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

You're never too old :D

My legs are after that walk over the big hill from Lulworth to Durdle Door and back again last night for night skies. Not as bad as one of my friends who got there before sunrise though. As it started to get dark he realised he left his star tracker in his car.... :headbang:
 
My legs are after that walk over the big hill from Lulworth to Durdle Door and back again last night for night skies. Not as bad as one of my friends who got there before sunrise though. As it started to get dark he realised he left his star tracker in his car.... :headbang:

Oh dear.

I'm still doing ok but I'll admit to not being able to run up stairs two at a time like I used to :D Actually, it probably wont be too long 'till I'll be back to running up stairs... to get to the loo :D It probably comes to us all :D
 
I've started back at the gym, one so I can continue to use the 400mm all day - and two so that I'm in fitter shape when I turn 40 in November.

That with all the gardening, greenhouse building, veg/fruit growing, baking, OH and actual photography work i'm doing lately, I've been a lot more active than just sitting on my PC all day
 
hah, already made the career change from web development to photography, not sure i'll ever be a true musician
I’d truly love to be a musician but my piano playing is pretty much none existent these days. I’m more into music production now, but I’m still trying to figure out that magic formula of how to make a hit, I think I’m going to be waiting a VERY long time :lol:

It doesn’t help that my musical taste isn’t mainstream either :facepalm: ;)
 
I've started back at the gym, one so I can continue to use the 400mm all day - and two so that I'm in fitter shape when I turn 40 in November.

That with all the gardening, greenhouse building, veg/fruit growing, baking, OH and actual photography work i'm doing lately, I've been a lot more active than just sitting on my PC all day
I’ve been on a health kick this year too, lost 3.5 stone since Jan, aiming for at least one more stone.
 
I’ve been on a health kick this year too, lost 3.5 stone since Jan, aiming for at least one more stone.

My Gosh that's a lot. You haven't had a leg off have you?

My problems has always been putting on and retaining weight. I have to pretty much force feed myself or I slip down to something like 9 1/2 stone. I'm currently at 10 1/2.
 
You're never too old :D

Most professional musicians are music teachers, and the band UB40 were named for a reason. :p

I’ve been on a health kick this year too, lost 3.5 stone since Jan, aiming for at least one more stone.

If I lost 4.5 stone I'd probably be in hospital! :LOL:
 
I’ve been on a health kick this year too, lost 3.5 stone since Jan, aiming for at least one more stone.
That's a great effort. For me it's always been mountain biking, and more recently indoor cycling using a smart trainer and Zwift. I'm fitter now at 36 than I ever have been.
One of the best things that keeps me going is my Garmin watch that reminds me daily to keep it all going.
 
well done! :) good work.

My Gosh that's a lot. You haven't had a leg off have you?

My problems has always been putting on and retaining weight. I have to pretty much force feed myself or I slip down to something like 9 1/2 stone. I'm currently at 10 1/2.

Most professional musicians are music teachers, and the band UB40 were named for a reason. :p



If I lost 4.5 stone I'd probably be in hospital! :LOL:

That's a great effort. For me it's always been mountain biking, and more recently indoor cycling using a smart trainer and Zwift. I'm fitter now at 36 than I ever have been.
One of the best things that keeps me going is my Garmin watch that reminds me daily to keep it all going.
Thanks guys, I'm 6'4" so have always managed to 'carry weight well' however there's no denying I was getting a bit of a pie :lol:
 
There are lots of reviews of those new Sony lenses on the rumor site...


Some people seem to be speculating that Sony will announce a new higher end APS-C camera. If it's a RF style camera will they give it a second top of camera dial? My guess is no chance :D
 
Not enough on-track action photos to put these in the motorsport forum, unfortunately my panning technique has absolutely gone to pot since the last time I did it!
Here's a few shots from the Masters Historic Festival at Brands Hatch last weekend, all with a7iii and 70-200 f4. Wished for more reach at times, several folks were dotted about the track with 100-400's etc, might hire one for next time...

One of mum's neighbours races a '65 Cortina and '62 Corvette, so we went along for the support & to catch some shots. Amazing spectacle, I loved seeing the different event categories too, a particular highlight was the 1966-1985 Formula 1 cars...


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There are lots of reviews of those new Sony lenses on the rumor site...


Some people seem to be speculating that Sony will announce a new higher end APS-C camera. If it's a RF style camera will they give it a second top of camera dial? My guess is no chance :D
I doubt it, Sony don’t seem to be great at listening to the customers and giving them what they want ;)
 
I doubt it, Sony don’t seem to be great at listening to the customers and giving them what they want ;)

On some things I think they do listen and react but on the A6xxx top controls, someone at Sony must like the current layout.
 
