of moving to a mirrorless system. Personally I love the compact size, the in view exposure and focus aids and I'd hate to go back to DSLR's now.

Good luck choosing.
 
Raymond Lin said:
Ok, that's like the size of my 35L Mk2….

Was thinking something smaller but on the same level of quality….Hmmmmm
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You want something smaller but the same quality? And f1.4 too?

If you find it let us know.
 
woof woof said:
You want something smaller but the same quality? And f1.4 too?

If you find it let us know.
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I'd love something like the Canon 35L mk1 size.

Or something like the Canon 35/2.0.

I am debating what camera to take to Japan….X-T1 with the 23/35/56 or I go with my standard combo, my 5D/35L.

It will be a once a life time trip, I am thinking the Canon, hence thinking whether Sony makes a small 35/1.4 lens.
 
Nuzik said:
Well the xt1 and 56mm is hardly a small combo
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Compare to my Canon it's like feathers.

b1dIZ8I.jpg


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Raymond Lin said:
I'd love something like the Canon 35L mk1 size.

Or something like the Canon 35/2.0.

I am debating what camera to take to Japan….X-T1 with the 23/35/56 or I go with my standard combo, my 5D/35L.

It will be a once a life time trip, I am thinking the Canon, hence thinking whether Sony makes a small 35/1.4 lens.
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If you don't mind going a bit wider, the 28mm f2 is excellent and very small.
 
Raymond Lin said:
I'd love something like the Canon 35L mk1 size.

Or something like the Canon 35/2.0.

I am debating what camera to take to Japan….X-T1 with the 23/35/56 or I go with my standard combo, my 5D/35L.

It will be a once a life time trip, I am thinking the Canon, hence thinking whether Sony makes a small 35/1.4 lens.
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I know you like f1.4 lenses and I know you'll think that the Sony 35mm f2.8 (or the cheaper Samyang) are too slow... have you thought about looking to something manual? There are a few nice and compact 35mm f1.x manual lenses.... Voigtlander 35mm f1.4 for example although I don't know if you'd like the wide aperture rendering.

F1.4 would be nice but for me the Sony 35mm f2.8 is enough.
 
Thanks all for you thoughts on our upcoming wedding :D

We're having a quiet day as we woke up to the news that Tangkraw passed from suffering in the night and will be making a last journey home soon to sleep in the garden forever.

In happy days... and as through lifes ups and downs we go on... this was taken with my Panny TZ100, 1" compact.

P1000295.JPG
 
woof woof said:
I know you like f1.4 lenses and I know you'll think that the Sony 35mm f2.8 (or the cheaper Samyang) are too slow... have you thought about looking to something manual? There are a few nice and compact 35mm f1.x manual lenses.... Voigtlander 35mm f1.4 for example although I don't know if you'd like the wide aperture rendering.

F1.4 would be nice but for me the Sony 35mm f2.8 is enough.
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Just as a bit of background, the 35/f1.4 was invested by Leica in 1960 for reportage in all conditions, day and night, small and very fast. That remains the case and has always been a standard pro lens. Amateurs like me make do with the f/2, I use it for 90% of my photography. The 35/f1.4 costs £3,900. The Zeiss ZM version is about half that, but I don't know why a pro would ever buy one, as why would a pro skimp £2,000 on a lens they would use much of the time for many years?
The Leica 35/f1.4 is 320g and 410mm long, less than half size and weight of the Canon 35/f1.4L. So given all the AF motors and IS stuff inside the Canon 35/f1.4L, and that it is considered optically superb, it seems a bit of an engineering marvel and £1,800 seems quite reasonable. If you compare it to the Leica SL 50/f1.4 auto-focus jointly developed with Panasonic, which is about the same size and weight as the Canon and costs £4,080, the Canon is a bargain.

That said, I've thought f1.4 is for the very keen amateur with spare cash, but mostly pro.
 
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With todays better high ISO performance I think that f1.8 should be adequate for all but extreme conditions but that's without thinking about bokeh and lens character and all of the rest.

I'm happy with the Sony 35mm f2.8 and it's a very good lens. My Minolta Rokkor 35mm f1.8 is a different thing entirely and I like using that too :D but I doubt Raymond would be happy with it :D A Voigtlander 35mm f1.4 is always tempting though :D The f1.2 looks very nice but at a greater cost and it's bigger.
 
StevenS said:
Just as a bit of background, the 35/f1.4 was invested by Leica in 1960 for reportage in all conditions, day and night, small and very fast. That remains the case and has always been a standard pro lens. Amateurs like me make do with the f/2, I use it for 90% of my photography. The 35/f1.4 costs £3,900. The Zeiss ZM version is about half that, but I don't know why a pro would ever buy one, as why would a pro skimp £2,000 on a lens they would use much of the time for many years?
The Leica 35/f1.4 is 320g and 410mm long, less than half size and weight of the Canon 35/f1.4L. So given all the AF motors and IS stuff inside the Canon 35/f1.4L, and that it is considered optically superb, it seems a bit of an engineering marvel and £1,800 seems quite reasonable. If you compare it to the Leica SL 50/f1.4 auto-focus jointly developed with Panasonic, which is about the same size and weight as the Canon and costs £4,080, the Canon is a bargain.

That said, I've thought f1.4 is for the very keen amateur with spare cash, but mostly pro.
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the Otus 55mm 1.4 should work nicely on the A7 bodies, bargain now under £3000, no AF but you have focus peaking

Oh and it lacks the weather sealing too
 
woof woof said:
With todays better high ISO performance I think that f1.8 should be adequate for all but extreme conditions but that's without thinking about bokeh and lens character and all of the rest.

