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

Tricky01 said:
Thanks for the comments @f/2.8 and @nandbytes, it's a good point that I'm trying to apply it with my existing lens line-up rather than duplicating focal lengths in smaller form factors.
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Your line up of GM lens is pretty complete but I understand not wanting to duplicate your line up

You can look at lenses like
Sony 16G, sigma 17mm f4, viltrox 20mm f2.8, Sony 28mm f2, viltrox 40mm f2.5, Sony 40/2.5G, ttartisan 40mm f2, Samyang 45mm f1.8

I think longer lenses will be a bit bigger. There is viltrox evo 85mm f2 that pretty compact too.

You don't need to get the whole range. Just one or two you'd use most.
 
Tricky01 said:
Thanks for the comments @f/2.8 and @nandbytes, it's a good point that I'm trying to apply it with my existing lens line-up rather than duplicating focal lengths in smaller form factors.
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Yeah if you want a smaller set up you have to go with smaller lenses too, the body doesn’t make that much difference from my experience. I’ve mentioned before I tried the A7CR alongside the A7RV and going from one to the other back and forth I couldn’t tell any difference in weight. The lack of hump does mean it’ll fit in a slightly smaller bag but that’s about it as far as I’m concerned. YMMV.
 
snerkler said:
Yeah if you want a smaller set up you have to go with smaller lenses too, the body doesn’t make that much difference from my experience. I’ve mentioned before I tried the A7CR alongside the A7RV and going from one to the other back and forth I couldn’t tell any difference in weight. The lack of hump does mean it’ll fit in a slightly smaller bag but that’s about it as far as I’m concerned. YMMV.
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For me an A7C series cameras with one of the smaller lenses just makes sense over any of the other full frame bodies with one the smaller lenses.

If I mount any of the smaller lenses on my other bodies not only does it look a bit silly it’s just feels wrong when using them. The A7C series is a much better fit for them.

There is only a 200g difference between the A7CII and my A9III but for me it feels like night and day plus not having the hump frees up a good bit of room in a small bag.
 
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f/2.8 said:
For me an A7C series cameras with one of the smaller lenses just makes sense over any of the other full frame bodies with one the smaller lenses.

If I mount any of the smaller lenses on my other bodies not only does it look a bit silly it’s just feels wrong when using them. The A7C series is a much better fit for them.

There is only a 200g difference between the A7CII and my A9III but for me it feels like night and day plus not having the hump frees up a good bit of room in a small bag.
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Yeah we’ll all have different experiences, I quite liked the feel of the 35mm f2.8 ZA and Sammy 45mm f1.8 on my A7 type bodies.
 
Just sold my A6400 as I took less than 50 pictures with it last year. Bought in 2019 for $800, sold for $680 in 2026 (with a couple of accessories admittedly. I'm shocked at how little depreciation that is (thanks Sony I guess for not launching better APS-C cameras?).
 
Gold said:
Just sold my A6400 as I took less than 50 pictures with it last year. Bought in 2019 for $800, sold for $680 in 2026 (with a couple of accessories admittedly. I'm shocked at how little depreciation that is (thanks Sony I guess for not launching better APS-C cameras?).
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there isn't a replacement for A6400 actually!
 
nandbytes said:
there isn't a replacement for A6400 actually!
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True - Sony's complete abandonment of an updated entry level APS-C model makes no sense to me. Just stick USB-C and the latest software on a parts-bin update to the A6100 and it'll sell great.
 
nandbytes said:
there isn't a replacement for A6400 actually!
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Gold said:
True - Sony's complete abandonment of an updated entry level APS-C model makes no sense to me. Just stick USB-C and the latest software on a parts-bin update to the A6100 and it'll sell great.
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What about the A6700? :thinking:
 
nandbytes said:
That's a A6600 successor
There isn't a replacement for A6100 or A6400
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I didn't realise there was a difference, I just thought they were all a successor of each other. I haven't followed the A6xxx really.
 
snerkler said:
I didn't realise there was a difference, I just thought they were all a successor of each other. I haven't followed the A6xxx really.
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Not quite... the various generations in order (as I remember them, could be slightly wrong)

A510O, A6000
A6300, A6500
A6100, A6400, A6600
A6700

A6500, A6600 and A6700 are the higher end models with IBIS. A6700 also uses FZ100 batteries unlike the rest that use smaller NP50 ones
 
