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

Riz_Guru said:
I actually like his work, it’s still photography :)
Some people always give other people grief, unfortunately the world we live in :(
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Wonder if some of it is down to a bit of jealousy. Am sure there are plenty of photographers out there who would sell there soul for over a million Instagram followers.
 
f/2.8 said:
This popped up on my Facebook feed this morning, thought it was interesting. The guy seems to be getting a little grief about o.t.t editing etc but I quite liked the images.

https://petapixel.com/2019/10/19/th...FhmfuDhKaGMgzqAdTuge2V2M5Xv1qmO8nfUg1Jem6NPpY
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I have seen similar before and is very common with some movie directors too.

I actually have a couple of pictures myself shot with similar ideology. I'll see if I can find them lol.

I definitely like it but it's just something that actually requires a bit of time and attention to detail to make it work. Don't have much time to try these things myself :(
 
LeeRatters said:
We've been to these woods many times and there's still more to see!! I wish now I could've been bothered to set the tripod up and shot at a smaller aperture but there's always another time I guess.....

I do seem to constantly shoot at 40mm though.
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40mm is a good focal length. I never understand the whole ‘you need an UWA lens for landscapes’. I quite like the 40-50mm range and longer focal lengths a 70-200 gives.
 
Wide angle lenses can give you a look you just can't get from other lenses, there's no denying that. They can give you a very distinctive look that is both an easy trick to use to get a striking picture in some circumstances and very hard to use well in others.
 
I have just got myself a brand new A7ii and after just a day of playing around with it, I absolutely love it.

The menus are going to take some getting used to after spending 11 years using Canon but I don't think it will take me too long.

One thing I am struggling with and I have searched this forum extensively for is a way to connect the camera to my iPhone, everything I find seems to refer to apps for iPhone that a no longer available.

Is this a function that is no longer supported by sony?

I'm sure people are still using A7ii and iPhones even though it's now an older model. I hope someone can help.

Thanks
Joe
 
woof woof said:
Wide angle lenses can give you a look you just can't get from other lenses, there's no denying that. They can give you a very distinctive look that is both an easy trick to use to get a striking picture in some circumstances and very hard to use well in others.
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Used right UWA do work well. It’s just they get recommended far too often in threads for people looking for a landscape lens. I see too many recommend an UWA lens as the only way to get a landscape photo when there are so many other ways to get landscape photos. I find i miss a few opportunities by not having an UWA lens but not as many as people make out that’s its a must.
 
f/2.8 said:
Wonder if some of it is down to a bit of jealousy. Am sure there are plenty of photographers out there who would sell there soul for over a million Instagram followers.
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The ones that buy their followers make me lol. So many of them about :ROFLMAO:
 
F/1.4 said:
The ones that buy their followers make me lol. So many of them about :ROFLMAO:
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I don't take much to do with our Instagram etc. any more, my missus and my eldest mostly do our social media stuff. I thought you couldn't do that sort of thing though, doesn't Instagram have checks for that and ban accounts? Seem to remember reading that somewhere.

I guess you could say most of ours are bought as the vast majority have came from paid adverts, but we have stopped doing those now.

Instagram is a bit of a fading force now anyway as far as we are concerned, it's went the same way as Facebook in terms of being difficult to get interaction without having to pay for adverts. Instagram stories still work well though in terms of getting people to get in touch or visit the website but I think they already have to follow us to see those, but I could be wrong.

We definitely don't get as much traffic to our website or engagement from Instagram as we did even say a year or 18 months ago, maybe we are just doing it wrong. We don't want to get into that trap that a lot of others seem to do though were Instagram almost becomes like an additional job. A while back someone really well known locally told me that he spends 20-30 hours a week just on running his Instagram alone, which seems nuts too me, although that is where he says he gets most of his work from.

