2nd A7R6 or an A1ii?
p.3 #12nd A7R6 or an A1ii?
FWIW, only. My result of dialing in +2/6 EV for the multi-pattern metering seemed to throw the entire metering system out of whack for, high-contrast, varied-subject images. The result was a mix of about 80% near perfect exposures that came within 0.1 EV of ideal, to around 20% that were nearly a full EV over exposed. Very weird. To confirm, I turned it off and things are back to Sony normal, meaning most files were pretty consistently ⅓ EV under ideal. Me, I'd rather live with a consistent ⅓ under than wildly mixed. To be clear, this was NOT an intensive or scientific test, just a quick point and shoot session under varied high-contrast light -- but it was enough to tell me to leave well enough alone *for me*.
Sep 01, 2026 at 04:10 PM
p.3 #22nd A7R6 or an A1ii?
j4nu wrote:
Usually they do not. Zebras are generally calculated from the camera’s processed preview or video signal, just like the histogram. They can become a good proxy for raw clipping after testing and calibration, but they are not inherently a direct measurement of raw photosite values. Their relationship to raw clipping can change with picture profile, white balance, ISO, gamma, and zebra threshold.
Metering determines the camera’s exposure recommendation.
The JPEG histogram and zebras estimate what the processed image is doing.
Raw clipping is what determines whether recoverable sensor data has actually been lost.Not sure what you intended to convey here, but my point was that zebras are good enough to protect highlights from clipping (if zebra level lower limit is properly set), which in turn maximizes captured DR.
I understand your point better now, and I agree that properly calibrated zebras can be good enough in practice to protect important highlights from raw clipping. My objection was only to the wording that zebras show the “actual RAW DR latitude,” since they normally derive their warning from a processed signal rather than directly displaying raw-channel values.
So I think we largely agree on the practical method. My qualification is simply that calibrated zebras are a very good proxy for raw clipping—not a literal display of the raw data itself.
2613pch wrote
“Zebras … show the actual RAW DR latitude.”Usually they do not. Zebras are generally calculated from the camera’s processed preview or video signal, just like the histogram. They can become a good proxy for raw clipping after testing and calibration, but they are not inherently a direct measurement of raw photosite values. Their relationship to raw clipping can change with picture profile, white balance, ISO, gamma, and zebra threshold.
Metering determines the camera’s exposure recommendation.
The JPEG histogram and zebras estimate what the processed image is doing.
Raw clipping is what determines whether recoverable sensor data has actually been lost.
I understand your point better now, and I agree that properly calibrated zebras can be good enough in practice to protect important highlights from raw clipping. My objection was only to the wording that zebras show the “actual RAW DR latitude,” since they normally derive their warning from a processed signal rather than directly displaying raw-channel values.
So I think we largely agree on the practical method. My qualification is simply that calibrated zebras are a very good proxy for raw clipping—not a literal display of the raw data itself.
Sep 01, 2026 at 04:20 PM
p.3 #32nd A7R6 or an A1ii?
Jack Flesher wrote:
...I'd rather live with a consistent ⅓ under than wildly mixed...
Amen.
(Also, while good exposure is important, I think people get awfully hung up on supposedly "perfect" exposure down to the 1/3 or 1/6 (!) stop level.)
...I'd rather live with a consistent ⅓ under than wildly mixed...
Amen.
(Also, while good exposure is important, I think people get awfully hung up on supposedly "perfect" exposure down to the 1/3 or 1/6 (!) stop level.)
Sep 01, 2026 at 05:47 PM
p.3 #42nd A7R6 or an A1ii?
Late to the party here Jack but wanted to share some thoughts on it. About 2 years ago when I was shooting one A7RV, I knew my workflow in the field would be nicely streamlined if I had a 2nd identical body so I could have my two main lenses at the time, 24-70 and 70-200, each always mounted ready to go (I often work very quickly in reaction to fleeting and quickly-changing light, fog, impending rain, etc.). I wanted to eliminate the hassle of changing lenses so I could remain in the creative zone with few distractions, and more importantly I wanted to have all the focal lengths I need always available on various sand dunes and dusty desert locations that I love to shoot in without risking massive sand/dust getting inside the body during lens changes.
