Sony Lounge Thread MKIII (All Sony cameras welcome)

off topic but thought for all the birders this might be interesting

http://news.nationalge​ographic.com …ts/?linkId=4058​2901#close

Charlie wrote in post #18419386
of course the sunsets were amazing the days I was too lazy to shoot. I nearly went out last night, but the skies were a let down like they are today. Hoping I can go out saturday, been wanting to shoot a plane silhoutte on moon backdrop for the longest time, either today or tomorrow will have best conditions.

I'm free Saturday. Let me know if you want to try for a shoot. Getting in the groove again.

I'm also thinking of hitting up my Elysian Park spot on Sunday morning.

Puckman wrote in post #18419370
It comes down to what you shoot really. I agree about the MP. I definitely do not want to deal with 60 or 80MP. 42MP is a good sweetspot for me, since most of my shooting is landscape. I'd prefer if the A7Rii had better tracking/AF for things in motion, but it's not a deal breaker. Which is exactly why the A9 has no interest for me, specially at that pricetag.

I also do not own a single GM lens, so I'm with you there. I prefer the lightweight set of primes over carrying big like a GM 24-70 or 70-200.

Sadly I'm not sure you'll be able to keep 42mp yet get the improvements. I have a feeling it'll be a massive MP upgrade which will require top of the line glass to maximize the sensor. We should be happy that Sony has a camera to fit each of our needs instead of trying to put out a one size fits all model. Landscape/portrait guys will like the R, video/low light guys like the S, and sports/wildlife guys like the 9.

Puckman wrote in post #18419453
I'm free Saturday. Let me know if you want to try for a shoot. Getting in the groove again.

I'm also thinking of hitting up my Elysian Park spot on Sunday morning.

I can do 1 of 2, but not both

I havent figured how to shoot the planes in front of the moon yet, but from my guestimate, saturday shooting my be best if starting at 9pm in the whittier area near the 605. Biggest problem is that I dont know the exact location, but I've scouted it once so I may get it this time around.

TMaG82 wrote in post #18419462
Sadly I'm not sure you'll be able to keep 42mp yet get the improvements. I have a feeling it'll be a massive MP upgrade which will require top of the line glass to maximize the sensor. We should be happy that Sony has a camera to fit each of our needs instead of trying to put out a one size fits all model. Landscape/portrait guys will like the R, video/low light guys like the S, and sports/wildlife guys like the 9.

I think I've given up on the idea of an ultra fast high MP camera. Not sure I want to deal with those images. I mean I'de love it to be ultrafast and high MP, however, I'm realistic about buffer issues, and if it runs out, I'de be fine with it. It's just a ton of data being moved.

higher priority than speed would be the full E shooting with no blackout and body refinements. That's probably not enough to get me ditching the Rii, however I do have the A7ii I've been using as a beater camera, and I would love to replace it with an A9 like camera. It's been nice racking up the shutter on a cheapo cam, and easier to run through only 24mp files. Of course it can definitely use the refinements, but I'm happy to have a low res cam for every day stuff, and shooting 24mp for incidental landscapes isnt the end of the world.

In my mind, the solution to the high MP camera for me will be the equivalent of the A7II.
Basically, when Sony comes out with the A7III series, there should be:
- A7III (A9 AF features, 32MP or something like that)
- A7RIII (A9 AF features, 60MP or whatever)
- A9 etc.

Provided the A7 equivalent gets the AF of the A9 and a slight bump in MP, I'd be ok with that and would forego the R variety.

I think I'm going to sell my Canon 70-200L II. I don't use it enough to justify it although it's an absolutely amazing lens. I just don't shoot portraits or sports enough. Anyone sell theirs recently?

digital_AM wrote in post #18419499
I think I'm going to sell my Canon 70-200L II. I don't use it enough to justify it although it's an absolutely amazing lens. I just don't shoot portraits or sports enough. Anyone sell theirs recently?

