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

[gatecrasher3]

Almost 100% of our bookings are a few emails. There's that much content both from social media and the website, why would you even need to discuss most of that anymore.

We saw the work of our wedding photographer online via the images she provided people we knew that had hired her for their wedding and also her website and social media. We still met with her prior to booking to get a feel for her personality and to confirm that she was the "person" we were looking for.

Can't imagine not doing it that way round, but each to their own I guess. Definitly a result for wedding photographers if they can get a booking in place just via an email or two.

 

[bullinachinashop]

Had a go with the Pergear 35mm F1.4 I bought from @woof woof really enjoyed using it around town with the floodwaters are

_DSC5991 by bullinachinashop, on Flickr


_DSC6052 (2) by bullinachinashop, on Flickr

_DSC6013 by bullinachinashop, on Flickr

_DSC6023 (2) by bullinachinashop, on Flickr

_DSC6051 (2) by bullinachinashop, on Flickr

 

[f/1.4]

We saw the work of our wedding photographer online via the images she provided people we knew that had hired her for their wedding and also her website and social media. We still met with her prior to booking to get a feel for her personality and to confirm that she was the "person" we were looking for.

Can't imagine not doing it that way round, but each to their own I guess. Definitly a result for wedding photographers if they can get a booking in place just via an email or two.

You don't get a booking just via an email or two, that's very ignorant to how it works. It's due to extremely hard work and effort. I'd imagine it's a tad more difficult for someone with a weak portfolio or that doesn't shoot many weddings

 

[snerkler]

I am not sure what you mean?

I neither work for cheap or for free for mates.

Most wedding photographers use an automated CRM we rarely have a conversation with a couple before their wedding. We don’t even have email contact a lot of times as the CRM automates everything.

Wow, never heard of that before. Normally the bride and groom will meet with the tog at least once and discuss what they want, what they’re doing during the day etc etc. I certainly wouldn’t have been happy not having a face to face meeting before hand, but I guess times are changing.

However, as I said I’ve not heard of that before and everyone I speak to still meets beforehand

 

[snerkler]

You don't get a booking just via an email or two, that's very ignorant to how it works. It's due to extremely hard work and effort. I'd imagine it's a tad more difficult for someone with a weak portfolio or that doesn't shoot many weddings

I don’t think that’s what they were implying. However, I have to agree that it’s easier to know what someone is like by meeting face to face. I’m sure for a lot of people they don’t just book someone based on their portfolio, I wouldn’t care how good their portfolio was if they were a d**k I wouldn’t be booking them.

 

[LeeRatters]

Sent a good dozen emails back & forth with the guy we liked the work of. Had a 30 minute video call with him this week just gone to discuss things. Deposit paid yesterday & he said he'd like a face to face at some point before the day in April if possible. Maybe even at the venue.

 

[f/2.8]

Wow, never heard of that before. Normally the bride and groom will meet with the tog at least once and discuss what they want, what they’re doing during the day etc etc. I certainly wouldn’t have been happy not having a face to face meeting before hand, but I guess times are changing.

However, as I said I’ve not heard of that before and everyone I speak to still meets beforehand

Maybe back when Jesus was a wee lad, that hasn't happened for years, well before covid anyway. Also it actually isn't about what the couple want, it's about if our style suits what they want or not. We don't change what we do to suit the couple, they book us because of the way we do things if they want someone that will do something else they will need to find someone else.

This is how it normally goes.

Couples finds us via google, instagram or a recommendation from someone whose wedding we have shot or a venue or other vendor.

They usually stalk us on social media for a few days.

They get directed from social media to our website and use the contact form to send an email. The contact form is set up to ask them where they are getting married the date and which package they want to book, this is when the CRM takes over.

The CRM emails them confirming availability along with link to frequently asked questions etc, and a quotation for the package they have chosen.

The couple accept the quote and the CRM then generates an invoice for them to pay, a contract for them to sign and a questionnaire for them to complete.

Most wedding bookings we take are on average 12-18 months out although occasionally you do get a short notice one or one that is booked 2/3 years in advance.

Balance with us is due 4 weeks before the wedding. The CRM emails them a week before balance is due with an invoice to pay and a more comprehensive questionnaire, if they don't pay the CRM emails them again the day before, if they don't pay it emails them the day payment is due, you get the idea.

Balance gets paid and we turn up to shoot their wedding. Often head to bed and wake up in the morning to bookings coming in.

