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

I'd be surprised if anyone reading this agreed but I think the Panasonic GX80 with Panasonic 14mm f2.5 is in some ways and overall better than the X100f and that little Panasonic camera is my mini modern AF Leica :D
 
Sony's HX90, with its tiny dimensions, 30X zoom, pop up eyelevel finder and tilting screen is a whole Leica outfit in my pocket, so far as I'm concerned...

Crows on chimney Clyst St Mary HX90 DSC00026.JPG

Motor cycle trainer Clyst St Mary HX90 DSC00203.JPG
 
woof woof said:
I'd be surprised if anyone reading this agreed but I think the Panasonic GX80 with Panasonic 14mm f2.5 is in some ways and overall better than the X100f and that little Panasonic camera is my mini modern AF Leica :D
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I don't think it's that controversial a view and while the Fuji has advantages there's certainly some for the Panasonic as well, particularly price wise. I've been going down the compact camera rabbit hole at the moment and got pretty lost however I was surprised to find Panasonic no longer sell any compact micro 4/3 models any more, I still have the 14mm pancake lens so thought a small Panasonic body would be ideal for it. I ended up with a Fuji XF10 which at the moment I'm feeling was a mistake but it's difficult to tell until you actually put something to practice.
 
Mr Perceptive said:
Fire up The Escort :banana: (in the voice of Gene Hunt!)
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It's tucked up for dry, sunny days only..... ;)

Plus, what with buying the other Focus (that I wasn't expecting to do) and spending over 1k on vet bills* in the past month (which I also wasn't expecting to do....) and getting married in April.....

Millie is okay though btw. She had an abscess develop in her jaw, several tablets, went, came back again, another visit and tablets, then booked in for dental operation. With her age (16) and a dodgy heart there was a chance she wouldn't survive the anaesthetic. It wasn't a nice day of waiting for a phone call! She's got her last check up tomorrow.
 
woof woof said:
I'd be surprised if anyone reading this agreed but I think the Panasonic GX80 with Panasonic 14mm f2.5 is in some ways and overall better than the X100f and that little Panasonic camera is my mini modern AF Leica :D
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Yeah, certainly debateable, m4/3 vs APS-C sensor, 28mm eq vs 35mm eq, but certainly a viable alternative.
AndrewFlannigan said:
Sony's HX90, with its tiny dimensions, 30X zoom, pop up eyelevel finder and tilting screen is a whole Leica outfit in my pocket, so far as I'm concerned...

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Leica quality that is not ;)
LeeRatters said:
It's tucked up for dry, sunny days only..... ;)

Plus, what with buying the other Focus (that I wasn't expecting to do) and spending over 1k on vet bills* in the past month (which I also wasn't expecting to do....) and getting married in April.....

Millie is okay though btw. She had an abscess develop in her jaw, several tablets, went, came back again, another visit and tablets, then booked in for dental operation. With her age (16) and a dodgy heart there was a chance she wouldn't survive the anaesthetic. It wasn't a nice day of waiting for a phone call! She's got her last check up tomorrow.
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Glad to hear Millie is OK :love:
 
snerkler said:
Leica quality that is not ;)
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I never found a 24mm for my iiiC, nor a 720mm for my M2.

HP4 or HP5 images from my M3 were, in practice, no sharper than from the little Sony. Moreover, none of them had a fold out waist level finder, nor would any of them go into my trouser pocket with a lens fitted.

Apart from that, you could be right... :D
 
Hi all,

I am new to using filters, I know I should be looking for a circular polariser and possibly some form of ND Grad. My filter threads are 55mm, 77mm & 82mm, so would presume if I got step up rings I could just purchase 82mm filters. I know you get what you pay for, so too that end I would be looking middle of the road price wise. However there are a multitude of manufacturers. I would be grateful if those with experience and expertise could guide me. Thanks.
 
