Home · Register · Join Upload & Sell

Moderated by: Fred Miranda
Username  

  New fredmiranda.com Mobile Site
  New Feature: SMS Notification alert
  New Feature: Buy & Sell Watchlist
  

FM Forums | General Gear-talk | Join Upload & Sell

1
       2       end
  

Archive 2015 · Hi : ) !!! - Some quick questions about Sony A7 cameras

  
 
igmolinav
Offline
• • •
Upload & Sell: Off
p.1 #1 · p.1 #1 · Hi : ) !!! - Some quick questions about Sony A7 cameras


Hi,

I have a few lenses in Leica mount that would be wonderful
to use with any of the Sony A7 cameras. These lenses
would be attached vía an adapter from Voigtländer. In
particular, this one:
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1022002-REG/voigtlander_bd272a_vm_e_close_focus_adapter.html

How would the metering take place with this camera,
an old M-mount lens, and this Voigtländer adapter?
Would I need to open the lens diaphragm, meter,
and then stop down and shoot?

The newer Sony A7 II offers stabilization for those moments
in which one may get shaky hands. Does this stabilization
works with third-party lenses, particularly the ones that don't
come with a metering sensor attached to them, (old M-mount
lenses) ?? If the stabilization does not work with older lenses,
I would get a plain Sony A7 that has been going down in price.

Is it possible and without a lot of trouble, via cable and slave
to use lighting equipment with any of the Sony A7 cameras?
Would it also be possible to use a pocket wizard?

Thank you in advance, kind regards,

igmolinav : ) !!!



Jan 22, 2015 at 10:45 AM
uscmatt99
Offline
• • •
Upload & Sell: Off
p.1 #2 · p.1 #2 · Hi : ) !!! - Some quick questions about Sony A7 cameras


Maybe I can help a bit. I have an A7, not a version II, but much of the same applies.

Metering is done directly off the sensor at the shooting aperture you set on the lens. It may help to open up the lens aperture to focus (so long as there is no focus shift), but the camera will meter accurately right before the shot. Center, spot, and matrix metering modes are available. AEL works just like on other cameras as well.

Lens stabilization works on adapted lenses, but as I understand it you need to manually enter the focal length of the mounted lens in the menu system for it to work correctly.

I have used RF triggers in manual mode with old Nikon strobes on the Sony with success. Of course you'll have to meter the scene yourself or just use trial and error with the histogram. Sony has a proprietary TTL system, and I believe Metz may have a flash that works with the TTL system as well. Regarding RF triggers that work for Sony, I'm not sure, but Phottix may have one. Not sure on the PW's either for Sony.

If you don't get much response here, try the Sony subforum, gets more traffic.



Jan 22, 2015 at 12:35 PM
igmolinav
Offline
• • •
Upload & Sell: Off
p.1 #3 · p.1 #3 · Hi : ) !!! - Some quick questions about Sony A7 cameras



Hi,

Thank you for your message : ) !!!

It is amazing to see that the metering is done by
the camera, even when one has already stopped
down the lens.

I am reading another post and people are commenting
about their preferred way to manual focus with the
Sony A7. Which is yours? Do you use focus peaking,
focus magnification, or does the camera offer any other
option?

Thank you again, kind regards,

igmolinav : ) !!!



Jan 22, 2015 at 04:07 PM
Frogfish
Offline
• • • • •
Upload & Sell: Off
p.1 #4 · p.1 #4 · Hi : ) !!! - Some quick questions about Sony A7 cameras


When using manual focus lenses I just love the magnification. Focus peaking (mine is set to Red) gets you close, but then with the magnification you can nail it. With my not so great eyes I found MF on the D800E and earlier cameras difficult, however on the A7 it is remarkably easy and I'm very happy to return to the world of manual focus lenses again !

If you use a native Sony FE lens, in my case the FE55/1.8 (superb lens), then of course you can AF and it is avery accurate, however in difficult situations or low light you can tweak the focus ring and the magnification is instant enabling you to fine tune the focus. Brilliant.



Jan 22, 2015 at 10:46 PM
igmolinav
Offline
• • •
Upload & Sell: Off
p.1 #5 · p.1 #5 · Hi : ) !!! - Some quick questions about Sony A7 cameras



Hi,

Thank you for your message : ) !!! This
clarifies things for me with regard to
the focusing. I plan to use the camera
for street photography as well, and I
will not always have the chance to fo-
cus correctly. I may have to guess
focus sometimes. I hope pictures turn
out alright.

Are you using an 'A7' or any of the
other models?

Kind regards,

igmolinav : ) !!!



Jan 23, 2015 at 12:56 AM
Frogfish
Offline
• • • • •
Upload & Sell: Off
p.1 #6 · p.1 #6 · Hi : ) !!! - Some quick questions about Sony A7 cameras


A7 !


Jan 23, 2015 at 06:40 AM
igmolinav
Offline
• • •
Upload & Sell: Off
p.1 #7 · p.1 #7 · Hi : ) !!! - Some quick questions about Sony A7 cameras



Hi,

How is the noise with it at 6400 ISO ??

Thank you again, kind regards,

igmolinav : ) !!!



