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Archive 2022 · A74 as second to A1

PaulCStudios
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p.1 #1 · p.1 #1 · A74 as second to A1

Hi All,

Hope everyone is having a great summer?

I love my A1 with my GM lens, anything I want to do is a just a flick of a button or knob away. I owned and sold the second A1 body a few month ago since work was slow. But now with things picking up, and more trips I need a second body. Having owned the A7R3 I thought of one used, but once you use the A1 it is hard to go that far back in the Sony line.

So I am down to the A7R4 used or the A74. I like everything i have read on the A74, it is just the 33MP that holds me back. I do ok selling prints and the smallest is 24" wide, going up from there so the 50MP is very nice

Question:
Owners of the A1 who also have the A74, do you feel limited with the 33 MP?

Thanks for the input.
Paul

Aug 16, 2022 at 08:18 AM

swldstn
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p.1 #2 · p.1 #2 · A74 as second to A1

I currently own the A1, A7RIV, and now A7IV (traded away my A9II) and my first question is what are you shooting and with which lenses? The A7IV is very nice and I like that it’s menu system is similar to the Alpha 1 and that it’s AF system is very similar. I am not a video shooter so I won’t discuss or compare those.

I use my A7IV mostly for events and street work. With my Alpha 1 I do that as well but it’s higher speed and higher resolution are used on wildlife and BIF. The 33 MPixels does not feel limiting for the subjects I shoot with it but like 33 Mpixels more than the 24 Mpixels of the A9II

For planned landscape and architecture I use the A7RIV still and that was my first generation 4 body and like it’s viewfinder still.

FYI, also have an A7C and other f/2 lenses when I want to be very portable and try to stay light.

Aug 16, 2022 at 09:46 AM

PaulCStudios
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p.1 #3 · p.1 #3 · A74 as second to A1

Thanks swidstn for your great input.

To answer your question which I should have put in my post. I shoot a lot of video and stills. Video work is marine industry, stock, corporate, and docs. Stills are seascapes, waves, landscapes, and street/woods work, I don't limit my still work. So a bit of everything, the A1 replaced my Sony FS7 II, and my Panasonic S1H in one camera with very happy results for both.

My lens selection is always changing, but right now ii is: GM 16-35, GM 24-70 II, GM 70-200 II, G 200-600, Ext 1.4. Great Lectrosonic and Sennheiser audio.

By the way I am just back from 12 days in Maine where we go to reset this time of year. I also go a few other times to shoot video and stills throughout the year.

The A7C looks nice for small package, but not in my sights.

Aug 16, 2022 at 11:05 AM

GMPhotography
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p.1 #4 · p.1 #4 · A74 as second to A1

Video I would go for the most current we have so with a A1 the A7IV sounds like the way to go. I just use the A7c as backup and travel as the A1 is the main unit but for you the A7IV sounds like a good idea. For Pro work I like to be more than 24mpx so 33 mpx would be a nice option.

Aug 16, 2022 at 11:25 AM

curious80
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p.1 #5 · p.1 #5 · A74 as second to A1

swldstn wrote:
I currently own the A1, A7RIV, and now A7IV (traded away my A9II) and my first question is what are you shooting and with which lenses? The A7IV is very nice and I like that it’s menu system is similar to the Alpha 1 and that it’s AF system is very similar. I am not a video shooter so I won’t discuss or compare those.

I use my A7IV mostly for events and street work. With my Alpha 1 I do that as well but it’s higher speed and higher resolution are used on wildlife and BIF. The 33 MPixels does...Show more →

In your experience how do A7IV and A7RIV compare in terms of AF capability and speed of operation etc. In general what tradeoffs you see between the two in terms of usage (apart from resolution difference which is clear).

I am thinking of moving from my A7rIII to either A7RIV or A7IV. Compared to A7rIII, A7rIV has a newer generation AF and better ergonomics. The higher resolution sensor and higher resolution EVF of A7RIV are also desirable (though not strictly necessary). So the question would what are some of the major 'upgrades' you see from A7RIV to A7IV.

Aug 16, 2022 at 11:37 AM

timgangloff
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p.1 #6 · p.1 #6 · A74 as second to A1

I had an a7r4 and an a9 and sold both and bought a second a1. There was just no comparison for my shooting (sports, team and individuals and some portrait work). The a74 sounds like a good compromise, but too often it would be a compromise that I was not willing to work with.

