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

One of the things that really bugs me on my Nikon Z7ii is the red/green focus box. I can’t see it most of the time when I’m in the woods.

Do any of you guys know if you are able to change the focus box colour to white on any of the A7 series cameras?
 
wibbly said:
One of the things that really bugs me on my Nikon Z7ii is the red/green focus box. I can’t see it most of the time when I’m in the woods.

Do any of you guys know if you are able to change the focus box colour to white on any of the A7 series cameras?
Click to expand...

the default is white (on all generation of Sony cameras AFAIK) and on more recent versions it can be changed to Red. Focus confirmation is always green AFAIK.
 
Thanks for all the really helpful responses, appreciate them all. I can’t shake that I’ll regret selling the A9. But also that the 70-350, which is possibly my favourite lens of all time, on the A7RV will be like a super A6700 with better viewfinder and joystick. Decisions, decisions (if only money weren’t an issue!).
 
Gold said:
Dealing with GAS and trying to decide between a A7IV and A7RV (A1 is likely to remain out of budget). In order to afford the A7R I'd have to sell my much loved A9. Would like a newer Sony body with the updated menus (to match my A6700) and the closable shutter when changing lenses. Will be used for both landscapes and wildlife, previously did more of the latter but leaning ever more towards the former currently.

A7IV Pros: can keep the A9 which has higher FPS, blackout free shooting and better tracking (?), I prefer having 2 bodies.
A7RV Pros: higher resolution, matches the A6700 on APS-C lenses, better rear screen, better subject detection.
Click to expand...

For me I couldn't go back to having a body that is not black out free which is why I held on to my A9's for so long although I do now have an A9III.

I have never got along with any of the R bodies although I have used all of them and still own an A7RIVa. The file sizes are annoying but then I am dealing with a lot of images. The R bodies always seem to have the least amount of value as they tend to tumble in price more than any of the other bodies when a new model is released.

We also have a few A7IV's, my wife uses those. I don't like the flippy L.C.D and while they do have better subject recognition for me personally I feel I get more consistent a.f with the A9.

The A7IV's biggest advantage over the A9 is better colours, the A7RV would be better again being a newer body. The A7RV also has the new lcd which is a big improvement.

The A9 is difficult to part with because they are worth so little now. You can't buy an updated equivalent without going to the huge cost of the A9III.

If it came down to only having a choice between the A7IV or the A7RV, with everything considered the A7RV would probably be my choice. Be prepared though for file sizes to be a pain and for it to feel weird to use if you have been using the A9 for a while and got used to black out free.

I would expect A1 prices to come down a lot once the new version launches next month as well, so if your not in a rush you may want to hold off for a while yet. They have already dropped about £200 since last month with the grey importers. At least the A1 would still give you the option of black out free.
 
Last edited:
f/2.8 said:
For me I couldn't go back to having a body that is not black out free which is why I held on to my A9's for so long although I do now have an A9III.

I have never got along with any of the R bodies although I have used all of them and still own an A7RIVa. The file sizes are annoying but then I am dealing with a lot of images. The R bodies always seem to have the least amount of value as they tend to tumble in price more than any of the other bodies when a new model is released.

We also have a few A7IV's, my wife uses those. I don't like the flippy L.C.D and while they do have better subject recognition for me personally I feel I get more consistent a.f with the A9.

The A7IV's biggest advantage over the A9 is better colours, the A7RV would be better again being a newer body. The A7RV also has the new lcd which is a big improvement.

The A9 is difficult to part with because they are worth so little now. You can't buy an updated equivalent without going to the huge cost of the A9III.

If it came down to only having a choice between the A7IV or the A7RV, with everything considered the A7RV would probably be my choice. Be prepared though for file sizes to be a pain and for it to feel weird to use if you have been using the A9 for a while and got used to black out free.

I would expect A1 prices to come down a lot once the new version launches next month as well, so if your not in a rush you may want to hold off for a while yet. They have already dropped about £200 since last month with the grey importers. At least the A1 would still give you the option of black out free.
Click to expand...
With the A7RV I've not struggled with the blackout as much as I thought I would, however what I have struggled with, or should I say found most frusrating is the low frame rate.