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nandbytes said:
Not quite... the various generations in order (as I remember them, could be slightly wrong)

A510O, A6000
A6300, A6500
A6100, A6400, A6600
A6700

A6500, A6600 and A6700 are the higher end models with IBIS. A6700 also uses FZ100 batteries unlike the rest that use smaller NP50 ones
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It's unlike Sony to have confusing nomenclature ;)
 
nandbytes said:
Not quite... the various generations in order (as I remember them, could be slightly wrong)

A510O, A6000
A6300, A6500
A6100, A6400, A6600
A6700

A6500, A6600 and A6700 are the higher end models with IBIS. A6700 also uses FZ100 batteries unlike the rest that use smaller NP50 ones
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I haven't followed Sony for long, having been a Fuji shooter for 10+ years. I had assumed they had gone 6100, 6400, 6600, 6700... You know, standard marketing practice - Number go up.

Seeing it written out like this makes my teeth itch. :LOL:
 
Gold said:
Just sold my A6400 as I took less than 50 pictures with it last year. Bought in 2019 for $800, sold for $680 in 2026 (with a couple of accessories admittedly. I'm shocked at how little depreciation that is (thanks Sony I guess for not launching better APS-C cameras?).
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I bought an A6400 for holidays just after launch. Can’t remember for how much but got it at a great price grey import. Sold it maybe a year later for just over what I paid for it although with an extra battery.

I ran into the guy that bought it last summer and he had just sold it for £50 less than he bought it from me.

That never happens with camera equipment. :D
 
jimmyjamjojo said:
I haven't followed Sony for long, having been a Fuji shooter for 10+ years. I had assumed they had gone 6100, 6400, 6600, 6700... You know, standard marketing practice - Number go up.

Seeing it written out like this makes my teeth itch. :LOL:
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Fuji is no better to be honest

The X-E, X-S, X-T with one, two and three digits and then X-H, not to mention Mk1,2,3 etc between each one them and none of the digits match exactly to the generations
Honestly it's worst than Sony :ROFLMAO:
 
nandbytes said:
Fuji is no better to be honest

The X-E, X-S, X-T with one, two and three digits and then X-H, not to mention Mk1,2,3 etc between each one them and none of the digits match exactly to the generations
Honestly it's worst than Sony :ROFLMAO:
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At least they go up in numbers so it's easy to follow each line, you've mentioned that the A6500 follows the A6300, but the A6400 didn't follow the A6300 it followed the A6100 instead, and was itself followd by the A6600, then the A6700 is different line again :thinking: :runaway:
 
The lack of the evf hump makes the A7cx feel smaller for me and easier to get in and out of bags as for me it snags less.

Just on smaller bodies and larger lenses. I've never felt any unbalance as such and have used my RF style MFT bodies with the Panasonic 100-400mm. I don't really like bulky kit but when using any lens my left hand is on the lens and everything seems to balance well for me even with genuinely small bodies like the Panasonic GX80.
 
A bit OTT.

I'll get a new laptop when I get around to it as my current one is falling apart with a cracked case despite never being out of the house and the letters wearing off many of the keys and it's also struggling now with CS2026 and processing raws, partly down to Windows bloat I suppose?

I've watched some Youtube vids on Linux and have just watched one on Mint. I think things have moved on a lot in recent years. I remember hating Unix and Xenix, DSS had loads of them and I hated them. These days this type of operating system seem much more user friendly with lots of compatible versions of the usual software and lookalikes and similar software when the originals aren't available. Photoshop CSx doesn't seem to be available though.

Is anyone running a non Windows operating system? If so what's available to process pictures with?
 
woof woof said:
A bit OTT.

I'll get a new laptop when I get around to it as my current one is falling apart with a cracked case despite never being out of the house and the letters wearing off many of the keys and it's also struggling now with CS2026 and processing raws, partly down to Windows bloat I suppose?

I've watched some Youtube vids on Linux and have just watched one on Mint. I think things have moved on a lot in recent years. I remember hating Unix and Xenix, DSS had loads of them and I hated them. These days this type of operating system seem much more user friendly with lots of compatible versions of the usual software and lookalikes and similar software when the originals aren't available. Photoshop CSx doesn't seem to be available though.

Is anyone running a non Windows operating system? If so what's available to process pictures with?
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Does Mac O.S count?

