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Archive 2012Sony A99
p.4 #1Sony A99
The worst thing you can do with peaking is look at the peaking statically to try and decipher what is and isn't in focus. Rather, you have to pinpoint an exact, small location and watch how the peaking swells up and down around that pinpoint. Whenever I'm using peaking, I act as if I'm using a spot focus point somewhere on the screen, rather than looking at the peaking in the whole screen. It's all about how the peaking swells up to it's "peakiest" point. 
So, in the case of the tiger girl, only pay attention to the center of the eye, turn the focus ring and watch the peaking start to swell around the center of the eye. Once the swelling "peaks" and starts to go back down, pull back the focus to where the swelling was at its peak.
Of course, playing with jpeg and peaking settings will also help dial things in to your liking.
So, in the case of the tiger girl, only pay attention to the center of the eye, turn the focus ring and watch the peaking start to swell around the center of the eye. Once the swelling "peaks" and starts to go back down, pull back the focus to where the swelling was at its peak.
Of course, playing with jpeg and peaking settings will also help dial things in to your liking.
Jul 27, 2012 at 11:10 AM
p.4 #2Sony A99
Douglas, unless my eyesight is going, I don't find the "swelling" of the peaking colour definitive enough for fast glass. For 1.5s and faster, I find focus assist both quicker and more accurate; where I really have a use for peaking is using it as "zone focusing" of a sort, by adjusting the aperture to enlarge the focus range and the focus ring to place it where I want it.
Jul 27, 2012 at 11:24 AM
p.4 #3Sony A99
sebboh wrote:
the big problem with the NEX-7 evf for me is it's sensitivity to eye location combined with the terrible eye cup. your eye must be exactly in the center of the viewfinder otherwise you see lots of smearing, CA, etc and the eye cup is too poorly shaped to easily rest against to hold your eye in the right position (it's not so good at actually blocking light either).
+100 At first, this even game me eye strain coming from the OVF fo the a900. I eventually learned to put up with it but I certainly would not call it an enjoyable experience as compared to an OVF, either direct or mirror based. Hopefully, EVF's will see rapid improvement.
the big problem with the NEX-7 evf for me is it's sensitivity to eye location combined with the terrible eye cup. your eye must be exactly in the center of the viewfinder otherwise you see lots of smearing, CA, etc and the eye cup is too poorly shaped to easily rest against to hold your eye in the right position (it's not so good at actually blocking light either).
+100 At first, this even game me eye strain coming from the OVF fo the a900. I eventually learned to put up with it but I certainly would not call it an enjoyable experience as compared to an OVF, either direct or mirror based. Hopefully, EVF's will see rapid improvement.
Jul 27, 2012 at 12:56 PM
p.4 #4Sony A99
Tariq Gibran wrote:
+100 At first, this even game me eye strain coming from the OVF fo the a900. I eventually learned to put up with it but I certainly would not call it an enjoyable experience as compared to an OVF, either direct or mirror based. Hopefully, EVF's will see rapid improvement.
i'm pretty sure it has little to do with evfs in general and everything to do with the optics magnifying the evf and the eyecup. the olympus evf and sony a55 evf did not have these issues.
sebboh wrote
the big problem with the NEX-7 evf for me is it's sensitivity to eye location combined with the terrible eye cup. your eye must be exactly in the center of the viewfinder otherwise you see lots of smearing, CA, etc and the eye cup is too poorly shaped to easily rest against to hold your eye in the right position (it's not so good at actually blocking light either).i'm pretty sure it has little to do with evfs in general and everything to do with the optics magnifying the evf and the eyecup. the olympus evf and sony a55 evf did not have these issues.
Jul 27, 2012 at 01:04 PM
p.4 #5Sony A99
sebboh wrote:
+100 At first, this even game me eye strain coming from the OVF fo the a900. I eventually learned to put up with it but I certainly would not call it an enjoyable experience as compared to an OVF, either direct or mirror based. Hopefully, EVF's will see rapid improvement.i'm pretty sure it has little to do with evfs in general and everything to do with the optics magnifying the evf and the eyecup. the olympus evf and sony a55 evf did not have these issues.
Well, that's good to hear. So perhaps Sony compromised on the NEX-7 viewfinder optics due to size/ space constraints?