The A1 price is almost a bargain now at £3749 grey, and there's every chance it will go lower still in a week or so if the A1 II is announced as expected.
 
snerkler said:
The A1 price is almost a bargain now at £3749 grey, and there's every chance it will go lower still in a week or so if the A1 II is announced as expected.
Click to expand...

Stop it. Just. Stop it.

:D

I managed to talk myself out of buying a car yesterday so I'm feeling a bit... fragile. Maybe I'll buy a watch.
 
woof woof said:
Stop it. Just. Stop it.

:D

I managed to talk myself out of buying a car yesterday so I'm feeling a bit... fragile. Maybe I'll buy a watch.
Click to expand...
I have a Canon EOS2000D for astro, an Olympus EM1X for "normal" photography.

I also just bought a Sony A73 body. Currently using Zuiko 50mm f1.8 and 28mm f2.8 vintage lenses.

I've actually missed Sony.
 
snerkler said:
With the A7RV I've not struggled with the blackout as much as I thought I would, however what I have struggled with, or should I say found most frusrating is the low frame rate.

The A1 price is almost a bargain now at £3749 grey, and there's every chance it will go lower still in a week or so if the A1 II is announced as expected.
Click to expand...
I would be surprised if we don’t see the A1 dip too below 3k over the next 6 months or so.
 
I have a Canon 70-200 F4 L lens on long term loan from my work.

Would it operate happily on my A73 via an MC11 adaptor?

I've looked at them and it states works with Sigma lenses. Do they work with Canon EF as well?
 
Hello Sony users, I am about to trade in my micro four thirds gear for a Sony A7C11 and will need to get a lens, particularly for a holiday in December in Norway. At this stage I will start with a do it all zoom and then in the fullness move to a prime or two. My most used Olympus lens was the 12-40 f2.8 pro, can you recommend an equivalent Sony lens? Many thanks In anticipation.
 
If you want pro level then a MK1 24-70 GM 2nd hand would do it.

If you want a decent kit lens then the 20-70 Sony seems not bad.

Neither are do it all though.
 
Thanks, yes, phrase of do it all is perhaps a bit misleading, I guess I would like to replicate as much as possible the quality and range of the 12-40. I will look at the 24-70.
 
Last edited:
Olly B said:
Thanks, yes, phrase of do it all is perhaps a bit misleading, I guess I would like to replicate as much as possible the quality and range of the 12-40. I will look at the 24-70.
Click to expand...
The GM lenses are quite heavy and won't be well balanced on the A7C series. The 20-70mm f/4 is lighter, as well as gives a wider field of view. Whilst it's 'only' f/4 vs your 12-40mm f/2.8, FF has roughly 2 stops better noise handling so it should still handle noise better. DOF will be narrower on the FF too.

If you want lightweight and compact then there's the 28-60mm. Also you could consider the 24-50mm f/2.8 G
Screenshot 2024-11-13 at 09.48.29.jpg

24-70mm f/2.8 - 20-70mm f/4 - 24-50mm f/2.8 - 28-60mm f/4-5.6
 
Olly B said:
Hello Sony users, I am about to trade in my micro four thirds gear for a Sony A7C11 and will need to get a lens, particularly for a holiday in December in Norway. At this stage I will start with a do it all zoom and then in the fullness move to a prime or two. My most used Olympus lens was the 12-40 f2.8 pro, can you recommend an equivalent Sony lens? Many thanks In anticipation.
Click to expand...

I have an A7CII.

Using the 24-70 G.M on it would be very top heavy and unwieldy.

I don’t use a zoom with it but if I was to go down that route I would go with the light weight Tamron 28-75 f/2.8 or the Sony 24/50 f/2.8.
 
I also have an A7Cii and agree with the recommendations above, if I was going for a compact do it all I'd get one with the kit 28-60 to start, and upgrade if I found it lacking (but it reviews well). For compact, I tend to use my samyang 35/2.8 as it makes it fit in jacket pockets though.