Occasionally couples have questions that the F,A,Q on our website doesn't answer and we have to intercede then but not often our website is very good.

Young couples hate talking to suppliers especially on the phone etc. they prefer to do everything by email the only thing they hate more than having to do calls etc. is being forced into having to waste time meeting vendors.

There are still a few old school people around that do in person meetings etc. but they are few and far between. At a rough guess I would say that 70-80% of photographers and videographers use the same CRM we do. From the couples point of view they don't know they are dealing with an automated CRM they believe they are talking direct to us.

 

[f/2.8]

I don’t think that’s what they were implying. However, I have to agree that it’s easier to know what someone is like by meeting face to face. I’m sure for a lot of people they don’t just book someone based on their portfolio, I wouldn’t care how good their portfolio was if they were a d**k I wouldn’t be booking them.

Its your age bro, young people really hate anything that involves actual contact with another human being.

In terms of portfolio it isn't just that although I probably have one of the most comprehensive portfolios of any wedding photographer in the U.K, @f/1.4 also has an incredible portfolio. I am not being big headed or exaggerating just stating facts. In the grand scheme of things in terms of Northern Ireland we are probably one of the top 10 wedding photographers in N.I, @f/1.4 is probably in the top 3.

Most couples will also look at online reviews which we have a lot of. They base their perception of your personality by your online personna on social media and how things are worded on your website and their interaction with the CRM.

Sent a good dozen emails back & forth with the guy we liked the work of. Had a 30 minute video call with him this week just gone to discuss things. Deposit paid yesterday & he said he'd like a face to face at some point before the day in April if possible. Maybe even at the venue.

Wow that is serious old school. Would be surprised though if most of the email exchange you had was with an actual person. Even back before the use of a CRM to do all that stuff for us pretty much every wedding photographer had set up copy and paste emails to send to couples that get in touch.

 

[snerkler]

Maybe back when Jesus was a wee lad, that hasn't happened for years, well before covid anyway.

This is how it normally goes.

Couples finds us via google, instagram or a recommendation from someone whose wedding we have shot or a venue or other vendor.

They usually stalk us on social media for a few days.

They get directed from social media to our website and use the contact form to send an email. The contact form is set up to ask them where they are getting married the date and which package they want to book, this is when the CRM takes over.

The CRM emails them confirming availability along with link to frequently asked questions etc, and a quotation for the package they have chosen.

The couple accept the quote and the CRM then generates an invoice for them to pay, a contract for them to sign and a questionnaire for them to complete.

Most wedding bookings we take are on average 12-18 months out although occasionally you do get a short notice one or one that is booked 2/3 years in advance.

Balance with us is due 4 weeks before the wedding. The CRM emails them a week before balance is due with an invoice to pay and a more comprehensive questionnaire, if they don't pay the CRM emails them again the day before, if they don't pay it emails them the day payment is due, you get the idea.

Balance gets paid and we turn up to shoot their wedding. Often head to bed and wake up in the morning to bookings coming in.

Occasionally couples have questions that the F,A,Q on our website doesn't answer and we have to intercede then but not often our website is very good.

Young couples hate talking to suppliers especially on the phone etc. they prefer to do everything by email the only thing they hate more than having to do calls etc. is being forced into having to waste time meeting vendors.

There are still a few old school people around that do in person meetings etc. but they are few and far between. At a rough guess I would say that 70-80% of photographers and videographers use the same CRM we do. From the couples point of view they don't know they are dealing with an automated CRM they believe they are talking direct to us.

Its your age bro, young people really hate anything that involves actual contact with another human being.

In terms of portfolio it isn't just that although I probably have one of the most comprehensive portfolios of any wedding photographer in the U.K, @f/1.4 also has an incredible portfolio. I am not being big headed or exaggerating just stating facts. In the grand scheme of things in terms of Northern Ireland we are probably one of the top 10 wedding photographers in N.I, @f/1.4 is probably in the top 3.

Most couples will also look at online reviews which we have a lot of. They base their perception of your personality by your online personna on social media and how things are worded on your website and their interaction with the CRM.



Wow that is serious old school. Would be surprised though if most of the email exchange you had was with an actual person.

