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

Today was an A9 + FE 55mm f1.8 Zeiss day, tomorrow will be testing the 70-200mm on the A73.

Lovely Lady by Dave, on Flickr

I'm the sort of person that always has a temperature... well when you test by applying the back of hand to the forehead.. I'm dreading the first time I try to get into a place where they test before you letting you in
 
One of the worst incidents for me was once on an A road doing 50mph in my Elan SE when a bloke on a motorbike who had been behind me behaving himself overtook me and put his hand out and whacked my wing mirror which then dangled by the bits and bobs as he accelerated away. I just sat for a moment and then the red mist descended and my right foot went to the floor. He spotted me coming and took the next exit into town and I followed, we stopped at a red light at the end of the slip road with me just a car behind him, I took my seat belt off and started to get out of the car and he went through the red light and the traffic and I saw him do the same at the next red light, straight through. That incident shook me up as if I'd got hold of him I'd have assaulted him and probably ended up in court. He'd probably have lived but being hit by traffic as he went through two red lights could have been more serious than potentially getting a smack from me. Incidents were most common on nice sunny days when I had the top down. Nice sunny days and having the top down both seemed to enrage idiots.

On the positive side no MX5 I've owned has ever been vandalised or created that level of loonacy. The Elan SE, Elise and Boxster were the worst for this and I could never really understand why as they weren't overly expensive and a hatch/family car could cost more so I don't think it was the money aspect that people hated more that they saw someone who was enjoying the experience and just wanted to spoil it.

I must say, I've never had anything along the lines of that happen with actual damage.

We saw a nice early Lotus Esprit today over the Mendips. Cheddar had some nice cars and bikes going up and down too but that's the norm in amongst the cyclists....! ;)
 
Took the Tamron for its first test at indoor equestrian. Initial results are disappointing to be honest.

Maybe it’s a bad copy but compared to the GM at same venue and mirrored settings the Tamron just didn’t not perform as well as I expected at 2.8.

Also, for me, the extra 20mm on the GM is noticeable.
 
Evening Guys,

I’m looking for some advice, I’m wanting some longer glass to pair with my a7r3 that’s been sat doing nothing due to ill health(mine not it’s). Money’s tight at the moment so am thinking third party. What would you suggest I try? I’m into Bird and Classic Car Photography.

Cheers

Andy
 
Gradually grinding my way through processing the last couple of weeks pictures. Took (too many) pictures of the Acropolis from Filopappas hill at sundown - Athens is in a bowl-shape piece of land that used to trap the pollution causing grey sunsets, however Covid has helped clear the air & the old stone glows again.

Closer
Acropolis at sundown from Filopappas hill-02198 by Toni Ertl, on Flickr

Further back
Acropolis at sundown from Filopappas hill-02202 by Toni Ertl, on Flickr

Looking the other way towards Piraeus port a few minutes later (I did nothing to the colours - just set highlights/shadows & levels).
Sunset from Filopappas hill-02214 by Toni Ertl, on Flickr

All shot using the 24-105. It's interesting coming back to this lens after a long break, finding that when sharpening in LR I'm using 90-100 units of sharpening compared to 50-65 with the primes, plus adding clarity instead of reducing it. Partly it's because I want punchy crisp images for travel, but partly also it just seems to need a bit of a 'push'.
 
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Took the Tamron for its first test at indoor equestrian. Initial results are disappointing to be honest.

Maybe it’s a bad copy but compared to the GM at same venue and mirrored settings the Tamron just didn’t not perform as well as I expected at 2.8.

Also, for me, the extra 20mm on the GM is noticeable.

It was a bad call swapping out the GM for the Tamron. The Tamron is a decent enough lens and while the G.M is much more expensive lens the extra advantages are clear when using the lens for anything semi serious.

Honestly it was madness swapping the G.M for the Tamron. The Tamron is a great lens for those that just have a need of a longer f/2.8 lens now and again and want a reasonably priced option.
 
Evening Guys,

I’m looking for some advice, I’m wanting some longer glass to pair with my a7r3 that’s been sat doing nothing due to ill health(mine not it’s). Money’s tight at the moment so am thinking third party. What would you suggest I try? I’m into Bird and Classic Car Photography.

Cheers

Andy

One these....
Tamron 70-180mm f2.8
New Tamron 70-300mm
New Sigma 100-400mm

The first two aren't really long enough for birds. But could good for Motorsports
 
Took the Tamron for its first test at indoor equestrian. Initial results are disappointing to be honest.

