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Archive 2016 · A99ii +primes =event work?

  
 
wtzgall
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p.1 #1 · p.1 #1 · A99ii +primes =event work?


HI all, first time poster on the Sony forum. I am a m43 and Nikon shooter. Since I started shooting mirrorless I have found a strong affinity to an evf. My Nikon gear is aging: D700, mostly screw drive lenses except for a sigma 50 hsm and the Nikon 14-24.

Enough background. I am looking to get back into event work, mostly weddings, but lots of other different kinds of shooting too. Basically going full time with some writing thrown in. My m43 kit is pretty good, but the d700 is not exciting me much. I have reviewed the last few weddings I shot with it (originally had 2) back in 2009. I wanted to assess what I was doing well, and not so well. I found that compositiono was ok, but when shooting in lower light with shallow do for, for effect and required because of light, too many shots were not so sharp.

Enter Sony with an evf and some primes. I have lots of questions,but firstly, an idea that needs vetted out.

Imagine need shooting with a set of primes. 24mm, 50mm, 135mm. I like to compose instead of post production cropping. So when I need the for of a 35, just quickly shift the 24mm to crop mode to get the for of a 36.

Since I have not shot with a Sony before, how feasible is This? Fast? Do you get 18mb raws, or jpg only?

Thanks,
Chris



Dec 06, 2016 at 06:55 AM
Ken_Cravillion
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p.1 #2 · p.1 #2 · A99ii +primes =event work?


I've been shooting with an A7RII and A7SII for weddings since May. I pretty much use primes the entire wedding day. I'm in love with the EVF as my keeper rate has gone up from when I shot with a pair of Canon 5d3's. I currently have an A99ii on order and it should be here soon. I think it will work just as well if not better than the A7RII as my primary body. Dual cards is a big plus as well as using my 135mm f1.8 ZA natively.

A 24mm, 50mm and 135mm will be a great start. With cropping you'll have everything covered. If I were you though I'd crop in post and not in camera.



Dec 06, 2016 at 10:21 AM
wtzgall
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p.1 #3 · p.1 #3 · A99ii +primes =event work?


Thanks for the reply. It looks like the auto correct had a field day, I posted from a tablet, so sorry about the errors.

I want to crop in camera for two reasons. Firstly it is how I have shot forever, I rarely change the crop on photos preferring to get it right in camera. The second reason is much more practical, having to crop in post would add a lot of time to my workflow.

Since you have the a7 cameras, is the switch to/from crop mode a quick, fast affair?? Can you get raw files?

Chris



Dec 06, 2016 at 10:30 AM
Ken_Cravillion
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p.1 #4 · p.1 #4 · A99ii +primes =event work?


I've never actually shot in crop mode as I have Sony and Zeiss primes from 18mm, 25mm, 35mm, 55mm, 85mm and 135mm and just pop on whichever I need.


Dec 06, 2016 at 11:16 AM
Mystik
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p.1 #5 · p.1 #5 · A99ii +primes =event work?


wtzgall wrote:
Thanks for the reply. It looks like the auto correct had a field day, I posted from a tablet, so sorry about the errors.

I want to crop in camera for two reasons. Firstly it is how I have shot forever, I rarely change the crop on photos preferring to get it right in camera. The second reason is much more practical, having to crop in post would add a lot of time to my workflow.

Since you have the a7 cameras, is the switch to/from crop mode a quick, fast affair?? Can you get raw files?

Chris


Unless they've updated this in the a99II, toggling APS-C/FF is a pretty cumbersome process that needs to be done within the menu. It'd be nice if the toggle couple be mapped to a custom button or at the very least the FN menu.

I personally am against of shooting events, particularly weddings, on primes unless I have two bodies....and you'd want a wider focal difference than the crop factor. I do use primes when shooting weddings and events, but its usually a 35mm and 85mm combo on two bodies. Sometimes that's not enough to keep up with the pace of an event either, which is why I also own zooms. Just my 2 cents!



Dec 06, 2016 at 11:46 AM
pizdets17
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p.1 #6 · p.1 #6 · A99ii +primes =event work?


I have the a99ii. The switch to crop mode is a push of a button whereas the A7 series is a bit of a pain of menu navigating. I would also pick up the 85 as you will like the f1.4 ability and mine is razor sharp wide open


wtzgall wrote:
Thanks for the reply. It looks like the auto correct had a field day, I posted from a tablet, so sorry about the errors.

I want to crop in camera for two reasons. Firstly it is how I have shot forever, I rarely change the crop on photos preferring to get it right in camera. The second reason is much more practical, having to crop in post would add a lot of time to my workflow.

Since you have the a7 cameras, is the switch to/from crop mode a quick, fast affair?? Can you get raw files?