Maybe in some places but in my line of work I speak to a lot of people and I have probably spoken to close to 100 people this year who have either just got married, planning to get married or have a close friend or family member getting married and they’ve all met the photographer beforehand (I’m always talking either photography, bikes or footy, sometimes all three )

Maybe we’re just old fashioned in my neck of the woods

 

[LeeRatters]

Wow that is serious old school. Would be surprised though if most of the email exchange you had was with an actual person. Even back before the use of a CRM to do all that stuff for us pretty much every wedding photographer had set up copy and paste emails to send to couples that get in touch.

Well, they certainly read like genuine emails. And they certainly weren't an instant response. Sent during the day or sometimes the following evening...... With details relevant to us etc.... But who knows I guess And, I'd say in his 20's too.

 

[f/2.8]

Maybe in some places but in my line of work I speak to a lot of people and I have probably spoken to close to 100 people this year who have either just got married, planning to get married or have a close friend or family member getting married and they’ve all met the photographer beforehand (I’m always talking either photography, bikes or footy, sometimes all three )

Maybe we’re just old fashioned in my neck of the woods

I am gonna guess the people you spoke to were people aged 30 plus.

Before the use of CRM's most wedding photographers used email scripts they purchased or got the hold of from other photographers. These email scripts were designed to influence the couple in the same way the CRM does now, the CRM just automates it.

For people aged under 30 they are usually horrified at the thought of having to speak on the phone or even worse have to meet up with a stranger just to book a service. They don't speak to their family and friends on the phone. Young people don't talk they text on whatsapp, snapchat etc.

On average we photograph 40-50 weddings a year, we haven't met with a couple before their wedding in 6 years. Actually that's not entirely true we have met with couples before their wedding if they have also booked an engagement session,

 

[f/2.8]

Well, they certainly read like genuine emails. And they certainly weren't an instant response. Sent during the day or sometimes the following evening...... With details relevant to us etc.... But who knows I guess And, I'd say in his 20's too.

Off course they do that is how it is designed, it should feel exactly like talking to a person who is extremely enthusiastic about your wedding. It depends how the CRM is set up we have ours pretty much nailed. Some do not use all of the automated features.

If you signed an online contract and received an electronic invoice you have not been talking with a person all of the time.

 

[LeeRatters]

Off course they do that is how it is designed, it should feel exactly like talking to a person who is extremely enthusiastic about your wedding. It depends how the CRM is set up we have ours pretty much nailed. Some do not use all of the automated features.

If you signed an online contract and received an electronic invoice you have not been talking with a person all of the time.

PDF

Would the CRM not do pretty much an instant response though? Like when you buy something etc & you get a confirmation email in a few seconds?

 

[f/2.8]

PDF

Would the CRM not do pretty much an instant response though? Like when you buy something etc & you get a confirmation email in a few seconds?

Ours does but not everyone uses it the way we do.

Some prefer to receive the email response from the couple, review it and then pick and choose a response from the CRM rather than automate it.

PDF, that is old school or someone who is just not clued in to the business side of things yet,.

 

[f/2.8]

This is an example of what the CRM looks like.

 

[snerkler]

I am gonna guess the people you spoke to were people aged 30 plus.

Before the use of CRM's most wedding photographers used email scripts they purchased or got the hold of from other photographers. These email scripts were designed to influence the couple in the same way the CRM does now, the CRM just automates it.

For people aged under 30 they are usually horrified at the thought of having to speak on the phone or even worse have to meet up with a stranger just to book a service. They don't speak to their family and friends on the phone. Young people don't talk they text on whatsapp, snapchat etc.

On average we photograph 40-50 weddings a year, we haven't met with a couple before their wedding in 6 years. Actually that's not entirely true we have met with couples before their wedding if they have also booked an engagement session,

Not all no. but most. I must admit having thought about it I over egged how many people I spoke to about it, close to 100 wou;d have meant 2 people/week on average in reality it was probably half that

This discussion's certainly been an eye opener. I'd have been properly peeved if I found out I was talking to a CRM rather than a real person but I do realise that I'm old school and you obviously know how things work and it's been successful for you.

Nice portfolio by the way, you cetainly have some great venues and backdrops in your neck of the woods. Dunluce Castle looks cool

 

[gatecrasher3]

I don’t think that’s what they were implying. However, I have to agree that it’s easier to know what someone is like by meeting face to face. I’m sure for a lot of people they don’t just book someone based on their portfolio, I wouldn’t care how good their portfolio was if they were a d**k I wouldn’t be booking them.

That's exactly what I was alluding to. Someone can be technically brilliant as a photographer but if they're lacking in personality or worse an out and out d**k then I wouldn't be looking to hire them and without meeting first you can't really tell.

