Sony A850 Users, care to comments?

[doyc76]

What is a 1.5 multiplexer?

For crop sensor, in the case of Sony, there is a 'multiplier' effect, so 50mm has an effective focal length of 75mm (50 x 1.5), whereas on FF, 50mm = 50mm.

Canon / Nikon is slightly different at 1.6 or something or other...not so sure. Same concept though but harder to do mental arithmetic.

 

[torak]

Using multiplier to describe crop factor just doesnt sound right to me. The image gets cropped (cut down in size), it isnt enlarged at all...

 

[hanzohattori]

I'm an a850 user, upgrading from the a700 which i still have.

I have the following Minolta lenses that work fine with the 850:
- 50mm f/1.4 (original, not the RS version)
- 35-70mm f/4
- 28-135mm f/4-4.5

I also have a modified mount Minolta Rokkor 58mm f/1.2 which i use with my 850.

Hi,

Are those FF lenses ? I wanted to get an A850, but after seeing the CZs lens' prices I kinda change my mind.

1.5 crop means you'd get 1.5x magnification compared to FF version

 

[doyc76]

Hi,

Are those FF lenses ? I wanted to get an A850, but after seeing the CZs lens' prices I kinda change my mind.

1.5 crop means you'd get 1.5x magnification compared to FF version

Yup. All are FF lenses.

 

[blurblock]

Hi,

Are those FF lenses ? I wanted to get an A850, but after seeing the CZs lens' prices I kinda change my mind.

1.5 crop means you'd get 1.5x magnification compared to FF version

Yes, those are full frame lenses. In fact you do not need the CZ lenses. Just get a third party lens in Minolta "A" mount. The "G" lens from Sony were original design by Minolta and they were fantastic. With that being said, the CZ or the Minolta designed "G" lenses are just as expensive as Canon or Nikon's top end lenses with similar quality.

1.5 crop means at 50mm you get 1.5 x 50mm effect (about 75mm), but that does not mean you get 1.5x magnification. It is more like Taking a picture at 50mm then chop off part of it.

 

[TME]

Wow Blurblock... so you're coming back to the temple of light...

hahahaha... I've used the A900 for just over a year... don't shoot much actually... just clocked only about 9K+ shots compared to Hart who is over 150K...

I'm still using the old 3rd party Tamron 24-135mm plus KM17-35mm and Sony 70-300G... The very high resolution sensor really shows up the Tamron... it's not as sharp as it was on the Dynax 7 and 7D... a little bit of focusing issues which I think can be handled using the micro-adjustment feature which I don't bother with... sharp enough at A4 size and can sharpen enough to do away with micro-adjustment. The 17-35mm is a bit of problem cos of focus issues at 17mm... I just left the lens alone cos it's too wide to focus very accurately as the again the very high res shows up small errors in focusing very brutally... the 70-300G is the best of the lot... super sharp, fast, silent, yielding very nice colours out of the box...

If anything, the colours out of the box are superb... and mind you I shoot exclusively X.Fine JPEG... but the file sizes are mind-boggling... also if you like to shoot like me, machine-gun style at events, then you will prefer the larger (and faster?) A900 compared to the A850... otherwise the A850 represents better value...

 

[blurblock]

Wow Blurblock... so you're coming back to the temple of light...

hahahaha... I've used the A900 for just over a year... don't shoot much actually... just clocked only about 9K+ shots compared to Hart who is over 150K...

I'm still using the old 3rd party Tamron 24-135mm plus KM17-35mm and Sony 70-300G... The very high resolution sensor really shows up the Tamron... it's not as sharp as it was on the Dynax 7 and 7D... a little bit of focusing issues which I think can be handled using the micro-adjustment feature which I don't bother with... sharp enough at A4 size and can sharpen enough to do away with micro-adjustment. The 17-35mm is a bit of problem cos of focus issues at 17mm... I just left the lens alone cos it's too wide to focus very accurately as the again the very high res shows up small errors in focusing very brutally... the 70-300G is the best of the lot... super sharp, fast, silent, yielding very nice colours out of the box...

If anything, the colours out of the box are superb... and mind you I shoot exclusively X.Fine JPEG... but the file sizes are mind-boggling... also if you like to shoot like me, machine-gun style at events, then you will prefer the larger (and faster?) A900 compared to the A850... otherwise the A850 represents better value...

Hi TME, long time no see. Been out of action for the past two years due to marriage and baby .... Now baby is 1 year old, I can afford to pick up where I left off . But gone were the days where I can just pick up my camera and go around to take photographs.

I don't take machine gun shots, other than astrophotography where I shoot machine gun shots to do stacking, but those were the days long gone . My shots are mostly one shot, one kill.

 

[torak]

Hi,

Are those FF lenses ? I wanted to get an A850, but after seeing the CZs lens' prices I kinda change my mind.

1.5 crop means you'd get 1.5x magnification compared to FF version

Every brand has their premium/pro lens.

The CZ and G lenses are Sony's pro lens, thus the price. But there are lots of other non CZ/G lens that are pretty cheap. Infact if u buy minolta lenses (which is 100% compatible with Sony Alpha DSLRs), the full frame minolta lens are super cheap. Example the minolta 70-210mm f4 goes for only $300. U will never find a 70-200/210 F4 lens so cheap in any other brands.

 

[Edlet]

Now baby is 1 year old, I can afford to pick up where I left off .

