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Sony A99 II so far, likes and dislikes


Andrew Reid
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Nice first impressions review. Just one note. Zeiss 35mm 1.4 is smaller and lighter, but it's specs are much lower as well according to dxomark. No free lunch there. Either, top specs or size, you can't have both with current glass tech ;). https://www.dxomark.com/Lenses/Compare/Side-by-side/35mm-f-1.4-G-on-Sony-SLT-Alpha-99-II-versus-Sigma-35mm-F14-DG-HSM-A-Canon-on-Canon-EOS-5DS-R-versus-Sigma-35mm-F14-DG-HSM-A-Sony-on-Sony-SLT-Alpha-99-II__380_1120_1056_1009_1060_1120

 

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@ Andrew Reed:

Thanks for posting. Did you try out the 1080p at other speeds? How would it compare to that of the a7s?

I know you only had it for a short time before having to send it back, but do you think it would be competent shooting 4K or 1080 (at 60fps) in the ISO 1600 to 3200 range? At what ISO would the 1080p of the original a7s becoming noticeably better than that of the a99 II?

Thanks in advance for testing this out when you have a moment.

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Get a replacement on Monday so let's see about all that.

The Super 35mm 4K mode is competent up to ISO 12,800!

The full frame mode 4K is good to about 1600 but I think the 1080p might go higher and still look good.

a7s still has advantage in low light for full frame 4K.

1 hour ago, tomekk said:

Nice first impressions review. Just one note. Zeiss 35mm 1.4 is smaller and lighter, but it's specs are much lower as well according to dxomark. No free lunch there. Either, top specs or size, you can't have both with current glass tech ;). https://www.dxomark.com/Lenses/Compare/Side-by-side/35mm-f-1.4-G-on-Sony-SLT-Alpha-99-II-versus-Sigma-35mm-F14-DG-HSM-A-Canon-on-Canon-EOS-5DS-R-versus-Sigma-35mm-F14-DG-HSM-A-Sony-on-Sony-SLT-Alpha-99-II__380_1120_1056_1009_1060_1120

Yes the Sigma is a bit sharper but the Sony has a lovely rendering and character.

The new price for the Sony is insane but I got mine used for £599, which is similar price to the Sigma ART.

Same with the Zeiss 50mm f1.4 vs the Sigma, the Zeiss has a nicer character and rendering.

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Glad you're liking the camera Andrew.  If you do a full fledge review, if you could try taking video, 4k, under continuous fluorescent lighting.  One of the reasons I use Canons are the full frame don't have that damn banding like my Panasonic G7 has, just curious if the Sony doesn't have it or does have it.  Cheers!

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I do like the A99 ergos, still the best camera I've ever held in terms of grip, button placement and usability. When I tinkered with the A99II at a few Tokyo camera shops it was love, but then I put the 24-70 on there and it became a giant brick. The 24-70 is a really good lens, but by no means a lightweight. I never found the old A-mount 35 to be all that great, but that's my walk around FL and the SigArt is just so much better at its widest apertures, no sense in paying for a 1.4 if its not very good wide open.

If you're looking to go one system for stills and video Sony's 42mp sensor is really the best option IMO. The A-mount just lacks direction and seemingly a future as Sony has completely ignored the lenses in the last few years. The 35/85/135 are all in need of updates to SSM II tech, those are my most used primes so as always YMMV. They also need a good 28/2 like the E-mount as well, though you can get the Minolta easily. The 35 should be a Zeiss lens too, almost seems like the FE Z35 was the lens the A-mount should have gotten.

If Sony put the A7s sensor in the A99 body that could be a video monster and round out things a little better in terms of an ecosystem, but their focus is the FE cams as crop E-mount and A-mount are getting nothing but new bodies that seem to be not very well planned.

Lots of cheap Minolta glass still floating around including some really great stuff like the the 28/2 and the APO zoom. The beer can everyone talks about is good, but not great IMO. Lots of good deals on used A-mount lenses - both Sony and Minolta - can be found though. Looking forward to comparison videos. The 16-50/2.8 is a great option for s35 video too, its easy to find used on the cheap.

Cheers

Chris

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2 hours ago, Trek of Joy said:

I do like the A99 ergos, still the best camera I've ever held in terms of grip, button placement and usability. When I tinkered with the A99II at a few Tokyo camera shops it was love, but then I put the 24-70 on there and it became a giant brick. The 24-70 is a really good lens, but by no means a lightweight. I never found the old A-mount 35 to be all that great, but that's my walk around FL and the SigArt is just so much better at its widest apertures, no sense in paying for a 1.4 if its not very good wide open.

All 24-70mm F2.8 lenses are bricks even G Master.

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If you're looking to go one system for stills and video Sony's 42mp sensor is really the best option IMO. The A-mount just lacks direction and seemingly a future as Sony has completely ignored the lenses in the last few years. The 35/85/135 are all in need of updates to SSM II tech, those are my most used primes so as always YMMV. They also need a good 28/2 like the E-mount as well, though you can get the Minolta easily. The 35 should be a Zeiss lens too, almost seems like the FE Z35 was the lens the A-mount should have gotten.

With Sigma 35mm F1.4 ART on the market, Sony probably would be wasting their time.

I like the existing 35mm F1.4 G, it's tiny and renders beautifully.

Could do with SSM.

Between SSM 1 and 2 hardly any difference.

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If Sony put the A7s sensor in the A99 body that could be a video monster and round out things a little better in terms of an ecosystem, but their focus is the FE cams as crop E-mount and A-mount are getting nothing but new bodies that seem to be not very well planned.

I don't think a 12MP sensor would make sense in A99 II instead of 42MP. Remember it's a photography flagship not a low light / video specialist cam.

I like that stills are still 18MP even in APS-C mode, gives you huge crop ability to reframe a shot.

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Lots of cheap Minolta glass still floating around including some really great stuff like the the 28/2 and the APO zoom. The beer can everyone talks about is good, but not great IMO.

28mm F2.0 is old MD not AF?

I have the 70-210mm F4 beercan. It's great for stills, for £70! Bbut AF is very noisy.

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Cheers

Chris

 

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5 hours ago, Andrew Reid said:

I don't think a 12MP sensor would make sense in A99 II instead of 42MP. Remember it's a photography flagship not a low light / video specialist cam.

I was talking more about having options in addition the A99, a A99s would do what the A7rII/A7sII combo does only with the SLT. The A7sII is just so much cleaner at higher ISO's and A-mount shooters really only have two options right now - and the A77II video is crap. Sony is hitting niche's with the A7's and now the A9 - the A99 body is perfect as is, just would like to see more options as A-mount the future doesn't seem very bright. Just my opinion.

Cheers

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I am an a99ii shooter. I have a question about 35mm lenses. I currently have the Sigma 35mm 1.4 I am interested in hearing about the performance of the AF on the Sony 35mm 1.4 vs. the Sigma, in low light. I have found that the Sigma is slow to focus in normal ev levels, but gets really really slow/inaccurate when the light is very low.My feeling is that this camera really needs the hybrid AF to do well in low light. Any thoughts???

Chris

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