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Archive 2021A1 Reviews/Video thread
p.57 #1A1 Reviews/Video thread
arbitrage wrote:
Was anyone else like me in that after reading all the praise for this new EVF, I picked it up to my eye for the first outing and really never went "wow" at all. I actually forgot that the EVF was greatly improved. I guess the fact that it is basically never in 9.44M dot mode unless you are reviewing images or in Standard 60hz and AF-S is part of the reason. I still find Sony EVFs to be a bit too saturated and contrasty to my liking. And they seem to drop resolution unless you are on those very...Show more →
Agreed. I am coming from an A9II and really don't notice that much of a difference, but I'm also using it in High or Higher frame rate mode. The way they talked about the EVF was basically false advertising if you ask me. Even in Standard frame rate (60hz) at 9.44M dots (which looks great!), as soon as you activate AF you get a noticeable drop in resolution, making straight edges a bit jaggy.
I think I'll stick in Higher (240hz) even though the magnification is less. The complete lack of motion blur is a noticeable improvement even over the High (120hz) mode. Going from 240hz to 60hz is enough to make me feel a bit sick, but I suppose you're right that it could be useful for reviewing images.
Was anyone else like me in that after reading all the praise for this new EVF, I picked it up to my eye for the first outing and really never went "wow" at all. I actually forgot that the EVF was greatly improved. I guess the fact that it is basically never in 9.44M dot mode unless you are reviewing images or in Standard 60hz and AF-S is part of the reason. I still find Sony EVFs to be a bit too saturated and contrasty to my liking. And they seem to drop resolution unless you are on those very...Show more →
Agreed. I am coming from an A9II and really don't notice that much of a difference, but I'm also using it in High or Higher frame rate mode. The way they talked about the EVF was basically false advertising if you ask me. Even in Standard frame rate (60hz) at 9.44M dots (which looks great!), as soon as you activate AF you get a noticeable drop in resolution, making straight edges a bit jaggy.
I think I'll stick in Higher (240hz) even though the magnification is less. The complete lack of motion blur is a noticeable improvement even over the High (120hz) mode. Going from 240hz to 60hz is enough to make me feel a bit sick, but I suppose you're right that it could be useful for reviewing images.
Mar 17, 2021 at 08:40 AM
p.57 #2A1 Reviews/Video thread
arbitrage wrote:
One thing I tested yesterday is adapting my Nikon lenses via the Commlite adapter on the most recent 8.0 FW. It is now 100% broken with both my PF lenses. There is never any green AF points lit up. It goes to purple point or outline immediately and won’t even drive focus at all. On my previous Sony bodies the 300 PF was actually okay for perched birds and the 500 PF would dance green dots if you prefocused via MF close to your subject.
Have you had the opportunity to try any Canon glass yet? I still have the 70-200 vrll and the 100-400 vrll. They work "ok" with the A9...but just "ok"!!
One thing I tested yesterday is adapting my Nikon lenses via the Commlite adapter on the most recent 8.0 FW. It is now 100% broken with both my PF lenses. There is never any green AF points lit up. It goes to purple point or outline immediately and won’t even drive focus at all. On my previous Sony bodies the 300 PF was actually okay for perched birds and the 500 PF would dance green dots if you prefocused via MF close to your subject.
Have you had the opportunity to try any Canon glass yet? I still have the 70-200 vrll and the 100-400 vrll. They work "ok" with the A9...but just "ok"!!
Mar 17, 2021 at 09:11 AM
p.57 #3A1 Reviews/Video thread
rrwingnut wrote:
Have you had the opportunity to try any Canon glass yet? I still have the 70-200 vrll and the 100-400 vrll. They work "ok" with the A9...but just "ok"!!
