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

Tree in a flooded field (A65 / Sigma 10~20mm)...

Tree in flooded field from Clyst bridge A65_DSC03339.JPG
 
Things seem to have gone quiet on a 16-35mm f2.8 GM II for quite a while now, I wonder if it’s still in the pipeline?
 
snerkler said:
Things seem to have gone quiet on a 16-35mm f2.8 GM II for quite a while now, I wonder if it’s still in the pipeline?
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16-35mm is soo last century. We need something more interesting like 14-30mm or 16-50mm or 15-40mm etc.

Though the 20-70mm is just brilliant. One of the best lenses IMO.
 
nandbytes said:
16-35mm is soo last century. We need something more interesting like 14-30mm or 16-50mm or 15-40mm etc.

Though the 20-70mm is just brilliant. One of the best lenses IMO.
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16-50mm would be great, assuming they could make an f4 version a similar size and weight of the 20-70mm I don’t understand why no-one’s made one :thinking:

I’ve been asking for such a lens for years, would be the perfect travel lens for me.
 
snerkler said:
How're you finding the A7RV, happy to be back with Sony?
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Toby. I’ve a very soft spot for Nikon. Z8 has massive appeal. I’ve also had the Z mount 35 & 50mm f1.8 lenses. The 50mm is particularly good. But their 50mm f1.2 is just too big. Sony range of lenses wins out. Yes very happy.
 
snerkler said:
How're you finding the A7RV, happy to be back with Sony?
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Sorry mate. Yes finding it very good. Way better than me. Gave some thought to A1. But decided to stick with Olympus for Action. It’s super at that. Really gave a lot of thought to only one system. It’d be my preference. But size/performance of Olympus won out.
 
trevorbray said:
Toby. I’ve a very soft spot for Nikon. Z8 has massive appeal. I’ve also had the Z mount 35 & 50mm f1.8 lenses. The 50mm is particularly good. But their 50mm f1.2 is just too big. Sony range of lenses wins out. Yes very happy.
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trevorbray said:
Sorry mate. Yes finding it very good. Way better than me. Gave some thought to A1. But decided to stick with Olympus for Action. It’s super at that. Really gave a lot of thought to only one system. It’d be my preference. But size/performance of Olympus won out.
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I have a soft spot for Nikon too but the Nikon system isn’t a patch on Sony in terms of suitability for me, if they both offered the same I think I’d choose Nikon for some reason.

As you know I ran Olympus alongside FF for a number of years and very occasionally I miss the 100-400mm and the reach it gave. Still, the A1 in crop mode with the 100-400mm gives me 600mm reach and 22mp so I’m missing it less these days.
 
I care about camera brands about as much as I care who made my fridge.
 
trevorbray said:
Toby. I’ve a very soft spot for Nikon. Z8 has massive appeal. I’ve also had the Z mount 35 & 50mm f1.8 lenses. The 50mm is particularly good. But their 50mm f1.2 is just too big. Sony range of lenses wins out. Yes very happy.
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I'm right on the fence with the Z8 to the point I wish it didn't have the stacked sensor so I wouldn't have to think about it. I've been half/half with the D750 and A9, I have a better range of F-mount lenses and accessories and the D750's sensor is better for IQ while the A9 has incredible speed and completely silent shooting. I've damaged the D750 so been considering a D780/D850 to replace it while the FE-mount 28-200mm is either faulty or not working properly with my A9 so need another standard zoom. I'm leaning towards the Z8 as it offers the A1's better DR but for less especially using the D780/D850 budget and wouldn't need another standard lens plus I'd get the A9 and D750's benefits in one camera.

The main fly in the ointment is there's no Sigma 100-400mm in Z mount, third party lens support for mirrorless is a real strength of FE-mount and while Sigma have announced three Z-mount lenses there's no sign of the 100-400mm. It's the lens I use frequently on the A9 so if Sigma made a Z-mount one I'd be sorted, as it stands I'm concerned I'm going to end up finding the F-mount lenses aren't good enough so will still use the A9 and the 100-400mm when needing maximum speed. I am more inclined towards Sony at the moment as almost every one of my cameras over the last few years has been Sony and you do get used to the way they work, so will be a bit of change but that's manageable.
 
JohnMcL7 said:
I'm right on the fence with the Z8 to the point I wish it didn't have the stacked sensor so I wouldn't have to think about it. I've been half/half with the D750 and A9, I have a better range of F-mount lenses and accessories and the D750's sensor is better for IQ while the A9 has incredible speed and completely silent shooting. I've damaged the D750 so been considering a D780/D850 to replace it while the FE-mount 28-200mm is either faulty or not working properly with my A9 so need another standard zoom. I'm leaning towards the Z8 as it offers the A1's better DR but for less especially using the D780/D850 budget and wouldn't need another standard lens plus I'd get the A9 and D750's benefits in one camera.