I had Macs donkeys years ago and moved away because of what seemed like ridiculous pricing and the O.S I felt at the time really bottomed out in terms of speed after Snow Leopard.

However after seeing how fast my mates Mac Mini was in comparison to the windows p.c I paid nearly 4k for I replaced by desktop with a Mac Studio about 6 months ago and by God it's fast. The M series processors along with the unified memory have put them firmly back at the very top of the list if you want performance for anything related to photo or video.

It absolutely chews through the files from my A7R4a that my windows P.C struggled with, zero difference between any of our bodies. I need to buy a new body but am waiting for the accountant to confirm if its better to buy before or after the new financial year. I was just gonna get another A9III but because the Mac Studio is so ridiculously fast and file size no longer seems to matter at all I might go for an A1 II instead.
 
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Just a heads up for anyone with a newer body that has the newer style of exposure compensation dial. My mate has an A9III and it just fell off, he doesn't even use it as shoots always in manual and absolutely babies his equipment. Sent it off to get a quote to replace and its come in at £495 as the dial can't be repaired they have to change the whole top of the camera.
 
f/2.8 said:
Just a heads up for anyone with a newer body that has the newer style of exposure compensation dial. My mate has an A9III and it just fell off, he doesn't even use it as shoots always in manual and absolutely babies his equipment. Sent it off to get a quote to replace and its come in at £495 as the dial can't be repaired they have to change the whole top of the camera.
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Ouch !!
 
f/2.8 said:
Does Mac O.S count?

I had Macs donkeys years ago and moved away because of what seemed like ridiculous pricing and the O.S I felt at the time really bottomed out in terms of speed after Snow Leopard.

However after seeing how fast my mates Mac Mini was in comparison to the windows p.c I paid nearly 4k for I replaced by desktop with a Mac Studio about 6 months ago and by God it's fast. The M series processors along with the unified memory have put them firmly back at the very top of the list if you want performance for anything related to photo or video.

It absolutely chews through the files from my A7R4a that my windows P.C struggled with, zero difference between any of our bodies. I need to buy a new body but am waiting for the accountant to confirm if its better to buy before or after the new financial year. I was just gonna get another A9III but because the Mac Studio is so ridiculously fast and file size no longer seems to matter at all I might go for an A1 II instead.
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Any alternative to Windows is worth considering.

As I've said before, my interest in most tech just ended one day years ago and these days I tend to avoid it all as much as possible but the Apple and non DOS systems I knew years ago seem to have got a lot more user friendly these days. When I was in maintenance I saw some of them as a PITA and some of them were but these days they are worth considering, I don't think I'll ever devote any time or effort to operating systems or programs again but if I wasn't me I probably would as Windows and what it allows and how it ages is a PITA these days.

Just wondered if anyone is running Mint or similar and what photo processing software is available.
 
I have both a Linux Mint PC and a Mac. DarkTable (Lightroom) + GIMP (Photoshop) are the main editing software although there are some others (RawTherapee). However Lightroom is far more user friendly, has far more organisational features and I'm far too invested in my workflow.

If you don't have an interest in tech just get a Mac, the Apple Silicon chips fly and the OS is far superior to Windows with constant upgrade/OneDrive/Copilot prompts.
 
Gold said:
I have both a Linux Mint PC and a Mac. DarkTable (Lightroom) + GIMP (Photoshop) are the main editing software although there are some others (RawTherapee). However Lightroom is far more user friendly, has far more organisational features and I'm far too invested in my workflow.

If you don't have an interest in tech just get a Mac, the Apple Silicon chips fly and the OS is far superior to Windows with constant upgrade/OneDrive/Copilot prompts.
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My lap top is 17" so going for an Apple would I think mean dropping to 16". That might be ok.

This is the one I have at the mo. I don't know if it's suffering due to bloat or if it's the latest version of PS and the size of my A7cII and A7III raws that's the problem.

Lap Top Spec.jpg
 
woof woof said:
My lap top is 17" so going for an Apple would I think mean dropping to 16". That might be ok.

This is the one I have at the mo. I don't know if it's suffering due to bloat or if it's the latest version of PS and the size of my A7cII and A7III raws that's the problem.

