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Archive 2013Sony A7/A7R Setup
p.11 #1Sony A7/A7R Setup
sflxn wrote:
pre-AF
It's basically like the NEX constant pre-AF to speed up autofocusing. I'm willing to bet if you turn this setting off, battery life will go up a good amount. In theory, it may slow down autofocusing a little, but in my testing with the FE 35, I couldn't really tell a difference.
This was the first thing I disabled. I can't understand why they'd ship the camers with this enabled. Very annoying.
pre-AF
It's basically like the NEX constant pre-AF to speed up autofocusing. I'm willing to bet if you turn this setting off, battery life will go up a good amount. In theory, it may slow down autofocusing a little, but in my testing with the FE 35, I couldn't really tell a difference.
This was the first thing I disabled. I can't understand why they'd ship the camers with this enabled. Very annoying.
Dec 10, 2013 at 04:19 PM
p.11 #2Sony A7/A7R Setup
wfrank wrote:
Aha GI
(get it)
Interestingly, although I have seen MBP written dozens of times, I have never seen MB (MacBook), MP (Mac Pro), iM (iMac), iB (iBook), or any other variation that I can think of. I have seen MBA though (MacBook Air).
Aha GI
(get it)
Interestingly, although I have seen MBP written dozens of times, I have never seen MB (MacBook), MP (Mac Pro), iM (iMac), iB (iBook), or any other variation that I can think of. I have seen MBA though (MacBook Air).
Dec 10, 2013 at 04:31 PM
p.11 #3Sony A7/A7R Setup
After using the camera for a few days now (A7R) there's a few things I hope they can address via firmware updates.
1. Auto ISO with manual lenses - I was surprised to find that I'm getting blurry photos with a 50mm lens at 1/60 sec. I have tried bumping the shutter speed to 1/125 and 1/160 and the motion blur is gone. Sony will need an adjustable minimum shutter speed setting in auto iso.
2. Zoom in with manual lenses - Please make the c1 zoom in button a 1-click process. Pressing it twice really do drive me nuts.
3. Quiet mode - I don't know if this is possible but it would be nice to have a quiet mode on the a7r. The shutter sound is a lot louder than what I expected. This is not too important but would be nice to have.
4. Battery life - Any way to increase battery life on this?
5. Peak focusing - Could be better but not all that important. The Lumix GX7's peak focusing seems more precise but it could be because of the smaller sensor.
Aside from those. The camera works pretty well for me right now other than the non-firmware fixable problems (non proper charger, menu could be better, buttons could placed in a better spot ex. C2 and shutter button)
1. Auto ISO with manual lenses - I was surprised to find that I'm getting blurry photos with a 50mm lens at 1/60 sec. I have tried bumping the shutter speed to 1/125 and 1/160 and the motion blur is gone. Sony will need an adjustable minimum shutter speed setting in auto iso.
2. Zoom in with manual lenses - Please make the c1 zoom in button a 1-click process. Pressing it twice really do drive me nuts.
3. Quiet mode - I don't know if this is possible but it would be nice to have a quiet mode on the a7r. The shutter sound is a lot louder than what I expected. This is not too important but would be nice to have.
4. Battery life - Any way to increase battery life on this?
5. Peak focusing - Could be better but not all that important. The Lumix GX7's peak focusing seems more precise but it could be because of the smaller sensor.
Aside from those. The camera works pretty well for me right now other than the non-firmware fixable problems (non proper charger, menu could be better, buttons could placed in a better spot ex. C2 and shutter button)
Dec 10, 2013 at 07:43 PM
p.11 #4Sony A7/A7R Setup
AGeoJO wrote:
Can someone help me how to enter copyright info/owner info into my Sony A7r, please? I tried and tried but couldn't figure it out. I downloaded PlayMemories Home and connected my camera to my Mac and still no luck. Thanks!
BTW, the Mac version of the PlayMemories Home is very buggy. It started out OK but after the file download, my MBP froze a few times, even after the restart
. It simply froze too many times for may taste.
carstenw wrote:
Are you sure that it is PMH which is buggy? My experience with Apple software and hardware in recent times has not been as good as it was a few years ago. My iPhone 5S and iPad Air will both spontaneously reboot for no reason at all, for example.
For this reason, I have kept my MBP on Mountain Lion for now, and I have had no stability issues with PMH.