Maybe it’s a bad copy but compared to the GM at same venue and mirrored settings the Tamron just didn’t not perform as well as I expected at 2.8.

Also, for me, the extra 20mm on the GM is noticeable.

How do you mean?
AF or image quality or both?

The extra 20mm is definitely noticeable
 
mFpWZ18.jpg
Nice
 
Took the Tamron for its first test at indoor equestrian. Initial results are disappointing to be honest.

Maybe it’s a bad copy but compared to the GM at same venue and mirrored settings the Tamron just didn’t not perform as well as I expected at 2.8.

Also, for me, the extra 20mm on the GM is noticeable.
That's a shame, what exactly was poor, IQ or AF? Can you post examples?
Evening Guys,

I’m looking for some advice, I’m wanting some longer glass to pair with my a7r3 that’s been sat doing nothing due to ill health(mine not it’s). Money’s tight at the moment so am thinking third party. What would you suggest I try? I’m into Bird and Classic Car Photography.

Cheers

Andy
For bird photography reach is everything, not sure whether you could afford a Sigma 150-600mm and adapter? For classic cars The 50mm f1.8 would be a good option, AF is poor but that won't be an issue for static things. Another good option is the Samyang 45mm f1.8. If you want something a bit wider the new Samyang 35mm f1.8 could be a good option.
Gradually grinding my way through processing the last couple of weeks pictures. Took (too many) pictures of the Acropolis from Filopappas hill at sundown - Athens is in a bowl-shape piece of land that used to trap the pollution causing grey sunsets, however Covid has helped clear the air & the old stone glows again.

Closer
Acropolis at sundown from Filopappas hill-02198 by Toni Ertl, on Flickr

Further back
Acropolis at sundown from Filopappas hill-02202 by Toni Ertl, on Flickr

Looking the other way towards Piraeus port a few minutes later (I did nothing to the colours - just set highlights/shadows & levels).
Sunset from Filopappas hill-02214 by Toni Ertl, on Flickr

All shot using the 24-105. It's interesting coming back to this lens after a long break, finding that when sharpening in LR I'm using 90-100 units of sharpening compared to 50-65 with the primes, plus adding clarity instead of reducing it. Partly it's because I want punchy crisp images for travel, but partly also it just seems to need a bit of a 'push'.
1st photo is great. You shouldn't need that much sharpening imo, I'd say those are a little over sharpened to my taste is I'm starting to see sharpening artefacts even at these viewing sizes.

Edit: I take that back, you have the opposite problem to me in that this site has over sharpened your images (mine are always soft on here), I've just viewed the large size on Flickr and te=hey're not oversharpened. Maybe atmospheric influences?
 
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Gradually grinding my way through processing the last couple of weeks pictures. Took (too many) pictures of the Acropolis from Filopappas hill at sundown - Athens is in a bowl-shape piece of land that used to trap the pollution causing grey sunsets, however Covid has helped clear the air & the old stone glows again.

Closer
Acropolis at sundown from Filopappas hill-02198 by Toni Ertl, on Flickr

Further back
Acropolis at sundown from Filopappas hill-02202 by Toni Ertl, on Flickr

Looking the other way towards Piraeus port a few minutes later (I did nothing to the colours - just set highlights/shadows & levels).
Sunset from Filopappas hill-02214 by Toni Ertl, on Flickr

All shot using the 24-105. It's interesting coming back to this lens after a long break, finding that when sharpening in LR I'm using 90-100 units of sharpening compared to 50-65 with the primes, plus adding clarity instead of reducing it. Partly it's because I want punchy crisp images for travel, but partly also it just seems to need a bit of a 'push'.

Three very nice landscape style shots Toni, liking all of these very much with my fav' being #1.

George.
 
Gradually grinding my way through processing the last couple of weeks pictures. Took (too many) pictures of the Acropolis from Filopappas hill at sundown - Athens is in a bowl-shape piece of land that used to trap the pollution causing grey sunsets, however Covid has helped clear the air & the old stone glows again.

Closer
Acropolis at sundown from Filopappas hill-02198 by Toni Ertl, on Flickr

Further back
Acropolis at sundown from Filopappas hill-02202 by Toni Ertl, on Flickr

Looking the other way towards Piraeus port a few minutes later (I did nothing to the colours - just set highlights/shadows & levels).
Sunset from Filopappas hill-02214 by Toni Ertl, on Flickr

All shot using the 24-105. It's interesting coming back to this lens after a long break, finding that when sharpening in LR I'm using 90-100 units of sharpening compared to 50-65 with the primes, plus adding clarity instead of reducing it. Partly it's because I want punchy crisp images for travel, but partly also it just seems to need a bit of a 'push'.