View attachment 473542
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Bit RAM light for today's bloatware image processing programs
 
Mr Perceptive said:
Bit RAM light for today's bloatware image processing programs
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I often get a message to the effect that the graphics processor has given up, it wobbles for a few minutes but then it just carries on as normal but slower these days with PS2026 than it seemed when I was just using the A7 and CS5. Back then I could load and process 100+ raws at a time but these days if I try that many it runs slow and sometimes just stops and needs a reboot so I have to process in ever smaller batches.

What spec should I be looking at?
 
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woof woof said:
Just wondered if anyone is running Mint or similar and what photo processing software is available.
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There's lots. Darktable, DigiKam, GIMP, plus a bunch I forget now. DigiKam is more like lightroom and has DRM too, plus it runs on windows.
 
ancient_mariner said:
There's lots. Darktable, DigiKam, GIMP, plus a bunch I forget now. DigiKam is more like lightroom and has DRM too, plus it runs on windows.
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I don't think I want to learn a new package though which I know will limit my choice to Windows or Apple.
 
woof woof said:
Any alternative to Windows is worth considering.

As I've said before, my interest in most tech just ended one day years ago and these days I tend to avoid it all as much as possible but the Apple and non DOS systems I knew years ago seem to have got a lot more user friendly these days. When I was in maintenance I saw some of them as a PITA and some of them were but these days they are worth considering, I don't think I'll ever devote any time or effort to operating systems or programs again but if I wasn't me I probably would as Windows and what it allows and how it ages is a PITA these days.

Just wondered if anyone is running Mint or similar and what photo processing software is available.
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I think that’s prob the beauty of a Mac anyone can use them with zero knowledge or interest.

The current hardware is a huge upgrade from anything you will be able to get from a windows computer at the moment.

They can seem like they are ridiculously priced though if you just look at headline specs. In saying that if it’s a laptop your after the M4 MacBooks are now coming to end of life and you can get some good savings on them and they will still be quicker for photo apps than similarly priced windows laptop.

Mac mini is very capable if you wanted a desktop.
 
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woof woof said:
I often get a message to the effect that the graphics processor has given up, it wobbles for a few minutes but then it just carries on as normal but slower these days with PS2026 than it seemed when I was just using the A7 and CS5. Back then I could load and process 100+ raws at a time but these days if I try that many it runs slow and sometimes just stops and needs a reboot so I have to process in ever smaller batches.

What spec should I be looking at?
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Lightroom and Photoshop have certainly got more memory hungry in the last few years, and now many of the 'AI' tools and the noise reduction tools require decent graphics card performance.

My main PC is a couple of generations of processor behind yours but has 32Gb of memory, its fine with LR/PS for most functions but certainly could do with a more modern (faster) graphics card as processing 60MP RAW image files in DXOPureRAW is slow. My laptop is lot newer, decent processor/graphics and that also has 32Gb of RAM.

I think the simple answer is to buy the best that you can afford, as that will offer the most future proofing. There are plenty on these forums who have much more PC/Mac specification credentials than me.

I've just loaded PS up on my PC and just siiting there doing nothing, it uses 2Gb of memory, so once you add in overheads of Windows, antiVirus, Malware, etc, etc you can see that 8Gb is not going to go far.

If its purely for Photo editing, and browsing plus the odd bit of domestic paperwork then @f/2.8 's suggestion of a Mac is probably the way to go. The only reason IMO to keep with Windows is if you use applications which only run on Windows (this I do and develop stuff for clients). Another advantage of Apple is its integration with other Apple stuff in your household, its very straightforward.
 
snerkler said:
At least they go up in numbers so it's easy to follow each line, you've mentioned that the A6500 follows the A6300, but the A6400 didn't follow the A6300 it followed the A6100 instead, and was itself followd by the A6600, then the A6700 is different line again :thinking: :runaway:
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I didn't make it up and I didn't say it was good either, was just saying fuji is no better i.e. pot calling out the kettle

The A6300 follows A6000
And A6400 follows A6300
A6100 is a watered down A6400 for lower price category, i guess you could see it as A6000 replacement

A6500 is basically A6300 with IBIS
A6600 it basically A6400 with IBIS and larger FZ100 battery

And as mentioned A6400 has no replacement. May be because they have used up A6500 and they can't update it now :ROFLMAO:

And A6700 is A6600 replacement

And i agree it's a terrible, on many fronts
 
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woof woof said:
A bit OTT.