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(1 shot, no stacking, no bracketing. 5 sec exposure, pan, flashed 3 times)
 
On some things I think they do listen and react but on the A6xxx top controls, someone at Sony must like the current layout.
I was being a bit facetious ;) They obviously have their reasons, I can only assume the Japanese market/wants are different to the UK.

Some things like the grainy EVF when focussing and the poor quality LCD truly baffle me though. We can only hope they get it right in the end, after all they finally got the ergonomics sorted after 4 generations ;)
 
I was being a bit facetious ;) They obviously have their reasons, I can only assume the Japanese market/wants are different to the UK.

Some things like the grainy EVF when focussing and the poor quality LCD truly baffle me though. We can only hope they get it right in the end, after all they finally got the ergonomics sorted after 4 generations ;)

Maybe increased competition will lead them to look at customers wants a bit more.

There's nothing I really want these days. I had a birthday recently and I thought I might buy myself something but nothing grabs me. I suppose one day my A7 will stop working or go sticky so a camera might be the next thing.
 
Maybe increased competition will lead them to look at customers wants a bit more.

There's nothing I really want these days. I had a birthday recently and I thought I might buy myself something but nothing grabs me. I suppose one day my A7 will stop working or go sticky so a camera might be the next thing.
I’m always wanting new things, not because I think it’ll make any difference to my photography, I just enjoy trying new stuff out. I also get curious what stuff’s like rather than relying on someone else’s review online.
 
I’m always wanting new things, not because I think it’ll make any difference to my photography, I just enjoy trying new stuff out. I also get curious what stuff’s like rather than relying on someone else’s review online.

At the moment my 35mm f1.8 is on my A7 and when I can get out I'll be trying to get used to the size of it. It might mot seem big to anyone else but I do like the more compact combinations so I'm hoping to get to the point that I think my A7 and 35mm f1.8 are just fine and after all it's only about the size of a vintage lens and adapter so I should be ok with it.

A walk to the shops picture with the 35mm f1.8. Looking at it almost makes me feel like I'm there :D

i9hoo6y.jpg
 
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At the moment my 35mm f1.8 is on my A7 and when I can get out I'll be trying to get used to the size of it. It might mot seem big to anyone else but I do like the more compact combinations so I'm hoping to get to the point that I think my A7 and 35mm f1.8 are just fine and after all it's only about the size of a vintage lens and adapter so I should be ok with it.

A walk to the shops picture with the 35mm f1.8. Looking at it almost makes me feel like I'm there :D

i9hoo6y.jpg
Which 35mm f1.8, I'm considering the Samyang? I'm off to Goodwood later this month and I'm not sure whether the 45mm/50mm is going to be wide enough. I'm expecting it to be very busy and I'm not sure you'll be able to stand back from the cars (obviously not talking about those on track). Also I'm doing a session day in a couple of weeks and I fancy trying the 35mm for portraits for something a bit different.
 
Which 35mm f1.8, I'm considering the Samyang? I'm off to Goodwood later this month and I'm not sure whether the 45mm/50mm is going to be wide enough. I'm expecting it to be very busy and I'm not sure you'll be able to stand back from the cars (obviously not talking about those on track). Also I'm doing a session day in a couple of weeks and I fancy trying the 35mm for portraits for something a bit different.

I have the Sony 35mm f1.8.

I don't know what else was around when I bought it, maybe the alternatives came later? I can't remember. I've stock with Sony for all my AF lenses as one thing that worries me is that 3rd party lenses might not focus as well on my old creaking A7.

Maybe something wider than 45/50mm could interest you? I have the 20mm f1.8, 24mm f2.8 and 28mm f2. Maybe 24 or 28mm could interest you as they give a nice perspective for relatively close up pictures of cars. I haven't used the Sony 28mm f2 much but when I have used it its impressed me as it seems sharp across the frame from wide open, has good colours and nice bokeh and it's fast to focus. I have enjoyed using a 28mm equivalent lens on one of my Panasonic cameras so I might give it an extended play with when I want to take the 35mm f1.8 off the camera.
 
I have the Sony 35mm f1.8.

I don't know what else was around when I bought it, maybe the alternatives came later? I can't remember. I've stock with Sony for all my AF lenses as one thing that worries me is that 3rd party lenses might not focus as well on my old creaking A7.

Maybe something wider than 45/50mm could interest you? I have the 20mm f1.8, 24mm f2.8 and 28mm f2. Maybe 24 or 28mm could interest you as they give a nice perspective for relatively close up pictures of cars. I haven't used the Sony 28mm f2 much but when I have used it its impressed me as it seems sharp across the frame from wide open, has good colours and nice bokeh and it's fast to focus. I have enjoyed using a 28mm equivalent lens on one of my Panasonic cameras so I might give it an extended play with when I want to take the 35mm f1.8 off the camera.
I had the 28mm f2 for a while, nice lens but creates more of a unflattering perspective of subjects for me.

