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

I don't need a lab coat to look like a geek with ocd. I admit to it :D

I've watched yet more vids about the RX1rIII and without handling the cameras I disagree with what some say about the price in comparison to the Q3 and 43 as these cost even more money and are bigger and to me one of the main selling points of the Sony is its size and nice though the Leica is I wouldn't be going for one to save bulk and weight.

Mrs WW very unusually asked me about cameras and lenses today, maybe she's smarting as I always buy her the best presents, I don't know but I think she was fishing. I told her about the RX1 and she said "Get it" but I'm not going to for two reasons. Firstly the price is too high for me and I can't really see it dropping as I think these will sell to the RX1 fans in enough numbers to keep Sony happy. Secondly the lack of a tilting screen puts me off as I do take quite a significant percentage of pictures with the screen with the camera held lower. The resolution would maybe be a PITA but with it comes the ability to frame at (I think) 50 and 70mm and that would be nice so the resolution things balance out and I could live with it for the in camera cropping function. I'd also need to get over my fear of sensor contamination and not being able to clean it.

I will take a look at an A7cII when I get the chance but I've no idea when I'll see one in the shops and I'll lose the tilting screen. I know it has an articulating screen but I think they are slightly awkward for my use, better for some other people though. I've checked my local Currys a couple of times (no camera shops here) and I will take a peak in any camera shops I see at airports.

Anyone giving the RX1 a serious look?

PS.
I'd love a compact 35mm f2 as per the RX1 but I don't think we'll see one.
 
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woof woof said:
With one thing and another and the weather I haven't been able to get out recently but I'm hoping to soon but maybe not this week.

A7III, Sony 40mm f2.5 at f5.6 and No.4 close up filter. The quick fall off is down to two things, being very close and the properties of the filter but this isn't a professional shot, it's just for fun :D

View attachment 458439

I have a few "divers" watches but to be honest I have no use for the rotating bezel and when they catch on something and move I just have to set them to the 12:00 position again. This one though has quite a compact bezel which so far I haven't been able to move by accident. I should have cleaned it but the fingerprints are added character :D
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I know shot was just for fun but if you have current Lightroom it now has a reflection removal tool, don't know if its any good though:)
 
nog said:
I know shot was just for fun but if you have current Lightroom it now has a reflection removal tool, don't know if its any good though:)
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Thanks. I use PS rather than Lightroom so I'll have to investigate to see if that's available.

The reflections don't bother me, it was more the fingerprints as I forgot to clean it first. I did actually try and line it up so that the window reflection hit the 5 and 25 second markers. I missed by a bit but I'm just a happy snapper :D and even so and believe it or not that picture is IMHO better than the companies own picture on their page.
 
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woof woof said:
Anyone giving the RX1 a serious look?
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Not at that price, never in a million years.

TBH for the use I’d give a compact camera I probably wouldn’t spend more than a grand, which pretty much rules out anything decent.
 
If I got one it would be my most used camera. Small. FF and with a compact 35mm f2 is pretty much made for me but with a question mark over the evf and the loss of the tilting screen.
 
woof woof said:
If I got one it would be my most used camera. Small. FF and with a compact 35mm f2 is pretty much made for me but with a question mark over the evf and the loss of the tilting screen.
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Which are other reasons I don't believe that the camera is worth £4k, or anywhere near that, there's far too many negatives for me. YMMV (y)
 
snerkler said:
Which are other reasons I don't believe that the camera is worth £4k, or anywhere near that, there's far too many negatives for me. YMMV (y)
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It’s got me interested. The EVF is a bit of a negative. Not actually a deal breaker.
Same with no flippy flappy screen.
Positive is the Sensor, Lens, AF algorithm. Subject detection. And of course its size.
Price ?? It’s relative to the use case. If it becomes the grab and go for everything. It would offer reasonable value. Already available to preorder grey at £3799
 
trevorbray said:
It’s got me interested. The EVF is a bit of a negative. Not actually a deal breaker.
Same with no flippy flappy screen.
Positive is the Sensor, Lens, AF algorithm. Subject detection. And of course its size.
Price ?? It’s relative to the use case. If it becomes the grab and go for everything. It would offer reasonable value. Already available to preorder grey at £3799
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Just buy another Q3 (pre-loved) - it has all the things missing from the Sony, but you would lose out on AF speed and size.
 
