The Sony A7 thread [Merged]

[Thomas Chen]

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I'll second that request. I'm considering the A7/A7R to use with my MkIV Summicron and a Zeiss 50mm Planar.

 

As the the MkIV is the silver version it has some weight and I was wondering if, leaving aside the extra pixels, the stronger build quality of the 7R was advisable?

 

You make find a link at #2712 for Dwell's images about A7R+35Cron (ASPH?)

 

I just have A7R for 4 days however I feel it's easier to hold Leica R21-35 lense than M 28Cron, as the adapter of R-E extends further and the R lense bigger and heavier i can carry the lense firm in my left hand and allow right hand to fiddle the camera. For the M lense on A7R both hands come togather withing a short distance, feeling somthing in the way.

 

The handgrip of A7R has a metal frame under the rubber I'm sure , perhaps plastic frame for A7 I'm not so sure.

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[ModernMan]

... Nowadays people tend to forget all these aspects and tend to post in the order of : "Yes, the Leica is superbly built, perfect rangefinder and shutter - but with the Sony I can get equal image quality at one third of the price" ...

 

I think its more like "Whereas the Sony A7r has certain attributes superior to those of the M240 (to wit, and without loss of generality, its EVF, price, and hopefully its strap lugs) that may make it a better tool for some applications, and whereas legitimate skepticism is warranted regarding its image performance with Leica wide-angle lenses, now therefore we need to know if A7r files made with said Leica M wide-angles be made to yield images of equal or greater quality to those of the M240.

[Ozkar]

Not my issue somebody else’s apparently. I was simply reading your post.

 

Quote:

Patrick says […..] I am in Australia and the service from Leica is appalling to say the least

 

Well, yes, when considered as a whole, the service should be classified as appalling. It would be far less so, however, if Solms promptly repaired and returned faulty cameras.

[woorob]

My brother just sent his Leica M-9 (which I sold him about eight months ago) for sensor cleaning to Leica in New Jersey. They are going to do all of the work at no charge and under warranty (even though he was not the original owner), without any undue delays. I think they will be replacing the sensor and calibrating the rangefinder, as well.

 

I'm not sure what this "doom and gloom" mentality is all about, in terms of Leica's ability (or willingness) to support the M-9 line of cameras.

 

I have an A7R on order, and think it will be a great camera, but that's not any reason to bash Leica, either.

[IkarusJohn]

If this thread is to be so thoroughly redacted, can I suggest a few more posts in the exchange between Jaap and me are removed? They don't really contribute to the discussion, which is really about the A7r & Leica lenses, and why Leica should make a camera like this ...

[Ozkar]

I think its more like "Whereas the Sony A7r has certain attributes superior to those of the M240 (to wit, and without loss of generality, its EVF, price, and hopefully its strap lugs) that may make it a better tool for some applications, and whereas legitimate skepticism is warranted regarding its image performance with Leica wide-angle lenses, now therefore we need to know if A7r files made with said Leica M wide-angles be made to yield images of equal or greater quality to those of the M240.

 

There's 120 pages on Fred Miranda discussing RF wides on the new 7's. The consensus seems to be that the most wides will be a problem. Leica resolved this issue by using a very thin and (potentially) fragile sensor topping on the M9 and M240.

[IkarusJohn]

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It will be interesting to see which of the new manual focus Zeiss lenses for this camera will be wides.

 

An Otus style wide would be very interesting ... provided it isn't quite so .. HUGE

[edwardkaraa]

Regarding the sensor topic, I personally know 2 guys, one of which posts on this forum, who have delaminating sensors on cameras bought less than 6 months ago, one MM and one ME. So it seems to me that this problem is not only specific to the M9 and that Leica wasn't able to deal with it in a satisfactory way. So I do believe leica must be having way too many returns and could be overwhelmed with this problem. I am also worrying about my M9 that I bought brand new just over a year ago. If it develops such problem I will be without camera for at least 6 months.

[jaques]

to get back onto the a7 track:

 

To be honest this thread is so long- and conjecture about M lenses and the a7's so fraught- I have not been bothered to follow it all in detail. I just check in every so often to see if any consensus has formed. It seems as if one has: some M lenses are indeed problematic- especially wides- others are awesome.

 

However can I ask what is the consensus these days on the use of vintage SLR lenses? I am assuming they will mostly be OK if not perfect? I have a nice little pile of Takumar M42 lenses- can I assume that these will mostly work well on the Sony cameras?

 

The other day I bought two Pentax SLR's with 5 prime Takumars- for the princely sum of $90- if those 5 lenses work well on the A7- I for one will be happy and not overly concerned that some M lenses are better off an an M camera.

 

I have the A7 on order- and look forward to a 'crazey comparison': M240 with vintage Leica gla$$ v the budget a7 with vintage-dime a dozen- Takumar glass.

 

I don't expect my $12 f1.4 Takumar to out-compete my $1600 V1 summilux- but I would like to see for myself.