Gandalf said:
Hi all,

I am new to using filters, I know I should be looking for a circular polariser and possibly some form of ND Grad. My filter threads are 55mm, 77mm & 82mm, so would presume if I got step up rings I could just purchase 82mm filters. I know you get what you pay for, so too that end I would be looking middle of the road price wise. However there are a multitude of manufacturers. I would be grateful if those with experience and expertise could guide me. Thanks.
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I would question the need for an ND grad, the functionality can be achieved in post production, assuming you have enough Dynamic Range in the image (otherwise bracketed shots first will help)

Circular Polariser and Full ND filters yes to those
 
JohnMcL7 said:
I don't think it's that controversial a view and while the Fuji has advantages there's certainly some for the Panasonic as well, particularly price wise. I've been going down the compact camera rabbit hole at the moment and got pretty lost however I was surprised to find Panasonic no longer sell any compact micro 4/3 models any more, I still have the 14mm pancake lens so thought a small Panasonic body would be ideal for it. I ended up with a Fuji XF10 which at the moment I'm feeling was a mistake but it's difficult to tell until you actually put something to practice.
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For me and IMO the advantages for the Panasonic include much better AF and the ability to mount a much better lens with a much better manual focus experience. The Fuji has a slightly bigger sensor but I personally saw no real advantage in IQ. In the Fuji's favour are the more retro styling, the brand image and the preset modes and I can see the appeal.

I think it's a shame that the choice of RF style cameras has diminished. I sold my GM5 but I've hung onto my GX80 and GX9.
 
LeeRatters said:
Just Googled those. Doesn't look bad tbh :)

But I think the OVF and controls of the X100 range is enough to win it for me.
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I only used the EVF. I found the way it focused when using the OVF off putting. Control wise, I had/have no real problems with either.
 
LeeRatters said:
I think it's just a green square EVF & OVF isn't it?
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I remember the focus square moving when taking pictures with the OVF and not just at very close distance, I assume this is to correct parallax. I found this waaay beyond annoying. I can see the appeal of the OVF but you lose the extra features of the EVF and the X100's do IMO have nice EVF's.

I know you're very happy with it but I just never gelled with the X100 as there were for me just too many niggles and issues. I have toyed with the idea of getting another as they are attractive things and the whole no modes just controls aspect does appeal to me a lot but it's pointless as I have the A7+III and when I want smaller the MFT RF style cameras seem to suit me much better than the Fuji.

A future Sony RF style camera with Fuji like control might interest me but they'd probably do it similar to the A7c class and hobble it in some way and blow it off my radar.
 
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Mr Perceptive said:
I would question the need for an ND grad, the functionality can be achieved in post production, assuming you have enough Dynamic Range in the image (otherwise bracketed shots first will help)
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And on top of that, a screw mount graduated filter is going to severely limit composition. I agree wholeheartedly about post work instead.
 
AndrewFlannigan said:
I never found a 24mm for my iiiC, nor a 720mm for my M2.

HP4 or HP5 images from my M3 were, in practice, no sharper than from the little Sony. Moreover, none of them had a fold out waist level finder, nor would any of them go into my trouser pocket with a lens fitted.

Apart from that, you could be right... :D
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Sharpness is not the be all and end all of image quality ;)
Gandalf said:
Hi all,

I am new to using filters, I know I should be looking for a circular polariser and possibly some form of ND Grad. My filter threads are 55mm, 77mm & 82mm, so would presume if I got step up rings I could just purchase 82mm filters. I know you get what you pay for, so too that end I would be looking middle of the road price wise. However there are a multitude of manufacturers. I would be grateful if those with experience and expertise could guide me. Thanks.
Click to expand...
Earlier this year 'we' had a lengthy discussion about using grad filters as I've always used them but found them a pain when shooting against the sun as not matter how good the filter is you end up with some kind of flare or artefacts off the filter from the sunlight. I've been converted and now will bracket and make good in post.

For ND's and polarisers and used numerous different makes including Hoya Pro, Firecrest, B&W, as well as K&F's K series and X-series and in all honesty I can't tell much difference between them.
 
woof woof said:
I remember the focus square moving when taking pictures with the OVF and not just at very close distance, I assume this is to correct parallax. I found this waaay beyond annoying. I can see the appeal of the OVF but you lose the extra features of the EVF and the X100's do IMO have nice EVF's.

I know you're very happy with it but I just never gelled with the X100 as there were for me just too many niggles and issues. I have toyed with the idea of getting another as they are attractive things and the whole no modes just controls aspect does appeal to me a lot but it's pointless as I have the A7+III and when I want smaller the MFT RF style cameras seem to suit me much better than the Fuji.

