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

SAR are predicting a 100-400mm f4 which sounds very interesting indeed, although I’d expect it to be heavy and expensive.
 
snerkler said:
Nice picture, although the sky/clouds look as though excessive dehaze has been applied, unless it's just the rendering on here?
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I don't often use dehaze. I have slightly with this one purely because it was constantly raining
Thanks for feedback I'll work on it again :)
 
nandbytes said:
I don't often use dehaze. I have slightly with this one purely because it was constantly raining
Thanks for feedback I'll work on it again :)
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I only noticed it because I've been guilty of it in the past :exit: It's a lovely photo though (y)
 
snerkler said:
That's poor, I've never had anything like this with any Sony lens let alone a GM one. I know Anand has said they've experienced it but I wouldn't be happy. I'd personally return it as I know it'd bug me dven though it wouldn't affect images.
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You have been lucky it’s not uncommon with GM lenses at all.
 
snerkler said:
That's poor, I've never had anything like this with any Sony lens let alone a GM one. I know Anand has said they've experienced it but I wouldn't be happy. I'd personally return it as I know it'd bug me dven though it wouldn't affect images.
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It doesn't really bug me from a performance point of view, purely that it's new.
But then where I work that wouldn't be classed as an issue and a customer couldn't return it for that.
Considering I only paid £800 which is less than second hand from the likes of MPB I might just crack on.
 
robj20 said:
It doesn't really bug me from a performance point of view, purely that it's new.
But then where I work that wouldn't be classed as an issue and a customer couldn't return it for that.
Considering I only paid £800 which is less than second hand from the likes of MPB I might just crack on.
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By the way the dust moves around too.
It might not even be visible eventually unless you go looking for it with a torch :D
 
For anyone that has these bodies...

New camera software on α1 II (ver. 4.0) and α9 III (ver. 4.0) | sonyalpharumors

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-AlYZsWpqQk Sony issued two major firmware updates for these cameras: Sony A1II benefits and improvements (BHphoto, Amazon, Adorama, Fotokoch, Foto Erhardt, Calumet, WexUK) Adds support for Real-time Recognition AF+ with improved subject detection and tracking...
www.sonyalpharumors.com www.sonyalpharumors.com
 
Sootchucker said:
For anyone that has these bodies...

New camera software on α1 II (ver. 4.0) and α9 III (ver. 4.0) | sonyalpharumors

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-AlYZsWpqQk Sony issued two major firmware updates for these cameras: Sony A1II benefits and improvements (BHphoto, Amazon, Adorama, Fotokoch, Foto Erhardt, Calumet, WexUK) Adds support for Real-time Recognition AF+ with improved subject detection and tracking...
www.sonyalpharumors.com www.sonyalpharumors.com
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Seen that wonder how much better the newer Real time a.f recognition will be.

The films style presets for picture profiles seems a bit of a gimmick as there won't be many people using an A9III or A1 II shooting jpeg regularly unless for sports and wildlife they won't be using film presets.

Wish they could allow the option to upload your own presets that is something I could get on board with. Sony rep says it will never happen as could be a way in for third parties to access and change camera firmware.
 
I still wish you could display the horizontal horizon and Histogram at the same time though.

I must admit though a little jealous that my A7RV doesn't have this rotatable information in portrait mode as I find it really useful (all my Nikon's Z's do except the much older Z7 II).
 
T_J_G said:
Any one using the 16-25 G lens? Considering picking one up for wider situations, especially dance floor at weddings?
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I personally dont have it but perhaps also consider the samyang 14-24mm f2.8
sonyalpha.blog

Sony Alpha Blog : Samyang 14-24mm F2.8 (Schneider – Kreuznach)

The Samyang 14-24mm F2.8 lens is a compact and lightweight ultra-wide zoom, known for excellent sharpness, good autofocus, and pleasing bokeh. Priced at 1200 euros, it outperforms competitors in si…
sonyalpha.blog sonyalpha.blog

Fair bit wider and cheaper and most reviews are very positive.

