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

jimmyjamjojo said:
I have one. Not used it in anger yet but not seen anything unpleasant in testing. Thing is so light i question if there's any glass in it at all!
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Thanks. What's the edge and corner sharpness like, and is the AF realiable?
 
snerkler said:
Thanks. What's the edge and corner sharpness like, and is the AF realiable?
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Edges are fine. Extreme corners see a little weirdness, but it looks more like the usual ultrawide distortion/stretching rather than softness or field curvature. AF is as good as any other lens, though I haven't given it anything particularly taxing - I suspect it will be as good as any body allows it to be.

I may be the wrong guy to ask though. I rarely do ultrawide work, so this will just sit in my bag except for the 2-3 times a year i might need it. As such, I'm probably not as discerning as somebody who's bread and butter is ultrawide landscapes.
 
jimmyjamjojo said:
Edges are fine. Extreme corners see a little weirdness, but it looks more like the usual ultrawide distortion/stretching rather than softness or field curvature. AF is as good as any other lens, though I haven't given it anything particularly taxing - I suspect it will be as good as any body allows it to be.

I may be the wrong guy to ask though. I rarely do ultrawide work, so this will just sit in my bag except for the 2-3 times a year i might need it. As such, I'm probably not as discerning as somebody who's bread and butter is ultrawide landscapes.
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Thanks (y)
 
Probably the best "bang for the buck" lens I've bought.
It only cost me £150 new.
Here are some examples shot on the a7cii
Please keep in mind that I'm not a shooter that examines every section of an image - I'm easily pleased and I'm certainly pleased with this wee lens :LOL:


]
55341949055_8ebcb9e26a_b.jpg
[/url]River Spey by Mike Stephen, on Flickr

Findochty Coastline by Mike Stephen, on Flickr

Spitfire by Mike Stephen, on Flickr

Don Footpath by Mike Stephen, on Flickr

River Don Path by Mike Stephen, on Flickr
 
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mstphoto said:
Probably the best "bang for the buck" lens I've bought.
It only cost me £150 new.
Here are some examples shot on the a7cii
Please keep in mind that I'm not a shooter that examines every section of an image - I'm easily pleased and I'm certainly pleased with this wee lens :LOL:


]
55341949055_8ebcb9e26a_b.jpg
[/url]River Spey by Mike Stephen, on Flickr

Findochty Coastline by Mike Stephen, on Flickr

Spitfire by Mike Stephen, on Flickr

Don Footpath by Mike Stephen, on Flickr

River Don Path by Mike Stephen, on Flickr
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Those look pretty good for such a wide angle lens :)

Nice one :)
 
mstphoto said:
Probably the best "bang for the buck" lens I've bought.
It only cost me £150 new.
Here are some examples shot on the a7cii
Please keep in mind that I'm not a shooter that examines every section of an image - I'm easily pleased and I'm certainly pleased with this wee lens :LOL:


]
55341949055_8ebcb9e26a_b.jpg
[/url]River Spey by Mike Stephen, on Flickr

Findochty Coastline by Mike Stephen, on Flickr

Spitfire by Mike Stephen, on Flickr

Don Footpath by Mike Stephen, on Flickr

River Don Path by Mike Stephen, on Flickr
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I’ll look properly when I’m on the computer but they look good on my phone (y)
 
Do we think Sony will ever release an A7c camera with a joystick, or at least direct Dpad control of the AF point?
 
snerkler said:
Do we think Sony will ever release an A7c camera with a joystick, or at least direct Dpad control of the AF point?
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Never say never, they initially targeted the C range at the budget option but it sells really well, I'd love them to do a no expense spared while keeping the size of the C.
Better screen, better EVF, global sensor. As it is with how I use my camera these days I'll just accept the bigger size and go with a standard A7.
 
snerkler said:
Do we think Sony will ever release an A7c camera with a joystick, or at least direct Dpad control of the AF point?
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The rear wheel is dual purpose, Toby
Press the centre button and it can be used to cycle through and make adjustments such as ISO, Drive Mode etc.
Press the button in the middle again and then you can move the focus point
 
robj20 said:
Jealous I'd love the A7RVI, but so much more than the A7V. See if it drops much by the end of the year.
Seems like it has only positives with the only negative being larger for size.
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It’s already dropped down to £3200 via grey market sellers, it’ll be under £3k before the end of the year.
 
snerkler said:
Do we think Sony will ever release an A7c camera with a joystick, or at least direct Dpad control of the AF point?
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Yes. About 15 years after everyone else has one but they'll drop a custom button or some other feature when they add it.