I’d love the 35mm GM but I can’t justify the price for the amount of time I’ll use it.
 
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I had the 28mm f2 for a while, nice lens but creates more of a unflattering perspective of subjects for me.

I’d love the 35mm GM but I can’t justify the price for the amount of time I’ll use it.

28mm isn't the best choice if wanting to avoid perspective effects but I think it can work for objects like cars, peoples noses, less so :D

I've been watching video reviews of that and the only issues seem to be the size and the focus breathing. I did see one vid of it v the f1.8 and the take away was that if you have the f1.8 it's not worth upgrading but some will obviously disagree with that. I think the biggest issues with the f1.8 for me are the average and no better bokeh and ca but it does have a very useful close focusing ability and against that the f1.4 is bigger and heavier, has some ca in backlit situations and has epic focus breathing which could well annoy me when framing shots.

I haven't used the 35mm f1.8 much and that's why I'm going to try and use it more but even so I have taken some pictures I really like with it.

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Thinking of a trip to Thruxton in 10 days for the historic race meeting with my A9. The only challenge is that my lens collection amounts to a 16-35 f4, 85 f1.8 and 135 batis.

My plan is to look at a longer lens - probably either the 100-400gm or the 200-600g.

Can someone who has shot there before suggest which would be better?
 
I had the 28mm f2 for a while, nice lens but creates more of a unflattering perspective of subjects for me.

I’d love the 35mm GM but I can’t justify the price for the amount of time I’ll use it.
Toby. Get the 35GM. Honestly mate. You’ll use it a lot. You won’t be able to help yourself.
 
Thinking of a trip to Thruxton in 10 days for the historic race meeting with my A9. The only challenge is that my lens collection amounts to a 16-35 f4, 85 f1.8 and 135 batis.

My plan is to look at a longer lens - probably either the 100-400gm or the 200-600g.

Can someone who has shot there before suggest which would be better?
I spent the weekend there shooting the BTCC with Olympus and Mike Inkley. From the spectator side by far my most used lens was the 40-150mm f2.8 (80-300mm eq). There are some parts where a wider lens is advisable.

I did use the Olympus 300mm f4 (600mm eq) from the media side of the barriers at the last chicane but it was quite tight framing.

I’d therefore suggest the 100-400mm but others might have had different experiences.
 
Toby. Get the 35GM. Honestly mate. You’ll use it a lot. You won’t be able to help yourself.
I honestly don’t think I’d use it a lot, I don’t go to enough places/events where I’d use a 35mm.
 
I spent the weekend there shooting the BTCC with Olympus and Mike Inkley. From the spectator side by far my most used lens was the 40-150mm f2.8 (80-300mm eq). There are some parts where a wider lens is advisable.

I did use the Olympus 300mm f4 (600mm eq) from the media side of the barriers at the last chicane but it was quite tight framing.

I’d therefore suggest the 100-400mm but others might have had different experiences.
Thanks, I’ve been thinking about getting the 200-600 for other purposes such as shooting cricket etc but renting the 100-400 might be a good idea for this event!
 
Which 35mm f1.8, I'm considering the Samyang? I'm off to Goodwood later this month and I'm not sure whether the 45mm/50mm is going to be wide enough. I'm expecting it to be very busy and I'm not sure you'll be able to stand back from the cars (obviously not talking about those on track). Also I'm doing a session day in a couple of weeks and I fancy trying the 35mm for portraits for something a bit different.

35mm is about my limit for shooting cars. I don't like the wide look and much prefer 85mm in all honesty but obviously that can be quite limiting in some places especially indoors. How they seem to have things set up at the Players type of show at Goodwood makes me think longer will work....

Anyway, as Trevor said, just get the 35GM ;)
 
35mm is about my limit for shooting cars. I don't like the wide look and much prefer 85mm in all honesty but obviously that can be quite limiting in some places especially indoors. How they seem to have things set up at the Players type of show at Goodwood makes me think longer will work....

Anyway, as Trevor said, just get the 35GM ;)
So maybe a 50mm will be suitable then?
 
Well, if you watch a bit of YouTube stuff & Rollhard, etc coverage etc of previous years & it's not all crammed in tightly. The 'parking' is very much designed to look good & be photogenic rather than get as many cars in as possible (y)
Cool, I’ll take a look. It’s more a case of people getting in the way than anything though, when you stand back to take a pic people tend to come and stand in front of you completely oblivious.
 
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