Aug 16, 2022 at 11:53 AM

PaulCStudios
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p.1 #7 · p.1 #7 · A74 as second to A1

GMphotography & timgangloff,

Thanks for both your feed backs. The A74 would be easy on the budget. But I agree with timgangloff a second A1 would be by far the best option since I shoot a lot of action, but for those I would be using the A1.

Might just hold off for a month and see if I can up the budget for the A1. But if it is needed right away it will be the A74. I think the A7R4 is out at this time.

Appreciate the great user feed back.

Aug 16, 2022 at 12:26 PM

GMPhotography
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p.1 #8 · p.1 #8 · A74 as second to A1

Yes no substitute for the A1 for sure. Love mine but if budget is a issue the A74 is next best thing. I almost bought it but the A1 feature set was and is brilliant choice. Maybe look at a used A1 there seem to be easy to find lately. I bought mine used actually off the forum

Aug 16, 2022 at 01:24 PM

71sbeetle
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p.1 #9 · p.1 #9 · A74 as second to A1

I had an A1 (well, 2 but not at the same time) and an A7III, the A1 was the camera of choice and A7III was the backup. Then I replaced the A7III with an A7RIV and was never really satisfied, ended up going back to the A7III rather quickly. Finally last December I got an A7IV to replace my A7III and was very happy with it, so much so that I used it 80%+ of the time and my A1 sat a lot. I ended up selling the A1 in January/February. I am considering picking up a second A7IV now.
The A1 is an amazing camera, but for what I shoot (models, cars, product, occasional landscapes and street photography, and my kid's baseball games) the A7IV is more than enough. And I personally prefer the 33mp. I print here at home with Canon Pro 2000 and never had an issue printing 24x36 (even 24x60 once)

I would suggest renting an A7IV and seeing what you think (I know my local store offers rentals and if you end up buying the same or similar model they credit you back your rental fees)

Aug 16, 2022 at 03:14 PM

PaulCStudios
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p.1 #10 · p.1 #10 · A74 as second to A1

Thanks GMphotography & 71sbeetle,

I think I will go with the A74 due to price for second body. If I get the funds in the Fall I will upgrade to a second A1 which to me is the best camera body I have owned. Used is an options but still twice the price of a new A74.

I know for video A74 will be the backup to the A1 since I am not interested at this time to get and FX6, just rent on the big jobs.

71sbeetle, great to know you can print the 33MP to 60". I print to 60-72" for customers and my local printer who is amazing, loves the A1 and my old A7R3 files. Will see what he thinks on the A74 images. I pretty much only print on canvas.

Is that your 71bug? I had a couple, also two Fastbacks I loved. Just amazing how simple they are to work on.

Really appreciate all the great input from owner users on this site. Thanks

Aug 17, 2022 at 08:27 AM

GMPhotography
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p.1 #11 · p.1 #11 · A74 as second to A1

I agree I will rent as I go when I need something outside my own tools. I rented the dang old version 70-200 and bodies where putting on 40 k for just two jobs I did not want to put those mechanical actuations on my bodies but now the A1 can work under LEDs and a few other tricks under electronic shutter it has, I finally bought the A1 and the new 70-200 as now I don't have to rent them twice a year, I own it. But for Pro work this is a great chance to save money until you can own the darn thing and still get the work done and save.

It was also nice I did not have to pack the gear up run to UPS and ship the stuff back. This last show in NY was great for me not to go through that hassle

Aug 17, 2022 at 10:27 AM

Fred Miranda
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p.1 #12 · p.1 #12 · A74 as second to A1

Difference in linear resolution between Sony sensors:

24MP to 33MP = 17%
24MP to 42MP = 32%
24MP to 50MP = 44%
24MP to 60MP = 58%

33MP to 42MP = 13%
33MP to 50MP = 23%
33MP to 60MP = 35%

42MP to 50MP = 9%
42MP to 60MP = 20%

50MP to 60MP = 9%

Future 100MP sensor? 60MP to 100MP = 29%

Aug 17, 2022 at 11:12 AM

PaulCStudios
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p.1 #13 · p.1 #13 · A74 as second to A1

Well I have held off since the job was moved off to Nov. Will decide in a month of so which way to go. Thanks for all the input.

Aug 22, 2022 at 09:04 AM

PaulCStudios
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p.1 #14 · p.1 #14 · A74 as second to A1

Well I decided not to buy the A74. The 33MP does not fit my shooting, and I have other video gear to go with the A1. So I just purchased a used A7R4, as my wide angle camera.

Aug 26, 2022 at 04:18 PM


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