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

For info: Just had an email from Wex with the prices for the A1ii @ £6299 and the new 28-70mm f2 G lens @ £3095..Although slightly different focus lengths, I have the Sigma Art 24-35mm F2 lens which I have on my Z8, cracking bit of glass.

Body
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Sony A1 II Digital Camera Body | Wex Photo Video

The highly anticipated Sony A1 II is a second-generation flagship powerhouse with an industry-leading combination of speed, high resolution, and AI.
www.wexphotovideo.com

Lens
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Sony 28-70mm f2 G Master Lens | Wex Photo Video

The Sony 28-70mm f2 G Master Lens is a versatile zoom lens featuring G Master optics for superior sharpness and smooth bokeh.
www.wexphotovideo.com
 
f/2.8 said:
3k for a mid range zoom

6.3k for a firmware update :ROFLMAO:
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More than firmware to be fair but if they had implemented pre-capture in the A1 I doubt many would upgrade. The A1 actually feels noticeably slower than the a9iii so the mkii will feel like an upgrade in both handling and operation. If it comes down to under 4k on the import sites I'll get one or maybe two at that point. Among all the wizardry sill no in camera multiple exposure and I didn't see anything on focus stacking. R5ii looks a bargain
 
Tricky01 said:
I’m quite surprised by that, given it’s been added as a firmware update to other bodies I was presuming a1ii would have it.
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I can’t see anything about focus stacking here, only breathing comp


I think it’s a decent upgrade tbh, pretty much as predicted. It was never going to be revolutionary as the A1 already such a great camera, it was always going to be hard to significantly improve on it.

I remember when the A9II was announced people kicked off saying it was barely an upgrade over the A9, but over time people started to appreciate the differences, I think this will be the same for the A1 II, although for me the A1 II already has obvious upgrades over the A1. I’ll likely buy it in a couple of years time when grey prices are more reasonable.
 
snerkler said:
I can’t see anything about focus stacking here, only breathing comp


I think it’s a decent upgrade tbh, pretty much as predicted. It was never going to be revolutionary as the A1 already such a great camera, it was always going to be hard to significantly improve on it.

I remember when the A9II was announced people kicked off saying it was barely an upgrade over the A9, but over time people started to appreciate the differences, I think this will be the same for the A1 II, although for me the A1 II already has obvious upgrades over the A1. I’ll likely buy it in a couple of years time when grey prices are more reasonable.
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I think that is fair comment. The A9ii was a better camera with useful features. For those who don't have the A1 or A9iii and will be a massive upgrade. For those of us using the A1 it will be a much harder choice. I won't be buying one at £6300 but if it goes the way of the A9iii and drops like a stone on import prices then I think I will get one if not two when finances allow. The A1 was and is a superb camera so it was always going to be tough to have a revolutionary update. Hopefully next time it will come with global shutter
 
wookie6262 said:
I think that is fair comment. The A9ii was a better camera with useful features. For those who don't have the A1 or A9iii and will be a massive upgrade. For those of us using the A1 it will be a much harder choice. I won't be buying one at £6300 but if it goes the way of the A9iii and drops like a stone on import prices then I think I will get one if not two when finances allow. The A1 was and is a superb camera so it was always going to be tough to have a revolutionary update. Hopefully next time it will come with global shutter
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I've been really impressed with the subject recognition on the A7RV and so the A1 II will be at least as good as that and for me that's quite a significant upgrade, and the IBIS is a substantial upgrade too. I'm sure some will really appreciate focus bracketing and pre-capture although I doubt either are things I'd use. I'm still on the fence about the vari-angle screen.

TBH if it wasn't for the A7RV I wouldn't contemplate the A1 II but I can't deny how useful the subject recognition is for me and how much better it is at recognising animals' eyes and faces.
 
Can I just say that the A1 with AEL button repurposed to APSC mode toggle is an absolute game changer. I already used it with wildlife, but I also shoot interiors of shops for work and doing first ones in ages today. Sony 14mm has been sick to the camera all day, hopping between 14mm and 20mm. I already loved my bag of primes but think I’ll be using them even more now as quasi zoom lenses.
 
