arbitrage wrote:
In the last two weeks I've found myself migrating to just using my A9II for everything even with the 600GM. This past weekend I didn't even pack the A7RIV along for my outings which was a first since buying the RIV. I just find I can trust the A9II AF so much more even with the 600, let alone the 200-600. With the RIV I'm always fiddling switching back and forth from crop to FF to try and use smaller files when I have to crop and the buffer is always getting in the way. Also I'm constantly switching from e-shutter for more static subjects back to mechanical for flight. Just a lot of little things that make just using the A9II a much more pleasing experience that I have total confidence in. I find that I'd rather add the 1.4TC to the 200-600 on the A9II vs bare lens on RIV. Also even adding the 2xTC to the 600GM with the A9II over the 1.4 with the RIV just works better for me. Also finding that by the time I'm needing to use crop mode on the A7RIV and 1200mm that I'm usually reaching out over too far of a distance for good shots anyways. Finally, I just don't have much use/preference for 61MP files vs 24MP files for my use case. The 61MP is used for cropping in my case and I'm just finding that I'd rather use an extra TC on the A9II vs crop mode on the RIV despite the ISO penalty. I even found myself considering selling the RIV this weekend...not sure yet....Show more →
I bought my A7R IV specifically to get more reach by cropping. Now that I can’t rely on it with my lens and don’t really want to use it with my Canon 500mm, I never use it. I bought a few short lenses for it, but actually reach for my MFT gear instead when I go out. Would be different if I felt I really needed all those MPs.
nobody23 wrote:
Why would you do that?
It controls how much it sticks to a subject or how much it jumps to another....
Some have reported better hit rates with setting the af sensitivity to 5. It hasn’t worked for me, so I dialed it back a bit. Better keeper rate with this lens.
arbitrage wrote:
In the last two weeks I've found myself migrating to just using my A9II for everything even with the 600GM. This past weekend I didn't even pack the A7RIV along for my outings which was a first since buying the RIV. I just find I can trust the A9II AF so much more even with the 600, let alone the 200-600. With the RIV I'm always fiddling switching back and forth from crop to FF to try and use smaller files when I have to crop and the buffer is always getting in the way. Also I'm constantly switching from e-shutter for more static subjects back to mechanical for flight. Just a lot of little things that make just using the A9II a much more pleasing experience that I have total confidence in. I find that I'd rather add the 1.4TC to the 200-600 on the A9II vs bare lens on RIV. Also even adding the 2xTC to the 600GM with the A9II over the 1.4 with the RIV just works better for me. Also finding that by the time I'm needing to use crop mode on the A7RIV and 1200mm that I'm usually reaching out over too far of a distance for good shots anyways. Finally, I just don't have much use/preference for 61MP files vs 24MP files for my use case. The 61MP is used for cropping in my case and I'm just finding that I'd rather use an extra TC on the A9II vs crop mode on the RIV despite the ISO penalty. I even found myself considering selling the RIV this weekend...not sure yet....Show more →
I am in the exact opposite boat. I have been using the A7Riv exclusively with the 600GM and love the combination., Lately the 100-400. Was thinking about selling the A9. But, I don't do a lot of BIF.
Any issue with A7III? I see nobody suggest using it, has any issue with 200-600, or is it just so bad that no one uses it? I have an A9 and I won't let it go for anything, a friend is uncertain if choosing A7III with 200-600. I was suggesting A7RIV a montj ago but then I read all these threads and I stopped doing it.
BTW I was owner of 100-400 until 15 days ago, I sold it but 200-600 is still not delivered and there is no info on when it will be next time won't save 200€ and get it by hand
I have been shooting the FE 200-600mm with both the A7RIV and A9II for the shorebird migration over the last few weeks. I shoot these birds with the lens an inch or two off the sand and in my opinion that presents the best composition of how they interact with their surroundings. I wanted to shoot as much "like for like" on both and then down select the images I liked best based on that and then try to draw any conclusions. The migration is pretty much over now so I have been doing some comparisons in the edits. Some overarching observations: Both bodies are using the exact same menu setup - a variant on Mark Smith's setup. As already mentioned the A9II has a higher keeper rate under the same conditions with the 200-600mm. Using the A7Info app the focus points are all over the place for the A7RIV vs the A9. On shots where I could not get close and thus I will need to crop a lot, I am choosing the A7RIV images almost 100% of the time. When the A7RIV and the 200-600mm nail focus the end product is a very high quality, detailed image. One thing that I do not like about the lens on either camera is the specular highlights in the bokeh. Shown on several images below. I just do not like how those are rendered. I realize that is a tough assignment when there are extremes in dynamic range and the OOF areas have contrasts so maybe it's just too much to ask.
