The Amazing Sony A1/A7/A9/APS-C & Anything else welcome Mega Thread!

bullinachinashop said:
Can anyone recommend any good YouTube vids people recommend for learning the UI and making the most of it please?
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Mark Galer is usually pretty good at explaining things and very thorough.
www.youtube.com

Mark Galer's Alpha Creative Skills

Sony Alpha Creative Skills - Click on the link to access learning support This channel includes Tips & Techniques for mastering Sony Alpha cameras and photographic workflows. Join Mark on Patreon.com for personal support including Q&A forums and downloadable eBooks (no contract or commitment...
www.youtube.com www.youtube.com

Searching Sony A7RII on youtube brings up a number of videos.

Gary Friedman does good ebooks on the Sony cameras
 
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bullinachinashop said:
Morning all - very excited ALL THE GEAR AND NO IDEA post - A7RII arrived yesterday - only my second proper camera, my first mirrorless, first full frame, first macro-ish lens.....etc, etc... got offered a very friendly deal from a pal so have gone all in... Can't wait to learn how to use it and hopefully take some nice photos!!

https://flic.kr/p/2q57cLk
View: https://flic.kr/p/2q57cLk
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Congrats on the new kit.

My personal expectation is that the older interchangeable mount tamron lenses will be a bit challenging to use (manual focus only) without providing such good image quality as recent native mount lenses. I think I see a kit lens too - probably better than the tamrons, but not stunning, and perhaps a more recent tamron AF lens?

If you're happy to use and learn the new stuff, and aren't too precious about image quality than I think you'll really enjoy it. Have fun.
 
Well, Prime day finally tempted me to order a Macro lens… the TTArtisan 40/2.8 for a steal (£73!). Only a APS-C lens and MF but reviews and sharpness looked great for the cost, ~15Mp crop on my A7Cii and close working distance is fine for my use case of copying film & prints.

Some proper testing today, and at close distances (around < 1m) it actually covers the full frame fine with minimal or no vignetting!

An example shot at APS-C and Full Frame:
Skeleton_crop.jpgSkeleton_full.jpg

And whilst my son’s Lego was out I realised it’s the perfect spacing to make a holder for my 6x6 instax prints to copy them!
Copy_holder.jpg
 
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This is not something I'd be interested in and to be honest I'm struggling to see how this could be a long term use lens as maybe people would tire of it or use some sort of filter or phone ap for these effects. Having a lens that only does this seems a bit much to me but what do I know? Maybe some people have been waiting for something just like this.

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BJCjxKpkAYc&t=43s
 
snerkler said:
Some photos from tthe Chatsworth Classic and Performance Motor Show today, more on Flickr.

1.

A1_05963-Edit by Toby Gunnee, on Flickr

2.

A1_05991 by Toby Gunnee, on Flickr

3.

A1_06034-Edit by Toby Gunnee, on Flickr

4.

A1_06199-Edit by Toby Gunnee, on Flickr

5.

A1_06127-Edit by Toby Gunnee, on Flickr

6.

A1_06248-Edit by Toby Gunnee, on Flickr

7.

A1_06233-Edit by Toby Gunnee, on Flickr

8.

A1_05971 by Toby Gunnee, on Flickr
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I do not want a 50GM. I do not want a 50GM. I do not want a 50GM. I do not want a 50GM. I do not want a 50GM. I do not want a 50GM. I do not want a 50GM. I do not want a 50GM.

:ROFLMAO: :ROFLMAO:

(y)
 
The shaped bokeh lens is a bit odd, you can achieve the same yourself with any normal wide aperture lens by cutting out a shape from card and taping it on the front (or painting a UV filter etc).
 
LeeRatters said:
I do not want a 50GM. I do not want a 50GM. I do not want a 50GM. I do not want a 50GM. I do not want a 50GM. I do not want a 50GM. I do not want a 50GM. I do not want a 50GM.

:ROFLMAO: :ROFLMAO:

(y)
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They weren't ALL taken with the 50mm ;)
Icee said:
Love the Manta. Nice cars nice pics.
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Thanks :)
 
It's easy for me to resist as I know I'd not be happy with the bulk and weight.
the_accidental said:
The shaped bokeh lens is a bit odd, you can achieve the same yourself with any normal wide aperture lens by cutting out a shape from card and taping it on the front (or painting a UV filter etc).
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I can see the appeal but how long the novelty will last and how often you'd want to use it I don't know. I'm sure I've seen a filter with stars or some other shape on it and I think if I wanted to do this that's the way I'd do it but I suppose taping a shape on is another way although I think I'd rather tape it to a cheap skylight or UV or other filter than the lens.
 