Yeah, I should have kept Mountain Lion for various reasons.... Oh, well.
But back to the original question though, I went through the menus up and down more than just a few times and I still couldn't figure out how to enter the copyright or owner info into my A7r. Can someone enlighten me how to figure it out , please? Or is it simply not possible? Thanks!
Can someone help me how to enter copyright info/owner info into my Sony A7r, please? I tried and tried but couldn't figure it out. I downloaded PlayMemories Home and connected my camera to my Mac and still no luck. Thanks!
BTW, the Mac version of the PlayMemories Home is very buggy. It started out OK but after the file download, my MBP froze a few times, even after the restart
. It simply froze too many times for may taste. carstenw wrote:
Are you sure that it is PMH which is buggy? My experience with Apple software and hardware in recent times has not been as good as it was a few years ago. My iPhone 5S and iPad Air will both spontaneously reboot for no reason at all, for example.
For this reason, I have kept my MBP on Mountain Lion for now, and I have had no stability issues with PMH.
Yeah, I should have kept Mountain Lion for various reasons...
. Oh, well. But back to the original question though, I went through the menus up and down more than just a few times and I still couldn't figure out how to enter the copyright or owner info into my A7r. Can someone enlighten me how to figure it out , please? Or is it simply not possible? Thanks!
Dec 11, 2013 at 12:02 AM
p.11 #5Sony A7/A7R Setup
AGeoJO wrote:
BTW, the Mac version of the PlayMemories Home is very buggy. It started out OK but after the file download, my MBP froze a few times, even after the restart. It simply froze too many times for may taste.
For this reason, I have kept my MBP on Mountain Lion for now, and I have had no stability issues with PMH.Yeah, I should have kept Mountain Lion for various reasons... . Oh, well.
But back to the original question though, I went through the menus up and down more than just a few times and I still couldn't figure out how to enter the copyright or owner info into my A7r. Can someone enlighten me how to figure it out , please? Or is it simply not possible? Thanks!
Maybe in the Sony software, as I haven't seen it in my NEX-7 or A7r.
AGeoJO wrote
Can someone help me how to enter copyright info/owner info into my Sony A7r, please? I tried and tried but couldn't figure it out. I downloaded PlayMemories Home and connected my camera to my Mac and still no luck. Thanks!BTW, the Mac version of the PlayMemories Home is very buggy. It started out OK but after the file download, my MBP froze a few times, even after the restart
. It simply froze too many times for may taste.carstenw wrote
Are you sure that it is PMH which is buggy? My experience with Apple software and hardware in recent times has not been as good as it was a few years ago. My iPhone 5S and iPad Air will both spontaneously reboot for no reason at all, for example.For this reason, I have kept my MBP on Mountain Lion for now, and I have had no stability issues with PMH.
. Oh, well. But back to the original question though, I went through the menus up and down more than just a few times and I still couldn't figure out how to enter the copyright or owner info into my A7r. Can someone enlighten me how to figure it out , please? Or is it simply not possible? Thanks!
Maybe in the Sony software, as I haven't seen it in my NEX-7 or A7r.
Dec 11, 2013 at 01:58 AM
p.11 #6Sony A7/A7R Setup
Rikaro wrote:
3. Quiet mode - I don't know if this is possible but it would be nice to have a quiet mode on the a7r. The shutter sound is a lot louder than what I expected. This is not too important but would be nice to have.
Actually my A7r is about as loud as my NEX-7, the shutter blades even seem to move at about the same speed, but have less distance to travel with the NEX, and you typically only hear the last half, for kicks I set it mechanical front curtain and its about the same.
3. Quiet mode - I don't know if this is possible but it would be nice to have a quiet mode on the a7r. The shutter sound is a lot louder than what I expected. This is not too important but would be nice to have.
Actually my A7r is about as loud as my NEX-7, the shutter blades even seem to move at about the same speed, but have less distance to travel with the NEX, and you typically only hear the last half, for kicks I set it mechanical front curtain and its about the same.
Dec 11, 2013 at 02:06 AM
p.11 #7Sony A7/A7R Setup
iammikie wrote:
I must have missed something obvious, however I cant seem to engage the magnify option with the following setup:
Sony A7R; Metabones Mark III adapter, Zeiss Canon Mount Distagon 21mm lens
Any ideas?
Set the focus to DMF?
