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

I waited longer & it clouded over. Which is a shame because walking back down through the village I was in is nice with some sunlight on the houses & cottages.

I had got well wrapped up but I didn't have any gloves and as the sun started to rise I'd been there ages and I was cold so I gave up. I did take a pocket warmer but it was burning my leg as I took one of those longer exposure pictures and the battery went flat very quickly, so it wasn't a great success maybe because I'd charged it up 6 months ago and then put it away. Next time I'll charge it up the day before going out.

I would have liked to have stayed for the sunrise as it was very nice at home.
 
I had got well wrapped up but I didn't have any gloves and as the sun started to rise I'd been there ages and I was cold so I gave up. I did take a pocket warmer but it was burning my leg as I took one of those longer exposure pictures and the battery went flat very quickly, so it wasn't a great success maybe because I'd charged it up 6 months ago and then put it away. Next time I'll charge it up the day before going out.

I would have liked to have stayed for the sunrise as it was very nice at home.

As soon as Autumn comes along, I put my gloves, snood & woolly hat in my main Sony camera bag for 6 months :)
 
I've usually not been a big one for wrapping up, I did Kazakhstan at -21 in jeans and a T shirt and made the locals laugh :D but I'm getting old now :D
 
Several years ago, I was wandering along the canal path at Long Buckby Wharf, when I came across this Israeli flag fluttering in the Northamptonshire wind. I still have no idea what was going on but I recorded it with the R1, just to remind myself that I really did see it...

Israeli flag at Long Buckby Wharf R1_04641.JPG
 
Several years ago, I was wandering along the canal path at Long Buckby Wharf, when I came across this Israeli flag fluttering in the Northamptonshire wind. I still have no idea what was going on but I recorded it with the R1, just to remind myself that I really did see it...

View attachment 441595

Settlers with low map-reading skills?
 
I've been a but busy recently so haven't read every post here so sorry if I missed this but have we done Merry Christmas already? If we have... Carry On :D but if we haven't can I just say...

A Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to you all!!!!

I hope you all have a wonderful time :D

Mrs WW is unfortunately delayed abroad. She was meant to be back at the end of October but problems intervened and then she was due back last Monday but again she's been unavoidably delayed and will we hope she'll be back sometime in January. I was hoping for a quiet Christmas day... Bangers, mash and lovely thick gravy and some mint source for dinner and a nice glass of cider but instead I'll be entertaining someone from church who would otherwise be alone and Christmas dinnerless so I'll be doing a full (Vegetarian) Christmas dinner for them.

Anyone getting aby exciting toys?
I bought myself some watches and Mrs WW has three present bags full waiting for her as she's missed her birthday, our wedding anniversary and now Christmas. I keep looking at that Voigtlander 28mm f1.5 in Sony mount and I might treat myself but Mrs WW very strangely has no interest in camera lenses.

Merry Christmas ALL! :D
 
I've been out today but didn't take a camera. I might take one out this evening.
 
Isn’t the A9 III selling very well? It’s already £800 off at Wex and £700 off at other stores :oops: :$
 
I don’t know but if it keeps coming down like that i might replace my A9 mk1 with one.
£3829 grey, almost a bargain :eek:
 
Isn’t the A9 III selling very well? It’s already £800 off at Wex and £700 off at other stores :oops: :$
It’s been out a while pretty normal for it to drop in price by now would have thought.

Much bigger drop on the A7RV from 4k to 2.85k in the U.K.

They all drop eventually. O.G A9 dropped over a grand in less than a year. Early adopters always get skinned.
 
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I've been a but busy recently so haven't read every post here so sorry if I missed this but have we done Merry Christmas already? If we have... Carry On :D but if we haven't can I just say...

A Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to you all!!!!

I hope you all have a wonderful time :D

Mrs WW is unfortunately delayed abroad. She was meant to be back at the end of October but problems intervened and then she was due back last Monday but again she's been unavoidably delayed and will we hope she'll be back sometime in January. I was hoping for a quiet Christmas day... Bangers, mash and lovely thick gravy and some mint source for dinner and a nice glass of cider but instead I'll be entertaining someone from church who would otherwise be alone and Christmas dinnerless so I'll be doing a full (Vegetarian) Christmas dinner for them.

