berimbolo wrote:
Do you think you will go with the Z9? I had been planning on getting an A1 or A1mkII at some point as an upgrade from my A9, but this thread is making me reconsider. If Nikon had a good 200-600, I would consider switching. I cannot currently justify the cost of a 400/600mm prime.
I have used both the Z9 and the A1 and the A9 and the Z9 autofocus for birds in flight is worse than both the Sony's.
As for the 600 having better autofocus than the 200-600 - in my experience you are more likely to miss shots with the 600 than with the zoom. It is big, unwieldy, gets buffeted by the wind and you can't hand hold for nearly the same length of time as the either of the Sony long zooms.
The three big improvements I see are:
1. shooting at iso1600 and lower much of the time so images are a lot cleaner, in part also because of the better quality glass no doubt,
2. much nicer separation at f/4 or f/5.6 (@840mm).
3. more ability to crop images heavily without loosing sharpness and detail.
But it is 10x more effort to use so it needs some serious commitment.
For fast close up action I don't want to miss I would stick with one of the zooms as it becomes near impossible to keep the birds in the frame or to acquire quickly with no zoom.
The strange thing is if I turn bird eye priority in AF off it gives me more in focus shots for BIF but does seem to grab wing tips and shoulders more . Before using older firmware I would just leave bird eye priority in AF on and the keeper rate was always high and mainly grabbing the head instead of wings . It still recognises and shows eye detect when switched on with fw1.31 but shots are mainly out of focus for BIF as in all the bird looks OOF
multibit wrote:
The strange thing is if I turn bird eye priority in AF off it gives me more in focus shots for BIF but does seem to grab wing tips and shoulders more . Before using older firmware I would just leave bird eye priority in AF on and the keeper rate was always high and mainly grabbing the head instead of wings . It still recognises and shows eye detect when switched on with fw1.31 but shots are mainly out of focus for BIF as in all the bird looks OOF
Leon, I am sure that you are aware of the tips on how to reset the camera, right? Reportedly, folks that had issues previously claim that the AF on their camera is performing well again. BTW, I updated my camera late last year and it currently has the FW version 1.3 instead of 1.3.1. I am not sure whether it matters though…but I thought I point that out.
AGeoJO wrote:
Leon, I am sure that you are aware of the tips on how to reset the camera, right? Reportedly, folks that had issues previously claim that the AF on their camera is performing well again. BTW, I updated my camera late last year and it currently has the FW version 1.3 instead of 1.3.1. I am not sure whether it matters though…but I thought I point that out.
Thank you , I did full initialise and reloaded setting from SD card, I also did full initialise and did all settings from scratch . I personally found fw1.31 to be worse than fw1.30 for BIF , if your on FW1.30 I wouldn't rush to update
multibit wrote:
Thank you , I did full initialise and reloaded setting from SD card, I also did full initialise and did all settings from scratch . I personally found fw1.31 to be worse than fw1.30 for BIF , if your on FW1.30 I wouldn't rush to update
I am sorry that that method didn’t help you much, if any… Until yesterday, I thought the most recent FW was the 1.3 and not the 1.3.1. It shows that I am not keeping up with that… . So, the AF of your A1 did fine on 1.3 and it became really bad on the 1.3.1., which is the actual culprit in this case?
GMPhotography wrote:
Today is 3/21/2023 February is in the dust. My bet you wont see one but may see a A1Version II first.
Although the issues seems to be spotty but for the sake of continuing support of their flagship camera, Sony better come up with an upgrade not only addressing the AF issues regardless how isolated they are but also adding a few features that are included in the A7 IV and A7r V. Yes, some of the features may not matter much to the A1 users since they target more landscape photographers, like the focus stacking, but still, a FW update symbolizes Sony’s standing behind the A1. Plus, it would stabilize the price of the camera in the used market, making folks feel better about their purchase of such an expensive camera and not feeling abandoned.
The time frame doesn’t matter much although sooner would be better than later but if Sony doesn’t come up with a FW update before the A II is announced, I would think twice to upgrade mine to the A II. Except for my birding needs, I can get away just fine using my A7r V. AF-wise even that camera seems to be okay but I would miss the blackout-free shooting experience.