 

[f/2.8]

Not all no. but most. I must admit having thought about it I over egged how many people I spoke to about it, close to 100 wou;d have meant 2 people/week on average in reality it was probably half that

This discussion's certainly been an eye opener. I'd have been properly peeved if I found out I was talking to a CRM rather than a real person but I do realise that I'm old school and you obviously know how things work and it's been successful for you.

Nice portfolio by the way, you cetainly have some great venues and backdrops in your neck of the woods. Dunluce Castle looks cool

Using the CRM is a much better experience for the clients. They get prompt responses and easy access to things like their invoices and online signing for their contract etc. saving a lot of hassle for them.

 

[nandbytes]

As much as I as don't like it, young people just don't want to speak to people. So having a brilliant automated system like @f/2.8 will probably get more customers than the old school way.
I have two brothers who are twins in early 20s. My parents constantly complain they don't call and they constantly complain my parents don't text/WhatsApp

There was a recent study by yougov that showed current generation of teens and 20s have less friends or acquaintances compared to older generations. Rather sad really.

 

[Sootchucker]

Bit of an update on the new A7RV. As a picture taking device, it's sublime. The images are amazingly detailed, pretty much noise free (up to ISO3200), and very good after that. Camera feels really good in the hand, and it takes all my current Sony APS-C lenses that I own without issue. The IBIS is pretty much as good as I'd hoped for, and at 20mm FL, I've got sharp shots (with good handholding technique and holding my breath) of up to 2 seconds handheld, and 1 second is pretty much dead easy. Whilst not quite as good as my Olympus bodies, it is lightyears ahead of what I can similarly achieve with my Nikon Z8, Z9 or Z7 II bodies.

However........

As a video camera, it is somewhat disappointing. Part of that is me not reading the specs properly before purchasing and part being spoilt by the amazing Video features of it's very much little brother the A6700. I knew that the A7VR crops in a little when shooting 4K 50p unlike the A6700, (and even more when using Active Stabilization), but not quite how much. so the 20mm end of my 20-70 ends up being around 29mm lens (1.24x crop for shooting in 4k 50 and an additional 1.16 crop when using active stabilization). Also (and this is my fault) I had incorrectly assumed that I could pop on my APS-C lenses (like the brilliant 10-20 PZ), and still be able to shoot in 4k 50P (60P), however with native APS-C lenses, you are restricted to a max of 4K 25p(30P), and the 50P(60P) options are ghosted out. They, it seems are only accessible when using a FF lens. So whilst the video performance in 4K 24/25 looks decent enough, I usually shoot mainly in 4k 50p giving me the opportunity to slow a clip down in post if required. Looks like for Video at least, the little A6700 is still the one to beat (unless you have a A7S III or A1).

 

[f/2.8]

That's exactly what I was alluding to. Someone can be technically brilliant as a photographer but if they're lacking in personality or worse an out and out d**k then I wouldn't be looking to hire them and without meeting first you can't really tell.

Don't really think that this is the case. As younger people don't like meetings or phone calls it's important to put our personality out there in other ways and we do that via our website, blog posts etc. Social media is also good for this although with us being older we don't do that as well as some of other younger photographers. We use social media to drive people to our website as that is where we can show off our portfoilio better and provide all of the information a couple needs to make a decision on booking us or not. We also use our Instagram story to show people our personalities but not to the same extent others do as we aren't as comfortable putting ourselves on social media the way younger photographers do. The younger generation of photographers tend to market themselves purely through social media they will do loads of talking head videos of themselves talking about what they do and lots of cringey skits etc, That definitely works well, but wouldn't be for me. TikTok is probably the best medium for this as Instagram is slowly but surely dying a death.

In truth I am not a technically brilliant photographer but I have a reasonably successful wedding photography business because we have a large online presence. Online presence is the new way to show your personality to prospective clients, well I say new its been that way for a few years.

I have been doing this for 10 years at the start we did it the old school way of meetings etc but that is not what younger couples want anymore. Couples under 30 are our target as that is the age most get married for the first time anyway.

You could still go the old school route and target couples over 30 but that often means couples who have been married before and they don't tend to want to invest as much money in their wedding the second, third time around.

As much as I as don't like it, young people just don't want to speak to people. So having a brilliant automated system like @f/2.8 will probably get more customers than the old school way.
I have two brothers who are twins in early 20s. My parents constantly complain they don't call and they constantly complain my parents don't text/WhatsApp

There was a recent study by yougov that showed current generation of teens and 20s have less friends or acquaintances compared to older generations. Rather sad really.

