A7R Plastic Flange

[cosmonaut]

If you are concerned about metal vs plastic lens mounts, this is worth a read:

http://www.lensrentals.com/blog/2013/12/assumptions-expectations-and-plastic-mounts

Thanks Mark that is a must read and an eye opener.

 

[Godfrey]

I think there is one thing standing in the way of the A7 series, or any E-mount lens for that matter, being a great all-lens camera: and that is the fact that the A7 has a plastic flange.

The problem is that the Metabones mounts aren't machined to a strict enough tolerance, and the edges aren't softened to protect the plastic flange inside the camera. ...

As pointed out, the springs inside the A7's lens mount provide a metal on metal bearing surface for the bayonet flanges, which are strengthened also by backing into the external steel ring.

My experience (and that of others who've used them) is that Metabones mount adapters are rather variable and sloppy when it comes to machining precision. The one I bought was for Leica M to mFT mount and only three out of ten lenses locked into position on it correctly. All ten lenses fit all my M-mount cameras perfectly, and fit the Novoflex adapter I replaced the Metabones perfectly too.

Poor quality control on Metabones part. I won't buy any more of their products.

Whether the A7 is robust and durable enough to be considered a "professional tool" is questionable ... Not so much because I don't think it is robust and durable in and of itself, but because the quality standards of what constitutes a professional tool have changed somewhat. This is an era when most pro photographers change equipment in three to five year cycles rather than the once-was ten year cycles of the increasingly distant past. It's probably not the camera to depend upon if you are going into rugged situations where the camera is going to take a physical bruising. But if you are going to be working more in situations where your equipment is not overly beat up just from being used, it will likely last well enough for a pro to depend upon. Of course, for a pro it's a pretty cheap camera too, so anyone depending upon it for their income will be likely to have at least one or two backups in case of failure.

G

 

[Ranchu]

(edit: ok, it's complicated nevermind....)

 

[cosmonaut]

Here is an a7R taken apart.
http://www.imaging-resource.com/new...ecrets-lie-inside-our-2013-camera-of-the-year

 

[lam]

I was reminded of this thread when I saw that teardown, made me think, Sony certainly have an upper hand on some if not most of the digital camera manufacturers in some key areas, like board design and modular construction.. I mean, they build phones and other small electronics.

Don't know about you, but the fact it uses less screws and sizes, and the top "plate" in it's entirety is replaceable seems fairly "easy" to repair this. Professional grade, like the tanks of today? no way. It's never intended to be seen in that light.

Heck, my vertical grip is "Beautifully, Unapologetically Plastic" -Apple