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

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: :$
 
Icee said:
I don’t know but if it keeps coming down like that i might replace my A9 mk1 with one.
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£3829 grey, almost a bargain :eek:
 
snerkler said:
Isn’t the A9 III selling very well? It’s already £800 off at Wex and £700 off at other stores :oops: :$
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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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woof woof said:
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
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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
 
the_accidental said:
It’s only too many when you’ve filled the wall Tetris-style ;-)
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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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woof woof said:
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.
Click to expand...
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!
 
Tricky01 said:
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?
Click to expand...
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.

Tricky01 said:
If the Samyang strength is its size, I think I already get that from the 1.8.
Click to expand...
But the samyang is f1.4 and the 1.8 can't go to f1.4 ;)

Tricky01 said:
Seems I’m best sticking with 1.8 for now I think, unless find a good deal on sigma?
Click to expand...

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.

Tricky01 said:
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!
Click to expand...

Lol, especially when there is like 100 options like the 50mm :ROFLMAO:
 
Tricky01 said:
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!
Click to expand...

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.
 
Tricky01 said:
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.
Click to expand...

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! :)
 
woof woof said:
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.
Click to expand...

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 :)
 
Tricky01 said:
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.
Click to expand...
I changed the 85mm f1.8 for the Sigma 85mm f/1.4 DG DN and don’t regret it, both are great lenses but I do prefer the OOF areas of the Sigma. It’s very sharp too.
f/2.8 said:
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.
Click to expand...
Odd, I’ve not noticed my Sigma having slower AF than the 85mm f/1.8. To be fair I never tested side by side but when I got the Sigma I don’t recall thinking it was slower, and I don’t find it slow now either.
 
LeeRatters said:
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! :)
Click to expand...
There must be cash (debt!) burning a hole in my pocket because shortly after 9am, weighing up all the 85mm chat I decided to stick with my 1.8 and (ironically given your post!) I succumbed to your subtle plugging of the 35 GM and pulled the trigger. Samyang is £499 and half tempted by Nandbytes’ glowing review but for now I’m good. Quite excited to try the GM, might keep the 35 1.8 too though given its compact form (and before anyone flags it, PLEASE don’t tell me about the focus breathing! Fed up of watching ‘photography’ video reviews chatting about film. I’m a photographer not a filmographer!)
 
Tricky01 said:
PLEASE don’t tell me about the focus breathing!
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50 f1.2 owner here. It's become almost the only lens I use these days, but focus breathing is a horrible flaw and incredibly annoying. I recently shot a bunch of double images with the subject in and out of focus, and it's just a mess when I combine the images. The OOF (close focus) versions effectively zoom in, making for smudgy shadows when the images are combined. In other situations it's great, but for this kind of work it's simply useless.
 
ancient_mariner said:
50 f1.2 owner here. It's become almost the only lens I use these days, but focus breathing is a horrible flaw and incredibly annoying. I recently shot a bunch of double images with the subject in and out of focus, and it's just a mess when I combine the images. The OOF (close focus) versions effectively zoom in, making for smudgy shadows when the images are combined. In other situations it's great, but for this kind of work it's simply useless.
Click to expand...
Oh fair point on the focus stacking, hadn't thought of the implications there. But every damn YouTube review just slates the GM for focus breathing and it gets so tiresome
 
Tricky01 said:
There must be cash (debt!) burning a hole in my pocket because shortly after 9am, weighing up all the 85mm chat I decided to stick with my 1.8 and (ironically given your post!) I succumbed to your subtle plugging of the 35 GM and pulled the trigger. Samyang is £499 and half tempted by Nandbytes’ glowing review but for now I’m good. Quite excited to try the GM, might keep the 35 1.8 too though given its compact form (and before anyone flags it, PLEASE don’t tell me about the focus breathing! Fed up of watching ‘photography’ video reviews chatting about film. I’m a photographer not a filmographer!)
Click to expand...

Focus breathing is there yes. But I don't think it's ever been an issue for me.
 
woof woof said:
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.
Click to expand...
Happy New Year to you too.

As for summing up my photography in 2024 that's a tricky one. The first word that springs to mind is frustrating. I'm rarely happy with my photography, which in itself is frustrating :LOL: I wish I was one of those people who could see merit and big up their own work. I constantly see photos on FB and Instagram where someone says "I took this awesome photo at....." or "I'm really happy with this photo I took......" etc. I read these and think I'd never say anything like that. But why not, why am I so critical, why do I feel that every photo I take should be up there with the best and then get disappointed it's not, why can't I just be happy that it's a nice photo? Seems a bit crazy when I 'say' it out loud :oops: :$ :LOL:

I also get frustrated that even after all these years I still cannot create a preset I am happy with despite endless hours of trying. I think I've created one, but then apply it to a different set of photos and it looks pants, I can't tell you how many times this has happened and how many presets I have created. I tend to just revert back to my 'true to life' preset, which is always a good place I guess as it's not something that will age like other styles may, however I do like subtle film like processing but haven't created on yet that works 'across the board'.

All this being said, there was actually a photo I was happy with this year, I think mostly due to the fact is that I had an idea of what I wanted beforehand and it turned out as I wanted. It's rare that I have an exact idea in mind and execute it, normally I 'roll with it' at the time and 'wing it'


A1_9538 Re-Edit by Toby Gunnee, on Flickr




And then a real boost was my recent Photographer of the Year award via Session Days. I don't do photography for anyone else but myself, but I'm not going to lie winning that gave me a real boost and it is nice when others pass compliments. Clearly I must be doing something right, which brings me back to the above, being able to see merit in my work. I'm going to really work on this in 2025 and try to stop being hyper critical.
 
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