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

[pmac]

I retired at 49 so there's no work. Mrs WW retired early too.

I love where I live but it's not the best area and if the house was empty and the cars were parked up unattended and unmoved for a long period it'd all be noticed and there might not be much left to come back to.

I was wondering as I thought u had retired nothing much to keep anyone here is there and that sounds like a reason to not be
Im not sure how we will work it when both kids are away to uni, maybe half half.

 

[woof woof]

I was wondering as I thought u had retired nothing much to keep anyone here is there and that sounds like a reason to not be
Im not sure how we will work it when both kids are away to uni, maybe half half.

I really like where I live, between town and coast with the countryside nearby. I've had the chance to live just about anywhere but I don't think I ever want to live anywhere else. One thing that does put me off Thailand is their tourist tax, if that's how they want to see and treat foreigners then for me that takes away a lot of the appeal. As some have said, in the land of smiles the smile is often false.

 

[nandbytes]

I really like where I live, between town and coast with the countryside nearby. I've had the chance to live just about anywhere but I don't think I ever want to live anywhere else. One thing that does put me off Thailand is their tourist tax, if that's how they want to see and treat foreigners then for me that takes away a lot of the appeal. As some have said, in the land of smiles the smile is often false.

Do you a have problem because it's called a "tax" instead of something else?

It's like a fiver isn't it?

Even EU countries is wanting to charge £6-7 but non-EU countries.

Most countries charge a hefty fee for tourist visas inc. UK.
Being a British passport holder you don't see a lot of this because you are privileged but a lot of other people with non-popular passports are treated rather poorly by most countries.

 

[ancient_mariner]

Do you a have problem because it's called a "tax" instead of something else?

It's like a fiver isn't it?

Even EU countries is wanting to charge £6-7 but non-EU countries.

Most countries charge a hefty fee for tourist visas inc. UK.
Being a British passport holder you don't see a lot of this because you are privileged but a lot of other people with non-popular passports are treated rather poorly by most countries.

Entering Zimbabwe, my visa cost half that of my wife, because I'm Austrian and she British.

 

[snerkler]

My boy was 20 last month. He told me on the Wednesday night at about 10 pm he was going to the Brecon's in the morning for sunrise, on his own. Cue a last minute day off of work for a 4am start because there was no way I wanted him to do that on his own......

I think I took 5 digital images & 4 MF film frames - tbh, I didn't go for the photography.


*** by Lee, on Flickr

Is that a single frame or a brenizer as it has more of that 'miniature' effect that I'd expect from the 35mm?

 

[LeeRatters]

Is that a single frame or a brenizer as it has more of that 'miniature' effect that I'd expect from the 35mm?

Single frame this one

 

[woof woof]

Do you a have problem because it's called a "tax" instead of something else?

It's like a fiver isn't it?

Even EU countries is wanting to charge £6-7 but non-EU countries.

Most countries charge a hefty fee for tourist visas inc. UK.
Being a British passport holder you don't see a lot of this because you are privileged but a lot of other people with non-popular passports are treated rather poorly by most countries.

Their tourist tax means foreigners are charged more than the locals. That annoys me so much that I really don't want to give anyone who operates like that any money. I refused to go to one place but Mrs insisted and I really did not like being spotted in the queue and listening as Mrs was told one price for her and one for me. Plus they have their existing laws against ownership that can be got around but really, I just don't like the thought that I'm being singled out and over charged because I'm a foreigner.

I know life is hard and people need to make a living but making over charging so obvious just annoys me. They smile while they do it though.

 

[nandbytes]

Their tourist tax means foreigners are charged more than the locals. That annoys me so much that I really don't want to give anyone who operates like that any money. I refused to go to one place but Mrs insisted and I really did not like being spotted in the queue and listening as Mrs was told one price for her and one for me. Plus they have their existing laws against ownership that can be got around but really, I just don't like the thought that I'm being singled out and over charged because I'm a foreigner.