However on the balance, I also have a very chunky samyang 35-150 2-2.8 which is 40% heavier again than the 24-70/2.8 above. I use a plate on the base of the camera with that to make the hand grip taller, and I actually find the handling of that ok. But it's very much you're then "shooting the lens", one hand always supporting it, and the camera just hangs off the back :) Also I'm quite big (6'4") and find it easy enough to handle, my wife struggles with that lens on it.

For me that's part of the joy of the C, it can be a "compact" in my pocket or a very capable "big" camera.
 
Last edited:
Wildcard, for the money of (some of) these zooms you could get a trio of the small light samyang primes, I mention my 35/2.8 that I love, I also have the 75/1.8 which is a similar lightweight joy and they have wides like the 24/2.8 which is also tiny (and to the point above, shallower DoF and equivalent or better low light to what you're used to).
 
danbroad said:
Interesting to hear everyone’s ways of shooting... ‘Fixing two variables and adjusting the third’ isn’t really much different from Aperture priority/Shutter priority modes, or indeed even adjusting exposure compensation in manual mode - in as much as the shooter retains control over one leading variable.

When I owned my original A7, I had fingertip control of all three, with lovely feedback in the EVF. Deepening the DOF, slowing the shutter for a stationary thing, upping the exposure by ISO… all right there without having to come away from the viewfinder. No histograms or exposure meters required!

However, I do get the Auto ISO thinking - especially as sensor tech is so good. Back to that line about trusting Auto ISO and the camera in general
Click to expand...
I shoot Birds in Flight mainly , and use manual iso . I've tried auto iso just can't get on with it. , soon as a bird goes above the horizon its silhouetted unless your quick enough to add some exp. just fine manual iso is second Nature now.

I have had both an a7iii and a a 6400 both very good cameras.i didn't find Much difference in the Af for wildlife.i hardly used the a6400. once I bought the a7iii

I am probably going to swap to a Nikon z8. but just discovered you cannot program a wheel to directly Change iso without pressing another button this will be a right Pain
 
Olly B said:
Hello Sony users, I am about to trade in my micro four thirds gear for a Sony A7C11 and will need to get a lens, particularly for a holiday in December in Norway. At this stage I will start with a do it all zoom and then in the fullness move to a prime or two. My most used Olympus lens was the 12-40 f2.8 pro, can you recommend an equivalent Sony lens? Many thanks In anticipation.
Click to expand...

A bit of a wildcard but consider the Tamron 28-200, has a good reputation for a superzoom and isn't especially heavy. I'd also suggest taking a 50f1.8 for times when light is lower or you need some subject separation.
 
For Norway I’d like to have at least 24mm available. If you’re also going to be carrying an ultra wide then the 28-75 or 28-200 are great lenses, if not I’d lean to the 24-50 (but for my shooting I’d add a 70-300 for longer landscapes).
 
Olly B said:
Hello Sony users, I am about to trade in my micro four thirds gear for a Sony A7C11 and will need to get a lens, particularly for a holiday in December in Norway. At this stage I will start with a do it all zoom and then in the fullness move to a prime or two. My most used Olympus lens was the 12-40 f2.8 pro, can you recommend an equivalent Sony lens? Many thanks In anticipation.
Click to expand...
Hey, i had a holiday in Norway in March. Beautiful place. What are you planning to photograph?

I took most of my lenses:
20-70mm f4, 70-200mm f4 G2, 1.4x, viltrox 16mm f1.8, sony 35mm f1.4 and samyang 85mm f1.4.
I took my A7RV with me.

My most used lenses were 20-70mm and 16mm. I sparingly used 35GM and 70-200mm+1.4x.
Didn't use the 85mm at all.
 
