SouthFla wrote:
Sorry for the rant, I just feel like venting after looking at my results from yesterday's shoot. I understand that the RIV mega-pixel beast demands the utmost attention to technique with its Uber resolution, and to be honest the results I have gotten shooting landscape, portrait, static subjects and general photography are incredible. In fact, I feel that I have taken more "portfolio-worthy" images with this camera (and lens) more than any other equipment I've had the fortune of owning. But anytime I try capturing moving action (i.e. BIF or aviation photography involving subjects traveling at speed) with the RIV and 200-600 I cannot get anywhere near acceptable results, regardless of whatever myriad of focus settings, tracking modes, or OSS settings I utilize. It's just so bleeping incredibly frustrating...
When the combo correctly focuses on a moving bird or jet the sharpness and results are stunning, but more often than not the results are a muddy soft focus mess. For any other type of photography with the combo the results have been amazing, with crisp images and a high percentage of keepers, so I don’t think it’s faulty equipment. The gear is not mis-focusing or focusing on the wrong part of a moving subject, the results are just “mushy” looking. Yesterday I tried to shoot the Blue Angels: Zone focus, af-c, OSS off, 1/3200 @ f7.1, Hi bursts. Easy stuff with a contrasty subject on a sunny day with low ISO. My keeper rate was maybe 2 in 10, and that’s being generous. And these were with SLOW moving BAs.
While I understand the RIV may not be “right tool” for this type of shoot, it should be able to produce some successful imagery with appropriate camera settings and technique. My RIII and 100-400 at air shows gave me +97% keeper rate and seemingly couldn't miss. Hell I’d take a 50% keeper rate and be thrilled with this combo. It’s SO frustrating as I REALLY love the RIV and all of the improvements over RIII (not to mention the incredible resolution and printing and cropping abilities).
I’ve reached out to Sony months ago, they asked for sample pictures which I sent, but they have not responded since - despite numerous contact attempts
I can’t really pull the trigger on a second body a9/II just for these types of shoots, so I’m wondering if the 100-400 would perform better on the RIV? I’d consider changing the RIV for a9/II but I don’t think I’m willing to give up the considerable reduction is resolution. I've read and been told of sporadic, even “verified” rumors around the ‘net that Sony is “aware of the (focusing) problem” with the RIV and 200-600 and possibly working on a firmware fix, but I don’t put a lot of faith in those rumors...
Anyway, sorry again for the blathering rant with not much point other than to express my frustration after looking through my photos. For better days here are a few pics from my last airshow with RIII and 100-400:
John
Not a surprised finding for this combo. I tried this combo for the Blue Angels and Thunderbirds flyover, the results are less than satisfactory. I have shot over 50 airshows with different cameras and lenses in the last 10 years, the A7RIII+200-600 gave me insanely sharp images last year. The strange thing is the A7RIV+200-600 yielded me 3-4/10 sharp pictures for bald eagles in flight, sometimes even with the 1.4TC. I was very happy with those.
May 09, 2020 at 09:19 AM
Previous versions of Douglas L's message #15222656 « Giving up on a7RIV and 200-600 :-( »