A future Sony RF style camera with Fuji like control might interest me but they'd probably do it similar to the A7c class and hobble it in some way and blow it off my radar.
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Alan :) We shall have to agree to disagree on both those points.

I've just checked on the F and the focus box in OVF, it does jump ever so slightly. Obviously that is a non issue for me because I had to check that it even done it :ROFLMAO: And I don't think the EVF is very good tbh - It's different to the rear screen in both brightness & colour and just looks.... weird. Which again, doesn't bother me too much because I prefer OVF anyway.
 
LeeRatters said:
Alan :) We shall have to agree to disagree on both those points.

I've just checked on the F and the focus box in OVF, it does jump ever so slightly. Obviously that is a non issue for me because I had to check that it even done it :ROFLMAO: And I don't think the EVF is very good tbh - It's different to the rear screen in both brightness & colour and just looks.... weird. Which again, doesn't bother me too much because I prefer OVF anyway.
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It jumps as @woof woof days due to parallel as the OVF is offset from the lens, so it jumps more for close focussed subjects - a non-issue and a function of an OVF!!!
 
It's an issue if only for the psychological effect and the distraction, at least for me. Seeing the focus point suddenly jump to a different point as I focus just isn't for me especially as that means moving away from what was the intended focus point. Will what I wanted to be my focus point still be sharp? That's a question I really shouldn't be asking myself with a modern AF camera. IMO. I don't know if this contributed to my frustration with X100s/f focusing as I very quickly gave up and switched exclusively to the EVF but there were/are focusing issues and these are highlighted in some reviews, see Manny's and even DPR make a passing reference. The miss rate isn't exactly awful, just greater than I'd expect being spoilt by better performing cameras since MFT came out and I started moving away from Canon DSLR's.

I do see the appeal of the OVF and this subject has I suppose been done to death. I personally prefer the EVF even without parallax issues. I also seem to remember frame inaccuracies with the OVF but I can't remember for certain so I haven't mentioned it until now. I do think that the X100's I had had wonderful EVF's which were much better than anything I had with a Panasonic camera except maybe the G100 which also had a wonderful EVF but sadly only one near top of camera control wheel which ruined the handling for me, so it went.

Back on Sony.
I keep looking at that Voigtlander 28mm f1.5 in Sony mount. I think I do prefer the build styling of the original Sony mount lenses and the SE build style too to this new style but you can't have everything.

Interestingly I read that the 35mm f1.4 is selling well and I have taken a lot of pictures with that lens but it does seem a bit Marmite.

Other stuff.
I'm obsessed with this thing which was featured in another thread...

Both taken with that Voigtlander 35mm f1.4.

1-a-Untitled-4.jpg

1-Untitled-3.jpg

If anyone wants to give it a try...

theyseeyourphotos.com

They See Your Photos

Upload a photo to find out how much an AI sees.
theyseeyourphotos.com theyseeyourphotos.com

But it seems a bit obsessed with age and social class. Mrs WW is anything from 10 to middle aged :D
 
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woof woof said:
It's an issue if only for the psychological effect and the distraction, at least for me. Seeing the focus point suddenly jump to a different point as I focus just isn't for me especially as that means moving away from what was the intended focus point. Will what I wanted to be my focus point still be sharp? That's a question I really shouldn't be asking myself with a modern AF camera. IMO. I don't know if this contributed to my frustration with X100s/f focusing as I very quickly gave up and switched exclusively to the EVF but there were/are focusing issues and these are highlighted in some reviews, see Manny's and even DPR make a passing reference. The miss rate isn't exactly awful, just greater than I'd expect being spoilt by better performing cameras since MFT came out and I started moving away from Canon DSLR's.

I do see the appeal of the OVF and this subject has I suppose been done to death. I personally prefer the EVF even without parallax issues. I also seem to remember frame inaccuracies with the OVF but I can't remember for certain so I haven't mentioned it until now. I do think that the X100's I had had wonderful EVF's which were much better than anything I had with a Panasonic camera except maybe the G100 which also had a wonderful EVF but sadly only one near top of camera control wheel which ruined the handling for me, so it went.