Sorry bro, I have been where u r now. 1 year old is where the nightmare really begins. Dun believe? U just wait and see.

I don't take machine gun shots, other than astrophotography where I shoot machine gun shots to do stacking, but those were the days long gone . My shots are mostly one shot, one kill.

Depends on what u r shooting, once ur baby reaches 1.5yrs and start to run, it will be out of 10 shots, 1 shot in focus, u r lucky. :bsmilie:

 

[nsng]

Here are 2 websites with extensive reviews of Sony and Minolta lenses,
http://kurtmunger.com/index.html
http://artaphot.ch/home

Earlier this year I moved from using the Leica/DMR to the A850. The demands of a ff dslr on the older lenses are quite visible. My older Leica lenses are showing their age with weak edge and corner performance as well as CA in some cases. Previously with the DMR's 1.37 crop factor, the edge and corner performance was not an issue. With these older lenses I have to stop down to at least 5.6 to have acceptable edge and corner performance. In some cases, I have to stop down to 8.0 for critical corner performance.

I suspect you might find the older lenses might not perform up to your expectation. To me the A850 is a no-nonsense straight forward DSLR, easy to use and capable of great results. So far I have added 2 lenses, CZ 16-35 and 70-400G to complement my R lenses. The 70-400G has surprised me with its performance.

Hear are some just some A850 test shots, http://nns555.zenfolio.com/p38431480

N.S. Ng

 

[SK1968]

There are several CSers selling or should I say 'getting rid' of their A850 currently I wonder what they are unhappy with the camera ?

 

[derricksony]

I am a cheapskate guy, cant afford branded system. Hence had to buy A850 for a full frame system.

I am happy with it. Although it has some limitation like ISO noise (which can be solve by photoshop) and 3 frame per sec, once you understand the camera more, you can get good picture out from it.

Sometime having 3 frame per sec train you to shoot like a sniper than shooting like a machine gun. it will brush up your skill.

I am using 17mm tokina, 28mm f2.8 minolta, sony 50mm f1.4, minolta 200mm f2.8 and recently got a second hand copy of 85mm f.14 CZ.

during the recent wedding shots, i has seen my friend's official photographer using nikon D3. But sadly, his pictures aren't great compared to my sony system. I guess its not his camera, i think it mean he does not understand his system well enough.

 

[Rashkae]

There are several CSers selling or should I say 'getting rid' of their A850 currently I wonder what they are unhappy with the camera ?

Because they always want the latest and greatest with all the bells and whistles they will never know how to use?

 

[torak]

There are several CSers selling or should I say 'getting rid' of their A850 currently I wonder what they are unhappy with the camera ?

A lot of alpha owners sell off their gears simply because of peer pressure. they see their friends having canikon and they wanna follow.

The A850 is an excellent camera. Great handling (very very minolta like, it feels exactly like the minolta 7D), full frame 24mp (crop heaven, u can do so much editing and processing with such high resolution) and the viewfinder is huge! And for just $2.8k, which is a steal for a full frame.

If u have any doubts, just go rent the A850 for a weekend shoot. once u used it, u will never wanna go back to an aps-c dslr anymore

 

[blurblock]

A lot of alpha owners sell off their gears simply because of peer pressure. they see their friends having canikon and they wanna follow.

The A850 is an excellent camera. Great handling (very very minolta like, it feels exactly like the minolta 7D), full frame 24mp (crop heaven, u can do so much editing and processing with such high resolution) and the viewfinder is huge! And for just $2.8k, which is a steal for a full frame.

If u have any doubts, just go rent the A850 for a weekend shoot. once u used it, u will never wanna go back to an aps-c dslr anymore

Latest E-quote from MS Color ...... $2700 ......

Anyway, I am getting one from one of those who do not think this system is for them . Been with Minolta since 1990 .... not ready to throw my antique lenses away .

 

[Zahne]

Just upgraded from A550 to A850/type m screen with vertical grip and 28-75f2.8 lens. The only thing I miss is the live view and the tilt screen. The reason I wanna upgrade is that A550 limits the power of the 85mmf1.4cz. Love the big viewfinder and the preview function.

 

[Agetan]

during the recent wedding shots, i has seen my friend's official photographer using nikon D3. But sadly, his pictures aren't great compared to my sony system. I guess its not his camera, i think it mean he does not understand his system well enough.

Hi there,

You may want to consider what you are writing before you actually click that "post" button.

I am sure by calling someone's work aren't as great as someone else wasn't a nice things to do. Many beginner who started to get a few decent shots and after a few praises, seems to be enough to make them think they are better than someone else.

Please kindly refrain yourself from doing that and treat other's with respect.

Regards,

Hart

 

[nsng]

There are several CSers selling or should I say 'getting rid' of their A850 currently I wonder what they are unhappy with the camera ?

If you don't know where you are going, any road will take you there! I think it is a case of not understanding and using the system to its maximum capabilities. They will keep on changing to find the Holy Grail.

Here is a link to an interesting write-up on different camera systems for wedding photography,
http://photo.net/wedding-photography-forum/00V98v

Note the writer's comments on the A900/A850. The availability of AF CZ lenses was one of the reasons I chose the A850.

N.S. Ng

 

[Agetan]

interesting read indeed....

Ultimately, I did stay with Sony because of the in body stabilisation on prime lens.

Regards,

Hart

 

[SK1968]

Because they always want the latest and greatest with all the bells and whistles they will never know how to use?

haha, i agree with you. some people are just like that.