The Sony A7 thread [Merged]

[IkarusJohn]

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I have no idea about the position of the exit pupil but the 28 Summicron was designed when film was still king (I think the lens was launched in 2000). It is also a lens designed as small as possible (it is faster and, I think, smaller than it's predecessor Elmarit) so I'm not sure the angle of incidence of the light rays was something the lens designers gave a great deal of thought to. The 21 Summilux, as you know, was designed in the digital M era and I'd be surprised if angle of incidence wasn't one of the primary design constraints (clearly the designers were less bothered about the size).

 

That was my supposition as well, Ian.

 

If that is correct, with the exception of the 28 Summicron, all my lenses will work well with the A7R (the 75 Summilux not having the extreme angle of incidence problem).

 

The lens I intend to use the most with the A7R is the 35 Summilux (FLE), which is the lens I use the least on my M cameras. I'm still hoping it will be a useful combination sitting in my bag. For my Monochrom, I find that I am using the 21-50-75 combination. Not light, but each has such a distinct field of view and character.

 

Cheers

John

[Rick]

Very true, Rick - if only Leica continued to service them, then I'd be very happy.

 

I wasn't aware they didn't?

[schmolinski]

I wonder if 36mp make sense on a handheld camera.

From my point of view 24mp, without image stabilization is more then enough.

 

Yes, you ca deal with that easily… look here, this is with my a7r which arrived today:

Summicron 50mm rigid f/2 6400 ISO 1/20sec.

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Summicron 50mm rigid f/2 6400 ISO 1/10sec.

 

More details here, where you can find access to full resolution images in jpg if desired.

 

And finally one with the Summilux 75 @ f/1.4 and 1/10 sec. ISO 3200 handheld

 

[helged]

The lens I intend to use the most with the A7R is the 35 Summilux (FLE), which is the lens I use the least on my M cameras. I'm still hoping it will be a useful combination sitting in my bag.

 

Tim Ashley's initial tests with 35 FLE and 18SE are not very promising, unfortunately, although 35FLE in the f5.6-f8 territory may work.

[IkarusJohn]

Tim Ashley's initial tests with 35 FLE and 18SE are not very promising, unfortunately, although 35FLE in the f5.6-f8 territory may work.

 

Hmm, not encouraging.

[algrove]

I feel bad now. Maybe, I should have offered to pay more?

 

Just go on eBay and get another and you can pay more.

[algrove]

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I'm sure it does to some extent but even if i didn't find the time (pious lie) to try my R lenses on it so far, do you really feel comfortable with this combo, i mean as comfortable as with your Canon or Nikon FF bodies?

 

For me, I have never been very interested in using R lenses on a 5D3 Canon. After I could not get one adapter to work on it I just gave up. Sure everything could be better, but I just put up with it and make it work for me. The lockup issue to me is BIG and that is the biggest impediment to using R glass on the M240, not the primitive EVF of LV or focus peaking methods.

 

Once I've got mu shooting flow down, then I just keep going until lockup.

[biglou]

Almost all (but not all, first version summicron 35mm has problems) my R lenses including the 21-35mm vario seem fine with the A7r and easy to use, i am very, very happy.

I tried the M240 before but the experience was not as good mostly because of the EVF.

Now Leica please update the M240 quickly with a better EVF, quicker electronics, no more glitches, and i would be even happier.

[lct]

Never got lockups but i can hardly stand the slow refresh rate and unbearable blackouts of the M240 in LV/EVF mode which render it useless as a digital back for my R lenses, aside from macrophoto. So far the best compromise for me remains an old 5D1 with split image focus screen then. I could give the Sony a7r a try on tripod eventually but i find it too small for hand holding telephotos so given its poor performance on wide Ms, apparently, i find little reason to acquire it for now.

[Rick]

Never got lockups but i can hardly stand the slow refresh rate and unbearable blackouts of the M240 in LV/EVF mode which render it useless as a digital back for my R lenses, aside from macrophoto. So far the best compromise for me remains an old 5D1 with split image focus screen then. I could give the Sony a7r a try on tripod eventually but i find it too small for hand holding telephotos so given its poor performance on wide Ms, apparently, i find little reason to acquire it for now.

 

Did you have to bring that up? It has been two months since my trip and I'd completely forgotten about that. Add to that the hot temp problems and I remember why I thought I'd try the Sony with what should be great LV.

 

But, now I find out Sony was lying about M-lenses and other camera lens compatibility. What a bunch of crap and they are even trying to sell M-E adaptors. Who can you trust anymore?

 

I also agree that the Canon 5 series is about as perfect as you are going to get right now with R-lenses especially with the dragon chip.

 

I am not going to cancel my order for the A7R, but I am pretty sure I'll sell it after I put some lenses on it. It will be worth it to pay a little to try my 280/4 APO on it on a crisp winter Seattle cityscape. Endless detail.

[naturephoto1]

Never got lockups but i can hardly stand the slow refresh rate and unbearable blackouts of the M240 in LV/EVF mode which render it useless as a digital back for my R lenses, aside from macrophoto. So far the best compromise for me remains an old 5D1 with split image focus screen then. I could give the Sony a7r a try on tripod eventually but i find it too small for hand holding telephotos so given its poor performance on wide Ms, apparently, i find little reason to acquire it for now.

 

If you need the camera to be larger (and heavier), there is always the Battery Grip for the A7r.

