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

Posted that knackered just before bed.

Well I should have realised that Snowdonia would be like Wembley on a cup final day.

Nowhere to park, people everywhere. Need to go more in the Autumn I think.

And that shot above is an HDR although hopefully tastefully done. Very difficult light conditions.

Think I have about 2 shots I'm happy with from the weekend.
 
Posted that knackered just before bed.

Well I should have realised that Snowdonia would be like Wembley on a cup final day.

Nowhere to park, people everywhere. Need to go more in the Autumn I think.

And that shot above is an HDR although hopefully tastefully done. Very difficult light conditions.

Think I have about 2 shots I'm happy with from the weekend.
I think it's clear it's HDR but very nicely done imo and not overbaked like a lot of the HDRs you see (y)
 
Yes the latest cameras do that indeed. but if you get a camera with real time tracking then there is almost no reason to be moving focus points anyway.
having said that its still useful for MF.
Yep, although seems that you cant link spot metering to the Real Time Tracking
 
Yep, although seems that you cant link spot metering to the Real Time Tracking
I didn't realise that, I just assumed it would as you can link it to the AF point :thinking:
 
Another from my hols. Taken with the 28-60 "kit" lens.

Gate by Stephen Lee, on Flickr
 
Taken with the 28-60 "kit" lens.
A lens which is holding value far too well for a Kit zoom! I've been thinking of getting the A7C with lens to replace my "small" X100 but maybe the lens on the A7III would be close enough and not compromise on the viewfinder.
 
If looking at a small system those new Sony 24, 40 and 50mm f2.x lenses and the similar Sigma lenses might be worth a look.

PS. And of course the venerable Sony 35mm f2.8 and similar Samyang.
 
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Just had an email to confirm my cash back claim was successful for the 24-105mm :clap:
 
So basically more or less the same size less the EVF which is incorporated into the body and a slightly smaller grip.

I haven't owned either but looking at the pictures that looks about the size of it.

haha. See what I did? :D

I have a couple of RF style MFT cameras that are pretty much just that, the size of my A7 without the EVF hump. That may or may not seem significant to you and of course some prefer the RF style layout with the VF in the corner rather than in a hump on top.

One thing which puts me off the A7c is that there aren't two top of camera dials for aperture and shutter and instead you have to use the one available top of camera dial and the back wheel. That layout works for some but not for me. Another thing to think about is that the A7c has EFCS and you can't turn it off unless you use the electronic shutter.
 
A lens which is holding value far too well for a Kit zoom! I've been thinking of getting the A7C with lens to replace my "small" X100 but maybe the lens on the A7III would be close enough and not compromise on the viewfinder.
I very much regretting not buying my A7C as a kit with this lens. Instead I had to source it used. It has good glass in a less-than-perfect body (the zoom is a bit sticky) but if you overlook that and the slow aperture, it makes an excellent light-weight partner to the 7C.
 
One thing which puts me off the A7c is that there aren't two top of camera dials for aperture and shutter and instead you have to use the one available top of camera dial and the back wheel. That layout works for some but not for me. Another thing to think about is that the A7c has EFCS and you can't turn it off unless you use the electronic shutter.

Not sure I would like that, I have always had cameras with 2 dials so just one would be a bit of a pain.

I rather miss not having a top screen on the A9 actually.
 
Not sure I would like that, I have always had cameras with 2 dials so just one would be a bit of a pain.

I rather miss not having a top screen on the A9 actually.
I never used the top screen on my cameras that had them but I can understand they’re useful for some. I guess they assume most will just read the info off the rear LCD.
 
Your photos have got better since you got your camera, keep it up. :)

Thanks Raymond. :) Having tried a bit of everything including birds and landscape, I enjoy them all but I seem to be most at home with street photography. It often forces me to think outside the box and be creative. Don't know what I'd do without the 16mm, most of my photos are with it.
 
Thanks Raymond. :) Having tried a bit of everything including birds and landscape, I enjoy them all but I seem to be most at home with street photography. It often forces me to think outside the box and be creative. Don't know what I'd do without the 16mm, most of my photos are with it.

It seems you have found your niche early, fantastic. A lot of people takes way longer or don’t and ultimately gets frustrating as they don’t spend enough time on one and don’t improve. Knowing what you like is half the battle, the other half is the reward from the battle which drives the urge to improve.

You can visibly see your work improving since 6 months ago.
 
It seems you have found your niche early, fantastic. A lot of people takes way longer or don’t and ultimately gets frustrating as they don’t spend enough time on one and don’t improve. Knowing what you like is half the battle, the other half is the reward from the battle which drives the urge to improve.

You can visibly see your work improving since 6 months ago.

Thanks! Well as you correctly said, it's about spending time on one thing. I try to get out with the camera much as I can, I think that's the only way to really improve. I remember you saying to me when I started last year, don't try too many genres, stick with one or two. But I tried them anyway, lol. And street became my thing. That said, if I lived in a part of the country like where Lee Ratters and some others on here live I'd definitely try more landscape, but unfortunately there isn't really as much of that kind of scenery in London. I do want to make more use of my ND filter though. I haven't done wildlife animals (apart from some birds) or motorsports so those are on my list of things to try.
 
