Sony A7 MII
Aug 23, 2015 14:59:38 #
Gecko
You're right about the 300, not totally horrible but definitely no beercan. As to the 35, it's more a case of just being able to find one and having the money at the same time. Pricey and hard to find.
+1 on Friedman, books and videos are great.
You're right about the 300, not totally horrible but definitely no beercan. As to the 35, it's more a case of just being able to find one and having the money at the same time. Pricey and hard to find.
+1 on Friedman, books and videos are great.
Aug 23, 2015 21:04:49 #
I just took a quick look, and sure enough, Sony has two manuals out for the a7ii, as I expected. It's a bit misleading, really, but it puts out a simplified "Instructional Manual," which is like "a7ii for Dummies," but also a "Help Guide" that goes into the more complex and useful features of the camera. For me, I moved up from the a77 to the a77ii and was puzzled why the instructions manual told so little about the new model's features, but then I heard about the Help Guide. Anyway, here's the link to where you can download it:
http://esupport.sony.com/US/p/model-home.pl?mdl=ILCE7M2&LOC=3#/manualsTab
Hi, all, this lev29 admitting my 1st of a few (only, I hope,) errors I've made to come! I exchanged a couple of PM's with Desert Gecko on what initially appeared to me as an unintentional error on his part. Specifically, the URL he provides above yielded, USING MY OLD iPAD2, what is best described as a SAVE SCREEN, i.e. no touching or equivalent clicking anywhere on the screen would jump me to another page!
When I alerted D.G. to this, he was surprised. But he did send me the link again in his PM to me, which I reviewed on my Apple laptop. THIS TIME the link he sent me & had posted both WORKED! The page at Sony I was sent to was touch/click sensitive! I then did the same on my newer iPad Air and both worked!
I'm not an expert, but I believe the problem with my older iPad is probably related to either its inability to employ the web nuisance known as Jave script or player, or else, somehow (?), inability to use Adobe Flash Player. This is the 1st time I've encountered this type of problem.
I realize that this discussion has little to do with the Sony a7, but for those of us who use tablets, or perhaps the broader category of older computer equipment, I suggest that ONE BEWARE OF SUCH A PECULIARITY and not immediately "blow off" a URL Link provided by another person.
Philosophical comments and constructive criticism of my blunder are welcome.
Humbly, lev29
http://esupport.sony.com/US/p/model-home.pl?mdl=ILCE7M2&LOC=3#/manualsTab
Hi, all, this lev29 admitting my 1st of a few (only, I hope,) errors I've made to come! I exchanged a couple of PM's with Desert Gecko on what initially appeared to me as an unintentional error on his part. Specifically, the URL he provides above yielded, USING MY OLD iPAD2, what is best described as a SAVE SCREEN, i.e. no touching or equivalent clicking anywhere on the screen would jump me to another page!
When I alerted D.G. to this, he was surprised. But he did send me the link again in his PM to me, which I reviewed on my Apple laptop. THIS TIME the link he sent me & had posted both WORKED! The page at Sony I was sent to was touch/click sensitive! I then did the same on my newer iPad Air and both worked!
I'm not an expert, but I believe the problem with my older iPad is probably related to either its inability to employ the web nuisance known as Jave script or player, or else, somehow (?), inability to use Adobe Flash Player. This is the 1st time I've encountered this type of problem.
I realize that this discussion has little to do with the Sony a7, but for those of us who use tablets, or perhaps the broader category of older computer equipment, I suggest that ONE BEWARE OF SUCH A PECULIARITY and not immediately "blow off" a URL Link provided by another person.
Philosophical comments and constructive criticism of my blunder are welcome.
Humbly, lev29
Aug 23, 2015 21:28:20 #
TWO ITEMS:
A. As to the above discussion of my iPad error, I forgot to express my sincere thanks to Desert Gecko for informing us as to the existence of another type of camera manual that Sony provides on-line.