trevorbray said:
It’s got me interested. The EVF is a bit of a negative. Not actually a deal breaker.
Same with no flippy flappy screen.
Positive is the Sensor, Lens, AF algorithm. Subject detection. And of course its size.
Price ?? It’s relative to the use case. If it becomes the grab and go for everything. It would offer reasonable value. Already available to preorder grey at £3799
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I understand what you're saying about use, and of course we all judge value differently but when there are so many negatives (for me) then what I feel it is worth decreases. I've just seen there's no joystick either which would greatly impact my use. Of course, Sony haven't made it just for me so I understand others will feel differently ;)
 
The big attractions for me are the overall size and the compact 35mm f2 for which there is no equivalent anywhere else. The negatives are the lack of tilting screen, a question mark over the evf and of course the price but every penny under £4k makes it ever more tempting. Lack of IS is a big deal for some but for any composition involving the freezing of movement double digit shutter speeds are useless anyway. All else being positive I could live without IS.

I better change the subject before I talk myself into ordering one.

It's rained a lot today and daft me went out without a coat.
 
woof woof said:
The big attractions for me are the overall size and the compact 35mm f2 for which there is no equivalent anywhere else. The negatives are the lack of tilting screen, a question mark over the evf and of course the price but every penny under £4k makes it ever more tempting. Lack of IS is a big deal for some but for any composition involving the freezing of movement double digit shutter speeds are useless anyway. All else being positive I could live without IS.

I better change the subject before I talk myself into ordering one.

It's rained a lot today and daft me went out without a coat.
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I think the lack of IS is compensated for with a leaf shutter, with careful hand holding you will get sharp images at slow shutter speeds. Its certainly an interesting camera (being a Q3 owner I'm not in the market for one) but it does have quite a bit that is challenging at the price, it does seem to have been 'built for maximum profit' using what will fit from the Sony parts bin.

At 4K I think any potential buyer would have to consider a pre-loved Q3, although it loses out on size/weight and probably AF speed, it has a lot of other things going for it, and the handling and tactile feel are just superb.

Plus points for the Leica
  • Tilt Screen
  • Higher Resolution EVF
  • OIS at slow shutter speeds
  • Potentially slower depreciation especially if bought pre-loved
  • Easy to use User Interface (and superb phone connectivity)
  • Very Sharp lens (on both the 28mm and 43mm version)
  • Premium build quality
  • Full weathersealing (certified IP rating)
  • There is a lens hood included!!
I applaud Sony for making the RX1Riii so compact, but I'm happy to live with the size/weight of the Q3. Superfast AF is not important to me with a camera of this type (its definitely nice to have)
 
woof woof said:
The big attractions for me are the overall size and the compact 35mm f2 for which there is no equivalent anywhere else. The negatives are the lack of tilting screen, a question mark over the evf and of course the price but every penny under £4k makes it ever more tempting. Lack of IS is a big deal for some but for any composition involving the freezing of movement double digit shutter speeds are useless anyway. All else being positive I could live without IS.

I better change the subject before I talk myself into ordering one.

It's rained a lot today and daft me went out without a coat.
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I’d have thought the lack of joystick and front control dial would put you off?
 
Finger trouble...

It doesn't need a front dial for aperture as it's on the lens and the I'm not all that bothered about a joystick. The main issue for me other than the price is the lack of tilting screen, sadly the A7cII doesn't have one either, having the arguably slightly more awkward fully articulated.

I'm pretty much 90% sure I won't get one and tbh thinking about the screen and how I use it is putting me off the A7c too.
 
woof woof said:
Finger trouble...

It doesn't need a front dial for aperture as it's on the lens and the I'm not all that bothered about a joystick. The main issue for me other than the price is the lack of tilting screen, sadly the A7cII doesn't have one either, having the arguably slightly more awkward fully articulated.

I'm pretty much 90% sure I won't get one and tbh thinking about the screen and how I use it is putting me off the A7c too.
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The fully articulated screen is the only feature I dislike on the 7Cii, otherwise a fine camera. Much prefer a tilting screen...
 
woof woof said:
Finger trouble...

It doesn't need a front dial for aperture as it's on the lens and the I'm not all that bothered about a joystick. The main issue for me other than the price is the lack of tilting screen, sadly the A7cII doesn't have one either, having the arguably slightly more awkward fully articulated.

I'm pretty much 90% sure I won't get one and tbh thinking about the screen and how I use it is putting me off the A7c too.
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saltireblue said:
The fully articulated screen is the only feature I dislike on the 7Cii, otherwise a fine camera. Much prefer a tilting screen...
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I've never used one. But I certainly think I'd prefer a standard tilting screen. I think all the flippiness would irritate me! The only plus side I can see is fully reversing it to not view it or to protect it.
 
