I've noticed #1 and #5 with my A9ii 200-600.
I mainly use OSS 2 , if shooting lower shutter speeds 1/250 below I get more sharper in focus shots with the camera set to L over M or H . I've only ever used electronic shutter .
I still find the focus and ISO Raw files very different to my D850 , I agree what most say regarding the Nikon AF being better in some areas but also find the A9ii better in other areas . I still enjoy using the A9ii , its quite good fun to use once you get to know and work around the niggles
multibit wrote:
I mainly use OSS 2 , if shooting lower shutter speeds 1/250 below I get more sharper in focus shots with the camera set to L over M or H . I've only ever used electronic shutter .
I still find the focus and ISO Raw files very different to my D850 , I agree what most say regarding the Nikon AF being better in some areas but also find the A9ii better in other areas . I still enjoy using the A9ii , its quite good fun to use once you get to know and work around the niggles
Interesting.
Try setting your focus/release priority to AF and see if the soft shots get filtered out.
I shot the A9 alongside my D500 for a year. In general the D500 AF was more reliable and accurate but blackout makes the camera harder to use and it can't match the pop of the Sony's FF sensor.
Ziggy99 wrote:
Interesting.
Try setting your focus/release priority to AF and see if the soft shots get filtered out.
I shot the A9 alongside my D500 for a year. In general the D500 AF was more reliable and accurate but blackout makes the camera harder to use and it can't match the pop of the Sony's FF sensor.
I'll give that a go thanks , the images in the EVF still look like they go soft for a split second when I hit the shutter button, its strange and only slight and happens quick . Reviewing the taken shots look ok though , I'm still getting used to mirrorless .
Ziggy99 wrote:
What were you hoping to get that the D850 wasn't giving you?
It was more to do with the lens tbh, I use the 200-500 , my copy is very sharp at 500mm wide open but the focus acquisition is a little slow . I photograph Peregrines etc and could sometimes lose critical shots although once it did grab the focus was always spot on. I also have a D500 but prefer the D850 , the main idea was to get a 500mm PF. Two I've tried had issues (one on loan from WEX the other was a friends) It put me off purchasing one . I did try a third one that belonged to a friend which was better but the weather was poor so I couldn't test it for BIF .
The A9ii 200-600 offered a few things i'd find useful including silent shooting and EVF so thought I'd give it a go, I still sometimes prefer my D850 images if I'm honest but enjoy using the Sony more
Thanks.
As it happens I've been on the 500 PF wait list twice, for 6 months before and now 4 months. Interesting to hear about its problems.
I'm back on the waitlist as the D500 which I still have will AF on small static birds reliably when the Sonys regularly fail.
I sold my 200-500 as the focus was always just a little off (eg on the catchlights) despite fine-tuning and a workover by a camera tech.
tester_V wrote:
I'm glad for you arbitrage, at least someone does not have any issues.
You should actually give OSS 1 a try on the A9. As I mentioned it is all I have ever used on my A9 and A9II. Seems to work well for everything from static subjects to erratically whipping the lens around at swallows IF.
And as I said, I have 2 of the 5 issues. So I'm certainly not issue free.
Ziggy99 wrote:
I just spent a morning shooting static and flying birds with OSS off and got few really sharp shots.
SS was 1500-2500 for static and 3200 for BIF. F5.6 to f8.
A9, 400/2.8 with 1.4 and 2.0 TCs.
What I also learned from the exercise, since one of the birds I really wanted to get, was how much better LR did at sharpening than my usual PhotoLab.
Can you post some examples of theses OOF shots. I'm interested in seeing the shooting conditions. This time of year is always a mess with atmospherics and 9/10 when I see posts on here about an entire day of OOF shots it is always atmosphere causing it. But even if that isn't the case have you contacted Sony support to send the lens/camera in? I see like 90% hit rate on the A9 with 200-600 let alone my 600GM. You should not be getting that poor of results with a properly functioning A9 and 400GM.
I looked at where the camera decided to focus as per the EXIF data and that was generally on the bird in the static shots. That was with small spot CAF in short bursts (done to give AF the best chance). Aperture was around 5.6 to 8.0. SS well up.
I'll see what shots are left of that session.
Sometimes I wonder about camera movement. The rig weighs 4.3 kg. If it's flung up for a BIF grab shot how long does it take to steady? If it gets just a good-enough focus does it stop CD fine tuning?
arbitrage wrote:
You should actually give OSS 1 a try on the A9. As I mentioned it is all I have ever used on my A9 and A9II. Seems to work well for everything from static subjects to erratically whipping the lens around at swallows IF.
And as I said, I have 2 of the 5 issues. So I'm certainly not issue free.
When I first got the A9ii 200-600 I was struggling with lower shutter speeds , the OSS was on 1 , after reading problems with the A7R4 with it on 1 I tried it on OSS 2 and been using it like that since , now I知 used to this setup I値l give 1 another go
Ziggy99 wrote:
Thanks.
As it happens I've been on the 500 PF wait list twice, for 6 months before and now 4 months. Interesting to hear about its problems.
I'm back on the waitlist as the D500 which I still have will AF on small static birds reliably when the Sonys regularly fail.
I sold my 200-500 as the focus was always just a little off (eg on the catchlights) despite fine-tuning and a workover by a camera tech.
I must have been lucky with my 200-500 , I got to the stage I knew if it grabbed , it would be sharp , it must be frustrating for those that get a lock and find the shots are OOF . I致e seen some great 500mm PF shots on FM so the lens is obviously very capable if you get a reliable copy .
I知 trying out the response time setting on the A9ii, I知 currently using 2
multibit wrote:
I must have been lucky with my 200-500 , I got to the stage I knew if it grabbed , it would be sharp , it must be frustrating for those that get a lock and find the shots are OOF . I致e seen some great 500mm PF shots on FM so the lens is obviously very capable if you get a reliable copy .
I知 trying out the response time setting on the A9ii, I知 currently using 2
So that's tracking sensitivity.
On the A9 I don't find that tracking adds anything and don't use it. With BIFs I'm often enough trying for a pair and sometimes a flock.
Actually, it adds a simpler indication of focus; one box is clearer than a cluster of small dancing boxes which I find obscuring. The D500 gives a brief red flash and then you know it will hold on.
Ziggy99 wrote:
So that's tracking sensitivity.
On the A9 I don't find that tracking adds anything and don't use it. With BIFs I'm often enough trying for a pair and sometimes a flock.
Actually, it adds a simpler indication of focus; one box is clearer than a cluster of small dancing boxes which I find obscuring. The D500 gives a brief red flash and then you know it will hold on.
Probably no use to me either then , I cycle through focus with C2 which is set to shutter button half press and have tracking active for chosen focus set to AF-ON . Tbh it痴 rare I use tracking , mainly just for flexible spot for water birds . I知 trying to get used to the cluster of boxes
Focus is off but nowhere is close to sharp in your photo. The image quality is worse than a cheap kit lens. Looks like you have got a problem with your lens, tc or camera that needs fixing.
I've seen quite a few when people are asking if their new lens is sharp or are testing things out.
My point is your camera is going to be seeing the same softness (possibly caused by a fault) and that lack of contrast makes it hard to focus properly.