I think not concentrating on just one of the big social sites works best, we get loads of website traffic from Pinterest for example even though we do nothing with it other than pinning photos and we have very little followers. At some point the Instagram bubble will burst completely a bit like it has done with Facebook for businesses and those that have completely concentrated on it will be in diffs.

I really struggle with the whole social media thing anyway, everybody trying to out do each other with the "look at how amazing my life is" stuff. It's all so fake and sad. There really is people out there that think getting a whole load of likes is some sort of achievement. I actually overheard a bridesmaid and a bride talking recently and they where discussing how they should not let posts from their wedding vendors be seen on Facebook if they where tagged so that they could download photos and videos etc and post themselves so that they could"get the likes". They weren't even talking about our photos this was about photos and videos that the florist and m.u.a had taken. Like seriously what is that about. :LOL:

Would love to be in a position where we could do away with social media altogether.
 
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rob-nikon said:
Used right UWA do work well. It’s just they get recommended far too often in threads for people looking for a landscape lens. I see too many recommend an UWA lens as the only way to get a landscape photo when there are so many other ways to get landscape photos. I find i miss a few opportunities by not having an UWA lens but not as many as people make out that’s its a must.
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Yup. That happens so many times. How often do we see someone ask for landscape advice and the answer 10-20mm? Lots. Rarely is the answer 70-200mm :D
 
LeeRatters said:
A slice of local autumn from last week. I'd imagine the winds have now removed most of the colourful leaves for us..... [emoji57]

A7 - 40/1.2


*** by Lee, on Flickr
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I’m hoping that this dry and cold spell forecast for this weeks helps with what’s left.
Fingers crossed for next weekend. Lovely shot btw.
 
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ancient_mariner said:
I've just given in and ordered the Viltrox 85 f1.8 - £320 through Amazon.

Been juggling between that, the Samyang 85 f1.4 - £479 grey - and the Sony 85 f1.8 - £375 grey (and a real bargain).

Several factors made it hard, but this was the easiest choice: if I don't like lens performance I can return it to Amazon without any trouble. The Sammy f1.4 is really tempting at only £160 more, and is probably really the lens I want, but that's a grey version. The Sony f1.8 got rejected even though it has possibly the best AF and lowest weight of all the 85s because I just don't think it renders that well - spent some time looking through Flickr, and it was hard to find images where I liked the lens performance in terms of bokeh and subject isolation. If the 35 renders like that as some have suggested then I can see why some don't like it.

It should arrive Monday - I'll report on performance & whether I'm keeping it or not some time over the next week or 2. We're off to India for a wedding in December, and I want to be comfy using it by then.
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The Viltrox is a new one on me. So much choice these days I guess. I’d have prob opted for the Sony, I don’t think it’s that bad personally.
 
I find my 14mm too wide for 'most' traditional landscape shots, it can work but more often I wish I had a 14-24 or similar for wide shots. I do love an ultrawide for interiors of churches, sky/astro and crazy perspective shots though and at the price of the Samyang 14mm it will be staying in the bag. I really like the look of the new Sigma wide angle zoom but it's a bit out of budget for me at the moment. I quite like 35mm & 28mm for landscapes too.
 
Livin The Dream said:
The Viltrox is a new one on me. So much choice these days I guess. I’d have prob opted for the Sony, I don’t think it’s that bad personally.
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The Viltrox seems to have a decent rep, although I don't know anyone who uses one, don't think they have been available for that long.
 
NewBeetle said:
I find my 14mm too wide for 'most' traditional landscape shots, it can work but more often I wish I had a 14-24 or similar for wide shots. I do love an ultrawide for interiors of churches, sky/astro and crazy perspective shots though and at the price of the Samyang 14mm it will be staying in the bag. I really like the look of the new Sigma wide angle zoom but it's a bit out of budget for me at the moment. I quite like 35mm & 28mm for landscapes too.
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Tbh I’d never have a prime for landscapes, too limiting for me. My 18-35mm is great, although I’d love the new 14-30mm
 
rob-nikon said:
40mm is a good focal length. I never understand the whole ‘you need an UWA lens for landscapes’. I quite like the 40-50mm range and longer focal lengths a 70-200 gives.
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As you may be aware, I use it for pretty much everything that I shoot. I did use the 21mm today though at a local waterfall as it is very tight there. If I spent a lot of time in the Brecon's, Lake District, etc then I would probably have a 70-200mm for sure.
 