B. Regarding a direct reply to D.G.'s prior reply to me about Image Stabilization, I feel obliged to inform y'all that some of us amateur photographers suffer from motion tremors that involve our hands. Mine is due to Parkinson's disease. Without the IS feature, such as I belatedly discovered is lacking on my Sony a6000, my only other choice is to increase the shutter speed 2-3 fold, and that, as you know, can result in NO PHOTO AT ALL if the available light is too low!
One can always condescend my purchasing the a6000 with the comment, CAVEAT EMPTOR, but for someone who has been buying Sony photo equipment since the A-100 debuted in 2006, I felt deceived.
Now it appears the solution for my situation is at hand with the advent of the a7 II and the a7R II, the latter at twice the price of the former. Frankly, it's not worth it to me to get almost double the # of Megapixels.
HOWEVER, I AM INTRIGUED BY SOMEONE'S RECENT POST IN THIS THREAD THAT ONLY THE a7R II WAS ABLE TO USE AUTOFOCUS WITH SOME LENSES THAT COULDN'T BE ACHIEVED WITH THE a7 II !! Did that assertion only apply to using adapters with lenses that are not Sony/Minolta? Either way, have other members here actually compared these latest two models head to head wrt to Autofocus?
Thank you, lev29
A. As to the above discussion of my iPad error, I forgot to express my sincere thanks to Desert Gecko for informing us as to the existence of another type of camera manual that Sony provides on-line.
B. Regarding a direct reply to D.G.'s prior reply to me about Image Stabilization, I feel obliged to inform y'all that some of us amateur photographers suffer from motion tremors that involve our hands. Mine is due to Parkinson's disease. Without the IS feature, such as I belatedly discovered is lacking on my Sony a6000, my only other choice is to increase the shutter speed 2-3 fold, and that, as you know, can result in NO PHOTO AT ALL if the available light is too low!
One can always condescend my purchasing the a6000 with the comment, CAVEAT EMPTOR, but for someone who has been buying Sony photo equipment since the A-100 debuted in 2006, I felt deceived.
Now it appears the solution for my situation is at hand with the advent of the a7 II and the a7R II, the latter at twice the price of the former. Frankly, it's not worth it to me to get almost double the # of Megapixels.
HOWEVER, I AM INTRIGUED BY SOMEONE'S RECENT POST IN THIS THREAD THAT ONLY THE a7R II WAS ABLE TO USE AUTOFOCUS WITH SOME LENSES THAT COULDN'T BE ACHIEVED WITH THE a7 II !! Did that assertion only apply to using adapters with lenses that are not Sony/Minolta? Either way, have other members here actually compared these latest two models head to head wrt to Autofocus?
Thank you, lev29
Aug 23, 2015 22:54:27 #
lev29 wrote:
TWO ITEMS:
...
HOWEVER, I AM INTRIGUED BY SOMEONE'S RECENT POST IN THIS THREAD THAT ONLY THE a7R II WAS ABLE TO USE AUTOFOCUS WITH SOME LENSES THAT COULDN'T BE ACHIEVED WITH THE a7 II !! Did that assertion only apply to using adapters with lenses that are not Sony/Minolta? Either way, have other members here actually compared these latest two models head to head wrt to Autofocus?
Thank you, lev29
...
HOWEVER, I AM INTRIGUED BY SOMEONE'S RECENT POST IN THIS THREAD THAT ONLY THE a7R II WAS ABLE TO USE AUTOFOCUS WITH SOME LENSES THAT COULDN'T BE ACHIEVED WITH THE a7 II !! Did that assertion only apply to using adapters with lenses that are not Sony/Minolta? Either way, have other members here actually compared these latest two models head to head wrt to Autofocus?
Thank you, lev29
I own the A7S, A7R, A7 II and A7R II.
The A7R II is the definite winner with regard to autofocus speed with any automatic lens; however, the A7 II is pretty darn good with Sony (native) lenses and, I understand, adapted Sony A lenses. The A7s and A7R also work reasonably well with native lenses but lag behind the A7 II.