Anyone getting aby exciting toys?
I bought myself some watches and Mrs WW has three present bags full waiting for her as she's missed her birthday, our wedding anniversary and now Christmas. I keep looking at that Voigtlander 28mm f1.5 in Sony mount and I might treat myself but Mrs WW very strangely has no interest in camera lenses.

Merry Christmas ALL! :D
Well i was going to get the A1mk11 for Xmas but i'v seen a couple of reviews where the focus can at times miss, now this is most likely due to how it was set up but as it's early days yet it has made me want to wait for now just until there are more opinions on it.
and happy Xmas to you.
 
I like my new Canon printer. The Epson was good when everything went well but this Canon is at least for now just so easy and nothing has gone wrong yet. I keep printing things now but how many framed prints on the wall is too many :D
 
It’s only too many when you’ve filled the wall Tetris-style ;-)

I keep looking at spaces :D

Other News. It's a lovely day here but I haven't got time for photography today. I did take some pictures yesterday with my Voigtoander 35mm f14. I haven't used that lens for a while and it felt like coming home. It is IMO a really nice lens with just a couple of issue to be aware of.
 
Well, it's nearly a new year or at least it will be in a weeks time and as I might not have time to post a long post later I'm posting this now :D

This forum has given me a lot of enjoyment over the years especially when I was going through difficult times when my photography and this forum seemed to be my only "safe spaces". I do know that other people on his forum have gone through similar and much worse. I hope this thread has been enjoyable, informative and fun for people and who knows? Even an escape. I've enjoyed it and the information, encouragement, help and support we've given each other. It's been nice to be able to think "Oh, I wonder if X or X have posted anything today" and logging on to see that they have :D and that they've probably about Fuji's or cars :D

As we're in the equipment area of the forum I'm glad to think I've largely managed to escape gas or at least the more expensive effects of it as my buys have mostly been at the cheaper end of the market although I did buy a new Sony A7III but I think my favourite new bit of kit has been the Sony 40mm f2.5 G. I think this is a good lens and the size and weight are more to my liking. As well as incoming kit there have been some departures. I've sold some Mirco Four Thirds kit and a lot of my film era lenses as I just wasn't using them. Most of this kit went to a dealer but some was sold on here and I hope the new owners are happy with it.

I've been trying to think if I have a favourite picture of 2024 but I don't think I have. I've taken pictures this year which I've been happy with and I've had quite a few memorable moments and days out but I don't think one picture stands out. I think this one makes me think of the sights, smells and sounds of a place I love. Taken in September with my A7 and Voigtlander 35mm f1.2.

1-DSC04416.JPG

I've also tried something a bit new for me in 2024. In the past I haven't really done many longer exposure pictures but I've taken a few in 2024 both in daylight and in the later evening or early morning. I can't see this ever being a big thing for me but it was something to try and has also come in useful as I've been out in the evenings and early mornings more than usual when the choice was to use a tripod or go to high ISO's.

A7III, 40mm f2.5 and a cheap travel tripod. 1.3 seconds which needed a tripod and as it was a bit windy I had to keep the exposure time down.

1-DSC00739.jpg

If anyone else would like to sum their photography year it might be interesting.

Happy New Year to EVERYONE. Lets hope for (even) better in 2025.
 
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Well, it's nearly a new year or at least it will be in a weeks time and as I might not have time to post a long post later I'm posting this now :D

This forum has given me a lot of enjoyment over the years especially when I was going through difficult times when my photography and this forum seemed to be my only "safe spaces". I do know that other people on his forum have gone through similar and much worse. I hope this thread has been enjoyable, informative and fun for people and who knows? Even an escape. I've enjoyed it and the information, encouragement, help and support we've given each other. It's been nice to be able to think "Oh, I wonder if X or X have posted anything today" and logging on to see that they have :D and that they've probably about Fuji's or cars :D

As we're in the equipment area of the forum I'm glad to think I've largely managed to escape gas or at least the more expensive effects of it as my buys have mostly been at the cheaper end of the market although I did buy a new Sony A7III but I think my favourite new bit of kit has been the Sony 40mm f2.5 G. I think this is a good lens and the size and weight are more to my liking. As well as incoming kit there have been some departures. I've sold some Mirco Four Thirds kit and a lot of my film era lenses as I just wasn't using them. Most of this kit went to a dealer but some was sold on here and I hope the new owners are happy with it.