So I did grab the 2nd A7RV and it was a great experience for me for the above reasons, and it resulted in the most productive landscape shoots of my life. Also, having that 2nd body was crucial as a backup last year when I took a fall into a creek bed with one A7RV on tripod over my shoulder and it killed the EVF, but did not ruin my shooting since I still had the 2nd body.
One other reason I’d consider the 2nd A7R6 for you currently is that several bird/action shooters here and elsewhere on the net have commented about improvements the R6 has over the A1II in fast acquisition and locking on, not according to the specs but in their shooting experience, so for me I’d get great use out of a 2nd R6 now and then when the upcoming A1 III is released I’d look at it knowing it will have all the latest goodness Sony can throw into it.
Yes, I do have my A7R6 up for sale as you know but I am trying to not be biased in what I have shared
Cheers,
Ross
Edited on Sep 03, 2026 at 08:08 AM · View previous versions
So I did grab the 2nd A7RV and it was a great experience for me for the above reasons, and it resulted in the most productive landscape shoots of my life. Also, having that 2nd body was crucial as a backup last year when I took a fall into a creek bed with one A7RV on tripod over my shoulder and it killed the EVF, but did not ruin my shooting since I still had the 2nd body.
One other reason I’d consider the 2nd A7R6 for you currently is that several bird/action shooters here and elsewhere on the net have commented about improvements the R6 has over the A1II in fast acquisition and locking on, not according to the specs but in their shooting experience, so for me I’d get great use out of a 2nd R6 now and then when the upcoming A1 III is released I’d look at it knowing it will have all the latest goodness Sony can throw into it.
Yes, I do have my A7R6 up for sale as you know but I am trying to not be biased in what I have shared
Cheers,
Ross
Edited on Sep 03, 2026 at 08:08 AM · View previous versions
Sep 02, 2026 at 10:51 AM
p.3 #52nd A7R6 or an A1ii?
Ross Martin wrote:
Late to the party here Jack but wanted to share some thoughts on it. About 2 years ago when I was shooting one A7RV, I knew my workflow in the field would be nicely streamlined if I had a 2nd identical body so I could have my two main lenses at the time, 24-70 and 70-200, each always mounted ready to go (I often work very quickly in reaction to fleeting and quickly-changing light, fog, impending rain, etc.). I wanted to eliminate the hassle of changing lenses so I could remain in the creative zone with few distractions, and...Show more →
Appreciate the input Ross, and I fully understand your reasons guiding your current transition
(I will however add --and take this from one who knows-- there is no perfect system. But yes, some are better at some things than others. Lens design is just one aspect, and IME most of the majors tend to quickly fill a gap in their own lineups after one of the others presents something desirable they don't have...)
Late to the party here Jack but wanted to share some thoughts on it. About 2 years ago when I was shooting one A7RV, I knew my workflow in the field would be nicely streamlined if I had a 2nd identical body so I could have my two main lenses at the time, 24-70 and 70-200, each always mounted ready to go (I often work very quickly in reaction to fleeting and quickly-changing light, fog, impending rain, etc.). I wanted to eliminate the hassle of changing lenses so I could remain in the creative zone with few distractions, and...Show more →
Appreciate the input Ross, and I fully understand your reasons guiding your current transition
(I will however add --and take this from one who knows-- there is no perfect system. But yes, some are better at some things than others. Lens design is just one aspect, and IME most of the majors tend to quickly fill a gap in their own lineups after one of the others presents something desirable they don't have...)
Sep 02, 2026 at 10:56 AM
p.3 #62nd A7R6 or an A1ii?
Jack Flesher wrote:
So I did grab the 2nd A7RV and it was a great experience for me for the above reasons, and it resulted in my most productive landscape shoots of my life. Also, having that 2nd body was crucial as a backup last year when I took a fall into a creek bed with one A7RV on tripod over my shoulder and it killed the LCD screen, but did not ruin my shooting since i had the 2nd body.
