Sony Lounge Thread MKIII (All Sony cameras welcome)

bobbyz wrote in post #19004680
Personally if I worried so much about quality (and I do) I will pick f1.4, f1.8 primes over the slower f2.8 zoom. Yes 70-200mm f2.8 is nice range but it still doesn't give you look like 105mm f1.4 or the 135mm f1.8 or the 200mm f2 (only for Canon/Nikon, not in the Sony lineup).

High ISOs most of the time bigger sensor will perform better, unless bigger sensor is using old tech and smaller is from the latest gen as technology improved over time. I am going back to the color, here is shots I have posted before. This with 16MP Fuji XT1/56mm f1.2 vs A7rII/Batis 85mm f1.8. Colors are very similar so is the DoF.

The use of UWA or wide angle is just the tool for story telling and documentation. This is where there is such great uses for zooms for different perspectives. I've found using a UWA/Mid telezoom zoom provides "more" for my style in documentation. The long lenses are for portraits, photojournalistic candids during events, landscape etc.

For outdoor family sessions I prefer using my Gmaster 70-200 and lug my heavy 105 f/1.4 for long lenses. Killer combo on my arms and back but 100% certain it delivers results.

I do watch David Oastler reviews from time to time. He's a noted the Sony A9 and A9ii have different colours. Better colours from the new A9mk2. This tells me that I'm not losing my marbles when I see different colours from lenses to other bodies/brands. Even the local Sony rep mentions how the colour science from the A73 is noticeably better than an A9mk1. However we all know colours can be manipulated in post.

I need to do more experimenting but even my Tamron 28-75mm has much different colours than my new Sigma 24-70 f/2.8 ART I just purchased. Same A73 body with 2 lenses , my the quick tests indicate the Sigma to have a much better render and definitely much improved bokeh over the Tammy.

Alan, I am showing you side by side Sony and Fuji. Personally I don't see any significant difference in colors. These were just processed quickly in LR. No color correction, no fancy color targets, no profiling my cameras to make them look the same.

bobbyz wrote in post #19004838
Alan, I am showing you side by side Sony and Fuji. Personally I don't see any significant difference in colors. These were just processed quickly in LR. No color correction, no fancy color targets, no profiling my cameras to make them look the same.

I agree your images do look very similar in colours.

If you analyze colours they can be similar. The way the image looks/renders is also something to consider.

My wife cares less about photography. I've shown her a folder of my edited Fuji photos (1 session/event) and then Sony. Immediately she knows they look different. She implied the Fuji colours were easier on the eyes and the "look" was very different from Sony or Canon. I do try to follow similar editing in post.

If you took a portrait session using your A7r4 with affordable Sony 85 f/1.8 and compare it with an X-t1 with 56 f/1.2.....the Fuji will have substantially less effort and work to post process. Fuji render on human subjects is very pleasing for many people viewing the final product. As we know we all have different preferences. The overall look/render will be different from the Sony. I also think different environments will show Sony colours to be different from Fuji.

Any recommendations for battery for A7rIV? Buy Sony or cheaper 3rd party will do?

Also looking for a L bracket. I bought a cheaper L bracket, didn't work out good. Too much flex. Thinking RRS now unless something a bit lower price but good quality.

itsallart wrote in post #19004584
Alan, would you be able to post your RAW images to either wetransfer.com or any other file sharing site such as dropbox or whatever. I used to have a Fuji XT-3 and never had and issue. I now have the Sony a7iii and I can crank up the exposure by a lot.
The images look kind of flat with not many values. Here is an explanation of values. Value is the degree of lightness and darkness in a color. The difference in values is called contrast. White is considered the lightest value whereas black is the darkest. The middle value between these extremes is middle grey. Which is also known as a half-tone, all of which can be found on a value scale.

I tend to think that part of it is he PP. Do you mind if I work a little on your files to see what's possible? perhaps others will chime in. Thanks.

That is sort of the 'trap' of shooting on a high dynamic range sensor. Pushing the exposure and shadow and highlights sliders aggressively can reveal a lot more color and edge detail, but a lot of times its at the expense of the tonal nuances that give the scene structure and depth.  With older sensors there is a narrower band in which you can extract highlight and shadow detail, and while that often means that there is detail that is lost if there is a lot of contrast in the scene, it also sets more structured tonal boundaries.

