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

the_accidental said:
Motorbike or pedal bike? If pedal bike, I had this dilemma recently and got a tripod that can fit in a bottle cage.. the peak design might as well, but I have a Neewer one that's similar in size (if cheaper) but small enough diameter to fit a cage then a voile strap higher up to stop it rattling. Anyway, got pics/details somewhere if it's of interest. It does mostly only fit as my bikes are so large though (I'm 6'4").
Click to expand...
Pedal bike or more accurately pedal bikes so I need to carry the equipment on my back since the bike varies depending on what I'm travelling to.
 
Ah ok. I tend to use a bag (sometimes pannier) but then tripod in the bottle cage. It fits on my two gravel bikes but wouldn’t fit in my MTBs.
 
Some last Olympus 50mm f1.4 pictures from today.

The long and winding path.

DSC07553.jpg

DSC07561.jpg

Wall of poppies.

DSC07563.jpg

This lens gives the nicest tones for people of any lens I've had except the Takumar 50mm f1.4 but the Oly is better than the Takumar in every other respect and the Takumar is rubbish at f1.4, comparatively. Wide open the Oly does lose resolution very quickly when moving away from the central area and as I mentioned before it's susceptible to ca with backlit subjects and it is rather soft at f1.4 and there's a lot of vignetting but it is still a nice lens, not as good as the Rokkor, FD, Nikon or Chinon 50mm f1.4's I've had but still a nice lens and very useable stopped down.
 
Last edited:
Not Sony... Just a little story. I had an interesting chat with someone today...

He brought his kit for me to "look at." He had a basic Canon APS-C DSLR, a 18-55mm kit lens and also a 70-300mm which looked very small so I think it was APS-C too and he also had a massive Sigma 150-600mm DG which I think is FF. He'd been on a photography course but didn't seem to have picked anything up and he'd also been somewhere with a group to shoot red kites but he said he'd got nowhere with it as they were too fast and the Sigma was too big and heavy and he now had no use for it. I suggested siting by a pond and using it for resting dragon fly / other insect shots and also for flower shots and he did seem interested in it for insect and flower shots as he didn't seem to be getting the results he wanted with the kit lens.

TBH people like him always impress me as they just get on with it and enjoy their photography whilst knowing very little about the technical stuff. I do think he could benefit from knowing a little more as when I talked about depth, perspective and longer lens "compression" I could see he didn't understand and I do think that a better understanding could help him get results he'd be happier with particularly if he understood depth and perspective for things like his flower shots. He did seem to grasp that shooting insects from further away with a long lens might be worth trying as when he got too close with the kit lens they just flew off so suggesting that was worthwhile.

Anyway just a little story, and as above, I do sort of admire people who just get on with it whilst taking little if any interest in the technicalities.
 
woof woof said:
Not Sony... Just a little story. I had an interesting chat with someone today...

He brought his kit for me to "look at." He had a basic Canon APS-C DSLR, a 18-55mm kit lens and also a 70-300mm which looked very small so I think it was APS-C too and he also had a massive Sigma 150-600mm DG which I think is FF. He'd been on a photography course but didn't seem to have picked anything up and he'd also been somewhere with a group to shoot red kites but he said he'd got nowhere with it as they were too fast and the Sigma was too big and heavy and he now had no use for it. I suggested siting by a pond and using it for resting dragon fly / other insect shots and also for flower shots and he did seem interested in it for insect and flower shots as he didn't seem to be getting the results he wanted with the kit lens.

TBH people like him always impress me as they just get on with it and enjoy their photography whilst knowing very little about the technical stuff. I do think he could benefit from knowing a little more as when I talked about depth, perspective and longer lens "compression" I could see he didn't understand and I do think that a better understanding could help him get results he'd be happier with particularly if he understood depth and perspective for things like his flower shots. He did seem to grasp that shooting insects from further away with a long lens might be worth trying as when he got too close with the kit lens they just flew off so suggesting that was worthwhile.

