My feelings regarding my A1 are somewhat discouraging at this point. I also experience a certain missed-out hit ratio since upgraded from 1.2 to 1.31 FW for Bird Eye AF. Although lately I don't shoot birds on a regular basis to be absolutely certain. Downgradable FW option is essential and if it was properly implemented by Sony software developers we all will be as happy as ever (almost).
What is discouraging is the fact that inferior, in the Sony range, cameras have options and features not present in the very pricey flagship, which IMHO should be shielded against the situation we are living now. I remember my times with Canon, with my 5D MkII which had the same sensor as the 1Ds MkIII and hence the same image quality. I was very happy with it due to the big price difference favouring the MkII. But of course it could not compete in shooting speed and autofocus with the flagship model and also lacking some more options present in the expensive big brother. This is how things should be hierarchically.
Sony is playing a dangerous game I don't like a damn. If the A1's AF is loosing power as some very respected shooters claim here, there is no focus bracketing (the most wounding), no animal AF in video, no focus breathing compensation, and so on, what's the point of owning it at a very premium price? The only reason is 30 fps compressed Raw@50 mpx with AF/AE, blackout free and reliable ES operation in the studio (with monoblock flashes) and in the field?
Regarding timings, if this situation happened four years after the A1 launchment it could be understandable, but 9 months after A7 IV launchment relative to A1 debut? 21 months after A7 RV relative to A1 debut? No, absolutely outrageous. At every launchment of these subsequent cameras Sony ought to offer comparable FW updates to still keep the FLAGSHIP model up to date, for preventing A1 owners feeling with a really depreciated camera in their hands. Come on, I've payed 7.300 eur plus 450 eur for the original grip (with lackluster joystick responsiveness, by the way). This is a whooping 7.750 € for a FF camera and since 9 months after A1's debut I'm not happy due to this situation. Is it true Sony listens to the customers? I think they are deaf, honestly.
OTOH Nikon has given Z9 great firmware updates, closening the gap between both, even surpassing the A1 and it makes me feel like in an adandoned situation by comparisson.
This is my response to Sony: I won't be getting the new A1 II because this same situation is going to happen again in two or three years, when the forecoming A7 V or A7 RVI models see the light with novel features not present in the A1 II. For sure there will be in two years another thread at FM titled "Sony A1 II to get FW update in February?"
There is something very wrong in Sony's development dept when setting model's hierarchy and features to add. And I suppose this is due because Sony never had previously a flagship hybrid model and also because it offers a miriad of "specialized" different models/ranges almost cannibalizing each other.
The A1 is their first debut in the flagship photovideo camera range and they are incurring in gross errors that Nikon or Canon dont' do because of their previous experience in flagship models and what this means from the owner's perspective. You can't add some software key features to inferior models simply because the flagship is not going to be considered a flagship anymore. Look at A7 RV owners claiming to be better served than with A1.
So this is the situation from my point of view. And I might suppose there are some A1 owners with similar views like mine. But my decission is firm, I won't buy more Sony flagship bodies in my life and arguably no more Sony lenses because I'm really irritated and upsetted with this brand and the way it's conducting their businness from a buyer's perspective. I'll keep shooting Sony nevertheless, because I'm not going to trade all my hardly collected selection of great E-Mount lenses (Sony GMs, Gs, Sigma Art and adapted Pentax 645). But I won't be in the market for another Sony flagship camera again, that's for sure.
My feelings regarding my A1 are somewhat discouraging at this point. I also experience a certain missed-out hit ratio since upgraded from 1.2 to 1.31 FW for Bird Eye AF. Although lately I don't shoot birds on a regular basis to be absolutely certain. Downgradable FW option is essential and if it was properly implemented by Sony software developers we all will be happy as ever (almost).
What is discouraging is the fact that inferior, in the Sony range, cameras have options and features not present in the very pricey flagship, which IMHO should be shielded against the situation we are living now. I remember my times with Canon, with my 5D MkII which had the same sensor as the 1Ds MkIII and hence the same image quality. I was very happy with it due to the big price difference favouring the MkII. But of course it could not compete in shooting speed and autofocus with the flagship model and also lacking some more options present in the expensive big brother. This is how things should be hierarchically.
Sony is playing a dangerous game I don't like a damn. If the A1's AF is loosing power as some very respected shooters claim here, there is no focus bracketing (the most wounding), no animal AF in video, no focus breathing compensation, and so on, what's the point of owning it at a very premium price? The only reason is 30 fps compressed Raw@50 mpx with AF/AE, blackout free and reliable ES operation in the studio (with monoblock flashes) and in the field?
Regarding timings, if this situation happened four years after the A1 launchment it could be understandable, but 9 months after A7 IV launchment relative to A1 debut? 21 months after A7 RV relative to A1 debut? No, absolutely outrageous. At every launchment of these subsequent cameras Sony ought to offer comparable FW updates to still keep the FLAGSHIP model up to date, for preventing A1 owners feeling with a really depreciated camera in their hands. Come on, I've payed 7.300 eur plus 450 eur for the original grip (with lackluster joystick responsiveness, by the way). This is a whooping 7.850 € for a FF camera and since 9 months after A1's debut I'm not happy due to this situation. Is it true Sony listens to the customers? I think they are deaf, honestly.
OTOH Nikon has given Z9 great firmware updates, closening the gap between both, even surpassing the A1 and it makes me feel like in an adandoned situation by comparisson.
This is my response to Sony: I won't be getting the new A1 II because this same situation is going to happen again in two or three years, when the forecoming A7 V or A7 RVI models see the light with novel features not present in the A1 II. For sure there will be in two years another thread at FM titled "Sony A1 II to get FW update in February?"
There is something very wrong in Sony's development dept when setting model's hierarchy and features to add. And I suppose this is due because Sony never had previously a flagship hybrid model and also because it offers a miriad of "specialized" different models/ranges almost cannibalizing each other.
The A1 is their first debut in the flagship photovideo camera range and they are incurring in gross errors that Nikon or Canon dont' do because of their previous experience in flagship models and what this means from the owner's perspective. You can't add some software key features to inferior models simply because the flagship is not going to be considered a flagship anymore. Look at A7 RV owners claiming to be better served than with A1.
So this is the situation from my point of view. And I might suppose there are some A1 owners with similar views like mine. But my decission is firm, I won't buy more Sony flagship bodies in my life and arguably no more Sony lenses because I'm really irritated and upsetted with this brand and the way it's conducting their businness from a buyer's perspective. I'll keep shooting Sony nevertheless, because I'm not going to trade all my hardly collected selection of great E-Mount lenses (Sony GMs, Gs, Sigma Art and adapted Pentax 645). But I won't be in the market for another Sony flagship camera again, that's for sure.
Sony, are you listening the arguments?
Sorry for this unburden words
Mar 11, 2023 at 06:23 AM
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