Great set of images Toni, love the #1 image the most.
 
Still small though (y)


Sorry to hear you've had some bad experiences, not nice that. Not sure if the example above was anything to do with having a nice car though, and more a 'road rage' type incident (clearly guessing as I wasn't there).

I don't see how as road rage is normally something like one motorist cutting another up and the other reacting whereas in my case I was bumbling along doing 50mph in a 50mph limit and suffered an unprovoked act of deliberate vandalism. Ok I then suffered road rage as I reacted but it was his unprovoked and deliberate act that set me off.

Anyway. Enough of this.
 
I've been enjoying the Nikon 28mm f2.8 series e and fancied the 28mm f2.8 ai-s which I've read is very good but for not a lot more I could get a Sony 28mm f2. I know they're completely different lenses and I could always get both :D

I got the series e as it's small and cheap and because I've read it's terrible and one of the worst lenses Nikon has ever made so that got me interested. The one I got is in just about perfect condition, there's vignetting and other than that mushy extreme corners but you can get that with newer and more expensive lens so I don't think it's all that bad. Maybe there's sample variation and the people saying it's terrible just had a terrible copy.

Day out pictures.

Snack.

lUGsHI3.jpg


100% from that. Posting may kill it but it's sharp enough on my screen.

XFNSPbs.jpg


Just a view through a gap in the bushes.

hsD9gv3.jpg


She got there first.

N9jrxIN.jpg


It's not a great lens but it's not terrible either. I just thought it might be nice to get a better 28mm :D
 
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Probably Leica prices But with a free wheelbarrow to carry them in ;)

If this happens it'll be unacknowledged by the Nikon fanboys at Luminous Landscape who insist that the Sony mount isn't wide enough for f1.2.

I bought two lenses today, an old Nikon 28mm f2.8 and a used Sony 28mm f2. But, I did some internet banking, moved some money and the better accounts will pay for the lenses. So, they're free! :D
 
If this happens it'll be unacknowledged by the Nikon fanboys at Luminous Landscape who insist that the Sony mount isn't wide enough for f1.2.

I bought two lenses today, an old Nikon 28mm f2.8 and a used Sony 28mm f2. But, I did some internet banking, moved some money and the better accounts will pay for the lenses. So, they're free! :D

Free are the best type of lenses :D
 
If this happens it'll be unacknowledged by the Nikon fanboys at Luminous Landscape who insist that the Sony mount isn't wide enough for f1.2.

I bought two lenses today, an old Nikon 28mm f2.8 and a used Sony 28mm f2. But, I did some internet banking, moved some money and the better accounts will pay for the lenses. So, they're free! :D
Love man-maths! :D
 
I have waited a long time for this. In fact, we've waited a long time for this!!

2006 | I'd just fitted the 1700 x-flow engine that I built & took the Escort for a test drive down to Cheddar Gorge with Katie-May strapped in the front seat! Took this on my Fujifilm S9500 when I really was taking 'snapshots' & didn't really have a clue what I was doing - it was basically a digital camera to me back then for photos of the kids etc


***
by Lee, on Flickr

In 2009 I fitted a 2.1 engine with a 5 speed gearbox. About 6 months later I took the car off the road as it was rotten...... Fast forward 6 years to 2015 & she was back on the road. I'd divorced in the meantime & swapped a few jobs & it wasn't until I was moving in with my girlfriend a few years back that I found the above 2006 photo (which is framed) & decided that one day, one day, I would drag us all out & we'd re-shoot that 'then' photo 'now' :) Well, that took a while for timing & finding the actual time itself & the weather to all play ball but on Sunday morning we managed it!!

14 years between the two images :) I'm so happy with this right now :)


***
by Lee, on Flickr
 
I have waited a long time for this. In fact, we've waited a long time for this!!

2006 | I'd just fitted the 1700 x-flow engine that I built & took the Escort for a test drive down to Cheddar Gorge with Katie-May strapped in the front seat! Took this on my Fujifilm S9500 when I really was taking 'snapshots' & didn't really have a clue what I was doing - it was basically a digital camera to me back then for photos of the kids etc


***
by Lee, on Flickr

In 2009 I fitted a 2.1 engine with a 5 speed gearbox. About 6 months later I took the car off the road as it was rotten...... Fast forward 6 years to 2015 & she was back on the road. I'd divorced in the meantime & swapped a few jobs & it wasn't until I was moving in with my girlfriend a few years back that I found the above 2006 photo (which is framed) & decided that one day, one day, I would drag us all out & we'd re-shoot that 'then' photo 'now' :) Well, that took a while for timing & finding the actual time itself & the weather to all play ball but on Sunday morning we managed it!!