No I haven't yet. I have only shorter lenses 16-35, 24-70, 100L, 40/2.8. But I can borrow a 400DOII and TCs from a fellow local photographer if I get around to it. I will probably take him up on the offer sometime. But it isn't a priority for me right now. I will test my own shorter lenses this weekend.
arbitrage wrote
One thing I tested yesterday is adapting my Nikon lenses via the Commlite adapter on the most recent 8.0 FW. It is now 100% broken with both my PF lenses. There is never any green AF points lit up. It goes to purple point or outline immediately and won’t even drive focus at all. On my previous Sony bodies the 300 PF was actually okay for perched birds and the 500 PF would dance green dots if you prefocused via MF close to your subject.No I haven't yet. I have only shorter lenses 16-35, 24-70, 100L, 40/2.8. But I can borrow a 400DOII and TCs from a fellow local photographer if I get around to it. I will probably take him up on the offer sometime. But it isn't a priority for me right now. I will test my own shorter lenses this weekend.
Mar 17, 2021 at 09:42 AM
p.57 #4A1 Reviews/Video thread
arbitrage wrote:
Have you had the opportunity to try any Canon glass yet? I still have the 70-200 vrll and the 100-400 vrll. They work "ok" with the A9...but just "ok"!!No I haven't yet. I have only shorter lenses 16-35, 24-70, 100L, 40/2.8. But I can borrow a 400DOII and TCs from a fellow local photographer if I get around to it. I will probably take him up on the offer sometime. But it isn't a priority for me right now. I will test my own shorter lenses this weekend.
Understand , thanks!
rrwingnut wrote
arbitrage wrote
One thing I tested yesterday is adapting my Nikon lenses via the Commlite adapter on the most recent 8.0 FW. It is now 100% broken with both my PF lenses. There is never any green AF points lit up. It goes to purple point or outline immediately and won’t even drive focus at all. On my previous Sony bodies the 300 PF was actually okay for perched birds and the 500 PF would dance green dots if you prefocused via MF close to your subject.Understand , thanks!
Mar 17, 2021 at 09:50 AM
p.57 #5A1 Reviews/Video thread
davidnumrich wrote:
Oh well, it is still a nice EVF and I'm sure doing other types of photography it is more valuable. I also never noticed much difference between my A9II and A7RIV's EVF so maybe I'm just blind
Agreed. I am coming from an A9II and really don't notice that much of a difference, but I'm also using it in High or Higher frame rate mode. The way they talked about the EVF was basically false advertising if you ask me. Even in Standard frame rate (60hz) at 9.44M dots (which looks great!), as soon as you activate AF you get a noticeable drop in resolution, making straight edges a bit jaggy.
I think I'll stick in Higher (240hz) even though the magnification is less. The complete lack of motion blur is a noticeable improvement even over the High...Show more →
The issue with Higher is it is a battery killer. I actually have a hard time seeing the full edges of the 0.9x frame even though I'm not wearing glasses. I may experiment with the 0.7x view but will probably still keep it in 120hz and just use the menu option to switch into it.
I do need to do further comparisons between 240/120 as so far I hadn't noticed a difference. Once my hummingbirds start feeding on my flowers (ie once I have flowers) I can test it easier.
arbitrage wrote
Was anyone else like me in that after reading all the praise for this new EVF, I picked it up to my eye for the first outing and really never went "wow" at all. I actually forgot that the EVF was greatly improved. I guess the fact that it is basically never in 9.44M dot mode unless you are reviewing images or in Standard 60hz and AF-S is part of the reason. I still find Sony EVFs to be a bit too saturated and contrasty to my liking. And they seem to drop resolution unless you are on those very specific settings (settings which aren't useful for my type of shooting).Oh well, it is still a nice EVF and I'm sure doing other types of photography it is more valuable. I also never noticed much difference between my A9II and A7RIV's EVF so maybe I'm just blind
I think I'll stick in Higher (240hz) even though the magnification is less. The complete lack of motion blur is a noticeable improvement even over the High...Show more →
The issue with Higher is it is a battery killer. I actually have a hard time seeing the full edges of the 0.9x frame even though I'm not wearing glasses. I may experiment with the 0.7x view but will probably still keep it in 120hz and just use the menu option to switch into it.
I do need to do further comparisons between 240/120 as so far I hadn't noticed a difference. Once my hummingbirds start feeding on my flowers (ie once I have flowers) I can test it easier.