I know life is hard and people need to make a living but making over charging so obvious just annoys me. They smile while they do it though.

that is also common in many countries where locals are charged different rates to tourists for entering places.
This practice is more common in places where there is a massive difference in the affordability of the locals as supposed to tourists.
For example Egypt, India etc.

The locals simply cannot afford to pay the higher price, hence its subsidised by local governments or just charged at a lower rate.
Ideally your missus should have been charged at a higher rate too being a foreign resident but these places don't understand the difference between residency and citizenship etc.
so they basically judge it based on looks/skin colour and/or language. I agree its not great but we don't live in a perfect world. I wouldn't avoid a country solely based on this.
The amount of racism I get has increased here too, doesn't mean I pack up my bags and leave, though feels like I should sometimes

 

[woof woof]

Racism is inexusable anywhere and I suppose being over charged isn't as bad but yes, I resent it and the falseness.

Mrs WW has been racially abused here just the once and that left a very bad taste in my mouth as I stood in front of the "children" and so wanted to do something about it but of course I couldn't. I'm very sorry for any racism you've suffered but I still believe the UK isn't bad compared with other parts of the world including the far east where IMO it is often endemic and open and I include Thailand in that. At least here any decent people and those with a functioning brain should know that racism is wrong. There are some very nice people in Thailand but there are also racists who'll tell you openly how they feel, not about me but people of other races, and there are people who will smile whist thinking how they'll take you for everything they can. Neither racism or a willingness to do over other people whenever the opportunity arrises are in me and I won't excuse these things in other people. I've not been seriously ripped off in Thailand as I don't put myself in situations in which I might be but others do get ripped off and there's probably little they can do about it. That's not a culture or society I can love and IMO it's getting worse not better, possibly why some are now giving Thailand a miss and heading to Vietnam instead but I really don't know if it's any better there.

We can all see this how we like but I don't like it, even Mrs WW doesn't although she is at the moment very patriotic due to the flare up with Cambodia.

PS.
Mrs WW has dual nationality, both passports and of course she looks Thai and speaks it like a native

 

[pmac]

Didn’t take long for the back peddling and social media pushing.

Manny’s Release and first use video- this is a mini A1ii no need to buy that camera, this is near perfect.
Next video- real test photo shoot(without raw still) - anyone that’s using a Sony that isn’t a a7iii/iv is going to find this camera a downgrade . The EVF is so small and low resolution it’s hard to see anything clearly, as is the rear screen which also doesn’t get bright enough.
If your shooting portraits or landscape it’s not really a worth while upgrade from the iv,af is better but was enough before as with DR. Worth buying only if you shoot fast sports or animals.

But then ends saying he is still waiting on delivery of his own‍, so come back to find out more.

One thing he questions, which I’ve also been wondering is how have they got the results that it has an extra stop of DR for nearly a week now when no Raw support is available? Based on jpeg?

 

[nandbytes]

One thing he questions, which I’ve also been wondering is how have they got the results that it has an extra stop of DR for nearly a week now when no Raw support is available? Based on jpeg?

As crap as it might be Sony does have it's own RAW reader?

 

[snerkler]

Didn’t take long for the back peddling and social media pushing.

Manny’s Release and first use video- this is a mini A1ii no need to buy that camera, this is near perfect.
Next video- real test photo shoot(without raw still) - anyone that’s using a Sony that isn’t a a7iii/iv is going to find this camera a downgrade . The EVF is so small and low resolution it’s hard to see anything clearly, as is the rear screen which also doesn’t get bright enough.
If your shooting portraits or landscape it’s not really a worth while upgrade from the iv,af is better but was enough before as with DR. Worth buying only if you shoot fast sports or animals.

But then ends saying he is still waiting on delivery of his own‍, so come back to find out more.

One thing he questions, which I’ve also been wondering is how have they got the results that it has an extra stop of DR for nearly a week now when no Raw support is available? Based on jpeg?

They all talk out of their backsides

They don’t use adobe to test DR AFAIK, it’s all done straight from the raw files.

