A99 Mark II - Where are all the posts?

Due to age and weight my a99ii + 70-400Gii is for sale and listed at FredMiranda-

http://www.fredmiranda​.com …/0?keyword=a99i​i#14136486

I've decided to go with e-mount and slowly transition to mFT as I get older and older.
The a99ii is the greatest body ever made. Nothing can do the frame rate and the high
pixel sensor at the same time. I just can't keep living in three systems.

It's now boxed up, ready to ship and has a month of warranty left, US/B&H purchase.

IMAGE LINK: https://flic.kr/p/VKCp​Wt

That's one fantastic package you are selling! I know it won't be there long!

I'm happy for you that the A9 is a solution to your needs, but very sad I am losing my Sony Alpha body tag team partner again

That cammo lens jacket is awesome, by the way!

You've been right about everything you've said about the a99ii--legit amazing body.

Haha! Thanks Mickey.
Yep she's on the market but today I was looking at a-mount Sony 300/2.8
I hope it sells before I go crazy again!

Like you said before, that body is begging for a 300 2.8!!!

Where did this recent itch come from?

My experience with the a99ii has been really good so far. I am not getting eye-focus with the 135 1.8, and that is a little disappointing. The IQ hasn't been disappointing.

I haven't shot much action, but I did attempt to track my kids running around the common area of an office building a few weeks ago at ISO 3200 and it is apparent that I need to spend time with the menu to learn what works best and when. There is also the possibility the 135 wasn't fast enough to keep up.

The wife had to delay the office shoot that triggered the purchase of this camera, but I'm definitely looking forward to that.

The handling is very similar to the a77ii, much because it is almost identical in size, button layout and grip depth (this body is better). The only step back I've seen is the joystick, which may be my least-favorite part of the body. Waiting for the buffer to clear after rattling off 20 frames or so can also be annoying, but I don't do this very often. I suspect when I upgrade from my Lexar 1000 series cards I will experience faster clearing.

The battery life seems similar to the a77ii, which is a good thing. I peeled off 700+ frames the other day during a portrait session with kids and a baby and had plenty of juice in reserve.

One of the real plusses has been the lack of EVF blackout. In this regard, it is easy to forget you are shooting through an EVF. Good on Sony for this.

I miss having a fast 50, but I'm not in a hurry to add one because I'm enjoying the change of pace relying on the 24ZA and 135ZA provide. The steep price of the 50ZA will keep it out of my bag for some time, although I have been trolling for a cheap 50A. I found one for $619 from Adorama or B&H last year and I should have pulled the trigger then. I had the FE55 at the time, though, with no real plans to go all a-mount.

The 200G delivers the goods with the a99ii just as I figured it would, and I may have to shoot some HS football next month just to see how it goes.

This body handles low light very well with that remarkable a7rii sensor. The flexibility of the files shooting RAW gives me a ton of confidence, paired with the AF speed and handling of the a99ii body. I'm pretty happy so far, and I haven't missed the small size of the e-mount system as much as I thought I would. But then again, I haven't traveled yet.

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mckee11

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DSC05264_DxO

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waldokids3bw

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mckee12

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carter10

Awesome Mickey! So good to see this camera in your hands. The images look fantastic and it's kinda cool, you'd have to agree,
to know you have the best DSLR like machine ever made in your hands....think about the new Nikon 850, Nikon is just now
trying to get to a99ii standards!

You are always so kind--thank you, Robert.

Shooting with a body that some of us feel is a the head of the conversation for best non-A9 body on the market definitely gives me a ton of confidence. It also comes with some pressure--no good excuses for missing a shot or fumbling techniques! LOL

I'm up in Tallahassee for the day, so maybe I'll get a chance to head out and snag some birds at the pond across the street in a few minutes. There is a wolf preserve not far from here, but they don't allow DSLR. I think they only allow disposable cameras unless you contact them and make special, paid arrangements. Have you ever run into that anywhere else during your considerable travels?

http://seacrestwolfpre​serve.org/rules/

I didn't dedicate enough time to the pond yesterday, but was lucky enough to grab one OK shot. I caught this guy BIF, but my SS and ISO wasn't high enough to do him justice. The result was lots of purple fringing when I pushed exposure, of course.