I must have missed something obvious, however I cant seem to engage the magnify option with the following setup:
Sony A7R; Metabones Mark III adapter, Zeiss Canon Mount Distagon 21mm lens
Any ideas?
Set the focus to DMF?
Dec 11, 2013 at 02:07 AM
p.11 #8Sony A7/A7R Setup
ytwong wrote:
Sony A7R; Metabones Mark III adapter, Zeiss Canon Mount Distagon 21mm lens
Any ideas?Set the focus to DMF?
you don't have to set DMF any more, there is a map focus zoom to a button, but I'm unsure if there is a specific setup to do it because I don't have any AF lenses.
I believe there are settings mentioned somewhere here.
I'll have a look....
I think is to map "Focus settings" to a button.
iammikie wrote
I must have missed something obvious, however I cant seem to engage the magnify option with the following setup:Sony A7R; Metabones Mark III adapter, Zeiss Canon Mount Distagon 21mm lens
Any ideas?
you don't have to set DMF any more, there is a map focus zoom to a button, but I'm unsure if there is a specific setup to do it because I don't have any AF lenses.
I believe there are settings mentioned somewhere here.
I'll have a look....
I think is to map "Focus settings" to a button.
Dec 11, 2013 at 02:59 AM
p.11 #9Sony A7/A7R Setup
I have a question on Peaking, if someone could help me.
I have, of course, been playing with a lot of settings since I got the A7r and a first peaking seemed to work pretty good - other than it always went away when magnification was set to high (3 presses). But now I see it is almost gone even when in the lower magnification - mostly what I see is a bunch of speckles of the peaking color and not the outline to the subject. Any idea what setting I have screwed up, or is it the EVF/LCD brightness (the speckles look more like noise than high contrast areas in the image), ISO, or even the particular lens??
I have, of course, been playing with a lot of settings since I got the A7r and a first peaking seemed to work pretty good - other than it always went away when magnification was set to high (3 presses). But now I see it is almost gone even when in the lower magnification - mostly what I see is a bunch of speckles of the peaking color and not the outline to the subject. Any idea what setting I have screwed up, or is it the EVF/LCD brightness (the speckles look more like noise than high contrast areas in the image), ISO, or even the particular lens??
Dec 11, 2013 at 04:52 AM
p.11 #10Sony A7/A7R Setup
AGeoJO wrote:
But back to the original question though, I went through the menus up and down more than just a few times and I still couldn't figure out how to enter the copyright or owner info into my A7r. Can someone enlighten me how to figure it out , please? Or is it simply not possible? Thanks!
LightShow wrote:
Maybe in the Sony software, as I haven't seen it in my NEX-7 or A7r.
Thanks! Oh well, I tried.
But back to the original question though, I went through the menus up and down more than just a few times and I still couldn't figure out how to enter the copyright or owner info into my A7r. Can someone enlighten me how to figure it out , please? Or is it simply not possible? Thanks!
LightShow wrote:
Maybe in the Sony software, as I haven't seen it in my NEX-7 or A7r.
Thanks! Oh well, I tried.
Dec 11, 2013 at 09:08 AM
p.11 #11Sony A7/A7R Setup
Is there a way to turn off the annoying blinking SteadyShot icon off?
Dec 11, 2013 at 10:08 AM
p.11 #12Sony A7/A7R Setup
There seems to be a number of scare stories about the risk of mounting lenses above a certain size / weight on the a7 body. Does anyone have any idea about the limit of weight / length lens that can safely be mounted onto the a7(r) without risk of straining the mount. I would guess that the composite front of the a7 would be more hardy at the margin than the magnesium of the R. I can't imagine Sony would have introduced the LA-EA4 adapter if there was any risk that, for example, lenses such as the CZ 16-35 can't be used and that weighs 900gm. Furthermore, the brochure for these cameras shows a 70-200g/2.8 mounted to an a7r!! I have a feeling this concern is being overblown.