 

[nandbytes]

They all talk out of their backsides

They don’t use adobe to test DR AFAIK, it’s all done straight from the raw files.

Bill Claff?
no he doesn't use Adobe or rather why would anyone. its not a dynamic range measurement tool, its a post processing tool!

info here:

Dynamic Range Collaboration

 

[f/1.2]

Didn’t take long for the back peddling and social media pushing.

Manny’s Release and first use video- this is a mini A1ii no need to buy that camera, this is near perfect.
Next video- real test photo shoot(without raw still) - anyone that’s using a Sony that isn’t a a7iii/iv is going to find this camera a downgrade . The EVF is so small and low resolution it’s hard to see anything clearly, as is the rear screen which also doesn’t get bright enough.
If your shooting portraits or landscape it’s not really a worth while upgrade from the iv,af is better but was enough before as with DR. Worth buying only if you shoot fast sports or animals.

But then ends saying he is still waiting on delivery of his own‍, so come back to find out more.

One thing he questions, which I’ve also been wondering is how have they got the results that it has an extra stop of DR for nearly a week now when no Raw support is available? Based on jpeg?

Manny is a complete weapon. Anything for clicks.

Will all come about him soon enough as there are lots of rumours similar to those faced by Lanier.

 

[snerkler]

Bill Claff?
no he doesn't use Adobe or rather why would anyone. its not a dynamic range measurement tool, its a post processing tool!

info here:

Dynamic Range Collaboration

We didn’t get as far as that, I just did the shots for read noise so wasn’t sure how he then measures DR. I knew it wasn’t adobe though

 

[pmac]

sony 200-600.. anyone have and what do you think of it.
found a used one for a exceptionally low price.. seems to good to be true in fact , but they seem happy for me to view/test before buying.
not sure if I should go for the 100-400 instead though.
looking to use it for some birding/wildlife and some sports, mainly surfing and other water sports.

 

[woof woof]

A7V seems to be selling well according to the Rumor guy.

One thing that I've learned is that the electronic shutter can hit DR. I can't say I've seen any problems with my A7III or A7cII and I'm hardly using the mechanical shutter but that could be because they improve on the A7 which is what I'm used to or possibly because I haven't been taking night time pictures at high ISO.

Has anyone seen any significant problem with DR when using the electronic shutter? Bokeh affects are another thing that I can't say I've seen with either the electronic or electronic first curtain.

 

[snerkler]

sony 200-600.. anyone have and what do you think of it.
found a used one for a exceptionally low price.. seems to good to be true in fact , but they seem happy for me to view/test before buying.
not sure if I should go for the 100-400 instead though.
looking to use it for some birding/wildlife and some sports, mainly surfing and other water sports.

I prefer the size and weight of the 100-400mm but for birding you want all the reach you can get.

 

[snerkler]

A7V seems to be selling well according to the Rumor guy.

One thing that I've learned is that the electronic shutter can hit DR. I can't say I've seen any problems with my A7III or A7cII and I'm hardly using the mechanical shutter but that could be because they improve on the A7 which is what I'm used to or possibly because I haven't been taking night time pictures at high ISO.

Has anyone seen any significant problem with DR when using the electronic shutter? Bokeh affects are another thing that I can't say I've seen with either the electronic or electronic first curtain.

I’ve not seen a hit on the A1, and that’s now I’ve had it confirmed that the difference in negligible, however the A1 is a fully stacked sensor.

I would guess that those without any stacking will not take as much of a hit as the partially stacked sensor of the A7V but it’s just a guess.

Bokeh effects are only apparent on EFCS due to the different plane of the shutters, on full mechanical and full electronic the shutters are in the same plane so doesn’t affect it.

 

[nandbytes]

sony 200-600.. anyone have and what do you think of it.
found a used one for a exceptionally low price.. seems to good to be true in fact , but they seem happy for me to view/test before buying.
not sure if I should go for the 100-400 instead though.
looking to use it for some birding/wildlife and some sports, mainly surfing and other water sports.