I also think this lens might need some MFA, aside from the fact that I'm a work-in-progress with my Birding chops.

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pond1817

Handheld at 1.6", cropped. Gotta love this camera.

Photo from mickeyb105's gallery.

Just good to see someone loving/using their machine.
I made the new owner promise me his would get used and not sit on a shelf.
But now Mickey it is you carrying the a99ii weight of the world !

MedicineMan4040 wrote in post #18431785
Just good to see someone loving/using their machine.
I made the new owner promise me his would get used and not sit on a shelf.
But now Mickey it is you carrying the a99ii weight of the world !

I hope he gets use out of both bodies! Do you have plans on taking him out shooting with you?

I'm not going to lie, it feels a little lonely on this board. It is totally nice of you to keep me company even though you graduated to the A9!

Maybe West Coast Canuck will come back and post a little someday?

mickeyb105 wrote in post #18431792
I hope he gets use out of both bodies! Do you have plans on taking him out shooting with you?

I'm not going to lie, it feels a little lonely on this board. It is totally nice of you to keep me company even though you graduated to the A9!

Maybe West Coast Canuck will come back and post a little someday?

I post once in a while! You are not alone here! lol.... I mostly post in "Best Bird Portraits". I just posted one actually. I took it with A99ii, 400/4.5 + 2X TC. 800mm manual focus not exactly a breeze.... but MUCH more doable on A99ii then any other camera I would guess. (Focus peaking + Focus magnify)

Congrats on the A99ii Miickey. Welcome to the club.

mickeyb105 wrote in post #18428414
I am not getting eye-focus with the 135 1.8, and that is a little disappointing.

That is very odd. No reason I can think of why you won't get eye AF with the 135. Works a treat with mine. You getting critical sharpness at F1.8? Only thing I can think of is maybe your lens needs a bit of AF-micro adjust. Just a thought.

WestCoastCannuck wrote in post #18432982
I post once in a while! You are not alone here! lol.... I mostly post in "Best Bird Portraits". I just posted one actually. I took it with A99ii, 400/4.5 + 2X TC. 800mm manual focus not exactly a breeze.... but MUCH more doable on A99ii then any other camera I would guess. (Focus peaking + Focus magnify)

Congrats on the A99ii Miickey. Welcome to the club.

I'll start looking on the Best Bird Portraits thread more often. 800mm is serious business.

And thanks for the welcome

WestCoastCannuck wrote in post #18432985
That is very odd. No reason I can think of why you won't get eye AF with the 135. Works a treat with mine. You getting critical sharpness at F1.8? Only thing I can think of is maybe your lens needs a bit of AF-micro adjust. Just a thought.

It has to be an issue of micro-adjusting, right? I noticed my 200 HS was off a bit shooting with my 2xTC, so it looks like I need to put in some time with the adjustment process.

I am getting critical sharpness when I hit the target, I just need to get better acquainted with my rig I think.

mickeyb105 wrote in post #18433334
I'll start looking on the Best Bird Portraits thread more often. 800mm is serious business.

And thanks for the welcome

It has to be an issue of micro-adjusting, right? I noticed my 200 HS was off a bit shooting with my 2xTC, so it looks like I need to put in some time with the adjustment process.

I am getting critical sharpness when I hit the target, I just need to get better acquainted with my rig I think.

Yes.. I would suggest start with micro adjust. If you have to adjust anything on the 135 - you may find eye AF working for you. I hope!

When you add a converter to a lens, to the camera it becomes a different lens with a different ID. So, you may, or may not need a micro adjust for your 200 alone, but even if not, you may very well need one with the converter. One more thing you may already know - always attach the lens AND converter together to the camera, not the converter first, then the lens. It can confuse the camera as to what is on it, and can certainly mess up any micro adjust settings you have.

All the best on getting it sorted!

Mike