I use 16mm f1.8 G myself which is better for me in low light. If needed I don't mind cropping to 24mm since i shoot on A7RV
 
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T_J_G said:
Any one using the 16-25 G lens? Considering picking one up for wider situations, especially dance floor at weddings?
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I looked at that but ended up getting the 12-24 f/2.8 considering ditching it for the Samyang 14-24 just because it so small it’s also supposed to be very good. But it’s hard to give up 12mm.

If I was buying again I would definitely get the Samyang. The extra 2mm on the wide end makes a huge difference. The difference between 16mm and 14mm is massive.

If you think 16mm is wide enough get the Viltrox instead.
 
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Thanks @f/2.8 & @nandbytes

I hadn't even considered third party options (bad experiences with Sigma...), I think 14/16mm is definitely wide enough, it's not often I need more than my 24mm but it's a useful option to have.

I'll have a look into it, f2.8 not really an issue as will be daylight wide shots or artificially lit dance floors where I want more DOF.
 
T_J_G said:
Thanks @f/2.8 & @nandbytes

I hadn't even considered third party options (bad experiences with Sigma...), I think 14/16mm is definitely wide enough, it's not often I need more than my 24mm but it's a useful option to have.

I'll have a look into it, f2.8 not really an issue as will be daylight wide shots or artificially lit dance floors where I want more DOF.
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I tried two copies of sigma 14-24mm f2.8, both decentered, second copy was worst than the first. I just gave up on it.

If you don't need a fast aperture you could even consider Sony 16-35 f4 G.

Sometimes I wonder if 3rd parties are bad or if it's just bad luck. I mostly had good experience with other sigma and samyang lenses.
 
Toby...

How did you get on with the X100 v RX1? Decided which to keep and which to sell yet?

Sorry if this has already been covered and I missed it.
 
nandbytes said:
I tried two copies of sigma 14-24mm f2.8, both decentered, second copy was worst than the first. I just gave up on it.

If you don't need a fast aperture you could even consider Sony 16-35 f4 G.

Sometimes I wonder if 3rd parties are bad or if it's just bad luck. I mostly had good experience with other sigma and samyang lenses.
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More the fact that the Sigmas I have had 35/85 Art look proper beaten up after a year of use, whereas my 24GM I bought at the same time still looks really good.

I’ll look into the f4, that’s a good shout.
 
SAR doesn't make for particularly good reading on the A9III, I hope it doesn't put Sony off filtering global shutters down to the other future bodies.

"Despite the initial hype around its global shutter, sales haven’t met expectations. This seems to be due to the camera’s more niche appeal. While users within that niche appear satisfied, little positive feedback has made its way back to retail channels. Concerns around low-light performance are discouraging potential buyers, and many opt for the a1 II instead. In short, the a9 III is not selling particularly well"
 
woof woof said:
Toby...

How did you get on with the X100 v RX1? Decided which to keep and which to sell yet?

Sorry if this has already been covered and I missed it.
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I really liked the X100VI, and there were some things I liked about it more than the RX1R II, mainly the speed of operation, the RX1R is really slow with things like menus and reviewing images etc. However, as pleasing as the images are from the Fuji I just liked the Sony ones better. I struggled to put my finger on exactly what it was, but they just look that little more high quality, there's possibly a little more depth too.

As a result I've opted to keep the Sony (y)
 
snerkler said:
I really liked the X100VI, and there were some things I liked about it more than the RX1R II, mainly the speed of operation, the RX1R is really slow with things like menus and reviewing images etc. However, as pleasing as the images are from the Fuji I just liked the Sony ones better. I struggled to put my finger on exactly what it was, but they just look that little more high quality, there's possibly a little more depth too.

