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

[nandbytes]

With the A7RV I've not struggled with the blackout as much as I thought I would, however what I have struggled with, or should I say found most frusrating is the low frame rate.

Yeah the frame rate plain sucks. It's the same issue on A7iv

 

[GreenNinja67]

Stop it. Just. Stop it.



I managed to talk myself out of buying a car yesterday so I'm feeling a bit... fragile. Maybe I'll buy a watch.

I have a Canon EOS2000D for astro, an Olympus EM1X for "normal" photography.

I also just bought a Sony A73 body. Currently using Zuiko 50mm f1.8 and 28mm f2.8 vintage lenses.

I've actually missed Sony.

 

[LeeRatters]

I have a Canon EOS2000D for astro, an Olympus EM1X for "normal" photography.

I also just bought a Sony A73 body. Currently using Zuiko 50mm f1.8 and 28mm f2.8 vintage lenses.

I've actually missed Sony.

I only have 6. But one is broken so a shelf ornament and another is yet to be tested so unknown

 

[GreenNinja67]

I only have 6. But one is broken so a shelf ornament and another is yet to be tested so unknown

I forgot the Lumix G3 full spectrum modified.

 

[f/1.2]

Stop it. Just. Stop it.



I managed to talk myself out of buying a car yesterday so I'm feeling a bit... fragile. Maybe I'll buy a watch.

Buy the car

 

[f/1.2]

With the A7RV I've not struggled with the blackout as much as I thought I would, however what I have struggled with, or should I say found most frusrating is the low frame rate.

The A1 price is almost a bargain now at £3749 grey, and there's every chance it will go lower still in a week or so if the A1 II is announced as expected.

I would be surprised if we don’t see the A1 dip too below 3k over the next 6 months or so.

 

[Mike.P]

 

[woof woof]

Some from today. A7III and 40mm.

Muscle shell thingy.



Tide rapidly coming in. Time to head back.



Sticky up seaweed thingy.



A pan.

 

[GreenNinja67]

I have a Canon 70-200 F4 L lens on long term loan from my work.

Would it operate happily on my A73 via an MC11 adaptor?

I've looked at them and it states works with Sigma lenses. Do they work with Canon EF as well?

 

[Olly B]

Hello Sony users, I am about to trade in my micro four thirds gear for a Sony A7C11 and will need to get a lens, particularly for a holiday in December in Norway. At this stage I will start with a do it all zoom and then in the fullness move to a prime or two. My most used Olympus lens was the 12-40 f2.8 pro, can you recommend an equivalent Sony lens? Many thanks In anticipation.

 

[GreenNinja67]

If you want pro level then a MK1 24-70 GM 2nd hand would do it.

If you want a decent kit lens then the 20-70 Sony seems not bad.

Neither are do it all though.

 

[GreenNinja67]

Even the 28-70 Sony kit lens will get you going.

 

[Olly B]

Thanks, yes, phrase of do it all is perhaps a bit misleading, I guess I would like to replicate as much as possible the quality and range of the 12-40. I will look at the 24-70.

 

[GreenNinja67]

Look at Tamron as well.

 

[snerkler]

Thanks, yes, phrase of do it all is perhaps a bit misleading, I guess I would like to replicate as much as possible the quality and range of the 12-40. I will look at the 24-70.

The GM lenses are quite heavy and won't be well balanced on the A7C series. The 20-70mm f/4 is lighter, as well as gives a wider field of view. Whilst it's 'only' f/4 vs your 12-40mm f/2.8, FF has roughly 2 stops better noise handling so it should still handle noise better. DOF will be narrower on the FF too.

If you want lightweight and compact then there's the 28-60mm. Also you could consider the 24-50mm f/2.8 G


24-70mm f/2.8 - 20-70mm f/4 - 24-50mm f/2.8 - 28-60mm f/4-5.6

 

[f/1.2]

Hello Sony users, I am about to trade in my micro four thirds gear for a Sony A7C11 and will need to get a lens, particularly for a holiday in December in Norway. At this stage I will start with a do it all zoom and then in the fullness move to a prime or two. My most used Olympus lens was the 12-40 f2.8 pro, can you recommend an equivalent Sony lens? Many thanks In anticipation.

I have an A7CII.

Using the 24-70 G.M on it would be very top heavy and unwieldy.

I don’t use a zoom with it but if I was to go down that route I would go with the light weight Tamron 28-75 f/2.8 or the Sony 24/50 f/2.8.

