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

Three taken this afternoon with the A7Cii and Viltrox 26mm pancake. The light was very flat so probably not shown off at its best. A couple of niggles with this lens - the aperture ring is a little stiff - perhaps not a bad thing, and the index mark on the aperture ring is just a small dot, difficult to easily see. Rectified this with a tiny blob of Tippex. However, I like this lens, and for my use it pairs well with the Viltrox 55mm. Oh, and I only noticed afterwards that the lowest ISO on Auto ISO was set to 50 ISO from the factory, which didn't help with DR. My excuse - new camera!

Teas by Stephen Lee, on Flickr

Shed by Stephen Lee, on Flickr

A7C04019-Edit.jpg by Stephen Lee, on Flickr
 
Just in case those who know these things haven't spotted this... A newbe is asking for long lens help here...

A

Thread 'Which Lens?'

Morning all, for many years I have used Sony a mount cameras and various lenses. Before my photographic days are over, I wanted to get a full frame and bought a used Sony a7rii and a recommended a to e convertor which has done a reasonable job. I now want to buy an e mount lens and torn between the new Sony f5-6.8, 100-400mm lens or a used Tamron f5-6.7, 150-500. Any advice appreciated.

Andy
 
woof woof said:
I built another watch. It's an Explorer II homage with a Seiko NH35 movement. I have parts for another one on the way and once that one is done I'll have done 10 and I think I should really stop as just like you can have too many film era 50's you can also have too many watches.

A7cII, 40mm and No.4 close up filter.

View attachment 490425

I like this one.
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Where did you get the strap from Alan? I need a new strap for my everyday watch and the one in the photo looks nice.
 
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AliExpress, and I'm wearing it today :D £2.95 but also £1.99 postage unless you spend £8 and then you get free postage.

www.aliexpress.com

Premium Quality Nylon Strap 20mm 22mm for Omega for Seiko Watch Band Universal Type Sport Men Bracelet For Watchband Replacement - AliExpress 1511

Smarter Shopping, Better Living! Aliexpress.com
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They are nice straps and seem to be made out of a thin seat belt type material rather than the more ordinary slightly rough nylon type stuff.

These ones are a different material more similar to the ordinary ones but are smoother and are probably the best quality ones I've had off AliE.

www.aliexpress.com

New Nylon Watch Band Luminous Embroidery 20/22mm Watch Strap with Silver Buckle Fashion Replacement for Watches - AliExpress 1511

Smarter Shopping, Better Living! Aliexpress.com
www.aliexpress.com www.aliexpress.com

I've just got the orange striped one and the one with the yellow stripe.

If you do order one off AliExpress double check that the one you want is what appears in your basket as it seems to sometimes switch to whatever is first on the page. Underneath the main description line for the item in your basket there should be a grey line of text specifying exactly what you're getting, click on that, make sure everything is correct on the page, right item, right size etc and then click "Continue" and that should do it.
 
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Does anyone use a A7C ii or CR viewfinder wearing glasses? I was about to buy. Then thanks to google started reading how the lack of an eye cup has a significant impact on the user experience. I briefly tried one in the shop but I was in a rush and more interested in checking the weight with specific lenses than using the EVF! (Not my finest moment)
 
Iiyama said:
Does anyone use a A7C ii or CR viewfinder wearing glasses? I was about to buy. Then thanks to google started reading how the lack of an eye cup has a significant impact on the user experience. I briefly tried one in the shop but I was in a rush and more interested in checking the weight with specific lenses than using the EVF! (Not my finest moment)
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I have an A7Cii and wear glasses.

TBH I don't use the viewfinder much. Coming from an X-T5 it was somewhat of a downgrade, and I rarely tend to shoot at eye level anyway.

Quality/size/specs aside - It's fine in terms of eye relief. I can see the whole thing edge to edge while wearing glasses. It's generally bright enough (I set my lcd to sunny day and evf to +1), and if there is ever a niche situation where the sun is juuuust the right angle to be hitting my eye while using it, I just cup my hand around that corner of the camera.
 
jimmyjamjojo said:
I have an A7Cii and wear glasses.

TBH I don't use the viewfinder much. Coming from an X-T5 it was somewhat of a downgrade, and I rarely tend to shoot at eye level anyway.

Quality/size/specs aside - It's fine in terms of eye relief. I can see the whole thing edge to edge while wearing glasses. It's generally bright enough (I set my lcd to sunny day and evf to +1), and if there is ever a niche situation where the sun is juuuust the right angle to be hitting my eye while using it, I just cup my hand around that corner of the camera.
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Thanks for the reply. I have never used the rear screen to shoot or compose. Hence concerns about using the EVF.
 
