p.1 #2 · What is your wish list for the Sony A7RVI
I'm on an A7RIV and I wouldn't mind upgrading, but I just don't see a world where that would make financial sense given what Sony has been doing as of late.
In terms of A7RVI: I guess a faster processor, even better EVF (maybe a slight redesign?) and slightly higher resolution (80+?) would all make sense to me. In camera focus stacking would be another very suitable addition I would think. 10 fps is fine with me personally, but an increase to 15 fps wouldn't hurt.
I think it's more up to Sony at the moment to prove what they have in store to counter 40MP Fuji cameras and 100MP Hasselblad's. Sony does need to provide value for money here.
p.1 #3 · What is your wish list for the Sony A7RVI
To Alan's point, the 40mp and up "high res" portion of the market is in a bit of an odd place.
Many folks who started with Sony R cameras have dipped their toes or migrated their landscape setups to GFX or older Hassys now that the prices are dirt cheap. The IQ is markedly better for product, studio, and landscape work and the kits are roughly the same cost now if buying medium format used.
The A1/A1ii get you almost to A7R5 resolution with way better AF performance and no blackout, so many who started with the R4/R5 have upgraded to an A1 body that makes more sense for high performance needs.
Does anyone want a tiny pixel pitch 80mp full frame CMOS sensor? I have big doubts. Does anyone want or need a 61mp walkabout camera that does most things ok but few things really well? Well, ignore the Q shooters
So, again, where does that leave the R line at this point? The thing that Sony needs to prove is they can deliver value for money, something they've been pretty bad with every release since the A7iii.
p.1 #4 · What is your wish list for the Sony A7RVI
I am not the target buyer for the A7RVI since I already have the A1 and the A1II, they are great all around cameras. I know 10 FPS is enough for a lot of people but 10 FPS is so 2015.
p.1 #5 · What is your wish list for the Sony A7RVI
First, I want to see the improvements that have come to the a9III and a1II, such as the body changes, SW improvements, and AF improvements.
Second, I would like either see the camera get faster, such as improved sensor read out times, better video features, more FPS (Z6III can do 14FPS with mechanical shutter), and much better AF. Or keep it slow and steady and do something that boosts the overall IQ. For example, is there a sensor that can give us another stop of dynamic range?
As for MP I am a bit impartial. I can happily stick with 61mp for a faster camera and smoother photography experience, but If they bumped it to the 70mp range and IQ improved, I wouldn't mind either. Not sure how I feel about some people pushing for a 90mp + FF sensor. On one hand, if IQ improved enough, I would probably deal with the file sizes, but I really have no need for such a high resolution.
I do agree that price can end up playing a factor for me. IDK that I would pay close to 5k for a 61mp+ camera if a 4k Z8 beats it in almost everything but MP. I feel like the a1 being so much more expensive than the Z8 and R5 II has put Sony in a bit of a pricing dilemma.
p.1 #6 · What is your wish list for the Sony A7RVI
Hardware companies like Sony, and Sony in particular, are already pretty great at hardware. We are all spoiled. But they are never great at software. My top 10 feature requests don't require a new camera model. They can all be solved with software updates. If only Sony had competent and ambitious software product managers and UX people...
The boldest thing they could do is to convert a camera into a programmable platform. It's a computer with a buch of peripherals, after all. Introduce APIs, sandboxing, and let millions of developers evolve it for you. Then build an app store with nice recurring revenue supplementing camera/lens sales, etc.
p.1 #7 · What is your wish list for the Sony A7RVI
old-gregg wrote:
Hardware companies like Sony, and Sony in particular, are already pretty great at hardware. We are all spoiled. But they are never great at software. My top 10 feature requests don't require a new camera model. They can all be solved with software updates. If only Sony had competent and ambitious software product managers and UX people...
The boldest thing they could do is to convert a camera into a programmable platform. It's a computer with a buch of peripherals, after all. Introduce APIs, sandboxing, and let millions of developers evolve it for you. Then build an app store with nice recurring revenue supplementing camera/lens sales, etc....Show more →
I would not want to see the internal firmware to be opened up so we can get dozens of apps for it…like my phone. When I’m out taking photos, it is an escape for me away from the computerized world we live in. The last thing I want is my camera to turn into another phone like device.
p.1 #8 · What is your wish list for the Sony A7RVI
Trying to escape the high-tech digital world with the help of a sophisticated digital camera with viewfinder display sounds pretty absurd to me. Whether with or without additional apps ultimately makes no difference. Get yourself a 500c/m, a Gossen Profisix, and a handful of roll film. Then, keep your hands off the scanner and head straight to the darkroom. After that, we can talk about escaping the computerized world. I mean that completely seriously and without any irony.
p.1 #9 · What is your wish list for the Sony A7RVI
I know what Chez means, though. When I started reading gregg's piece, I thought he was going to say 'improved and simplified UX', not the opposite. It seems with the death of Steve Jobs the world lost its last and loudest voice demanding simplicity of design. Don't elaborate -- simplify.