14 years between the two images :) I'm so happy with this right now :)


***
by Lee, on Flickr

Brilliant !! I love this story. Well done.
 
Anyone used/tried the 1.4x TC on the 70-200 GM?

Becomes F4 and 280mm? how decent is the IQ and focus speed - does it drop a lot?

will be for outdoor sports where a little bit more focal length is needed.
 
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I have waited a long time for this. In fact, we've waited a long time for this!!

2006 | I'd just fitted the 1700 x-flow engine that I built & took the Escort for a test drive down to Cheddar Gorge with Katie-May strapped in the front seat! Took this on my Fujifilm S9500 when I really was taking 'snapshots' & didn't really have a clue what I was doing - it was basically a digital camera to me back then for photos of the kids etc


***
by Lee, on Flickr

In 2009 I fitted a 2.1 engine with a 5 speed gearbox. About 6 months later I took the car off the road as it was rotten...... Fast forward 6 years to 2015 & she was back on the road. I'd divorced in the meantime & swapped a few jobs & it wasn't until I was moving in with my girlfriend a few years back that I found the above 2006 photo (which is framed) & decided that one day, one day, I would drag us all out & we'd re-shoot that 'then' photo 'now' :) Well, that took a while for timing & finding the actual time itself & the weather to all play ball but on Sunday morning we managed it!!

14 years between the two images :) I'm so happy with this right now :)


***
by Lee, on Flickr
Sensational
 
I have waited a long time for this. In fact, we've waited a long time for this!!

2006 | I'd just fitted the 1700 x-flow engine that I built & took the Escort for a test drive down to Cheddar Gorge with Katie-May strapped in the front seat! Took this on my Fujifilm S9500 when I really was taking 'snapshots' & didn't really have a clue what I was doing - it was basically a digital camera to me back then for photos of the kids etc


***
by Lee, on Flickr

In 2009 I fitted a 2.1 engine with a 5 speed gearbox. About 6 months later I took the car off the road as it was rotten...... Fast forward 6 years to 2015 & she was back on the road. I'd divorced in the meantime & swapped a few jobs & it wasn't until I was moving in with my girlfriend a few years back that I found the above 2006 photo (which is framed) & decided that one day, one day, I would drag us all out & we'd re-shoot that 'then' photo 'now' :) Well, that took a while for timing & finding the actual time itself & the weather to all play ball but on Sunday morning we managed it!!

14 years between the two images :) I'm so happy with this right now :)


***
by Lee, on Flickr

That’s some time waiting! Great story and loving the motor! More pics needed!
 
I had edited post and not saved - makes more sense now.

With 1.4x there is no noticeable drop in IQ or AF.

If 300mm is all you need this is the best option. There is no sharp, fast 300mm lens option.
 
I have waited a long time for this. In fact, we've waited a long time for this!!

2006 | I'd just fitted the 1700 x-flow engine that I built & took the Escort for a test drive down to Cheddar Gorge with Katie-May strapped in the front seat! Took this on my Fujifilm S9500 when I really was taking 'snapshots' & didn't really have a clue what I was doing - it was basically a digital camera to me back then for photos of the kids etc


***
by Lee, on Flickr

In 2009 I fitted a 2.1 engine with a 5 speed gearbox. About 6 months later I took the car off the road as it was rotten...... Fast forward 6 years to 2015 & she was back on the road. I'd divorced in the meantime & swapped a few jobs & it wasn't until I was moving in with my girlfriend a few years back that I found the above 2006 photo (which is framed) & decided that one day, one day, I would drag us all out & we'd re-shoot that 'then' photo 'now' :) Well, that took a while for timing & finding the actual time itself & the weather to all play ball but on Sunday morning we managed it!!

14 years between the two images :) I'm so happy with this right now :)


***
by Lee, on Flickr


Nice story and a great car.

We have a little spot that we go to for a photograph every year usually. Every year it gets more difficult to talk our daughters into it. We haven't got this year and I donlt think it will happen now.

Our girls would rather sit at home on their playstations or out with their friends, it is difficult to get them to spend any time with us outside of the house with us never mind trying to photograph them.

Corona hasn't helped and maybe we will get to go next year.

Prefer the wheels on the first photo btw.
 
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