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

haven't updated mine yet. may be I won't.

I have had similar bad experience with Sony customer service. Once they were trying to tell me a lens' hood that came with the lens doesn't exist because they couldn't find it on their database! So they were telling me I was in procession of a hood that Sony sold me with the lens but according to customer services didn't exist! go figure...
I heard they had improved but clearly not.... pretty disappointing indeed!

where did you buy your sony camera from? if its a UK shop they normally have direct access to Sony reps who know these cameras and know the right people.
I know the one that takes care of LCE branch I shop in and he does respond to issues. So if you did buy it in the UK might be worth going via, the shop to find the right people/person than trying call centres all over the world!

If you haven't then probably not worth updating especially if you're not having issues. I forgot about my lockups until I was talking to my mate today and he said his locked up since the update. On his he said the camera become non-responsive but will allow him to turn it off eventually, pretty sure I had to take the battery out of mine when it happened.

I couldn't quite believe the conversation I was having with support, literally no idea what the A1 was, "we do not have any camera A1 they are like IL...".

I got the Camera from Park cameras (UK) who have emailed saying they have no idea what would cause that behaviour and will pass it on.

TBH I'm pretty sure doing a reset will solve it but I would have liked to get to the bottom of it before that. I may hold off a couple of days before doing the reset in case I get asked for more info. I'll just use my A7RIV tomorrow as I'm only going out for a sunset anyway.
 
First trip out today using my new camera accessory. Peak Design Capture Clip, game changer don't know how I went so long without it makes carrying the camera on long walks so much easier. I'd previously used a clip off sorts but that resulted in the camera swinging around.

Didn't get a single shot today I was happy with though just such rubbish colours and light this morning.

I buy new backpacks on the basis of whether the strap will accept my Capture Clip!

Only design flaw for me is the bolts sticking out the back. In warmer climates when you maybe only have one thin top layer on they can really dig in.
 
I buy new backpacks on the basis of whether the strap will accept my Capture Clip!

Only design flaw for me is the bolts sticking out the back. In warmer climates when you maybe only have one thin top layer on they can really dig in.
They don't stick out on mine, it came with a short set and long set of screws. Using mine on my Osprey Talon at the minute.
Why not cut yours shorter.
 
They don't stick out on mine, it came with a short set and long set of screws. Using mine on my Osprey Talon at the minute.
Why not cut yours shorter.

Ah that's interesting, I've had it so long I don't remember if it came with short screws too. Either way by far the best photography accessory I've ever bought, it's been around the world with me on my backpack and goes on my Domke shoulder bag at every wedding, great bit of kit.

On a completely different note, shot my first wedding with the Sony a9 yesterday, unbelievable! It felt like cheating, it was so good. Only issue I had (spot the theme here) is that the ridge on the grip directly below the shutter release absolutely wrecked the side of my finger. I might have to experiment with some Sugru to smooth it off a bit. Never had the issue with any other camera (including the a7RII and a7III). I'll be taping that finger before the next wedding!
 
Ah that's interesting, I've had it so long I don't remember if it came with short screws too. Either way by far the best photography accessory I've ever bought, it's been around the world with me on my backpack and goes on my Domke shoulder bag at every wedding, great bit of kit.

On a completely different note, shot my first wedding with the Sony a9 yesterday, unbelievable! It felt like cheating, it was so good. Only issue I had (spot the theme here) is that the ridge on the grip directly below the shutter release absolutely wrecked the side of my finger. I might have to experiment with some Sugru to smooth it off a bit. Never had the issue with any other camera (including the a7RII and a7III). I'll be taping that finger before the next wedding!
Maybe it's one of the updates mines a version 3. If yours is older maybe they only came with longer screws.
 
They don't stick out on mine, it came with a short set and long set of screws. Using mine on my Osprey Talon at the minute.
Why not cut yours shorter.
Just got the v3, looking forward to using it. Definitely need to cut the bolts down though, my walking rucksack has quite thin straps. Mine came with thumbscrew type bolts and hex bolts, both are quite long though.
 
A1 is £4799 now on einfinity its not long ago it was £5400 on Panamoz ,
They have been £4880 on Panamoz for a good while, mate of mine got one last week and they matched the e-infin £4799 for him.

Since the start of the pandemic the grey marketers have been clever often holding the price at near u.k levels while stock in the u.k is hard to get then dropping like a stone as soon as u.k stock is more available. If you don’t need something in a hurry it’s better to wait a little while.
 
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A1 is £4799 now on einfinity its not long ago it was £5400 on Panamoz ,
I half regret going for the A74 now @ £2250 but then the A1 was £6500 at the time.