Last week I accidentally set my A7CR to WB bracket every shot. It did so, silently, right through a whole SD card. There was no sound to indicate it was taking multiple shots. There might have been a new symbol added to the 42 already in the viewfinder, if so, I did not notice it. Fortunately, half an hour in LR to keep the middle shot in each bracket and delete the rest was enough, this time. But in what world of high quality UX design can you accidentally set such a specialised function? It's nuts!
PS I still do not know how I could have done it, or if there is anyone on the planet who needs to bracket WB shots. Would be interested to hear suggestions, if that does not subvert this thread.
p.1 #10 · What is your wish list for the Sony A7RVI
rob_ww wrote:
I know what Chez means, though. When I started reading gregg's piece, I thought he was going to say 'improved and simplified UX', not the opposite.
"The opposite"? That's your assumption, not my proposal. I simply said that Sony should get out of the way and allow 3rd parties create firmware modules. Then you'll have a drastic improvement in quality. A simplified menu system (think "settings app") would definitely be in high demand. Examples of other modules could be: manual focus assist, different focusing algorithms, storage/image management, custom profiles/LUTs, automatic best-in-sequence tagging, in-camera pixel shift merge, etc.
I know what Chez means, though.
I don't. He's pretending to be some kind of luddite purist who doesn't rely on technology to create fine art. But in reality, Chez is a self-propelled moist tripod like most of us. His camera is already doing all the work, and to help him understand what he's computer-with-lens is capable of, a better 3rd party software wouldn't hurt.
p.1 #11 · What is your wish list for the Sony A7RVI
old-gregg wrote:
Hardware companies like Sony, and Sony in particular, are already pretty great at hardware. We are all spoiled. But they are never great at software. My top 10 feature requests don't require a new camera model. They can all be solved with software updates. If only Sony had competent and ambitious software product managers and UX people...
The boldest thing they could do is to convert a camera into a programmable platform. It's a computer with a buch of peripherals, after all. Introduce APIs, sandboxing, and let millions of developers evolve it for you. Then build an app store with nice recurring revenue supplementing camera/lens sales, etc....Show more →
A camera we could write meaningful apps for / custom code would be amazing. I think it could usher in the next generation of camera UI / UX and features. Similar to what happened with early smartphones, where the community experimented with a lot of ideas that eventually became part of the base phone OS.
When people ask me to compare Sony vs Nikon, I usually say Sony feels like a high tech device that happens to take photos, and Nikon feels like a camera that happens to use high tech. A few times, I have let a photographer try my a7rIV and Z8 side by side and afterwards agree that it's a good analogy. While I feel Nikon's UI / UX is better than Sony I do feel Nikon's UI / UX can still be improved on quite a bit, especially as their cameras have gotten more and more features over the years.
Companies have limited resources, and UI / UX is harder to use as a sales tool compared to new photo or video features. Which is where community apps/customizations can help fill the void.
p.1 #12 · What is your wish list for the Sony A7RVI
old-gregg wrote:
"The opposite"? That's your assumption, not my proposal. I simply said that Sony should get out of the way and allow 3rd parties create firmware modules. Then you'll have a drastic improvement in quality. A simplified menu system (think "settings app") would definitely be in high demand. Examples of other modules could be: manual focus assist, different focusing algorithms, storage/image management, custom profiles/LUTs, automatic best-in-sequence tagging, in-camera pixel shift merge, etc.