LeeRatters said:
I've never used one. But I certainly think I'd prefer a standard tilting screen. I think all the flippiness would irritate me! The only plus side I can see is fully reversing it to not view it or to protect it.
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When I bought the A7RV I didn't get on with it initially as it wouldn't just tilt, it always pulled the screen out a bit but now it's loosened up a bit it works just like a tilt screen, but you can twist it in every direction if you want to. My only niggle with it now is that it feels a bit cheap/plasticky, especially compared to the previous tilt screens.
 
saltireblue said:
The fully articulated screen is the only feature I dislike on the 7Cii, otherwise a fine camera. Much prefer a tilting screen...
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The perfect solution would be to have a screen that does it all. They exist. I think Sony has them? I wouldn't care if it added 3mm to the thickness or £20 to the price.
 
LeeRatters said:
I've never used one. But I certainly think I'd prefer a standard tilting screen. I think all the flippiness would irritate me! The only plus side I can see is fully reversing it to not view it or to protect it.
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My Panny G1 and G7 had them and they have their uses including selfies but for chest or lower level shooting I prefer a tilting screen but as above why not keep everyone happy and fit a do it all one?
 
woof woof said:
My Panny G1 and G7 had them and they have their uses including selfies but for chest or lower level shooting I prefer a tilting screen but as above why not keep everyone happy and fit a do it all one?
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Sony do have a do it all, they’re different to the usual flip out screen. They can be used as a simple tilt screen, but can also be flipped out into portrait tilt, and full 180 degree swivel. It’s quite ingenious, I’m not sure why others don’t have something similar, unless it’s patented of course.

View: https://youtube.com/shorts/AXt00uxWVN8?si=-AUqb9-GukBBt5Wg
 
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I thought they did but I couldn't remember what camera it was on. I may be wrong but didn't they use something similar in the past too?

On Increased size and cost, I'm just pulling numbers out of the air but I assume a do it all wouldn't add significant bulk or cost considering the price some components leave the factory at, sometimes almost unbelievably low.
 
woof woof said:
I thought they did but I couldn't remember what camera it was on. I may be wrong but didn't they use something similar in the past too?

On Increased size and cost, I'm just pulling numbers out of the air but I assume a do it all wouldn't add significant bulk or cost considering the price some components leave the factory at, sometimes almost unbelievably low.
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Adds a little bulk but maybe only a couple of mm.

They used to have a similarly ingenious screen on their DSLT cameras. I’m not sure which is best as it’s over 10 years since I had my A77 II.
 
The RX1R III apparently has film simulations, I wonder if they’ll release these on the e-mount cameras, or is this something that Sony compacts have had before?
 
I think I'll stop looking at RX1rII. After thinking that the lack of a tilting screen could be an issue for me I watched a vid yesterday in which the guy seemed to struggle and this would affect me. Thinking about what percentage of the time it'd affect me is difficult as it all depends what perspective I'm going for but maybe 1/3 to 1/2 or maybe potentially more of the time so it's maybe too much of an issue for it not to be an issue. And I do get triggered! :oops: :$

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SJlsIIC0D-o


With my Nikon film kit and Canon DSLR's I never had a moveable screen at all but it's something that I don't want to give up now.

What does interest me is the size of the kit. I know we can't get back to the weight of film kit because back then a camera was pretty much an empty plastic box but getting back to something like the bulk and if possible reducing the weight a bit along the way is always on my mind. I used both my A7 with Voigtlander 35mm f1.4 and A7III with Sony 40mm f2.5 yesterday and after not using them much for weeks now both felt heavy to me.
 
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woof woof said:
I think I'll stop looking at RX1rII. After thinking that the lack of a tilting screen could be an issue for me I watched a vid yesterday in which the guy seemed to struggle and this would affect me. Thinking about what percentage of the time it'd affect me is difficult as it all depends what perspective I'm going for but maybe 1/3 to 1/2 or maybe potentially more of the time so it's maybe too much of an issue for it not to be an issue. And I do get triggered! :oops: :$

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SJlsIIC0D-o


With my Nikon film kit and Canon DSLR's I never had a moveable screen at all but it's something that I don't want to give up now.

What does interest me is the size of the kit. I know we can't get back to the weight of film kit because back then a camera was pretty much an empty plastic box but getting back to something like the bulk and if possible reducing the weight a bit along the way is always on my mind. I used both my A7 with Voigtlander 35mm f1.4 and A7III with Sony 40mm f2.5 yesterday and after not using them much for weeks now both felt heavy to me.
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I actually rarely use the tilt screen, however it is vey handy when I need to. That being said it was so sunny at Goodwood I couldn’t see the screen very well at all even with it set to max brightness so a lot of the time it was a bit of guess work and there are a few shots where I’ve chopped bits of the car off :(

I wonder if one day there’ll be technology where screens aren’t affected by sunlight and/or glare :thinking:
 
I have a Cii with flippy screen and 5100 with tilt screen.