Jan 23, 2015 at 09:08 AM
Frogfish
Offline
• • • • •
Upload & Sell: Off
p.1 #8 · p.1 #8 · Hi : ) !!! - Some quick questions about Sony A7 cameras


I don't think I've shot with it at 6,400 ! Basically for me this camera is about landscapes, portraits, city-scapes, friends and so-on, in low light I'll be using a very fast lens f1.4 or f1.2 or the camera will be on a tripod.

So generally I'd rather decrease the SS than increase the ISO above a level I'm happy with, a level that won't reduce the DR too much. It doesn't matter what camera you're using if you're shooting at 6400 you have just castrated your DR so noise isn't my primary concern



Jan 23, 2015 at 10:54 AM
peter_n
Offline
• • •
Upload & Sell: Off
p.1 #9 · p.1 #9 · Hi : ) !!! - Some quick questions about Sony A7 cameras


Not all Leica M-mount lenses work well with the Sony A7. Most of the Leica lenses 50mm and up are OK with it, but some of the wider lenses have corner issues such as smearing and discoloration. There's a huge thread on the German Leica User Forum on the digital page about what works and what doesn't with that body.

I use my Leica M lenses on a Novoflex adapter on a Sony NEX-7 and it has similar issues. Luckily my 24mm Elmarit works great on that body with an effective FL of 35mm (see pic below) and my 35mm (effective FL 50mm) is excellent on it too. I tried out the A7 and passed on it, for what I use color for the NEX-7 is more than adequate.

I use both focus peaking (medium level) and magnification when I have to. I invariably use magnification when the camera is on a tripod.

Before you buy a body (any body) it's a good idea to figure out which rangefinder lenses work with that body as quite a few don't work particularly well because of the closeness of the rear element to the sensor.







Jan 23, 2015 at 10:24 PM
igmolinav
Offline
• • •
Upload & Sell: Off
p.1 #10 · p.1 #10 · Hi : ) !!! - Some quick questions about Sony A7 cameras



Hello,

Thank you for your messages : ) !!!

What is SS ?? I am assuming DR is dinamic range;
and dinamic range is a word I have not yet come
to deal with because until now I have only used
a 6 MP camera from Nikon. The thing is, that I
also plan to use the camera to do documentary
work and that may be at night as well. How is
the image affected when dinamic range, or DR,
is castrated?

I have four M-mount lenses I bought used. They
were sold to me in a bundle. A 90 mm. f/4, a 50
mm. f/2, a 50 mm. f/1.4, a 35 mm. f/1.5. The
last two are Canon RF lenses. I would really like
to have a 25 mm. lens, but for that, I may have
to wait about a year that Zeiss will come out with
a Loxia lens. That lens shouldn't have corner issues.
That lens, however, is expensive and as a cheaper
option, one may want to train oneself to use a
software to learn to work on the corners. An
alternative to a $1,300€ Loxia lens is perhaps to
get a used 25 mm.

Thank you again, kind regards,

igmolinav : ) !!!



Jan 24, 2015 at 09:52 AM
Beni
Offline
• • • • • •
Upload & Sell: Off
p.1 #11 · p.1 #11 · Hi : ) !!! - Some quick questions about Sony A7 cameras


Shutter Speed.


Jan 24, 2015 at 11:53 AM
killersnowman
Offline
• • • •
Upload & Sell: Off
p.1 #12 · p.1 #12 · Hi : ) !!! - Some quick questions about Sony A7 cameras


!!! i hope you never castrate your dYnamic range (: !!!


Jan 24, 2015 at 01:44 PM
Frogfish
Offline
• • • • •
Upload & Sell: Off
p.1 #13 · p.1 #13 · Hi : ) !!! - Some quick questions about Sony A7 cameras


Hi Ig.

Yes, as Beni said, SS = Shutter speed and DR = Dynamic range. Sorry your English is so good I forgot you may not know those acronyms

If you look at how ISO affects DR then at ISO 100, 200 or 400 cameras like the top Nikons or Sonys have the best DR ranges, however once you get to 800, 1600 and upwards then the DR is greatly reduced and other cameras (Canons, Pentax etc) have caught up and there is no longer a major advantage to the high DR cameras. So as the DR is greatly reduced I call it .. castrated

If you want an excellent lens around 25mm today then look out for the Olympus Zuiko 24mm/2.8 .. is will only cost you about US$100 - 125 and is a very very fine lens.

However if you are going to be taking a lot of night time city shots then I'd avoid the A7 for the artificial lights sensor flare issue (green flare, generally around some cold white lights in city scenes, on long exposures especially).

A7 & Zuiko 24/2.8 at (I think) f8 , ISO 100, 10 secs. I have to say the Zuiko is impressively sharp though - the 100% crops are excellent !





Jan 24, 2015 at 02:55 PM
igmolinav
Offline
• • •
Upload & Sell: Off
p.1 #14 · p.1 #14 · Hi : ) !!! - Some quick questions about Sony A7 cameras


Hello Frogfish,

Thank you for your message : ) !!!

I understand now what you meant.