Autofocus speed using adapted automatic 3rd party lenses, i.e.: Canon, Sigma, Tamron, on the A7S, A7R and A7 II is terrible (slightly better on the A7 II)! To the point of manual focus being faster, which isn't all that bad with the Focus Peaking and Focus Magnify functionality of the cameras... That's of course if you're into manual focus; I grew up with manual focus so it is sort of flashback to former glory!
I have no knowledge of what the status is for automatic adapters for Nikon lenses. I've heard rumors some are coming? They might already be available?
Shooting with adapted automatic 3rd party lenses on any of the A7's is a little hit and miss. Some adapters work reasonably well. The Metabones III (& IV?), the most expensive, works with the least hassles. Others work with some lenses and not with others, some work fine for a few pix then hang the whole system, some only work with newer Canon lenses, and ignore older lenses, Sigma and Tamron. The most recent automatic adapters (normally) work with newer Canon lenses. I've tried Metabones III, Fotodiox, Commlite and King automatic adapters, and just ordered the latest Metabones IV adapter. I will probably send the Metabones III adapter in for a firmware update when the Metabones IV arrives (and works).
Hope this helps?
bwa
Aug 24, 2015 05:07:02 #
Thank you, Bwana.
FYI readers of this a7 mark II Thread, I just created a new topic, On Refining Statements about the Capabilities of Photo Equipment.
This idea came to me after reviewing the entire thread. I think it might benefit at least some of us, in particular Mark & Cholly, assuming they take the time to read, evaluate it, and act on it.
Comments welcome.
FYI readers of this a7 mark II Thread, I just created a new topic, On Refining Statements about the Capabilities of Photo Equipment.
This idea came to me after reviewing the entire thread. I think it might benefit at least some of us, in particular Mark & Cholly, assuming they take the time to read, evaluate it, and act on it.
Comments welcome.
Aug 24, 2015 08:08:20 #
CHOLLY wrote:
Tradeoffs of a small size I'm afraid. br br The s... (show quote)
I believe that the various size tradeoffs will eventually be overcome. And probably sooner rather that later. When that happens, I hope to be at the front of the line to switch to mirrorless.
Aug 24, 2015 09:20:28 #
^^^OR at least, to add a mirrorless camera to your bag. You really don't have to switch completely over because there are things that DSLR's do that mirrorless cameras either can't or don't do well. ;)
Aug 24, 2015 12:31:31 #
Bwana:
As for your Sony "camera obscura" (pinhole camera):/
/Have fun... and clear skies!
Will do.
I shall be most interested in the results . . .
Thank you,
G.
As for your Sony "camera obscura" (pinhole camera):/
/Have fun... and clear skies!
Will do.
I shall be most interested in the results . . .
Thank you,
G.
Aug 24, 2015 12:35:32 #
Bwana:
As for your Sony "camera obscura" (pinhole camera):/
/Have fun... and clear skies!
Will do.
I shall be most interested in the results . . .
Thank you,
G.
As for your Sony "camera obscura" (pinhole camera):/
/Have fun... and clear skies!
Will do.
I shall be most interested in the results . . .
Thank you,
G.
Aug 24, 2015 12:52:00 #
dsmeltz wrote:
I believe that the various size tradeoffs will eventually be overcome. And probably sooner rather that later. When that happens, I hope to be at the front of the line to switch to mirrorless.
I am pretty sure you're right about trade-offs. The a7rii is pretty close to a perfect camera, and with a battery grip it's a lot bulkier for those who want that, but for fast action I don't want to give up my a77ii's 12fps (or 8fps with exposure control, because at 12fps it sets the widest aperture and corresponding shutter.) I plan on getting an a7rii next year and adapting my alpha lenses, but I want higher than 5fps for the somewhat-rare occasions I need the frame rate, so I'll hang on to my a77ii which, as a crop sensor, gives me that added reach.
