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

Rizvan said:
Right fellow Sony A7/A7R owners....

I have passed on the below to Bill Drummond along with various emails / communications to Sony EU. Hope it will be forwarded onto Sony Japan for consideration.

- Improve Auto-Focus further with tweaking incl low light (comparable to the Sony A6000 / DSLRs)
- Improve continuous Burst mode AF Tracking
- Enable the First-Curtain Electronic Shutter for both first and second movement (Silent mode like Sony A7S)
- Auto ISO always seems to stick to 1/60sec speeds. Add option to set a min shutter speed (Same as Fuji XT-1)
- Ability to adjust the sensitivity of the eye sensor as it is far too sensitive on distance detection (i.e. when camera is held at waist and using the rear LCD the screen sometimes turns off as it assumes your waiting to use the eye sensor.
- Ability to upload JPEG/RAW files direct from the camera (via WiFi or 3/4G mobile hotspot) to FTP or Cloud based sites like DropBox & iCloud etc
- Full camera control via the Remote control application including menu setting changes (See Fuji remote app) incl Movie recording and LiveView
- Improve the bitrate for Movie recording to professional levels like the Canon 5D MKIII (XAVCS 50mbps Like Sony CyberShot RX100 MKIII)
- Improve AF-C for video recording to acquire focus quicker
- Ability to remove the NTSC warning screen upon camera start up
- Adjustable camera sounds volume and silent mode (like Fuji X100/s) hold down a button for 3/5 seconds made the camera silent.
- Ability to output Pure RAW files with no in camera additions like Lens corrections or NR etc
- Improve Apple Mac OSX firmware upgrade process/application (see below)
- Ability to add personal author information / copyright / email address to EXIF data in camera (Like Nikon)
- Auto-rotate of EVF information when camera is turned in portrait
- Allow LCD screen off mode via Fn or Custom buttons.
- Ability to use EVF for composition, once photo is taken it is displayed on the rear LCD screen.
- Ability to lock all rear buttons using a defined button hold for more than 3 seconds.
- Ability to link spot metering to the focus point not the centre of the screen

Let me know if there are issues/bugs or possible improvements I've missed.

http://community.sony.co.uk/t5/alph...d-a7r-share-your-experience/m-p/1643101#M4276

Cheers :)
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Go backto nikon - this solves your issues lol
 
AndrewSt said:
Is the A7r worth it over the A7? and is the A7 kit really not that great? Considering this, EM1 or XT-1 for a move to something more compact from my 70D.
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I went for the A7 over the r as I thought that 24mp was more than enough for me, plus it has the first curtain shutter thing that makes it a bit quieter :D

After living with the A7 for some time now I've never thought that I needed more resolution or a sharper image and I'm glad that my files aren't even bigger than those of the A7. The A7 is the best camera I've ever owned, perfect for someone who wants to shoot with a 40 year old £15 lens :D
 
I think the A7 is enough, and at least until Sony fix the r shutter issue it stays that way.
I'd prefer a slightly larger ,wider body if it had IBIS as well.
 
AndrewSt said:
kit lens? any good or is it really only worth looking at the primes.
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From what I've read it's quite a good lens for a kit lens, I still opted to get the Zeiss 24-70mm f4 :)
The Zeiss 55mm f1.8 is a cracking prime which I am hoping to buy in the future along with the Sony 70-200mm f4.
There are more lenses on the way so I'm going to try and wait and see... :)


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I bought the kit lens as it's so cheap it'd be rude not to.

I like primes so to date I haven't used the kit lens for anything real world, just test shots but it's there if I want it and it seems to be well made and nice to use and it's very probably the best "standard" zoom I've ever owned or used. So, even if it's just going to be used very occasionally l'd say get it.

PS. I think that there's a good argument for saying that other than for specialist use like birding the kit lens and a fast prime would provide all that a lot of people would ever need.
 
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Auto ISO always seems to stick to 1/60sec speeds

This would be a big leap forwards. Just adjust the iso and allow selection of minimum shutter speed.
 
steveclem said:
Auto ISO always seems to stick to 1/60sec speeds

This would be a big leap forwards. Just adjust the iso and allow selection of minimum shutter speed.
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It's added to the list but from what I can gather, Sony has always implemented Auto ISO in this way :rolleyes:
I shoot in Manual mode so don't have the 1/60sec speed issue. :D

I've been out to Lumsdale today and been putting the Sony A7 and Zeiss 24-70mm through its pace... so far so good.
Here are some photo's with minor Lightroom 5 work :)

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The following two was handheld and slow shutter speeds :D

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:)
 
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And few more... I am liking the A7 so far.... still need to improve my skills :)

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The following is a crop.... really do need a macro lens in the future :oops: :$

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And my favourite photo of today... :)

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:)
 
Im out in north cyprus at the minute giving my A7R a good testing. It's been perfect. Definitely glad with the choice over the A7 the extra croppability is great and is so sharp.
The shutter noise just isn't a problem and I've been in a few monasteries and church's. The 24-70 had been my most used lens by quiet a margin but I'm lusting for the 70-200 now.
 
My wish list....

Sony 70-200mm f4 OSS G
Zeiss 55mm f1.8
Sony 100mm f2.8 OSS G Macro


:)


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Rizvan said:
My wish list....

Sony 70-200mm f4 OSS G
Zeiss 55mm f1.8
Sony 100mm f2.8 OSS G Macro
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I don't do macro but I do love taking close up pictures of flowers, leaves, shells on the beach and just general stuff and I find 50mm a bit short for that on my A7 but on my G1 it's fine so I'm pretty sure I'll be happy with a 100mm macro on my A7. I did like my Sigma 150mm on both my 20D and 5D but to be honest it was much too big for me to feel happy with it when out and about. I hope that they can keep the size of any future 100mm macro down a bit.
 