Wow : ) !!! the 24 mm. f/2.8 Zuiko
lens seems like a very good lens!
I am looking at one now for some
$200. So, perhaps is not a bad
price at all for such a good lens
like that one!

My pictures at night may not involve
long exposures, but slow ss
pictures; the slowest at between
1/30th and 1/15th of a second,
and the fastest at 1/60th.

How do you feel having 24 MP in the
camera? Do you feel now that you
need 36 MP, or is it an exaggeration?

Thank you again, kind regards,

igmolinav : ) !!!

P.S. Which adapter are you using
with the Zuiko lens?






Jan 25, 2015 at 08:22 PM
peter_n
Offline
• • •
Upload & Sell: Off
p.1 #15 · p.1 #15 · Hi : ) !!! - Some quick questions about Sony A7 cameras


One of the best features of the Sony mirrorless cameras is the almost infinite number of adapters made for them. I'm using Carl Zeiss Jena lenses built for the Exakta on my NEX-7 including the legendary Flektogon 25mm.

CZJ lenses are incredibly cheap and very high quality glass and the IQ of the Sony really brings that quality out. I use high-end adapters like Novoflex and the inexpensive ones from China and they've all worked well for me.



Jan 26, 2015 at 08:42 AM
igmolinav
Offline
• • •
Upload & Sell: Off
p.1 #16 · p.1 #16 · Hi : ) !!! - Some quick questions about Sony A7 cameras



Hi,

Thank you for your message : ) !!!

I'll take a look at the CZJ lenses. I see
that you mean the ones for the Exakta
cameras. Are the CZJ lenses for the
Pentacon cameras any good, do you
know; or only the ones made for the
Exakta?

Where do you buy the adapters from
China? Is there any brand you may
recommend?

Thank you, kind regards,

igmolinav : ) !!!



Jan 26, 2015 at 09:41 AM
Bacalhau
Offline
• • •
Upload & Sell: On
p.1 #17 · p.1 #17 · Hi : ) !!! - Some quick questions about Sony A7 cameras


Best adapters you can buy - Leitax
then there is lensdoctor in the UK (ships to US/worldwide too)

The thing with some adapters is the loose/crapy fitting. Your lens my rotate a bit in the mount and you might loose infinity focusing due to bad casting/machining, not to mention possibility of debris making its way to lens and/or mirror chamber.
In sum, you get what you pay for. Not to say that all are bad, but don't expect much and be prepare for some possible troubles - EBay will be your best resource

With that said I would only invest in a lensdoctor or leitax adapter for a superb lens



Jan 26, 2015 at 10:53 AM
Frogfish
Offline
• • • • •
Upload & Sell: Off
p.1 #18 · p.1 #18 · Hi : ) !!! - Some quick questions about Sony A7 cameras


Hi Ig.

1. US$200 for a Zuiko 24/2.8 is a decent price, I was thinking of a different lens before as I also paid around $200.

2. 24MP works very well and is for most things a sweet spot. I still have some very nice 8"x10" prints around the house from a 3.3MP camera I used to use and the D3s / Sony A7s are both only 12MP cameras so the MP count is in absolutely no way restrictive. I do have a D800E and I love it, though the 36MP is really only for very detailed landscapes and being able to crop my bird shots heavily.

3. I have Fotodiox and a range of different Chinese adapters. They fit very well indeed, very tightly in fact and I'd have no problem recommending them. In the majority of cases I don't see any need whatsoever to pay for expensive adapters that are often just trading on their name. My favourite Chinese adapters are Palee of which I have them in 4 mounts.

Edited on Jan 27, 2015 at 12:19 AM · View previous versions



Jan 26, 2015 at 01:05 PM
peter_n
Offline
• • •
Upload & Sell: Off
p.1 #19 · p.1 #19 · Hi : ) !!! - Some quick questions about Sony A7 cameras


igmolinav wrote:
I'll take a look at the CZJ lenses. I see that you mean the ones for the Exakta cameras. Are the CZJ lenses for the Pentacon cameras any good, do you know; or only the ones made for the Exakta?

Where do you buy the adapters from China? Is there any brand you may recommend?


I only know Exakta lenses as I use an Exakta body. I've bought all my adapters from eBay including the Novoflex for my Leica lenses, and the Chinese ones have come in unmarked white boxes so I have no clue about the manufacturers unfortunately. I guess I'm lucky as I've not experienced a dud adapter yet but someday I undoubtedly will.




Jan 26, 2015 at 09:58 PM
igmolinav
Offline
• • •
Upload & Sell: Off
p.1 #20 · p.1 #20 · Hi : ) !!! - Some quick questions about Sony A7 cameras


Hi,

Thank you for your messages : ) !!!

I'll be looking for adapters on the
internet in the coming days! I'll
inform you on that!

I forgot to ask, is there a lot of dis-
tortion with the 24 mm. Zuiko lens?
Did you have to work the image a
lot in photoshop to correct the
perspective?

Thank you again, kind regards,

igmolinav : ) !!!



Jan 27, 2015 at 07:30 PM
1
       2       end




FM Forums | General Gear-talk | Join Upload & Sell

1
       2       end
    
 

You are not logged in. Login or Register

Username       Or Reset password



This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.