Thanks to both of you for your thoughts/experiences. I also am very happy with the A9 files and what I can get out of them and if I have enough light for f/9, I actually prefer getting a 24MP FF file off the A9 (with 2-6/1.4TC) vs a similar FOV on a 26MP "APS-C" sensor (with bare 2-6).
What I really need to do is convince myself once and for all that I'm much happier with FF sensors in the 20-30MP range. I've always preferred files from my 1DX, 1DXII and now A9/A9II over the other pixel dense sensors I owned beside them (like 7D2, 5DSR, D850, A7RIV). But for whatever reason I'm always suckered into the extra pixels to crop with....and yet always end up favouring bigger glass on the lower MP FF sensor. One day I'll kick the habit...Show more →
You’re right, large pixels and great glass is a winning combo.
Just expect sony to fix this issue, as the A7RIV has proven itself capable with other lenses (100400GM, 400 2.8GM, 600F4 GM) with hit rates of 90 percent. Its an issue with the 200600G and this particular body that is the issue. IF sony doesn't fix, why would anyone continue to invest in their gear? I will not
johnvanr wrote:
You’re right, large pixels and great glass is a winning combo.
Here's the latest from Sony Pro Support LA on Friday 7/10/20:
(Reminder: They've had my 7RM4 & 200-600 since May 5, 2020)
"We are excepting a response from our engineering team next week. My manager is requesting a conference call with our teams and you next week to discuss the findings."
S29H wrote:
Here's the latest from Sony Pro Support LA on Friday 7/10/20:
(Reminder: They've had my 7RM4 & 200-600 since May 5, 2020)
"We are excepting a response from our engineering team next week. My manager is requesting a conference call with our teams and you next week to discuss the findings."
Stand by for news...
Awesome....was strongly considering selling the RIV this week to free up some cash for an R5...maybe I will hold off until I hear about a solution...
I made similar experiences. My (really sharp) keeper rate with this lens was around 1/10 to 1/20. Even for static subjects, AF with this lens was a gamble.
I also contacted the Sony support but got only the standard reply (Forwarded to the responsible department). I hope there will be an answer somewhen, I just asked again for a reply.
I am really frustrated to have a camera with huge wildlife potential and a misapplicated but otherwise ideal lens. I returned the lens and will give the Sigma 100-400 a try until they fix the issue or come out with another good wildlife option.
Jannik Peters wrote:
I made similar experiences. My (really sharp) keeper rate with this lens was around 1/10 to 1/20. Even for static subjects, AF with this lens was a gamble.
I also contacted the Sony support but got only the standard reply (Forwarded to the responsible department). I hope there will be an answer somewhen, I just asked again for a reply.
I am really frustrated to have a camera with huge wildlife potential and a misapplicated but otherwise ideal lens. I returned the lens and will give the Sigma 100-400 a try until they fix the issue or come out with another good wildlife option. ...Show more →
Must indeed be really frustrating Jannik!
The last 2 years I had several GM lenses with problems and not once I got a decent reply from Sony.
(It even makes me think about a possible switch to Canon.)
Jannik Peters wrote:
I made similar experiences. My (really sharp) keeper rate with this lens was around 1/10 to 1/20. Even for static subjects, AF with this lens was a gamble.
I also contacted the Sony support but got only the standard reply (Forwarded to the responsible department). I hope there will be an answer somewhen, I just asked again for a reply.
I am really frustrated to have a camera with huge wildlife potential and a misapplicated but otherwise ideal lens. I returned the lens and will give the Sigma 100-400 a try until they fix the issue or come out with another good wildlife option. ...Show more →
You got a PM with instructions!
Hopefully you get a working combo with that!