[IkarusJohn]

To be honest this thread is so long- and conjecture about M lenses and the a7's so fraught- I have not been bothered to follow it all in detail. I just check in every so often to see if any consensus has formed. It seems as if one has: some M lenses are indeed problematic- especially wides- others are awesome.

 

Of the wides, it seems that the WATE and the 21 Summilux are fine, the 28 has some problems, the 35s are probably okay, and everything from 50 and longer is fine, all with the A7r.

 

All testing is done by people with Leica lenses who have bought the cameras, so the results will vary.

 

I wouldn't hold your breath for vintage wides.

[charles-k]

The service in Australia has recently improved, sending the M9's to local service has allowed a quick turnaround and works well. The issue is when gear needs to be sent back to Solms, there is a 10 day lead time into Germany, and again 10 days coming back out again. This has already added in effect 3 weeks, let alone the transit time. This I feel is unacceptable. For the most part, I have been loaned M9's and lenses in the past, so the service has been good. My M240 has just been sent back to Solms as the RF went out of calibration. The repair time is 5 days, more than acceptable IMO, but the transit equates to 5 or 6 weeks for a quick repair!!!

 

The service for Sony in Australia also needs to be upgraded quickly, as the service is terrible. My Sony RX1 had a damaged SD card slot, and it took Sony 3 weeks to respond to my issue when I arrived back in Australia. I had numerous emails and phone calls, until I had posted on the official Sony FB page, my recent issues, and they eventually replaced the RX1 after 4 weeks, as they did not have the servicing ability to repair the RX1.

 

I think if you keep with the Canon or Nikon, of course the servicing here is well catered for as there are so many service centers available.

 

With the huge influx of Sony A7's into Australia, the servicing will need to be upgraded quickly, as the A7's will require a different level of expertise to deal with a whole new customer base.

[k-hawinkler]

test shot: Sony a7R + Leica Summilux-M 24mm (1.1) | Flickr - Photo Sharing!

[edwardkaraa]

Of the wides, it seems that the WATE and the 21 Summilux are fine, the 28 has some problems, the 35s are probably okay, and everything from 50 and longer is fine, all with the A7r.

 

All testing is done by people with Leica lenses who have bought the cameras, so the results will vary.

 

I wouldn't hold your breath for vintage wides.

 

From DW tests, the 35 cron is definitely not ok at medium and long range. Zone C has significant smearing at these distances.

[IkarusJohn]

Thanks Edward - so far the 35 Summilux FLE seems okay.

[charles-k]

test shot: Sony a7R + Leica Summilux-M 24mm (1.1) | Flickr - Photo Sharing!

 

The results look very respectable, and I have to say I have not seen other samples with the 24 Lux. This maybe a missed gem:)

[MarkP]

The results look very respectable, and I have to say I have not seen other samples with the 24 Lux. This maybe a missed gem:)

 

Probably not surprising with a similar design to the 21 Summilux which also seems to behave with the A7R.

[k-hawinkler]

Thanks Edward - so far the 35 Summilux FLE seems okay.

 

This maybe a counter example though.

 

The GetDPI Photography Forums - View Single Post - Fun with the A7/7R

[CaptZoom]

I'll second that request. I'm considering the A7/A7R to use with my MkIV Summicron and a Zeiss 50mm Planar.

 

As the the MkIV is the silver version it has some weight and I was wondering if, leaving aside the extra pixels, the stronger build quality of the 7R was advisable?

 

The A7 and A7r are both made for autofocus full frame lenses. I don't think the 'cron is going to stress the mount on either camera.

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[charles-k]

The A7 and A7r are both made for autofocus full frame lenses. I don't think the 'cron is going to stress the mount on either camera.

 

I think this will play out in an interesting way. I know for a fact the 75 Lux, 90 Cron AA, do drift in focusing with the M240/M9's because of the creep of the mounts/screws. I have had my 75 Lux recently readjusted for this reason, and it is very common. I really think with this close flange distance the tolerances will be critical, and the weight on the mount will marginally affect some adapters. I have already spoken to Wayne at Camera Clinic in Melbourne about the adapters for the A7r, and when needed they can be finely tuned for the A7r. I feel this will take a lot of the variability we are seeing with the field test results!

[MarkP]

I think this will play out in an interesting way. I know for a fact the 75 Lux, 90 Cron AA, do drift in focusing with the M240/M9's because of the creep of the mounts/screws. I have had my 75 Lux recently readjusted for this reason, and it is very common. I really think with this close flange distance the tolerances will be critical, and the weight on the mount will marginally affect some adapters. I have already spoken to Wayne at Camera Clinic in Melbourne about the adapters for the A7r, and when needed they can be finely tuned for the A7r. I feel this will take a lot of the variability we are seeing with the field test results!

 

I was planning on calling CC myself.

Can you go into more detail?