Tricky01 said:
Can I just say that the A1 with AEL button repurposed to APSC mode toggle is an absolute game changer. I already used it with wildlife, but I also shoot interiors of shops for work and doing first ones in ages today. Sony 14mm has been sick to the camera all day, hopping between 14mm and 20mm. I already loved my bag of primes but think I’ll be using them even more now as quasi zoom lenses.
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I have AEL set to recall custom hold so that I can quickly swap to a new set of settings and it’s like a second BBF. I have a top control button set to APS-C toggle.
 
A couple of A7 and Olympus Zuiko 85mm f2 pictures.

Frosty leaves.

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I think I'm feeding the squirrels too many nuts, this one looks quite chubby.

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100% from that.

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This lens is quite soft at f2 but pictures do sharpen up ok for me. There is quite a bit of ca though. On the whole 85mm is a bit long for me so after playing with this 85mm for a week I've switched to the Zuiko 50mm f1.4 for a week.

After selling quite a few film era lenses these Zuiko's are my only compete (for me) set. I have 24, 28 and 35mm f2.8's, 50mm f1.8 and f1.4, 85mm f2 and 135mm f3.5.
 
As it's quiet

Zuiko 85mm f2.

Older lenses are sometimes less good at their widest apertures and although this 85mm is quite soft it sharpens up enough for me. These first two pictures are 100% crops, the first one is wide open and the second is I think at f4. They've both had a slight S curve applied and the wide open one has also had some additional contrast, some negative highlight and a lot of vignetting correction but IMO these things are not too extreme and I think that wide open this is good performance. The biggest issue is IMO ca with backlit subjects and there can be a lot of it.

1-DSC07521.jpg

1-DSC07522.jpg

Just a couple of pictures of my local church.

DSC07507.jpg

DSC07508.jpg

I'm glad I kept my Zuiko lenses. I wont use these or my other film era primes as my primary lenses and my Voigtlanders are much better but I will use them now and again :D Mrs WW is partly to blame for me keeping them :D
 
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snerkler said:
I’ve just received my Peak Design travel tripod that I’ve picked up in the Black Friday deal, first impressions are very impressive. Practical, lightweight but very well built. Much quicker to put up and put away compared to my 3 legged thing. Only gripe is that ideally I’d like it to be bit taller, but it’s not the end of the world as I do most of my tripod work using the rear screen.
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I happened to come across your post when searching for views on the Peak tripod since I'm considering one in the sale, what are your thoughts on it now? I never seem to really use tripods because I'm mostly carrying everything on a bike so something more portable of course appeals.
 
I'm mostly carrying everything on a bike
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Motorbike or pedal bike? If pedal bike, I had this dilemma recently and got a tripod that can fit in a bottle cage.. the peak design might as well, but I have a Neewer one that's similar in size (if cheaper) but small enough diameter to fit a cage then a voile strap higher up to stop it rattling. Anyway, got pics/details somewhere if it's of interest. It does mostly only fit as my bikes are so large though (I'm 6'4").
 
JohnMcL7 said:
I happened to come across your post when searching for views on the Peak tripod since I'm considering one in the sale, what are your thoughts on it now? I never seem to really use tripods because I'm mostly carrying everything on a bike so something more portable of course appeals.
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I really like it, it’s really small and light but feels pretty sturdy and is very well made. The leg mechanisms are really good, and I really like the quick release top plate. The only negatives are the lock for the head turns the wrong way (i.e. not lefty loosey righty tighty) and I wish it was a bit taller (I’m 6’4”).

Overall though it’s a really nice bit of kit, not sure it’s worth the rrp though.
 
It's a bit early and not even December yet but in the name of consumerism I was thinking of something photography related to buy myself for Christmas :D and yes it is early but sometimes things need to be ordered :D

I can't think of anything I want. Normally I'd find a nice film era prime but I stopped buying those. I would buy a mini G 35mm f2.5 in the style of the 40mm f2.5 I have but of course there isn't one. There's nothing I want MFT wise, nothing I can think of Sony wise and no accessories I can think of. I have two tripods, one of which is a small travel type one, I gave my square filter set away but I still have a 10 stop screw on one and I don't think I need anything else and I have my close up filters. So, I'm coming up with a big fat nothing needed :D or even wanted as I can't think of anything.