 

Rich

[IkarusJohn]

I am not going to cancel my order for the A7R, but I am pretty sure I'll sell it after I put some lenses on it. It will be worth it to pay a little to try my 280/4 APO on it on a crisp winter Seattle cityscape. Endless detail.

 

+1

[lct]

...I am not going to cancel my order for the A7R, but I am pretty sure I'll sell it after I put some lenses on it. It will be worth it to pay a little to try my 280/4 APO on it on a crisp winter Seattle cityscape. Endless detail.

Sounds like i'll wait for your review to do the same with my apos eventually.

[AlanG]

But, now I find out Sony was lying about M-lenses and other camera lens compatibility. What a bunch of crap and they are even trying to sell M-E adaptors. Who can you trust anymore?

 

Isn't that a bit harsh? Sony doesn't sell M to E mount adapters. And where did they say all M lenses would work well on this camera?

[naturephoto1]

Did you have to bring that up? It has been two months since my trip and I'd completely forgotten about that. Add to that the hot temp problems and I remember why I thought I'd try the Sony with what should be great LV.

 

But, now I find out Sony was lying about M-lenses and other camera lens compatibility. What a bunch of crap and they are even trying to sell M-E adaptors. Who can you trust anymore?

 

I also agree that the Canon 5 series is about as perfect as you are going to get right now with R-lenses especially with the dragon chip.

 

I am not going to cancel my order for the A7R, but I am pretty sure I'll sell it after I put some lenses on it. It will be worth it to pay a little to try my 280/4 APO on it on a crisp winter Seattle cityscape. Endless detail.

 

Rick,

 

I do not think that it is even going to be close for using the R lenses on the A7r and the Canon 5 series for most applications. The A7r should be far superior being able to use the lenses at working aperture and being able to focus much more accurately. Additionally, the A7r is going to be much sharper and have much greater DR than any of the Canon 5 series cameras.

 

I too will be checking many of my Apo lenses on the A7r including the 280mm f2 Apo Telyt, 100mm f2.8 Apo Macro Elmarit, and my 180mm f3.4 Apo Telyt.

[naturephoto1]

Photos of WATE on A7r:

 

Leica WATE on Sony A7R - a set on Flickr

 

Rich

[Rick]

Rick,

 

I do not think that it is even going to be close for using the R lenses on the A7r and the Canon 5 series for most applications. The A7r should be far superior being able to use the lenses at working aperture and being able to focus much more accurately. Additionally, the A7r is going to be much sharper and have much greater DR than any of the Canon 5 series cameras.

 

This was written to LCT who has a 5D. Right now, the 5DIII (5DII series) is probably the best way to shoot R-lenses. Unless you have an A7R already, it is the best way for you to shoot them too. D800 is another way too, but you need to take the lenses apart and latex them (which I've done), and as far as I know there is no focus confirmation, and the color is much better in the 5DIII, IMO. But, the D800 does have that great 36MP sensor and that might trump the Canon for some... maybe me too.

 

I too will be checking many of my Apo lenses on the A7r including the 280mm f2 Apo Telyt, 100mm f2.8 Apo Macro Elmarit, and my 180mm f3.4 Apo Telyt.

 

I have the 280/2 and the 100/2.8 Macro and a couple others like the 105-280/4.2. Like I said, endless detail. I'll have to find a Sony forum to start posting on. It is an exciting camera even without the M lenses.

[naturephoto1]

This was written to LCT who has a 5D. Right now, the 5DIII (5DII series) is probably the best way to shoot R-lenses. Unless you have an A7R already, it is the best way for you to shoot them too. D800 is another way too, but you need to take the lenses apart and latex them (which I've done), and as far as I know there is no focus confirmation, and the color is much better in the 5DIII, IMO. But, the D800 does have that great 36MP sensor and that might trump the Canon for some... maybe me too.

 

 

 

I have the 280/2 and the 100/2.8 Macro and a couple others like the 105-280/4.2. Like I said, endless detail. I'll have to find a Sony forum to start posting on. It is an exciting camera even without the M lenses.

 

You could post in one of our new Sony A7/A7r image threads and/or our Leica R image thread over at Fredmiranda.com.

 

Rich

[wildlightphoto]

2460 posts about a Sony camera on a Leica forum. I hope Leica is paying attention. IMHO the rumored Leica AF mirrorless ILC camera needs to be a lot better than the a7r to get my attention. APS-C is a negative. Leica, are you listening?

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Hallo,

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[AlanG]

2460 posts about a Sony camera on a Leica forum. I hope Leica is paying attention. IMHO the rumored Leica AF mirrorless ILC camera needs to be a lot better than the a7r to get my attention. APS-C is a negative. Leica, are you listening?

 

That's an interesting point. Perhaps there is also enough interest for Sony to work on the sensor a bit more for the M wides in the next version.

 

I wonder if there is any negative from doing this to the microlenses and perhaps the sensor wells or whatever makes it work. It crossed my mind that if Cmosis can do it, Sony certainly can. Afterall Cmosis doesn't actually manufacture the chips or the microlenses. So if they can pay a company to make them a specific way, so could Sony if for some reason they can't do it themselves. Why not add an A7m to the other two versions?

 

Otherwise, maybe the simplest thing would be for Leica to just buy A7 bodies and put the Cmosis sensor in it. Kodak used to do that with Nikon and Canon bodies. I guess Zeiss would nix that.