Last edited:
Olly B said:
Hello Sony users, I am about to trade in my micro four thirds gear for a Sony A7C11 and will need to get a lens, particularly for a holiday in December in Norway. At this stage I will start with a do it all zoom and then in the fullness move to a prime or two. My most used Olympus lens was the 12-40 f2.8 pro, can you recommend an equivalent Sony lens? Many thanks In anticipation.
Click to expand...
Ahh, I missed the bit about Norway. I'm guessing you'll want to take the Northern lights so it'd really need to be an f2.8 zoom, or a fast prime. The 24-50mm f2.8 would pair nicely, but the 16-35mm f2.8 GM II would be a good shout if you're primarily going to shoot landscapes.
 
Thank you so much. for all the responses, it has certainly given me options to look at, and thanks Toby for the visual comparison of the lenses, the 24-70 f2.8 looks way too big on the camera, I am leaning towards either the 20 -70 f4, or the 24-50f2.8 (my local branch of LCE don't have the 28-60 kit lens in stock), as well as the zoom, I am thinking I will also pick up a fast prime for the northern lights! I do have my phone which is excellent, but I really do like using a camera! Of course, I am going to have to re-mortgage the house for all of this!! I did have the opportunity to handle the AC711 and as I have small hands it was a lovely fit, so don't really want to make the camera too lens heavy!
 
Last edited:
Olly B said:
Thank you so much. for all the responses, it has certainly given me options to look at, and thanks Toby for the visual comparison of the lenses, the 24-70 f2.8 looks way too big on the camera, I am leaning towards either the 20 -70 f4, or the 24-50f2.8 (my local branch of LCE don't have the 28-60 kit lens in stock), as well as the zoom, I am thinking I will also pick up a fast prime for the northern lights! I do have my phone which is excellent, but I really do like using a camera! Of course, I am going to have to re-mortgage the house for all of this!! I did have the opportunity to handle the AC711 and as I have small hands it was a lovely fit, so don't really want to make the camera too lens heavy!
Click to expand...
Have you considered the A7CR instead of the A7CII? The reason that I ask is that you can crop more on the A7CR meaning you could potentially have smaller and lighter lenses, for example you could use the 24-50mm in crop mode and it will give you 75mm reach and still be a 26mp image. It also allows you to use APS-C lenses and still have 26mp. I would never advocate buying full frame to purely use APS-C lenses as it's a waste of money, but it's a nice option if you want to travel light.

As good as phones are they can't compete with 'proper' cameras, especially with things like Northern Lights.

Have you considered buying grey, you can get a new grey A7cR for £1849 and the A7c II for £1449.
 
I shoot my Cii on crop mode. ~14Mp which is more than enough if needed, I’ve got large prints from a D40 on the wall still (6Mp).

More is better, normally, but don’t think the Cii can’t do it.
 
Interesting that you mention using APS-C lenses on the full frame A7CR Toby, as that's something I've been exploring on my A7RV. It's a bit of a mixed bag. On the photo side, aside from stepping down from 60mp to 26mp, I can see no real disadvantage to uses these lenses on a FF body. Pixel peeping in Lightroom at 200% i can see no meaningful difference between an image taken with one of my lenses on the A6700 vs swapping the lens across to the A7RV and re-taking the same shot - they basically look identical.

However, as I'm now doing more and more movie recording it really depends on the lens and what framerate you are shooting in, as in some modes (compared to the A6700) you are getting a binned image rather than 6k oversampled, so the video's (certainly at 50p) will look less detailed. Also quite a few of my APS-C lenses come no where near to covering the imaging circle of a FF sensor and the rolling shutter performance varies from OK to terrible on the A7RV. One good bit of news though is that I can use my APS-C 10-20 F4 PZ lens in FF mode on the A7RV, because by shooting in 50p, the image is cropped by 1.24x. and using Active Steadyshot stabilization adds another 1.16 crop meaning my 10-20 lens can actually act like a 14-29mm lens giving a lightly wider field of view than if swapping over to Super 35 mode (which only allows up to 25p), where I get a 15-30mm, and therefore allows me to shoot in 50P using an APS-C lens.
 