Anyway just a little story, and as above, I do sort of admire people who just get on with it whilst taking little if any interest in the technicalities.
Click to expand...
It's nice to meet and help others. The Sigma is a FF lens but will work great with a crop camera. I loved my 150-600mm Sigma Contemporary when using it on my crop Nikon D500. They also do a Sport version of the lens.

If you see him again....It maybe better for him to go and photo the birds at the local duck ponds as it great for starting out with a long lens. Tell him to make sure the OS is on for the lens and as a starting point try something like 1/800th Shutter Speed, Auto ISO and F8 Aperture. As he gains experience he can adjust settings further to suit himself.

Also, he could buy a monopod to help with the heavier Sigma lens.
 
Last edited:
woof woof said:
... he'd also been somewhere with a group to shoot red kites but he said he'd got nowhere with it as they were too fast ...
Click to expand...
When I went to get shots of red kites feeding I was using the A7iv and 200-600 - and was amazed at how will the AF system locked on and tracked individual birds, an order of magnitude better than my A900 + Tamron 150-600 would have managed.
I'd certainly suggest he try with a monopod to help with the weight, and practice on something slower - as @Swanseajack suggested, ducks are a good option, and Pigeons, Crows or Magpies are all a decent size, common, and often fly slow enough to be able to track without too much difficulty once ducks on a pond are mastered :)
 
Same happened to you Toby on 11th Nov ok on the link but not showing the pics.
 
50mm F1.2 GM delivered after about two weeks from e-infinity. Not a focal length I have warmed to previously but I am trying to break into Gig Photography and the venues I am likely to start with feature dreadful lighting and are set up in a way 50mm is actually pretty useful. Eddie and the Hotrods will be its first outing on Saturday and the decision will be what lens do I stick on the other body/bodies
 
Tricky01 said:
Can I just say that the A1 with AEL button repurposed to APSC mode toggle is an absolute game changer. I already used it with wildlife, but I also shoot interiors of shops for work and doing first ones in ages today. Sony 14mm has been sick to the camera all day, hopping between 14mm and 20mm. I already loved my bag of primes but think I’ll be using them even more now as quasi zoom lenses.
Click to expand...
I use the button on the lens for aspc mode and have now completed my prime lens line up. I view each lens as two focal lengths although in reality cropping in post probably makes more sense. I tend to see the image better when it is framed more closely to what the final image will look like so with primes that aspc mode really works well
 
wookie6262 said:
50mm F1.2 GM delivered after about two weeks from e-infinity. Not a focal length I have warmed to previously but I am trying to break into Gig Photography and the venues I am likely to start with feature dreadful lighting and are set up in a way 50mm is actually pretty useful. Eddie and the Hotrods will be its first outing on Saturday and the decision will be what lens do I stick on the other body/bodies
Click to expand...
Interested to see/hear how you get on. I'm in the same camp on 50mm focal length, but recently picked up the old sigma 50 1.4 on here at a price it was rude not to try and get back into. I've always been a 35 + 85 + 135 man when it comes to prime, and found 50 to to be too wide vs 85 and too long vs 35. But need to get out and play a bit more I think. If I can convince myself on the focal length, then might take there plunge in the smaller and lighter Sony or latest Sigma version.
 
Tricky01 said:
Interested to see/hear how you get on. I'm in the same camp on 50mm focal length, but recently picked up the old sigma 50 1.4 on here at a price it was rude not to try and get back into. I've always been a 35 + 85 + 135 man when it comes to prime, and found 50 to to be too wide vs 85 and too long vs 35. But need to get out and play a bit more I think. If I can convince myself on the focal length, then might take there plunge in the smaller and lighter Sony or latest Sigma version.
Click to expand...
I know it will be good for gigs and the F1.2 and chance to create more separation than the 35mm will be welcome. I can see me using it for boxing too assuming it focuses as quick as the 35mm GM. It seems that way in a short unscientific test
 
