The Sony A7 thread [Merged]

[krötenblender]

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Both attributes are nice to have (I also have them on my Olympus), but the Sony has no optical/mechanical rangefinder. Besides the (for me!) crappy ergonomics of Sony Cameras, that makes it useless. If you want a Leica, advertising a Sony misses the point...

[Son of Helm]

Both attributes are nice to have (I also have them on my Olympus), but the Sony has no optical/mechanical rangefinder. Besides the (for me!) crappy ergonomics of Sony Cameras, that makes it useless. If you want a Leica, advertising a Sony misses the point...

 

I already have an M240, since july 2013, and am very happy with it.

No, the A7ii is not a rangefinder, nor is it good for M wides.

It does have AF and IS in house, which may make it interesting as a complement

for long teles. I wonder if we could have some reports as to how fast one could focus the two systems with, say, an Apo-180

[naturephoto1]

I already have an M240, since july 2013, and am very happy with it.

No, the A7ii is not a rangefinder, nor is it good for M wides.

It does have AF and IS in house, which may make it interesting as a complement

for long teles. I wonder if we could have some reports as to how fast one could focus the two systems with, say, an Apo-180

 

The Sony EVF is hands down much better than the add on external EVF for the M240. I have not seen the A7II to see if there is any improvement over my A7r.

 

Rich

[k-hawinkler]

The A7ii has in-house image stabilization and takes Leica M and R lenses

read more about it

www.stevehuffphoto.com/tag/sony-a7ii/

 

In shops now

 

That link points back to LUF!

[k-hawinkler]

I already have an M240, since july 2013, and am very happy with it.

 

Congratulations!

 

No, the A7ii is not a rangefinder, nor is it good for M wides.

 

Overstated I am afraid, a too general statement! Therefore incorrect!

The WATE works just fine with my A7R. The A7II should work even better with it.

 

It does have AF and IS in house, which may make it interesting as a complement for long teles. I wonder if we could have some reports as to how fast one could focus the two systems with, say, an Apo-180

 

IBIS helps a lot on the E-M5/1 with manual focus by providing a stable image.

I suppose SSI on the A7II will help similarly.

[jaapv]

The Sony EVF is hands down much better than the add on external EVF for the M240. I have not seen the A7II to see if there is any improvement over my A7r.

 

Rich

 

Maybe, but the focus peaking is far less accurate... For good reason, btw.

[k-hawinkler]

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Maybe, but the focus peaking is far less accurate... For good reason, btw.

 

I don't know which camera you refer to by "focus peaking is far less accurate".

 

In any case, for precise focusing I always rely on magnification for any of my E or FE cameras and by moving the focus point over the exact location in the EVF.

[jedi996sps]

Here are some OOC jpeg images created by A7R + Leica R 28/2.8 (V2, 1994 version)at f5.6 or f8, a couple of weeks ago.

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/kbslp0z4j5wjnjc/AACj_yL9bgNaQ9sQguX_bcGTa?dl=0

 

From my own perception the performance of R 28/2.8 is by no means inferior to that of M 35/1.4 ASHP pre FLE at the same aperture setting. Perhaps a bit superior to the latter, in terms of 3D popping and color rendering.

 

R 28/2.8 comes with floating elements to enable 30cm close focusing, making itself a more versatile lens than the 35 Lux in this regard.

 

Fortunately the price of a second-hand R 28/2.8 is less than 25% of a M 35/1.4 ASPH pre FLE, at least in the market here. It could be an idea lens for those who seek for an affordable excellent Leica WA lens suitable for A7x cameras.

 

Thanks Thomas... i indeed do need a 28mm that i can use on both the M240 and A7r

[Rick]

Re: 28 Summicron. This has been an exceptional Leica 28mm lens and is one of my favorites, especially focal lengths. But, this lens is getting long in the tooth. Compared to the 35 Summilux FLE which is one of Leica's best lenses, it is showing its age. I sure hope the 28 Summilux is not too large as it could be, for me, the most exciting lens offered by Leica since the 50 APO Summicron.

[jaapv]

Comparing the 24 Summilux I doubt it will be small...

[jaapv]

I don't know which camera you refer to by "focus peaking is far less accurate".

 

In any case, for precise focusing I always rely on magnification for any of my E or FE cameras and by moving the focus point over the exact location in the EVF.

When shooting I rarely have time and never the inclination to fart around with arrow buttons...ymmv...

 

But my point was a different one. Having an excellent rangefinder for medium focal lengths, Leica was able to optimize the peaking for the use with long lenses. In fact, I find it more accurate than any SLR ever was. The drawback is that it is rather useless/invisible at shorter focal lengths, which does not matter really (see above).

Full EVF cameras need to have the peaking optimized at the standard focal lengths for obvious reasons, so it will be more pronounced, making it considerably less accurate at long focal lengths (and macro, for that matter) I have had such peaking (at the lowest setting) paint the whole image red at 400 mm shots with a lot of detail.

[Rick]

Comparing the 24 Summilux I doubt it will be small...

 

I agree. That big 24 Summilux was the lens I was thinking about when I posted the statement that I hoped the 28 Summilux wasn't going to be too big. I just hope the 28 Summilux is much smaller. Actually, I'd really like a new 28 Summicron. I don't care about having a Summilux at this focal length.

 

I could also "like" a 28mm RX2.

[bocaburger]

I have a Nex 6 and as an emergency backup for the M240 in most travel photography it works well enough. But this week I gave it a go shooting my toddler grandkid (using a 50 Lux @ f/2 and a CV 75/2.5 @ f/4) and I missed focus on a bunch of shots much to my dismay. The focus peaking seems to peak over too wide a DOF range regardless of whether I have it set low, med or high. Focusing it visually worked much better but even then I got far less good results than with the M240. My Canons (5D and XSi) with 85/1.8 and 50/1.8 in AF outfocused the Nex+peaking hands-down.