One other reason I’d consider the 2nd A7R6 for you currently is that several bird/action shooters here and elsewhere on the net have commented about improvements the R6 has over the A1II in fast acquisition and locking on, so for me I’d get great use out of a 2nd R6 now and then when the upcoming A1 III is released I’d look at it knowing it will have all the latest goodness Sony can throw into it.
Yes, I do have my A7R6 up for sale as you know but I am trying to not be biased in what I have shared
Cheers,
RossAppreciate the input Ross, and I fully understand your reasons guiding your current transition
(I will however add --and take this from one who knows-- there is no perfect system. But yes, some are better at some things than others. Lens design is just one aspect, and IME most of the majors tend to quickly fill a gap in their own lineups after one of the others presents something desirable they don't have...)
Oh absolutely Jack, there is no such thing as perfection! I too speak from experience on that, I’m in my 47th year of shooting in this vocation and have used nearly every brand extensively in the film and digital eras, from 4x5 down to m43 and everything in between, including some brands that are sadly extinct now. For me it always comes down to chosing the tools that best suit my personal preferences and simultaneously best suit the stage of life & photography I’m at, so those specific tools do change at times for me. And of course it does not look the same for every person
Edited on Sep 02, 2026 at 01:52 PM · View previous versions
Ross Martin wrote
Late to the party here Jack but wanted to share some thoughts on it. About 2 years ago when I was shooting one A7RV, I knew my workflow in the field would be nicely streamlined if I had a 2nd identical body so I could have my two main lenses at the time, 24-70 and 70-200, each always mounted ready to go (I often work very quickly in reaction to fleeting and quickly-changing light, fog, impending rain, etc.). I wanted to eliminate the hassle of changing lenses so I could remain in the creative zone with few distractions, and more importantly I wanted to have all the focal lengths I need always available on various sand dunes and dusty desert locations that I love to shoot in without risking massive sand/dust getting inside the body during lens changes.So I did grab the 2nd A7RV and it was a great experience for me for the above reasons, and it resulted in my most productive landscape shoots of my life. Also, having that 2nd body was crucial as a backup last year when I took a fall into a creek bed with one A7RV on tripod over my shoulder and it killed the LCD screen, but did not ruin my shooting since i had the 2nd body.
One other reason I’d consider the 2nd A7R6 for you currently is that several bird/action shooters here and elsewhere on the net have commented about improvements the R6 has over the A1II in fast acquisition and locking on, so for me I’d get great use out of a 2nd R6 now and then when the upcoming A1 III is released I’d look at it knowing it will have all the latest goodness Sony can throw into it.
Yes, I do have my A7R6 up for sale as you know but I am trying to not be biased in what I have shared
Cheers,
Ross
(I will however add --and take this from one who knows-- there is no perfect system. But yes, some are better at some things than others. Lens design is just one aspect, and IME most of the majors tend to quickly fill a gap in their own lineups after one of the others presents something desirable they don't have...)
Oh absolutely Jack, there is no such thing as perfection! I too speak from experience on that, I’m in my 47th year of shooting in this vocation and have used nearly every brand extensively in the film and digital eras, from 4x5 down to m43 and everything in between, including some brands that are sadly extinct now. For me it always comes down to chosing the tools that best suit my personal preferences and simultaneously best suit the stage of life & photography I’m at, so those specific tools do change at times for me. And of course it does not look the same for every person
Edited on Sep 02, 2026 at 01:52 PM · View previous versions
Sep 02, 2026 at 12:24 PM
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p.3 #72nd A7R6 or an A1ii?
Ross Martin wrote:
Late to the party here Jack but wanted to share some thoughts on it. About 2 years ago when I was shooting one A7RV, I knew my workflow in the field would be nicely streamlined if I had a 2nd identical body so I could have my two main lenses at the time, 24-70 and 70-200, each always mounted ready to go (I often work very quickly in reaction to fleeting and quickly-changing light, fog, impending rain, etc.). I wanted to eliminate the hassle of changing lenses so I could remain in the creative zone with few distractions, and...Show more →
Your second paragraph resonates with me and how I work. Two identical cameras, set up identically with different lenses attached allow for immediate composition changes. If the situation allows, a quick change on one to a different set of custom settings allows capturing other image types while waiting for the right light on my main setup. I know it sounds trivial, but having cameras that accept the same battery is a pretty significant thing for me when I'm out in the field. A7R6 AF is pretty darn good even if it's not the best currently available. And yes, if/when I need it, perhaps the A1iii will be out... Definite lean towards another A7R6 at this time, going to sit with that for a few more days just to confirm it sticks.