S29H wrote:
I've had my 7RM4 and 200-600 since Oct. 2019. At first I chalked up soft images to user error since I was switching over from shooting Canon for almost 10 years. As I started to shoot more wildlife - and even stationary wildlife - the fact that there was something wrong was undeniable. I wasn't having any issues with my Sony 70-200, but the 200-600 had a very low hit rate.
I finally sent the lens to Precision Camera for warranty service toward the end of April. Got it back May 1 "cleaned and restored to factory specs." Still NG. I reached out to Sony Pro Support in Los Angeles. They had me send in the body and lens to be evaluated. They still have both. But I got this note today that I thought some people would be interested in:
"We do currently believe it is a compatibility issue with the 7RM4 and 200600G, largely due to the 7RM4 having a large amount of pixels that is not communicating properly with the lens, or a similar issue. As we investigate more we will inform you of the issues.
One of the reasons we are not immediately replacing the unit is because we do not yet have definite reasoning that the production date is what is causing the issue and do not want to sent a unit that may result in the same issue you were having."
Hey, all... Just heard from Sony Pro Support LA that they've now escalated my case to their engineers in Japan. Hopefully we have a resolution soon. (They've had my camera & lens since 5/5/20)
In other news, they sent me a loaner 7RM4 and 200-600 and guess what? It has the exact same focusing issue. The AF is consistently focusing behind the subject even with the camera on a tripod shooting a stationary subject. I sent sample images and serial #s to Pro Support LA. I would encourage everyone having issues to do the same.
S29H wrote:
Hey, all... Just heard from Sony Pro Support LA that they've now escalated my case to their engineers in Japan. Hopefully we have a resolution soon. (They've had my camera & lens since 5/5/20)
In other news, they sent me a loaner 7RM4 and 200-600 and guess what? It has the exact same focusing issue. The AF is consistently focusing behind the subject even with the camera on a tripod shooting a stationary subject. I sent sample images and serial #s to Pro Support LA. I would encourage everyone having issues to do the same.
Great to hear. My warranty expires at the end of next month so I’d like to finally get this issue resolved before then or receive a refund if the problem can’t be fixed. I haven’t been able to properly use this lens since I bought it last year because the focus is just so unreliable. I’ve almost pulled the trigger on a used A9 several times just to be able to finalize use the 200-600. I sent an email to Sony support a few minutes ago and will see what they see regarding warranty claim or if they have any knowledge of a fix coming.
AlphaPhotography wrote:
Great to hear. My warranty expires at the end of next month so I’d like to finally get this issue resolved before then or receive a refund if the problem can’t be fixed. I haven’t been able to properly use this lens since I bought it last year because the focus is just so unreliable. I’ve almost pulled the trigger on a used A9 several times just to be able to finalize use the 200-600. I sent an email to Sony support a few minutes ago and will see what they see regarding warranty claim or if they have any knowledge of a fix coming. ...Show more →
I wouldn’t hold my breath. The lens works fine on an a9 even with a 1.4x tc, pointing to a problem with the pairing to the a7riv body. The only thing Sony support said was after a myriad of emails and images, “send the body and lens in”.
I have been shooting the FE 200-600mm with both the A7RIV and A9II for the shorebird migration over the last few weeks. I shoot these birds with the lens an inch or two off the sand and in my opinion that presents the best composition of how they interact with their surroundings. I wanted to shoot as much "like for like" on both and then down select the images I liked best based on that and then try to draw any conclusions. The migration is pretty much over now so I have been doing some comparisons in the edits. Some overarching observations: Both bodies are using the exact same menu setup - a variant on Mark Smith's setup. As already mentioned the A9II has a higher keeper rate under the same conditions with the 200-600mm. Using the A7Info app the focus points are all over the place for the A7RIV vs the A9. On shots where I could not get close and thus I will need to crop a lot, I am choosing the A7RIV images almost 100% of the time. When the A7RIV and the 200-600mm nail focus the end product is a very high quality, detailed image. One thing that I do not like about the lens on either camera is the specular highlights in the bokeh. Shown on several images below. I just do not like how those are rendered. I realize that is a tough assignment when there are extremes in dynamic range and the OOF areas have contrasts so maybe it's just too much to ask.
Took the combo out for first proper outing yesterday and just looking a the pictures I'm quite disappointed. Out of twenty some pictures only a couple are in proper focus. Even on the static subjects, lens seems to be either back or front focusing. Tried it on some slow moving sea gulls and pelicans and even those came out off focus. Needless to say I'm quite disappointed.
On the other hand, using Tamron 70-180 produced great results and it nailed focus everytime even at wide open aperture.
I´ve got the 200-600 on my A9II. While the focus is smashing and i love it for portrait, pet photography etc.I am having a really hard time coming to terms with the 24mp sensor on the camera in regards to birding. My D850 had a lot more detail and allowed for quite a bit more cropping so my hope is on getting the 200-600 + A7RIV combo.
ajamils wrote:
Took the combo out for first proper outing yesterday and just looking a the pictures I'm quite disappointed. Out of twenty some pictures only a couple are in proper focus. Even on the static subjects, lens seems to be either back or front focusing. Tried it on some slow moving sea gulls and pelicans and even those came out off focus. Needless to say I'm quite disappointed.