Had the 100-400mm which lacked in range. I swapped it for 200-600mm at release and had it for five years. I had a love-hate relationship with it. Range was great, hated the weight and especially the size. It wouldn't fit in most of the normal bags and I only ever carried it mostly on its own because it was a pain.
In fact there is whole webpage detailing which bags work for 200-600mm

Sony 200-600 Bag Guide - Alpha Shooters

The ultimate guide to the best bags for the Sony 200-600 G lens including photos of the lens packed inside with and without camera attached.

www.alphashooters.com

Swapped 200-600mm for sigma 500DN last year.
Now I'm having much better time carrying it again. Fits in my PD sling 10l.
What it lacks in range it makes up for in sharpness especially on a 61mp sensor.

So that's the one I'd suggest/pick.
Main downside is you are limited to 15fps and no TCs.
But TCs weren't great on 200-600mm anyway so I don't miss it too much.

 

[Faldrax]

sony 200-600.. anyone have and what do you think of it.
found a used one for a exceptionally low price.. seems to good to be true in fact , but they seem happy for me to view/test before buying.
not sure if I should go for the 100-400 instead though.
looking to use it for some birding/wildlife and some sports, mainly surfing and other water sports.

I really like mine, but as mentioned, it's quite heavy, so usually use it on a monopod to make it much easier to handle, weight wise.
I loosen the friction control a bit on the ball head, so I can adjust it in use - there's a 'sweet spot' where it holds the weight and the camera is steady, but can still be movedif you want to change the angle.

 

[f/1.2]

sony 200-600.. anyone have and what do you think of it.
found a used one for a exceptionally low price.. seems to good to be true in fact , but they seem happy for me to view/test before buying.
not sure if I should go for the 100-400 instead though.
looking to use it for some birding/wildlife and some sports, mainly surfing and other water sports.

I have had 2 of them first one was very soft wide open, the second copy wasn’t much better although got sharp at about f/8. A few friends had one as well and had a similar experience. I wasn’t impressed with it.

 

[LeeRatters]

24GM vertical panorama


*** by Lee, on Flickr

 

[Gold]

sony 200-600.. anyone have and what do you think of it.
found a used one for a exceptionally low price.. seems to good to be true in fact , but they seem happy for me to view/test before buying.
not sure if I should go for the 100-400 instead though.
looking to use it for some birding/wildlife and some sports, mainly surfing and other water sports.

I’ve also had two, my current one is fine but the first was brilliantly sharp and should never have sold it. The weight and size is the main downside but it’s perhaps the best value wildlife lens available, particularly used.

 

[robj20]

I had a bad experience with WEX recently too, the said my lens had fungus even though another camera shop passed it off as pristine. I sold it to a third camera store who accepted it as like new.

WEX also knocked money off my camera for being grey, which is fair enough, however on their T’s and C’s it says they never knowingly take in grey imports. Based on this and the fact they said a perfectly good lens had fungus I’m reluctant to trust them in the future.

They tried to tell me my 24-70f4 had a stiff and notchy zoom, asked then to send it me back and sold it to MPB as Like New with zero issues.
After that I'll never use them again, to me it sounds like they're actively told to look for reasons to offer as little as possible.
MPB on the other hand have actually offered me more on a couple of occasions.

 

[pmac]

I have had 2 of them first one was very soft wide open, the second copy wasn’t much better although got sharp at about f/8. A few friends had one as well and had a similar experience. I wasn’t impressed with it.

I’ve also had two, my current one is fine but the first was brilliantly sharp and should never have sold it. The weight and size is the main downside but it’s perhaps the best value wildlife lens available, particularly used.

This is a worry it does seem to be a lens with quite a variance.
It’s being sold for under £700 and looks as new which has me questioning it, similarly they are selling a 70-200 gm2 for £1100 as supposedly they have moved to Nikon.
So maybe I will ask for some sample images..

