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

Bit of an anti climax, didn’t go eerie at all like last time, just shows what that last few percentage does.
 
We have some cloud cover here. I wish I'd gone to the seaside but I had other things to do and had to be happy with stepping outside the front door but at least I have something to show Mrs WW.

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A7cII and 40mm + 10 stop at ISO 100, f8 and 1/640, spot metered. 100% crop and then some :D Nice to be able to see the shape and I was surprised how much the light level did drop.
 
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The light had a curious quality here, but the sun wasn't actually very occluded in north Oxfordshire.

We used a colander, projecting onto a sheet of paper.
 
Chinese AF zoom...

phillipreeve.net

Review: Thypoch 24-50mm 2.8 AF Voyager - phillipreeve.net

The Thypoch 24-50mm 2.8 Voyager is actually the first AF fullframe zoom lens from China. How does it compare to the competitors from
phillipreeve.net phillipreeve.net

"At the end of the day I consider this Thypoch 24-50mm 2.8 Voyager to be an interesting zoom option with some good and unexpected decisions (internal zoom, diaphragm construction) I surely didn’t see coming."
 
Clear view for us. I made a filter for the lens and some for my binoculars. I rattled a few shots off just to say I got them, but spent most of the time just looking with the binoculars on a tripod - A close up view with both eyes was pretty cool, and the stability of having them on a tripod meant we could see some nice detail and get the 3D effect.

Eclipse by Jamie Moulton, on Flickr

I tried some wider landscape shots but the dynamic range was nuts. Even down at f22 and max shutter speed I got no semblance of the crescent on my A7Cii so i hastily tried holding the filter over the smaller wide lens. I have several bracketed shots of the landscape and a filtered shot of the crescent, but I can't imagine I'll be able to merge them convincingly.

Edit: This was early on. I have shots of the slimmer crescent at maximum but it's pretty boring by itself. At least with this less obscured shot you get the sunspots.
 
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At the risk of being flamed, :p , the whole idea of watching the eclipse left me cold. The sky went ( a little bit) dark then went bright again. Neither the sun nor the moon are going to become extinct anytime soon.
 
Stephen L said:
At the risk of being flamed, :p , the whole idea of watching the eclipse left me cold. The sky went ( a little bit) dark then went bright again. Neither the sun nor the moon are going to become extinct anytime soon.
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I've discovered that a total eclipse is cool, anything else is just an anticlimax ;)
 
Some pictures from Whitby.

A7III and 24mm G.

This dog owner doesn't look too pleased, stood in the water with hands on head while the dog is having a great time.

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A couple of blokes on the pier.

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A7cII and 40mm.

I always look at this view.

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Coming back from the boat trip.

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40mm Panorama.

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Anyone using the Tamron 35-150 ? Thoughts..
 
And another request for opinions - the Sony 20-70. I would appreciate a light(ish) weight zoom.
 
Stephen L said:
And another request for opinions - the Sony 20-70. I would appreciate a light(ish) weight zoom.
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IIRC you had the Nikon 24-70mm F4 lens when you had the ZF. I find the Sony 20-70mm to be heavier IMO, it's more like the weight of the Nikon Z 24-120mm f4 if my memory serves me right... If you can are there any local shops you could try one out. What body have you bought?

When I switched over to Sony from Nikon Z earlier this year, I initially bought the Sigma ART 24-70mm f2.8ii, I hadn't realised there was a Sony 20-70mm lens available and would have bought that initially. 20mm wide end is more useful for me than f2.8.
 
Swanseajack said:
IIRC you had the Nikon 24-70mm F4 lens when you had the ZF. I find the Sony 20-70mm to be heavier IMO, it's more like the weight of the Nikon Z 24-120mm f4 if my memory serves me right... If you can are there any local shops you could try one out. What body have you bought?

When I switched over to Sony from Nikon Z earlier this year, I initially bought the Sigma ART 24-70mm f2.8ii, I hadn't realised there was a Sony 20-70mm lens available and would have bought that initially. 20mm wide end is more useful for me than f2.8.
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Thanks for that. Yes, I had the Nikon 24-70 f4 and enjoyed it. I now have the Sony A7Cii and am trying to build a small system. Unfortunately we have no camera shops within 50 miles. I should add that I am starting to prefer lenses with aperture rings - hence the Viltrox 26mm and 55mm. Something else on the radar could be the Sony 20-50 f2.8, but I don’t know if I would miss the long end.
 
Stephen L said:
And another request for opinions - the Sony 20-70. I would appreciate a light(ish) weight zoom.
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Eventually ended up with one for my A7Cii.

I tried the Sigma 24-70 but it was too front heavy and cumbersome for an EDC. Then I tried the 24-50 because I was trying to go as small and light as possible, but it just wasn't flexible enough.

The 20-70 is juuuuust right. Pairs nicely with my 70-200 f4ii in a shoulder bag which I take everywhere. For daytime/travel I couldn't ask for more. For low light/night shooting I'd choose a prime over a 2.8 zoom anyway, so the f4 on these two is fine by me.
 
jimmyjamjojo said:
Eventually ended up with one for my A7Cii.

I tried the Sigma 24-70 but it was too front heavy and cumbersome for an EDC. Then I tried the 24-50 because I was trying to go as small and light as possible, but it just wasn't flexible enough.

The 20-70 is juuuuust right. Pairs nicely with my 70-200 f4ii in a shoulder bag which I take everywhere. For daytime/travel I couldn't ask for more. For low light/night shooting I'd choose a prime over a 2.8 zoom anyway, so the f4 on these two is fine by me.
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Good to hear, thank you.
 