Chris





Dec 06, 2016 at 12:33 PM
Mystik
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p.1 #7 · p.1 #7 · A99ii +primes =event work?


pizdets17 wrote:
I have the a99ii. The switch to crop mode is a push of a button whereas the A7 series is a bit of a pain of menu navigating. I would also pick up the 85 as you will like the f1.4 ability and mine is razor sharp wide open




Good to know that they've added that. The a7 bodies are supposedly getting a menu revamp via firmware update...hopefully they add the ability to map the aps-c/ff toggle.



Dec 06, 2016 at 01:29 PM
pizdets17
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p.1 #8 · p.1 #8 · A99ii +primes =event work?


Yea this is a much improved menu for sure and way more customizable.
Mystik wrote:
Good to know that they've added that. The a7 bodies are supposedly getting a menu revamp via firmware update...hopefully they add the ability to map the aps-c/ff toggle.





Dec 06, 2016 at 01:47 PM
mhespenheide
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p.1 #9 · p.1 #9 · A99ii +primes =event work?


I can't comment on the a99v2; I don't own it.

I will say, though, that when I used to shoot events with the a850 and a set of Minolta primes, I loved the results. I'd encourage you to try some of the Minolta glass. It's not about the sharpness; just something lovely about the rendering, separation, bokeh, and skin tone colors.



Dec 06, 2016 at 03:47 PM
arduluth
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p.1 #10 · p.1 #10 · A99ii +primes =event work?


I've only done one wedding (with all primes), but I do shoot a lot of concerts with an A7 and nothing but primes. For concerts, I use set of primes, either 28/45/90 or 35/90. It works great for me. I'm constantly changing lenses (esp when using 28/45), often in an unforgiving environment like the rowdy pit of concert. It only takes me a few seconds, sensor is exposed for less than a second.

Through some trial and error, I've found two big factors in the success of my approach for this sort of work:
1. Small lenses.
2. I don't use a bag when shooting. Instead, I've got a lens in each of my back pockets.

A bag slows me down too much. Whether or not a bag slows you down too much is up to you and how you shoot.

Two bodies with your two main focal lengths is another common approach for event shooters who use primes. I find a second body to be far more cumbersome than my approach, but YMMV.

Glad to hear that APS-C/FF toggle can be assigned to a key now! It's not something I use, but can definitely see how it could be useful for some folks.

Yes, you do get RAW files when shooting in crop mode. When you shoot in APS-C mode, the RAW file is cropped. Everything outside the APS-C frame is just tossed out.



Dec 06, 2016 at 04:18 PM
Chris_88
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p.1 #11 · p.1 #11 · A99ii +primes =event work?


Sony's 24 2, 50 1.4 (not the Minolta rebadge, but the Sony CZ) and 135mm 1.8 are among the best lenses they are offering for a-mount, with the 135 being among the most highly regarded lenses Sony has made in those ten years since acquiring Konica Minolta's camera division. I don't think you can go wrong with any of those lenses.

The plastic fantastic 85 2.8 is great too (at least optically). Some of the older Minolta lenses, especially the G line are still quite popular for their rendition. Lenses like the Minolta 35 1.4 or 85 1.4 are not as sharp as the newer Sony Zeiss lenses for a-mount or e-mount, but still have many fans who use them for portraiture.



Dec 06, 2016 at 04:34 PM
wtzgall
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p.1 #12 · p.1 #12 · A99ii +primes =event work?


Thanks all for the replies. My current thought is to try and pick up a well priced A99 body and one or two lenses to see how I get along with the system.

On the D700, I never got along with c-af or any kind of tracking, it just did not work for me. I am hoping that the eye recognition works well enough on the A99 to be dependable. It works ok on my Panasonic gx8, which I can envision using in conjunction with a ff system. It may end up being the specialist system, with a macro, fisheye and the 85mm equiv Nocticron which is an excellent lens. I have had a whole new world opened up to me with silent shooting. I feel the D700 shutter is monumentally loud now.

One of my other needs will be on the water shooting, at one time I shot sailing almost exclusively. It will be one of my focuses moving forward. Any list where I can find which lenses have any kind of weather sealing?

Chris



Dec 06, 2016 at 08:38 PM
mogul
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p.1 #13 · p.1 #13 · A99ii +primes =event work?


I don't believe the 99 has AF-c tracking for eye focus.


Dec 06, 2016 at 09:07 PM
pizdets17
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p.1 #14 · p.1 #14 · A99ii +primes =event work?


no it does not

mogul wrote:
I don't believe the 99 has AF-c tracking for eye focus.





Dec 06, 2016 at 09:25 PM
wtzgall
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p.1 #15 · p.1 #15 · A99ii +primes =event work?


Drat, ì thought it did. Lots to think about. I have handled a e series cameras, but not one of the a mount bodies. is there a retailer in the Baltimore DC Metro area that stocks any of this stuff?

Chris



Dec 07, 2016 at 06:41 AM





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