As a result I've opted to keep the Sony (y)
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Thanks for the update :D

I originally bought an S but it was faulty so I replaced it with an F. I liked the size and retro controls and the EVF but the rest just didn't meet my expectations and I usually chose something else over them. Later X100's may be better. Just had a look in my favourites folder, 7 X100s pictures made it in and 2 F's so it wasn't a wasted process and I did have fun trying them. I think maybe the main appeal for some is the jpeg film simulations and maybe the look of the camera.

Good luck with the Sony. I think the A7cII has cured my RX1 gas for now. I think the cII IQ is better than the lovely old A7 and the raws seem to look better sooc and that's nice as I never do a lot of processing. RAW colour and overall IQ seems to have moved on. I sold my A7, GX9 and TZ100, kept the A7cII, A7III and GX80.

I been laid up for 3 weeks with flu or possibly covid so have been watching a lot of Youtube and I don't know why but I've been bombarded with X100 and also Nikon vids, maybe someone is tweaking the algorithm to pump them. This made me think about trying an S or F again but in reality I know I'd choose a Sony or the GX80 over it again.
 
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snerkler said:
I really liked the X100VI, and there were some things I liked about it more than the RX1R II, mainly the speed of operation, the RX1R is really slow with things like menus and reviewing images etc. However, as pleasing as the images are from the Fuji I just liked the Sony ones better. I struggled to put my finger on exactly what it was, but they just look that little more high quality, there's possibly a little more depth too.

As a result I've opted to keep the Sony (y)
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woof woof said:
Thanks for the update :D

I originally bought an S but it was faulty so I replaced it with an F. I liked the size and retro controls and the EVF but the rest just didn't meet my expectations and I usually chose something else over them. Later X100's may be better. Just had a look in my favourites folder, 7 X100s pictures made it in and 2 F's so it wasn't a wasted process and I did have fun trying them. I think maybe the main appeal for some is the jpeg film simulations and maybe the look of the camera.

Good luck with the Sony. I think the A7cII has cured my RX1 gas for now. I think the cII IQ is better than the lovely old A7 and the raws seem to look better sooc and that's nice as I never do a lot of processing. RAW colour and overall IQ seems to have moved on. I sold my A7, GX9 and TZ100, kept the A7cII, A7III and GX80.

I been laid up for 3 weeks with flu or possibly covid so have been watching a lot of Youtube and I don't know why but I've been bombarded with X100 and also Nikon vids, maybe someone is tweaking the algorithm to pump them. This made me think about trying an S or F again but in reality I know I'd choose a Sony or the GX80 over it again.
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Horses for courses isn't it? :)

Some people will always go for IQ & big apertures/separation/the look over everything else. I know that, I've been there & sometime I still am!

For me, I don't generally worry about the X100f IQ - for what I use it for, I love the actual experience of and time spent using it. And that, in a way, beats the IQ of the A7Riii. Obviously, the Sony kit wins for dedicated photography - the recent Snowdonia trip for example, there's no way I was shooting some of those big, honeypot locations at 6400ISO on the X100f ;) Same if it was really special moments/places. But today we popped into Bath, for a wander around & a bit of shopping for the wife & some street photography for me - I shot 90% in manual focus on the X100f & got over 15,000 steps in :) I wouldn't be doing that street photography on the A7Riii/35GM, so I wouldn't have had so much fun, I wouldn't have stayed there so long, I wouldn't have seen so much and I wouldn't have done so many steps... ;)

I guess I'm fairly lucky in that I have a reasonably nice selection of gear to use for different situations.
 
snerkler said:
SAR doesn't make for particularly good reading on the A9III, I hope it doesn't put Sony off filtering global shutters down to the other future bodies.

"Despite the initial hype around its global shutter, sales haven’t met expectations. This seems to be due to the camera’s more niche appeal. While users within that niche appear satisfied, little positive feedback has made its way back to retail channels. Concerns around low-light performance are discouraging potential buyers, and many opt for the a1 II instead. In short, the a9 III is not selling particularly well"
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Yeah I seen that tbh I was surprised A9III users seem very happy with the camera, there is very little negativity around it in any of the user groups and they tend to be more positive than any other user groups I have seen. I absolutely love mine its far and away the best camera body I have used.