 

[the_accidental]

I also have an A7Cii and agree with the recommendations above, if I was going for a compact do it all I'd get one with the kit 28-60 to start, and upgrade if I found it lacking (but it reviews well). For compact, I tend to use my samyang 35/2.8 as it makes it fit in jacket pockets though.

However on the balance, I also have a very chunky samyang 35-150 2-2.8 which is 40% heavier again than the 24-70/2.8 above. I use a plate on the base of the camera with that to make the hand grip taller, and I actually find the handling of that ok. But it's very much you're then "shooting the lens", one hand always supporting it, and the camera just hangs off the back Also I'm quite big (6'4") and find it easy enough to handle, my wife struggles with that lens on it.

For me that's part of the joy of the C, it can be a "compact" in my pocket or a very capable "big" camera.

 

[the_accidental]

Wildcard, for the money of (some of) these zooms you could get a trio of the small light samyang primes, I mention my 35/2.8 that I love, I also have the 75/1.8 which is a similar lightweight joy and they have wides like the 24/2.8 which is also tiny (and to the point above, shallower DoF and equivalent or better low light to what you're used to).

 

[woof woof]

Even the 28-70 Sony kit lens will get you going.

I've had one since I got my A7. I've hardly used it but it is IMO a good variable aperture kit lens lens and is again IMO an underrated lens.

 

[mav]

Interesting to hear everyone’s ways of shooting... ‘Fixing two variables and adjusting the third’ isn’t really much different from Aperture priority/Shutter priority modes, or indeed even adjusting exposure compensation in manual mode - in as much as the shooter retains control over one leading variable.

When I owned my original A7, I had fingertip control of all three, with lovely feedback in the EVF. Deepening the DOF, slowing the shutter for a stationary thing, upping the exposure by ISO… all right there without having to come away from the viewfinder. No histograms or exposure meters required!

However, I do get the Auto ISO thinking - especially as sensor tech is so good. Back to that line about trusting Auto ISO and the camera in general

I shoot Birds in Flight mainly , and use manual iso . I've tried auto iso just can't get on with it. , soon as a bird goes above the horizon its silhouetted unless your quick enough to add some exp. just fine manual iso is second Nature now.

I have had both an a7iii and a a 6400 both very good cameras.i didn't find Much difference in the Af for wildlife.i hardly used the a6400. once I bought the a7iii

I am probably going to swap to a Nikon z8. but just discovered you cannot program a wheel to directly Change iso without pressing another button this will be a right Pain

 

[trevorbray]

Look at Tamron as well.

This. The 28-75 f2.8 G2 is very good. And quite light for a fast zoom.

 

[ancient_mariner]

Hello Sony users, I am about to trade in my micro four thirds gear for a Sony A7C11 and will need to get a lens, particularly for a holiday in December in Norway. At this stage I will start with a do it all zoom and then in the fullness move to a prime or two. My most used Olympus lens was the 12-40 f2.8 pro, can you recommend an equivalent Sony lens? Many thanks In anticipation.

A bit of a wildcard but consider the Tamron 28-200, has a good reputation for a superzoom and isn't especially heavy. I'd also suggest taking a 50f1.8 for times when light is lower or you need some subject separation.

 

[Gold]

For Norway I’d like to have at least 24mm available. If you’re also going to be carrying an ultra wide then the 28-75 or 28-200 are great lenses, if not I’d lean to the 24-50 (but for my shooting I’d add a 70-300 for longer landscapes).

 

[nandbytes]

Hello Sony users, I am about to trade in my micro four thirds gear for a Sony A7C11 and will need to get a lens, particularly for a holiday in December in Norway. At this stage I will start with a do it all zoom and then in the fullness move to a prime or two. My most used Olympus lens was the 12-40 f2.8 pro, can you recommend an equivalent Sony lens? Many thanks In anticipation.

Hey, i had a holiday in Norway in March. Beautiful place. What are you planning to photograph?

I took most of my lenses:
20-70mm f4, 70-200mm f4 G2, 1.4x, viltrox 16mm f1.8, sony 35mm f1.4 and samyang 85mm f1.4.
I took my A7RV with me.

My most used lenses were 20-70mm and 16mm. I sparingly used 35GM and 70-200mm+1.4x.
Didn't use the 85mm at all.

 

[snerkler]

Hello Sony users, I am about to trade in my micro four thirds gear for a Sony A7C11 and will need to get a lens, particularly for a holiday in December in Norway. At this stage I will start with a do it all zoom and then in the fullness move to a prime or two. My most used Olympus lens was the 12-40 f2.8 pro, can you recommend an equivalent Sony lens? Many thanks In anticipation.