This is a massive thread so forgive me for asking instead of reading through it all , can some one tell me why I'd buy an a7 over an a7r or vice versa please ?
 
In my case, the A7r for the resolution; I've never got on with autofocus on any camera that I've tried so the A7r had no disadvantages.
 
Damo1 said:
This is a massive thread so forgive me for asking instead of reading through it all , can some one tell me why I'd buy an a7 over an a7r or vice versa please ?
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I went for the A7 mostly because 8mp was enough for me when I had a Canon 20D and 12mp was enough when I had a 5D and I reasoned that 24mp would therefore be more than enough. Also the A7 has an electronic first curtain thingy which makes the shutter a little... quieter... maybe.

I can see how some would like the additional resolution of the r but I'm very impressed with the detail 24mp offers and to be honest my pc and CS5 struggles to process batches of 24mp files so the r's larger files would probably kill it :D
 
Damn. Was in a camera shop yesterday, my plastic fell out my wallet into a machine and a 70-200 F4 OSS FE fell into my camera bag. Complete accident (I will tell my wife). Maybe I can get out on the weekend to give it a good try out.
 
PCPhil said:
Damn. Was in a camera shop yesterday, my plastic fell out my wallet into a machine and a 70-200 F4 OSS FE fell into my camera bag. Complete accident (I will tell my wife). Maybe I can get out on the weekend to give it a good try out.
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Nice one... I am still saving up :( let us know how you get on with it and how it feels mounted to the body.

Cheers :)
 
Just a heads up.
Both Nissin and Metz are now making flashes for the new Sony MMI hot-shoe. :)
 
Damo1 said:
This is a massive thread so forgive me for asking instead of reading through it all , can some one tell me why I'd buy an a7 over an a7r or vice versa please ?
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Personally I went with the A7 because of the advantages. Here's a quick list of the differences

A7:
Faster flash sync 1/250s vs 1/160s
Phase-detect autofocus - focus will be a bit quicker and more reliable than the A7r which has only contrast detect
electronic first curtain - much quieter shutter, and much less vibration causing blurry photos
a bit cheaper
Faster FPS (can't remember specifics but A7 is a little bit faster)

A7r
50% more pixels - with the right lens you can get noticably more detailed photos
Better build quality - more metal in the construction than the A7

Personally, after owning a D800 I completely understand the need and desire for the extra resolution, but that is the main thing the A7r has going for it. Unless you need more than 24MP can give you, the A7 is probably both cheaper and better.
 
Ordered an R. You're all very very bad people.
 
Finally Trigger Trap are doing a cable for the cameras.
 
First impressions & attempts with my new 70-200 FE.
Impressions: It's big but not overly heavy. Feels solid and well built. It's amazing changing from this to the 35mm f2.8. Feels like the camera might float away!!
Really like the AF/MF button on the lens. Wish all the others had this on. As soon as you flick to MF you get focus peaking and touching the focus ring gives the zoom function.
Focus is quick and accurate. Not tried anything but static shots yet.

Anyway, first pics. Not stunning locations but I wanted to try it out in a variety of modes.

Tamworth Castle & Church by PCPhilpot, on Flickr
Tamworth Castle grounds by PCPhilpot, on Flickr
Tamworth Castle from the grounds by PCPhilpot, on Flickr
Wild poppy by PCPhilpot, on Flickr
 
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Just bought the Zeiss 55mm f/1.8 :) should be here next week hopefully.
I am thinking about trading in all my Fuji X100 gear towards the Sony 70-200mm f/4.0
Not decided yet as the X100 collection I have is pristine :)


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Rizvan said:
Just bought the Zeiss 55mm f/1.8 :) should be here next week hopefully.
I am thinking about trading in all my Fuji X100 gear towards the Sony 70-200mm f/4.0
Not decided yet as the X100 collection I have is pristine :)


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I'll be interested in your thoughts.

Most of the time I have an old manual lens on my A7 and for a while now it's been an Olympus Zuiko 50mm f1.8 and to be honest I find it hard to fault but I'm open to persuasion to the idea that I must get a AF 55mm f1.8 :D

The thing with manual lenses is you don't get a clue from the exif and have to remember what shot was taken with what lens and I often forget. I know that the first shots I took with my A7 were with the Zuiko 50mm and this was amongst them...

A7 + 50mm f1.8 (about £15 worth) at ISO 3200.



Poor Toby has since passed and is missed every day. He was a lovely dog and my friend.
 
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woof woof said:
The thing with manual lenses is you don't get a clue from the exif and have to remember what shot was taken with what lens and I often forget.
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I use a Lightroom plugin called Lenstagger to fill in the missing EXIF data as I import the photos into LR.

I do have to remember which lenses and apertures I've used to tag them up at that point, but it's usually at most only a few hours later and I've normally only got three or four lenses that I'll be using at once, so it's not that difficult. If things get particularly busy, I'll make the odd note while shooting to remind myself.
 
woof woof said:
I'll be interested in your thoughts.

Most of the time I have an old manual lens on my A7 and for a while now it's been an Olympus Zuiko 50mm f1.8 and to be honest I find it hard to fault but I'm open to persuasion to the idea that I must get a AF 55mm f1.8 :D.
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The Zeiss 55mm f/1.8 is one of the best lenses ever tested by DxO / DPReview... what are you waiting for? ;)
Will post up a mini-review once mine arrives :)
 
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