 

[mav]

This is a worry it does seem to be a lens with quite a variance.
It’s being sold for under £700 and looks as new which has me questioning it, similarly they are selling a 70-200 gm2 for £1100 as supposedly they have moved to Nikon.
So maybe I will ask for some sample images..

I had one for a few years , until I swapped to nikon not a bad lens, internal zoom is good for birds in flight , £700 is very cheap I sold mine for more to mpb

 

[snerkler]

This is a worry it does seem to be a lens with quite a variance.
It’s being sold for under £700 and looks as new which has me questioning it, similarly they are selling a 70-200 gm2 for £1100 as supposedly they have moved to Nikon.
So maybe I will ask for some sample images..

£1100 sounds cheap for the GMII

 

[pmac]

£1100 sounds cheap for the GMII

Yeah both collection only and they are on a small Scottish island..
Funnily enough it’s where I was brought up and where my dad is back living. So I told them he would come check it before I made the long trip and they seemed fine about it.
I’m still questioning it though. Sadly I don’t have the funds for the 70-200

 

[woof woof]

£1100 sounds cheap for the GMII

I've just paid that exact amount to have two windows replaced.

Money in. Money out.

 

[nandbytes]

I've just paid that exact amount to have two windows replaced.

Money in. Money out.

do you mean that's money gone out of the window?

sorry couldn't resist

 

[woof woof]

do you mean that's money gone out of the window?

sorry couldn't resist

It feels like it.

 

[nandbytes]

for anyone interested.... a comparison from a wildlife tog

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ou1WYzqVqrw

 

[dkh]

Sony A7IV - new firmware v6.00 listed - major issues for some then removed. I'm interested in the new focus tracking (hopefully like the A7RIV).

It's interesting that not a single mention of this firmware having issues on google or youtube.

 

[Kieran_89]

I’m still tempted by the A7V as an all in one body for street/landscape/astro but I don’t want to lose access to the Nikon lenses which I’ve been using.

Decisions to make in the new year.

 

[snerkler]

I’m still tempted by the A7V as an all in one body for street/landscape/astro but I don’t want to lose access to the Nikon lenses which I’ve been using.

Decisions to make in the new year.

I’d have thought there’s a Nikon body capable of all that? And I’m sure there’ll be something else around the corner

 

[Kieran_89]

I’d have thought there’s a Nikon body capable of all that? And I’m sure there’ll be something else around the corner

I’m using the Z8 at the moment which is great but I don’t carry it with me for street photography so it’s exclusively for landscape and Astro.

 

[nandbytes]

I’m still tempted by the A7V as an all in one body for street/landscape/astro but I don’t want to lose access to the Nikon lenses which I’ve been using.

Decisions to make in the new year.

I’m using the Z8 at the moment which is great but I don’t carry it with me for street photography so it’s exclusively for landscape and Astro.

wouldn't it better to "standardise" on Sony lenses? you can use Sony lenses with surprisingly great compatability on nikon but not the other way round.
Nikon Z does have some really nice tele primes not on Sony but I'd surprised if Nikon has something that Sony doesn't have for landscape and astro.

 

[nandbytes]

Sigma 50mm f1.2 for £899 for UK stock. Think this is quite a nice price for UK stock. not sure how long it'll last.

Sigma 50mm F1.2 DG DN Art Lens - Sony FE

The Sigma 50mm F1.2 DG DN Art for Sony FE features a bright F1.2 aperture with a 13 rounded diaphragm blades that produces beautiful bokeh effects. Utilises the latest optical design, the lens produces sharp images across the whole frame with exceptional contrast and colour. Focus breathing is...

www.ukdigital.co.uk

 

[Kieran_89]

wouldn't it better to "standardise" on Sony lenses? you can use Sony lenses with surprisingly great compatability on nikon but not the other way round.
Nikon Z does have some really nice tele primes not on Sony but I'd surprised if Nikon has something that Sony doesn't have for landscape and astro.

It would but I don’t like carrying the Z8 around with me, I’d rather a smaller body, flip out screen and access to E mount lenses.