SONY A7 and A7R
Discussion
http://www.dpreview.com/news/2013/10/16/first-impr...
good video review here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bnvgceTEV3c
Well this is intriguing. A full frame, mirror-less ILC camera. Well two actually! A7 holds a 24 MP FF sensor and has Hybrid AF. The A7R, a 36 MP FF sensor sans AA filter and only contrast AF (seems like the same chip from the Nikon D800E).
Not sure what to make of these really. On the one hand FF in a small body - and a body that looks lovely to hold, has plenty of well laid out controls at that - but on the other its another lens mount, with its own line of lenses and they seem scared of making proper fast lenses because next to the body, they're going to look totally oversized.
Still while this is a new mount, the FE mount, it will directly take existing E-mount glass and then run in a crop mode giving you 15 MP and the right crop factor on the A7 and of course a similar resolution drop on the A7R. The shutter sound hilariously loud, which I would hope is because these are pre-production. Its a proper "thwack!" noise.
All the current lens adapters (one of the NEX systems strengths) will work so you can mount your Canon, Nikon, Voigtlander, Leica glass and there are two new adapters from sony, the LA-EA3 and EA4 which basically work in the same vein as the LA-EA1 and EA2, the later of which provides full time phase auto-focus by use of SLT, translucent mirror technology.
And the prices seem keen as well. $1700 body only for the A7 and $2300 for the A7R which I don't think is bad.
Still I think they're looking a bit stuck as now they've shrank the cameras, due to the sensor size, they seem rather unable to shrink the lenses quite so much which is probably why none of the launch zooms have apertures any larger than f/4. Fast glass always seems to make the bulk of the weight of your kit and thats the one thing they are unable to do anything about. The smaller camera body doesn't really net you all that much weight saving.
good video review here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bnvgceTEV3c
Well this is intriguing. A full frame, mirror-less ILC camera. Well two actually! A7 holds a 24 MP FF sensor and has Hybrid AF. The A7R, a 36 MP FF sensor sans AA filter and only contrast AF (seems like the same chip from the Nikon D800E).
Not sure what to make of these really. On the one hand FF in a small body - and a body that looks lovely to hold, has plenty of well laid out controls at that - but on the other its another lens mount, with its own line of lenses and they seem scared of making proper fast lenses because next to the body, they're going to look totally oversized.
Still while this is a new mount, the FE mount, it will directly take existing E-mount glass and then run in a crop mode giving you 15 MP and the right crop factor on the A7 and of course a similar resolution drop on the A7R. The shutter sound hilariously loud, which I would hope is because these are pre-production. Its a proper "thwack!" noise.
All the current lens adapters (one of the NEX systems strengths) will work so you can mount your Canon, Nikon, Voigtlander, Leica glass and there are two new adapters from sony, the LA-EA3 and EA4 which basically work in the same vein as the LA-EA1 and EA2, the later of which provides full time phase auto-focus by use of SLT, translucent mirror technology.
And the prices seem keen as well. $1700 body only for the A7 and $2300 for the A7R which I don't think is bad.
Still I think they're looking a bit stuck as now they've shrank the cameras, due to the sensor size, they seem rather unable to shrink the lenses quite so much which is probably why none of the launch zooms have apertures any larger than f/4. Fast glass always seems to make the bulk of the weight of your kit and thats the one thing they are unable to do anything about. The smaller camera body doesn't really net you all that much weight saving.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wUJc83wV6iA
Decent review from the camera store ^
and another here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wUJc83wV6iA
Yeah I know its digital rev, who are now solidly the TG of the YouTube photography review world, but he does at least manage to make a few good points. Reading the spec's I would have plumped for the A7, but having seen that review, the AF doesn't seem bad at all on the A7R. The shutter noise is pure comedy though! The A7R has no electronic first curtain so it needs 2 shutter actuations. The A7 can use electronic FC and so only needs one, plus the mechanism sounds nicer.
Still.. I think the images from the R are cream pie in your pants worthy!
I am still undecided on whether to ditch my NEX-6. It does take great photos, but to actually use I haven't really gelled with it. The menu system is down right awful and because there aren't quite enough customisable buttons (and even the quick function menu has one less slot than I'd like) you find yourself delving into it often enough for it to grate. If they release a FW update that gives it the same menu system as the A7's I'd be much happier. Added to that, the UI feels slow and clunky, compared to Panasonics GX-7 its positively sloth like. The GX-7 is incredibly responsive. Also, the NEX AF has a horrible tendency to focus on background, despite having obvious subjects in the front of frame. Really annoys me as well! You need to reach for the manual focus or take a couple of shots to ensure you get it right.
I was already to switch to the GX-7 and m4/3 based on how much I liked the GX-7. All the adapters exist to fit good cheap interesting lenses, the contrast AF performance is scarcely believable and there is a huge lens line up!
BUT!!! I am now holding back till the new year because I hear rumour of an NEX-7 replacement!!!! - If they nail that, I may spring for that instead as I am already invested in the eco-system. As long as they keep it at 24 MP. I don't think APS-C needs more. And remove the AA filter, add 1/8000th shutter and 1/320 flash sync, bigger EVF and keep the tri-navi (and maybe simple 2-axis in body IS?).
Decent review from the camera store ^
and another here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wUJc83wV6iA
Yeah I know its digital rev, who are now solidly the TG of the YouTube photography review world, but he does at least manage to make a few good points. Reading the spec's I would have plumped for the A7, but having seen that review, the AF doesn't seem bad at all on the A7R. The shutter noise is pure comedy though! The A7R has no electronic first curtain so it needs 2 shutter actuations. The A7 can use electronic FC and so only needs one, plus the mechanism sounds nicer.
Still.. I think the images from the R are cream pie in your pants worthy!
I am still undecided on whether to ditch my NEX-6. It does take great photos, but to actually use I haven't really gelled with it. The menu system is down right awful and because there aren't quite enough customisable buttons (and even the quick function menu has one less slot than I'd like) you find yourself delving into it often enough for it to grate. If they release a FW update that gives it the same menu system as the A7's I'd be much happier. Added to that, the UI feels slow and clunky, compared to Panasonics GX-7 its positively sloth like. The GX-7 is incredibly responsive. Also, the NEX AF has a horrible tendency to focus on background, despite having obvious subjects in the front of frame. Really annoys me as well! You need to reach for the manual focus or take a couple of shots to ensure you get it right.
I was already to switch to the GX-7 and m4/3 based on how much I liked the GX-7. All the adapters exist to fit good cheap interesting lenses, the contrast AF performance is scarcely believable and there is a huge lens line up!
BUT!!! I am now holding back till the new year because I hear rumour of an NEX-7 replacement!!!! - If they nail that, I may spring for that instead as I am already invested in the eco-system. As long as they keep it at 24 MP. I don't think APS-C needs more. And remove the AA filter, add 1/8000th shutter and 1/320 flash sync, bigger EVF and keep the tri-navi (and maybe simple 2-axis in body IS?).
Edited by Otispunkmeyer on Thursday 28th November 22:15
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