I agree it is rather sad but that is the world we live in now. People under 30 have grown up interacting with their friends online rather than in real life so that is the default response when they want to buy products or services as well.

I would say that well over 50% of the couples that book us met online, tinder etc. That has been especially prevalent this year with pretty much all of our couples met online with only a handful having met in real life first.

Social anxiety is a real thing for younger people.

Just as one example at a wedding a few weeks ago the groom had 5 groomsmen and a best man. Of the 6 of them he had met none of them in real life until they all went on his stag do, the week before the wedding.

That is just the way soceity is now when I was aged 18-25 I was out every night. Mondays and Tuesdays we met up at our local pub after work, Wednesday always meant the Coach night club, Thursdays always meant Chesters night club, Fridays always meant Paradise Lost night club, Saturdays being the big night out meant a variety of different clubs and Sundays was always the Sunday club at someones house for the Saturday night come down.

None of those places exist anymore. It is ridiculously expensive to go for a night out or even a trip to the pub and people that age range tend to only do maybe one night a month. When they do go out they tend to stick to their friendship group and spend most of the time staring at their phones. People just don't interact the same way anymore.

 

[snerkler]

Just as one example at a wedding a few weeks ago the groom had 5 groomsmen and a best man. Of the 6 of them he had met none of them in real life until they all went on his stag do, the week before the wedding.

That's incredibly sad, I hope that this is the minority and doesn't become the norm Social interaction is extremely important for wellbeing and good mental health, we are by nature social creatures.

I've always found in life things are better shared, whether it be going to the footy, going out for dinner etc. When I DJ'd it could be pretty miserable practising at home on my own at times, but being able to share it with people was so rewarding and there was nothing better than seeing folk enjoying what you were doing. Likewise making music, or even doing photography. Granted these last two tend to be pretty much solo activities but it wouldn't bring half as much joy if you couldn't share it with folk afterwards.

Even just watching TV, I much prefer sitting watching it with my wife than sitting there on my tod.

I appreciate times are changing but I think the lack of social interaction will be damaging

 

[f/2.8]

That's incredibly sad, I hope that this is the minority and doesn't become the norm Social interaction is extremely important for wellbeing and good mental health, we are by nature social creatures.

I've always found in life things are better shared, whether it be going to the footy, going out for dinner etc. When I DJ'd it could be pretty miserable practising at home on my own at times, but being able to share it with people was so rewarding and there was nothing better than seeing folk enjoying what you were doing. Likewise making music, or even doing photography. Granted these last two tend to be pretty much solo activities but it wouldn't bring half as much joy if you couldn't share it with folk afterwards.

Even just watching TV, I much prefer sitting watching it with my wife than sitting there on my tod.

I appreciate times are changing but I think the lack of social interaction will be damaging

Unfortunately for those of a certain age range this is already the norm, agree with everything you said there though.

Even the whole club scene and going out thing has changed dramatically. People don't drink like they used too on a night out for good reasons as well like health and fitness etc. but also because of the insane cost. The drugs scene has changed a lot as well. When I was a certain age we dished pills amongst our friends group and it was a social thing and the drugs led to wanting to be everyone's friend. That scene is very different now with people of a certain age range doing a lot of coke and downer drugs like ketamine. While coke will make you hyper its not a drug that is going to have you making friends with everyone you meet.

Anyway I have went of on a complete tangent, but its not great out there for younger people I can see a lot of it as I have a much younger brother and an 18 year old daughter and all the younger couples we work for.

 

[woof woof]

I would say that well over 50% of the couples that book us met online, tinder etc. That has been especially prevalent this year with pretty much all of our couples met online with only a handful having met in real life first.

These days I do wonder how people meet up in the real world. Years ago a lot of people met on nights out or at work but these days even smiling at someone at work could be a problem, ditto in a pub or club.

Glad I'm out of dating

 

[snerkler]

It's landed, been to more countries than I have on the way over

 

[Mr Perceptive]

It's landed, been to more countries than I have on the way over

View attachment 435208

Lets hope it passes the lab coat scrutiny ..............................

 

[snerkler]

Lets hope it passes the lab coat scrutiny ..............................