Now I qualify all of that by saying it all depends on what Sony announces in the next month or two as an update to the a99, another formidable full-frame camera.
Oh, and all of these AND the a7ii have a second, advanced-features manual available on sony.com (to bring this back to the point of the thread, hehe.)
Aug 24, 2015 13:26:31 #
CHOLLY wrote:
^^^OR at least, to add a mirrorless camera to your bag. You really don't have to switch completely over because there are things that DSLR's do that mirrorless cameras either can't or don't do well. ;)
Totally agree...I have the A7r with the 35mm 2.8 in the top compartment of my small GoPro slingshot. In the main area of the bag I carry my Canon Sl1 with 2.8 40/70 and 55/250 plus a King adapter. This lightweight combo really covers just about anything I might encounter during golf, travel or hiking. I use the Sony for landscape, large hi res images, the Canon for everything else. Works great for me.
Aug 24, 2015 13:34:11 #
Aug 25, 2015 14:18:59 #
bwana wrote:
I own the A7S, A7R, A7 II and A7R II.
The A7R II is the definite winner with regard to autofocus speed with any automatic lens; however, the A7 II is pretty darn good with Sony (native) lenses and, I understand, adapted Sony A lenses. The A7s and A7R also work reasonably well with native lenses but lag behind the A7 II.
Autofocus speed using adapted automatic 3rd party lenses, i.e.: Canon, Sigma, Tamron, on the A7S, A7R and A7 II is terrible (slightly better on the A7 II)! bwa
The A7R II is the definite winner with regard to autofocus speed with any automatic lens; however, the A7 II is pretty darn good with Sony (native) lenses and, I understand, adapted Sony A lenses. The A7s and A7R also work reasonably well with native lenses but lag behind the A7 II.
Autofocus speed using adapted automatic 3rd party lenses, i.e.: Canon, Sigma, Tamron, on the A7S, A7R and A7 II is terrible (slightly better on the A7 II)! bwa
Bwana, the 2nd clause of your 2nd sentence quoted above impresses me in two ways:
A. You reminded me of the POTENTIAL IMPERFECTIONS of Sony's 2nd-gen A-mt Adapter, the LAEA-4, which I own;
B. "I understand" is a concise qualifier as to the basis of your assertion regarding Sony A-mt Adapters, a perfect example of something I discuss in a separate topic I started in this Forum I alluded to earlier. A topic that some here might find useful to review before slinging mud again, such as Cholly's nemesis (not that I'm taking sides as to who's a troll.)
Back to the Sony LAEA-4, I get the impression that Bwana does not own it, SO I'm asking the Others who read this Thread, DO ANY OF YOU OWN Sony/Minolta A-mt lenses, the Adapter, and any Sony E-mt camera OTHER than those labeled NEX? If so, have you done any comparisons in A-mt lens performance between a Sony A-mt camera and an E-mt camera/Adapter Combo?
I haven't thought till now of doing one and must admit, I believe I could only do a qualitative comparison at best, since I don't have any test kits nor would any practical hand-held test be valid in my hands [literally, due to tremor,] as the a6000 doesn't have IS while my A-100 and A-55 do.
Thank you, lev29
Aug 25, 2015 22:19:54 #
lev29 wrote:
Bwana, the 2nd clause of your 2nd sentence quoted ... (show quote)
The "I understand" is totally from hearsay and a few reviews I've read. I don't have any Sony A lenses or, a result, their adapters. But the comments I've seen with regard to the A7R II and the LAEA-3 have all been pretty upbeat...
bwa
Aug 26, 2015 01:49:16 #
The LA-EA4 is in fact, the autofocus module from the A58 with a motor for older screw drive lenses.
It's performance on E mount bodies with A mount legacy glass is similar to that of the A55/57/58 series of cameras.
The LA-EA3 is
nearly identical, but without the screw drive.
It's performance on E mount bodies with A mount legacy glass is similar to that of the A55/57/58 series of cameras.
The LA-EA3 is
nearly identical, but without the screw drive.
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