I've been trying to think if I have a favourite picture of 2024 but I don't think I have. I've taken pictures this year which I've been happy with and I've had quite a few memorable moments and days out but I don't think one picture stands out. I think this one makes me think of the sights, smells and sounds of a place I love. Taken in September with my A7 and Voigtlander 35mm f1.2.

View attachment 441839

I've also tried something a bit new for me in 2024. In the past I haven't really done many longer exposure pictures but I've taken a few in 2024 both in daylight and in the later evening or early morning. I can't see this ever being a big thing for me but it was something to try and has also come in useful as I've been out in the evenings and early mornings more than usual when the choice was to use a tripod or go to high ISO's.

A7III, 40mm f2.5 and a cheap travel tripod. 1.3 seconds which needed a tripod and as it was a bit windy I had to keep the exposure time down.

View attachment 441846

If anyone else would like to sum their photography year it might be interesting.

Happy New Year to EVERYONE. Lets hope for (even) better in 2025.
Hi, thank you for sharing your photographic year with us all, it’s been great reading yours and all the other Sony users here posts over the last year and I for one have certainly learnt plenty.
Sitting down of an evening and browsing through this thread and others on tp is definitely my happy hour, thank you once again Sony users.
Happy new year to you too and everyone else on here.
 
I’m mulling upgrading my Sony 85 1.8. With winter discount and cash back offers I can pick if the gen 1 GM for around £1,000. The autofocus of the gen 2 GM is supposed to be dramatically better than the gen 1, but I’m struggling to justify the extra £800.

Is the gen 1 enough of a step up from the 1.8, especially in autofocus and contrast?

Before anyone suggests looking at grey imports, I have made a conscious decision not to buy them.
 
I have the Sigma 85mm f1.4 and can highly recommend it. Produces stunning crisp images.
 
I too have the samyang 85/1.4ii.
It isn't as good as the 85GM or the Sigma 85DN i had before it but it's smaller and lighter than both. So I carry it with me more often which is worth it for me compared to having a better lens sat at home.

The 85DN itself is about the same size but it's hood when reversed is considerably wider, made it a pain to pack for me.
 
thanks for recommendations. On the sigma, checking out some video reviews and comparisons, the autofocus doesn’t look too great, possibly even a step back from the 1.8 and certainly slower than the GM? Recognise it’s sharper than the 1.8 and better performer (CA across the frame and sharpness in corners) vs GM. Flare look’s problematic though when sporting into the light though?

If the Samyang strength is its size, I think I already get that from the 1.8.

Seems I’m best sticking with 1.8 for now I think, unless find a good deal on sigma?

As a side note, I swear some lenses exist to play on the decoy bias used in pricing theory. Just there to tempt you up the price ladder!
 
thanks for recommendations. On the sigma, checking out some video reviews and comparisons, the autofocus doesn’t look too great, possibly even a step back from the 1.8 and certainly slower than the GM? Recognise it’s sharper than the 1.8 and better performer (CA across the frame and sharpness in corners) vs GM. Flare look’s problematic though when sporting into the light though?
Sigma 85DN is better than the GM in terms of AF. Better than Samyang too.
Flare isn't a problem, it's not as good as GM but perfectly capable, I have plenty of back-lit shots with it. It's all my family ones hence won't share here but happy to share in PM or email.

If the Samyang strength is its size, I think I already get that from the 1.8.
But the samyang is f1.4 and the 1.8 can't go to f1.4 ;)

Seems I’m best sticking with 1.8 for now I think, unless find a good deal on sigma?

1.8 was my first 85mm prime and it was really nice but if you like shooting wide open at f1.4 it's not an option.

You should be able to find a good deal on the Sigma, it's a pretty old lens now.

As a side note, I swear some lenses exist to play on the decoy bias used in pricing theory. Just there to tempt you up the price ladder!

Lol, especially when there is like 100 options like the 50mm :ROFLMAO:
 
thanks for recommendations. On the sigma, checking out some video reviews and comparisons, the autofocus doesn’t look too great, possibly even a step back from the 1.8 and certainly slower than the GM? Recognise it’s sharper than the 1.8 and better performer (CA across the frame and sharpness in corners) vs GM. Flare look’s problematic though when sporting into the light though?