trevorbray said:
Yeah. You’re still deluded. Get that Hog back.
Click to expand...
No way, I love the GS, much better bike to ride.
wookie6262 said:
50mm F1.2 GM delivered after about two weeks from e-infinity. Not a focal length I have warmed to previously but I am trying to break into Gig Photography and the venues I am likely to start with feature dreadful lighting and are set up in a way 50mm is actually pretty useful. Eddie and the Hotrods will be its first outing on Saturday and the decision will be what lens do I stick on the other body/bodies
Click to expand...
I can’t believe how cheap (relatively speaking) the 50mm f/1.2 GM is now grey. I’ve been tending to use Cotswolds recently as their prices are very similar to e-infin plus you get three years warranty with uk repairs. That being said I bought my A7RV from Panamoz.

50mm is my go to lens for portraits and cars now.
 
snerkler said:
No way, I love the GS, much better bike to ride.

I can’t believe how cheap (relatively speaking) the 50mm f/1.2 GM is now grey. I’ve been tending to use Cotswolds recently as their prices are very similar to e-infin plus you get three years warranty with uk repairs. That being said I bought my A7RV from Panamoz.

50mm is my go to lens for portraits and cars now.
Click to expand...
I think it was around 1100ish from e-finity. I pondered the 1.4 but the extra 2/3rds of a stop and the 4 focusing motors seemed worth the extra cash and weight. I'm so used to my main lenses being 400mm and 70-200 all the primes I have between 14 and 135mm feel light to me. I have it in my head to try and spend an hour each week walking around time with a single camera and prime with the hope of getting a single image I am happy with that isn't cropped, at least in both dimensions(happy making a 4x5 or square crop just not zooming in.
 
wookie6262 said:
I think it was around 1100ish from e-finity. I pondered the 1.4 but the extra 2/3rds of a stop and the 4 focusing motors seemed worth the extra cash and weight. I'm so used to my main lenses being 400mm and 70-200 all the primes I have between 14 and 135mm feel light to me. I have it in my head to try and spend an hour each week walking around time with a single camera and prime with the hope of getting a single image I am happy with that isn't cropped, at least in both dimensions(happy making a 4x5 or square crop just not zooming in.
Click to expand...
£1179 from e-infin andn £1199 from Cotswolds. I got a good deal on mine when I bought it (£1599 afger cashback), but these prices are great.

I prefer the size and weight of the 35mm f1.4 and so keep being tempted by the 50mm f1.4 GM but I can't bring myself to part with the f1.2.
 
I think the answer is no from what I can find, is it possible to control the power zoom on an APS-C body using controls on the camera rather than the lens?
 
JohnMcL7 said:
I think the answer is no from what I can find, is it possible to control the power zoom on an APS-C body using controls on the camera rather than the lens?
Click to expand...
I’ve not seen any with a zoom button/switch.
 
Cinema models might, e.g the FX30.

Also I think recent ones might? I don't have a PZ lens to test though.

Eg my Cii lets me assign a dial or button to zoom (I have the record button set as this, then I can zoom with any dial), the manual suggests if I had a PZ lens mounted it could be set to zoom in the optical range or optical plus clear image, there are also settings for zoom speed if you assign buttons.

Now that's a full frame camera, but the A6700 for example seems to be nearly identical, you could check the manual?
 
I am beginning to feel like a right idiot...

A7Cii - where in the menu is the setting to make the information on the screen/evf match the orientation of the camera? Mine is stuck in landscape even when the camera is in portrait orientation.
I think it is a case of the more you search, the less you see.:(
And yes, I have RTFM but still can't find it.:confused:
 
As in rotate the icons etc when you rotate the camera? Don’t think I’ve seen that on mine. Or you mean rotate pictures on playback?

The latter is in MENU → (Playback) → [Playback Option] → [Display Rotation]
 
Last edited:
the_accidental said:
As in rotate the icons etc when you rotate the camera? Don’t think I’ve seen that on mine. Or you mean rotate pictures on playback?

