A7R Verdict @ Photo Plus

[uhoh7]

Some people seem to forget how many factors that make people buy Leica cameras have little to do with photography. Still, the RF experience with Leica and other brand cameras has changed my outlook on photography. It is not necessarily better in all aspects, but it is better for me right now. I am not as good a photographer to need the most advanced sensor or the most advanced bla bla.

I still want to do foolish things, such as admiring the looks of a lens or of a camera.

I'd say the only factor which caused any of us to pre-order the A7r is photography.

The capabilities of the sensor and the form factor trump mystique or focus systems--for me anyway. At the very bottom of the list is the name on the camera. In the case of the A7r, many are buying in spite of the name, not because of it.

For someone who does not care about sensors, I find it amusing that you have two of the very best, and they are not hurting the quality of your shots one bit. In fact, as a fan, I'd say those sensors enhance your photography considerably.

Your recent shots at the beach a case in point.

 

[okcomputer]

I spent a few hours at Photo Plus. Most of the time I tested the A7R with two lenses: My 50mm Noctilux f1.0 and 35mm f1.2 Nokton. Let me say both lenses exhibited no distortion or color changes in the corners. Everything looked perfect. What really impressed me was how accurate the focus peaking was. My Noctilux was spot on EVERY time. I would focus on the smallest details and the Sony nailed it! Same with the Nokton.

Hi there- this will be my first experience with focus peaking. What did you think compared to RF focusing? About as quick? I've had trouble with RF focusing in low light... how does focus peaking compare?

Thanks

 

[lam]

I personally think that the looks of a camera is obtained over time, not at face value. Sharp, straight to the point styling has a appeal of its own, didn't try to "hark back to the old rangefinder days" type of dating in styling of the camera. Which to me isn't going forward in cameras but almost dates them immediately (look how cool the 2005 mustang looks now compared to a 2013.. )

... and that is what I find refreshing about this new Sony. I guess you can say I'm not that bothered by is utilitarian looks, but I also own a Hasselblad which isn't exactly a looker either.

 

[f16sunshine]

To the OP.

Thank you for your report. I too am interested in the A7R for use with a similar lens pair.

My question:

Your performance assesment, was this simply from viewing the rear LCD or ???
I don't know if an LCD pre-view is a terribly accurate method to asses a raw file other than looking at the histogram.

Cheers!

 

[Rogier]

Now that's downright ugly!

Its a underwater housing 😎

Now it nees a dome port for wide angle lenses.

 

[KoNickon]

I was wondering that myself -- how well can you tell focus accuracy from looking at an LCD?

 

[cosmonaut]

I was wondering that myself -- how well can you tell focus accuracy from looking at an LCD?

With focus peaking pretty good.

 

[cosmonaut]

Not a flattering photo of this camera at all .... it's certainly no looker.

But I see you can use it tethered! 😀

Function before beauty. I remember when the NEX series first came out and all of the ugly comments. It will grow on you. Especially if it's a good camera.

 

[dabick42]

@ Raid...

Quote...''I want to do foolish things, such as admiring the looks of a lens or of a camera''...

You'd better get used to the feeding frenzy that's going to surround the A7/A7R for the foreseeable future, Raid.

These two Sony products are going to thrust a burr up the ar$e of every owner of a less well specified digital camera and the weeping and wailing and gnashing of teeth will be frightening to behold !

I'm glad I'm completely indifferent to digital photography, just a bemused bystander keeping the whole sorry spectacle at arm's length.... (!)

 

[Takkun]

I think it's a nice, minimalist-ish looking body. The grip is removable, I assume?

I just wish more manufacturers would go the route of Fuji and put in traditional-style controls. That's what sold me there.

 

[uhoh7]

I think it's a nice, minimalist-ish looking body. The grip is removable, I assume?

I just wish more manufacturers would go the route of Fuji and put in traditional-style controls. That's what sold me there.

the "grip" is an add on:

One of the weak points of the camera is the battery which is quite small--same as nex. But the grip can hold two 🙂 The Grip also has shutter in "portrait" position, and some other controls.

Gripless, with some black tape over the "Sony", I think it will pass as some old 30.00 SLR--from the front anyway. Fine by me---less likely to be taken.

I have not heard a single person who has held it call it ugly, just the opposite, but in a thread the smug have to find some way to pee, I guess. Neighborhood dogs marking territory. 🙂

 

[hausen]

I really don't see it as ugly at all, mind you I am sold on Sony. Spent 2 hours yesterday wandering the West Auckland beaches near my home with RX-1 and 10 stop ND. Never fails to deliver.

 

[uhoh7]

new A7r tests with various lenses, including legacy glass, guy is a good shooter.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/96189377@N08/sets/72157637021609086/with/10523053786/

 

[wogg]

It's all about the wides

It's all about the wides

Depending what you shoot, no camera can replace one designed for M lenses unless it was designed for M lenses.