Olly B said:
Thank you so much. for all the responses, it has certainly given me options to look at, and thanks Toby for the visual comparison of the lenses, the 24-70 f2.8 looks way too big on the camera, I am leaning towards either the 20 -70 f4, or the 24-50f2.8 (my local branch of LCE don't have the 28-60 kit lens in stock), as well as the zoom, I am thinking I will also pick up a fast prime for the northern lights! I do have my phone which is excellent, but I really do like using a camera! Of course, I am going to have to re-mortgage the house for all of this!! I did have the opportunity to handle the AC711 and as I have small hands it was a lovely fit, so don't really want to make the camera too lens heavy!
Click to expand...
I have posted this here before but here's a shot I took from the plane window handheld:
53653727776_ae5f13f11d_b.jpg


The newer bodies i.e. A7CII/R or A7RV or A9III really lets you handhold down to 1-2s. Came in handy more than once.

But also helps to have a fast prime for nighttime shooting. I suggest looking at f2 or above. So lenses like sony 20mm f1.8 or sigma 20mm f2 or samyang 24mm f1.8 or viltrox 16mm f1.8.

I'd take 20-70mm over 24-50mm f2.8. But I am generally not a fan of f2.8 zooms - they are either too large or too expensive or range too short. I prefer to use zooms for what they excel at i.e. versatility and range and primes for what they excel at i.e. fast aperture.
 
Sootchucker said:
Interesting that you mention using APS-C lenses on the full frame A7CR Toby, as that's something I've been exploring on my A7RV. It's a bit of a mixed bag. On the photo side, aside from stepping down from 60mp to 26mp, I can see no real disadvantage to uses these lenses on a FF body. Pixel peeping in Lightroom at 200% i can see no meaningful difference between an image taken with one of my lenses on the A6700 vs swapping the lens across to the A7RV and re-taking the same shot - they basically look identical.
Click to expand...
I agree there's no discernible difference, and the images still look great. The reason I said that I don't advocate using only APS-C lenses on a FF body is that if that's the case you may as well buy an APS-C body, which is usually cheaper. Of course the A7cR and A7R series allow you to use bth FF lenses and APS-C lenses and maintain a high mp count (y)

However, as I'm now doing more and more movie recording it really depends on the lens and what framerate you are shooting in, as in some modes (compared to the A6700) you are getting a binned image rather than 6k oversampled, so the video's (certainly at 50p) will look less detailed. Also quite a few of my APS-C lenses come no where near to covering the imaging circle of a FF sensor and the rolling shutter performance varies from OK to terrible on the A7RV. One good bit of news though is that I can use my APS-C 10-20 F4 PZ lens in FF mode on the A7RV, because by shooting in 50p, the image is cropped by 1.24x. and using Active Steadyshot stabilization adds another 1.16 crop meaning my 10-20 lens can actually act like a 14-29mm lens giving a lightly wider field of view than if swapping over to Super 35 mode (which only allows up to 25p), where I get a 15-30mm, and therefore allows me to shoot in 50P using an APS-C lens.
Click to expand...
This is a foreign language to me :lol:
 
Got my 2nd quote for my unwanted and unsold film era lenses and it isn't too bad. I sold a few on here and if I accept this latest quote all in all I'll have made more than I thought I would.

Interestingly, the 1st place I sent them to said one of my lenses was faulty and needed repairing but the second place rated it as E+ which I assume is a good thing :D and quoted for it.
 
Last edited:
mav said:
I shoot Birds in Flight mainly , and use manual iso . I've tried auto iso just can't get on with it. , soon as a bird goes above the horizon its silhouetted unless your quick enough to add some exp. just fine manual iso is second Nature now.

I have had both an a7iii and a a 6400 both very good cameras.i didn't find Much difference in the Af for wildlife.i hardly used the a6400. once I bought the a7iii

I am probably going to swap to a Nikon z8. but just discovered you cannot program a wheel to directly Change iso without pressing another button this will be a right Pain
Click to expand...
You can adjust ISO without pressing a button if you switch EASY ISO on in the menu (menu B3) but IIRC the actual ISO setting is not displayed on screen when easy iso is on.
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top