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

[Merlin5]

"Talent hits a target no one else can hit; Genius hits a target no one else can see." Arthur Schopenhauer.

I heard Tim Henman quote that the other day when Emma Raducanu was playing her final.

GFX100s is very tempting. May even get it one day when I win the lottery

Just googled that. 100mp sensor, blimey.
I didn't know there were sensors with that high resolution. Apparently 68% more light let in than a full frame sensor. Impressive. 5fps continuous shooting is a bit weak though isn't it?

 

[Mike.P]

Yep, all these aids help us get shots that otherwise would have been impossible to get previously without making compromises. It's an example of why I hate comments on another thread on this site when someone's asked what gear got a particular shot only to receive multiple comments about how it's nothing to do with the gear and all about the photographer. Yes I get the photographer is key, but there are times when a certain feature allows you to get a shot that would have otherwise not been possible/compromised.

Put it this way, I couldn't have got that shot of Toms with the dog running towards him on my Pentax even if it weighed 14 stone and had 2 broken legs.

 

[nandbytes]

Just googled that. 100mp sensor, blimey.
I didn't know there were sensors with that high resolution. Apparently 68% more light let in than a full frame sensor. Impressive. 5fps continuous shooting is a bit weak though isn't it?

It'd be amazing for things like landscapes, portraits and also macro.

 

[woof woof]

Googling tells me the "MF" system is a 0.79 "crop." I know there's a 80mm f1.7 for the Fuji system for about £2k so in 35mm terms that's a 63mm f1.3?

Are the lenses there to satisfy someone moving from something like the Sony FF system. How much difference would be visible and in what circumstances?

 

[nandbytes]

Put it this way, I couldn't have got that shot of Toms with the dog running towards him on my Pentax even if it weighed 14 stone and had 2 broken legs.

here's a guy who shoots bird's in flight with manual lenses

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www.birdsinaction.com

I am sure it possible to shoot anything with Pentax with enough time, practice and patience but that's fine if that's your thing. I haven't got the time for it and prefer to use technology and tools where available and saving on my time.

 

[snerkler]

I heard Tim Henman quote that the other day when Emma Raducanu was playing her final.




Just googled that. 100mp sensor, blimey.
I didn't know there were sensors with that high resolution. Apparently 68% more light let in than a full frame sensor. Impressive. 5fps continuous shooting is a bit weak though isn't it?

It’s a lot of data to process and a big sensor to clear so it’s no surprise to me it doesn’t have high fps. I’d be surprised if MF is used much for sports etc.

 

[woof woof]

here's a guy who shoots bird's in flight with manual lenses

开云·官方wen站登录入口-开云online(中国)

欢迎您访问⩤开云网站官网在线登录入口⩥⩤开云官方在线官网登录入口⩥！我们提供简单的：开云官方官网线上平台入口、网页版、登录、入口、注册、app、下载、链接、网址、手机版网站、访问开云官方网站在线登录入口的全站服务，这里是您享受丰富在线服务的最佳平台。通过开云官方官网登录入口，用户可以快速注册并登录，浏览各类优质商品。我们的平台覆盖了时尚、健康、美妆等多个领域，确保为您提供多样化选择。我们始终关注用户体验，致力于让每一次购物都成为一次愉快的旅程。

www.birdsinaction.com

I am sure it possible to shoot anything with Pentax with enough time, practice and patience but that's fine if that's your thing. I haven't got the time for it and prefer to use technology and tools where available and saving on my time.

I haven't check so I may be wrong but I'd expect him to have a few rejects as well as some stunners. The bells and whistles not only make more things possible they also make the results more consistent and reduce the reject rate.

 

[snerkler]

here's a guy who shoots bird's in flight with manual lenses

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欢迎您访问⩤开云网站官网在线登录入口⩥⩤开云官方在线官网登录入口⩥！我们提供简单的：开云官方官网线上平台入口、网页版、登录、入口、注册、app、下载、链接、网址、手机版网站、访问开云官方网站在线登录入口的全站服务，这里是您享受丰富在线服务的最佳平台。通过开云官方官网登录入口，用户可以快速注册并登录，浏览各类优质商品。我们的平台覆盖了时尚、健康、美妆等多个领域，确保为您提供多样化选择。我们始终关注用户体验，致力于让每一次购物都成为一次愉快的旅程。

www.birdsinaction.com

I am sure it possible to shoot anything with Pentax with enough time, practice and patience but that's fine if that's your thing. I haven't got the time for it and prefer to use technology and tools where available and saving on my time.