Dec 11, 2013 at 12:50 PM
p.11 #13Sony A7/A7R Setup
waterden wrote:
There seems to be a number of scare stories about the risk of mounting lenses above a certain size / weight on the a7 body. Does anyone have any idea about the limit of weight / length lens that can safely be mounted onto the a7(r) without risk of straining the mount. I would guess that the composite front of the a7 would be more hardy at the margin than the magnesium of the R. I can't imagine Sony would have introduced the LA-EA4 adapter if there was any risk that, for example, lenses such as the CZ 16-35 can't...Show more →
I think that people need to use some common sense about this. Obviously if the lens is too large or heavy, you do not just support and lift the whole weight of the lens and the camera by the camera alone. You would hold the lens and for hand holding would hold the camera in the right hand and support the lens with the left. Also, if tripod mounting it would be recommended for a lens lacking a rotating collar particularly if the lens is using an adapter to support the whole set-up from below the adapter preferably with an L bracket or a rotating collar. That would put little strain on the camera and mount and the camera would only be supporting its own weight and would also distribute the weight for better balance. For lenses with rotating tripod collars of course they would b mounted on the tripod from the collar.
Rich
There seems to be a number of scare stories about the risk of mounting lenses above a certain size / weight on the a7 body. Does anyone have any idea about the limit of weight / length lens that can safely be mounted onto the a7(r) without risk of straining the mount. I would guess that the composite front of the a7 would be more hardy at the margin than the magnesium of the R. I can't imagine Sony would have introduced the LA-EA4 adapter if there was any risk that, for example, lenses such as the CZ 16-35 can't...Show more →
I think that people need to use some common sense about this. Obviously if the lens is too large or heavy, you do not just support and lift the whole weight of the lens and the camera by the camera alone. You would hold the lens and for hand holding would hold the camera in the right hand and support the lens with the left. Also, if tripod mounting it would be recommended for a lens lacking a rotating collar particularly if the lens is using an adapter to support the whole set-up from below the adapter preferably with an L bracket or a rotating collar. That would put little strain on the camera and mount and the camera would only be supporting its own weight and would also distribute the weight for better balance. For lenses with rotating tripod collars of course they would b mounted on the tripod from the collar.
Rich
Dec 11, 2013 at 12:58 PM
p.11 #14Sony A7/A7R Setup
AGeoJO wrote:
But back to the original question though, I went through the menus up and down more than just a few times and I still couldn't figure out how to enter the copyright or owner info into my A7r. Can someone enlighten me how to figure it out , please? Or is it simply not possible? Thanks!
I haven't found a way. I add it manually instead:
exiftool -overwrite_original -EXIF:Copyright='Copyright: Samuli Vahonen' -XMP:Creator=Samuli\ Vahonen *.ARW
Samuli
But back to the original question though, I went through the menus up and down more than just a few times and I still couldn't figure out how to enter the copyright or owner info into my A7r. Can someone enlighten me how to figure it out , please? Or is it simply not possible? Thanks!
I haven't found a way. I add it manually instead:
exiftool -overwrite_original -EXIF:Copyright='Copyright: Samuli Vahonen' -XMP:Creator=Samuli\ Vahonen *.ARW
Samuli
Dec 11, 2013 at 04:36 PM
p.11 #15Sony A7/A7R Setup
Yes, of course you can support any lens by hand or with a tripod ring but I don't go walking around cradling a camera lens or holding one tripod mounted. That said I agree with you about a common sense approach but I keep on reading warnings such as this which make me wonder whether the mount plate is weaker than one would imagine
Sony a7R testing, part 14
Source: http://blog.kasson.com/?p=3895
naturephoto1 wrote:
I think that people need to use some common sense about this. Obviously if the lens is too large or heavy, you do not just support and lift the whole weight of the lens and the camera by the camera alone. You would hold the lens and for hand holding would hold the camera in the right hand and support the lens with the left. Also, if tripod mounting it would be recommended for a lens lacking a rotating collar particularly if the lens is using an adapter to support the whole set-up from below the adapter preferably with an...Show more →
Edited on Dec 12, 2013 at 03:01 AM · View previous versions
Sony a7R testing, part 14
Source: http://blog.kasson.com/?p=3895
naturephoto1 wrote:
waterden wrote
There seems to be a number of scare stories about the risk of mounting lenses above a certain size / weight on the a7 body. Does anyone have any idea about the limit of weight / length lens that can safely be mounted onto the a7(r) without risk of straining the mount. I would guess that the composite front of the a7 would be more hardy at the margin than the magnesium of the R. I can't imagine Sony would have introduced the LA-EA4 adapter if there was any risk that, for example, lenses such as the CZ 16-35 can't be used and that weighs 900gm. Furthermore, the brochure for these cameras shows a 70-200g/2.8 mounted to an a7r!! I have a feeling this concern is being overblown.Edited on Dec 12, 2013 at 03:01 AM · View previous versions
Dec 11, 2013 at 04:44 PM
p.11 #16Sony A7/A7R Setup
Yes, Rich and waterden. Both Sony's adapters (LA-EA3/4) have good surfaces for tripod mounts to be attached to them. I use the small but functional Markins QR plate for my rather light lenses:
http://www.markinsamerica.com/MA5/P20.php
.. but you could go all out with a heavier QR piece if ultra fine detail is very important say for very large prints - there is plenty of room on both the camera and lens sides.