GMPhotography wrote:
Today is 3/21/2023 February is in the dust. My bet you wont see one but may see a A1Version II first.
I still think there may have been something to that February rumor. My thoughts remain ( but I don't know) a Sony A1 ver 2.0 beta was out in the wild prior to February for beta testing but had to go back to the lab for more work. Not unusual.
Maybe wishful thinking. Sony A1 ver 2.0 will come. I think... ha ha 😳
LBJ2 wrote:
I still think there may have been something to that February rumor. My thoughts remain ( but I don't know) a Sony A1 ver 2.0 beta was out in the wild prior to February for beta testing but had to go back to the lab for more work. Not unusual.
Maybe wishful thinking. Sony A1 ver 2.0 will come. I think... ha ha 😳
Oh, an A1 FW version 2.0 is likely, but it is unlikely to be more than what the A7IV FW 2.0 brought.
Daran wrote:
Oh, an A1 FW version 2.0 is likely, but it is unlikely to be more than what the A7IV FW 2.0 brought.
Yes, that would/could very well be the disappointing case...only the A1 is not currently on the list of Sony cameras to be compatible with Sony's Creators' Cloud service. But we shall see.
GMPhotography wrote:
Today is 3/21/2023 February is in the dust. My bet you wont see one but may see a A1Version II first.
I certainly won't be buying one if they don't make an effort to at least sort the A1 out first, I understand tech advances but crippling the current flagship and releasing a newer model would be a bad move . It wouldn't be so bad if it was just me but others I've spoke to including friends have noticed a drop in Performance
multibit wrote:
I certainly won't be buying one if they don't make an effort to at least sort the A1 out first, I understand tech advances but crippling the current flagship and releasing a newer model would be a bad move . It wouldn't be so bad if it was just me but others I've spoke to including friends have noticed a drop in Performance
FWIW, from what I read on FaceBook Colby Brown informed Sony that some were experiencing AF issues with v 1.31. He also asked if those that could, submit video evidence of AF issues. But this was some months ago.
Also, from what I've read Sony Pro Support is up to the task of having customers who report AF issues send in their kit for hands on technical testing. Have you been able to communicate your v. 1.31 AF issues with Sony Tech Support or Pro Support?
"Colby Brown
October 8, 2022 ·
Sony a1 FW 1.31 Update issues SUPER THREAD....
For those of you that have had issues since the latest 1.31 FW update, please let me know below with details about the experience, what lenses you were using and any other relevant information. Keep it to one comment per person if you can. I will gather the info and share it directly with Sony...
**UPDATE**
- Sony has escalated this potential issue and is currently investigating. They are listening...
- If you are experiencing issues, don't crap on others that don't feel their cameras or lens setups aren't being affected. If this truly was universal, every a1 would exhibit the same problem, which is not the case. The more info that is shared...the better!
- As Sony does its own research on what many of you have experienced, the MOST helpful thing you can do is record your camera in action failing to achieve focus with Birds & BIF. Recording your final images isn't bad, but if you have the ability to record your actual camera (though something like an Atomos Ninja), please share it with me, and I will get it over to Sony ASAP."
I'm finding more images are off or even a touch front-focused despite AF showing on the eye (when chimping) and a run of tack sharp images in a burst is tougher to achieve. Reviewing on computer backs that up. 1.30 BEAF was definitely better, 1.31 BEAF is more erratic. I'm getting images but feel the camera could do better. Mainly 600gm+1.4x, AF-priority is release. Camera has been reset and dialled in afresh rather than reloading settings. Will advise Sony Tech.
LBJ2 wrote:
FWIW, from what I read on FaceBook Colby Brown informed Sony that some were experiencing AF issues with v 1.31. He also asked if those that could, submit video evidence of AF issues. But this was some months ago.
Also, from what I've read Sony Pro Support is up to the task of having customers who report AF issues send in their kit for hands on technical testing. Have you been able to communicate your v. 1.31 AF issues with Sony Tech Support or Pro Support?