Some impressive photos there for sure, clearly very talented. I believe most shots are achievable with manual focus, easier if you were ‘brought up’ with manual focus but still achievable with practice. Where it becomes more difficult obviously is with small dof and/or if you want to shoot a sequence of shots where the subject distance varies.

I like the ‘process’ of doing everything manually and it can feel more rewarding, but there’s no question that all the modern aids give me a better hit rate and often sharper shots.

 

[nandbytes]

I haven't check so I may be wrong but I'd expect him to have a few rejects as well as some stunners. The bells and whistles not only make more things possible they also make the results more consistent and reduce the reject rate.

Not sure who it that said it but basically you should only count the keepers.
I am sure he'll have many rejects but that's was my point around the time and patience to get the shot you want.

 

[nandbytes]

Some impressive photos there for sure, clearly very talented. I believe most shots are achievable with manual focus, easier if you were ‘brought up’ with manual focus but still achievable with practice. Where it becomes more difficult obviously is with small dof and/or if you want to shoot a sequence of shots where the subject distance varies.

I like the ‘process’ of doing everything manually and it can feel more rewarding, but there’s no question that all the modern aids give me a better hit rate and often sharper shots.

most importantly for me it saves time and lets me explore more.

 

[rob-nikon]

Just googled that. 100mp sensor, blimey.
I didn't know there were sensors with that high resolution. Apparently 68% more light let in than a full frame sensor. Impressive. 5fps continuous shooting is a bit weak though isn't it?

The 100MP files will mean it’s pushing a lot of data around. For the genres where medium format is used I doubt there is much need for high FPS. I doubt there is much need to use medium format for fast action.

 

[Mike.P]

here's a guy who shoots bird's in flight with manual lenses

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欢迎您访问⩤开云网站官网在线登录入口⩥⩤开云官方在线官网登录入口⩥！我们提供简单的：开云官方官网线上平台入口、网页版、登录、入口、注册、app、下载、链接、网址、手机版网站、访问开云官方网站在线登录入口的全站服务，这里是您享受丰富在线服务的最佳平台。通过开云官方官网登录入口，用户可以快速注册并登录，浏览各类优质商品。我们的平台覆盖了时尚、健康、美妆等多个领域，确保为您提供多样化选择。我们始终关注用户体验，致力于让每一次购物都成为一次愉快的旅程。

www.birdsinaction.com

I am sure it possible to shoot anything with Pentax with enough time, practice and patience but that's fine if that's your thing. I haven't got the time for it and prefer to use technology and tools where available and saving on my time.

Stunning pictures although infinity focus, a fast shutter speed and maximum FPS will get you there. He may not be using autofocus lenses but he's using a lot of other technology.

 

[nandbytes]

Stunning pictures although infinity focus, a fast shutter speed and maximum FPS will get you there. He may not be using autofocus lenses but he's using a lot of other technology.

Yes indeed
Basically you can make almost anything work. Just depends on how far you want to go with it.
Electronic tools and advancements in tech are useful to have always.

 

[ancient_mariner]

Those of us from the days of manually wound cameras would still take photos of moving objects, but you could only get 1 shot at a time. Tech just makes it easier with a higher hit rate.

As for the amateur features, they're nice to have when you're just fiddling about, rather than taking serious pictures. Panorama mode might be nice if I just wanted a better alternative to a phone snap, ditto auto stacking. Having had the A7III for a couple of years now, I still find the menu system sucks, and hate having to dig through for a setting in the field if it's not in the quick access area. If the features were buried then they would never be used: a good touch screen would certainly help.

 

[nandbytes]

Those of us from the days of manually wound cameras would still take photos of moving objects, but you could only get 1 shot at a time. Tech just makes it easier with a higher hit rate.