Mar 17, 2021 at 09:58 AM
p.57 #6A1 Reviews/Video thread
I see Alex has been nailing some great Swallow IF shots even with messy backgrounds:
https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=2914521515477465&id=100007589355024
You may need to copy link and remove the FM part
https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=2914521515477465&id=100007589355024
You may need to copy link and remove the FM part
Mar 17, 2021 at 10:34 AM
p.57 #7A1 Reviews/Video thread
Another video about bird-eye AF.
Still haven't seen much about combining BEAF with RealiTime Tracking aka Tracking. That would seem to be potentially useful in some of the situations presented.
Still haven't seen much about combining BEAF with RealiTime Tracking aka Tracking. That would seem to be potentially useful in some of the situations presented.
Mar 17, 2021 at 11:14 AM
p.57 #8A1 Reviews/Video thread
Not sure if anyone has posted this comparison between the A1/600f4+1.4x vs. R5/EF600f4+1.4x
https://youtu.be/gTdESqp4MYI
Can’t understand what he’s saying. Maybe someone can translate.
(Sorry. I don’t know how to make the YouTube thumbnail show up)
https://youtu.be/gTdESqp4MYI
Can’t understand what he’s saying. Maybe someone can translate.
(Sorry. I don’t know how to make the YouTube thumbnail show up)
Mar 17, 2021 at 11:34 PM
p.57 #9A1 Reviews/Video thread
His conclusion is both have similar results, but the A1 edges it slightly. He believes that an update to R5 firmware will bring it back on par or better.
BUT, I believe the A1 will get frequent updates too. So....
robert614 wrote:
Not sure if anyone has posted this comparison between the A1/600f4+1.4x vs. R5/EF600f4+1.4x
https://youtu.be/gTdESqp4MYI
Can’t understand what he’s saying. Maybe someone can translate.
(Sorry. I don’t know how to make the YouTube thumbnail show up)
BUT, I believe the A1 will get frequent updates too. So....
robert614 wrote:
Not sure if anyone has posted this comparison between the A1/600f4+1.4x vs. R5/EF600f4+1.4x
https://youtu.be/gTdESqp4MYI
Can’t understand what he’s saying. Maybe someone can translate.
(Sorry. I don’t know how to make the YouTube thumbnail show up)
Mar 18, 2021 at 03:35 AM
p.57 #10A1 Reviews/Video thread
robert614 wrote:
Not sure if anyone has posted this comparison between the A1/600f4+1.4x vs. R5/EF600f4+1.4x
https://youtu.be/gTdESqp4MYI
Can’t understand what he’s saying. Maybe someone can translate.
(Sorry. I don’t know how to make the YouTube thumbnail show up)
Near the end, he said he felt the a1’s bird eye AF was slightly better than the R5’s but the R5 would be further improved via FW update.
Not sure if anyone has posted this comparison between the A1/600f4+1.4x vs. R5/EF600f4+1.4x
https://youtu.be/gTdESqp4MYI
Can’t understand what he’s saying. Maybe someone can translate.
(Sorry. I don’t know how to make the YouTube thumbnail show up)
Near the end, he said he felt the a1’s bird eye AF was slightly better than the R5’s but the R5 would be further improved via FW update.
Mar 18, 2021 at 03:38 AM
p.57 #11A1 Reviews/Video thread
somersettr wrote:
Another video about bird-eye AF.
Still haven't seen much about combining BEAF with RealiTime Tracking aka Tracking. That would seem to be potentially useful in some of the situations presented.
The big advantage of using the RTT modes with the A1 and BEAF is that if you start your BEAF within an AF Area smaller than Wide it will keep tracking/eye-af outside of that initial AF area. So I've found benefit of using a Small Flex Spot:Tracking or Expand Flex Spot:Tracking...placing that right on the head to tell the system where to look for the eye. Then once it finds that eye you can recompose anywhere you like in the frame and it continues to track the eye. If you just use non-tracking Flex Spot then you have to keep that AF point right over the eye or else it stops seeing the eye.
I have a learned response to avoid RTT so I'm going to force myself to use it for a few days straight this weekend and see if I can get on board with it now that the A1 has improved on it.
Another video about bird-eye AF.
Still haven't seen much about combining BEAF with RealiTime Tracking aka Tracking. That would seem to be potentially useful in some of the situations presented.
