p.18 #2 · Official: Sony A7 and A7R Fullframe Mirrorless
jmontagu13 wrote:
I was initially excited at the thought of getting this for backpacking, but after looking at the weight of the Sony lenses and comparing to a similiar Canon 6D setup, the weight difference doesn't appear to be worth the cost. Again, this is only for my specific needs as I usually carry
Sony System
Camera - 522 grams with extra battery
24-70 lens - 426 grams
70-200 lens - 840 grams
Total - 1788 grams
Canon 6D
Camera - 770 (no extra battery as battery life is double Sony)
24-70 f/4 lens - 600 grams (670 grams for 24-105mm)
70-200 f/4 IS lens - 760 grams
Total - 2130 grams
So, the Canon system is about 15% heavier (or about 11 ounces), which when backpacking, would definitely be nice to have. But for the cost, it doesn't appear to be a great investment for me.
Definitely like where the industry is heading though, so hopefully a few more options will pop up in the near future....Show more →
Throw in the tripod and head (and quick-release clamp and plates) you'll need to get critically sharp images, and the weight difference between the systems becomes truly insignificant.
p.18 #3 · Official: Sony A7 and A7R Fullframe Mirrorless
Jman13 wrote:
Thanks Fred.
That's terrible planning by Sony. I know most people here are using adapted lenses (and if I get one, that'll by my primary use), but making the camera available a week before any lenses are available, and having only one or two lenses available in the first month is not good.
"Here's your camera! Too bad there's nothing to mount on it!"
You can order it with a kit lens. That's probably what most uhhhh, normal people will mount on it anyway. (I don't know if you'll find any of those around here )
p.18 #5 · Official: Sony A7 and A7R Fullframe Mirrorless
molson wrote:
Throw in the tripod and head (and quick-release clamp and plates) you'll need to get critically sharp images, and the weight difference between the systems becomes truly insignificant.
Not if you are counting grams like a lot of ultralight backpackers.
p.18 #6 · Official: Sony A7 and A7R Fullframe Mirrorless
mco_970 wrote:
You can order it with a kit lens. That's probably what most uhhhh, normal people will mount on it anyway. (I don't know if you'll find any of those around here )
Well, you can order the A7 with a kit lens....the A7R buyers are out of luck.
I'm sure most of the early adopters will have some manual lenses to use, but those looking to only use native glass are going to have a frustrating few days.
p.18 #7 · Official: Sony A7 and A7R Fullframe Mirrorless
naturephoto1 wrote:
Not if you are counting grams like a lot of ultralight backpackers.
Rich
If you're an ultralight backpacker, you're not taking a full frame camera with you. Grab the Lumix GM1 with its pancake zoom and put it in a zippered pocket and you're done.
p.18 #8 · Official: Sony A7 and A7R Fullframe Mirrorless
molson wrote:
Throw in the tripod and head (and quick-release clamp and plates) you'll need to get critically sharp images, and the weight difference between the systems becomes truly insignificant.
At least with my 5N system I find that not to be true. I can use a lighter tripod with 5N than I can with my D600, so that ends up being a fairly significant weight savings when throwing the whole camera system into my pack for a hike (decent Benro vs. my nice Gitzo).
Granted, I am usually packing lenses in the 24-135 range, and the 70-200 would undoubtedly benefit from a heavier tripod.
If the Zeiss 24-70 is good, I think it plus A7 and Benro will be a very light & less bulky combo compared to the same Nikon setup w/ my Gitzo.
p.18 #9 · Official: Sony A7 and A7R Fullframe Mirrorless
Jman13 wrote:
If you're an ultralight backpacker, you're not taking a full frame camera with you. Grab the Lumix GM1 with its pancake zoom and put it in a zippered pocket and you're done.
Me, I was only light weight backpacker and hiker. And that was with my stripped down Toho Shimo FC-45X (2 lbs 11 oz) 4 X 5 plus preloaded sheet film plus lenses or my Mamiya 7 II plus lenses.
p.18 #10 · Official: Sony A7 and A7R Fullframe Mirrorless
Jman13 wrote:
Well, you can order the A7 with a kit lens....the A7R buyers are out of luck.
