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

Same here, picked up the original A7 and the Sony 24-70 f4 for just over £1k.

I came from a NEX 7 which I sold.

I kept the E 16-50 Pancake lens which I occasionally use if I want the camera very small and light and want to take "snaps".. only 11MP APS-C but saves having a second NEX body. Video works well on the lens as it's a motorised zoom.

This is one of the kits I was looking into, barring trying to find a A7S body. Have you made any video recordings on this?
 
I’ve just done the same thing.
A7II used from LCE. 400 clicks £799. Added the nifty fifty. £179, not the fastest thing to focus but good image quality.
I don’t do video though.

Didn't think of this combo. Is that a Sony nifty fifty?
 
Am I correct in thinking that the "FE" lenses are the full frame lenses?
 
This is one of the kits I was looking into, barring trying to find a A7S body. Have you made any video recordings on this?
I have made video recordings, mostly of the kids etc. I think for video you'd want image stabilisation as @twist mentioned, but some of my lenses have OSS (Optical Steady Shot)

Even the a7 is pretty good in low light, and focus was fine, probably better than my a900 was. I was amazed actually how good the school disco video I took came out considering he lighting. It's not 4k though - if that is an issue.

I bought the a7 because it was relatively cheap and is pretty flexible in terms of use. I'll be getting an a7iii when I can pick one up for £600 ;)
 
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I have made video recordings, mostly of the kids etc. I think for video you'd want image stabilisation as @twist mentioned, but some of my lenses have OSS (Optical Steady Shot)

Even the a7 is pretty good in low light, and focus was fine, probably better than my a900 was. I was amazed actually how good the school disco video I took came out considering he lighting. It's not 4k though - if that is an issue.

I bought the a7 because it was relatively cheap and is pretty flexible in terms of use. I'll be getting an a7iii when I can pick one up for £600 ;)

The Sony full frames IBIS in video isn't that great, nowhere near as good as smaller formats. Lens OSS is better.

@saul01 Why do you need 4k?
 
f56, aye? I can picture it now, off for a whole days shooting, only to come home to a folder full of photos like this...

b0026932.jpg

No problem, if it's an iso invariant Sony you can always correct it in post :D
 
The Sony full frames IBIS in video isn't that great, nowhere near as good as smaller formats. Lens OSS is better.

@saul01 Why do you need 4k?

I don't really need 4K, was trying to future proof myself.

After this purchase I can't see me upgrading for quite a while.
 
If I do not shoot for a living and am just a keen/enthusiast would I be loosing much if I went for a crop sensor?

Also somewhere on youtube I watched a video saying that any flash will work on the Sony camera's, is this correct?
 
If I do not shoot for a living and am just a keen/enthusiast would I be loosing much if I went for a crop sensor?

Never ending debate in my head.
Went Full Frame as I already have 2 APSC camera’s.

Pure GAS..
 
If I do not shoot for a living and am just a keen/enthusiast would I be loosing much if I went for a crop sensor?

Also somewhere on youtube I watched a video saying that any flash will work on the Sony camera's, is this correct?

The APSC cameras are smaller, cheaper, faster AF (than mk1 and mk2 A7), cheaper lenses...... less ISO performance but realistically still very good, more DOF. APSC has a lot going for it unless you want to spend big bucks on FF.

Not in TTL, mostly any flash can be used on any camera if its in manual.

What do you plan on photographing?
 
The APSC cameras are smaller, cheaper, faster AF (than mk1 and mk2 A7), cheaper lenses...... less ISO performance but realistically still very good, more DOF. APSC has a lot going for it unless you want to spend big bucks on FF.

Not in TTL, mostly any flash can be used on any camera if its in manual.

What do you plan on photographing?

As it's a strict budget, just looking best bang for buck really

If that's the case with the flash, will then need to factor a flash into the budget as well.

Mainly portraits, people, my kids...general stuff. Nothing "studio" worthy
 
In terms of lenses for a crop sensor, I should be able to pick up the Sony E PZ 18-105mm F4 G OSS Lens for around £400 (begging and grovling a favour) is this worth it?
 
As it's a strict budget, just looking best bang for buck really

If that's the case with the flash, will then need to factor a flash into the budget as well.