On the other hand, using Tamron 70-180 produced great results and it nailed focus everytime even at wide open aperture.
Has anyone found any settings that consistently help get better results? For example I've heard some people say the following is beneficial:
-Tracking sensitivity 5
-Focus area wide or zone
-OSS off or mode 3
-Uncompressed raw
-Does APS-C mode help the camera not have to process as large of a file and thus increase AF performance?
-I saw "Tracking Wide" area recommended once but haven't had great results with it
-Face/eye detect off. Subject detection set to human
Anything else that helps this combo get more consistent results until a proper fix comes?
I'm trying to decide if I should:
A. Wait for Sony support to respond, potentially replace my lens under warranty or look at my camera/lens combo or for a fix/firmware update to come out
B. Buy a used A9
C. Buy an A6600
D. Sell the 200-600 and buy a 100-400 GM (possibly +1.4x TC)
D. Sell the 200-600 and buy a 100-400 GM (possibly +1.4x TC)
I would be very interested in hearing opinion or hands on experience about the 100-400GM with and without the 1.4 TC on the A7R4.
(I have experience with the A9 and the 100-400 with both TCs)
Buy a used A9 and a 1.4TC. Those two items combined with the 200-600 get you almost as much “reach” as A7RIV and 200-600, focuses way better, gets you the amazing blackout free VF, always on silent shutter, 20FPS etc. And the extra stop of ISO you will need to use the 1.4TC is easily equaled out with the 24MP Full frame image compared to a 26MP APS-C image out of the A7RIV as you make use of the tiny pixels for your “reach”.
AlphaPhotography wrote:
Has anyone found any settings that consistently help get better results? For example I've heard some people say the following is beneficial:
-Tracking sensitivity 5
-Focus area wide or zone
-OSS off or mode 3
-Uncompressed raw
-Does APS-C mode help the camera not have to process as large of a file and thus increase AF performance?
-I saw "Tracking Wide" area recommended once but haven't had great results with it
-Face/eye detect off. Subject detection set to human
Anything else that helps this combo get more consistent results until a proper fix comes?
I'm trying to decide if I should:
A. Wait for Sony support to respond, potentially replace my lens under warranty or look at my camera/lens combo or for a fix/firmware update to come out
B. Buy a used A9
C. Buy an A6600
D. Sell the 200-600 and buy a 100-400 GM (possibly +1.4x TC)...Show more →
AlphaPhotography wrote:
Has anyone found any settings that consistently help get better results? For example I've heard some people say the following is beneficial:
-Tracking sensitivity 5
-Focus area wide or zone
-OSS off or mode 3
-Uncompressed raw
-Does APS-C mode help the camera not have to process as large of a file and thus increase AF performance?
-I saw "Tracking Wide" area recommended once but haven't had great results with it
-Face/eye detect off. Subject detection set to human
Anything else that helps this combo get more consistent results until a proper fix comes?
I'm trying to decide if I should:
A. Wait for Sony support to respond, potentially replace my lens under warranty or look at my camera/lens combo or for a fix/firmware update to come out
B. Buy a used A9
C. Buy an A6600
D. Sell the 200-600 and buy a 100-400 GM (possibly +1.4x TC)...Show more →
I’ve tried changing the AF sensitivity and 4 seems to work best with my pairing.
Focus eithe wide or zone (not tracking)
OSS mode 2
Uncompressed RAW
Crop mode makes no difference in performance
Human
Even so, the results are highly dependent on factors I can’t figure out. Some days in perfect light it BF and nearly everything is oof, other days it is spot on with a 80% af rate. I haven’t been able to differentiate based on lighting (sun v. overcast) though it seems to struggle more with darkly colored birds.
The lens is reliable on the a9 and Geoff is right about the 1.4x. I still can’t figure out why the af points are frequently away from the subject in any given burst when viewed in a7info. It’s as though the camera determines af on the first shot of a burst and might not be updating or is slow to update on subsequent images.
That's what I'm thinking as well. Bought A7r4 primarily for reach as I don't car for 60mpx otherwise but since this combo is a no-go, might as well got to A9 (or A9II) and 1.4 TC.
arbitrage wrote:
Buy a used A9 and a 1.4TC. Those two items combined with the 200-600 get you almost as much “reach” as A7RIV and 200-600, focuses way better, gets you the amazing blackout free VF, always on silent shutter, 20FPS etc. And the extra stop of ISO you will need to use the 1.4TC is easily equaled out with the 24MP Full frame image compared to a 26MP APS-C image out of the A7RIV as you make use of the tiny pixels for your “reach”.
next time won't save 200€ and get it by hand 