The big advantage of using the RTT modes with the A1 and BEAF is that if you start your BEAF within an AF Area smaller than Wide it will keep tracking/eye-af outside of that initial AF area. So I've found benefit of using a Small Flex Spot:Tracking or Expand Flex Spot:Tracking...placing that right on the head to tell the system where to look for the eye. Then once it finds that eye you can recompose anywhere you like in the frame and it continues to track the eye. If you just use non-tracking Flex Spot then you have to keep that AF point right over the eye or else it stops seeing the eye.
I have a learned response to avoid RTT so I'm going to force myself to use it for a few days straight this weekend and see if I can get on board with it now that the A1 has improved on it.
Mar 18, 2021 at 05:42 AM
p.57 #12A1 Reviews/Video thread
Douglas Liu wrote:
https://youtu.be/gTdESqp4MYI
Can’t understand what he’s saying. Maybe someone can translate.
(Sorry. I don’t know how to make the YouTube thumbnail show up)Near the end, he said he felt the a1’s bird eye AF was slightly better than the R5’s but the R5 would be further improved via FW update.
After four days with the A1 and five months with the R5, my initial opinion is the R5 has a better AI database of birds than the A1. That said, the A1 has a better AF and better hit rate for faster BIF. But neither camera (as seen in that video) activates Eye-AF very often nor very consistently for BIF. BEAF is best for birds on the ground or water. The one deficiency I've found with the A1 is that if the surroundings of the bird are busy then it won't even recognize the bird/eye. The R5 is much better at that. The A1 wouldn't recognize a GBH just standing there because it was right up against a bush/reeds. If you get the heron against a distant, smooth background it recognizes it. The R5 will recognize it more often against a messy background. I guess the A1 is just telling us to not waste time shooting a bird against a bad background
robert614 wrote
Not sure if anyone has posted this comparison between the A1/600f4+1.4x vs. R5/EF600f4+1.4xhttps://youtu.be/gTdESqp4MYI
Can’t understand what he’s saying. Maybe someone can translate.
(Sorry. I don’t know how to make the YouTube thumbnail show up)
After four days with the A1 and five months with the R5, my initial opinion is the R5 has a better AI database of birds than the A1. That said, the A1 has a better AF and better hit rate for faster BIF. But neither camera (as seen in that video) activates Eye-AF very often nor very consistently for BIF. BEAF is best for birds on the ground or water. The one deficiency I've found with the A1 is that if the surroundings of the bird are busy then it won't even recognize the bird/eye. The R5 is much better at that. The A1 wouldn't recognize a GBH just standing there because it was right up against a bush/reeds. If you get the heron against a distant, smooth background it recognizes it. The R5 will recognize it more often against a messy background. I guess the A1 is just telling us to not waste time shooting a bird against a bad background
Mar 18, 2021 at 05:46 AM
p.57 #13A1 Reviews/Video thread
FYI...
Yesterday I did a little FPS testing to see if I got the same sort of results as Mark Galer did (ie how to get 30FPS).
Well I didn't.....
Galer had said you needed to not be in Tracking AF to get 30FPS...I got exactly 30FPS in Tracking AF with Release Priority set.
Galer said you have to be in Release priority to get 30FPS....I got 30FPS in AF priority but I didn't get 30FPS in Balanced...in Balanced it did drop to 25-26FPS.
Now of course I wasn't doing anything to challenge the AF as I was just shooting my phones's stopwatch so I'm sure in real life AF priority will drop FPS. And maybe Tracking will drop FPS in real life shooting also. But it isn't clear cut for all situations...with a stable AF target the camera can hit 30FPS with more settings than Galer said.
Yesterday I did a little FPS testing to see if I got the same sort of results as Mark Galer did (ie how to get 30FPS).
Well I didn't.....
Galer had said you needed to not be in Tracking AF to get 30FPS...I got exactly 30FPS in Tracking AF with Release Priority set.
Galer said you have to be in Release priority to get 30FPS....I got 30FPS in AF priority but I didn't get 30FPS in Balanced...in Balanced it did drop to 25-26FPS.