Pros and cons. I really miss the flippy screen when taking lower angle portrait shots. Common for me as I’m tall and often shooting my son or wife. This is hard on the flippy screen.

More landscape stuff the tilt is obviously better. On a tripod it doesn’t matter.

I tend to keep the flippy screen so the screen is inward, which is nice on a compact like Cii for protection, then open up and it’s perfect for lower level portrait.
 
snerkler said:
I actually rarely use the tilt screen, however it is vey handy when I need to. That being said it was so sunny at Goodwood I couldn’t see the screen very well at all even with it set to max brightness so a lot of the time it was a bit of guess work and there are a few shots where I’ve chopped bits of the car off :(

I wonder if one day there’ll be technology where screens aren’t affected by sunlight and/or glare :thinking:
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I don't know if any screen like that in our lifetime but never say never :D

I don't like to kneel down as I'm scruffy enough without getting dirty knees* and I think that changing your stance takes time and potentially gets you attention and I hate the latter. I suppose my photography has changed over the years, I take more pictures at lower than eye level now and since I got the Sony 40mm f2.5 I seem to have mostly stopped using my Sony 35mm f2.8 and I've also mostly stopped using my film and modern MF lenses. I really should make a decision and sell them. I should also make a decision on the Sony 28mm f2. I used it on our mini break and the number of OOF shots shocked me but some of that may be down to my old A7, the corners are IMO poor though at anything wider than f8. The problem is there isn't another lens like it to replace it with. The Voigtlander f1.5 looks nice but it's MF and I seem to have moved away from MF lenses recently.

the_accidental said:
I have a Cii with flippy screen and 5100 with tilt screen.

Pros and cons. I really miss the flippy screen when taking lower angle portrait shots. Common for me as I’m tall and often shooting my son or wife. This is hard on the flippy screen.

More landscape stuff the tilt is obviously better. On a tripod it doesn’t matter.

I tend to keep the flippy screen so the screen is inward, which is nice on a compact like Cii for protection, then open up and it’s perfect for lower level portrait.
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When I had Panasonic MFT cameras with articulated screens (G1 and G7) I found them a bit awkward and also a bit disorientating, my composition tended to wobble. Maybe other people don't have a problem when looking at a screen out to the side of the camera and they are useful for selfies. Overall I think I would miss the tilting screen on my Sony A7 and A7III and this was a part of the decision when choosing the A7III over the other choices.

There's a long thread in another place with many strong views but I do think that it is worth remembering that there's nothing like the RX1 series format and size wise and it has a lens which doesn't exist anywhere else. I think the price does seem to be understandable when looking at previous prices, adjusting for inflation and possibly adding tariffs too. Yes, a X100 is cheaper but it's APS-C and arguably has a merely passable lens and less than SOTA focusing, the Richo is APS-C and doesn't have an evf, a Leica Q is at a considerably higher price and has a different focal length lens and it's much bigger.

I do want one, but I wont be getting one. 90% sure :D

* When I was an electrician I used to be able to squat down on my shoes without any part of me touching the floor (to stop myself getting dirty or shocked) but since my back injury I can't do that any more.
 
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woof woof said:
When I had Panasonic MFT cameras with articulated screens (G1 and G7) I found them a bit awkward and also a bit disorientating, my composition tended to wobble.
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I've never found them disorientating but I never liked them as it was an extra step just to tilt (i.e. fold out and then tilt) and I've always thought they're a bit vulnerable stuck out on the side like that.
 
snerkler said:
I've never found them disorientating but I never liked them as it was an extra step just to tilt (i.e. fold out and then tilt) and I've always thought they're a bit vulnerable stuck out on the side like that.
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I've got the A7iv which has the older screen (fold out and tilt) - I like the case that unlike the simple tile screen on my A6000, I can keep it reversed when I'm not using it (most of the time).
When I am using it, probably 60% it's just flat against the camera, but screen side visible, as I'm reviewing or in the menus.
The few times I actually use it flipped out it's because I'm holding the camera at arms length to get a particular view I cannot get normally - and I'm far more worried about dropping/bashing the camera/lens than knocking the screen!
 
