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

the_accidental said:
To ask a silly question (maybe?) - checked you don’t have a firmware update file on either memory card? It might be a hidden file when you view on a computer.
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No I have a separate card that I use for updates, and no I haven’t got them mixed up as it’s on an SD card and I’ve been using CFExpress ;)
 
ancient_mariner said:
The things of most interest would be how well the AF worked and long-term reliability.

Not really of interest since I have the Sammy 85 f1.4, but still good to see alternatives.
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It's not something I'd be interested in as I haven't used my 85mm f1.8 for a very long time but if I was in the market I'd look at those example pictures and think that although he says there's little difference IMO a blind on on a galloping horse would see the differences on my little tablet. So the question is do they matter?
 
Twice today I have had it where my A1 would not turn on and was just completely dead. Both times after leaving it turned on it came back to life approximately 5 minutes later. I have to be honest and say that I am not very happy as my camera's behaviour is now worse than when I sent it in to Sony. This is clearly an intermittent issue, however it was slightly predictable before in that it would only do this on occasion when changing the battery (but not every time), or after using the wi-fi, both of which I could control so that it would not affect me whilst on a shoot. Now it just happens intermittently when I turn on the camera :mad:

It's going back to Sony again, I just hope I get it back by the 5th October as I have a portrait lighting tuition booked, and on the 6th a wildlife experience hopefully shooting foxes and badgers.
 
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I took a photo of this cottage today as there was a film crew with people coming and going from it, apparently it's been used for a scene in the upcoming 28 Years Later and Cillian Murphy was there earlier in the week. We'll have to wait and see to see if it makes the cut ;) IT's Bowness Cottage on the edge of Ennerdale Water.


DSC00733-Edit by Toby Gunnee, on Flickr
 
I have just been looking on MPB and their blurb states shutter count is irrelevant on mirrorless cameras. How do we choose 2nd hand if this is the case ? Surely we base and choose on a camera who’s count isn’t particularly high over a camera that has considerably higher count… Am I wrong ?
 
Gandalf said:
I have just been looking on MPB and their blurb states shutter count is irrelevant on mirrorless cameras. How do we choose 2nd hand if this is the case ? Surely we base and choose on a camera who’s count isn’t particularly high over a camera that has considerably higher count… Am I wrong ?
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It definitely puts me off not having this information when other used dealers show this info!! A lot of mirrorless models still have mechanical shutters!!
 
gilbouk said:
A lot of mirrorless models still have mechanical shutters!!
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Perhaps they intended to write "less important" rather than "irrelevant".
 
snerkler said:
Twice today I have had it where my A1 would not turn on and was just completely dead. Both times after leaving it turned on it came back to life approximately 5 minutes later. I have to be honest and say that I am not very happy as my camera's behaviour is now worse than when I sent it in to Sony. This is clearly an intermittent issue, however it was slightly predictable before in that it would only do this on occasion when changing the battery (but not every time), or after using the wi-fi, both of which I could control so that it would not affect me whilst on a shoot. Now it just happens intermittently when I turn on the camera :mad:

It's going back to Sony again, I just hope I get it back by the 5th October as I have a portrait lighting tuition booked, and on the 6th a wildlife experience hopefully shooting foxes and badgers.
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Ive had a couple of issues with mine and have thought of going back to Nikon but the cost of changing is a bit much, but never say never.

Hope you get it fixed and back in time.
 
A couple of pictures from today. It was quite miserable but I wanted to go for a walk so I braved it. I took my A7 and TTArtisan 50mm f2 and I fitted a lens hood. I don't normally use lens hoods but I thought I'd use one today not to lessen flare but to reduce the amount of rain of the front of the lens. The pictures make the weather look nicer than it was :D

The view from the bridge on the way to the Italian Garden.

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Looking back towards land, boats and birds.

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I nearly tried to sell this lens but decided to keep it and it's now my only remaining cheap Chinese lens.

Last one. I think it's a lost ice cream.