Now of course I wasn't doing anything to challenge the AF as I was just shooting my phones's stopwatch so I'm sure in real life AF priority will drop FPS. And maybe Tracking will drop FPS in real life shooting also. But it isn't clear cut for all situations...with a stable AF target the camera can hit 30FPS with more settings than Galer said.
Mar 18, 2021 at 05:49 AM
p.57 #14A1 Reviews/Video thread
IN the Sony Image Edge app, where can I see where the focus point is? I do understand it's not always accurate but I couldn't even find where to click in the app to see it.
Mar 18, 2021 at 06:27 AM
p.57 #15A1 Reviews/Video thread
View menu:Focus Frame Display
But really it is next to useless. In one of Matt’s videos he looked through the focus points in Viewer and compared to the live EVF footage he had captured and the correlation was poor.
Douglas Liu wrote:
IN the Sony Image Edge app, where can I see where the focus point is? I do understand it's not always accurate but I couldn't even find where to click in the app to see it.
But really it is next to useless. In one of Matt’s videos he looked through the focus points in Viewer and compared to the live EVF footage he had captured and the correlation was poor.
Douglas Liu wrote:
IN the Sony Image Edge app, where can I see where the focus point is? I do understand it's not always accurate but I couldn't even find where to click in the app to see it.
Mar 18, 2021 at 06:42 AM
p.57 #16A1 Reviews/Video thread
arbitrage wrote:
View menu:Focus Frame Display
But really it is next to useless. In one of Matt’s videos he looked through the focus points in Viewer and compared to the live EVF footage he had captured and the correlation was poor.
Thanks, Geoff. Before I posted the question, I did click "Focus Frame Display" several times, didn't see any focus point displayed anywhere in the frame. At about 13:50 of Matt's video, he said somewhere in the "view menu" of the Sony Image Edge app you could find the focus point display, I went in there to click every option, including the "Focus Frame Display", just couldn't see it, maybe my focus was really bad
View menu:Focus Frame Display
But really it is next to useless. In one of Matt’s videos he looked through the focus points in Viewer and compared to the live EVF footage he had captured and the correlation was poor.
Douglas Liu wrote
IN the Sony Image Edge app, where can I see where the focus point is? I do understand it's not always accurate but I couldn't even find where to click in the app to see it.Thanks, Geoff. Before I posted the question, I did click "Focus Frame Display" several times, didn't see any focus point displayed anywhere in the frame. At about 13:50 of Matt's video, he said somewhere in the "view menu" of the Sony Image Edge app you could find the focus point display, I went in there to click every option, including the "Focus Frame Display", just couldn't see it, maybe my focus was really bad
Mar 18, 2021 at 07:11 AM
p.57 #17A1 Reviews/Video thread
Douglas Liu wrote:
https://youtu.be/gTdESqp4MYI
Can’t understand what he’s saying. Maybe someone can translate.
(Sorry. I don’t know how to make the YouTube thumbnail show up)Near the end, he said he felt the a1’s bird eye AF was slightly better than the R5’s but the R5 would be further improved via FW update.
Thanks Douglas!
He sounds partial to the Canon. If the R5 can be improved via a firmware update, so can the Sony.
robert614 wrote
Not sure if anyone has posted this comparison between the A1/600f4+1.4x vs. R5/EF600f4+1.4xhttps://youtu.be/gTdESqp4MYI
Can’t understand what he’s saying. Maybe someone can translate.
(Sorry. I don’t know how to make the YouTube thumbnail show up)
Thanks Douglas!
He sounds partial to the Canon. If the R5 can be improved via a firmware update, so can the Sony.
Mar 18, 2021 at 07:34 AM
p.57 #19A1 Reviews/Video thread
Kinda off topic. But how do you make the YouTube video show in your post. When I tried, I could only get the link to show.
Mar 18, 2021 at 07:44 AM
p.57 #20A1 Reviews/Video thread
robert614 wrote:
Kinda off topic. But how do you make the YouTube video show in your post. When I tried, I could only get the link to show.
You have to copy paste the full blown URL, if you go over the share button it wont.
Kinda off topic. But how do you make the YouTube video show in your post. When I tried, I could only get the link to show.
You have to copy paste the full blown URL, if you go over the share button it wont.
Mar 18, 2021 at 07:51 AM