Well i got rid of my A7RIV for now....picked up the A9ii and love it paired with the 200600G. No regrets... love the Af and clean files / high ISO Performance of this body and lense combo. Maybe I'll pickup an R4 again in a year or so if I need it. Still very disappointed that Sony took this long to even acknowledge there is an issue. Sony has been showing complacency and Canons timing is perfect to put pressure on Sony once again. Granted too early to tell if R5 will be any special (i never believe paper specs and stay away from hype)
Maxxus46 wrote:
Well i got rid of my A7RIV for now....picked up the A9ii and love it paired with the 200600G. No regrets... love the Af and clean files / high ISO Performance of this body and lense combo. Maybe I'll pickup an R4 again in a year or so if I need it. Still very disappointed that Sony took this long to even acknowledge there is an issue. Sony has been showing complacency and Canons timing is perfect to put pressure on Sony once again. Granted too early to tell if R5 will be any special (i never believe paper specs and stay away from hype) ...Show more →
I almost did the same but currently have an R5 and 100-500mm on pre-order instead. Hoping to see some comparisons of the R5 vs. A9II AF over the next few weeks. My guess is the A9II will be better but the R5 will be a much more well-rounded camera for me with its video specs and higher resolution.
Really the resolution of the A9 is fine unless you print murals or crop too heavy. If your going to crop you really need supreme optics to get great results....meaning 600F4 GM .I printed a 20x30 on the A9ii and the image quality is stellar. Have a good day
AlphaPhotography wrote:
I almost did the same but currently have an R5 and 100-500mm on pre-order instead. Hoping to see some comparisons of the R5 vs. A9II AF over the next few weeks. My guess is the A9II will be better but the R5 will be a much more well-rounded camera for me with its video specs and higher resolution.
Yep, me too. I’ve found the R3 and 200-600 to be excellent all around and a gazillion times (actual quantified results) better for BIF with regards to focusing success and keepers. Now I’m trying to “forget” just how much I loved the R4 improvements so I can just enjoy the R3 results (knowing full-well I’ll probably be one of the first in-line to upgrade *again* should a fix be demonstrable).
Maxxus46 wrote:
Well i got rid of my A7RIV for now....picked up the A9ii and love it paired with the 200600G. No regrets... love the Af and clean files / high ISO Performance of this body and lense combo. Maybe I'll pickup an R4 again in a year or so if I need it. Still very disappointed that Sony took this long to even acknowledge there is an issue. Sony has been showing complacency and Canons timing is perfect to put pressure on Sony once again. Granted too early to tell if R5 will be any special (i never believe paper specs and stay away from hype) ...Show more →
Not having the patience to wait any longer, I sold my a7RIV on the FM Buy/Sell forum and picked up (for the 2nd time) an a7RIII. Results are much better with the RIII and the Sony 200-600 G.
SouthFla wrote:
Yep, me too. I’ve found the R3 and 200-600 to be excellent all around and a gazillion times (actual quantified results) better for BIF with regards to focusing success and keepers. Now I’m trying to “forget” just how much I loved the R4 improvements so I can just enjoy the R3 results (knowing full-well I’ll probably be one of the first in-line to upgrade *again* should a fix be demonstrable).
---------------------------------------------
FJR1 wrote:
Not having the patience to wait any longer, I sold my a7RIV on the FM Buy/Sell forum and picked up (for the 2nd time) an a7RIII. Results are much better with the RIII and the Sony 200-600 G.
That's good to know...I've been considering doing the same but I don't know if I can stand going back to my A9 ergonomics with the RIII. Also the RIV is so good with the 600GM that it seems a shame to let it go. I think I will try to have a little more patience but I'm getting close to giving up.
Interesting. I'm trying to sell my a7riv to free up some cash for a 600 f/4 prime and haven't had much more than a nibble. It's only 8 months old or so, still under warranty, few clicks and in pristine shape. It's a great camera, but the prospect of having a prime + TC's can't be beat for BIF. Can live on my last a9 with both lenses.
S29H wrote:
Here's the latest from Sony Pro Support LA on Friday 7/10/20:
(Reminder: They've had my 7RM4 & 200-600 since May 5, 2020)
"We are excepting a response from our engineering team next week. My manager is requesting a conference call with our teams and you next week to discuss the findings."
arbitrage wrote:
Awesome....was strongly considering selling the RIV this week to free up some cash for an R5...maybe I will hold off until I hear about a solution...