For me, these shots make clear, until someone proves otherwise: ignoring color shift, the A7* doesn't replace the M for SWA. It looks great 50+ mm, but this won't work for me at the wide side. We can fix color shift, but this edge resolution performance is miserable:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/leo_roos/10497293743/
that's the 15, but the same for the 12. It does start to get better by the 21 f/4.

 

[raid]

I may switch back to using film cameras more often.
I need to exercise my SWC. It has no equal.

@ Raid...

Quote...''I want to do foolish things, such as admiring the looks of a lens or of a camera''...

You'd better get used to the feeding frenzy that's going to surround the A7/A7R for the foreseeable future, Raid.

These two Sony products are going to thrust a burr up the ar$e of every owner of a less well specified digital camera and the weeping and wailing and gnashing of teeth will be frightening to behold !

I'm glad I'm completely indifferent to digital photography, just a bemused bystander keeping the whole sorry spectacle at arm's length.... (!)

 

[JChrome]

Its a underwater housing 😎 Now it nees a dome port for wide angle lenses.

Nice!! I have a housing for my SWC. We should go diving sometime!

 

[JChrome]

Regarding the OP, I'm never going to purchase this camera but frankly agree with UhOh7.

Not really sure why everyone is bad mouthin the cameras looks. My Pentax 67 and Mamiya RZ are ugly IMHO. But they do what they do well and that's why I like them.

This thing has caused a lot of eyebrows to raise and I'm sure more will follow. Just give it another few months... There'll be something shinier, more mgpx, fast AF etc. that will raise eyebrows and the cycle of attention grabbing will continue.

the "grip" is an add on: One of the weak points of the camera is the battery which is quite small--same as nex. But the grip can hold two 🙂 The Grip also has shutter in "portrait" position, and some other controls. Gripless, with some black tape over the "Sony", I think it will pass as some old 30.00 SLR--from the front anyway. Fine by me---less likely to be taken. I have not heard a single person who has held it call it ugly, just the opposite, but in a thread the smug have to find some way to pee, I guess. Neighborhood dogs marking territory. 🙂

 

[Emile de Leon]

Would rather have a Leica digital..
But for the price..
And the reliability..
And the extra dough in my pocket..
You cant go wrong with the A7r..
Some of the sharpest pics I've ever seen..
Could be in fact..
The Leica..
Slayer..
Hahaha..

 

[uhoh7]

This thing has caused a lot of eyebrows to raise and I'm sure more will follow. Just give it another few months... There'll be something shinier, more mgpx, fast AF etc. that will raise eyebrows and the cycle of attention grabbing will continue.

There will be another big release by SOny in January, with possibly 2 larger FF cameras, one Emount with a sensor that has IBIS and the ability to focus by moving in and out, and a new A-mount. Strong hints to this from within Sony.

Alpha mount users are having kittens already, panicing that their mount has been superseded.

And of of course there's the upcoming Nikon retro FF with mirror.

As to a smaller, cheaper, sharper FF camera, I highly doubt we will see any such thing for a long long while--but I'd be happy to be wrong about this.

What was the counter to the Sony Nex? Well there was the GXR, it's true, which for M is better,otherwise less versatile, but otherwise not much. Fuji making interesting things, but no real impact on market. Their RX-1 like thing coming soon.

Leica could launch a 240 w/o RF, but no sign of that.

This camera is the biggest shakeup in the professional digital age to date. Pretty clear the 240 will remain king with numerous M wides, but perhaps not all. M9 still king perhaps if you have the light 😉 But many M wides will be fine with A7r cropped to APS-H, so it's a good M8 🙂 It may be quite good with no crop on: zm18, Elmarit 28 v3 and possibly cron, cv 35/1.2 (ty OP), 35 cron, 40 cron etc.

As all these threads make obvious, all sorts of users are very interested in the Sony. What was the last camera which could claim this?

5D a pass for RF lovers, M240 a pass for cost and availablity. Nikon same as Canon.

A tempest in a teapot not. What are they calling that big storm in Britian?

One thing for sure, Sony's dubious rep with still cameras is over. First the Nex, then the killer RX-1, no question the best single lens FF in the world, and now the A7r, which appears to be a bases loaded HR. And the A7r was twice cancelled in the last two years, so they say. Sony has made less money than Leica for years, so the A7r success is a pretty big deal for them.

 

[bwcolor]

There will be another big release by SOny in January, with possibly 2 larger FF cameras, one Emount with a sensor that has IBIS and the ability to focus by moving in and out, and a new A-mount. Strong hints to this from within Sony.

Sounds a bit like a wish list given the near term date that you provide for release. I guess that moving a sensor is easier than Contax moving the film.