I'll post a few more later when I have time. The SF street art in the Mission is amazing.
My wife and I were just in the city last weekend. I haven't actually walked the streets, but would absolutely love to! I did grab several around Crissy Field and the GG though, a few pages back. Looking forward to more!
G
From a gig I just shot of Wind Turbines in Iowa. Just got home last night and i knew this one was special when I shot it.
About 5 am before sunrise.
A7rII
ISO 250 30 second exposure at f4 with my 35mm 1.4 ZE lens. Folks i could not shoot this with anything but a EVF. I could see nothing in the finder. Its that dark . Turn effects off get full gain on the EVF and piece of cake to zoom, focus and shoot. I also set the timer for 10 seconds so with one Nissin flash i would walk up and pop 1 or 2 times. Here it was twice as i was trying to show the fan blades, the client makes the blades so I had to get them in the shot. I would love to go back with 3 big portables and shoot all three turbines at once. But i do like this. high ISO NR off. Oh yea it was cold as hell too. I just need to fix the perspective a touch more and straighten the back turbines. BTW these things are huge
No images to post in this message but just wanted to make 2 quick comments.
Charles, those images of your Father-in-law are simply amazing. You truly captured the spirit of your subject in a way that pretty much every "street" and portrait photographer strives to do, yet rarely comes close to do. Images such as those transcend normal appreciation of things we normally focus on in this forum such as how a lens renders, how the tonality is et al., and leave us with a far greater appreciation for what appears to be a very remarkable man with a real passion for life. Thanks for sharing. Its nice to be reminded why we all picked up a camera in the first place.
Second, the A7r II is simply fantastic and well worth the upgrade price. I got mine for the BuyDig deal this past week and it was "open box" in name, yet completely new as far as I can tell.
The camera isn't without some quirks still, but wow, the larger EVF is just lovely and a fine update over the already good A7ii EVF. The AF speed (at least for single shot as I typically shoot) is noticeably faster, especially indoors. The new auto-ISO with minimum shutter speed is also fantastic. I happily worked out this going to M mode as needed with all my previous A series cameras, but being able to stick with Av and a proper auto ISO is great as I can use it outdoors in bright sun and indoors in low light without having to switch modes. Last but not least, the silent shutter mode, which I did have on my A7s, is again a pleasure to use. Not always ideal for all subjects, and the new shutter sound is already pretty quiet, but true silent shooting is pretty useful and another great option.
If anyone is still on the fence about this camera, I'd say without the slightest reservation "buy it", especially if you can find it for another $2699 deal. It simply takes the overall shooting experience of cameras like the A7ii or A7r to a far more enjoyable experience and essentially "getting out of the way" more with less worry about things like AF speed/accuracy, adjusting settings for ISO etc. Very pleased with my purchase.
@Charles wonderful shots, and I was very interested in your comments about the 75 Lux on various A7x recently.
@ Werner; "Breakthrough" outstanding cputeq wrote:
Very nice look to these images, love the processing
TY for kind words
Greggf wrote:
Charlie...awesome dog pics! That bokeh from the 300 looks pretty smooth!! Handheld? It's a pretty big lens, right?
It's 2500 grams, but actually perfect for a big handheld if you hold it properly, with left elbow bent and resting on the chest, palm open against the tripod mount.
Back in the day, people like us almost never had lenses like this, nearly all were used by working pros whose organizations bought the tools. As you can see the build is extremely robust, making your average AIS nikkor seem like a plastic toy , and since it's MF, there are not lots of little parts in there. Perfect for serious abuse
This and the similarly priced Canon FD 300/2.8L were the mainstay of many press photogs from 1983 well past the introduction of AF versions. It cost 1450USD in 1984. The Canon may be as good but not any better, I think. The Canon is already puke white, while this thing is seriously clandestine Both are IF, so a fingertip will focus like scrolling your iPhone
millsart wrote:
No images to post in this message but just wanted to make 2 quick comments.
Charles, those images of your Father-in-law are simply amazing. You truly captured the spirit of your subject in a way that pretty much every "street" and portrait photographer strives to do, yet rarely comes close to do. Images such as those transcend normal appreciation of things we normally focus on in this forum such as how a lens renders, how the tonality is et al., and leave us with a far greater appreciation for what appears to be a very remarkable man with a real passion for life. Thanks for sharing. Its nice to be reminded why we all picked up a camera in the first place.
Second, the A7r II is simply fantastic and well worth the upgrade price. I got mine for the BuyDig deal this past week and it was "open box" in name, yet completely new as far as I can tell.
The camera isn't without some quirks still, but wow, the larger EVF is just lovely and a fine update over the already good A7ii EVF. The AF speed (at least for single shot as I typically shoot) is noticeably faster, especially indoors. The new auto-ISO with minimum shutter speed is also fantastic. I happily worked out this going to M mode as needed with all my previous A series cameras, but being able to stick with Av and a proper auto ISO is great as I can use it outdoors in bright sun and indoors in low light without having to switch modes. Last but not least, the silent shutter mode, which I did have on my A7s, is again a pleasure to use. Not always ideal for all subjects, and the new shutter sound is already pretty quiet, but true silent shooting is pretty useful and another great option.
If anyone is still on the fence about this camera, I'd say without the slightest reservation "buy it", especially if you can find it for another $2699 deal. It simply takes the overall shooting experience of cameras like the A7ii or A7r to a far more enjoyable experience and essentially "getting out of the way" more with less worry about things like AF speed/accuracy, adjusting settings for ISO etc. Very pleased with my purchase....Show more →
Well said. After 3 days on the road with mine, I'm floored how nice it is to shoot now. My only one issue and was not the camera but my 200mm shots from a distance i ran into heat and wind turbulence. I noticed it immediately when shooting which is a huge plus for the EVF , LCD abilities. Certainly was not the cameras issue with the heat. Honestly that night shot above with a D800E i would have resorted to guessing focus and composition. Totally useless it would have been. The Sony with turn the effects off for full gain gets credit for me nailing that shot. It just paid for itself in spades. I know hard to see but that first turbine the focus at F4 is deadly on the target. In pure darkness that is simply freaking amazing to nail that. I been around the block and let me say that is a tough shot to pull off but credit goes to Sony's ability. That shot will most certainly along with others of course get me that client to hire me again. Thats priceless and why have been singing this cams praises.
View from the hotel room. Note the 2 ships in the harbor. This is at 24mm.
Then with the 100-400L at 400mm.
And a 1:1 crop of the latter pic (@400mm)...
Amazing what 42MP can do.
, and since it's MF, there are not lots of little parts in there. Perfect for serious abuse 