I guess it depends what is most important to you, for people like me that want best in class a.f and fast operation the A9III is perfect. As an added bonus personally I prefer the ergonomics over any other Sony body I have used and the colours from the camera are insanely good. I am very happy with mine, my mate has a couple as well and absolutely loves them having switched from A1's. Being able to shoot in all lighting conditions without having to worry about banding and rolling shutter distortion is another huge advantage for weddings. The insane flash sync speeds are very useful as well.

It is an expensive body though and many people will just look at headline specs like resolution and prefer the A1 II. For me personally I have found low light performance very good certainly better in real life situations than my A9 and A9II. I don't crop a lot at all and have always tried to get everything right in camera so the higher file sizes of the A1 and R series cameras are of no real benefit and just slow my workflow down. Because of volume of images 24-36mpx cameras are the sweet spot for weddings at the moment.

It was never going to be a camera that was bought by the masses and I can see why many would prefer the A1 II. The A9III does have a lot of tech I don't need like the ridiculous fps but there isn't another body that also has the advantages it provides me either.

Off course I wish it was cheaper, if it was I would happily upgrade all of our other bodies. There isn't too many wedding photographers shooting Sony using them, they mostly gravitate towards the A74 because of cost and while we have 3 of them I hate using that body. While others will go For the A1 II or A7RV because they feel they need the extra resolution.

It is funny really pretty much all wedding photographers now use online galleries to deliver images. When you upload to the online galleries they vastly reduce the file sizes that are delivered to clients especially if you are using higher res bodies and many wedding photographers don't even realise that is how it works. They have chosen high res bodies to try and give as high a res as possible to clients who are then downloading images that have been heavily reduced in file size and then mostly only looking at them on their phones. :D
 
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LeeRatters said:
Horses for courses isn't it? :)
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The thing is that I couldn't see a use for the X100s/f. If the focus and DR had been better then maybe it could have replaced the GX80 whilst I still had the now sold GX9 and that was the plan but for me apart from the controls and the want one factor which the Fuji X100 range definitely has the GX80 is the better camera and as IMO none of these cameras are really pocketable and need to be in a bag I might as well use the A7cII. As always good luck to those who like the X100 and I see the appeal and I'm glad mine went to a good home :D I'm keeping the GX80 as with the 14mm f2.5 it's a compact social use camera with a built in tiltable flash and having it means I don't have to use my phone plus I do occasionally use the 45-150mm and 100-400mm and I can't see myself buying FF compatible lenses to cover those lengths.

I do see appeal beyond IQ but I get that more from lenses than cameras and especially from MF lenses and even MF-ing with AF lenses and sadly this is another area in which the X100 cameras I had disappointed me. Glad you seem to be getting on with it but I found it very poor.

My ideal would be an A7cIII with a tilting and articulating screen and a mechanical shutter going to at least 1/8,000 or at least automatic switching between mechanical and electronic shutters or a faster readout to cut the rolling shutter effect to make the electronic shutter more of an every use thing. If I could have that I'd get back to only having two cameras, the A7cx for just about everything outdoors and the GX80 for more discrete social and flash use.

Has this been posted? Sorry if it has... "An excellent all around travel lens." More like it on the way? Tamron 25-200mm f2.8-5.6.

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j3iXCOQ9mwk
 
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woof woof said:
The thing is that I couldn't see a use for the X100s/f.
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General days out, beach walks, dog walks, street photography, casual parties, bbq's & events, car breakfast meets.... Almost every use except dedicated photography where photography is the whole reason of going out ;)

Yesterday - Bath, general walkabout for some autumn colour, shopping & street - X100f
This morning - Woodland for autumn colour at sunrise - A7Riii, CV40/1.2E & Tamron 70-180/2.8 ;)

M43 does appear to be a popular system, and I fully get the long zoom/wildlife benefits of it, but it's not for me.