I had the Panasonic G1 for a long time and never damaged the screen but I think I am more careful with things than some people, most of my kit hardly picks up a mark while I own it. I can see it could happen though if the screen is out to the side whilst you are walking about it could catch on something but on the other hand you can turn an articulated screen to the body which will protect it when getting it in and out of bags or just generally carrying it.

Anyway. I think I've decided not to get a RX1. I started off thinking it was too much, I warmed to that a bit but now the fixed screen is putting me off. I did use the Panny GM5 quite a bit and that has a fixed scree but I bought it used at a completely different price point. A compact FF AF 35mm f2 would shut me up :D
 
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pmac said:
wow thats the first time ive looked at the images I posted straight to the forum on a laptop:eek:
totally destroys them
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I post straight from my laptop now. Posting any other way seems to be just as much as a lottery. Sometimes pictures look good... sometimes they don't. If it helps you to relax a bit at all, your pictures look good to me and I think we all know what the posting process can be like and know that anything posted here will very likely look much better on the posters own screen :D
 
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Mr Perceptive said:
Alan, I don't think so!! You would be bound to find something that you couldn't get over............................this forum is made up of impulse purchasers and procrastinators - it's a Venn diagram where the circles never meet :ROFLMAO:
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It's all part of the "fun."

I'd love a compact 35mm f2 or wider of the size and quality of the mini G's but I can't see it happening because it'd either be very expensive or a bit wild at wide apertures and I don't think Sony will do either as people will point and either scream or laugh. Someone else might do it though. I do have compact f2.5 and f2.8 lenses and bigger f1.8 and f2 lenses and small MF 35mm f1.4 and f2 lenses. The Voigtlander 35mm f1.4 can be funky at f1.4 or so but it calms down a lot by f2 and all this is scene dependant and some pictures can look nice at f1.4 whilst for some other scenes f1.4 should be for emergency only use. The TTA 50mm f2 has massive vignetting and seriously bad corners at some apertures and distances and can give colour casts but it is tiny. Both are still MF though.

If there was a mini G 35mm f2 with reasonable performance at a reasonable price the next thing I'd want would be an A7cIII with a good evf and either a tilting or fully articulated rear screen.

Then I'd shut up.
 
woof woof said:
It's all part of the "fun."

I'd love a compact 35mm f2 or wider of the size and quality of the mini G's but I can't see it happening because it'd either be very expensive or a bit wild at wide apertures and I don't think Sony will do either as people will point and either scream or laugh. Someone else might do it though. I do have compact f2.5 and f2.8 lenses and bigger f1.8 and f2 lenses and small MF 35mm f1.4 and f2 lenses. The Voigtlander 35mm f1.4 can be funky at f1.4 or so but it calms down a lot by f2 and all this is scene dependant and some pictures can look nice at f1.4 whilst for some other scenes f1.4 should be for emergency only use. The TTA 50mm f2 has massive vignetting and seriously bad corners at some apertures and distances and can give colour casts but it is tiny. Both are still MF though.

If there was a mini G 35mm f2 with reasonable performance at a reasonable price the next thing I'd want would be an A7cIII with a good evf and either a tilting or fully articulated rear screen.

Then I'd shut up.
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I do know what you mean, it’s taken me years of gear changing to end up with 3 lenses

28mm F1.7
43mm F2
APSC 100-400 (for motorsport)

I definitely in the less is more camp - but it’s nice to have virtually no choice, it certainly reduces the dithering about!!!
 
Mr Perceptive said:
I do know what you mean, it’s taken me years of gear changing to end up with 3 lenses

28mm F1.7
43mm F2
APSC 100-400 (for motorsport)

I definitely in the less is more camp - but it’s nice to have virtually no choice, it certainly reduces the dithering about!!!
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I think I've decided to sell most of my MF lenses, maybe all the film era ones but I might keep the Voigtlander 35mm f2.5 Color Skopar. I shouldn't but I know if I sell it I'll regret it. I should sell my E mount Voigtlanders including the 35mm f1.4 even though it is probably my most used lens ever. My Sony lenses should be looked at too. My MFT kit needs pruning as well. I did sell quite a bit but there's too much left. My Panny TZ100 should go to as I only use it about twice a year.

But then I think... Why? I don't need the money and it's all there if I want to take it out and use it.
 
Mr Perceptive said:
I do know what you mean, it’s taken me years of gear changing to end up with 3 lenses

28mm F1.7
43mm F2
APSC 100-400 (for motorsport)

I definitely in the less is more camp - but it’s nice to have virtually no choice, it certainly reduces the dithering about!!!
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I must admit I don’t dither about when it comes to which lens to use, and I like having the choice (y)
 
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