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Gandalf said:
I have just been looking on MPB and their blurb states shutter count is irrelevant on mirrorless cameras. How do we choose 2nd hand if this is the case ? Surely we base and choose on a camera who’s count isn’t particularly high over a camera that has considerably higher count… Am I wrong ?
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That's really bad if that's what they've written. Of course it's not irrelevant on most mirrorless, shutters still have a fintie lifespan.
woof woof said:
A couple of pictures from today. It was quite miserable but I wanted to go for a walk so I braved it. I took my A7 and TTArtisan 50mm f2 and I fitted a lens hood. I don't normally use lens hoods but I thought I'd use one today not to lessen flare but to reduce the amount of rain of the front of the lens. The pictures make the weather look nicer than it was :D

The view from the bridge on the way to the Italian Garden.

View attachment 434358

Looking back towards land, boats and birds.

View attachment 434359

I nearly tried to sell this lens but decided to keep it and it's now my only remaining cheap Chinese lens.

Last one. I think it's a lost ice cream.

View attachment 434360
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There seems to be quite a strong magenta hue on the water of the first one at the bottom of the frame, is that just a WB thing or some 'feature' of the lens?
 
snerkler said:
There seems to be quite a strong magenta hue on the water of the first one at the bottom of the frame, is that just a WB thing or some 'feature' of the lens?
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Yes. You're right. Bit better now I hope. It's visible in the others too. I'll have a look at them all later.

I think there are two things going on in these. The lens is a very cheap lens and as I mentioned a while back since getting the A7III I've noticed that it is much better at getting a good WB than the A7. This is the sort of lighting that the A7 seems to have a problem with.
 
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woof woof said:
Yes. You're right. Bit better now I hope. It's visible in the others too. I'll have a look at them all later.

I think there are two things going on in these. The lens is a very cheap lens and as I mentioned a while back since getting the A7III I've noticed that it is much better at getting a good WB than the A7. This is the sort of lighting that the A7 seems to have a problem with.
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Much better (y)
 
Gandalf said:
I have just been looking on MPB and their blurb states shutter count is irrelevant on mirrorless cameras. How do we choose 2nd hand if this is the case ? Surely we base and choose on a camera who’s count isn’t particularly high over a camera that has considerably higher count… Am I wrong ?
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I've just read it on their site. I agree with the part about it might not give an accurate indication of wear/age of the camera but the rest is not right. I can't help but think this is an error as earlier they talk about the mirrorless cameras without mechanical shutters.

Screenshot 2024-09-21 at 16.38.43.jpg
 
snerkler said:
I've just read it on their site. I agree with the part about it might not give an accurate indication of wear/age of the camera but the rest is not right. I can't help but think this is an error as earlier they talk about the mirrorless cameras without mechanical shutters.

View attachment 434370
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I think it's 50/50 really. Yes, it won't tell you total shots taken but I'd still like to know before buying tbh

And "button presses vs actuations" - that doesn't really make sense to me either.

Shutter count & general wear/tear/condition is what I would be looking for.
 
LeeRatters said:
I think it's 50/50 really. Yes, it won't tell you total shots taken but I'd still like to know before buying tbh

And "button presses vs actuations" - that doesn't really make sense to me either.

Shutter count & general wear/tear/condition is what I would be looking for.
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I’m with you, I’d still want to know the shutter count I was just saying that it makes sense that the shutter count may not reflect the use of the camera (y)
 
snerkler said:
I’m with you, I’d still want to know the shutter count I was just saying that it makes sense that the shutter count may not reflect the use of the camera (y)
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Is it true that some bodies only record mechanical actuations and don't count the electronic actuations? I thought that to be the case with the A7iV and the A9 although I might be completely wrong there. I know that with my Z8 however it counts electronic actuations as I don't think it has a mechanical shutter.
 
gilbouk said:
Is it true that some bodies only record mechanical actuations and don't count the electronic actuations? I thought that to be the case with the A7iV and the A9 although I might be completely wrong there. I know that with my Z8 however it counts electronic actuations as I don't think it has a mechanical shutter.
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I’m 99% sure my A1 doesn’t record electronic shutter count.
 
