Focus peaking is fantastic. I've been shooting with the Sony-Zeiss 135mm f/1.8 (which is incredibly sharp even at 1.8, by the way) wide open with a near-perfect hit rate.
The grip fits my hand better than the D800 and even a tad better than the D700, which is very strange since I have large hands and the A99 is the smallest of the three. It of course doesn't come close to fitting me as well as a D3 or D4.
Lee Saxon wrote:
Focus peaking is fantastic. I've been shooting with the Sony-Zeiss 135mm f/1.8 (which is incredibly sharp even at 1.8, by the way) wide open with a near-perfect hit rate.
The grip fits my hand better than the D800 and even a tad better than the D700, which is very strange since I have large hands and the A99 is the smallest of the three. It of course doesn't come close to fitting me as well as a D3 or D4.
The A99 grip is simply larger and beefier I think; with the D800 it feels like there isn't enough to grip.
DPReview just posted their a99 review, and gave it a Gold award.
The RAW image comparisons against the other recent FF cameras is interesting. The D600 appears noticeably softer at all ISOs (stronger AA filter, perhaps?), though it shows less noise at higher ISO, likely due to the SLT mirror. From a resolution standpoint, the 5D3 and the a99 look essentially equal. The D800 has the expected resolution advantage, but I was also impressed with how well the noise is controlled at high ISOs- not much worse than the 24MP cameras.
alwang wrote:
DPReview just posted their a99 review, and gave it a Gold award.
The RAW image comparisons against the other recent FF cameras is interesting. The D600 appears noticeably softer at all ISOs (stronger AA filter, perhaps?), though it shows less noise at higher ISO, likely due to the SLT mirror.
They note that the A99 has the highest resolution of all full frame cameras except for the D800. Must be a weaker anti-aliasing filter...
In real world use though, I'll be honest, I can't notice much difference in resolution versus my 5D MkII. Shadow noise though...
I've been playing with the files from Imaging Resource, RAW of course, I would say that the skin tones/colour is better than either the 5D3 or D800. Was quite surprised at that.
Beni, I definitely think that depends on white balance. My experience under studio lighting (Einsteins, which vary in color temperature based on power level despite their advertising to the contrary) was the opposite. Totally natural with D800 and very orange with the A99.
Lee Saxon wrote:
Beni, I definitely think that depends on white balance. My experience under studio lighting (Einsteins, which vary in color temperature based on power level despite their advertising to the contrary) was the opposite. Totally natural with D800 and very orange with the A99.
I think it also depends on each person to be honest. Not that much that is objective about the concept of 'pleasing skin tones or colours'. I like the A99 better than the 5D3 which I like better than the D800 but no doubt many see it differently. How are the imaging resource 'plastic woman shot at a table' pictures shot? Are they hot lights?
Of course a lot of this could just be the lenses. They use a Sigma I think on the canon and nikon but the sony uses a sony lens. I've never liked sigma colour, too yellow and bland for me.
What was interesting was just how much I didn't like the colour from the RX1 which is supposed to have the same sensor. A lot of it was the Zeiss look which I recognise and dislike intensely myself but there is still a very significant shift which I found interesting.
You're absolutely right that it's a very subjective thing.
Also, while I much preferred the D800 with strobes, and slightly preferred the D800 under incandescent, I slightly preferred the A99 in natural light. That makes it even more confusing!
I guess you gotta make sure you know what you'll be shooting most when you pick a camera!
The WB Auto is the best I have seen, stellar in fact, in mixed lighting and under fluoro. SS is not visible in the EVF, nor should it be, never liked the seasickness of Nikon's VR lenses.
Handholding is in another league from the a900 - no mirror slap, exc grip, level display for horizon, shutter just a business-like moderate noise level thunk - the camera does not move in your hands.
The bright LCD is very good for reviewing, the EVF gives live histo, peaking and two levels of shooting magnification - fast and for stationary targets you never miss no matter what light level or aperture. You can set review in the EVF to show the final histo, very comforting for those who shoot images that cannot be remade. Mag also is good in the EVF for review.
Peaking spreads with stop down, another reassurance.
The press/turn front left button is great - used for 'on the fly' ISO is very fast (menu across the screen bottom) and holding gives other setting options.
Batt life is shorter (down to 100-150 raws but I am fussy and use a lot of preview tools) but such a small trade-off. I miss the VF shutter from the a900 but that is about it. What a camera. I doubt there is anything better in DSLR for manual lenses, as there is always a tool for the job and you never need remove your eye from the VF.
Just shot a lot of monastery interiors, pilgrims, nature and architecture over the border from here in 20 days in wintry Tibet (minus 20C), all were perfect for focus and colour is wonderful. Not surprised to hear of DPR review result.
To help balance my rosy views, you do have to trust the sensor for shadow detail sometimes (despite the magic DR) as shadows are blacker than ideal stopped down but the review gives it all to you in the EVF or LCD. At smaller apertures the image can 'swim' slightly, due to the very low light levels hitting the sensor presumably.
Only a few images sneaked past the DR range, very few indeed.
best regards to all.
PS Sorry to hear of vid woes, chris, I would not dare shoot video where I go.