"Colby Brown
October 8, 2022 ·
Sony a1 FW 1.31 Update issues SUPER THREAD....
For those of you that have had issues since the latest 1.31 FW update, please let me know below with details about the experience, what lenses you were using and any other relevant information. Keep it to one comment per person if you can. I will gather the info and share it directly with Sony...
**UPDATE**
- Sony has escalated this potential issue and is currently investigating. They are listening...
- If you are experiencing issues, don't crap on others that don't feel their cameras or lens setups aren't being affected. If this truly was universal, every a1 would exhibit the same problem, which is not the case. The more info that is shared...the better!
- As Sony does its own research on what many of you have experienced, the MOST helpful thing you can do is record your camera in action failing to achieve focus with Birds & BIF. Recording your final images isn't bad, but if you have the ability to record your actual camera (though something like an Atomos Ninja), please share it with me, and I will get it over to Sony ASAP."
I actually did some test shots on 1.30, where I noticed an improvement. After upgrading to 1.31, unintentionally this time I noticed some regression pretty quickly...
I actually did some test shots on 1.30, where I noticed an improvement. After upgrading to 1.31, unintentionally this time I noticed some regression pretty quickly...
I actually did some test shots on 1.30, where I noticed an improvement. After upgrading to 1.31, unintentionally this time I noticed some regression pretty quickly...
Jan, no question that both crops show front focusing. I have seen plenty of your images and I am not questioning your photography. But the face, let alone the eye is tiny relative to the entire frame on both. The AF can be tricked by something contrasty in the front of the target. Plus, the green square is just an overlay. While I could see that the camera may have a tough time trying to focus on the eye of flying birds coming at you at high speed at 10, 20 or even 30fps but the human eye is really not that challenging AF-wise. Out of curiosity, have you encountered any issues where the face is quite a bit larger, more in the sense of portraits or at least environmental portraits? Again, I am not questioning your photography and I am genuinely curious and I hope you don’t mind…
Donzo98 wrote:
How do you unintentionally upgrade your FW??
It’s not that simple…
Unfortunately the upgrade part was intentional . I didn't intend to do any test shots regarding eyeAF accuracy, I just noticed it when taking casual pictures after the upgrade...
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AGeoJO wrote:
Jan, no question that both crops show front focusing. I have seen plenty of your images and I am not questioning your photography. But the face, let alone the eye is tiny relative to the entire frame on both. The AF can be tricked by something contrasty in the front of the target. Plus, the green square is just an overlay. While I could see that the camera may have a tough time trying to focus on the eye of flying birds coming at you at high speed at 10, 20 or even 30fps but the human eye is really not that challenging AF-wise. Out of curiosity, have you encountered any issues where the face is quite a bit larger, more in the sense of portraits or at least environmental portraits? Again, I am not questioning your photography and I am genuinely curious and I hope you don’t mind…
Thanks, Joshua. You are of course right in what you're saying. I'm not expecting absolute 100% hit rate either. The only reason I mention this in this thread is that my impression is, that on 1.30 eyeAF was more resilient to such distractions. As I mentioned, I tested this scenario on 1.30 as I wanted to see what:
* Improves the accuracy of the Eye AF feature
actually means in practice and noticed an improvement. Then on my first casual shots after 1.31 update, I noticed eyeAF seemed to regress to its previous state but I didn't think much of it at that time. I don't know if there's a specifc size of eye which makes eyeAF work more reliably, but I think it's mostly about the contrasty objects near the eyeAF frame. Anyways, if I could directly test 1.30 against 1.31, I would .
And let's be clear, I'm not usually hunting for this but this time I played aroud some obstacles (a spoon in this case ) looking to trigger this effect.Normally I take a lot of slice-of-life kinda snaps of my kids so I just notice if eyeAF feels off. Like you guys do with BIF ...
. So, the AF of your A1 did fine on 1.3 and it became really bad on the 1.3.1., which is the actual culprit in this case? 
. I didn't intend to do any test shots regarding eyeAF accuracy, I just noticed it when taking casual pictures after the upgrade...
...