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I've done something I've never done in 40 years of camera ownership

Bought something new and at the top of the range

Winging its way to me is a Sony A9ii and a 200-600 lens

Read good things about the Samyang 45mm so I've risked £180 on one in the classifieds , if it doesn't work out I can sell it on at little or no loss

That's cleaned me out , I was thinking of a wide angle pancake lens for portability and a standard zoom

Any recommendations amongst the 3rd party suppliers , I don't want to put £50 worth of plastic on it but I'm skint now so £2000 worth of Sony won't be happening either

Used is ok
 
Thanks! Well as you correctly said, it's about spending time on one thing. I try to get out with the camera much as I can, I think that's the only way to really improve. I remember you saying to me when I started last year, don't try too many genres, stick with one or two. But I tried them anyway, lol. And street became my thing. That said, if I lived in a part of the country like where Lee Ratters and some others on here live I'd definitely try more landscape, but unfortunately there isn't really as much of that kind of scenery in London. I do want to make more use of my ND filter though. I haven't done wildlife animals (apart from some birds) or motorsports so those are on my list of things to try.

Me...? I don't live in a lush landscape area. I live in Bristol. I have some countryside reasonably local but mainly grass livestock fields. We do have a local coast line, but it's muddy brown water.... It's quite a fight to find somewhere new around here.....
 
Me...? I don't live in a lush landscape area. I live in Bristol. I have some countryside reasonably local but mainly grass livestock fields. We do have a local coast line, but it's muddy brown water.... It's quite a fight to find somewhere new around here.....
I agree- I have Glastonbury Torr or Burrow Mump , then again I mostly shoot wildlife and on the Brown water you mentioned Lee :)

Lees
 
I've done something I've never done in 40 years of camera ownership

Bought something new and at the top of the range

Winging its way to me is a Sony A9ii and a 200-600 lens

Read good things about the Samyang 45mm so I've risked £180 on one in the classifieds , if it doesn't work out I can sell it on at little or no loss

That's cleaned me out , I was thinking of a wide angle pancake lens for portability and a standard zoom

Any recommendations amongst the 3rd party suppliers , I don't want to put £50 worth of plastic on it but I'm skint now so £2000 worth of Sony won't be happening either

Used is ok

Standard zoom. I can recommend the Tamron 28-75 F2.8
 
Thanks! Well as you correctly said, it's about spending time on one thing. I try to get out with the camera much as I can, I think that's the only way to really improve. I remember you saying to me when I started last year, don't try too many genres, stick with one or two. But I tried them anyway, lol. And street became my thing. That said, if I lived in a part of the country like where Lee Ratters and some others on here live I'd definitely try more landscape, but unfortunately there isn't really as much of that kind of scenery in London. I do want to make more use of my ND filter though. I haven't done wildlife animals (apart from some birds) or motorsports so those are on my list of things to try.
Lol, the grass is always greener. I'm very lucky in that I live in the Peak District but I'm sometimes envious of those that live in/near big cities as I'd love to do more street/candid portraiture. You can't really do that in Chesterfield as you'd stick out like a sore thumb and people wouldn't take too kindly to it ;)
 
Sa
Lol, the grass is always greener. I'm very lucky in that I live in the Peak District but I'm sometimes envious of those that live in/near big cities as I'd love to do more street/candid portraiture. You can't really do that in Chesterfield as you'd stick out like a sore thumb and people wouldn't take too kindly to it ;)
Same with me in the Yorkshire Dales
 
Your photos have got better since you got your camera, keep it up. :)

It seems you have found your niche early, fantastic. A lot of people takes way longer or don’t and ultimately gets frustrating as they don’t spend enough time on one and don’t improve. Knowing what you like is half the battle, the other half is the reward from the battle which drives the urge to improve.

You can visibly see your work improving since 6 months ago.
Good to see posts like these Raymond. Very generous and thoughtful of you.
 
Lol, the grass is always greener. I'm very lucky in that I live in the Peak District but I'm sometimes envious of those that live in/near big cities as I'd love to do more street/candid portraiture. You can't really do that in Chesterfield as you'd stick out like a sore thumb and people wouldn't take too kindly to it ;)

im off to the Peak District ob Friday. hoping to get some photo time in.
 
Any plans on where you're heading?

Leaving it to the wife to plan but we are staying near bakewell. Any suggestions?

My 6 year old wants to beat the 20km hike we did in one day at the lakes last year so we may have an early start or 2
 
Me...? I don't live in a lush landscape area. I live in Bristol. I have some countryside reasonably local but mainly grass livestock fields. We do have a local coast line, but it's muddy brown water.... It's quite a fight to find somewhere new around here.....

Ah Lee, I sort of assumed you had great landscape all around you as your photos are always stunning with great skies, trees and greenery. Thinking about it now, when you did stone henge, it's not on your doorstep so I guess you would have had to travel about 50 miles. I need to make the effort to travel further out. There are definitely some beaches and rural areas I could get to between 40 and 60 miles away. Southend isn't too far and is somewhere I could go and get some seaside long exposures.

Lol, the grass is always greener. I'm very lucky in that I live in the Peak District but I'm sometimes envious of those that live in/near big cities as I'd love to do more street/candid portraiture. You can't really do that in Chesterfield as you'd stick out like a sore thumb and people wouldn't take too kindly to it ;)

Very true that Toby, the grass is always greener. But I'm envious of you as the Peak District has epic scenery to photo. I really need to go there one day :)

Sa

Same with me in the Yorkshire Dales

Another place on my bucket list with fantastic landscape.
 
Leaving it to the wife to plan but we are staying near bakewell. Any suggestions?

My 6 year old wants to beat the 20km hike we did in one day at the lakes last year so we may have an early start or 2
Depends how difficult you want the walk to be tbh. Edale and Kinder Scout would be a decent length walk, Derwent Valley including Ladybower similar. If you did a walk around Burbage edge, Higgor Tor, Carl Walk, Padley Gorge and Surprise View that'd be a decent walk too although not sure if it'd be quite 20km, plenty of nice scenery though.
 
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