The main fly in the ointment is there's no Sigma 100-400mm in Z mount, third party lens support for mirrorless is a real strength of FE-mount and while Sigma have announced three Z-mount lenses there's no sign of the 100-400mm. It's the lens I use frequently on the A9 so if Sigma made a Z-mount one I'd be sorted, as it stands I'm concerned I'm going to end up finding the F-mount lenses aren't good enough so will still use the A9 and the 100-400mm when needing maximum speed. I am more inclined towards Sony at the moment as almost every one of my cameras over the last few years has been Sony and you do get used to the way they work, so will be a bit of change but that's manageable.
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Nikon do a 100-400mm Z mount but it's pricey like the Sony GM.
 
JohnMcL7 said:
I'm right on the fence with the Z8 to the point I wish it didn't have the stacked sensor so I wouldn't have to think about it. I've been half/half with the D750 and A9, I have a better range of F-mount lenses and accessories and the D750's sensor is better for IQ while the A9 has incredible speed and completely silent shooting. I've damaged the D750 so been considering a D780/D850 to replace it while the FE-mount 28-200mm is either faulty or not working properly with my A9 so need another standard zoom. I'm leaning towards the Z8 as it offers the A1's better DR but for less especially using the D780/D850 budget and wouldn't need another standard lens plus I'd get the A9 and D750's benefits in one camera.

The main fly in the ointment is there's no Sigma 100-400mm in Z mount, third party lens support for mirrorless is a real strength of FE-mount and while Sigma have announced three Z-mount lenses there's no sign of the 100-400mm. It's the lens I use frequently on the A9 so if Sigma made a Z-mount one I'd be sorted, as it stands I'm concerned I'm going to end up finding the F-mount lenses aren't good enough so will still use the A9 and the 100-400mm when needing maximum speed. I am more inclined towards Sony at the moment as almost every one of my cameras over the last few years has been Sony and you do get used to the way they work, so will be a bit of change but that's manageable.
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While a new A1 is a fair bit more expensive than Z8 an used one isn't. For example here's one for £4300

Used Sony Alpha A1 Camera Body

www.harrisoncameras.co.uk www.harrisoncameras.co.uk

I have seen plenty selling for £4.2-4.5k recently.

Of course if you are willing to smuggle you get a new one for that price.

I know it's not a fair comparison since Z8 will reduce in price but as of today that's where they stand.

I know people like to point out how Z8 is so cheap while competing with A1 but in reality it doesn't really. Examples:
The dual card write speed is slow on Z8, on A1 you can have matched cards and higher dual card speed even with just two SD cards.
You get a mechanical shutter with flash sync of 1/400s or 1/500s in APS-C mode.
You get a 9.6 million dot EVF vs. 3.69 million dots. FWIW A1 refresh rate of the EVF is a lot faster. Not to mention the 0.9x magnification of A1 vs. 0.8x on Z8. A1 EVF just looks amazing all the way round.

Of course you may not care about such things but A1 does have things that make it more expensive. It's still overpriced IMO but at the same time I do think its a more expensive body than Z8.
 
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nandbytes said:
While a new A1 is a fair bit more expensive than Z8 an used one isn't. For example here's one for £4300

Used Sony Alpha A1 Camera Body

www.harrisoncameras.co.uk www.harrisoncameras.co.uk

I have seen plenty selling for £4.2-4.5k recently.

Of course if you are willing to smuggle you get a new one for that price.

I know it's not a fair comparison since Z8 will reduce in price but as of today that's where they stand.

I know people like to point out how Z8 is so cheap while competing with A1 but in reality it doesn't really. Examples:
The dual card write speed is slow on Z8, on A1 you can have matched cards and higher dual card speed even with just two SD cards.
You get a mechanical shutter with flash sync of 1/400s or 1/500s in APS-C mode.
You get a 9.6 million dot EVF vs. 3.69 million dots. FWIW A1 refresh rate of the EVF is a lot faster. Not to mention the 0.9x magnification of A1 vs. 0.8x on Z8. A1 EVF just looks amazing all the way round.

Of course you may not care about such things but A1 does have things that make it more expensive. It's still overpriced IMO but at the same time I do think its a more expensive body than Z8.
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There’s pros and cons for each, the Z8 can focus down to -9ev vs -4ev on the sony for example, but then the Sony has the advantages you mention plus the 240hz refresh rate of the EVF.

I think the A1 should be £4k max.
 
snerkler said:
There’s pros and cons for each, the Z8 can focus down to -9ev vs -4ev on the sony for example, but then the Sony has the advantages you mention plus the 240hz refresh rate of the EVF.

I think the A1 should be £4k max.
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The AF in A1 is reviewed to be better in most situations.

I think A1 is worth more than Z8 which is already £4k
 
nandbytes said:
While a new A1 is a fair bit more expensive than Z8 an used one isn't. For example here's one for £4300

Used Sony Alpha A1 Camera Body

www.harrisoncameras.co.uk www.harrisoncameras.co.uk

I have seen plenty selling for £4.2-4.5k recently.

Of course if you are willing to smuggle you get a new one for that price.

I know it's not a fair comparison since Z8 will reduce in price but as of today that's where they stand.