Tempted at £4799 tbh.
 
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I half regret going for the A74 now @ £2250 but then the A1 was £6500 at the time.

Tempted at £4799 tbh.
You have me confused. In what world are the A74 and A1 similar that they're were you're choices?
 
Even working as a photographer I don’t think I could justify nearly £5k on a camera body (and I’d need two in an ideal world!)

It’s not the cost that puts me off having them. It’s the file sizes, just unworkable for weddings for me.
 
What’s confusing? I like to spend money and bought myself the A74 to stop myself buying the A1. Now I want the A1. :p
So not because of features you want or need. Makes sense now then. Lol
 
Nah i won't use half the features but you know, new shiny stuff to look at. :D
I'd rather spend that amount on a part of a bike, it would almost get me a frame, forks and wheels for 5k.
 
Even working as a photographer I don’t think I could justify nearly £5k on a camera body (and I’d need two in an ideal world!)

You often find it's not working professionals that buy the super high end stuff early on (particularly so in the wedding field), but wealthy enthusiasts (nothing wrong with that, just an observation). With a business head on they are difficult to justify unless they will genuinely make a difference to your work. Equally the 1.8 primes (often labelled as 'enthusiast') across various systems are very, very popular compared to the more exotic primes.

A few photographers I know who must easily be into 6 figure turnover are both still using battered a7IIIs! The only two photographers I know with Z9s were given them by Nikon.

Massive generalisations of course, but mirrorless moves so fast I'm not seeing the desperation to upgrade compared to the days of, say, the Nikon D3 to D4. In fact until recently comfortably over 50% of pros I know across sport and weddings were using DSLRs, much much higher than 50% for sports.
 
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Just in case anyone is interested or maybe just bored...



This one looks good value. Bad onion ring though.

 
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If you haven't then probably not worth updating especially if you're not having issues. I forgot about my lockups until I was talking to my mate today and he said his locked up since the update. On his he said the camera become non-responsive but will allow him to turn it off eventually, pretty sure I had to take the battery out of mine when it happened.

I couldn't quite believe the conversation I was having with support, literally no idea what the A1 was, "we do not have any camera A1 they are like IL...".

I got the Camera from Park cameras (UK) who have emailed saying they have no idea what would cause that behaviour and will pass it on.

TBH I'm pretty sure doing a reset will solve it but I would have liked to get to the bottom of it before that. I may hold off a couple of days before doing the reset in case I get asked for more info. I'll just use my A7RIV tomorrow as I'm only going out for a sunset anyway.

To update the above, I tried a new Camset and that made no difference, I reset camera settings to default and no difference. I did a full reset/initialise and that did (as expected) solve the problem.

So everything back to the way it was before, I'll keep a log of any more issues with Firmware 1.20 not that it will make a difference. What I have learned from this though is how terrible Sony support is, not worth the price of the phone call/email and certainly not what I expect for a professional/expensive camera system :(
 
To update the above, I tried a new Camset and that made no difference, I reset camera settings to default and no difference. I did a full reset/initialise and that did (as expected) solve the problem.

So everything back to the way it was before, I'll keep a log of any more issues with Firmware 1.20 not that it will make a difference. What I have learned from this though is how terrible Sony support is, not worth the price of the phone call/email and certainly not what I expect for a professional/expensive camera system :(

Are you registered for Sony Pro Support?

I have found them to be quite good.

Not heard anything but good things from others.

Or are you talking about their normal customer services?
 
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More Voigtlanders on the way?


I've no idea what they'll announce but I've thought for a long time that I'd like a compact 50mm f1.4 in E mount of the same sort of quality as the 35mm f1.4. They have recently announced the 50mm f1.5 II in M mount so I suppose it could happen. I do have the excellent f2 APO which is tiny in comparison to some modern AF 50mm lenses but I'd like a more compact lens.

For anyone interested here's a review of the 50mm f1.5 II M mount lens...

 
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I don't like the idea of a clickless aperture but some might not mind.

 
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I will pay you £20 if I don't HAVE to watch

I used to find one of them tolerably attractive but I wont say which just in case I look like a sexist pig. I haven't watched any of theirs for a long while now.
 
I was lucky enough this morning to find a Red Kite perched in a tree at the bottom of my garden.
a7iv, FE200-600,

Funny you should say that, as I was looking out of the window today I thought of the time I saw a bird of prey of some sort sat on our fence, and I hadn't thought about that in years. Funny how things pop into your mind.

Lovely picture though.
 
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