Makes sense to me. Heck, the FE 70-200mm GM is probably just as great (guessing, don't really know), but I wouldn't touch it for size/weight. Batis 135mm was really the only telephoto I would use because it's reasonably sized.

Hmmmmm.
Here are the body weights-

a99ii 1.868 lb / 849 g
a9 1.48 lb / 673 g
6 ounce difference

and the principal actors-
FE 100-400 GM 49.21 oz (1395 g)
70-400G2 3.30 lb (1500 g)
3.7 ounce difference

Total, well call it a half pound advantage a9.

a99ii wins for DR, cropability hands done, and though a9 is vastly improved
over A7Rii, a99ii wins for ergonomics with two exceptions...the a9's joystick is
better (lag and stickness with a99ii) and the programmable buttons for case specific settings
is incomparable.

a9 wins for an AF system that none can touch (1DXii pales now I have a9 experience)
and speed that is just crazy crazy crazy. The A7Rii feels like a slug in comparison but for
a landscape lens that is really not an issue.

More thoughts congealing.........

digital_AM wrote in post #18419499
I think I'm going to sell my Canon 70-200L II. I don't use it enough to justify it although it's an absolutely amazing lens. I just don't shoot portraits or sports enough. Anyone sell theirs recently?

I sold mine earlier this year. It fetches a good price

mystik610 wrote in post #18419515
I sold mine earlier this year. It fetches a good price

Thanks Carlo. That's the good thing about Canon L glass. It holds up its value.

David Arbogast wrote in post #18419512
Makes sense to me. Heck, the FE 70-200mm GM is probably just as great (guessing, don't really know), but I wouldn't touch it for size/weight. Batis 135mm was really the only telephoto I would use because it's reasonably sized.

I've read mixed reviews about the FE version. It's also just as big and heavy as the Canon version I think. I would be more interested in the Contax 100-300 or maybe the new FE 100-400 but it too looks pretty big.

digital_AM wrote in post #18419520
Thanks Carlo. That's the good thing about Canon L glass. It holds up its value.

I've read mixed reviews about the FE version. It's also just as big and heavy as the Canon version I think. I would be more interested in the Contax 100-300 or maybe the new FE 100-400 but it too looks pretty big.

I've waffled back and forth on the CY 100-300, and I think I'll just end up keeping it. Will probably get the screw on hood fred recommended, the metal hood is MASSIVE.

I'm with David in that the size scares me on big zooms. The CY scares me, and sometimes I reconsider if I even bring it along. I just weigh my scenery if I can get away without it, you bet it's staying home. Canon FDn 200 f4 is quite good, that's another small option. it matches the CY @ 200 I think, it's really sharp corner to corner, definitely sharper than the sony 70-200 f4 (another really nice optic).

I have to admit that I enjoyed using the ol' Canon 100-400mm...it was a fun lens. For that reason the FE 100-400mm GM does appeal to me in spite of the size. But, for sure it's not feasible to take it with other lenses, so I'm unlikely to get one.

A 200mm f/4 would be really cool. Zeiss should make a Batis. I don't suppose those old Canons AF on the a7R II do they?

David Arbogast wrote in post #18419534
I have to admit that I enjoyed using the ol' Canon 100-400mm...it's a fun lens. For that reason the FE 100-400mm GM does appeal to me in spite of the size. But, for sure it's not feasible to take it with other lenses.

A 200mm f/4 would be really cool. Zeiss should make a Batis. I don't suppose those old Canons AF on the a7R II do they?

No AF unless you get TAP. Not the most flare resistant, so a real hood would help. Nice sunstars, clean 8 points without having to stop down super far.

Nine ounces between the two kits--I had no idea the difference was that narrow. It seems that would make choosing between the two much harder.

The a99ii is incredible, and even more incredible is that Sony released a body months later that stole its thunder.

My a-mount glass is golden on the a99ii, just as I hoped would be the case, and I suspect I will have this kit for quite awhile.