If the adapter is well anchored to your QR/tripod head, only the lens puts torque on the mount from the front, much better than with many DSLRs plus heavy lens, which have both camera body weight and lens weight working directly on the tripod mount beneath the body, and the lens mount being stressed also.
I strongly suggest not using the body's tripod mount for lens+adapter mass that is more than the heavier native lenses will weigh - the forthcoming 24-70/4 is 430 grams, the tele lenses perhaps a little more. The reasons are:
. these things are all compromises in a 'by design' small camera really optimised for handholding; and
. native FE lenses carry no 'adapter plus tripod mount' capability.
http://www.markinsamerica.com/MA5/P20.php
.. but you could go all out with a heavier QR piece if ultra fine detail is very important say for very large prints - there is plenty of room on both the camera and lens sides.
If the adapter is well anchored to your QR/tripod head, only the lens puts torque on the mount from the front, much better than with many DSLRs plus heavy lens, which have both camera body weight and lens weight working directly on the tripod mount beneath the body, and the lens mount being stressed also.
I strongly suggest not using the body's tripod mount for lens+adapter mass that is more than the heavier native lenses will weigh - the forthcoming 24-70/4 is 430 grams, the tele lenses perhaps a little more. The reasons are:
. these things are all compromises in a 'by design' small camera really optimised for handholding; and
. native FE lenses carry no 'adapter plus tripod mount' capability.
Dec 11, 2013 at 05:00 PM
p.11 #17Sony A7/A7R Setup
To anyone who may benefit:
1.There is no need to use cable or smartphone for wireless releasing of Sony A7.All my el-cheapo chinese wireless release units do this after setting remote control to "on" position in the menu.Sony didn't say a word about it in official list of specs.I haven't found it numerous reviews either.
2.My 2 years old Raw data converter v4,bundled with the NEX7, does well with Sony A7's RAWs.
Edited on Dec 12, 2013 at 11:32 PM · View previous versions
1.There is no need to use cable or smartphone for wireless releasing of Sony A7.All my el-cheapo chinese wireless release units do this after setting remote control to "on" position in the menu.Sony didn't say a word about it in official list of specs.I haven't found it numerous reviews either.
2.My 2 years old Raw data converter v4,bundled with the NEX7, does well with Sony A7's RAWs.
Edited on Dec 12, 2013 at 11:32 PM · View previous versions
Dec 12, 2013 at 12:50 PM
p.11 #18Sony A7/A7R Setup
Sometimes when I try to magnify an image in playback, the A7R says "Unable to magnify". Waiting a reasonable amount of time doesn't solve the problem, but waiting a long long time, turning the camera off/on does.
This only happens to specific images. I can magnify other images taken before & after the one that won't magnify.
Anyone else experienced this and detected any patterns as to it's cause?
This only happens to specific images. I can magnify other images taken before & after the one that won't magnify.
Anyone else experienced this and detected any patterns as to it's cause?
Dec 12, 2013 at 03:09 PM
p.11 #19Sony A7/A7R Setup
I've seen that too (A7r) and so far have zero idea as to what circumstances cause the bug to surface.
Dec 12, 2013 at 03:42 PM
p.11 #20Sony A7/A7R Setup
ebrandon wrote:
I think "focus area" only lets you select the modes you mentioned. "Focus settings" first brings up the box for you to move the focus point around, and then you need to press it again to select the focus modes.
Thank you, eBrandon, for that discovery! That makes using the A7 a lot nicer. Having to do a double button press was aggravating.
I think "focus area" only lets you select the modes you mentioned. "Focus settings" first brings up the box for you to move the focus point around, and then you need to press it again to select the focus modes.
Thank you, eBrandon, for that discovery! That makes using the A7 a lot nicer. Having to do a double button press was aggravating.
Dec 14, 2013 at 02:54 PM