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Boats at Whitby the other evening. A7III and Sony 40mm f2.5.

1-DSC00222.jpg

1-DSC00225.jpg

Oh, and a PS to that first one. Why is there never a seagull when you want one? :D They were all over until I raised my camera to my eye and then I had to stand and wait for one to enter the frame and even then he's really too far away. It's as if they knew :D
 
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woof woof said:
It's easy for me to resist as I know I'd not be happy with the bulk and weight.


I can see the appeal but how long the novelty will last and how often you'd want to use it I don't know. I'm sure I've seen a filter with stars or some other shape on it and I think if I wanted to do this that's the way I'd do it but I suppose taping a shape on is another way although I think I'd rather tape it to a cheap skylight or UV or other filter than the lens.
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Like this

IMG_0826 by -justTrev-

To get this. Sorry not Sony shots

IMG_1870 - Version 2 by -justTrev-
 
This seems much more sensible than buying a lens permanently configured to give shaped bokeh highlights.

I can see the appeal but I do think that buying a conventional lens or even better using one you already have and some sort of external device to get this effect is a much more flexible and sensible way forward :D
 
Great day for us yesterday. Tiny bit of background, we purchased Winston and sadly he was injured in the field and became quite an unhappy soul. We were surrounded by some quite opinionated people saying we should cut our losses, sell, get rid etc, but that's not us at all! We never gave up and carried on with his care in a new environment and yesterday he exceeded all our expectations by getting 3rd place at his very first event.

Was a bit of a rush getting camera gear together, I didn't have a zoom lens, hasn't really taken any photos for probably 8-10 months so was a bit un-prepared! Happy with the results though, hopefully this will be the start of many more photos (and shows).

For some reason these look better on my laptop rather than Flickr.

DSC00127 by JayX2A, on Flickr

DSC00146 by JayX2A, on Flickr

DSC00157 by JayX2A, on Flickr

DSC00227 by JayX2A, on Flickr

DSC00234 by JayX2A, on Flickr

DSC00240 by JayX2A, on Flickr
 
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JJ! said:
Great day for us yesterday. Tiny bit of background, we purchased Winston and sadly he was injured in the field and became quite an unhappy soul. We were surrounded by some quite opinionated people saying we should cut our losses, sell, get rid etc, but that's not us at all! We never gave up and carried on with his care in a new environment and yesterday he exceeded all our expectations by getting 3rd place at his very first event.
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Well done for not giving up, he's beautiful :D
 
woof woof said:
This seems much more sensible than buying a lens permanently configured to give shaped bokeh highlights.

I can see the appeal but I do think that buying a conventional lens or even better using one you already have and some sort of external device to get this effect is a much more flexible and sensible way forward :D
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Lensbaby has a poppable version - quite nifty. Also they sell the blank circles so you can cut any shape you like... or can imagine...
 
ecniv said:
Lensbaby has a poppable version - quite nifty. Also they sell the blank circles so you can cut any shape you like... or can imagine...
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Oh dear... people will have their own creative ideas :oops: :$
 
woof woof said:
Very nice.

I've just booked my Evoque in for an MOT and service at a main dealer and when she told me the price I sooo wanted to say "I just want an MOT and a service not to buy the dealership."

Oh well. Can't take it with you :D
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Prices are crazy, have you thought about going to an independant specialist?
 
snerkler said:
Prices are crazy, have you thought about going to an independant specialist?
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This will only be the second time I've used a main dealership for many years but these days I'm much less bothered about money plus the last time I took the car to this main dealership they did a really good first time job whereas I'd been back and forward with the independent specialist and they never got it sorted. So, it's a case of convenience (they'll collect the car and deliver it back) and piece of mind (I hope) over the cost which really doesn't matter.

The dealership I'm using used to have a terrible reputation but they seem to have turned a corner and taken on new staff and practices and honestly I couldn't fault them the last time I used them. Their service was perfect, expensive but perfect, so I'll hope for more of the same. Land Rover products seem to have a poor reputation but I have to say that apart from one issue which was present when I bought the car (at under market price so I was happy enough) it's been faultless and I'm hoping main dealer love and care will keep it like that.
 
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woof woof said:
This will only be the second time I've used a main dealership for many years but these days I'm much less bothered about money plus the last time I took the car to this main dealership they did a really good first time job whereas I'd been back and forward with the independent specialist and they never got it sorted. So, it's a case of convenience (they'll collect the car and deliver it back) and piece of mind (I hope) over the cost which really doesn't matter.