The latter is in MENU → (Playback) → [Playback Option] → [Display Rotation]
Click to expand...
Yes, rotating the icons; not on playback, but when using the screen/evf to take photos. (I have it set to auto in the playback menu.)
Perhaps I am looking for something that doesn't exist?
 
Last edited:
the_accidental said:
Cinema models might, e.g the FX30.

Also I think recent ones might? I don't have a PZ lens to test though.

Eg my Cii lets me assign a dial or button to zoom (I have the record button set as this, then I can zoom with any dial), the manual suggests if I had a PZ lens mounted it could be set to zoom in the optical range or optical plus clear image, there are also settings for zoom speed if you assign buttons.

Now that's a full frame camera, but the A6700 for example seems to be nearly identical, you could check the manual?
Click to expand...
I've had a look in the manual but it's as clear as mud. It doesn't list the functions you can set on the custom key just that you can do it and the chapter on zoom is not clear what you can actually do.
 
Well, I definitely have zoom controlled with camera controls - I just don’t know for sure how it’d work with a PZ lens.

It does say you can control a PZ lens with the remote.

What’s the use case you want it for?
 
the_accidental said:
Well, I definitely have zoom controlled with camera controls - I just don’t know for sure how it’d work with a PZ lens.

It does say you can control a PZ lens with the remote.

What’s the use case you want it for?
Click to expand...
The manual suggests to me it's not for physical zoom since it's mentioned under the clearzoom section and also it only mentions PZ zoom for the remote control, not any camera controls.

The simple reason is I want a camera I can keep in my jacket pocket that I can use completely one handed. I have an RX100 which is the obvious choice so I've been thinking of using that again but thought I'd see if anything APS-C was viable, I've been trying to use a bigger camera but with a hyperactive spaniel on the lead I need to be able to use the camera completely one handed.
 
the_accidental said:
Well, I definitely have zoom controlled with camera controls - I just don’t know for sure how it’d work with a PZ lens.

It does say you can control a PZ lens with the remote.

What’s the use case you want it for?
Click to expand...
I think that’s digital zoom not lens zoom.
 
saltireblue said:
Yes, rotating the icons; not on playback, but when using the screen/evf to take photos. (I have it set to auto in the playback menu.)
Perhaps I am looking for something that doesn't exist?
Click to expand...
I don’t think that’s exists, I can’t say I’ve seen it in any camera
 
saltireblue said:
It seems that Sony do not offer this choice, unfortunately...I shot Fuji before migrating to Sony a few months ago and miss having that option.
Click to expand...
I didn’t realise you could do it with Fuji. I must admit I never pay attention to the display icons when I’m shooting, I just look at them when I turn the camera on to make sure my settings are as I want them and then forget about them after that.
 
On zooming with camera controls, some APS-C bodies have zoom controls on them and PZ kit lenses, presumably they do it?

Just noticed as I’ve been looking at picking up an A5100.
 
the_accidental said:
On zooming with camera controls, some APS-C bodies have zoom controls on them and PZ kit lenses, presumably they do it?

Just noticed as I’ve been looking at picking up an A5100.
Click to expand...
I don't think so even though it looks that way although again the manual isn't clear, it suggests to me those zoom controls only enlarge the image but don't operate the PZ lens:

Enlarge images using the W/T (zoom) lever when shooting.

  1. Enlarge images with the W/T (zoom) lever when shooting.
    • Move the W/T (zoom) lever to the T side to zoom in and to the W side to zoom out.
    • When a zoom lens is mounted, you can also zoom by operating that lens. When a motor zoom lens is mounted, move the zoom lever of the zoom lens to enlarge subjects
 
Hmm see I read that as the lever drives the PZ. A youtube review might show it in operation?

If I cave and get a 5100 I’ll test it and let you know…

(They’re the most compact e-mount body that’ll work with the viltrox 28/4.5 so tempted by an extremely pocketable second body…)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top