Thanks to everyone for your input, it is all appreciated
Late to the party here Jack but wanted to share some thoughts on it. About 2 years ago when I was shooting one A7RV, I knew my workflow in the field would be nicely streamlined if I had a 2nd identical body so I could have my two main lenses at the time, 24-70 and 70-200, each always mounted ready to go (I often work very quickly in reaction to fleeting and quickly-changing light, fog, impending rain, etc.). I wanted to eliminate the hassle of changing lenses so I could remain in the creative zone with few distractions, and...Show more →
Your second paragraph resonates with me and how I work. Two identical cameras, set up identically with different lenses attached allow for immediate composition changes. If the situation allows, a quick change on one to a different set of custom settings allows capturing other image types while waiting for the right light on my main setup. I know it sounds trivial, but having cameras that accept the same battery is a pretty significant thing for me when I'm out in the field. A7R6 AF is pretty darn good even if it's not the best currently available. And yes, if/when I need it, perhaps the A1iii will be out... Definite lean towards another A7R6 at this time, going to sit with that for a few more days just to confirm it sticks.
Thanks to everyone for your input, it is all appreciated
Sep 02, 2026 at 01:10 PM
p.3 #82nd A7R6 or an A1ii?
I used to shoot two Olympus cameras with two different lenses. It was super convenient and a great experience, and a good backup. I imagine two a7r6 will do well.
Sep 02, 2026 at 02:49 PM
p.3 #92nd A7R6 or an A1ii?
Ross Martin wrote:
Yes, I do have my A7R6 up for sale as you know but I am trying to not be biased in what I have shared
Cheers,
Ross
Ross - what are you replacing the A7R6 with?
Sep 02, 2026 at 04:16 PM
p.3 #102nd A7R6 or an A1ii?
mudlake wrote:
Cheers,
RossRoss - what are you replacing the A7R6 with?
I have been shooting the Nikon Z8 since February, alongside Sony. But it’s not easy for me to go back and forth between two systems, and I prefer the ergonomics of the Z8, along with the amazing 24-120/4 which is a foundational lens for me. And being a longtime Nikon user starting decades ago, that’s where my heart belongs and it feels like going home, especially as it reminds me of the ‘glory’ years shooting the D850 DSLR with older 24-120 🥰. I may try to pick up a much less expensive Sony body so I can stay a part-time Sony shooter and poster.
Edited on Sep 03, 2026 at 07:38 AM · View previous versions
Ross Martin wrote
Yes, I do have my A7R6 up for sale as you know but I am trying to not be biased in what I have sharedCheers,
Ross
I have been shooting the Nikon Z8 since February, alongside Sony. But it’s not easy for me to go back and forth between two systems, and I prefer the ergonomics of the Z8, along with the amazing 24-120/4 which is a foundational lens for me. And being a longtime Nikon user starting decades ago, that’s where my heart belongs and it feels like going home, especially as it reminds me of the ‘glory’ years shooting the D850 DSLR with older 24-120 🥰. I may try to pick up a much less expensive Sony body so I can stay a part-time Sony shooter and poster.
Edited on Sep 03, 2026 at 07:38 AM · View previous versions
Sep 02, 2026 at 05:37 PM
p.3 #112nd A7R6 or an A1ii?
Ross Martin wrote:
mudlake wrote
Ross Martin wrote
Yes, I do have my A7R6 up for sale as you know but I am trying to not be biased in what I have sharedCheers,
Ross
Aha! I thought you sold your Z8 a couple months ago. Good camera.
Sep 02, 2026 at 05:51 PM
p.3 #122nd A7R6 or an A1ii?
I refuse to buy a sony camera unless it is a stacked sensor that has high enough readout that I can keep it on 100% of the time. It just adds so much joy to photography for me. So A1/ii for me only.
Sep 02, 2026 at 07:54 PM