p.124 #1 · Official: Sony A7 and A7R Fullframe Mirrorless
Yes, it's RF. I'll report back tonight. It came with a bunch of cables with different connectors, and I had intended to try it over the weekend but simply forgot.
p.124 #2 · Official: Sony A7 and A7R Fullframe Mirrorless
Forgot to add: IR devices don't work that well in sunlight. Next summer I plan to use ND-filters to take 1-4 minute exposures in daylight to show the movement of clouds and blur the waters. I doubt the IR controller works 100% reliable in full sunlight - it might, but I have only the opposite experience.
Now I test the multiple minute exposure somebody requested ~10 pages ago, just need to find the post first...
p.124 #3 · Official: Sony A7 and A7R Fullframe Mirrorless
Samuli Vahonen wrote:
Because I can't stand next to camera for hours holding the IR-remote control and because it's too great risk that I drop my hand for seconds and exposure stops too early.
Also small devices with batteries and -20C usually don't go well together. If camera battery don't die (enabling remote control = IR sensor can be turned off to consume power) then the damn remote dies.
you just have to hit the button once, go do something else, come back and hit the button again at the appropriate time. at least that's how it works on all the NEX cameras with my $5 ebay remote. also, just take the battery out of the remote when you're not using it.
edit: within 20 ft of the camera i've never had trouble with IR remote in daylight.
p.124 #4 · Official: Sony A7 and A7R Fullframe Mirrorless
sebboh wrote:
you just have to hit the button once, go do something else, come back and hit the button again at the appropriate time. at least that's how it works on all the NEX cameras with my $5 ebay remote. also, just take the battery out of the remote when you're not using it.
edit: within 20 ft of the camera i've never had trouble with IR remote in daylight.
Ah ok - I assumed that the IR-beam must be "connected" during whole bulb exposure. This is great news, I order few different eBay remotes to get one working
I can't find request by someone about long exposure noise (too many threads here and too much traffic). It was requested by someone and there was something about shooting in dark room at room temperature - can anybody remember that post? I remember that faintly, but could not execute test because I didnt' at the time have possibility to shoot bulb. I tried to find the post but didn't find it.
p.124 #5 · Official: Sony A7 and A7R Fullframe Mirrorless
Samuli Vahonen wrote:
Ah ok - I assumed that the IR-beam must be "connected" during whole bulb exposure. This is great news, I order few different eBay remotes to get one working
Samuli
i had made that same assumption too based on how bulb worked on sony cameras with no remote option, but they seem to work sensibly with an IR remote.
p.124 #6 · Official: Sony A7 and A7R Fullframe Mirrorless
Samuli Vahonen wrote:
Forgot to add: IR devices don't work that well in sunlight. Next summer I plan to use ND-filters to take 1-4 minute exposures in daylight to show the movement of clouds and blur the waters. I doubt the IR controller works 100% reliable in full sunlight - it might, but I have only the opposite experience.
Now I test the multiple minute exposure somebody requested ~10 pages ago, just need to find the post first...
Samuli
Maybe, but just maybe, Sony will launch some semi-advanced apps for things like this. Current range of apps is hopefully just a dismal beginning. In theory there should be ample opportunities for SW like Magic Lantern for the 5D2 et.al. I guess we'll know early next year.
And who knows what would happen if they choose to open an API for external developers.
p.124 #7 · Official: Sony A7 and A7R Fullframe Mirrorless
I think they did open up their API for third party developers, though they list it as "beta" and I don't know how much functionality this API actually exposes... http://camera.developer.sony.com
p.124 #8 · Official: Sony A7 and A7R Fullframe Mirrorless
Hmmm, I'll have to check that API at some point, if it allows access to needed functionality it should not be too difficult to code the "App" for the camera. However knowing it's Sony it's usually as annoying for developers as shooting their cameras
Tested the noise for long exposure as someone requested on this or some other thread. As I could not find the post where it was requested this may not have done the same way as requested.