Sorry, you are right -- I assumed you meant yet more features. A meta level settings app could really help! But clean design from the ground up would be better ...
p.1 #13 · What is your wish list for the Sony A7RVI
It's funny that picking up a Hasselblad of all things will show you how far behind the main companies are these days in terms of UX. Even so, it took them 4-5 iterations on the X2D to add some basic stuff, and more basic stuff is still not there. As a framework, it's brilliant.
p.1 #14 · What is your wish list for the Sony A7RVI
Nifty Fifty wrote:
Trying to escape the high-tech digital world with the help of a sophisticated digital camera with viewfinder display sounds pretty absurd to me. Whether with or without additional apps ultimately makes no difference. Get yourself a 500c/m, a Gossen Profisix, and a handful of roll film. Then, keep your hands off the scanner and head straight to the darkroom. After that, we can talk about escaping the computerized world. I mean that completely seriously and without any irony.
I typically shoot in manual mode using auto iso. I pick the shutter and aperture for the result I want. Landscapes are pure manual focus. The viewfinder just becomes a way for me to compose the image. Using digital has many benefits for me including not needing to carry a bunch of film for me and then developing film when I get back home which for me is a brainless exercise.
For me to have some apps which require setting up a bunch of parameters and then reeling off images that I have little control over would take me away from the joy I get out of photography and lead me to something like afternoon lawn bowling.
p.1 #15 · What is your wish list for the Sony A7RVI
old-gregg wrote:
"The opposite"? That's your assumption, not my proposal. I simply said that Sony should get out of the way and allow 3rd parties create firmware modules. Then you'll have a drastic improvement in quality. A simplified menu system (think "settings app") would definitely be in high demand. Examples of other modules could be: manual focus assist, different focusing algorithms, storage/image management, custom profiles/LUTs, automatic best-in-sequence tagging, in-camera pixel shift merge, etc.
I don't. He's pretending to be some kind of luddite purist who doesn't rely on technology to create fine art. But in reality, Chez is a self-propelled moist tripod like most of us. His camera is already doing all the work, and to help him understand what he's computer-with-lens is capable of, a better 3rd party software wouldn't hurt....Show more →
I’d appreciate you not speak for me because it sounds like it’s coming straight from your ass.
p.1 #16 · What is your wish list for the Sony A7RVI
old-gregg wrote:
"The opposite"? That's your assumption, not my proposal. I simply said that Sony should get out of the way and allow 3rd parties create firmware modules. Then you'll have a drastic improvement in quality. A simplified menu system (think "settings app") would definitely be in high demand. Examples of other modules could be: manual focus assist, different focusing algorithms, storage/image management, custom profiles/LUTs, automatic best-in-sequence tagging, in-camera pixel shift merge, etc.
While I am a big fan of your app / custom code idea. I do think we need to be realistic about what we can customize. Things like focus algorithms or in camera pixel shift merging are probably extremely hardware dependent in most cameras. This could require the ability to write sub firmware (the AF model may have it's own firmware), FPGA code (the AF model may be an FPGA chip), or even not be possible if a large part of the AF module is ASIC based. I don't see camera companies changing their hardware approach to allow for community customization. I would be very happy if we could even start with custom menus and overlays.
p.1 #18 · What is your wish list for the Sony A7RVI
old-gregg wrote:
"The opposite"? That's your assumption, not my proposal. I simply said that Sony should get out of the way and allow 3rd parties create firmware modules. Then you'll have a drastic improvement in quality. A simplified menu system (think "settings app") would definitely be in high demand. Examples of other modules could be: manual focus assist, different focusing algorithms, storage/image management, custom profiles/LUTs, automatic best-in-sequence tagging, in-camera pixel shift merge, etc.
I don't. He's pretending to be some kind of luddite purist who doesn't rely on technology to create fine art. But in reality, Chez is a self-propelled moist tripod like most of us. His camera is already doing all the work, and to help him understand what he's computer-with-lens is capable of, a better 3rd party software wouldn't hurt....Show more →
The digital camera already doing all the work? Film does all the work - colour, white balance, etc., these are decisions made for you at purchase.
Digital leaves much more of the work to the photographer, realistically speaking. From capture to post, I have to think about way more when I shoot digital. My film cameras have, like, three or four changeable features and no menu system - I shoot film when I don't want to think too much about anything other than composition, or work that hard in post.
But...but...your overall point, I'm down with it. I would love to see what competent and thoughtful app developers would be able to come up with given that Sony has decided to not innovate at all in that space. I'd like better manual focusing aids, programmable shutter speeds past 30s, customizable grids and levels, a competent app to transfer photos to my phone...
p.1 #19 · What is your wish list for the Sony A7RVI
Dave Sanders wrote:
The digital camera already doing all the work? Film does all the work - colour, white balance, etc., these are decisions made for you at purchase.
