p.82 #2 · Sony FE 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G Image Thread
gordec wrote:
Everyone feels like the a7riV issues with the 200-600 will get resolved. I just ordered the lens and is debating to order the RIV or a9. RIV is certainly more versatile. You can put the 24GM on it and us it as 24mm or 35mmish in crop mode.
I disagree with Alex. I think there is a very real problem with the RIV and 200-600. On to my second RIV now and no difference. The 200-600 is an amazing lens on the A9II. It can produce tack sharp images on the RIV....but....it misses way more than it should. And it isn't technique as I can handhold the much heavier 600GM at much lower SS and get way better hit rate compared to the 200-600. And that is just for rather static subjects....start throwing BIF into the mix and it gets worse...much worse.
p.82 #3 · Sony FE 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G Image Thread
arbitrage wrote:
I disagree with Alex. I think there is a very real problem with the RIV and 200-600. On to my second RIV now and no difference. The 200-600 is an amazing lens on the A9II. It can produce tack sharp images on the RIV....but....it misses way more than it should. And it isn't technique as I can handhold the much heavier 600GM at much lower SS and get way better hit rate compared to the 200-600. And that is just for rather static subjects....start throwing BIF into the mix and it gets worse...much worse.
I have no doubt what you said about the 200-600 is true. You are one of the in-house BIF experts. Even Mark Smith and Art Morris said the same thing.
I have been shooting backyards birds several times a week from my kitchen, through a double pane patio door. I don't have AF problem at all at 600mm on the A7RIV, but these birds don't move much. I used the combo for bald eagles, snow geese 6 or 7 times, as a matter of fact, I met Alex and Robert (medicineman) at Conowingo. I would say my in focus rate with the big BIF is probably 3-5 out of 10.
These were shot yesterday morning from my kitchen..
p.82 #4 · Sony FE 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G Image Thread
Guys (gals) I don't know if my rig has a problem or not.
Couple months ago at Fowler Beach (Harriers) I would have said yes. Last week in Florida (Spoonies) I'd say no.
Just BIF is only a couple of times a year trip for me to test and actually know.
So I sit confused and wondering.
In a way it's not a big deal because I'd put the 200600 on the a9 given a chance and the 100400 on the Riv.
Agreed though when the big names like Geoff say there is a problem, well then there is one.
p.82 #6 · Sony FE 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G Image Thread
arbitrage wrote:
I disagree with Alex. I think there is a very real problem with the RIV and 200-600. On to my second RIV now and no difference. The 200-600 is an amazing lens on the A9II. It can produce tack sharp images on the RIV....but....it misses way more than it should. And it isn't technique as I can handhold the much heavier 600GM at much lower SS and get way better hit rate compared to the 200-600. And that is just for rather static subjects....start throwing BIF into the mix and it gets worse...much worse.
I might just get the a9. My photography is just down to shooting animals or take my RX1RII for everything else. If I get RIV I may just sell my Rx1RII and replace it with a 24GM or something, but I'd rather not sacrifice hit rate. I guess no one knows if Sony is coming up with a firmware update to fix 200-600 issues with the RIV.
p.82 #7 · Sony FE 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G Image Thread
Photo cross posted in the Sony FE Image Thread and taken at 2:34 PM.
Looking at a Limpkin.
Cropped from left and right, tripod mounted 200-600mm f5.6-6.3 G set to 600mm and A7rIII camera; silent shutter.
ISO 200, f6.3, 1/200 second.
Exposure corrected -0.39 Stops.
January 6, 2020
At Gatorland, Orlando or Kissimmee, FL.
p.82 #8 · Sony FE 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G Image Thread
naturephoto1 wrote:
Photo cross posted in the Sony FE Image Thread and taken at 2:34 PM.
Looking at a Limpkin.
Cropped from left and right, tripod mounted 200-600mm f5.6-6.3 G set to 600mm and A7rIII camera; silent shutter.
ISO 200, f6.3, 1/200 second.
Exposure corrected -0.39 Stops.
January 6, 2020
At Gatorland, Orlando or Kissimmee, FL.
p.82 #12 · Sony FE 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G Image Thread
Alex Phan wrote:
i don't see any problem with that combo. I think i shot with it more frequently than anyone here (shot almost daily) on various subject.
What tracking sensitivity are you using and what AF mode for flight and perched with the R4/200-600 combo? Have you been happy with the 1.4TC added into the mix?
p.82 #13 · Sony FE 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G Image Thread
arbitrage wrote:
I disagree with Alex. I think there is a very real problem with the RIV and 200-600. On to my second RIV now and no difference. The 200-600 is an amazing lens on the A9II. It can produce tack sharp images on the RIV....but....it misses way more than it should. And it isn't technique as I can handhold the much heavier 600GM at much lower SS and get way better hit rate compared to the 200-600. And that is just for rather static subjects....start throwing BIF into the mix and it gets worse...much worse.
I have to agree with this. Mark Smith's settings increased my keeper rate by maybe 15-20% but still not what I expect from a combo like this. And adding the 1.4x to the 200-600mm with the A7RIV has proven to be a disaster from an IQ perspective with almost no images I would consider acceptable. And I am shooting at 1/2000 or above almost all the time for BIF. The only thing I have not tried is disabling the IBIS and OSS but that seems counter intuitive
p.82 #14 · Sony FE 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G Image Thread
149113 wrote:
And I am shooting at 1/2000 or above almost all the time for BIF. The only thing I have not tried is disabling the IBIS and OSS but that seems counter intuitive
p.82 #15 · Sony FE 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G Image Thread
arbitrage wrote:
What tracking sensitivity are you using and what AF mode for flight and perched with the R4/200-600 combo? Have you been happy with the 1.4TC added into the mix?
i use 5 with mixing zone/flex L to toggle. I've posted quite a bit of sample on my FB. Adding 1.4TC to the mix is not give good result due to lighting/environmental (heave wave, haze, fogging) in my area.
p.82 #16 · Sony FE 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G Image Thread
arbitrage wrote:
I disagree with Alex. I think there is a very real problem with the RIV and 200-600. On to my second RIV now and no difference. The 200-600 is an amazing lens on the A9II. It can produce tack sharp images on the RIV....but....it misses way more than it should. And it isn't technique as I can handhold the much heavier 600GM at much lower SS and get way better hit rate compared to the 200-600. And that is just for rather static subjects....start throwing BIF into the mix and it gets worse...much worse.
i saw the thread here and even ask Sony to provide me another 200-600 to try it out with the thought that maybe my 200-600 at home is a good copy. Sony rent the lens via lensrental for me. I've trying it out for the last 3 weeks and the hit rate is the same.
Now, the engine on R4 is different than A9ii. They are not design for speed. When you try to blast the same amount of frame during BIF compare to A9 and expect more hit rate on it, aren't we all expecting a bit too much?
p.82 #17 · Sony FE 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G Image Thread
Alex Phan wrote:
i use 5 with mixing zone/flex L to toggle. I've posted quite a bit of sample on my FB. Adding 1.4TC to the mix is not give good result due to lighting/environmental (heave wave, haze, fogging) in my area.
I'm not using the 1.4x for long shots where those factors would contribute to IQ degradation. I've mostly tried it just to isolate closer subjects and add a little reach but the keeper rate is horrible. I am gonna do what was suggested - run some test shots with the IBIS and OIS off when above 1/2000. I never had any issues with the A7RIII and IBIS combined with high SS