Stephen L said:
Thanks for that. Yes, I had the Nikon 24-70 f4 and enjoyed it. I now have the Sony A7Cii and am trying to build a small system. Unfortunately we have no camera shops within 50 miles. I should add that I am starting to prefer lenses with aperture rings - hence the Viltrox 26mm and 55mm. Something else on the radar could be the Sony 20-50 f2.8, but I don’t know if I would miss the long end.
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I just looked at the weights on the lenses I mentioned in my earlier post and my memory is playing havoc with me (Fibrofog)

Sony 20-70mm F4 = 488 gms

Nikon Z 24-70mm f4 = 500 gms

Nikon Z 24-120mm f4 = 630 gms

So if you was fine with the Z 24-70mm hopefully you will be okay with the Sony 20-70mm.

Also, do you mean the Sony 24-50mm f2.8. lens which is 440 gms? .
 
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Just a grab shot of Mistletoe. She hates having a camera pointed at her. This with the A7Cii and Viltrox 55mm EVO at f3.2, uncropped.

A7C04004.jpg by Stephen Lee, on Flickr
 
Swanseajack said:
I just looked at the weights on the lenses I mentioned in my earlier post and my memory is playing havoc with me (Fibrofog)

Sony 20-70mm F4 = 488 gms

Nikon Z 24-70mm f4 = 500 gms

Nikon Z 24-120mm f4 = 630 gms

So if you was fine with the Z 24-70mm hopefully you will be okay with the Sony 20-70mm.

Also, do you mean the Sony 24-50mm f2.8. lens which is 440 gms? .
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Yes, I do. I was getting my focal lengths mixed up. Old age and all that. :p

But that Sony 20-70 is sounding very promising. Just reluctant to pay full price for it!
 
Stephen L said:
Yes, I do. I was getting my focal lengths mixed up. Old age and all that. :p

But that Sony 20-70 is sounding very promising. Just reluctant to pay full price for it!
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Cotswold cameras have them at a pretty good price at the moment... If you don't mind grey.
 
jimmyjamjojo said:
Cotswold cameras have them at a pretty good price at the moment... If you don't mind grey.
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Thanks - I have just seen them at E-Infin for £693, so I have ordered one. My personal experiences with E-Infin have been very good. Slightly less so with Cotswold (not that they were bad, just poor/non-existent comms)

Some saving from UK at £1300!
 
trevorbray said:
Sweet portrait. I also have this lens. Don’t often use it but really like it.
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She’s getting on a bit now. She’s a rescue so we don’t know her background, only how she was rescued, but she’s around 13 years old. We've had her over 10 years now.
 
I built another watch. It's an Explorer II homage with a Seiko NH35 movement. I have parts for another one on the way and once that one is done I'll have done 10 and I think I should really stop as just like you can have too many film era 50's you can also have too many watches.

A7cII, 40mm and No.4 close up filter.

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I like this one.
 
trevorbray said:
Anyone using the Tamron 35-150 ? Thoughts..
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I’ve got the Samyang 35-150/2 -2.8 (their version of the same thing). Some comments on them earlier in the thread, not sure if they’re relevant to you or just the Tamron version. Short version: great lens in all ways except it’s a big chunky heavy lens. But you get performance for the weight if you value the fast aperture.
 
the_accidental said:
I’ve got the Samyang 35-150/2 -2.8 (their version of the same thing). Some comments on them earlier in the thread, not sure if they’re relevant to you or just the Tamron version. Short version: great lens in all ways except it’s a big chunky heavy lens. But you get performance for the weight if you value the fast aperture.
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Thanks. Appreciate you taking the time to reply.
 
Hogboy said:
Really impressed by the Viltrox 26mm 2.8, feels very premium...
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I've been interested in this but reports of slow focusing and poor flare resistance and the lack of a filter thread put me off so I'll be interested to read your thoughts and see some pictures.

What I'd really like is a compact f2 or even wider 28mm so I think I've decided to wait and see what the rumoured Sony 28mm f1.8 is like but I can't see it being a compact lens. Other than that I could just stick with the Sony 24mm G.
 
woof woof said:
I've been interested in this but reports of slow focusing and poor flare resistance and the lack of a filter thread put me off so I'll be interested to read your thoughts and see some pictures.

What I'd really like is a compact f2 or even wider 28mm so I think I've decided to wait and see what the rumoured Sony 28mm f1.8 is like but I can't see it being a compact lens. Other than that I could just stick with the Sony 24mm G.
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Focussing isn't instant but it's certainly fast enough. Not seen any reports of flare (and I've viewed lots of Youtube videos!), and it DOES have a filter thread - 43mm. Still not had a chance to get out to use it but I will ;post some when I do.
 
Stephen L said:
Focussing isn't instant but it's certainly fast enough. Not seen any reports of flare (and I've viewed lots of Youtube videos!), and it DOES have a filter thread - 43mm. Still not had a chance to get out to use it but I will ;post some when I do.
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You sure it's not on the lens hood?

If it is in the hood which is what I believe at the moment until you correct me then that isn't ideal and is a negative for me. YMMV.

I've lost a lot of confidence in reviewers after buying cheap and not so cheap Chinese lenses and finding blindingly obvious problems which reviewers somehow missed and didn't reply to messages about. I watch and read reviews but I also place a lot of weight on what users say and some users in other places are reporting focus and flare issues.

First review I Googled to... shows the lens cap arrangement and what is IMO slow focus.

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OY1cOeTbelA
 
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Bit late to the party as I haven't been getting alerts for this thread for some reason.

I have the 20-70mm f4. It's an excellent lens, sharp, quick focus, and relatively light. It's not a 'special' lens per se, but it does what it's supposed to with aplomb.
 
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