PS2 Not one dust mote after 18 days shooting on the plateau and lots of lens changes (took 21/2.8, 35-70/3.4, 100/3.5 CYs and 50/2 Sum R) - a first. The stationary mirror works as a shield, it appears. The sensor is a big step forward - lots of detail.
PS3 Seems very robust as we did 1500kms on very poor roads, lots of dirt and bouncing around.
philip_pj wrote:
SS is not visible in the EVF, nor should it be, never liked the seasickness of Nikon's VR lenses.
Yes, those three-four stops of hand-holdability just suck and are totally pointless, and if there were no VR, then the handheld image in the viewfinder would be rock-solid
I don't think philip_pj said anything about the VR not being useful: he's simply saying he didn't like the way the VR affected the image through the viewfinder on Nikons. Personally, I didn't either.
I shot an event over the weekend - a holiday brunch attended by about 300 with singers, a harpist and so on and outside of the battery life the A99 really impressed - mostly. I didn't shoot any video as I was getting paid for stills and I didn't want to fiddle with settings - I don't have a custom mode for video yet since I can't find a setting that will produce anything near acceptably sharp video.
The tilt LCD and the front knob set to EV+/- made exposure a breeze. I like to shoot high/wide shots when shooting people - I'm 6'2" so with the camera held over my head I can get everything. With the 5d2 it was always a crapshoot, with the A99 it was easy. i put the camera on the ground to shoot up at the harp and all I had to do was kneel down and flip the screen up, love it, love it, love it. Controls are great, AF with the 24-70 is really fast, with the 70-400 it hunts a lot, but its a sharp, long zoom so I can live with that. The DR/IQ is fantastic, I absolutely love the stills from the A99, they just have so much depth.
Aside from a slew of video related gripes (not just poor IQ, no histogram or focus magnify in video mode, AF doesn't function in A/S/M, only program, Sony's standard of menu diving to switch between reviewing video/stills) my major complaint is the card door feels flimsy. I can feel it flexing when the camera is in my hand and it doesn't lock with any authority so I'm constantly sliding it open. I've never had this happen before and that's been the case with both A99's. I was playing with a D600 and 7d in Costco yesterday and they both have more secure feeling card doors compared to the A99.
The video still sucks. I've seen some claim to have sharp wide shots, but I've yet to see even one that has any detail. This is an audition for a travel camera that I'll take with me on a year-long trip around the world and something to do paid video work until my wife and I ship out, but unless my camera magically gets glasses or I decide to shoot exclusively shallow DOF video (blech) its likely heading back to Sony.
alwang wrote:
I don't think philip_pj said anything about the VR not being useful: he's simply saying he didn't like the way the VR affected the image through the viewfinder on Nikons. Personally, I didn't either.
photo chris wrote:
I shot an event over the weekend - a holiday brunch attended by about 300 with singers, a harpist and so on and outside of the battery life the A99 really impressed - mostly. I didn't shoot any video as I was getting paid for stills and I didn't want to fiddle with settings - I don't have a custom mode for video yet since I can't find a setting that will produce anything near acceptably sharp video.
The tilt LCD and the front knob set to EV+/- made exposure a breeze. I like to shoot high/wide shots when shooting people - I'm 6'2" so with the camera held over my head I can get everything. With the 5d2 it was always a crapshoot, with the A99 it was easy. i put the camera on the ground to shoot up at the harp and all I had to do was kneel down and flip the screen up, love it, love it, love it. Controls are great, AF with the 24-70 is really fast, with the 70-400 it hunts a lot, but its a sharp, long zoom so I can live with that. The DR/IQ is fantastic, I absolutely love the stills from the A99, they just have so much depth.
Aside from a slew of video related gripes (not just poor IQ, no histogram or focus magnify in video mode, AF doesn't function in A/S/M, only program, Sony's standard of menu diving to switch between reviewing video/stills) my major complaint is the card door feels flimsy. I can feel it flexing when the camera is in my hand and it doesn't lock with any authority so I'm constantly sliding it open. I've never had this happen before and that's been the case with both A99's. I was playing with a D600 and 7d in Costco yesterday and they both have more secure feeling card doors compared to the A99.
The video still sucks. I've seen some claim to have sharp wide shots, but I've yet to see even one that has any detail. This is an audition for a travel camera that I'll take with me on a year-long trip around the world and something to do paid video work until my wife and I ship out, but unless my camera magically gets glasses or I decide to shoot exclusively shallow DOF video (blech) its likely heading back to Sony....Show more →
With the Nex-7, there is a relatively unknown option that allows you to switch between stills and movie playback a little easier. If you go to the thumbnail image review mode, where there is more than one image displayed at a time, there is an area at the far left that you can select, and it lets you toggle between stills and movie playback. I don't know if the A99 has this, but you might try it.
philip_pj wrote:
I miss the VF shutter from the a900 but that is about it.
I don't really see the use of a VF shutter for the A99. The metering is done off the sensor, so light entering the VF wouldn't affect the readings, would it? Maybe I misunderstand...
I like the A99 better than the 5D3 which I like better than the D800 but no doubt many see it differently. How are the imaging resource 'plastic woman shot at a table' pictures shot? Are they hot lights?