If the Samyang strength is its size, I think I already get that from the 1.8.

Seems I’m best sticking with 1.8 for now I think, unless find a good deal on sigma?

As a side note, I swear some lenses exist to play on the decoy bias used in pricing theory. Just there to tempt you up the price ladder!

The siggy a.f is very slightly better than the 85G.M but much slower than the 85 f/1.8. Flare is a problem with the Siggy and it also has pretty bad pin cushion distortion. The Siggy colours are very different to the G.M lenses.

I changed my 85G.M to the siggy and regret it personally. At some point I will probably get the the 85GMII.
 
I’m mulling upgrading my Sony 85 1.8. With winter discount and cash back offers I can pick if the gen 1 GM for around £1,000. The autofocus of the gen 2 GM is supposed to be dramatically better than the gen 1, but I’m struggling to justify the extra £800.

Is the gen 1 enough of a step up from the 1.8, especially in autofocus and contrast?

Before anyone suggests looking at grey imports, I have made a conscious decision not to buy them.

For me, the FE85/1.8 has never let me down & does everything I need & want it to do.

Size, weight, AF, IQ, filter size etc are all perfect for me and I'd rather have those things than f/1.4

......... :oops: :$:eek::oops: :$:eek::oops: :$:eek:

There. I said it! :)
 
Well, it's nearly a new year or at least it will be in a weeks time and as I might not have time to post a long post later I'm posting this now :D

This forum has given me a lot of enjoyment over the years especially when I was going through difficult times when my photography and this forum seemed to be my only "safe spaces". I do know that other people on his forum have gone through similar and much worse. I hope this thread has been enjoyable, informative and fun for people and who knows? Even an escape. I've enjoyed it and the information, encouragement, help and support we've given each other. It's been nice to be able to think "Oh, I wonder if X or X have posted anything today" and logging on to see that they have :D and that they've probably about Fuji's or cars :D

As we're in the equipment area of the forum I'm glad to think I've largely managed to escape gas or at least the more expensive effects of it as my buys have mostly been at the cheaper end of the market although I did buy a new Sony A7III but I think my favourite new bit of kit has been the Sony 40mm f2.5 G. I think this is a good lens and the size and weight are more to my liking. As well as incoming kit there have been some departures. I've sold some Mirco Four Thirds kit and a lot of my film era lenses as I just wasn't using them. Most of this kit went to a dealer but some was sold on here and I hope the new owners are happy with it.

I've been trying to think if I have a favourite picture of 2024 but I don't think I have. I've taken pictures this year which I've been happy with and I've had quite a few memorable moments and days out but I don't think one picture stands out. I think this one makes me think of the sights, smells and sounds of a place I love. Taken in September with my A7 and Voigtlander 35mm f1.2.

View attachment 441839

I've also tried something a bit new for me in 2024. In the past I haven't really done many longer exposure pictures but I've taken a few in 2024 both in daylight and in the later evening or early morning. I can't see this ever being a big thing for me but it was something to try and has also come in useful as I've been out in the evenings and early mornings more than usual when the choice was to use a tripod or go to high ISO's.

A7III, 40mm f2.5 and a cheap travel tripod. 1.3 seconds which needed a tripod and as it was a bit windy I had to keep the exposure time down.

View attachment 441846

If anyone else would like to sum their photography year it might be interesting.

Happy New Year to EVERYONE. Lets hope for (even) better in 2025.

Nice read Alan :)

I've not been out for much dedicated photography this year. Had a few things going on, the weather hasn't been the greatest when I've wanted it to be - we've had lots of nice weekdays & crap weekends - and I've only done a handful of sunrise shoots in the past few months. I have shot a lot of street photography on the X100f though - that has been enjoyable to get into for the photography, the places & the exercise!! I've also only done a handful of night skies this year, that's mainly been down to the weather/cloud cover too!

Anyway, I've been out in the fog/low cloud this morning for some trees/woodland stuff :) You can see those too because they were on Sony :) Voigtlander 40/1.2 - man, I LOVE that lens - and the Tamron 70-180mm. Tomorrow is supposed to be bright & sunny [fingers crossed] so we are going to Bradford on Avon for the day :)
 
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