Back on Sony.
I keep looking at that Voigtlander 28mm f1.5 in Sony mount. I think I do prefer the build styling of the original Sony mount lenses and the SE build style too to this new style but you can't have everything.

Interestingly I read that the 35mm f1.4 is selling well and I have taken a lot of pictures with that lens but it does seem a bit Marmite.

Other stuff.
I'm obsessed with this thing which was featured in another thread...

Both taken with that Voigtlander 35mm f1.4.

View attachment 441519

View attachment 441520

If anyone wants to give it a try...

theyseeyourphotos.com

They See Your Photos

Upload a photo to find out how much an AI sees.
theyseeyourphotos.com theyseeyourphotos.com

But it seems a bit obsessed with age and social class. Mrs WW is anything from 10 to middle aged :D
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Fascinating website - thanks. A bit scary though - I ran quite a few through, and it recognised logos on work tops and correctly identified the employer!

However, it's not perfect, as although correctly identifying the time of day (EXIF data I assume) it then said it was sunset!
 

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Bodian said:
Fascinating website - thanks. A bit scary though - I ran quite a few through, and it recognised logos on work tops and correctly identified the employer!

However, it's not perfect, as although correctly identifying the time of day (EXIF data I assume) it then said it was sunset!
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Some of mine were interesting. It said that the shadows angles in one indicated image manipulation but I'd done nothing of the sort. It thought another taken with my A7 was taken using an action cam. Interesting though. I did a load for Mrs WW to read :D
 
Some from this mornings early jaunt. All A7III and Sony 40mm f2.5. All are long exposures of various lengths except the last which is hand held and high ISO.

The pier.

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The general scene.

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Getting light now.

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Resting dog walker and barking dog.

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I had to limit the longer exposures as the 10 second plus or so exposures came out a bit blurry due to the wind. The longest exposure here is that first one at 8 seconds. As it started to get light some people ventured out onto the pier, I think they were going to do some fishing. I was going to go down and snap them but by that time I was freezing and I'd had no breakfast so I went home :D
 
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LeeRatters said:
You had much nicer skies than I had Alan :)

I chose today because tomorrow is supposed to be full 100% cloud - I usually do a traditional Christmas Eve sunrise hike/trip virtually every year.
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There was a lovely sunrise about 15 minutes after I got home. I should have waited longer.
 
I had to go out again so I took my A7III and 40mm f2.5 again.

I was going for front to back sharp and trying to keep the pier and the grass detail good.

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I liked the shiny sand and the line of the incoming tide.

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I thought I might capture this little scene through the pier.

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Just the waves as seen from the end of the pier. No fishermen by this time.

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BTW. For one picture I stuck my head and arms and camera through the railings and there was a moment when I thought I was stuck :D

Looking back. Shame about the drab conditions.

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Miserable weather for taking pictures. I saw a guy with a camera and a massive white lens. I don't know what he was taking pictures of though as I didn't see him raise it to his eye.

I could have maybe done with that long lens to capture the doggie running in picture three above. Here's a 100% crop of him/her...

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I once captured a galloping horse and rider and the horse had all four hoofs off the ground but sadly the doggie has one paw on the ground. Do dogs take all 4 paws off the ground? I'll have to google it. Just googled and... Yes. Just like horses dogs do.
 
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woof woof said:
Some of mine were interesting. It said that the shadows angles in one indicated image manipulation but I'd done nothing of the sort. It thought another taken with my A7 was taken using an action cam. Interesting though. I did a load for Mrs WW to read :D
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One of my colleagues got progressively younger over a set of four photos!
 
Bodian said:
One of my colleagues got progressively younger over a set of four photos!
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This is what prompted me to do some and show Mrs WW. She aged from 10-14 to 20's or 30's and up to 40's and middle aged. One odd thing was that it couldn't tell my ethnicity which I found odd as with my pale blue completion I could only be northern English or possible Scottish. Maybe it had just never seen anything quite like ME :D

While I'm here. Wouldn't it be wonderful to have the seaside at the end of your road?

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LeeRatters said:
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.
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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.
 
woof woof said:
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.
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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
 
AndrewFlannigan said:
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
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Settlers with low map-reading skills?
 
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