Conditions were
- about 21C
- at end of the room there was 20w lightbulb equivalent energy saving lamp illuminating wall and ceiling
- strange color cast at back of computer: blue is from my CF-card reader, orange from extension cable on/off-switch
- dark frame substraction was turned "ON" on camera
- RAWs processed in Iridient Developer
--- exposure +0.33
--- WB 3400K and +18
--- lens correction: CA ON, vignetting ON, distortion OFF
Photos from left to right:
1. ISO 100, 1min (bulb), f/2.8
2. ISO 100, 4min (bulb), f/5.6
3. ISO 400, 30s (M-mode) f/4
4. ISO 1600, 30s (M-mode) f/8
Seems that 4min exposure was softer than 1min. Interesting, this requires some further testing.
p.124 #9 · Official: Sony A7 and A7R Fullframe Mirrorless
Hey, can anyone point me to the good manuals? It was deep in this thread a few days back. I finally received my camera after 9 days standard shipping from B&H and I am playing with the wireless features but the manual from the sony store suck big time. Searching on FM for the word manuals brings up nothing of consequence.
BTW, we really need a search within thread feature.
p.124 #13 · Official: Sony A7 and A7R Fullframe Mirrorless
sflxn wrote:
Hey, can anyone point me to the good manuals? It was deep in this thread a few days back. I finally received my camera after 9 days standard shipping from B&H and I am playing with the wireless features but the manual from the sony store suck big time. Searching on FM for the word manuals brings up nothing of consequence.
BTW, we really need a search within thread feature.
The FM search function has never been that good. Maybe one day. Meanwhile, Google like this:
site:fredmiranda.com Sony A7 better manual
I see that you figured it out, but just in case, there have been some discussions about the wireless features in the Setup thread mentioned already.
p.124 #16 · Official: Sony A7 and A7R Fullframe Mirrorless
Yep, according to Thom, the A7/A7r is just a temporary win.
Who cares and WTF? It's the camera I want to use NOW. Everything is just a temporary win. Has anyone ever come out with a product that was so strong that its features can't be imitated or improved upon? Thom loves Apple, but even the iPhone was a temporary win and a lot of people now prefer their Samsung Galaxy 4s or HTC Ones to the latest iPhone.
He also implies that he knows better than the crowds buying A7/A7rs. Sorry Thom, I've done a lot of research and the A7r is the best camera for ME now. I'm not saying in two years there won't be a better camera for me, but for now this is it.
And yes Thom, the EM-1 is a great camera with nice features, nice lenses and great AF. But at this point in time for a lot of people who really care about IQ, why buy such a large camera with such a small sensor?
p.124 #17 · Official: Sony A7 and A7R Fullframe Mirrorless
Old article.
While reading his commentary on "temporary wins" I was remembering that I know several photographers who have bought D800's on the used market lately, all from other photographers that are adopting the A7r and either abandoning Nikon bodies entirely or are dumping secondary bodies in favour of the Sony because it gives them 36MP output, improved by a better live view / manual focusing experience.
p.124 #18 · Official: Sony A7 and A7R Fullframe Mirrorless
I pointed this out in the A7 poll thread as well, but I do think Thom has a legitimate point when he says "if you bring out a new system and start from scratch with lenses, so can everyone else". Maybe not Olympus, given their financial situation, but there's not much stopping Nikon, Canon, Fuji, etc from competing with Sony on this front. What unique advantage does Sony have other than first mover status?
Thinly disguised meme: you can't trust Sony like Canon and Nikon, lol. It's just a temporary win, guys! Geez, this camera has 'hurt' some people... That's Thom Hogan, if you follow his blogs you will find he is critical of all camera manufacturers with few exceptions (he's the ultimate Apple fan-boy). On the whole he is quite the practical critic
His comment regarding Sony, in my opinion, is a compliment. Sony is one of the few remaining "technology" companies when it comes to hardware. Now if only they could get their act together both on the hardware front and software, that would be a winning combination which would make Nikon and Canon sit up and take notice. If they don't do so already
p.124 #20 · Official: Sony A7 and A7R Fullframe Mirrorless
itai195 wrote:
I pointed this out in the A7 poll thread as well, but I do think Thom has a legitimate point when he says "if you bring out a new system and start from scratch with lenses, so can everyone else". Maybe not Olympus, given their financial situation, but there's not much stopping Nikon, Canon, Fuji, etc from competing with Sony on this front. What unique advantage does Sony have other than first mover status?
Not sure if Nikon can come up with what Sony has done, they are too conservative in their thinking. Canon perhaps, but for one problem, they want to do everything in-house and have slipped on the technology side.
I don't know about Fuji.
Regarding lenses, one simply has to look at Nikon's V1 series, it started out with only two lenses, so how does this differ from what Sony has done? Also, Sony has the advantage of a "universal" (almost) mount...
That's Thom Hogan, if you follow his blogs you will find he is critical of all camera manufacturers with few exceptions (he's the ultimate Apple fan-boy). On the whole he is quite the practical critic