It's not something that bothers me though as using the back buttons to move the focus point doesn't seem too much hassle to me but I might miss something they delete. I'd rather they did other things first such as add a do it all screen or just give the option of buying the camera with either tilt or articulating, include ISO's lower than 100 in Auto ISO, include auto switching between mechanical and electronic shutter and either up the mechanical shutter speed to something above 1/8,000 or make electronic shutter issues non issues. Also, do something radical and unexpected to reduce sensor contamination, if anything is possible.
 
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Kieran_89 said:
It’s already dropped down to £3200 via grey market sellers, it’ll be under £3k before the end of the year.
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I'd want it closer to 2k.
Probably stick with the A7V to be honest, that's a price I'm happy with and might be even cheaper at the end of the year.
 
85mm f1.2 coming?

Meike announced the development of a new 85mm f/1.2 FE lens | sonyalpharumors

Meike has officially announced the development of the AF 85mm F1.2 lens—a full-frame, autofocus prime lens featuring a fast F1.2 aperture. It will utilize Meike’s latest proprietary technology, prioritizing weight reduction while maintaining high optical quality; the optical design is already...
www.sonyalpharumors.com www.sonyalpharumors.com
 
A few weeks ago I posted that I'd got some stubborn marks on my sensor that was thought to be pollen. 5 wet wipes later and they've still not budged, I've attached the full image and then a 1:1 close up, what do they look like to others?

If I took it to a store for a 'prefessional' clean would they do anything other then use wet swabs like I've done?

On another note, I'd strongly advise not using the K&F swabs, the fluid leaves streaks which are really difficult to get off.

Screenshot 2026-07-08 at 15.10.58.jpgScreenshot 2026-07-08 at 15.11.08.jpg
 
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robj20 said:
Never say never, they initially targeted the C range at the budget option but it sells really well, I'd love them to do a no expense spared while keeping the size of the C.
Better screen, better EVF, global sensor. As it is with how I use my camera these days I'll just accept the bigger size and go with a standard A7.
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Yeah it would be nice, I forgot how many things were missing until I read Alan's post (below)
mstphoto said:
The rear wheel is dual purpose, Toby
Press the centre button and it can be used to cycle through and make adjustments such as ISO, Drive Mode etc.
Press the button in the middle again and then you can move the focus point
Click to expand...
Can it be set to move the AF point without having to press another button first? In the past you always had to press the middle button and then the D-Pad to move the AF point
woof woof said:
Yes. About 15 years after everyone else has one but they'll drop a custom button or some other feature when they add it.

It's not something that bothers me though as using the back buttons to move the focus point doesn't seem too much hassle to me but I might miss something they delete. I'd rather they did other things first such as add a do it all screen or just give the option of buying the camera with either tilt or articulating, include ISO's lower than 100 in Auto ISO, include auto switching between mechanical and electronic shutter and either up the mechanical shutter speed to something above 1/8,000 or make electronic shutter issues non issues. Also, do something radical and unexpected to reduce sensor contamination, if anything is possible.
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I forgot about the 1/8000 shutter speed and vari angle screen. Currently there's too many negative to make me think about getting one.
 
snerkler said:
A few weeks ago I posted that I'd got some stubborn marks on my sensor that was thought to be pollen. 5 wet wipes later and they've still not budged, I've attached the full image and then a 1:1 close up, what do they look like to others?

If I took it to a store for a 'prefessional' clean would they do anything other then use wet swabs like I've done?

On another note, I'd strongly advise using the K&F swabs, the fluid leaves streaks which are really difficult to get off.

View attachment 487006View attachment 487007
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Which Fluid are you using, I've found that some brands are definitely more streaky than others

I've had good results with Visible Dust VDust Plus fluid

They definitely look like stubborn marks, defects like cracks in the sensor glass look different. I would suggest perserving with wet cleaning, sometimes stubborn marks can take several goes. It is worth leaving the sensor after you have wet it with a swab, so that it gets a chance to soak in around the mark.
 
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Mr Perceptive said:
Which Fluid are you using, I've found that some brands are definitely more streaky than others

I've had good results with Visible Dust VDust Plus fluid

They definitely look like stubborn marks, defects like cracks in the sensor glass look different. I would suggest perserving with wet cleaning, sometimes stubborn marks can take several goes. It is worth leaving the sensor after you have wet it with a swab, so that it gets a chance to soak in around the mark.
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I've done that, and then it was a nighmare getting the fluid marks off :lol:

I've tried UES and K&F, I won't be using K&F again. I've thought about trying a gel pen but I don't know if that would work given how stubborn it is. I'm tempted to try a store, but it's not cheap at £49.99 :oops: :$
 
snerkler said:
I've done that, and then it was a nighmare getting the fluid marks off :lol:

I've tried UES and K&F, I won't be using K&F again. I've thought about trying a gel pen but I don't know if that would work given how stubborn it is. I'm tempted to try a store, but it's not cheap at £49.99 :oops: :$
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Toby, please don't use cheap products on a decent camera (you wouldn't put some far eastern ditchfinder specials on your car/bike, would you?), it deserves better. Just get some Visible Dust Cleaning fluid and swabs (the corner swabs can be good for stubborn mnarks). I've cleaned hundreds of sensors (lots of industrial cameras for work which can be in really sh**ty environments, along with my own 'hobby' cameras) and stand by the Visible Dust products, I've been using them for 15+ years without any issues, and I've always been able to remove marks (and yes sometimes it takes several go's). The only thing I couldn't remove was a crack in the sensor glass on my X-T2, it had a hard imapct, and initially nothing showed, then over the next few weeks a mark appeared that was crack (bit like a car windscreen). Amazingly Fuji repaired it FOC even though it was 8 days out of warranty. I did explain to them what had happened!!!
 
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snerkler said:
Yeah it would be nice, I forgot how many things were missing until I read Alan's post (below)

Can it be set to move the AF point without having to press another button first? In the past you always had to press the middle button and then the D-Pad to move the AF point

I forgot about the 1/8000 shutter speed and vari angle screen. Currently there's too many negative to make me think about getting one.
Click to expand...

I think you have to try and balance things in your mind. I was reluctant to get the A7cII despite Nandbites repeatedly telling me it was the camera for me (sorry for not listening, you were right... I'll always listen to you now) but once I got one for me the positives easily outweigh the negatives to the point that I'd like another to replace my A7III. Even for me who obsesses and picks fault with most things and can't unsee things, sometimes you have to just accept things are good enough especially when compared to the alternatives to override the negatives. For me on balance the A7cII is way ahead of even the A7III.

Negatives for me,
I can't seen to get used to the articulating screen as ideally most of the time I want the screen to be in line with the lens and tilting. It's an issue. I have to make sure I don't tilt the camera and get a wonky shot. I don't seem to have that issue with a tilting screen.

I do sometimes use f1.x in good light so that means using the electronic shutter but luckily very few of my wide aperture shots include movement so it's not really an issue, so far. As I've said in the past, for whatever reason I seem to get better results when using f1.x and ISO 50 than shooting at 100 and getting an over exposed shot and adjusting post capture. Maybe it's just me. I leave it on auto ISO unless making a deliberate decision to select something else.

Manually selecting mechanical or electronic shutter is a pain so I just leave it on electronic unless making a deliberate decision to go mechanical.

Positives.
Better IQ than I've ever had.
Great eye detect which seems to work when the eye is insanely small in the frame and it seems to work well for animals too.
And a biggie for me... Having this IQ and focus ability in such a small package, when you use a smaller lens. The A7cII and 35mm f2.8 and 40 and 24mm mini G's mean that I'm hardly using MFT now and I've lost all interest in looking at other things like the Fuji X100 range and their changeable lens RF style camera, I forget what it's called. I don't see any advantage in APS-C or MFT now apart from when they have an in built flash or with some specific body and lens combinations like MFT+45-150mm or 100-400mm. My GX80 and 14mm f2.5 or 20mm f1.7 isn't significantly smaller enough than my A7cII and mini G lens to make any difference but the IQ and focus abilities of the Sony are way ahead.

Just on no joystick.
I really don't miss it but another way to do it is to use tracking, focus on your main point of interest, recompose and the focus point should stay there.

And a PS to the above on small lenses. I wish they'd do a mini 28mm. I have the f2 but I'm disappointed in it as performance across the frame could be better and the corners are IMO poor. If they did a mini 28mm I might just swap my 24mm G for it.
 
Mr Perceptive said:
Toby, please don't use cheap products on a decent camera (you wouldn't put some far eastern ditchfinder specials on your car/bike, would you?), it deserves better. Just get some Visible Dust Cleaning fluid and swabs (the corner swabs can be good for stubborn mnarks). I've cleaned hundreds of sensors (lots of industrial cameras for work which can be in really sh**ty environments, along with my own 'hobby' cameras) and stand by the Visible Dust products, I've been using them for 15+ years without any issues, and I've always been able to remove marks (and yes sometimes it takes several go's). The only thing I couldn't remove was a crack in the sensor glass on my X-T2, it had a hard imapct, and initially nothing showed, then over the next few weeks a mark appeared that was crack (bit like a car windscreen). Amazingly Fuji repaired it FOC even though it was 8 days out of warranty. I did explain to them what had happened!!!
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I didn't think I had used cheap products, I went for the ones with the highest ratings. On amazon the visible dust ones only get 3.7/5 :thinking: However, I've just ordered some Visible Dust Extra Strength stuff (y)
woof woof said:
I think you have to try and balance things in your mind. I was reluctant to get the A7cII despite Nandbites repeatedly telling me it was the camera for me (sorry for not listening, you were right... I'll always listen to you now) but once I got one for me the positives easily outweigh the negatives to the point that I'd like another to replace my A7III. Even for me who obsesses and picks fault with most things and can't unsee things, sometimes you have to just accept things are good enough especially when compared to the alternatives to override the negatives. For me on balance the A7cII is way ahead of even the A7III.