I know people like to point out how Z8 is so cheap while competing with A1 but in reality it doesn't really. Examples:
The dual card write speed is slow on Z8, on A1 you can have matched cards and higher dual card speed even with just two SD cards.
You get a mechanical shutter with flash sync of 1/400s or 1/500s in APS-C mode.
You get a 9.6 million dot EVF vs. 3.69 million dots. FWIW A1 refresh rate of the EVF is a lot faster. Not to mention the 0.9x magnification of A1 vs. 0.8x on Z8. A1 EVF just looks amazing all the way round.

Of course you may not care about such things but A1 does have things that make it more expensive. It's still overpriced IMO but at the same time I do think its a more expensive body than Z8.
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The main reason I'd choose a Z8 over the A1 is that I can use £6,000-ish of existing Nikon lenses plus having all the features I want on the A1 so the slightly lower price of the Z8 is a bonus on top of that, it wouldn't affect my decision if the A1 was the same price as the Z8.
snerkler said:
Nikon do a 100-400mm Z mount but it's pricey like the Sony GM.
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I have seen that but as it's nearly three times the cost it's difficult to justify when there is potentially the Sigma version on the horizon which I'm happy with. The smart choice is clearly to wait although it's appealing to get back to a single camera system rather than taking two away each time.
 
nandbytes said:
You get a 9.6 million dot EVF vs. 3.69 million dots. FWIW A1 refresh rate of the EVF is a lot faster. Not to mention the 0.9x magnification of A1 vs. 0.8x on Z8. A1 EVF just looks amazing all the way round.

Of course you may not care about such things but A1 does have things that make it more expensive. It's still overpriced IMO but at the same time I do think its a more expensive body than Z8.
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I think evf quality is something that has to be seen to be fully appreciated. I can get by with not so good ones and think they're perfectly fine but when I use one of my cameras with a better one there's always a WoW moment.
 
woof woof said:
I think evf quality is something that has to be seen to be fully appreciated. I can get by with not so good ones and think they're perfectly fine but when I use one of my cameras with a better one there's always a WoW moment.
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A1 was the first body that felt wow i.e. there was a big step up from everything I had seen and used before
 
JohnMcL7 said:
The main reason I'd choose a Z8 over the A1 is that I can use £6,000-ish of existing Nikon lenses plus having all the features I want on the A1 so the slightly lower price of the Z8 is a bonus on top of that, it wouldn't affect my decision if the A1 was the same price as the Z8.
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But they are all F-mount lenses right?
I have personally adapted lenses in the past and they are fiddly and annoying to use for subpar performance compared to native lenses.

Of course you may be just fine with adapting in which case Z8 does make more sense.

JohnMcL7 said:
I have seen that but as it's nearly three times the cost it's difficult to justify when there is potentially the Sigma version on the horizon which I'm happy with. The smart choice is clearly to wait although it's appealing to get back to a single camera system rather than taking two away each time.
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I remember the Sony a-mount days when canon/Nikon DSLRs got the lenses first and then had to wait like a year for a-mount version and sometimes they never arrived.
That's flipped on its head now
3rd parties will only release lenses they feel will make them profit for a particular mount.
So I feel your pain here.
 
woof woof said:
I think evf quality is something that has to be seen to be fully appreciated. I can get by with not so good ones and think they're perfectly fine but when I use one of my cameras with a better one there's always a WoW moment.
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A better view finder is nice, but it wouldn’t sway me as for me there’s more important things, unless it’s was really bad of course and then I wouldn’t touch it with a barge pole :lol:
 
snerkler said:
A better view finder is nice, but it wouldn’t sway me as for me there’s more important things, unless it’s was really bad of course and then I wouldn’t touch it with a barge pole :LOL:
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The evf isn't my first priority by any means but for me there's no denying that a nice one is... nice :D

Notable ones I've had are the Panasonic G1 which was adequate in most conditions but pumped out so much light that in low light it was painful to use and the Panasonic G100 which I read had a good evf and that was one of the reasons I bought it. With all my other cameras the evf's are just there and adequate and the quality didn't influence my choice.
 
woof woof said:
The evf isn't my first priority by any means but for me there's no denying that a nice one is... nice :D

Notable ones I've had are the Panasonic G1 which was adequate in most conditions but pumped out so much light that in low light it was painful to use and the Panasonic G100 which I read had a good evf and that was one of the reasons I bought it. With all my other cameras the evf's are just there and adequate and the quality didn't influence my choice.
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From memory the Z7 was the best I’ve used, although I’d like to try it now to see how it does actually stack up. The A1 is certainly a big leap forward over the A7RIV and A9II I had, also the graininess during AF is minimal too.
 
snerkler said:
From memory the Z7 was the best I’ve used, although I’d like to try it now to see how it does actually stack up. The A1 is certainly a big leap forward over the A7RIV and A9II I had, also the graininess during AF is minimal too.
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I'll only get a new FF camera once my A7 dies and I really should stop buying lenses too and in fact I should sell some cameras and lenses which aren't getting used. It's a big step though and at the moment I just can't bring myself to and I'm still looking at lenses :D

The Laowa 28mm f1.2 and 35mm f0.95 are tempting me and the 7Artisans 28mm f1.4 could tempt me a bit more if it was in Sony mount rather than just being either a M mount lens or a lens optimised for Sony but still in M mount. But I must stop buying :D
 
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