Official Sony A7 or A7r discussion thread

[ray_stinger]

Had the opportunity to preview the Sony A7 at a pre-launch event organised by Sony Singapore and Clubsnap. Took some of my RF lens down to try out with the camera. Overall the image quality is good but I think focus peaking is still a hit and miss. I average ~50% hit rate with my RF lens in terms of focusing accuracy. This is no where near as accurate and consistent compared to focusing using the rangefinder. I guess with more practice, the hit rate will go up but if you are a wide open shooter, you'll likely be better off with a rangefinder.

Given my limited time with this camera, it has dispelled any doubts I had over it being a viable substitute to my M240. However I think it would make a suitable addition/backup to Leica M9 users looking for high ISO capabilities missing in their camera.

Some of the test images are found below. All taken @ ISO 3200, JPG, Auto-WB except for the first one which was taken at ISO 800.

Sony A7 (pre-production firmware) with Leica 35mm Summilux Asph FLE @ f/1.4 using Novoflex NEX-M adapter

Sony A7 (pre-production firmware) with Leica 50mm Noctilux E58 V1 @ f/1.0 using Novoflex NEX-M adapter

Sony A7 (pre-production firmware) with Leica 50mm Summilux Asph @ f/1.4 using Novoflex NEX-M adapter

Sony A7 (pre-production firmware) with Leica 50mm Summilux Asph @ f/1.4 using Novoflex NEX-M adapter

For rest of the photos and their full res version, please visit my Flickr set.

 

[Thoth]

I've already ordered mine.

Same. Just paid at Sony Wisma. Collecting on 27th. Keke

 

[ricleo]

haha looks like more takers for the A7 compared to the A7R

 

[ricleo]

Had the opportunity to preview the Sony A7 at a pre-launch event organised by Sony Singapore and Clubsnap. Took some of my RF lens down to try out with the camera. Overall the image quality is good but I think focus peaking is still a hit and miss. I average ~50% hit rate with my RF lens in terms of focusing accuracy. This is no where near as accurate and consistent compared to focusing using the rangefinder. I guess with more practice, the hit rate will go up but if you are a wide open shooter, you'll likely be better off with a rangefinder.

Given my limited time with this camera, it has dispelled any doubts I had over it being a viable substitute to my M240. However I think it would make a suitable addition/backup to Leica M9 users looking for high ISO capabilities missing in their camera.

agree with you. focus peaking has a learning curve but once you get used to the behaviour i find it quite intuitive

 

[ricleo]

Thanks Ricleo for the 35/1.4 and 5/4.5 shots. Those are the exact lenses I have and great to see them perform well on the A7. Can I check if the 35/1.4 experiences vignetting on the A7, or is it simply due to lighting?

Thanks all for sharing!

when shot wide open there will definitely be some vignetting, but in this case the spot light is causing more of the uneven lighting rather than pronounced vignetting

 

[ricleo]

Same. Just paid at Sony Wisma. Collecting on 27th. Keke

i did mine at cathay photo. Sony requires a full deposit while the other dealers only require 50% deposit. collection date also 27th Nov

 

[ricleo]

a few more to share.

50 1.1

35 1.4

 

[ricleo]

some of our CS brothers there today

record for biggest lens on a A7 today

 

[Thoth]

i did mine at cathay photo. Sony requires a full deposit while the other dealers only require 50% deposit. collection date also 27th Nov

Yeah. I paid full. Standard 32GB card freebie. LOL. Hope the 55/1.8 be out on the same day.

 

[Thoth]

 

[Happyman2801]

Hi, was the zeiss 24-70mm f4 available to try at the event?

 

[Happyman2801]

some of our CS brothers there today

record for biggest lens on a A7 today

Hi, are the photos straight out from camera without PP?

 

[Errz]

I've already ordered mine.

wah everyone getting new toy~

 

[Thoth]

wah everyone getting new toy~

Its ok. Yours is still premium...

 

[ageha]

That's ISO 320 and 250?

 

[Thoth]

That's ISO 320 and 250?

U all can see ah?

 

[ricleo]

Hi, are the photos straight out from camera without PP?

resized for web, tweaked the WB a little cuz the AWB was a little on the yellow side. no major PP done

 

[Errz]

U all can see ah?

from flickr mah. can see EXIF

 

[ricleo]

one major drawback of using RF lenses on the A7 is the minimum focusing distance for these type of lenses tend to be 0.7m and upwards. MFD is quite poor and hence magnification is poor for close up shots.

I ordered on ebay a leica M to nex adaptor with helicoid/extension tube functions that hopefully can shorten the focusing distance without too much impact on IQ

 

[kei1309]

wah everyone getting new toy~

why not? :bsmilie:

it's something that pretty nice to use