Just having a camera that works will be a bonus

 

[woof woof]

Just having a camera that works will be a bonus

You could have done what I did. Throw it in the bin with the apple cores and orange peal and tea bags, dig it out again two days later, spend a day cleaning all the gunk off it then follow a Youtube teardown vid and fiddle with it until it's fixed.

 

[trevorbray]

It's landed, been to more countries than I have on the way over

View attachment 435208

Let’s hope it passes the lab coat scrutiny ..............................

He’s gonna love it..

 

[f/2.8]

It's landed, been to more countries than I have on the way over

View attachment 435208

A1 and an A7R5 thats higher end bodies than most pro's I know.

Hope you have more luck with this one mate after all the bother with the A1,

 

[snerkler]

A1 and an A7R5 thats higher end bodies than most pro's I know.

Hope you have more luck with this one mate after all the bother with the A1,

Lol I know, all the gear and no idea and all that

Thanks

 

[snerkler]

Just set my A7RV up and had a quick play, initial reactions are mostly positive.

First time I took a shot there was a weird noise, checked the manual and apparently it's something called a mecahnical shutter

EVF is good, seems a bit crisper than the A1 but until I get that back I can't be sure. I'm on the fence regarding the flipout screen, I normally just tilt and it seems a bit harder to tilt, how much that'll affect day to day usage I'm not sure. Also it feels a bit plasticky. I can't say I've noticed any difference in ergonomics, maybe if I go immediately from one to the other I'll tell but it feels good to hold.

There appears to be several menu settings that aren't there on the A1 so I'm going to have to familiarise myself with those.

What's surprised me is the animal AF, it's the first camera that's been able to find Betty's eyes without her face filling the frame. I just tried it from the other end of the room in poor light using the 35mm, she was small in the frame let alone her face and it picked up on her eye, very impressive.

I think the shutter and blackout will take some getting used to but I'm hoping I'll be happy with it, should make a great partner to the A1

 

[snerkler]

@woof woof would this float your boat?

Is this real? Allegedly leaked image of the new Sony 28mm f/2.8 FE pancake lens | sonyalpharumors

A new source just sent me the image of an allegedly new Sony 28mm f/2.8 FE pancake lens with the following text: Sony is about to launch a new full frame e-mount pancake lens to finally compete directly with the Canon 28mm f/2.8 and Nikon 26mm f/2.8 pancake lenses. This is a true pancake lens

www.sonyalpharumors.com

I must admit I'm a bit jealous of Canon's pancake RF 50mm f1.8, it'd be great if Sony could update their nifty fifty and make it a pancake type.

 

[ancient_mariner]

@woof woof would this float your boat?

Is this real? Allegedly leaked image of the new Sony 28mm f/2.8 FE pancake lens | sonyalpharumors

A new source just sent me the image of an allegedly new Sony 28mm f/2.8 FE pancake lens with the following text: Sony is about to launch a new full frame e-mount pancake lens to finally compete directly with the Canon 28mm f/2.8 and Nikon 26mm f/2.8 pancake lenses. This is a true pancake lens

www.sonyalpharumors.com

I must admit I'm a bit jealous of Canon's pancake RF 50mm f1.8, it'd be great if Sony could update their nifty fifty and make it a pancake type.

It would be nice if they could make the AF work too, while they're at it.

 

[woof woof]

@woof woof would this float your boat?

Is this real? Allegedly leaked image of the new Sony 28mm f/2.8 FE pancake lens | sonyalpharumors

A new source just sent me the image of an allegedly new Sony 28mm f/2.8 FE pancake lens with the following text: Sony is about to launch a new full frame e-mount pancake lens to finally compete directly with the Canon 28mm f/2.8 and Nikon 26mm f/2.8 pancake lenses. This is a true pancake lens

www.sonyalpharumors.com

I must admit I'm a bit jealous of Canon's pancake RF 50mm f1.8, it'd be great if Sony could update their nifty fifty and make it a pancake type.

I read that and I think the poster who says it's based on an existing but doctored G 24/40/50 picture is right, I think it's a hoax.

If it is real then yes, I'd take a look. I have the old 35mm f2.8 which I haven't used since I got the 40mm G plus the 24mm f2.8 but a 28mm could interest me. I do have the 28mm f2 but hardly use it because other things usually appeal to me more but yes, I could be interested and a compact 28mm on my A7 and the 40mm on my A7III might be nicer than the 24 / 40 I have at the moment.

