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

woof woof said:
But you said people pay you to nail focus on the eye of moving people... I'd call that demanding.

I do photograph moving things but my expectations are real world.
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Eye af is cool but it' not foolproof, the camera just didn't continuous focus as fast as a DSLR with moving subjects.

No, your expectations are low for AF, as you don't demand very fast CAF, that's shows in your gear choice. Its not a bad thing but dont think others expectations are unrealistic because yours are low.
 
twist said:
Eye af is cool but it' not foolproof, the camera just didn't continuous focus as fast as a DSLR with moving subjects.

No, your expectations are low for AF, as you don't demand very fast CAF, that's shows in your gear choice. Its not a bad thing but dont think others expectations are unrealistic because yours are low.
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I don't and never have relied on tracking or blistering focus, my old SLR's and DSLR's were well up to the job. When and if I do want fast focus for single shot shooting I have MFT which is pretty much instantaneous with a fast lens so fast that I don't know if any DSLR and fast lens could really keep up if only for the reason that it'd have more heavy glass to move around. My A7 isn't for focus performance although for the vast majority of my uses it's adequate. For me the whole point is the luxury of FF in a small form body for top quality when I want it and also for using old lenses and the options for doing that at their original focal length are limited to Sony and the even more expensive option.

I wouldn't describe my expectations as being low but they are real world applicable to me and not the fantasy performance that many on the net claim they need. If you're a real world guy or a net fantasist is for you to decide. Maybe it's best that you stick to what you know until mirrorless performance is widely regarded as being there, A7 or A9 mk whatever that may be. Waiting another generation or two should certainly save you a lot of angst and disappointment and chopping and changing and time wasting... but there are those who enjoy that aspect and if that's you then continue to fill your boots.
 
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woof woof said:
I don't and never have relied on tracking or blistering focus, my old SLR's and DSLR's were well up to the job. When and if I do want fast focus for single shot shooting I have MFT which is pretty much instantaneous with a fast lens so fast that I don't know if any DSLR and fast lens could really keep up if only for the reason that it'd have more heavy glass to move around. My A7 isn't for focus performance although for the vast majority of my uses it's adequate. For me the whole point is the luxury of FF in a small form body for top quality when I want it and also for using old lenses and the options for doing that at their original focal length are limited to Sony and the even more expensive option.

I wouldn't describe my expectations as being low but they are real world applicable to me and not the fantasy performance that many on the net claim they need. If you're a real world guy or a net fantasist is for you to decide. Maybe it's best that you stick to what you know until mirrorless performance is widely regarded as being there, A7 or A9 mk whatever that may be. Waiting another generation or two should certainly save you a lot of angst and disappointment and chopping and changing and time wasting... but there are those who enjoy that aspect and if that's you then continue to fill your boots.
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DSLR and now the A9 are king of the hill for continuous focus, its partly why most pros use these cameras, besides the A9 and possibly the A7riii other mirrorless cant keep up. Other brands are very fast at AFS though.

Looking at the A9 its definitely there, but for less money I can get the same performance as a stop gap, its a difficult time to buy as so many models will get a refresh and new models on the horizon. Why spend 4k+ when 1.6k will offer the same result for now. Like I said, I don't mind changing systems, I often hang onto lenses anyway so I never am stuck without gear for a particular system.
 
twist said:
I would've if it was up to the task ;) I'm not going to sit with a camera and miss shots. It's not about affordability, it's about being sensible.... why spend 4k+ when 1.6k will do the same job in the interim, id be stupid to spend that kind of money when it's rumoured Canikon will launch serious mirrorless offerings in 2018. Look how much money you'e lost being an early adopter in Sony, the gear doesn't hold any value.
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You have switched more times than anyone here and lost a ton I suppose.
 
twist said:
Eye af is cool but it' not foolproof, the camera just didn't continuous focus as fast as a DSLR with moving subjects.

No, your expectations are low for AF, as you don't demand very fast CAF, that's shows in your gear choice. Its not a bad thing but dont think others expectations are unrealistic because yours are low.
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Do you just shoot portrait of people moving or sports as well?
 
jonneymendoza said:
Do you just shoot portrait of people moving or sports as well?
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Just people and kids, kids are difficult, unpredictable and fast. The a9 will cope, i know it will so ill just wait a little bit and see what comes over say the next 6 months. In the meantime i know the d750 is capable.
 
twist said:
Hmmm how much did your a7rii/5d3/5d4 cost? Loss at sale?

The a9 and a7r3 will be massive ouches in the future.

You pay UK launch price, you get screwed.
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In a spam of 5 years. Not as bad as you lol [emoji23].

I sold the 5d3 at around half the price I got it for and that's nearly 4 years of use. The a7r3 will be sold soon for decent chunk as well but for around 2 and a half year use.

I'm basically paying half the amount for each new release when sold later down the line.
 
jonneymendoza said:
In a spam of 5 years. Not as bad as you lol [emoji23].

I sold the 5d3 at around half the price I got it for and that's nearly 4 years of use. The a7r3 will be sold soon for decent chunk as well but for around 2 and a half year use.

I'm basically paying half the amount for each new release when sold later down the line.
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Mate, I've lost a few hundred If that, you've lost thousands.

So you're losing on average so far 1.2 to 1.5k per camera!
 