Negatives for me,
I can't seen to get used to the articulating screen as ideally most of the time I want the screen to be in line with the lens and tilting. It's an issue. I have to make sure I don't tilt the camera and get a wonky shot. I don't seem to have that issue with a tilting screen.

I do sometimes use f1.x in good light so that means using the electronic shutter but luckily very few of my wide aperture shots include movement so it's not really an issue, so far. As I've said in the past, for whatever reason I seem to get better results when using f1.x and ISO 50 than shooting at 100 and getting an over exposed shot and adjusting post capture. Maybe it's just me. I leave it on auto ISO unless making a deliberate decision to select something else.

Manually selecting mechanical or electronic shutter is a pain so I just leave it on electronic unless making a deliberate decision to go mechanical.

Positives.
Better IQ than I've ever had.
Great eye detect which seems to work when the eye is insanely small in the frame and it seems to work well for animals too.
And a biggie for me... Having this IQ and focus ability in such a small package, when you use a smaller lens. The A7cII and 35mm f2.8 and 40 and 24mm mini G's mean that I'm hardly using MFT now and I've lost all interest in looking at other things like the Fuji X100 range and their changeable lens RF style camera, I forget what it's called. I don't see any advantage in APS-C or MFT now apart from when they have an in built flash or with some specific body and lens combinations like MFT+45-150mm or 100-400mm. My GX80 and 14mm f2.5 or 20mm f1.7 isn't significantly smaller enough than my A7cII and mini G lens to make any difference but the IQ and focus abilities of the Sony are way ahead.

Just on no joystick.
I really don't miss it but another way to do it is to use tracking, focus on your main point of interest, recompose and the focus point should stay there.

And a PS to the above on small lenses. I wish they'd do a mini 28mm. I have the f2 but I'm disappointed in it as performance across the frame could be better and the corners are IMO poor. If they did a mini 28mm I might just swap my 24mm G for it.
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I was looking more out of curiosity as much as anything, but I could have been tempted, as it is there's too many negatives. Whilst none are big deals but themselves they do add up and would frustrate me. I remember when I tried one a few years back I wasn't too keen on the EVF either, I found it a bit awkward to look through (I'm a left eye shooter)
 
snerkler said:
I was looking more out of curiosity as much as anything, but I could have been tempted, as it is there's too many negatives. Whilst none are big deals but themselves they do add up and would frustrate me. I remember when I tried one a few years back I wasn't too keen on the EVF either, I found it a bit awkward to look through (I'm a left eye shooter)
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But you're ok with the similarly RF styled X100? I prefer RF style cameras for the lack of VF hump.

I do hope some of my annoyances are cured in future cameras but Sony do seem to be very slow to move on some things. Until something else comes out I can't see myself swapping the A7cII for anything else and my MFT kit is only saved because I can't see myself ever having a long FF Sony zoom.
 
woof woof said:
But you're ok with the similarly RF styled X100? I prefer RF style cameras for the lack of VF hump.

I do hope some of my annoyances are cured in future cameras but Sony do seem to be very slow to move on some things. Until something else comes out I can't see myself swapping the A7cII for anything else and my MFT kit is only saved because I can't see myself ever having a long FF Sony zoom.
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Yeah, I find the X100VI EVF easier to look through. Not as easy (or good quality) as my A1, but easier than the A7c series. I think the A7c ones are quite long and thin. I guess if I was truly interested I could look at a different eye cup but they'd need to fix the other issues first (y)

I know that it's being picky and they're all first world issues, but I've been spoilt by the A1 ;)
 
LeeRatters said:
I did dust the old Sony off for a few evenings out whilst in Cornwall - Can't resist a f/1.4 landscape :)


*** by Lee, on Flickr
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Very nice, although the horizon looks a bit wonky :p

Have you used a mist filter for this, if so what strength please?
 
snerkler said:
Very nice, although the horizon looks a bit wonky :p

Have you used a mist filter for this, if so what strength please?
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ancient_mariner said:
I think (hope) that's a cloud bank. ;)
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It was a big cloud bank that went all the way around - I had about 10 minutes before the sun dropped behind it so lucky I got there extra early!!

I can't remember if I used a mist or not tbh The light was pretty soft anyway though.
 
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