I'm sure most of the early adopters will have some manual lenses to use, but those looking to only use native glass are going to have a frustrating few days.
They might be in luck, because the A7 kit lens probably stinks on 36 MP.
p.18 #12 · Official: Sony A7 and A7R Fullframe Mirrorless
naturephoto1 wrote:
Me, I was only light weight backpacker and hiker. And that was with my stripped down Toho Shimo FC-45X (2 lbs 11 oz) 4 X 5 plus preloaded sheet film plus lenses or my Mamiya 7 II plus lenses.
p.18 #13 · Official: Sony A7 and A7R Fullframe Mirrorless
Well, maybe bad JPG-engine, but also mis-focused images! Wonder why? Oh well, I will use manual lenses if I buy....
Jman13 wrote:
Man, Sony's JPEGs are terrible. What's the hyper compression on everything? Looks awful. I'm sure the RAW files are spectacular, but we'll have to wait on those a bit.
For example, here are two shots from Photographyblog's samples. One is the A7, the other is, well, the Panasonic GM1. Both at ISO 800. Yes, I know the lighting int he Panasonic shot is better, but just look at the horrid JPEG softness on the A7 shot...I'm sure it's not the sensor or the lens, but just bad JPEGs, but why are they so bad? I've seen lots of blotchiness and smeared detail in the sample JPEGs so far, especially at higher than ISO 400. It's not like Panasonic is known for its great JPEG engine, but it looks better here.
EDIT: Apparently PB blocks direct links to images, so here are links to the sample image archives. But take a look at the ISO 800 portraits for each. And heck, take a look at all the ISO samples....the Sony's JPEG engine is just terrible at higher ISO (and only 'ok' at low ISO0.
p.18 #14 · Official: Sony A7 and A7R Fullframe Mirrorless
molson wrote:
Throw in the tripod and head (and quick-release clamp and plates) you'll need to get critically sharp images, and the weight difference between the systems becomes truly insignificant.
What about volume? Weight is only one aspect of ultralight backpacking ?
I'm asking because I'd like to know as well.
For me the biggest benefit will be volume savings (some old smaller prime lenses along with the sony a7).
Besides, if I truly wanted to go light I wouldn't be carrying around zooms.
p.18 #15 · Official: Sony A7 and A7R Fullframe Mirrorless
I think the design is "functional" in a classic way. I would not liked to have the viewfinder hump on
the leftside of the camera. That would look comical.
You need a hell of a designer to make that look good.
It is not a revolutionary design but the content is revolutionary enough for me to like it as whole.
They are moving so fast technically that the design department had to play it safe
I found the NEX-7 a bit small so I welcome the right hand (small) grip.
With the extra vertical shooting grip the camera is even quiet beautifull.
Designwise the best grip I have seen on a camera.
p.18 #16 · Official: Sony A7 and A7R Fullframe Mirrorless
The A7r is currently ranked #2 on Amazon for their best selling camera (updated hourly).The GoPro Hero3+ is ranked #1. A fake outdoor security camera is ranked #6
p.18 #17 · Official: Sony A7 and A7R Fullframe Mirrorless
naturephoto1 wrote:
Me, I was only light weight backpacker and hiker. And that was with my stripped down Toho Shimo FC-45X (2 lbs 11 oz) 4 X 5 plus preloaded sheet film plus lenses or my Mamiya 7 II plus lenses.
This new announcement by Sony reminds me a lot of the Mamiya 6/7/7ii. Mamiya's response to the lack of portability/performance in the medium format era probably received a lot of the same criticism as Sony is receiving here (lack of lens choice, build quality, size) - but the 6 lenses they did make are nicknamed the "Leica of medium format" and while the system was expensive, it was hugely popular.
I would expect the same this time around from the A7.
p.18 #19 · Official: Sony A7 and A7R Fullframe Mirrorless
One thing to note for people new to Sony or coming back from an absence of a year or two, Sony now considers the batter charger to be optional. Instead, they include an AC Adapter in the kit so you can charge it on camera or give them $50 for the charger. If the specs on Sonystore's US site are correct, that trend continues with these cameras.
Which makes me very happy I own an NEX-7 that came with the charger.
(I don't know if you'll find any of those around here 
)