Livin The Dream said:
I’m hoping that this dry and cold spell forecast for this weeks helps with what’s left.
Fingers crossed for next weekend. Lovely shot btw.
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Thank you. I had the kids this weekend so a local wood with waterfall this morning and next weekend the other half and myself will be out! I found some toadstools and fungi last weekend without her so she's not happy :p Return visit required....!
 
I find ultra-wides - say <16mm - have very limited landscape use, and are only helpful where you want to deliberately distort reality, increasing the apparent distance between things close & further away. Not that they can't be used, but they just need the right scene.

jimyjoe said:
I'm sure people are still using A7ii and iPhones even though it's now an older model. I hope someone can help.
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Hope you enjoy the camera. I don't have an iPhone, but the Sony app for Android control is called Imaging Edge Mobile. There may be something similar in the App store for your device.
 
I know this is wrong and I'll possibly hate it tomorrow but at the moment I quite like it :D

Nik filters, Color Efex, Indian Summer filter :D

8RqcyXA.jpg
 
woof woof said:
I know this is wrong and I'll possibly hate it tomorrow but at the moment I quite like it :D

Nik filters, Color Efex, Indian Summer filter :D

8RqcyXA.jpg
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Tried that filter sometime it works sometime doesn’t. It works there
 
The Viltrox 85 f1.8 arrived just now.

Nicely packaged (though Amazon were a bit woeful - big box, little internal material to stop it crashing around). The lens itself is very substantial and *feels* extremely well made. Focus ring is well damped too. A quick play in the office had it locking onto eyes generally well, and doing face-detect from the side. Will see if I can take some pics in a bit.
 
ancient_mariner said:
I particularly like the mushrooms/forest floor image. How is that lens working out in terms of image quality, esp corners - I've been thinking about picking one up for travel use.
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Its sharp in the middle and not awful in the corners but not as sharp, it does vignette quite a bit but nothing post processing cant sort. For £250 it will do for me.
 
OK, first impressions from use - I wonder if my lens got 'kicked around', because I've had an intermittent electrical fault. Went for a wander, and this was the first shot :

Viltrox FE AF 85 f1.8 PFU RBMH by Toni Ertl, on Flickr

Yup, completely failed to get focus. Sometimes it was OK, sometimes I got focus peaking highlights over stuff in the viewfinder, and eventually I got a message about lens lot recognised or not mounted properly - I unlocked & re-seated it and the lens then behaved normally. Fairly sure this copy is going back. :(

All images as near to SOOC as possible, default Lightroom sharpening only, low sharpening for screen on export, no other adjustments apart from the one grass image cropped to 100%.

However, next attempt, f1.8 because it had to be done:
Viltrox FE AF 85 f1.8 PFU RBMH-2 by Toni Ertl, on Flickr

Optically it's not bad at all, and the rendering is really nice as it transitions from in to out of focus. f8 and it's sharp across 90% of the frame with softness in the far corners, bit it gives a pleasing 3D look to separate objects in the frame.

Viltrox FE AF 85 f1.8 PFU RBMH-3 by Toni Ertl, on Flickr

f8 again.
Viltrox FE AF 85 f1.8 PFU RBMH-4 by Toni Ertl, on Flickr

100% crop (you'll need to go to Flickr to see it).
Viltrox FE AF 85 f1.8 PFU RBMH-5 by Toni Ertl, on Flickr

Bokeh demo against a dark background.
Viltrox FE AF 85 f1.8 PFU RBMH-6 by Toni Ertl, on Flickr

Bokeh demo against a light background.
Viltrox FE AF 85 f1.8 PFU RBMH-7 by Toni Ertl, on Flickr

There's a bit of purple and green fringing from CA in high contrast situations, but it's not bad and much less than my Sony A mount 50 f1.4 (both a bokeh and CA monster).