I'll get a new laptop when I get around to it as my current one is falling apart with a cracked case despite never being out of the house and the letters wearing off many of the keys and it's also struggling now with CS2026 and processing raws, partly down to Windows bloat I suppose?

I've watched some Youtube vids on Linux and have just watched one on Mint. I think things have moved on a lot in recent years. I remember hating Unix and Xenix, DSS had loads of them and I hated them. These days this type of operating system seem much more user friendly with lots of compatible versions of the usual software and lookalikes and similar software when the originals aren't available. Photoshop CSx doesn't seem to be available though.

Is anyone running a non Windows operating system? If so what's available to process pictures with?
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I run Mac, have done for years and would never go back to windows. I know people say Mac's are more restrictive and you can't manipulate them the same as you can windows but lets be honest how many of us do that? We jsut wnat the software/apps to run as quickly and flawlessly as possible and with an intuitive interface, and that for me is Mac. Yes you pay a premium for it but I'd pay it all day long to get the quick, easy and polished user experience. I have to have a windows machine at work for reading x-rays and scans from the NHS and windows 11 is a big improvement over 8,9 and 10 but it's still nowhere near as nice or easy to use as Mac imo. YMMV.

It's a bit like the difference between buying a Ford and buying a BMW, both are great, both fundamentally do the same thing but the BMW is generally the more premium product.

With regards to teh processors, any of the M4 series will be more than capable, but if you want to future proof then go for the best available and the highest RAM, however this comes at great cost.

I'm still running an M1 Max Macbook Pro (10-core CPU, 32-core GPU and 16-core neural engine) with 64GB RAM and it tackles Lightroom and Photoshop (as well as logic pro) with ease.

If you have money to burn you could buy a Mac Studio with M4 Max 16-core CPU, 40-core GPU and 16-Core Neural engine with 64GB RAM and 1TB SSD for £3k

I'd like an M4 Max Macbook Pro with 16-core CPU, 40-core GPU and 16-core neural engine with 128GB RAM and 4TB SSD, but at £6k I'll give it a miss ;)
nandbytes said:
I didn't make it up and I didn't say it was good either, was just saying fuji is no better i.e. pot calling out the kettle

The A6300 follows A6000
And A6400 follows A6300
A6100 is a watered down A6400 for lower price category, i guess you could see it as A6000 replacement

A6500 is basically A6300 with IBIS
A6600 it basically A6400 with IBIS and larger FZ100 battery

And as mentioned A6400 has no replacement. May be because they have used up A6500 and they can't update it now :ROFLMAO:

And A6700 is A6600 replacement

And i agree it's a terrible, on many fronts
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I'm not sure if I'm not explaining myself or whether we're talking something different but what I meant is while Fuji might have a lot of different body 'systems', the updates go in chronological order, so for example XT1, XT2, XT3, or XE1, XE2, XE3 etc.

The only exception I can think the X100 series didn't follow a logical sequence but it's just they use the letter of the generation rather than number, so X100, X100S (second), X100T (Third), X100F (Fourth) but then they had to revert to roman numerals because if they followed the same nomenclature it would have been another X100F ;)

I guess you could argue that's confusing, but at least it still goes up in numerical order, unlike the A6xxx series ;)
 
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Thanks for all the computer help folks.

Unfortunately it has to be a lap top because I used to "do" computers for a living and the house was full of them but I lost all interest and now I hate to see one at home as I think they dominate rooms. So, it has to be a lap top as when I'm not using it it's shut and put out of sight and I can't really hide away separates like a computer, screen and keyboard.

I'll have a think about an Apple. The only out of the ordinary spec demanding thing I do is photo processing and storage and other than that it's just the usual banking, shopping, browsing, emails and Youtube. As all of these can be done on an Apple maybe this time I'll give one a try,

One last question.

I have the subscription Adobe PS and I think when changing pc you sign in, deactivate the old one and activate the new one but can you switch from Windows to Apple?
 
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Oh, and I think I've come to a decision on some of my film era lenses.

I think I will try and move some on but I'm also going to keep a small number of earlier metal build 50mm lenses as they're beautifully made and are really almost forever lenses as they'll probably still be ok to use in another 50 years time even if they'll need an £80 service every 25 years and they'll probably work on any future camera if the Sony mount ever goes pop and disappears. The Voigtlanders are if anything better built and offer better IQ but they're not necessarily as future proof and portable to other mounts.
 
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