Your a9 is now only worth around 2.7k..... That's a loss of nearly 2k in 6 months. That's pretty hilarious.
 
jonneymendoza said:
How are you only losing a few 100? Selling it after a few weeks of owning?
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Not that soon, usually a few months to a year, stuff is well looked after with low actuations so holds value, which is what every used buyer looks for. You buy at uk launch so have massive losses in little time.... like your a9.
 
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twist said:
Not that soon, usually a few months to a year, stuff is well looked after with low actuations so holds value, which is what every used buyer looks for.
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You probably don't shoot as often as me then in a spam of a year.. I've already clocked over 4k of clicks on my a7r3 that's what. A month old now if that?

Basically I use my gear like hell.
 
jonneymendoza said:
You probably don't shoot as often as me then in a spam of a year.. I've already clocked over 4k of clicks on my a7r3 that's what. A month old now if that?

Basically I use my gear like hell.
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I probs shoot around 1-2k actuations a month at a rough guess. Depends on how much free time I have. That's still quite a few though. I could rack up 10k a month on random bursts if I wanted. Your a7rii is 2.5 yrs old and has under 20k actuations mate.... not anywhere near 4k a month.
 
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twist said:
I probs shoot around 1-2k actuations a month at a rough guess. Depends on how much free time I have. That's still quite a few though. I could rack up 10k a month on random bursts if I wanted. Your a7rii is 2.5 yrs old and has under 20k actuations mate.... not anywhere near 4k a month.
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Can't believe a year old a7r2 with say around 10k shots can lose only a couple of 100.
 
I tend view camera’s like cars, never as an investment or buy on the expectation that they will hold good residuals for resale :D
I also try and avoid pay full RRP’s.
 
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woof woof said:
There's a short piece on the Voigtlander 35mm f1.4 at DPR, they say it'll ship in February...

https://www.dpreview.com/news/73973...4-for-e-mount-ships-in-february-will-cost-750

I hope it's a good performer like the 65mm f2 and 40mm f1.2.

I keep thinking about getting the 65mm but in reality I don't need it. I may be tempted by the 35mm f1.4 though even though it's close to the 40mm I have :D
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Back when I could still shoot MF lenses I switched to using M mount lenses on my X-Pro1, at one point I had both the Voigtlander 75mm F2.4 & the Leica 75mm F2.4, the Voigtlander was originally Leice screw mount but I bought it with the matched Voigtlander M mount adapter, so it worked perfectly on my Fuji M mount adapter.
The long and short of it was that there wasn't that much between the two lenses when it came to performance, the Leica slightly edged it on sharpness but the Voigtlander produced more pleasing images to my eye and knocked spots off the softer 1.8 version that didn't get sharp until F4-5.6.
I still have it, but might be tempted to part with it since I can no longer shoot MF.
 
I've only ever had one Voigtlander before the new 40mm f1.2 and it was the 35mm f2.5 color skopar. I stupidly sold it and have always regretted it especially as I could use it on my A7.

These new lenses, 65mm f2, 40mm f1.2 and hopefully the 35mm f1.4 too are specifically designed for the Sony FF mount and should be better than mounting the older design rangefinder lenses.
 
I wish I could MF Alan, sadly thats no longer possible for me, sounds like Voigtlander have got things together nicely, isnt it odd that two old stalwarts are at the forefront so far when it comes to third party lenses for sony FF, Zeiss & Voigtlander.
 
I'm sure that you know that the company that makes Voigtlander lenses makes some of the worlds best lenses with various names on them so if they want to put the Voigtlander name on some excellent lenses they certainly have the ability. By all accounts the 65mm f2 is excellent, I read reviews of the 40mm f1.2 before I bought it and they mentioned CA, soft corners and other nasties that I haven't seen and in my opinion it's an excellent lens.

Here's s couple of pictures I've posted before, they make for lovely pixel peeping :D

1-DSC08528.jpg

1-DSC08533.jpg

This last one is a 100% crop.

1-DSC08540.jpg

Here's hoping that the 35mm f1.4 is excellent too :D
 
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Mine just turned up this afternoon, batteries charging at present but it feels good in the hand, there is however one glaring problem for those who are disabled or less able. the mode dial lock is of the press/hold/turn variety rather than the push/push type, this means it takes 3 fingers to change modes rather than 1 with the later type of lock.
Just praying this meets expectations for tethered shooting via USB as I've just sold all my Olympus kit including fast long lenses to finance it.
 
Tom Green said:
Tempted to add an 85mm.
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Its a really good lens but I wouldn't have it if I didn't shoot portraits, the sony version is very very close to as good as the Batis, so you can certainly save a few quid by getting the sony version without compromising.
The lowly 50/1.8 has improved vastly with the firmware updates released this year for both the lens and the bodies, no its not as good as the Zeiss 55/1.8 by a long shot but its now usable and produces nice images without the hunting and noise it originally had.
In fact the 50/1.8 & 85/1.8 are the only native lenses I have at present and likely to have for a good while, but they cover most of what I need for now.

I'd love a 70-200/4, 35/2.8, 28/2 and dream longingly about a 100-400 +1.4tc for shooting the birds but they're all out of my reach.
So for now I'll manage with what I have plus an old & battered but razor sharp Nikon 300/4.5 & an MD 28/2.8
 
Picked up a sony a7 about 2 weeks ago - Absolutely loving it. Especially using legacy glass. Here's a pic of my fiancée I got at the weekend at leeds German Market (Nikkor 50mm f1.4) She'll get tired of me togging soon I'm sure.


XwXJJkO.jpg
 
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