But, yes indeed..... Anything that means we don't have to use the phone for sure!! :)
 
robj20 said:
I always used to be one of those that would crank Clarity to the max, but these days I like a bit of negative clarity, especially on those sunrise misty mornings.
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I don't think I ever touch the clarity slider. Not sure if that's a good or a bad thing to say :D
 
LeeRatters said:
M43 does appear to be a popular system, and I fully get the long zoom/wildlife benefits of it, but it's not for me.
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I used to have quite a bit of MFT kit, I had four cameras at one point but now I'm down to just the GX80 with 14mm f2.5, 20mm f1.7, 45-150mm and 100-400mm. For me MFT still has advantages including size, speed of operation as it really is a little high performance sports car system and that built in flash. I don't think anyone makes a compact RF style MFT camera now so if the GX80 dies I'd be upset.

Just a quicky. GX80 and 14mm f2.5 wide open at ISO 6,400. My old 5D couldn't have matched this but I suppose I could have gone to f1.4 with the 5D.

1-P1080619.jpg

100%.

1-P1080619-c.jpg
 
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woof woof said:
I don't think I ever touch the clarity slider. Not sure if that's a good or a bad thing to say :D
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It's just a choice. Positive clarity can make a picture look hard, crunchy and faces grimey if pushed too far. Negative clarity can smooth an image that's slightly crunchy (happens with some Sony lenses) but can cause murkiness and haloing.
 
ancient_mariner said:
It's just a choice. Positive clarity can make a picture look hard, crunchy and faces grimey if pushed too far. Negative clarity can smooth an image that's slightly crunchy (happens with some Sony lenses) but can cause murkiness and haloing.
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I know what it does but it's something I don't normally do. I have used it but I think moistly when doing mono conversions and going for a more gritty look. My comment was tongue in cheek as not using it could show that I either have low expectations or next to no processing skills and actually both are partly true. I load a preset with just basic sharpening and NR with texture, clarity and dehaze all set to zero and do just basic processing for normal screen viewing often in a slideshow but sometimes revisit the processing if I'm printing a picture.

Other news.... I'm getting better and will be off to Thailand on 12th!!! :D I'll be taking my A7cII and 40mm f2.5 and possibly the GX80 and 14mm f2.5 too. Mrs WW has lots planned, lots of her friends will be coming and I'll be meeting lots of my Thai family. It's my first holiday apart from short trips since 2019. One from then, A7 and 35mm f2.8 at ISO 5,000.

DSC04590.jpg
 
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woah 3rd party TC coming!? :eek:

First image of the new Viltrox 2x teleconverter! | sonyalpharumors

Viltrox is teasing the launch of this new 2x teleconverter. This is big news because it's the world first 3rd party E-mount Teleconverter! The Sony FE 2x Teleconverter is priced at $500 so hopefully the viltrox is much more affordable when it's announced within the next few weeks!
www.sonyalpharumors.com www.sonyalpharumors.com

if this works with likes of Sigma/tamron etc.. it'd be amazing!
 
Not really photography except I would take a picture of it :D

I've just spotted a lovely black dateless enamel watch dial for £6.32. Silver baton hands with lume are £1.83, a solid back Perpetual style case is £20.29, an NH38 movement is £56.18 and a metal mesh stap is £10. So that'd all add up to £94.62. It's pretty annoying really as you can buy an assembled watch with an NH35 movement for less.

Here's the dial.

www.aliexpress.com

Enameled 28.5mm Watch Dial with Green Luminous Coloured Watch Faces for NH35/ ETA2836/ Japan 8215/ Mingzhu 2813 Movements - AliExpress 1511

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

I can't say I enjoyed assembling a watch as it wasn't really a challenge (the movement comes complete) but you do get the chance to get the look you want and since I assembled this one it's all I've worn.

DSC00368.jpg

I might get Mrs WW to buy me the ceramic dial and other bits for Christmas :D
 
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