Will have to wait on the R5 and see how it performs with a real lens. The DNG image I played with from FroKnows was not impressive. Then again, it was 1.5 stops underexposed at ISO 5000, handheld with the f/11 lens at 1/320 of a second or so. Hard to judge resolution from that one image alone, but I wouldn't sell my RIV just yet for an R5.
Please Keep in mind- Fro was also handholding out in front of himself - highlights badly over blown...some were 1/400 with head bobbing up n down. Center frame only?? Very handicapped shoot if I might add. We need to wait - real lens and better shooting arrangements. I bet we are awesome with R5. Won’t replace Sony A9ii stacked sensor- yet the R5 over all is very sweet.
On the other hand- I very much enjoy Fro and his hard work.
Terry
armd wrote:
Will have to wait on the R5 and see how it performs with a real lens. The DNG image I played with from FroKnows was not impressive. Then again, it was 1.5 stops underexposed at ISO 5000, handheld with the f/11 lens at 1/320 of a second or so. Hard to judge resolution from that one image alone, but I wouldn't sell my RIV just yet for an R5.
Please Keep in mind- Fro was also handholding out in front of himself - highlights badly over blown...some were 1/400 with head bobbing up n down. Center frame only?? Very handicapped shoot if I might add. We need to wait - real lens and better shooting arrangements. I bet we are awesome with R5. Won’t replace Sony A9ii stacked sensor- yet the R5 over all is very sweet.
On the other hand- I very much enjoy Fro and his hard work.
Terry
armd wrote:
Will have to wait on the R5 and see how it performs with a real lens. The DNG image I played with from FroKnows was not impressive. Then again, it was 1.5 stops underexposed at ISO 5000, handheld with the f/11 lens at 1/320 of a second or so. Hard to judge resolution from that one image alone, but I wouldn't sell my RIV just yet for an R5.
I guess I must be lucky, as I confess that I don't really have any focus problems on birds in flight with my Sony a7Riv+ 200-600 combo. Of course, the autofocus is not as snappy as the one on the A9II which I also have and its tracking is also one step below, as it doesn't recalculate the focus as frequently, which means that in a burst some pictures are less good than others, nevertheless, I find it very usable (I put sensibility level for tracking on 5). This kind of picture is not an exception
. The problem I was encountering was rather at the noise level, that's why I'm very careful not to exceed, if I can, the 800 iso. And still, sometimes we have good surprises at high iso.
Being rather new in this type of photography, I must say that my first difficulty is to succeed in following a bird in flight and to anticipate its movements. With less reach (greater angle of view) it's easier. So I rarely use the A7riv in crop mode for BIF and sometimes I prefer also to use the Sony 100-400. The latter is also easier to operate than the 200-600.
A7R09175-Modifier by jann weiss, sur Flickr, sony 100-400
In fact, Sony should have an equivalent of the Nikon 500 pf which is an amazing lens.
S29H wrote:
Here's the latest from Sony Pro Support LA on Friday 7/10/20:
(Reminder: They've had my 7RM4 & 200-600 since May 5, 2020)
"We are excepting a response from our engineering team next week. My manager is requesting a conference call with our teams and you next week to discuss the findings."
Stand by for news...
Any updates? I have a Canon R5 + 100-500mm on pre-order but the price + overheating concerns for video as a hybrid shooter are making me nervous. My 200-600 is in an open warranty claim (1-year warranty expiring July 30) but I haven't shipped it to Precision because they don't respond to any of my emails.
I'm torn as to whether the R5 is the right investment, if I should hold off and just get a used A9/
A9II instead to use with the 200-600, or if I should sell the 200-600 and replace it with a 100-400 + 1.4x.
I wish Sony would be more vocal about this 200-600 RIV issue and if/when a fix is coming.
.I printed a 20x30 on the A9ii and the image quality is stellar. Have a good day