I do find it a bit odd that Sony haven't made a higher end 28mm f1.x. It is one of the traditional focal lengths, it has its followers and for a while at least was I believe the most used FoV if we include smartphone photography. Voigtlander don't make a high end 28mm for Sony either.

 

[gatecrasher3]

Unfortunately for those of a certain age range this is already the norm, agree with everything you said there though.

Even the whole club scene and going out thing has changed dramatically. People don't drink like they used too on a night out for good reasons as well like health and fitness etc. but also because of the insane cost. The drugs scene has changed a lot as well. When I was a certain age we dished pills amongst our friends group and it was a social thing and the drugs led to wanting to be everyone's friend. That scene is very different now with people of a certain age range doing a lot of coke and downer drugs like ketamine. While coke will make you hyper its not a drug that is going to have you making friends with everyone you meet.

Anyway I have went of on a complete tangent, but its not great out there for younger people I can see a lot of it as I have a much younger brother and an 18 year old daughter and all the younger couples we work for.

Hearing your perspective has been a huge eye opener for me to be honest. Times it seems have changed drastically in terms of socialising and communicating.

Anyway back on topic I guess.......

 

[snerkler]

I read that and I think the poster who says it's based on an existing but doctored G 24/40/50 picture is right, I think it's a hoax.

If it is real then yes, I'd take a look. I have the old 35mm f2.8 which I haven't used since I got the 40mm G plus the 24mm f2.8 but a 28mm could interest me. I do have the 28mm f2 but hardly use it because other things usually appeal to me more but yes, I could be interested and a compact 28mm on my A7 and the 40mm on my A7III might be nicer than the 24 / 40 I have at the moment.

I do find it a bit odd that Sony haven't made a higher end 28mm f1.x. It is one of the traditional focal lengths, it has its followers and for a while at least was I believe the most used FoV if we include smartphone photography. Voigtlander don't make a high end 28mm for Sony either.

I don’t know why there aren’t more pancake lenses, the Canon RF one is supposedly really good so if they can do it I’m sure others can too. I’d love a fast (f1.8-2) 50mm you can fit in your pocket and not know it’s there, likewise a 35mm.

 

[woof woof]

I don’t know why there aren’t more pancake lenses, the Canon RF one is supposedly really good so if they can do it I’m sure others can too. I’d love a fast (f1.8-2) 50mm you can fit in your pocket and not know it’s there, likewise a 35mm.

I can's see Sony making pancake or even compact G sized f1.8-f2 lenses at the moment. The old 35mm f2.8 and the newer 24mm f2.8 and 40 and 50mm f2.5 G's are maybe as compact and have as wide an aperture as Sony is willing to go, at the moment.

Competition is perhaps the best hope here and if Canon and Nikon or third party makers have good sales of wide aperture compact lenses maybe Sony will follow but I doubt they'll do it without pressure. If they could push a mini G lens to f2 or wider that'd be lovely even if there's a dip in IQ. If a smaller faster lens has a dip in IQ it'll get slaughtered in reviews and on forums and maybe that's a part of it? Who wants poor reviews when you can sell a whopping f1.4 and the market and forums will love it?

MF wise I have the TTA 50mm f2 which is in reality a poor lens even falling short of modest film era 50's I've had but at least it is Sony mount. The Voigtlander 35mm f1.4 in Sony mount can have wild bokeh below f2 depending on the scene but it is otherwise and IMO a good lens. The Pergear I recently sold is another example of a compact and wide aperture lens but I'm not sure what its true widest aperture is and the overall IQ quality could be unacceptable to many people due to field curvature and other things.

 

[snerkler]

I know I mentioned it yesterday but I’m really impressed with the subject detection on the A7RV, spot on each and every time with Betty even when she’s side on it somehow finds her eye, and not once has it mistaken her ears for eyes (common mistake on the other cameras I’ve had). What it will be like at actual tracking I’ll have to reserve judgement but I haven’t really bought it as an action camera anyway so if it can do a decent job at this I’ll be more than happy.

 

[xibinim]

Ola. Wondering if anyone has rented equipment abroad, particularly in Cape Town? I'm off on a safari later in the year and keen to rent something appropriate, currently eying the GM 100-400 (I have a A7iii), it's going to cost £400-500 from Fat Llama as I would obviously need to rent it for the whole holiday and only plan to really use it for those few safari days. I imagine there must be a market for photographers travelling the world to rent abroad/as a foreigner but assuming details like insurance/proof of address might be a barrier.