Archive 2022 · Sony AF

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p.1 #1 · p.1 #1 · Sony AF

I am totally new to Sony world. Just trying to learn. Have been thinking of getting into Sony for wildlife and particularly BIF. Mainly interested in the AF of these three cameras. A1, A7R and A74. How is the AF speed and accuracy of the A74 compared to the A1 and the A7R4. Your input will be greatly appreciated. Thanks

Mar 11, 2022 at 09:54 PM

AGeoJO
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p.1 #2 · p.1 #2 · Sony AF

The top dog right now is the A1and everything else plays a second fiddle in terms of AF prowess. You left out the A9/A9 II though. Either one is a great wildlife/birding camera, although lagging behind the A1 but not by much AF-wise. And a used copy may be worth considering if that's your main interest. I am just throwing it out there...

Mar 11, 2022 at 11:16 PM

webmstrk9
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p.1 #3 · p.1 #3 · Sony AF

AGeoJO wrote:
The top dog right now is the A1and everything else plays a second fiddle in terms of AF prowess. You left out the A9/A9 II though. Either one is a great wildlife/birding camera. And a used copy may be worth considering if that's your main interest. I am just throwing it out there...

What he said^^^

People who ask me about my gear, I tell them if they have a certain budget, the A9 series on the used market is the best bang for the buck.

Mar 11, 2022 at 11:21 PM

Frogfish
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p.1 #4 · p.1 #4 · Sony AF

What Joshua said. However here's an alternative viewpoint.

I'll mention that (I have an A7r4 and A9) the cropping power (esp. for birds/wildlife) of the A1 and A7r4 should not be underestimated. My A7r4 in APSC mode crops to 26MP which is still more MPs than my A9 in FF ! Of course you now also have 100% AF coverage and much smaller files (so faster buffer clearance) even if you have far fewer fps (never an issue for me).

As far as AF is concerned I love the A7r4 and that's never been an issue - even if it is slower than the A1 & A9 I'd rather have that cropping power (of the A1 & A7r4) than the slightly faster AF of the A9 series. When we talk about modern AF it's not tortoise vs hare.

Best is if you can hire two of them (A1 + A9ii or A7r4 and A9ii) for a weekend to see for yourself.

Mar 11, 2022 at 11:29 PM

aboutthelight
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p.1 #5 · p.1 #5 · Sony AF

If you can afford it buy an A1 and forget the rest. It is by far the best of the bunch ad an all around camera. The speed, autofocus, mega pixels, ability to customize make it a dream to use.

Mar 11, 2022 at 11:36 PM

BlueBomberTurbo
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p.1 #6 · p.1 #6 · Sony AF

From what I've gathered from user reports here:

A1 > A9/II > A7S III > bit of a gap > A7 IV > bit of a gap > A7R IV

Really depends on how fast/erratic/small the birds you shoot are as to which camera will suit your needs. The A1 seems to be able to capture anything, so it's up to the shooter to be capable of keeping the bird in the frame.

Mar 11, 2022 at 11:41 PM

arbitrage
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p.1 #7 · p.1 #7 · Sony AF

IME Sony AF goes something like this A1>A9/A9II>>A7IV/A7SIII>A7RIV>older models.

Now I haven't actually tried the A7IV/A7SIII but the A7IV has Bird Eye AF and the SIII doesn't. I don't think the SIII is really to be considered for stills photography anyways. A7IV has the new processor which the RIV and older cameras don't have (even the A9/A9II don't have it) so that may help it out. But the stacked sensor still will make the A9/A9II better focusing cameras and easier to shoot with the blackout/lag free EVF at 20FPS. I actually still think the A9/A9II are better for AF than the latest and greatest R5 and Z9.

As others have said, if you an afford an A1 then just go for it...it is just the best of every world...hands down the best BIF camera one can buy from any system I've tried.

Mar 12, 2022 at 09:11 AM

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p.1 #8 · p.1 #8 · Sony AF

Thanks for all the replys. I went and got the A7 4 to try out for a few days. We will see.Again thanks.

Mar 12, 2022 at 02:18 PM

c360tx
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p.1 #9 · p.1 #9 · Sony AF

What lens are you going to try it out with? I rented an A7IV around the holidays and was pretty impressed by the autofocus. I was as using it for toddlers running around pretty quickly indoors, so not exactly BIF, but it felt like it sometimes lol. I had a much better keeper rate than my A7rii, which I guess shouldn’t surprise me, but it was nice to see the difference firsthand.

Mar 14, 2022 at 09:12 PM

AZHeaven
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p.1 #10 · p.1 #10 · Sony AF

I have the A7IV coming from the highly regarded A7III. I'm getting shots with the A7IV that the A7III missed. And just to get the hair on somes back standing up, the A7IV is a mini A1. About a good 80% of the A1. The A1 is a fantastic camera None better. But this guy couldn't afford the A1.

If you have the money to burn? A1 without a doubt. If not? A7IV.

Mar 15, 2022 at 10:58 AM


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