Mainly portraits, people, my kids...general stuff. Nothing "studio" worthy

I personally don't think 4K is mainstream enough yet to worry about when you are on a "tight" budget. Massive file sizes, increased memory costs, increased camera costs, bigger cameras.

If I were you and you want a Sony Id look at the A6000 kit with 16-50mm and a 50mm 1.8 OSS, also add a external flash gun which will come in well under 1k (to use up your budget you could buy the 18-105 & 50 instead or 16-50 / 50 1.8 and 55-210 zoom). You could switch out the A6000 with the A6300 but IMO its not worth the additional few hundred quids.

OR

A7 mk1 (£550 used mint), a 28-70 which is cheap on eBay (£140) and the FE50 1.8 (£180), thats your budget.

These should cover days out and portraits of the kids.
 
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In terms of lenses for a crop sensor, I should be able to pick up the Sony E PZ 18-105mm F4 G OSS Lens for around £400 (begging and grovling a favour) is this worth it?

Its a good lens, a crop lens, not FF, so A6000 series, not A7, unless you want to shoot it in crop mode.
 
In terms of lenses for a crop sensor, I should be able to pick up the Sony E PZ 18-105mm F4 G OSS Lens for around £400 (begging and grovling a favour) is this worth it?

It does depend on what you are aiming for, but for similar money you can get the 16-50 as part of the kit, and add the 55-210 and 50 f/1.8.
This gives you 16-210 (although not at f/4), as well as the 50 f/1.8 for low light or shallow DOF.

The difference between 16 and 18 at the wide end, and 105-210 at the long end, are both quite significant, as is the f/1.8 over f/4 on the 50.

The 18-105 is better quality than the 16-50 or 55-210, so there are pro's and con's to both options.
 
I personally don't think 4K is mainstream enough yet to worry about when you are on a "tight" budget. Massive file sizes, increased memory costs, increased camera costs, bigger cameras.

If I were you and you want a Sony Id look at the A6000 kit with 16-50mm and a 50mm 1.8 OSS, also add a external flash gun which will come in well under 1k (to use up your budget you could buy the 18-105 & 50 instead or 16-50 / 50 1.8 and 55-210 zoom). You could switch out the A6000 with the A6300 but IMO its not worth the additional few hundred quids.

OR

A7 mk1 (£550 used mint), a 28-70 which is cheap on eBay (£140) and the FE50 1.8 (£180), thats your budget.

These should cover days out and portraits of the kids.

Yep, I'd probably suggest the A6000 route unless he prefers the form factor of the a7. My NEX-7 was a great camera, which is an older model to the a6k range.
 
What about the fuji and olympus options?

I have looked at the Fuji X-T20 with the 18-50mm kit lens. New, this is within budget and ticks all the boxes.

And not for a lot more over budget can also get the X-T2 again with 18-50mm kit lens.
 
Seeing from the above posts that all brands are spoken of Sony or Fuji?
 
Has anyone purchased anything from progadgetsuk on the bay?
 
I personally don't think 4K is mainstream enough yet to worry about when you are on a "tight" budget. Massive file sizes, increased memory costs, increased camera costs, bigger cameras.

If I were you and you want a Sony Id look at the A6000 kit with 16-50mm and a 50mm 1.8 OSS, also add a external flash gun which will come in well under 1k (to use up your budget you could buy the 18-105 & 50 instead or 16-50 / 50 1.8 and 55-210 zoom). You could switch out the A6000 with the A6300 but IMO its not worth the additional few hundred quids.

OR

A7 mk1 (£550 used mint), a 28-70 which is cheap on eBay (£140) and the FE50 1.8 (£180), thats your budget.

These should cover days out and portraits of the kids.

Thank you for these options.

I've also just found the A7ii with 28-70mm new for £1100. Can always buy the nifty at a later stage, hopefully a secondhand will crop up. BTW where did you see the A7 mint for £550?
 
I keep flipping wanting the Samyang 35/2.8 and then realising it will never be used once I get the 34/1.4....and then thinking I can justify it for using it on holiday....then realise I’ve taken my 5D with 35L on almost every trip.......

I got a problem.
 
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