Sony Lounge Thread MKIII (All Sony cameras welcome)

David Arbogast wrote in post #18375092
Yesterday I was perusing the dpreview forum (not a member, but I lurk there on occasion), and I ran across a review of the upcoming 16-35mm GM and 12-24mm G. A couple of really interesting surprises in the review:

1. The author's FE 16-35mm f/4 is sharper in the corners than the 16-35mm GM he was testing. This runs counter to some of what I had read, but wouldn't surprise me.
2. The 12-24mm is impressively sharp with outstanding flare and CA control. I'm on record being doubtful that it will be very good, but the review images suggest it will be quite great (for an extreme wa zoom). That really gives me a lot to think about. The size of both lens is pretty amazing, but especially the 12-24mm when compared to Sigma's 12-24mm or Canon's 11-24mm behemoths.

I know people don't like links, but just in case anyone wants to view what I'm referencing, here is the link to the 12-24mm review (the 16-35 comparison review is easy to find on his site): http://www.alinpopescu​.eu …nds-review-lago-maggiore/

The 12-24 looks really good in those images IMO. The Sigma 12-24 was massive and not at all something I'd want to carry around. The Sony looks more manageable. For those extreme focal lengths, I'd prefer a single zoom over multiple primes....those focal lengths are so individually specialized that I find it hard to justify owning multiple primes in those ranges. But I don't do much landscape/cityscape shooting these days (I miss it though) so even the zooms aren't on my radar.

Just pulled the trigger on an FE 35 1.4 on ebay. I've missed this lens so fingers crossed that its well centered. If not, I got it for a good price and will simply re-list it.

I've been doing a lot of gear shifting lately, but I think I've finally settled on my kit. I can't promise that G.A.S won't strike again, but I basically consolidated down to stuff I absolutely need for paid stuff.

a9 and 85GM. I'm happy with the af-c upgrade the a9 gets. The AF point can find the eye more easily and really latches on.

IMAGE LINK: https://flic.kr/p/Uno5​sW

IMAGE LINK: https://flic.kr/p/Uno6​Yb

Carlo, your tones have improved. I used to see blacks that were crushed meaning lost detail but now everything looks more balanced to me. Colors looks great too to my eyes.

Charleston, SC

digital_AM wrote in post #18375299
Carlo, your tones have improved. I used to see blacks that were crushed meaning lost detail but now everything looks more balanced to me. Colors looks great too to my eyes.

Thanks!

Went beyond what my camera can see.

When you can't go out, out!!

IMAGE LINK: https://flic.kr/p/VAU9​Jh

Sony a9 ordered! I was going to wait, I really was. I tried to tell myself that the a6500 was fine. I took it to the playground with the kids this week and to the zoo with them today. For the most part it was fine. Great AF, accurate. Only a few missed shots. And it was most likely because of the lens that I was using (consumer grade 18-105) but just wasn't completely satisfied with the results. Could be the f/6 equivalent, could be the consumer grade glass. But shots just lacked a little something. And with my planned Disney trip coming up in December, I put the a9 back on my watch list. I was going to try and make do with the a6500 and order the a9 later in August, since I have a few engagement and couple shoots lined up for September but I was able to get the a9 for a killer price from a Sony authorized retailer and just couldn't pass it up. I was able to get the a9 for $3,999, so the savings was certainly significant enough and I doubt that I would be able to get a US retail copy for that price anytime this year (possibly grey market in a few months).

So placed the order today and hopefully will be getting it sometime next week. Now time to unload my a6500, the 18-105, the 30 1.4 and pickup some FE glass. I've said it before but the a9 just ticks off all the right boxes for me and to be honest I can't see anything else I would want in a body at this present time. Let's just hope I don't get a dud and let's see if this a9 can last me a few years. At the price I'm paying, something would have to completely blow me away in terms of features for me to swap out of this a9.

Congrats bro. I would get it too if i have the $$$.

vinmunoz wrote in post #18375465
Congrats bro. I would get it too if i have the $$$.

Thanks!

Any of you guys still shooting with the 35mm f/2.8? I had it when I had the original a7 back in 2013 but sold it because it was "only" a 2.8. Now with the better high ISO performance, I'm wondering if it's worth exploring again. I'm most likely going to get the 24-70 GM as soon as some stuff sells and get the 55/85 1.8 combo but want something moderately wide. I've been using my 30mm 1.4 on my a6500 and there are times I find that tight (45 equivalent), so something wider might be nice. I did have the 28 before but never used it on a FF body, but I'm figuring the 35 2.8 is a better performer than the 28, no?

Looking for a compact walk around package for when I'd want to leave the GM at home.

TMaG82 wrote in post #18375431
At the price I'm paying, something would have to completely blow me away in terms of features for me to swap out of this a9.

Sony engineers: "Challenge accepted"

In terms of performance and operation, I don't see how things could get much better than the a9 though. I've been shooting a bunch of random stuff of my kids because I have nothing else to shoot right now....but seriously its a camera that will never hold you back operationally. Very responsive camera that is effortless to use.