Sony A7x lounge

I want to get a native portrait lens, but am torn between getting the Batis or the new FE 85. The GM is overkill for my needs. I've been watching the used prices for the Batis and I've seen them going for around $850-900. I'm questioning whether or not I would prefer the Batis in the long run.

Have any of you shot with both?

KayakPhotos wrote in post #18349026
I want to get a native portrait lens, but am torn between getting the Batis or the new FE 85. The GM is overkill for my needs. I've been watching the used prices for the Batis and I've seen them going for around $850-900. I'm questioning whether or not I would prefer the Batis in the long run.

Have any of you shot with both?

the pros and cons of the B85 have been discussed a lot...Carlo has shown that when there are OOF highlights in the background, the B85 gets a bit harsh, the FE85 doesn't seem to be as bad. Considering the price difference, if those were the two options, I think the FE85 would get the nod if you are using it merely for portrait work. David has shown the B85 to be great at landscapes...

The more that I think of it, with the exception of needing 20 FPS, the a9 seems to tick most of the boxes that I'm looking for.

-24 mp is a good medium spot for me. It means more manageable files, it should mean improved high ISO performance, it should provide just enough resolution for me since I rarely crop.

- I really like the added dials and joystick. Better EVF, dual card slots, touch screen even if it's rather primitive is better than nothing.

- I record a lot of short clips of my kids so S-Log not being there isn't a big deal but the moved record button is. Having it easily accessible by my thumb easily is great.

- Silent shooting, better AF, hopefully better AF tracking.

I'll definitely wait for reviews and see what real users think about it but I might end up paying a premium for a feature (20 FPS) that won't be used heavily by me. Maybe when my kids grow up a little more then I'll appreciate the higher FPS.

Reasons why I think the a9 will be it for me is because I look at the future models. a9r/a7rIII will most likely have a higher MP count. I didn't find the 42mp from my a7rII that beneficial for my style of shooting, so I don't think a 60-70MP chip will be useful for ME. Also maybe worse high ISO?

a9s/a7sIII will be video and super high ISO orientated. I don't shoot epic films and don't need ISO 80,000. Clean useable 6,400-12,800 is what I need. I personally don't S-Log 2/3, don't need 4k60.

So this makes it seem obvious that a future a7III would be the one, right? But problem is I don't see an a7III coming out anytime soon. If it's basically an a9 with lesser features but priced at $2,000-2,500 then it could seriously hamper sales of the a9. If it's priced higher at say $3,000-3,500 you could see people saying, why not pay a little more for the better specced a9.

TMaG82 wrote in post #18349057
So this makes it seem obvious that a future a7III would be the one, right? But problem is I don't see an a7III coming out anytime soon. If it's basically an a9 with lesser features but priced at $2,000-2,500 then it could seriously hamper sales of the a9. If it's priced higher at say $3,000-3,500 you could see people saying, why not pay a little more for the better specced a9.

There are areas where the a7III could differentiate itself from the a9. It looks to me that the primary driver of the a9's performance and cost lies in the stacked sensor...really expensive design that was previously only used in high end compacts like the rx100V. Take everything in the a9 but use a simpler sensor design then I could see the a7III priced around $3k. Sony needs to release such a camera simply because it does not have a true competitor to the 5DIV in terms of performance and price.

With regards to why one should pick an a7III over the a9....I think it will be a matter of high ISO performance and resolution vs the speed of the a9.

KayakPhotos wrote in post #18349026
I want to get a native portrait lens, but am torn between getting the Batis or the new FE 85. The GM is overkill for my needs. I've been watching the used prices for the Batis and I've seen them going for around $850-900. I'm questioning whether or not I would prefer the Batis in the long run.

Have any of you shot with both?

I have the GM, but if I was buying one today I would buy the FE85, its an excellent lens. FE85 made the batis obsolete in my opinion.

TMaG82 wrote in post #18349057
So this makes it seem obvious that a future a7III would be the one, right? But problem is I don't see an a7III coming out anytime soon. If it's basically an a9 with lesser features but priced at $2,000-2,500 then it could seriously hamper sales of the a9. If it's priced higher at say $3,000-3,500 you could see people saying, why not pay a little more for the better specced a9.

a9r will be next, priced at 5000-6000
a7iii maybe next year
a7riii after a7iii

and a7 series will not get the blackout free sensor

that just my prediction.

Yeah if both had been available when I bought the B85 I would have just bought the FE, but I've got it now and it's awesome so there's no point selling it at a loss just to get the cheaper FE

xpfloyd wrote in post #18348940
I went into London last night on the underground to try and get a few shots. This one has been done a million times but I wanted to do it myself -

Houses of Parliament, Westminster

IMAGE LINK: https://flic.kr/p/U21z​4o Westminster by xpfloyd, on Flickr

Excellent. Love the framing and high contrast processing.

Thanks David

I got to go spend some time with the kids in my daughters class this morning...we are getting ready for graduation and I am doing something for all of the parents...but got this of my little rugrat...times like this I don't want to sell the 50ART...it did fine, pointing into the sun and all...and I just love the way it renders the OOF highlights...

nekrosoft13 wrote in post #18349102
and a7 series will not get the blackout free sensor

The blackout free evf had nothing to do with the sensor. The a99II and a6500 have the black out free evf too....The refresh of the a7 bodies may or may not have the blackout free evf, but it will be a glaring omission given that the a99II is basically a mirrorless body with a translucent mirror.

TRhoads wrote in post #18349136
I got to go spend some time with the kids in my daughters class this morning...we are getting ready for graduation and I am doing something for all of the parents...but got this of my little rugrat...times like this I don't want to sell the 50ART...it did fine, pointing into the sun and all...and I just love the way it renders the OOF highlights...

Hosted photo: posted by TRhoads in
./showthread.php?p=183​49136&i=i230086395
forum: Sony Digital Cameras

Really nice Travis. Very few fast primes do well shooting into the sun like that. Flare looks really well under control.

nekrosoft13 wrote in post #18349100
FE85 made the batis obsolete in my opinion.

I wouldn't go that far. The FE85 is great, and comes very close to matching the Batis. But I love the pop that I get out of camera with the B85, which I don't see in the FE85. Also, if you do any video at all, or handheld shooting in low light, the OSS in the Batis is fantastic.

mystik610 wrote in post #18349157
Really nice Travis. Very few fast primes do well shooting into the sun like that. Flare looks really well under control.

there was one little floaty flare ring on her arm that I had to clone out, but other than that...nothing. I have learned to use things to let me shoot like that but not directly into the sun...the playground equipment over her head was that "thing" this time.

I like to slip a shot or two into this thread every week or so. Golden hour stroll in the foothills behind our house last evening.

IMAGE LINK: https://flic.kr/p/Unx9​jo

IMAGE LINK: https://flic.kr/p/Unxb​qY