As for the amateur features, they're nice to have when you're just fiddling about, rather than taking serious pictures. Panorama mode might be nice if I just wanted a better alternative to a phone snap, ditto auto stacking. Having had the A7III for a couple of years now, I still find the menu system sucks, and hate having to dig through for a setting in the field if it's not in the quick access area. If the features were buried then they would never be used: a good touch screen would certainly help.

I don't understand why focus bracketing isn't a serious feature
That's basically like saying exposure bracketing is for fiddling about.

 

[AndrewFlannigan]

Something of an aside: I'm impressed by how many interesting images I've captured with the tiny HX90. In my opinion. it's one of Sony's most useful cameras...

 

[gman]

Have seen much wildlife about recently, so a muddy spaniel is the best I’ve gotten.
A9, 200-600mm

View attachment 330435

This is exactly what's causing my hesitation with MF. The colour and tones are rich and deep in this and whilst I'm sure a MF would probably have had that little bit of extra magic, I can't imagine it would have been able to get this in focus - so all that MF magical image quality would be wasted.

So now the question I have is that assuming the A7R iv autofocus would have been capable, would the image quality be noticeably better because I really can't see any room for improvement?

 

[snerkler]

Those of us from the days of manually wound cameras would still take photos of moving objects, but you could only get 1 shot at a time. Tech just makes it easier with a higher hit rate.

As for the amateur features, they're nice to have when you're just fiddling about, rather than taking serious pictures. Panorama mode might be nice if I just wanted a better alternative to a phone snap, ditto auto stacking. Having had the A7III for a couple of years now, I still find the menu system sucks, and hate having to dig through for a setting in the field if it's not in the quick access area. If the features were buried then they would never be used: a good touch screen would certainly help.

It’s odd, I see numerous complaints about Sony menus and Olympus menus but I’ve never found them any more difficult than any other manufacturer. If things aren’t on a control button or my menu etc I have to hunt through the menus to find it regardless of make.

 

[gman]

I was quite surprised how behind Sony are in certain areas, especially the touch screen (considering they are a major phone manufacturer). I honestly couldn't believe there was no touch shutter on the A9, or tha fact you can't navigate the menus with it.

Is touch shutter where you touch on the LCD screen where you want it to focus?

EDIT: I did a search and I see it also takes the photo as well. Seems strange that Sony A9 can't do this when you can touch focus?

 

[ancient_mariner]

I don't understand why focus bracketing isn't a serious feature
That's basically like saying exposure bracketing is for fiddling about.

I wasn't aware of focus bracketing as a feature. However focus, unlike exposure, is a fixed point, so perhaps bracketing would be admitting failure?

It’s odd, I see numerous complaints about Sony menus and Olympus menus but I’ve never found them any more difficult than any other manufacturer. If things aren’t on a control button or my menu etc I have to hunt through the menus to find it regardless of make.

The labelling of some functions is irrational and nonsensical to me. More meanigful names (and a modest re-ordering) would make things easier to understand and find.

 

[snerkler]

This is exactly what's causing my hesitation with MF. The colour and tones are rich and deep in this and whilst I'm sure a MF would probably have had that little bit of extra magic, I can't imagine it would have been able to get this in focus - so all that MF magical image quality would be wasted.

So now the question I have is that assuming the A7R iv autofocus would have been capable, would the image quality be noticeably better because I really can't see any room for improvement?

I didn’t have the best success with the A7RIV shooting Betty running towards the camera, there were a lot of back focussed shots. That being said even the A9ii doesn’t nail every shot. I have queried user error but I’ve checked the AF point and settings. I do think Betty’s face is hard for cameras to pick up on.

With regards to IQ you’re not going to see any difference between the 24mp sensor and 61mp sensor at that image size. I’ve not really missed the high mp sensor

 

[gman]

I didn’t have the best success with the A7RIV shooting Betty running towards the camera, there were a lot of back focussed shots. That being said even the A9ii doesn’t nail every shot. I have queried user error but I’ve checked the AF point and settings. I do think Betty’s face is hard for cameras to pick up on.