Iiyama said:
Does anyone use a A7C ii or CR viewfinder wearing glasses? I was about to buy. Then thanks to google started reading how the lack of an eye cup has a significant impact on the user experience. I briefly tried one in the shop but I was in a rush and more interested in checking the weight with specific lenses than using the EVF! (Not my finest moment)
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I wear specs and have no problem - except when you adjust the aperture, the indicated aperture turns red then reverts to white after a few seconds. This can be difficukt to see.
 
I wear glasses most of the time and I use the A7cII evf a lot, no problems. When using glasses you're probable going to be slightly further back which will reduce the tunnel effect of the smaller display, which could be a plus point.
 
I have the A7CR and wear glasses. Like most others, I don't use the viewfinder that often but when I do, it's OK, it does the job, but it's not exactly the nicest. It's a bit small and low resolution and like you say with very little in the way of eye cup protection.

However, due to the rear screen not being that bright (even in sunny mode), sometimes it's a must have to see what you are shooting, so better to have it than not have it. When I was in Rome earlier this year, I used the A7CR as my only camera, and it was super bight and sunny, so the viewfinder came in very useful for photos, but not so much for video.
 
I love my CR. Sure it has it's issues (single card slot, meh rear screen and viewfinder, and no AF joystick), but for the size and weight it's an absolute marvel and my go to travel body. I've even set up my Photo Memory settings to

[1] Compressed Raw + Jpg Large - 60mp (FF)
[2] Lossless compressed Raw + JPG medium - 26MP (FF)
[3] APS-C Mode - Lossless compressed Raw + JPG medium - 26MP (FF) = 1.5x Crop

This effectively gives me a 60mp FF body for when resolution is key, a 26mp FF body for general images (where I don't need the full resolution), and an APS-C 26MP cropped body with the 1.5x extender advantage for getting a little closer, all in a tiny little body that I carry in a small sling bag..
 
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Sootchucker said:
I love my CR. Sure it has it's issues (single card slot, meh rear screen and viewfinder, and no AF joystick), but for the size and weight it's an absolute marvel and my go to travel body. I've even set up my Photo Memory settings to

[1] Compressed Raw + Jpg Large - 60mp (FF)
[2] Lossless compressed Raw + JPG medium - 26MP (FF)
[3] APS-C Mode - Lossless compressed Raw + JPG medium - 26MP (FF) = 1.5x Crop

This effectively gives me a 60mp FF body for when resolution is key, a 26mp FF body for general images (where I don't need the full resolution), and an APS-C 26MP cropped body with the 1.5x extender advantage for getting a little closer.
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Its this that swings me towards the CR. That APS-C mode could be very useful.
 
Iiyama said:
Its this that swings me towards the CR. That APS-C mode could be very useful.
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The A7CR was on my radar as well for that sensor, although it would probably have been a laptop killer when doing big panoramic stiches. What sort of things do you photograph?
 
gman said:
The A7CR was on my radar as well for that sensor, although it would probably have been a laptop killer when doing big panoramic stiches. What sort of things do you photograph?
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Travel and family catch ups are my main forte now.
 
gman said:
The A7CR was on my radar as well for that sensor, although it would probably have been a laptop killer when doing big panoramic stiches. What sort of things do you photograph?
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IMO you have to think about this if you do big panos. I think my biggest was over 50 raws with my cII and it took ages. Fewer files might not be an issue and another option is to resize before stitching.
 
woof woof said:
IMO you have to think about this if you do big panos. I think my biggest was over 50 raws with my cII and it took ages. Fewer files might not be an issue and another option is to resize before stitching.
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Yeah, I recently upgraded my laptop because the old one was struggling with the D810 stitches, especially when in the high teens and into the twenties. But even my big desktop takes a while, so now that I'll be using a 40mm instead of 70-200mm, I'm hoping the wider angle will require less photos. I won't quite get the same level of detail or lens compression and I hope it won't be too noticeable.
 