[wattsy]

I agree. That big 24 Summilux was the lens I was thinking about when I posted the statement that I hoped the 28 Summilux wasn't going to be too big. I just hope the 28 Summilux is much smaller.

 

It does look like the 28 Summilux is a big lens – much more 24 Summilux than 35 Summilux. A pity because it's a direction of travel with Leica that I'm not so keen on (I find the 35 FLE the size limit for an M lens and wish it was more like the 35 Summarit:D).

 

One of the regulars at Getdpi used a 28 Summilux late last year and the results suggest that it is closer in character to the 35 FLE than it is to the current Summicron. Most probably a great lens, if you leave aside the questions of size and price.

[Son of Helm]

...

 

Overstated I am afraid, a too general statement! Therefore incorrect!

The WATE works just fine with my A7R. The A7II should work even better with it....

.

I was just referring to Steve:

 

'Shooting Wide Angle M Mount Lenses on the A7II

From my experience, anything less than 28mm will bring in some color distortions with the A7, A7r and yes, A7II. The A7s is the best A7 camera for Leica wide angle lenses and the A7II has done OK with even the Zeiss 25 2.8 Zm lens but not so well with the Voigtlander 15 4.5. So if you mainly shoot wide angle Leica lenses, the A7II will not be your best bet. It is indeed the same sensor as the A7 Mark I, so I did not expect any major improvement there..'

 

 

Let us see, I have ordered my A7II

 

 

 

 

[Thomas Chen]

I was just referring to Steve:

 

'Shooting Wide Angle M Mount Lenses on the A7II

Let us see, I have ordered my A7II

Mr. Helm,

 

Since you will have a A7 II in hand soon, if you have Leica M 21/2.8 ASPH, M24/2.8 ASPH, or M28/2.8 pre APHS, would you please you send me via Dropbox some images (OOC jpeg and Raw) at f8 done by these lenses.

 

Thanks a lot.

 

Thomas Chen

[Son of Helm]

Mr. Helm,

 

Since you will have a A7 II in hand soon, if you have Leica M 21/2.8 ASPH, M24/2.8 ASPH, or M28/2.8 pre APHS, would you please you send me via Dropbox some images (OOC jpeg and Raw) at f8 done by these lenses.

 

Thanks a lot.

 

Thomas Chen

 

I have the M24/2.8 ASPH and hope to come back when the A7II arrives.

I contemplate two modes of using my gear:

For wide- and normal lenses, even the M90/2.0 ASPH, my beloved M240 will be my choice,

for dedicated tele-work (notably with my R 3.4/180 ) I see the A7II

as a promising alternative.

I am not a pixel peeper, if my gear produces prints in A3+ which are satisfactory for the given application, I am satisfied.

Now, as k-hawinkler found the WATE working OK, it may be an added bonus

to have the possibility of using the M24/2.8 just in case. We will see.

[Thomas Chen]

I have the M24/2.8 ASPH and hope to come back when the A7II arrives.

I contemplate two modes of using my gear:

For wide- and normal lenses, even the M90/2.0 ASPH, my beloved M240 will be my choice,

for dedicated tele-work (notably with my R 3.4/180 ) I see the A7II

as a promising alternative.

I am not a pixel peeper, if my gear produces prints in A3+ which are satisfactory for the given application, I am satisfied.

Now, as k-hawinkler found the WATE working OK, it may be an added bonus

to have the possibility of using the M24/2.8 just in case. We will see.

 

M90/2 ASPH, R 180/3.4, and WATE all work very well on A7R, per my use experience.

 

The 21/2.8 ASPH and 24/2.8 engender edge color shift and corner smearing on A7R.

If 24/2.8 matches A7 II I will consider buying one.

 

Thanks a lot in advance.

[gyoung]

I have a Nex 6 and as an emergency backup for the M240 in most travel photography it works well enough. But this week I gave it a go shooting my toddler grandkid (using a 50 Lux @ f/2 and a CV 75/2.5 @ f/4) and I missed focus on a bunch of shots much to my dismay. The focus peaking seems to peak over too wide a DOF range regardless of whether I have it set low, med or high. Focusing it visually worked much better but even then I got far less good results than with the M240. My Canons (5D and XSi) with 85/1.8 and 50/1.8 in AF outfocused the Nex+peaking hands-down.

 

I have not found the focus peaking much use on my Nex 6 either, for the same reasons, I am happy to use the magnified focus assist.

 

Gerry

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Hallo,

Look here: Interesting Leica gear

[naturephoto1]

I have the M24/2.8 ASPH and hope to come back when the A7II arrives.

I contemplate two modes of using my gear:

For wide- and normal lenses, even the M90/2.0 ASPH, my beloved M240 will be my choice,

for dedicated tele-work (notably with my R 3.4/180 ) I see the A7II

as a promising alternative.

I am not a pixel peeper, if my gear produces prints in A3+ which are satisfactory for the given application, I am satisfied.

Now, as k-hawinkler found the WATE working OK, it may be an added bonus

to have the possibility of using the M24/2.8 just in case. We will see.

 

Here is an image taken with my tripod mounted R 180mm f3.4 Apo Telyt lens with my A7r; the image was processed in LR5.7, it is not OOC.

 

https://scontent-a-lga.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xaf1/t31.0-8/1537461_768475523214395_7474895499983094673_o.jpg

 

Rich