With regards to IQ you’re not going to see any difference between the 24mp sensor and 61mp sensor at that image size. I’ve not really missed the high mp sensor

Thanks, interested to hear. Regarding IQ I was thinking more about the dynamic range and colour depth etc? Anything over 20mp I'm pretty happy with these days!

 

[snerkler]

I wasn't aware of focus bracketing as a feature. However focus, unlike exposure, is a fixed point, so perhaps bracketing would be admitting failure?



The labelling of some functions is irrational and nonsensical to me. More meanigful names (and a modest re-ordering) would make things easier to understand and find.

The labelling could be better for sure. Would be nice to have it in sections like focus settings, function settings etc

 

[snerkler]

Thanks, interested to hear. Regarding IQ I was thinking more about the dynamic range and colour depth etc? Anything over 20mp I'm pretty happy with these days!

I can’t say I ever see the difference in colour depth between cameras, maybe I would if there was a huge difference but most of the time I can’t see a difference between 12 and 14 bit raw either.

I haven’t done much in the way of landscapes over the past few years to really test the DR differences between the R4 and A9ii but I’ve not found either lacking.

I’d love to try MF to see how much difference there is. I would expect it’s more of a rendering thing rather than detail as I don’t view large enough to see that. FF often has more of a ‘3D’ appearance to my eyes over smaller formats so I’d expect MF to be even more so.

 

[nandbytes]

I wasn't aware of focus bracketing as a feature. However focus, unlike exposure, is a fixed point, so perhaps bracketing would be admitting failure?

No basically the camera will move the lenses' focus slightly and take pictures while doing so (depending on your bracket settings). You can then stack the RAWs later in post. This gives you the benefits of having a RAW output instead of in camera stacks which generally end up as JPGs.

 

[snerkler]

Thanks, interested to hear. Regarding IQ I was thinking more about the dynamic range and colour depth etc? Anything over 20mp I'm pretty happy with these days!

Just had a look and the A7R4 and Hasselblad X1D MF have pretty much the same colour depth and dynamic range, the big difference is the noise handling as you would expect.

Like M4/3 vs APS-C vs FF, the lines have blurred over the years between FF and MF.

 

[nandbytes]

Just had a look and the A7R4 and Hasselblad X1D MF have pretty much the same colour depth and dynamic range, the big difference is the noise handling as you would expect.

Like M4/3 vs APS-C vs FF, the lines have blurred over the years between FF and MF.

If I am not mistaken X1D uses a really old MF sensor from Sony that first appeared in Pentax 645.
FF sensors have come a long way since then.
Because of the low demand of these large sensors I imagine the development of them is slow too.
You should be comparing it to GFX100 which has a more up to date MF sensor.

 

[TCR4x4]

This is exactly what's causing my hesitation with MF. The colour and tones are rich and deep in this and whilst I'm sure a MF would probably have had that little bit of extra magic, I can't imagine it would have been able to get this in focus - so all that MF magical image quality would be wasted.

So now the question I have is that assuming the A7R iv autofocus would have been capable, would the image quality be noticeably better because I really can't see any room for improvement?

Can’t comment on the A7r focus, but the A9 nails pretty much everything, everytime.
I shot 1800! Shots yesterday with the dogs and the only ones out of focus were my fault. Spaniels aren’t slow and she was charging about all over the place, and the eye tracking worked probably 60% of the time and the rest was just zone focus.

Personally MF is not at all interesting to me, I don’t print huge, if at all, and the files out of the A9 are more than good enough for anything I would print. To me, focus speed and accuracy is far more important than resolution. If I was focussed on landscape shooting, then maybe MF would be more appealing, but for wildlife, the A9 is near perfect.

 

[TCR4x4]

Pretty sure the eye af picked up on this shot. I was actually zooming in from 600 to 200, as she was running toward me, whilst shooting 20fps and every shot in the sequence was in focus. Pretty sure no MF system could do that currently.