Iiyama said:
Travel and family catch ups are my main forte now.
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No worries, was just thinking about rolling shutter (was a concern for me due to dog shots), but obviously not an issue for travel and family (unless it's photographing very fast things whilst travelling! lol)
 
gman said:
Yeah, I recently upgraded my laptop because the old one was struggling with the D810 stitches, especially when in the high teens and into the twenties. But even my big desktop takes a while, so now that I'll be using a 40mm instead of 70-200mm, I'm hoping the wider angle will require less photos. I won't quite get the same level of detail or lens compression and I hope it won't be too noticeable.
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I haven't found the 40mm + 33mp lacking detail but I've never used an r body. On perspective / compression when doing a pano if you can stand at the longer lens distance you may have scope to crop to end up with more of the perspective compression you want.
 
woof woof said:
I haven't found the 40mm + 33mp lacking detail but I've never used an r body. On perspective / compression when doing a pano if you can stand at the longer lens distance you may have scope to crop to end up with more of the perspective compression you want.
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I'll bear that in mind. The only downside with the 40mm is photographing something like Ailsa Craig, I've still to revisit from the mainland side but from Arran I was shooting at 200mm and even that wasn't enough, I'm not sure if that would be too much of a heavy crop.
 
gman said:
I'll bear that in mind. The only downside with the 40mm is photographing something like Ailsa Craig, I've still to revisit from the mainland side but from Arran I was shooting at 200mm and even that wasn't enough, I'm not sure if that would be too much of a heavy crop.
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Sometimes I'm happy to crop and end up with a file 1,500 x 1,000 between 200 to 500 kb for screen viewing but not everyone will be.
 
Has anyone tried the Techart LM-EA9 Leica-M to Sony E-mount adapter and can comment on how it performs please? I'm fancying trying the Voigtlander 35mm f1.4 but the first gen which is only available on M mount. What's great is the adapter turns MF lenses into AF ones :cool:
 
Kieran_89 said:
Just out of interest, would my A7Rvi be of any interest before I move it on to MPB?
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Maybe, depending on price / condition. Was this a UK sourced or grey (not that it really bother me anyway except for price).

I think I would have to offload my Nikon Z9 body first. Been thinking long and hard about it for a while, and with me also have a Z8, I tend to pick that one up first, and the Z9 isn't getting much use. I'll see myself what MPB are offering (unless anyone here is looking for a very low milage mint and boxed Z9) ?
 
Sootchucker said:
Maybe, depending on price / condition. Was this a UK sourced or grey (not that it really bother me anyway except for price).

I think I would have to offload my Nikon Z9 body first. Been thinking long and hard about it for a while, and with me also have a Z8, I tend to pick that one up first, and the Z9 isn't getting much use. I'll see myself what MPB are offering (unless anyone here is looking for a very low milage mint and boxed Z9) ?
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Well I’m kind of stuck here because MPB have offered me £3090 but on Cameriz it’s currently £2975 so I guess offers will be around £2700 from potential buyers.

It was purchased from Cotswold for £3699.
 
I’ve learnt something new today. Sometimes shooting in a studio at f8-11 with just a modelling light my camera has struggled to acquire focus due the lack of light as Sony’s AF with the aperture stopped down.

However, there’s a function called Aperture Drive in AF and if you see it to focus then the aperture opens up slightly during AF to let more light in and focus easier.

Who knew :thinking: :LOL:
 
snerkler said:
However, there’s a function called Aperture Drive in AF and if you see it to focus then the aperture opens up slightly during AF to let more light in and focus easier.
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My A7III has always done this. No idea if I set it up accidentally, but I did a full factory reset after acquisition.
 
pmac said:
Another cracker.
A lot of detail in quite a short exposure.
Obviously a fair amount of background light pollution, but was it’s quite dark skys there?
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Thanks. Yeah, I didn't shoot at a really big aperture either which would have been better tbh But because I shot it all as a timelapse I wanted a foreground & stars DOF.....And that is a single, unstacked image at 3200 ISO with no noise reduction. The sky at Stonehenge isn't that dark really, its okay, but I've seen darker for sure!
 
snerkler said:
I’ve learnt something new today. Sometimes shooting in a studio at f8-11 with just a modelling light my camera has struggled to acquire focus due the lack of light as Sony’s AF with the aperture stopped down.

However, there’s a function called Aperture Drive in AF and if you see it to focus then the aperture opens up slightly during AF to let more light in and focus easier.

Who knew :thinking: :LOL:
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I was reading about that just recently when watching a video on the A7V tips and tricks and thought it was a handy feature. But it turns out to be fairly old tech and I even knew about it - but forgot! lol

Lemaildetom

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

Slippery slope to post on this thread but I have some questions about the A7iii.

1) First of all, one thing I'm not sure I have understood correclty from reading reviews. Does the lens focus at the aperture you are shooting instead of focusing wide open like a dslr does?
Is that mean that at f/1.8 the lens focus fast, then slower each time you close the aperture untill somewhere (maybe f/8?) when it cannot autofocus anymore? I may have understood that totally wrong?

2) is the A7iii a good choice for the 200-600 and is there a cheaper option to get into wildlife

4) i'm very attracted by...
 
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