Tariq Gibran wrote
sebboh wrote
the big problem with the NEX-7 evf for me is it's sensitivity to eye location combined with the terrible eye cup. your eye must be exactly in the center of the viewfinder otherwise you see lots of smearing, CA, etc and the eye cup is too poorly shaped to easily rest against to hold your eye in the right position (it's not so good at actually blocking light either).Well, that's good to hear. So perhaps Sony compromised on the NEX-7 viewfinder optics due to size/ space constraints?
Jul 27, 2012 at 02:47 PM
p.4 #6Sony A99
Tariq Gibran wrote:
Well, that's good to hear. So perhaps Sony compromised on the NEX-7 viewfinder optics due to size/ space constraints?
that was my guess.
Well, that's good to hear. So perhaps Sony compromised on the NEX-7 viewfinder optics due to size/ space constraints?
that was my guess.
Jul 27, 2012 at 03:03 PM
p.4 #7Sony A99
sebboh wrote:
but those are all at f/2-2.8 where peaking really shines. at f/1.2-1.4 i find peaking to not be consistant enough to count on.
Your probably right, it's just that i rarely find the need to shoot faster than f/2.
michael49 wrote
I'm going to have to disagree with this. I would say that I'm able to get a high percentage of my shots in focus with fast glass using peaking, but its taken some practice.Your probably right, it's just that i rarely find the need to shoot faster than f/2.
Jul 28, 2012 at 08:42 AM
p.4 #8Sony A99
douglasf13 wrote:
The worst thing you can do with peaking is look at the peaking statically to try and decipher what is and isn't in focus. Rather, you have to pinpoint an exact, small location and watch how the peaking swells up and down around that pinpoint. Whenever I'm using peaking, I act as if I'm using a spot focus point somewhere on the screen, rather than looking at the peaking in the whole screen. It's all about how the peaking swells up to it's "peakiest".
That's what I do, usually that point for me with portraits is my subjects eyelashes.
The worst thing you can do with peaking is look at the peaking statically to try and decipher what is and isn't in focus. Rather, you have to pinpoint an exact, small location and watch how the peaking swells up and down around that pinpoint. Whenever I'm using peaking, I act as if I'm using a spot focus point somewhere on the screen, rather than looking at the peaking in the whole screen. It's all about how the peaking swells up to it's "peakiest".
That's what I do, usually that point for me with portraits is my subjects eyelashes.
Jul 28, 2012 at 08:46 AM
p.4 #9Sony A99
Well, the EVF I looked at was vastly superior to the NEX-7 and A77, and I only really used it in a low light environment. Honestly I was pleasantly surprised by it. I don't find the NEX-7 EVF lacking compared to any other EVF on the market after adjusting the settings.
Jul 28, 2012 at 09:02 AM
p.4 #10Sony A99
That's cool, Dan. How did it look when you moved the camera to track?
Jul 28, 2012 at 12:17 PM
p.4 #13Sony A99
It should appeal to folks who like the look of the Canon 1 series (which makes sense as that's who Sony is going after I suppose).
Sep 08, 2012 at 04:05 PM
p.4 #14Sony A99
ONe of the DPR dudes got to the heart of the matter, I think:
'The stats and performance of the camera will sell WAY more units than the looks of it. This isn't a "ooooh, I like how it looks... it's cute" camera.'
'The stats and performance of the camera will sell WAY more units than the looks of it. This isn't a "ooooh, I like how it looks... it's cute" camera.'
Sep 08, 2012 at 04:43 PM
p.4 #15Sony A99
It appeals to me more than 5D3 does, and more than D800. I am sooo wanting a FF with an articulating screen, and this camera checks almost all of the boxes for me. The sensor should be fantastic, I like the conservative pixel count, and generally am liking Sony right now anyway...
The only downside for me is potentially running dual systems (Canon for my tele and super tele shooting since I can't afford Sony for that).
I am sooo wanting a FF with an articulating screen, and this camera checks almost all of the boxes for me. The sensor should be fantastic, I like the conservative pixel count, and generally am liking Sony right now anyway...The only downside for me is potentially running dual systems (Canon for my tele and super tele shooting since I can't afford Sony for that).