Ahh, I missed the bit about Norway. I'm guessing you'll want to take the Northern lights so it'd really need to be an f2.8 zoom, or a fast prime. The 24-50mm f2.8 would pair nicely, but the 16-35mm f2.8 GM II would be a good shout if you're primarily going to shoot landscapes.

 

[Olly B]

Thank you so much. for all the responses, it has certainly given me options to look at, and thanks Toby for the visual comparison of the lenses, the 24-70 f2.8 looks way too big on the camera, I am leaning towards either the 20 -70 f4, or the 24-50f2.8 (my local branch of LCE don't have the 28-60 kit lens in stock), as well as the zoom, I am thinking I will also pick up a fast prime for the northern lights! I do have my phone which is excellent, but I really do like using a camera! Of course, I am going to have to re-mortgage the house for all of this!! I did have the opportunity to handle the AC711 and as I have small hands it was a lovely fit, so don't really want to make the camera too lens heavy!

 

[snerkler]

Thank you so much. for all the responses, it has certainly given me options to look at, and thanks Toby for the visual comparison of the lenses, the 24-70 f2.8 looks way too big on the camera, I am leaning towards either the 20 -70 f4, or the 24-50f2.8 (my local branch of LCE don't have the 28-60 kit lens in stock), as well as the zoom, I am thinking I will also pick up a fast prime for the northern lights! I do have my phone which is excellent, but I really do like using a camera! Of course, I am going to have to re-mortgage the house for all of this!! I did have the opportunity to handle the AC711 and as I have small hands it was a lovely fit, so don't really want to make the camera too lens heavy!

Have you considered the A7CR instead of the A7CII? The reason that I ask is that you can crop more on the A7CR meaning you could potentially have smaller and lighter lenses, for example you could use the 24-50mm in crop mode and it will give you 75mm reach and still be a 26mp image. It also allows you to use APS-C lenses and still have 26mp. I would never advocate buying full frame to purely use APS-C lenses as it's a waste of money, but it's a nice option if you want to travel light.

As good as phones are they can't compete with 'proper' cameras, especially with things like Northern Lights.

Have you considered buying grey, you can get a new grey A7cR for £1849 and the A7c II for £1449.

 

[the_accidental]

I shoot my Cii on crop mode. ~14Mp which is more than enough if needed, I’ve got large prints from a D40 on the wall still (6Mp).

More is better, normally, but don’t think the Cii can’t do it.

 

[Sootchucker]

Interesting that you mention using APS-C lenses on the full frame A7CR Toby, as that's something I've been exploring on my A7RV. It's a bit of a mixed bag. On the photo side, aside from stepping down from 60mp to 26mp, I can see no real disadvantage to uses these lenses on a FF body. Pixel peeping in Lightroom at 200% i can see no meaningful difference between an image taken with one of my lenses on the A6700 vs swapping the lens across to the A7RV and re-taking the same shot - they basically look identical.

However, as I'm now doing more and more movie recording it really depends on the lens and what framerate you are shooting in, as in some modes (compared to the A6700) you are getting a binned image rather than 6k oversampled, so the video's (certainly at 50p) will look less detailed. Also quite a few of my APS-C lenses come no where near to covering the imaging circle of a FF sensor and the rolling shutter performance varies from OK to terrible on the A7RV. One good bit of news though is that I can use my APS-C 10-20 F4 PZ lens in FF mode on the A7RV, because by shooting in 50p, the image is cropped by 1.24x. and using Active Steadyshot stabilization adds another 1.16 crop meaning my 10-20 lens can actually act like a 14-29mm lens giving a lightly wider field of view than if swapping over to Super 35 mode (which only allows up to 25p), where I get a 15-30mm, and therefore allows me to shoot in 50P using an APS-C lens.

 

[nandbytes]

Thank you so much. for all the responses, it has certainly given me options to look at, and thanks Toby for the visual comparison of the lenses, the 24-70 f2.8 looks way too big on the camera, I am leaning towards either the 20 -70 f4, or the 24-50f2.8 (my local branch of LCE don't have the 28-60 kit lens in stock), as well as the zoom, I am thinking I will also pick up a fast prime for the northern lights! I do have my phone which is excellent, but I really do like using a camera! Of course, I am going to have to re-mortgage the house for all of this!! I did have the opportunity to handle the AC711 and as I have small hands it was a lovely fit, so don't really want to make the camera too lens heavy!

I have posted this here before but here's a shot I took from the plane window handheld:

The newer bodies i.e. A7CII/R or A7RV or A9III really lets you handhold down to 1-2s. Came in handy more than once.