I'm happy with the Sony 35mm f2.8 and it's a very good lens. My Minolta Rokkor 35mm f1.8 is a different thing entirely and I like using that too :D but I doubt Raymond would be happy with it :D A Voigtlander 35mm f1.4 is always tempting though :D The f1.2 looks very nice but at a greater cost and it's bigger.
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I don't get the fast Voightlanders because of the poor optics. Just seem a waste of money.
http://www.kenrockwell.com/voigtlander/35mm-f14.htm
I agree with him 100% on this

I have the Voightlander 75/f1.8, which is the only one faster than f2 that I know of that is worthwhile.

The Leica Q is considered a bargain because it has an incredible 28mm/f1.7 lens with 1:2 macro and on release cost "only" £2,900, for which you also get a full-fame sensor and to-die-for electronics. The whole thing weighs 640g, less than the Canon 35/f1.4 L. I got one on Day 1, love it and it has been my carry-around ever since. Two years later there is a still a waiting list.

The only good cheap fast lens I know of is the Fuji XF 35/f1.4. It's truly wonderful.
http://kenrockwell.com/fuji/x-mount-lenses/35mm-f14.htm
It is my younger son's standard lens on a second hand XT-1 that cost £400. It's a brilliant combination.
 
dancook said:
the Otus 55mm 1.4 should work nicely on the A7 bodies, bargain now under £3000, no AF but you have focus peaking

Oh and it lacks the weather sealing too
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I would consider the Fuji XF 35/1.4 or 56/1.2 far better value with superb optics. The thing I don't like about XF is the slow AF (on Fuji bodies), and in MF mode you could get arthritis the amount you have to turn the focus ring. I have an A7R and the focus peaking is not very good - a lot of shots are not spot on. I hope it has improved in Mk2 versions.
 
StevenS said:
I would consider the Fuji XF 35/1.4 or 56/1.2 far better value with superb optics. The thing I don't like about XF is the slow AF (on Fuji bodies), and in MF mode you could get arthritis the amount you have to turn the focus ring. I have an A7R and the focus peaking is not very good - a lot of shots are not spot on. I hope it has improved in Mk2 versions.
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Fujinon lenses are great, yes the older lenses are slow to AF but they aren't too bad.
 
Mr Perceptive said:
Big difference on X-Trans3 bodies (and IMO the XF90mm is really the best prime for IQ),
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I do like 90mm thanks to my Tele-Elmarit, this one dates from about 1984 and Leica have struggled to improve upon it. And it cost me £300 and a service.
http://www.kenrockwell.com/leica/90mm-f28-tele.htm
Even Ken likes it! Best of all it weights 225g less than half the weight of the excellent XF90, which is also faster.

IMG_1686.JPG

Was using it yesterday.
https://www.talkphotography.co.uk/threads/10th-birthday-party.657393/

p.s. This is a Sony thread and I did say at the outset, with a sample image, that the 90 T-E is lovely on Sony A7.
 
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woof woof said:
Thanks all for you thoughts on our upcoming wedding :D

We're having a quiet day as we woke up to the news that Tangkraw passed from suffering in the night and will be making a last journey home soon to sleep in the garden forever.

In happy days... and as through lifes ups and downs we go on... this was taken with my Panny TZ100, 1" compact.

View attachment 105292
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Im sorry to hear this,the best companions ever
 
GF had said she wanted him buried in the garden but she changed her mind and he's now been laid to rest under a tree at the local temple where he'll be visited once a week to "make merit" and lay flowers. We'll visit when we're next there sometime next year.

Sadly not all temples will take dogs and the family temple wouldn't but luckily there's a nice local one that would.
 
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As it's quiet in here... More deleted shots...

A7 with Minolta 50mm f1.2.

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A7 with Sony 35mm f2.8.

View attachment 105381

A7 with (I think) the Minolta 50mm f1.2.

View attachment 105382

One more, misty and frosty with the A7 and Minolta 50mm f1.2. A guy passing with a Canon DSLR said he thought the light was good and set himself up where I'd been to shoot. I wonder what he ended up with.

DSC06100.jpg
 
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woof woof said:
As it's quiet in here... More deleted shots...

A7 with Minolta 50mm f1.2.

View attachment 105380

A7 with Sony 35mm f2.8.

View attachment 105381

A7 with (I think) the Minolta 50mm f1.2.

View attachment 105382

One more, misty and frosty with the A7 and Minolta 50mm f1.2. A guy passing with a Canon DSLR said he thought the light was good and set himself up where I'd been to shoot. I wonder what he ended up with.

View attachment 105383
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That last one is lovely. Tried a b&w edit?
 
Thank you.

I'll try b&w. This one and others like the tree shot above have been processed to be a touch warm as I like the look and I think it suits the old lens.
 
I have not read all 438 pages on this thread !
I own a 7D1 and though I love it to bits I am concern about the IQ as some cheaper dslr's do have IMO better IQ.
For sports ( motor racing, horse racing etc ) and air shows it is great. I take it on holiday and yes it is rather big and with just hand luggage I do struggle getting clothes and kit in to the suit case.

So I was looking at the Sony A7s Mk2 and with an adapter I could use my Canon glass. I also own a Sony NEX 5R which is an E mount system so any FE Sony glass I buy I could use it on the NEX as well, worth a thought.

I hope the A7s mk2 would make an ideal travel camera and also for landscapes / portraits use as well.

Any advise or suggestions regarding the A7s Mk2 please ?
 
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