If I could think of something Mrs WW would probably buy it... or I'd buy it myself, but I can't think of anything.

Not that I'm offering to buy you anything :D but is there anything you'll be hinting to your loved ones or anything you'll buy yourself?
 
GreenNinja67 said:
No, you'll need to go without Alan.
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The only thing I'm looking at at the mo is a car.

I've sold some little used film era and MFT lenses and I could really sell a tripod but shipping it off would be a problem even if someone wanted it., Benbo Trekker with additional centre column bracket. It's pretty much indestructible but the smaller one suits me for the few occasions I want to use one.

PS.
I'm taking some stuff to church on Tuesday. A fellow amateur is going to take a look and if he doesn't want it it'll go to the table top sale on Saturday or failing that to the dog charity shop.
 
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GreenNinja67 said:
Benbo Trekker. Is that the one Heather Angel used to promote in the 80's / 90's?

Always wanted one of those.
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Sorry, I've no idea,

AFAIK it's based on a machine gun tripod and it works using a bent bolt. They can be a bit drunken octopus but IMO the additional column bracket cures this and plus points are that they are tough and can be put in just about any position. I've had mine for years, decades even, but these days the small travel type suits my rare use better. There are plenty of them for sale on line if you want to see what they look like. Wex sell them.

There you go...

Search | Wex Photo Video

Wex Photo Video search results.
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woof woof said:
It's a bit early and not even December yet but in the name of consumerism I was thinking of something photography related to buy myself for Christmas :D and yes it is early but sometimes things need to be ordered :D

I can't think of anything I want. Normally I'd find a nice film era prime but I stopped buying those. I would buy a mini G 35mm f2.5 in the style of the 40mm f2.5 I have but of course there isn't one. There's nothing I want MFT wise, nothing I can think of Sony wise and no accessories I can think of. I have two tripods, one of which is a small travel type one, I gave my square filter set away but I still have a 10 stop screw on one and I don't think I need anything else and I have my close up filters. So, I'm coming up with a big fat nothing needed :D or even wanted as I can't think of anything.

If I could think of something Mrs WW would probably buy it... or I'd buy it myself, but I can't think of anything.

Not that I'm offering to buy you anything :D but is there anything you'll be hinting to your loved ones or anything you'll buy yourself?
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My A7RV was for Christmas, I’m not wanting anything else nor would ask for it if I did obviously ;)
 
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GreenNinja67 said:
Benbo Trekker. Is that the one Heather Angel used to promote in the 80's / 90's?

Always wanted one of those.
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I have one. Just the best tripod invented. Put a cheapish ball head on mine and it's the only tripod I really want to use. Have a Red Snapper and a lightweight carbon job which both weigh less, but this is the one I go to every time that weight isn't a huge problem.
 
woof woof said:
It's a bit early and not even December yet but in the name of consumerism I was thinking of something photography related to buy myself for Christmas :D and yes it is early but sometimes things need to be ordered :D

I can't think of anything I want. Normally I'd find a nice film era prime but I stopped buying those. I would buy a mini G 35mm f2.5 in the style of the 40mm f2.5 I have but of course there isn't one. There's nothing I want MFT wise, nothing I can think of Sony wise and no accessories I can think of. I have two tripods, one of which is a small travel type one, I gave my square filter set away but I still have a 10 stop screw on one and I don't think I need anything else and I have my close up filters. So, I'm coming up with a big fat nothing needed :D or even wanted as I can't think of anything.

If I could think of something Mrs WW would probably buy it... or I'd buy it myself, but I can't think of anything.

I'm offering to buy you anything :D but is there anything you'll be hinting to your loved ones or anything you'll buy yourself?
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That's very kind of you Alan :)
 
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