The Sony A7 thread [Merged]

[Mr_Jones]

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Thanks for that, I was hoping that Sony would be giving out realistic dates when I placed the order. I guess it will take a while before they start delivering.

[biglou]

Here in France i have a delivery date stated for the 19/20 november

[dierk]

.....

matches up both against the cron on the A7R but also against the cron on the M240.

sorry, M240 - what was that again :D

[NJH]

I agree 100% with a previous post about the lens choices used for these tests to date. I still want to see some even mildly convincing shots using a 28mm elmarit ASPH rather than some random comment in a hands on test that has been repeated all over the net like its some kind of proof. The images taken with the ZM 50 Planar look pretty convincing which is good, that's one of my lenses down but for most it must surely be about the 28 elmarit ASPH and the 35 summicron as I guess most folks either already own such lenses or aspire too. Its a bit of a dead duck for M mount if it doesn't work great with those lenses and we end up having to use monsters like the CV 35 1.2 stopped down to F8.

[algrove]

M lens use is critical for me too, but also R lens use is more critical since I am often stymied when using them on my M's due to over heating lockup issues. There is no other alternative when using R lenses on the M so to try another alternative for R lens use is exciting for me.

 

The same applies to M lens use when I want to use the EVF for framing of 16-24 mm lenses and even 28's sometimes.

 

The proof is in the pudding.

 

Sorry Rich as often this thread gives me visual overload with so many posts nearly on top of each other.

[}{B]

I have to be convinced that an A7/A7r when combined with an M lens and adapter constitutes a viable alternative to a much more expensive Leica.

 

Leaving aside whether certain M lenses will or will not work on the Sony I still want to see a test that discloses how easy it is to use all apertures and not just shoot wide open all the time. Opinions seem to indicate that focus peaking is not 100% reliable and that enlarging part of the image to focus is required.

 

So far I've not seen any comments on how much stopping down M lenses darkens the EVF image. Lenses native to the camera will focus wide open and only stop down when the shutter is released. M lenses which have to be stopped down prior to this will reduce the amount of light entering the camera and I assume will effect the brightness of the EVF just as manually stopping down a lens does to the optical finder on an SLR.

 

My concern is that for M lenses the focusing routine will be :-

 

Open up the lens to maximum

Enlarge point of focus and focus

Recompose image if point of focus is off centre

Stop down lens and take picture

 

If this is the case then for me it doesn't seem to be a viable alternative to a Leica, which is a pity as I also have a good few Pentax K fit lenses which I could start using again if an adapter was available.

[Stealth3kpl]

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Some more lenses here:

a7R + (ultra) wide-angle rangefinder lenses and 3 non-rangefinder lenses - a set on Flickr

 

Pete

[lct]

...

My concern is that for M lenses the focusing routine will be :-

Open up the lens to maximum

Enlarge point of focus and focus

Recompose image if point of focus is off centre

Stop down lens and take picture

If this is the case then for me it doesn't seem to be a viable alternative to a Leica, which is a pity as I also have a good few Pentax K fit lenses which I could start using again if an adapter was available.

...

Not necessarily with all lenses if i trust my experience with DSLRs and the M240's EVF but there is no free lunch i'm afraid and a good rangefinder is unbeatable with manual lenses below 135mm anyway. BTW Pentax K lenses can be used on the M240 as far as i know (Kipon?). I have no experience with those though.

[algrove]

I have to be convinced that an A7/A7r when combined with an M lens and adapter constitutes a viable alternative to a much more expensive Leica.

 

Leaving aside whether certain M lenses will or will not work on the Sony I still want to see a test that discloses how easy it is to use all apertures and not just shoot wide open all the time. Opinions seem to indicate that focus peaking is not 100% reliable and that enlarging part of the image to focus is required.

 

So far I've not seen any comments on how much stopping down M lenses darkens the EVF image. Lenses native to the camera will focus wide open and only stop down when the shutter is released. M lenses which have to be stopped down prior to this will reduce the amount of light entering the camera and I assume will effect the brightness of the EVF just as manually stopping down a lens does to the optical finder on an SLR.

 

My concern is that for M lenses the focusing routine will be :-

 

Open up the lens to maximum

Enlarge point of focus and focus

Recompose image if point of focus is off centre

Stop down lens and take picture

 

If this is the case then for me it doesn't seem to be a viable alternative to a Leica, which is a pity as I also have a good few Pentax K fit lenses which I could start using again if an adapter was available.

 

I use my R lenses stopped down on the M240 and even though some say that is not the best way to achieve critical focus, I have always found that the EVF adjusts its brightness to the brightness level you have preset in the menu. I am sure the Sony must work the same way as does my RX-1 which adjusts its brightness automatically to f stop changes.

[CaptZoom]

I have to be convinced that an A7/A7r when combined with an M lens and adapter constitutes a viable alternative to a much more expensive Leica.

 

Leaving aside whether certain M lenses will or will not work on the Sony I still want to see a test that discloses how easy it is to use all apertures and not just shoot wide open all the time. Opinions seem to indicate that focus peaking is not 100% reliable and that enlarging part of the image to focus is required.

Focus peaking is a focusing aid not a focusing system. Ultimately, you've gotta use your eyes rather relying on peaking alone. Also note, I've yet to hear about an autofocus system that's 100% reliable (excepting Lytro's light field camera). I would submit that the RF isn't 100% reliable (there's no way to tell if the RF has gone out of calibration while you're using it). So it comes down to personal tolerance for these types of things; your personal threshold for acceptable focus confirmation maybe different from the reviewers, etc.