The dealership I'm using used to have a terrible reputation but they seem to have turned a corner and taken on new staff and practices and honestly I couldn't fault them the last time I used them. Their service was perfect, expensive but perfect, so I'll hope for more of the same. Land Rover products seem to have a poor reputation but I have to say that apart from one issue which was present when I bought the car (at under market price so I was happy enough) it's been faultless and I'm hoping main dealer love and care will keep it like that.
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If you’re happy with the service that goes a long way (y)

Our local Land Rover dealership is pretty poor, it’s a big group now who strangely also own the dealership I bought my new motorbike from and they were pretty poor too, well the salesman anyway.
 
I've just received a full refund from Amazon for the Artralab lens I rejected. I'm pleased that they also refunded the import fees which weren't included in the first few emails as it was about £60 or so or maybe actually more. I had just decided that not refunding the fees was fair enough so I was surprised and pleased to see a full refund. I'd rather have had the lens though as in some respects it was IMO outstanding but with just the one glaring and IMO not only inexcusable but also impossible to understand issue.

I'm still amazed that a company can release a lens with wildly inaccurate mislabelled apertures. Unless it was a case of a massive cock up and then an unwillingness to admit to it because of loss of face. I could believe that as I've seen that with far eastern companies more than once, specifically Chinese companies. Cock up leads to them valiantly defending what should be an indefensible position rather then making what are in reality in some cases just minor changes which wouldn't even affect production or any real costs.

I do wish they'd either quietly corrected the major cock up, if that's what it was, or just set out to design and manufacture a very nice lens which is what this lens should be. Of the two options, cock up or deliberate idiocy (IMO this would be idiocy if it was deliberate) I think cock up is more excusable as if they really made this lens in this state deliberately I just can not follow their logic.

PS.
I've never ever seen or heard of a lens which has been this far out before and I'm amazed that no review that I've seen or read has mentioned this glaringly obvious issue. All you have to do is look at the lens and stop it down and it's immediately obvious. Even the Pergear 35mm f1.4 is much more accurate in this respect and at a third of the price. I hope it's really not a case of, as Mrs WW puts is, "You're the only one who'd notice or care. No one else cares." I always took pride in my work and I expect others to do the same.
 
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I see Tobers is selling his X100VI for a reasonable price considering that they're very hard to find. Some would be tempted to profiteer.

As I've had a F and briefly as it was faulty a S I can see the appeal of these cameras even if for a few reasons they're not for me. If they were for me I might be very interested in Tobers camera :D

I am surprised it hasn't sold already.
 
woof woof said:
I see Tobers is selling his X100VI for a reasonable price considering that they're very hard to find. Some would be tempted to profiteer.

As I've had a F and briefly as it was faulty a S I can see the appeal of these cameras even if for a few reasons they're not for me. If they were for me I might be very interested in Tobers camera :D

I am surprised it hasn't sold already.
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I had a quick look at the sale thread this morning. There were already too many interested to pop me way down the list. And, tbh, I'm not 100% on a Vi anyway...
 
LeeRatters said:
I had a quick look at the sale thread this morning. There were already too many interested to pop me way down the list. And, tbh, I'm not 100% on a Vi anyway...
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The interested party seem to have melted away over the warranty issue.

TBH I was tempted but then I remembered that I sold the F because I chose everything else I have over it and it'd be exactly the same with a VI and it'd just end up taking the F's place in the drawer. It was only gas that got me interested :D

The big plus things for me would be the EVF (I'm not bothered about the OVF but the EVF is a nice one) and the all in one fun and retro style package. Downsides being AF ability and the IMO simply awful MF experience. Nice cameras though.
 
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woof woof said:
I see Tobers is selling his X100VI for a reasonable price considering that they're very hard to find. Some would be tempted to profiteer.

As I've had a F and briefly as it was faulty a S I can see the appeal of these cameras even if for a few reasons they're not for me. If they were for me I might be very interested in Tobers camera :D

I am surprised it hasn't sold already.
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Personally I rather wait 2-3 months and get a new one for the same price with full warranty.
If I have waited this long to not get one, I can wait another couple months :D
 
nandbytes said:
Personally I rather wait 2-3 months and get a new one for the same price with full warranty.
If I have waited this long to not get one, I can wait another couple months :D
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That's a good point but some people... just... can't... wait :D

If these cameras were for me I'd skip the VI and just get a used S or F and be happy but I've just checked and even F's seem to have gone up in price.

Anyway. Mrs WW wants a car and I might use that as an excuse to get one for myself too :D
 
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