But also helps to have a fast prime for nighttime shooting. I suggest looking at f2 or above. So lenses like sony 20mm f1.8 or sigma 20mm f2 or samyang 24mm f1.8 or viltrox 16mm f1.8.

I'd take 20-70mm over 24-50mm f2.8. But I am generally not a fan of f2.8 zooms - they are either too large or too expensive or range too short. I prefer to use zooms for what they excel at i.e. versatility and range and primes for what they excel at i.e. fast aperture.

 

[snerkler]

Interesting that you mention using APS-C lenses on the full frame A7CR Toby, as that's something I've been exploring on my A7RV. It's a bit of a mixed bag. On the photo side, aside from stepping down from 60mp to 26mp, I can see no real disadvantage to uses these lenses on a FF body. Pixel peeping in Lightroom at 200% i can see no meaningful difference between an image taken with one of my lenses on the A6700 vs swapping the lens across to the A7RV and re-taking the same shot - they basically look identical.

I agree there's no discernible difference, and the images still look great. The reason I said that I don't advocate using only APS-C lenses on a FF body is that if that's the case you may as well buy an APS-C body, which is usually cheaper. Of course the A7cR and A7R series allow you to use bth FF lenses and APS-C lenses and maintain a high mp count

However, as I'm now doing more and more movie recording it really depends on the lens and what framerate you are shooting in, as in some modes (compared to the A6700) you are getting a binned image rather than 6k oversampled, so the video's (certainly at 50p) will look less detailed. Also quite a few of my APS-C lenses come no where near to covering the imaging circle of a FF sensor and the rolling shutter performance varies from OK to terrible on the A7RV. One good bit of news though is that I can use my APS-C 10-20 F4 PZ lens in FF mode on the A7RV, because by shooting in 50p, the image is cropped by 1.24x. and using Active Steadyshot stabilization adds another 1.16 crop meaning my 10-20 lens can actually act like a 14-29mm lens giving a lightly wider field of view than if swapping over to Super 35 mode (which only allows up to 25p), where I get a 15-30mm, and therefore allows me to shoot in 50P using an APS-C lens.

This is a foreign language to me

 

[woof woof]

Got my 2nd quote for my unwanted and unsold film era lenses and it isn't too bad. I sold a few on here and if I accept this latest quote all in all I'll have made more than I thought I would.

Interestingly, the 1st place I sent them to said one of my lenses was faulty and needed repairing but the second place rated it as E+ which I assume is a good thing and quoted for it.

 

[LeeRatters]

I think as a walkabout zoom, I would be going for the 24-50/2.8 G

 

[nog]

I shoot Birds in Flight mainly , and use manual iso . I've tried auto iso just can't get on with it. , soon as a bird goes above the horizon its silhouetted unless your quick enough to add some exp. just fine manual iso is second Nature now.

I have had both an a7iii and a a 6400 both very good cameras.i didn't find Much difference in the Af for wildlife.i hardly used the a6400. once I bought the a7iii

I am probably going to swap to a Nikon z8. but just discovered you cannot program a wheel to directly Change iso without pressing another button this will be a right Pain

You can adjust ISO without pressing a button if you switch EASY ISO on in the menu (menu B3) but IIRC the actual ISO setting is not displayed on screen when easy iso is on.

 

[LeeRatters]

Stop it. Just. Stop it.



I managed to talk myself out of buying a car yesterday so I'm feeling a bit... fragile. Maybe I'll buy a watch.

I bought a car a couple of weeks ago

Just sold mine tonight

EDIT - NOT the Escort!

 

[woof woof]

I bought a car a couple of weeks ago

Just sold mine tonight

EDIT - NOT the Escort!

Spill all

I was thinking of replacing my Evoque with a newer one but I decided there's nothing wrong with it so why bother? Mrs WW hasn't mentioned getting a car for a while which means I might be able to keep my MX5.

I did price up lots of SUV's from bigger and I suppose more mainstream makers and I was surprised at the cost of quite a few of them. I did think JLR cars were at the more expensive end of the market but once you spec even something much more mainstream up to something like the same spec there often isn't much difference and now and again the thing I'd have thought should be cheaper was more expensive. I don't like the new tablet computer controls approach though.

 

[LeeRatters]

Spill all

I was thinking of replacing my Evoque with a newer one but I decided there's nothing wrong with it so why bother? Mrs WW hasn't mentioned getting a car for a while which means I might be able to keep my MX5.