But the technical capabilities of the sensor are simply the characteristics of the tools at hand.  From a technical perspective, more dynamic range is a positive BUT, when the dynamic range is globally pushed aggressively in post, things can look overly analytical and unstructured in terms of presentation.  That's fine if a realistic presentation is the end goal of the photo.  But for the majority of my photos, a technical realistic presentation isn't my goal....actions done in post are all about mindfully using colors and tones to emphasize and de-emphasize specific elements  and present an interpretation of a scene.  More dynamic is still useful here, as at times you selectively have to pull details from strong highlights or deep shadows. Guys like you and Alfredo, Travis, David et al can speak more thoughtfully about this lol, but it is something I always consider on the rare occasion that I shoot a landscape type photo.  

i.e. these are bathrooms, but I wanted them to look like a page out of a storybook and to emphasize the main structure in the middle. Was able to do so just fine given the tools at hand:

IMAGE LINK: https://flic.kr/p/2hV9​wKZ

mystik610 wrote in post #19004888
That is sort of the 'trap' of shooting on a high dynamic range sensor. Pushing the exposure and shadow and highlights sliders aggressively can reveal a lot more color and edge detail, but a lot of times its at the expense of the tonal nuances that give the scene structure and depth.  With older sensors there is a narrower band in which you can extract highlight and shadow detail, and while that often means that there is detail that is lost if there is a lot of contrast in the scene, it also sets more structured tonal boundaries.

...

i.e. these are bathrooms, but I wanted them to look like a page out of a storybook and to emphasize the main structure in the middle. Was able to do so just fine given the tools at hand:

IMAGE LINK: https://flic.kr/p/2hV9​wKZ DSC04340 by Carlo Alcala, on Flickr

Wow, in my opinion you nailed the "storybook" look!

Also appreciate your comments about sensors and dynamic range - this concept of "tonal boundaries" is interesting, and it definitely has me thinking about what kind of "look" I prefer in my images and how to achieve that.

From the trip south, this one from the very first pool at Merritt Island Blackpoint drive.

IMAGE LINK: https://flic.kr/p/2iq3​Yhx

bobbyz wrote in post #19004868
Any recommendations for battery for A7rIV? Buy Sony or cheaper 3rd party will do?

Also looking for a L bracket. I bought a cheaper L bracket, didn't work out good. Too much flex. Thinking RRS now unless something a bit lower price but good quality.

I strictly use genuine Sony...I refuse to risk expensive camera bodies on saving a few bucks on batteries.

TRhoads wrote in post #19005082
I strictly use genuine Sony...I refuse to risk expensive camera bodies on saving a few bucks on batteries.

I just told Poof to order some replacement batteries for her 6400. We have Sony batteries going all the way back to the NEX-5. Batteries (even good brand
name Sony batteries) do age. We noticed at least 3 that had swollen and I had to get creative in removing from the camera. Swollen batteries hit the trash can.

MedicineMan4040 wrote in post #19005111
I just told Poof to order some replacement batteries for her 6400. We have Sony batteries going all the way back to the NEX-5. Batteries (even good brand
name Sony batteries) do age. We noticed at least 3 that had swollen and I had to get creative in removing from the camera. Swollen batteries hit the trash can.

But they shouldn't hit the trash can, Robert. They should be responsibly recycled and I'm pretty sure you're aware of it anyway.

TRhoads wrote in post #19005082
I strictly use genuine Sony...I refuse to risk expensive camera bodies on saving a few bucks on batteries.

OK thanks. What about L bracket?

Ah gone are the days of mercury batteries.
https://qz.com …hrow-away-most-batteries/
And from another source concerning lithium specifically-
http://www.bipowerusa.​com/documents/disposal​.asp
And specifically 'For home disposal, many stores offer free recycling of rechargeable batteries. If no outlet is available in your area, it is safe to dispose of these batteries in your regular trash. As always, check with your local laws to make sure that this is acceptable.'
Mercury in my closest landfill, I don't think so Lithium, though naturally occurring (and found everywhere) is never found in concentrated form (that's what batteries are for
....just too highly reactive to last unless bound to other compounds which stabilize it (like rocks). So there are no governing laws for me where I live and I make the personal decision that the lithium in the Sony a6400 battery will be better for me and my grandkids slowly leaching back into the environment versus being incinerated and creating/releasing Lithium halides. We use lithium here in the hospital for bipolar major depression/mania/clust​er headaches but it is the carbonate salt.....our Sony batteries most likely use lithium-ion-phosphate....BUT the giant 100 amp-hour lithiums in the campervan, when there time comes I'll find the recycling center for them (money back in my pocket).

Driving to Albuquerque tonight and stopped at the dunes along the way...

Itsed65 wrote in post #19005171

IMAGE LINK: https://flic.kr/p/2ipD​vTP
The Road Home by lennycarl08, on Flickr

What a place to live! Supreme Ed. I'd post up a shot of my area but we are in hour 30 of 2 weeks of forecasted rain. The time of year when I have a swimming
pool in the backyard