 

[snerkler]

If I am not mistaken X1D uses a really old MF sensor from Sony that first appeared in Pentax 645.
FF sensors have come a long way since then.
Because of the low demand of these large sensors I imagine the development of them is slow too.
You should be comparing it to GFX100 which has a more up to date MF sensor.

I can’t find the data for the Fujis, the Blad was the best of the MF I found. I’m happy to see they’ve used Bayer rather than Xtrans for their MFs.

I recently had another serious look at Fuji (lightweight dog walking camera) but all raws and jpegs I sampled from their various cameras suffered the unpleasant rendering. It’s such a shame as I really like Fuji colours

 

[nandbytes]

I can’t find the data for the Fujis, the Blad was the best of the MF I found. I’m happy to see they’ve used Bayer rather than Xtrans for their MFs.

I recently had another serious look at Fuji (lightweight dog walking camera) but all raws and jpegs I sampled from their various cameras suffered the unpleasant rendering. It’s such a shame as I really like Fuji colours

Photographic Dynamic Range versus ISO Setting

 

[Mike.P]

Pretty sure the eye af picked up on this shot. I was actually zooming in from 600 to 200, as she was running toward me, whilst shooting 20fps and every shot in the sequence was in focus. Pretty sure no MF system could do that currently.

Really miss our dog ... had to have him put to sleep a few months ago, still look for him at 4.30am when I come downstairs for work.

 

[TCR4x4]

Really miss our dog ... had to have him put to sleep a few months ago, still look for him at 4.30am when I come downstairs for work.

Really sorry to hear that. We have a 13 year old Eurasier as well as the spaniel. He is getting very slow and old looking and it breaks my heart. I genuinely don’t know how I’m going to cope when the time comes.

 

[snerkler]

Photographic Dynamic Range versus ISO Setting

OK, so you start to see more of an improvement over 500 ISO. How have they achieved that 'jump' at around 500 ISO?

 

[snerkler]

Really miss our dog ... had to have him put to sleep a few months ago, still look for him at 4.30am when I come downstairs for work.

Very sorry to hear this, they are a huge loss

 

[robj20]

OK, so you start to see more of an improvement over 500 ISO. How have they achieved that 'jump' at around 500 ISO?

If your talking about the A7, it has dual gain.

Edit.
"Note the jump in dynamic range at ISO 640 for both cameras. That's essentially the camera's second 'base' ISO, where the second stage of the dual-gain architecture kicks in. At ISOs 640 and above, most recent Sony sensors use a higher gain mode that essentially amplifies the signal at the pixel-level to get it above the (already pretty low) noise floor.** In laymen's terms, that just means 'more picture, less noise', particularly in shadows – hence the increase in dynamic range."

Basically with the latest cameras you should basically skip from ISO 200 straight to 640.

 

[nandbytes]

OK, so you start to see more of an improvement over 500 ISO. How have they achieved that 'jump' at around 500 ISO?

that's he dual ISO gain sensor all the latest Sony sensors have inc. A7RIV etc
basically they have "two" base ISOs

 

[robj20]

that's he dual ISO gain sensor all the latest Sony sensors have inc. A7RIV etc
basically they have "two" base ISOs

You almost beat me to it.

Its a niggle actually that the Auto ISO doesnt know to go ISO 100, 200, 640 rather than using the ones between which result in less dynamic range.

 

[woof woof]

Not sure who it that said it but basically you should only count the keepers.
I am sure he'll have many rejects but that's was my point around the time and patience to get the shot you want.

Counting the keepers is fine if you just want a picture but if you want a specific picture capturing a moment you might only get the one chance and that's when the bells and whistles pay off as they help you get the moment.

 

[nandbytes]

Counting the keepers is fine if you just want a picture but if you want a specific picture capturing a moment you might only get the one chance and that's when the bells and whistles pay off as they help you get the moment.

I agree with that which is why I am big fan of the bells and whistles. But if you have got the time and patience you can still achieve the shots you are after without the bells and whistles. Can't argue with the results in the link I posted. Of course he's honed his skills and way of working over many years plus mostly concentrated in a single area. I don't have such a luxury or privilege, so I'll use all the bells and whistles I can get my hands on to capture "the moment".