I did price up lots of SUV's from bigger and I suppose more mainstream makers and I was surprised at the cost of quite a few of them. I did think JLR cars were at the more expensive end of the market but once you spec even something much more mainstream up to something like the same spec there often isn't much difference and now and again the thing I'd have thought should be cheaper was more expensive. I don't like the new tablet computer controls approach though.

My story isn't anything too exciting.....

Well, I've always thought I wanted the car I bought, but not under the circumstances. I've had my silver 2010 '10' plate Focus for over 7 years, it belonged to the dad of my best mate [since school] who sadly passed away from cancer in 2017 - now on just over 90,000 miles and pretty much not missed a beat I was more than happy to keep it for a few more years tbh. But, recently my stepdad has had his licence taken from him due to an Aortic Aneurysm which is pretty large & they have said they aren't going to operate on due to health & age - he's 81. He also had a 2010 '60' plate Focus, pretty much the same as mine aside from colour..... 31,000 miles on the clock so I couldn't really turn it down. Just as I said, I would have preferred it in 3-4 years time when he decided not to drive by his own decision He is pretty gutted & depressed about it really - cars weren't just cars in his life. A bit like me & some of us, he owned lots & lots of cars over the years. Engine swaps & built kit cars etc in his more younger years. He drove funeral cars for the Co-Op & was a driving instructor all through the 80-90's. I engine swapped my first Escort with him, after we rebuilt the engine together, when I was 18/19 - taught me at the time how to do ignition timing, set the points, valve clearances, adjust brakes etc etc and it's due to him how I am now with regard to mechanics. The Escort I have now was his initially.

On a more positive note, my mum has bought a Nissan Micra auto & started driving again. She passed her test around 40 years ago but hasn't driven for maybe 30 years or so! My stepdad was her instructor, that was how they met She seems to be doing okay though on todays hectic roads for the local, short journey's they do.

Anyway, sorry for the long chat......

I'll take a photo of the 'new' Focus when it's had a good clean. Or maybe I'll just Photoshop the colour of the old one....

 

[snerkler]

My story isn't anything too exciting.....

Well, I've always thought I wanted the car I bought, but not under the circumstances. I've had my silver 2010 '10' plate Focus for over 7 years, it belonged to the dad of my best mate [since school] who sadly passed away from cancer in 2017 - now on just over 90,000 miles and pretty much not missed a beat I was more than happy to keep it for a few more years tbh. But, recently my stepdad has had his licence taken from him due to an Aortic Aneurysm which is pretty large & they have said they aren't going to operate on due to health & age - he's 81. He also had a 2010 '60' plate Focus, pretty much the same as mine aside from colour..... 31,000 miles on the clock so I couldn't really turn it down. Just as I said, I would have preferred it in 3-4 years time when he decided not to drive by his own decision He is pretty gutted & depressed about it really - cars weren't just cars in his life. A bit like me & some of us, he owned lots & lots of cars over the years. Engine swaps & built kit cars etc in his more younger years. He drove funeral cars for the Co-Op & was a driving instructor all through the 80-90's. I engine swapped my first Escort with him, after we rebuilt the engine together, when I was 18/19 - taught me at the time how to do ignition timing, set the points, valve clearances, adjust brakes etc etc and it's due to him how I am now with regard to mechanics. The Escort I have now was his initially.

On a more positive note, my mum has bought a Nissan Micra auto & started driving again. She passed her test around 40 years ago but hasn't driven for maybe 30 years or so! My stepdad was her instructor, that was how they met She seems to be doing okay though on todays hectic roads for the local, short journey's they do.

Anyway, sorry for the long chat......

I'll take a photo of the 'new' Focus when it's had a good clean. Or maybe I'll just Photoshop the colour of the old one....

Bit of a bitter sweet story that. Sorry to hear of your stepdad’s health issue

 

[woof woof]

My story isn't anything too exciting.....

It was interesting.

I'll be gutted when I have to give up driving. It's not just the love of cars and driving it's the ease and independence too.

While I'm here. A crop from a picture I took yesterday.



I told Mrs WW I was going out but when I got home... SEVEN missed calls. And as she monitors me coming and going on CCTV she must have known I was out

Whole picture.



I like this one.

 

[GreenNinja67]

I have the A73 and an old Tamron 500mm F8 catadioptric (mirror) lens with me at work today.

Now the sun is shining I'm hoping to give a test on full frame.

It was really awful on M4/3 but I have a feeling it's the design of lens which makes it unsuitable for use on anything other than full frame.

We shall see.

It also has a Tamron matched 2x teleconverter but I'm not holding out much hope of good images at 1000mm.