 

So far I've not seen any comments on how much stopping down M lenses darkens the EVF image. Lenses native to the camera will focus wide open and only stop down when the shutter is released. M lenses which have to be stopped down prior to this will reduce the amount of light entering the camera and I assume will effect the brightness of the EVF just as manually stopping down a lens does to the optical finder on an SLR.

EVFs can apply gain to boost the image. I don't know how well this plays out in actual use age. I think the best practice for using peaking and manual lenses is to compose wide open and stop down to take the photo (if you need to ensure optimal focus).

 

My concern is that for M lenses the focusing routine will be :-

 

Open up the lens to maximum

Enlarge point of focus and focus

Recompose image if point of focus is off centre

Stop down lens and take picture

The cameras can be set so a lot if this happens automatically or with a press of a button which in actual use age isn't as cumbersome as it sounds in print. Unlike the M240, most cameras allow you to choose what area of the view is enlarged. You don't need to focus and recompose.

 

If this is the case then for me it doesn't seem to be a viable alternative to a Leica, which is a pity as I also have a good few Pentax K fit lenses which I could start using again if an adapter was available.

No one but you can determine if any camera is for you. We don't have enough info on the Sony cameras to say much if anything at the moment.

[lct]

I use my R lenses stopped down on the M240 and even though some say that is not the best way to achieve critical focus, I have always found that the EVF adjusts its brightness to the brightness level you have preset in the menu. I am sure the Sony must work the same way as does my RX-1 which adjusts its brightness automatically to f stop changes.

Adjusting brightness can't change the depth of field though.

[Rick]

What is the freaking deal. Isn't there anyone out there yet that has the A7R or the A7 that knows how to take a decent picture. All of these links are to pathetic, unfocused images that do very little to determine what should only take one good shot of subject material that has both peripheral detail and color.

 

So far, it is clear that none of those that own this camera and are posting would ever need a camera like this. Rant over. Must have woken up on the wrong side of the bed.

[lct]

We don't need artists to show vignetting and color shifts, if any, rather the contrary IMHO.

[naturephoto1]

What is the freaking deal. Isn't there anyone out there yet that has the A7R or the A7 that knows how to take a decent picture. All of these links are to pathetic, unfocused images that do very little to determine what should only take one good shot of subject material that has both peripheral detail and color.

 

So far, it is clear that none of those that own this camera and are posting would ever need a camera like this. Rant over. Must have woken up on the wrong side of the bed.

 

Rick,

 

I don't think that anyone? owns any of these cameras at present. They are borrowing or using test cameras many of which still do not have the latest firmware. But, that doesn't address the question of the images that have been taken.

 

Rich

[steveclem]

Who cares what others have achieved (or not) ? I just want to hear from the combined knowledge here if this going to work, albeit theoretically with standard 35mm film camera lenses. If anyone knows you guys will.....

I am starting to think that this digital thang is more wood than trees.

 

 

Hey! two threads, one post mayhem.

[Rick]

You guys are reading me wrong. I don't care about art in these photos. I want to see a well exposed and focused photo of something that has enough detail in the corners to see if there is smearing with the A7R. So far I can't really tell what is going on.

[AlanG]

You guys are reading me wrong. I don't care about art in these photos. I want to see a well exposed and focused photo of something that has enough detail in the corners to see if their is smearing with the A7R. So far I can't really tell what is going on.

 

Yes, and this seems like a very easy thing to test for.

[dwbell]

'tsnot gonna answer Rick's question, but Frank put some R glass on for those that are looking in that direction with Sony.

 

Sony A7r with Leica R glass | Frank Doorhof

[Rick]

Sitting here on a Saturday I was thinking about how smart Sony has played this. Starting with the RX1. At first people thought Sony had lost their mind releasing a $3,000 FF PAS. Then it became recognized that the camera was one of the best 24MP sensors on the market. The Zeiss lens could quite possibly rival the Leica 35mm FLE. Together this compact little jewel was producing some of the best 35mm files on the market.

 

Sony was capable of producing one of the nicest cameras on the market. And, not just good, but maybe a better optic, sensor, and small body than Leica and the rest. In one single release of a niche camera Sony had proven themselves as a competitor in a sort of high-end market of cameras with the highest optical and camera body/sensors.

 

Sure, the NEX series pushed in this direction and the Alpha helped too. But, Sony really had one main problem... they didn't have the lenses. Now, it is clear that Zeiss is going to shore that up for Sony.

 

On the heals of the RX1 now comes the A7 series. I don't know about you, but I am sure taking the A7 seriously after owning the RX1. The RX1 sure put the new A7 series in a different light, for me.

 

It sure is interesting to see how this is all going to turn out for a guy with a bunch of M lenses and a wonky, but much loved M240.

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Hallo,

Look here: Interesting Leica gear

[AlanG]

Sitting here on a Saturday I was thinking about how smart Sony has played this.

 

If Sony were to build an MF camera similar to the A7 that will handle Hassy, Leica S and Mamiya lenses, they would instantly take over the MF market. Lucky for those other companies that Sony isn't interested in that small niche.

 

All resistance is futile.... telling myself to wait until there is C1 and DXO support.