I need to see what version of firmware it's running, perhaps upgrade, check out reliability. Optically it's good in terms of sharpness, great for rendering. AF-wise it's not so good, mostly I suspect because the electronics aren't working right, rather than something inherent in the lens. Right now the Sammy 85 f1.5 is looking increasingly attractive.... if only it weren't so large.
 
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ancient_mariner said:
OK, first impressions from use - I wonder if my lens got 'kicked around', because I've had an intermittent electrical fault. Went for a wander, and this was the first shot :

Viltrox FE AF 85 f1.8 PFU RBMH by Toni Ertl, on Flickr

Yup, completely failed to get focus. Sometimes it was OK, sometimes I got focus peaking highlights over stuff in the viewfinder, and eventually I got a message about lens lot recognised or not mounted properly - I unlocked & re-seated it and the lens then behaved normally. Fairly sure this copy is going back. :(

All images as near to SOOC as possible, default Lightroom sharpening only, low sharpening for screen on export, no other adjustments apart from the one grass image cropped to 100%.

However, next attempt, f1.8 because it had to be done:
Viltrox FE AF 85 f1.8 PFU RBMH-2 by Toni Ertl, on Flickr

Optically it's not bad at all, and the rendering is really nice as it transitions from in to out of focus. f8 and it's sharp across 90% of the frame with softness in the far corners, bit it gives a pleasing 3D look to separate objects in the frame.

Viltrox FE AF 85 f1.8 PFU RBMH-3 by Toni Ertl, on Flickr

f8 again.
Viltrox FE AF 85 f1.8 PFU RBMH-4 by Toni Ertl, on Flickr

100% crop (you'll need to go to Flickr to see it).
Viltrox FE AF 85 f1.8 PFU RBMH-5 by Toni Ertl, on Flickr

Bokeh demo against a dark background.
Viltrox FE AF 85 f1.8 PFU RBMH-6 by Toni Ertl, on Flickr

Bokeh demo against a light background.
Viltrox FE AF 85 f1.8 PFU RBMH-7 by Toni Ertl, on Flickr

There's a bit of purple and green fringing from CA in high contrast situations, but it's not bad and much less than my Sony A mount 50 f1.4 (both a bokeh and CA monster).

I need to see what version of firmware it's running, perhaps upgrade, check out reliability. Optically it's good in terms of sharpness, great for rendering. AF-wise it's not so good, mostly I suspect because the electronics aren't working right, rather than something inherent in the lens. Right now the Sammy 85 f1.5 is looking increasingly attractive.... if only it weren't so large.
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The samyang 85mm/1.4 is actually small-ish for a F1.4. the 85GM is larger and the 85 ART is huge lol
 
nandbytes said:
The samyang 85mm/1.4 is actually small-ish for a F1.4. the 85GM is larger and the 85 ART is huge lol
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I know, but my bag gets heavier and heavier. :p

Go on, tell me, I should have bought the Sony. :(
 
I ordered a used RRS L bracket from WEX that fits the A7r3. It arrived today and I have to same I’m impressed, it’s definitely feels like a perfect fit. When in hand it feels like an extension of the camera body- my little finger doesn’t feel like it’s on something else than the camera body (even though it’s on the L bracket). The small rig L bracket was good but this is just a bit better. I like the idea of the battery door moving to the L bracket but I wouldnt say it was completely sealed. although it’s just the same as when it was fitted to the camera body. I wasn’t expecting the Allen key storage, that’s something I liked about the small rig L bracket.
 
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