snerkler said:
I’m 99% sure my A1 doesn’t record electronic shutter count.
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I thought so - I'm pretty sure the cameras that have both electronic and mechanical options only record mechanical actuations in the shutter count....... so I would have thought that that would be a valid number to disclose as it's an indication of the wear on the moving parts
 
P.S. I do miss my Sony kit as the people AF on Sony IMO is more consistent when using tracking compared to Nikon.
 
gilbouk said:
I thought so - I'm pretty sure the cameras that have both electronic and mechanical options only record mechanical actuations in the shutter count....... so I would have thought that that would be a valid number to disclose as it's an indication of the wear on the moving parts
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I think it should be disclosed for this very reason, and then you can physically look at the camera for signs of wear etc.
 
My A1 registered 1440 shutter actuation but I know I’ve taken in excess of 60k shots in electronic shutter.
 
Icee said:
My A1 registered 1440 shutter actuation but I know I’ve taken in excess of 60k shots in electronic shutter.
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Last time I looked I think mine was around 200 actuations, but like you I'd imagine I've taken close to 50-60k.
 
LeeRatters said:
Blimey, I'm not knocking anyone honestly, but I've just watched a YT vlog & the person is offering their preset pack for Lightroom..... containing over 180 presets :oops: :$:oops: :$

How the hell can you make & use that many presets!!
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I use a set of 6 presets in Silver Efex *as a starting point* and if I saved each variation of a preset as another preset I'd quickly exceed that number.
 
I literally use one for the majority of my images. I have another which is nice for colourful sunrise and sunset images. I do have a black and white which I rarely use.

So about 3 for me generally.

Plus I have a few which are just one click things for certain things like adding grain only, etc rather than 'editing'
 
I apply a lens profile to most of my pictures. The only other presets I have are in the various Nik Filters thingies but they are usually just a starting point from which I make things worse :D

Whilst I'm here. A couple of pier pictures from my A7 and TTArtisans 50mm f2.

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LeeRatters said:
I literally use one for the majority of my images. I have another which is nice for colourful sunrise and sunset images. I do have a black and white which I rarely use.

So about 3 for me generally.

Plus I have a few which are just one click things for certain things like adding grain only, etc rather than 'editing'
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As you know I'm forever trying to find a preset that I like that works for the vast majority of my images, I'm still yet to settle on something and am still looking for that 'holy grail'. I probably have well over 200 presets but don't use them, they're just ones I've tried and dismissed.
 
I'm still looking at the A7c series as a lighter carry but have just seen that the mechanical shutter is not full mechanical and uses EFCS which can give some weird effects on bokeh using wide apertures, which I would use on this body from time to time. I see that the sensor readout time is pretty slow on these, approx 1/15s for the A7c II and 1/10s for the A7cR, does this mean that the fully electronic shutter is pretty much unusable on these cameras, or would you still be able to take static shots with it OK?
 
the fully electronic shutter is pretty much unusable on these cameras, or would you still be able to take static shots with it OK?
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The only issues I've had with mine is when I've left it on and I'm in high frequency flickering lighting like fluorescents and I get banding from the readout.

I've not tried to shoot action with the e-shutter though, I normally shoot with the mechanical shutter. I have shot moving targets (my son) though.

I've not tried a lens faster than 1.4 and that one not extensively at 1.4.

I came to the conclusion that it was something I'd be able to see if I tried to reproduce it or went looking but it'd not be a practical concern and that's bearing out to be true.

I'm quite sensitive (in general) to this sort of thing, as I work with computer vision professionally and so am often dealing with rolling/global shutters and readout issues etc.

There's a related issue where IIRC the mechanical shutter tops out at 1/4000 and beyond that you need to use the e-shutter.

If there's a particular scenario that's common for you and you'd like me to test - I'm happy to try and do so.
 
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