Sony A7x lounge

nekrosoft13 wrote in post #18079122
firmware updates for a7, a7r, a7s and a6000 only...

oppppssss.... still, not what I expected for a firmware update. i also own an A6000

What is it everyone was wanting updated by firmware that's so bad that it didn't happen?? (Apart from the nice to have stuff like extra functionality on older models)

Yellow sand is better than yellow snow right?

IMAGE LINK: https://flic.kr/p/Kp3X​5W

nekrosoft13 wrote in post #18079122
firmware updates for a7, a7r, a7s and a6000 only...

Nekro I missed this So there is a FW update for the a6000 Have a link?

http://briansmith.com …00-firmware-3-20-updates/

My precarious perch. Since I've decided to video my cooking at a more intimate distance and I have such limited space in my kitchen, this is my best setup at the moment. The camera is my Sony a6300 and the lens the FE 24-70 f4. The stand is obviously the weak link here using a tabletop tripod to which is mounted a "selfie stick" for additonal height.

To get the angle I want, this is the best solution for me for now at least, but I will add some weight to the back legs of the tripod for more stability. I can also use this setup to video the countertop where I'll be doing the prep work for whatever recipe I'm working on at the moment.

This isn't the same setup I used for my recent test. For that, I used my tripod in a way that was even precarious than this and I used my Canon 70+200 f4 lens. This new setup will work much nicer I think.

The video if you missed it:

http://www.ussoriskany​.us/SE/

IMAGE LINK: https://flic.kr/p/KrDg​tP

navydoc wrote in post #18079243
My precarious perch. Since I've decided to video my cooking at a more intimate distance and I have such limited space in my kitchen, this is my best setup at the moment. The camera is my Sony a6300 and the lens the FE 24-70 f4. The stand is obviously the weak link here using a tabletop tripod to which is mounted a "selfie stick" for additonal height.

To get the angle I want, this is the best solution for me for now at least, but I will add some weight to the back legs of the tripod for more stability. I can also use this setup to video the countertop where I'll be doing the prep work for whatever recipe I'm working on at the moment.

This isn't the same setup I used for my recent test. For that, I used my tripod in a way that was even precarious than this and I used my Canon 70+200 f4 lens. This new setup will work much nicer I think.

The video if you missed it:

https://www.youtube.co​m …WbpCFJmM&featur​e=youtu.be

IMAGE LINK: https://flic.kr/p/KrDg​tP Precarious Perch by Gene, on Flickr

'Cooking with Gene Lewis' :P

broken link

DTBaan wrote in post #18079302
'Cooking with Gene Lewis' :P

broken link

Sorry about the broken link ...try this one.

http://www.ussoriskany​.us/SE/

navydoc wrote in post #18079334
Sorry about the broken link ...try this one.

http://www.ussoriskany​.us/SE/

You mentioned serving with sausage, bacon, hash-browns, etc. All great things, but you "forgot" to mention grits.

Seriously - fun video. I'm always taken aback by how well you present things on your website (not just talking about video, but like your before/after image slider, gifs, etc.).

xpfloyd wrote in post #18079179
What is it everyone was wanting updated by firmware that's so bad that it didn't happen?? (Apart from the nice to have stuff like extra functionality on older models)

I already listed the things I wish they'd add (and have with newer models). My X-E2 is older than my a7S yet it got a massive firmware update which added a bunch of new features basically making it a new camera... all for free.

Update on my 5DS R sale:
It was delivered to the buyer and he has expressed satisfaction and agreed that I was not culpable for the brief delay in shipping. Sigh of relief.

Update on my lens plans (yet more broken promises from me ):
1. Have to confess that the 5DS R sale has cooled my enthusiasm to sell much more for a while.
2. Some lenses don't make good budget sense for me to sell (EF 16-35mm f/4L IS, and EF 70-200mm f/4L IS). Those lenses are great, and while the Sony comparables are also great they are much more expensive. Big $$$ loss to crossgrade.
3. I have tried to sell the Otus multiple times, but have always chickened out. The lens is a heavy and it's MF and expensive, so I always have an idea about selling it. But, its image quality appeals to me like no other lens I have ever touched - it's like an intoxicating narcotic that I think I can quit from, but never have the actual willpower to really do it.
4. Having gone out cityscaping lately I took the time to be conscious of how I might employ a bag of Loxias. What I realized is that when I'm at home I think primes are the way to go, but when I get in the field, the 16-35mm becomes the workhorse because I don't want to be constantly changing out my lens to respond to different compositions that I want to try. And in that case I may as well stick with what I have.
5. In my most recent outing there were several times a 11-24 would be preferable. Not a fixed 10mm prime, but an 11-24mm that would allow me to respond to an 11mm compostion, and then a 13mm composition, and then an 18mm composition, etc. without changing out the lens. Was wanting to get a specific capture for this week's "curves" contest, and 16mm wasn't wide enough; either 13 or 14mm probably would have gotten the shot I wanted.

