gdanmitchell wrote: Douglas L wrote: snapsy wrote: Douglas L wrote:
Cliff, I am posting some hummer shots, I was expecting much worse rolling shutter effect on the wings based on the sensor readout speed and some of the review pictures I saw online. I was pleasantly surprised it's quite usable for hummingbird shoots. Based on my own observation, the most visible effect is probably the occasional longer or shorter wing spans than normal.
These are amazing shots. I don't know anything about BIF but from what I've watched on hummers their wings move mostly horizontal during hover. If that's the phase caught for these images I wouldn't except to see much rolling shutter distortion since distortion occurs for movement across vertical rows. Have your observations been different with other cameras?
For reference here's a slow-motion video of a hover (various parts, but first is at 0:54):
Thank you. I have been shooting hummingbirds in my yard for 7 or 8 years if not longer. For that I have been using a variety of Sony cameras, including the A7RIII (before Sony had any fast bodies), A1, A1II. I don't think I ever used the A7RIV or the A7RV for that because the A1 was already out 6 or 7 years ago. I have seen pretty "interesting mutant" hummingbirds taken with cameras with slow sensor readout. James' post above is a perfect illustration.I don’t think pictures taken with A1 A1II look that different, which is a big pleasant surprise to me. I do feel certain shots made by the A7RVI have longer wings.
I know some folks are sick and tired of the sensor readout speed/rolling shutter discussion. Everybody knows the A7RVI (or even the A7RV for that matter) is a fantastic body for landscape and a host of other genres. Nobody is even questioning that. To me, the somewhat uncertain part is for some very niche applications in fast action stuff, if you rarely use the A7RVI for that kind of stuff, carry on. I know if I want to have higher probability of getting "the" shot, I will pick up the A1II. For me, the A7RVI is an all round camera that excels in many many areas and also happens to be very very good at fast actions, just not as good at the A1(II) and A9III in some niche applications.
The point I’ve tried to make here a few times (occasionally with a humorous analogy) is that there are different tools for good reasons.
If one’s main thing is stuff that always requires stopping the action of the highest speed subjects, then you get the camera that does the best job of stopping hte action of the highest speed subjects and live with other (often minor for you, though it depends) downsides such as somewhat less sensor resolution, as long as the camera still works well for you with those other subjects.
If one’s main thing is stuff that benefits from the highest available resolution and other features, then you get the camera that does the best job of providing that and live with (often minor for you, but it depends) downsides such as a bit less ability to handle the most challenging high speed situations, as long as the camera works well for you with those other subjects.
Imagine two cars. One is a pickup truck and the other is a SUV. It would seem nuts to complain that the SUV can’t carry as much lumber as the pickup or that the pickup uses more gas per mile. While there are many things that both can do just fine, if you needs lean one way or the other you choose the one closest to those needs. It doesn’t mean that there’s anything wrong with the other choice — it is just that your needs are different.
Yes but🤷🏼.
I think, especially today with excellent AI interpolation, at a certain point added resolution is all but useless. In the case of the A1ii, it’s native 8640 px wide and at 300ppi makes a native ~29” wide print. The A7Rvi is 9984 px wide for a native 33” print. Use a good AI interpolation and you double to 58” vs 66”. Reduce print resolution to 150 ppi because of the long viewing distance and you double both again for 116” vs 132” — point is either is capable of making a highly detailed print far larger than anyone is likely to ever print.
I would grant that the larger sensor gives a bit more croppability, but in the scheme of things it’s a pretty marginal advantage.
Jul 01, 2026 at 01:57 PM
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