MedicineMan404 wrote: Jemini wrote:
"I still find the A9/A9II system to be the most reliable."
You will make me sell 500 PF sooner than I thought and order A1 again
When I saw this fight between two male blue birds in my backyard, I got out with D500 and 500 PF. They fought for a while even ignoring me being close to them. I missed most shots with both birds in mid air. I think I would've gotten the shot I wanted with A9 and 100-400 which I just got and was not comfortable using it. I don't even I had the right setting in the camera at that time. Now I use more and more Sony and D500 is collecting dust.
arbitrage wrote: Jemini wrote: CalvinBird wrote: Jemini wrote:
This is cool. R5 did a great job with such a cluttered background.
It's not bad, but R5's Zone AF performs better in such situation (see following video), and I think A9II's Zone AF even better.
If you can hold the camera and keep the bird in the middle of the frame, the camera will get it in focus. Honestly D500 (D850, D5 and D6) can do this. But it will be utilizing only center 5 points (group) and you need to make sure the bird is under one of those 5 points vs Sony/Canon will be utilizing 100 (may be) points.
Agreed. Cameras that I've owned that I would trust to get me a good string of shots with that situation are D500, D850, R5, A9 and A9II. 1DXII would be a little less confidence inspiring but could do it sometimes. Of course D5, D6 would do it (I just never owned them) and 1DXIII would probably be good also as would an R6.
I still find the A9/A9II system to be the most reliable. I'd probably have a little more confidence in a D500/850 over an R5/6 but those are close. It is nice on the MILCs to have larger AF areas to work with.
A9:
D850:
Jemini. I will always miss the 500PF but like the 400DOii, I'd more often grab the 200-600. I suffer the weight of it but that's just my age/physical condition, but the 200-600 is truly the greatest overall-do-it-all wildlife lens I've ever used....what 'slowness' it has aperture or focus speed wise is overcome by the a9. I bet moreso with the alpha1. I just tire of DSLR in general though the D500 ...for what it was.... was a great camera.
The only thing I have that rivaled the a9+200600, and this from a 'wieldability' and weight standpoint is the A7Riv+100400GM and of course using the cropability of the Riv. That too might soon be rendered moot with the alpha.
Really more than the 500PF I miss the 300PF but after all practical AF was lost via firmware updates it too gathered dust.
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I completely understand what you are talking about. One thing I still struggle is the balance of A9+200-600 compared to D500/D850+500PF. Even though the weight difference is only 1LB you would feel much more than that with Sony Combo. I know the general concept of MILC is less weight and size. But I prefer much bigger camera with nice grip with long lenses. I'm sure I'm not alone. I know A1 (A9 II/A7RIV) has better grip. I tried it from a store. But no way close to D500 or even R5. Sony need to make the camera little bit more taller. I use the RRS QR to add height. It's weird you have to attach a QR for better ergonomics!
Anyway I'm planning to use grip with A1...
I think using an RRS base plate is great and like Sony giving me the option to adjust weight. I can be small and light or heavy, depending on the siutation.
Just yesterday we had a very good wedding photographer friend with the Canon r6 + 50/1.2 visiting us. I handled the R6 again for quite some time and cannot agree with the "better grip" mantra.
I use the Sony with the RRS base plates or battery grip and prefer their ergonomics to that of the Canon clearly. Could be years of Sony use now, don't know. My wife thought the same (I found the space between 50/1.2 R and fingers to be extremely small, too.). This tells me, again, it is extremely subjective.
Using the battery grip the A9ii is about 1kg, heavier than the D500 many use without grip. The 250g difference when using a battery grip on the D500 can be mitigated by using a small weight instead of a battery insight the grip in case that really is of importance.