Sep 08, 2012 at 06:04 PM
p.4 #16Sony A99
mco_970 wrote:
It appeals to me more than 5D3 does, and more than D800. I am sooo wanting a FF with an articulating screen, and this camera checks almost all of the boxes for me. The sensor should be fantastic, I like the conservative pixel count, and generally am liking Sony right now anyway...
The only downside for me is potentially running dual systems (Canon for my tele and super tele shooting since I can't afford Sony for that).
Absolutely. The A77 screen is really something else once you've used it long enough to change your style to take advantage of the flexibility it offers. And it is so much more flexible than most of the other articulating screens.
It appeals to me more than 5D3 does, and more than D800.
I am sooo wanting a FF with an articulating screen, and this camera checks almost all of the boxes for me. The sensor should be fantastic, I like the conservative pixel count, and generally am liking Sony right now anyway...The only downside for me is potentially running dual systems (Canon for my tele and super tele shooting since I can't afford Sony for that).
Absolutely. The A77 screen is really something else once you've used it long enough to change your style to take advantage of the flexibility it offers. And it is so much more flexible than most of the other articulating screens.
Sep 08, 2012 at 06:21 PM
p.4 #17Sony A99
RobCD wrote:
I am sooo wanting a FF with an articulating screen, and this camera checks almost all of the boxes for me. The sensor should be fantastic, I like the conservative pixel count, and generally am liking Sony right now anyway...
The only downside for me is potentially running dual systems (Canon for my tele and super tele shooting since I can't afford Sony for that).Absolutely. The A77 screen is really something else once you've used it long enough to change your style to take advantage of the flexibility it offers. And it is so much more flexible than most of the other articulating screens.
I shoot my 5N low level at least 50% of the time for my nature shots - I definitely love having the option of not rolling in the dirt to get the photo.
mco_970 wrote
It appeals to me more than 5D3 does, and more than D800. I am sooo wanting a FF with an articulating screen, and this camera checks almost all of the boxes for me. The sensor should be fantastic, I like the conservative pixel count, and generally am liking Sony right now anyway...The only downside for me is potentially running dual systems (Canon for my tele and super tele shooting since I can't afford Sony for that).
I shoot my 5N low level at least 50% of the time for my nature shots - I definitely love having the option of not rolling in the dirt to get the photo.
Sep 08, 2012 at 06:30 PM
p.4 #18Sony A99
If the rumored specs are correct, the A99 - along with its accessories - will make it a true video/stills hybrid, rather than a stills camera that shoots great video. Targeting the hybrid shooters is the way IMHO to gain traction with the A99. I shoot with a FS100 and a Nex5n, it certainly has me interested. Looking forward to samples. Now if Sony would just add weather sealing to its lenses...
Sep 09, 2012 at 05:27 AM
p.4 #19Sony A99
philip_pj wrote:
ONe of the DPR dudes got to the heart of the matter, I think:
'The stats and performance of the camera will sell WAY more units than the looks of it. This isn't a "ooooh, I like how it looks... it's cute" camera.'
Can you name any FF DSLR that looks cute?
ONe of the DPR dudes got to the heart of the matter, I think:
'The stats and performance of the camera will sell WAY more units than the looks of it. This isn't a "ooooh, I like how it looks... it's cute" camera.'
Can you name any FF DSLR that looks cute?
Sep 09, 2012 at 06:28 AM
p.4 #20Sony A99
mco_970 wrote:
It appeals to me more than 5D3 does, and more than D800. I am sooo wanting a FF with an articulating screen, and this camera checks almost all of the boxes for me. The sensor should be fantastic, I like the conservative pixel count, and generally am liking Sony right now anyway...
The only downside for me is potentially running dual systems (Canon for my tele and super tele shooting since I can't afford Sony for that).
Just look into some used Minolta glass
It appeals to me more than 5D3 does, and more than D800.
I am sooo wanting a FF with an articulating screen, and this camera checks almost all of the boxes for me. The sensor should be fantastic, I like the conservative pixel count, and generally am liking Sony right now anyway...The only downside for me is potentially running dual systems (Canon for my tele and super tele shooting since I can't afford Sony for that).
Just look into some used Minolta glass
Sep 09, 2012 at 10:58 AM