As usual all this subject to change, of course. I'll be selling everything to switch to Fuji next week. Seriously, a fully native e-mount lens kit would be wonderful imo. But after considerable thought, budget analysis, and recent emotional trauma of a sale that nearly went bad, I am just hesitating to do it at the expense and loss of the wonderful lenses I already have.

nekrosoft13 wrote in post #18079122
firmware updates for a7, a7r, a7s and a6000 only...

Bummer...I'm hoping for a7r2 update. As it stands now the 24-70 2.8GM is difficult to use in typical studio lighting situations. The iris does not open up while focusing with the 24-70 2.8GM. Setting Effect ON/OFF toggle setting has little effect. Because of this I couldn't focus accurately in a dimly lit studio situation while shooting at f11. My solution was to open up the iris, focus and close down to f11 and shoot. However the view finder was too dark to compose properly. Such an expensive lens should work in the studio.

David Arbogast wrote in post #18079379
Update on my 5DS R sale:
It was delivered to the buyer and he has expressed satisfaction and agreed that I was not culpable for the brief delay in shipping. Sigh of relief.

Update on my lens plans (yet more broken promises from me ):
1. Have to confess that the 5DS R sale has cooled my enthusiasm to sell much more for a while.
2. Some lenses don't make good budget sense for me to sell (EF 16-35mm f/4L IS, and EF 70-200mm f/4L IS). Those lenses are great, and while the Sony comparables are also great they are much more expensive. Big $$$ loss to crossgrade.
3. I have tried to sell the Otus multiple times, but have always chickened out. The lens is a heavy and it's MF and expensive, so I always have an idea about selling it. But, its image quality appeals to me like no other lens I have ever touched - it's like an intoxicating narcotic that I think I can quit from, but never have the actual willpower to really do it.
4. Having gone out cityscaping lately I took the time to be conscious of how I might employ a bag of Loxias. What I realized is that when I'm at home I think primes are the way to go, but when I get in the field, the 16-35mm becomes the workhorse because I don't want to be constantly changing out my lens to respond to different compositions that I want to try. And in that case I may as well stick with what I have.
5. In my most recent outing there were several times a 11-24 would be preferable. Not a fixed 10mm prime, but an 11-24mm that would allow me to respond to an 11mm compostion, and then a 13mm composition, and then an 18mm composition, etc. without changing out the lens. Was wanting to get a specific capture for this week's "curves" contest, and 16mm wasn't wide enough; either 13 or 14mm probably would have gotten the shot I wanted.

As usual all this subject to change, of course. I'll be selling everything to switch to Fuji next week. Seriously, a fully native e-mount lens kit would be wonderful imo. But after considerable thought, budget analysis, and recent emotional trauma of a sale that nearly went bad, I am just hesitating to do it at the expense and loss of the wonderful lenses I already have.

I love my all-primes lineup for its IQ (CV 15, Batis 18, Batis 25, Sigma 35, FE 55, FE 90). But every time I go out shooting, I end up with a big bag of lenses and fumble around trying to change lenses. Makes me miss zooms. Sort of. I do have a soft spot for primes.

I sold my EF 16-35/4L but still have the EF 70-200/4L IS (for the same reason you stated).

Sometimes, I think if I sold all the primes listed above, I could very easily afford the FE 24-70/2.8 GM. And that its weight and bulk would offset carrying 6 primes with me.

Bottom line, I don't know...haha. Uncertainty and doubt are king.
Then again, I have not gone out to shoot in weeks, so it's all moot.

rcarlton wrote in post #18079414
Bummer...I'm hoping for a7r2 update. As it stands now the 24-70 2.8GM is difficult to use in typical studio lighting situations. The iris does not open up while focusing with the 24-70 2.8GM. Setting Effect ON/OFF toggle setting has little effect. Because of this I couldn't focus accurately in a dimly lit studio situation while shooting at f11. My solution was to open up the iris, focus and close down to f11 and shoot. However the view finder was too dark to compose properly. Such an expensive lens should work in the studio.

Really. This is surprising to me. Although that's been one of my beef with Sony's approach to aperture control (and the lack of OVF).
Hasn't been an issue for me with other lenses though, if I turn off the EVF live effect. That doesn't work on the 24-70/2.8? I wonder why that is.

Puckman wrote in post #18079435
I love my all-primes lineup for its IQ (CV 15, Batis 18, Batis 25, Sigma 35, FE 55, FE 90). But every time I go out shooting, I end up with a big bag of lenses and fumble around trying to change lenses. Makes me miss zooms. Sort of. I do have a soft spot for primes.

I sold my EF 16-35/4L but still have the EF 70-200/4L IS (for the same reason you stated).

Sometimes, I think if I sold all the primes listed above, I could very easily afford the FE 24-70/2.8 GM. And that its weight and bulk would offset carrying 6 primes with me.

Bottom line, I don't know...haha. Uncertainty and doubt are king.
Then again, I have not gone out to shoot in weeks, so it's all moot.

I always try to limit my bag to no more than 3 lenses for any shoot I go on. One wide, one "normal" and one telephoto, though sometimes I do one UWA, one wide and one "normal". I tend to use a zoom for the telephoto and a prime for everything else, it keeps my lens switching to a minimum