noone

I am a complete amateur and the A7s is the only one I want of those three (works best with my existing FD lenses and I already have an ordinary A7).

Those all look to be very different in terms of lighting and rigs and expense ETC.

Would be much more interesting to see them all done the three ways.      How would they all go for instance in the lighting the A7s is in?

First seems technical and precise, second seems to have had no expense spared while the last it seems they have a camera so lets shoot.

Anyone using FD L lenses for video?

Older and not as good sure but still good lenses and they have hard stops and should last for years.    The 24 and 85 at least have the same filter size.

Is it worth it to get them declicked?

Regards the Cine vs EF, just curious but Is there much sample variation between normal EF L lenses?

If not why select the glass for the cine lenses- and if there is, doesn't that just mean they (cine lenses) MIGHT be better but also might not if you get lucky with the normal stills lenses?

Nikon D810 scores 14.8 in Dynamic range:

 

http://www.dxomark.com/Reviews/Nikon-D810-sensor-review-New-DxOMark-leader

That does look nice for stills.

Remember though that the A7s is NOT the greatest camera for DR at base ISO for stills.     It scores 13 stops at base which while still pretty good is not its main "thing".     

The D810 DR actually pretty closely follows the normal A7 DR and gets the higher score courtesy of having ISO 50.       At ISO 100 the D810 and A7 are pretty much the same and stay together until ISO 25600 when the A7 maxes out.

The A7s on the other hand, takes the lead  over the other two at ISO 400 and by ISO 6400 is a stop better and  about 2 stops better at ISO 25600 (again that is for stills).

http://www.dxomark.com/Cameras/Compare/Side-by-side/Nikon-D810-versus-Sony-A7S-versus-Sony-A7___963_949_916

Thanks Noone ! Can you edit a video showing what the a7 and gx7 can do ?

Hope this is ok.      My video skills are zilch as yet and I just used Windows Movie Maker.    This has been saved a couple of times too so there is a bit more rubbish (especially in the APSC mode).

This was just an A7 on a stills tripod with a 50mm 1.8  Nikon lens at 5.6 zoomed out and then in using FF mode then APSC mode using Clearzoom up to 2x'     You could use up to 4x if you like.

Both the A6000 and A7s would be better for video.    I have the "down" button (of the four way buttons) set to Clearzoom and use the wb button to zoom in and the drive button to zoom back out.     It would be great if you could hit a button to change between FF and APSC mode the same as it would be nice if you could use the ETC in the GX7 while recording.      GX7 with the same lens later.

Thanks Noone ! Can you edit a video showing what the a7 and gx7 can do ?

I will see what I can do.

Wont be any good but the limitations are mine (stills shooter dabbling in video).

I was pretty close to buying a GH4, but now seeing what the A7S can do in low light has me thinking if I should buy the A7S in stead.

 

Are there any good, general zooms that are stabilized lens for the A7S E-mount?

​Would a stabilized lens from Canon or Nikon work on the A7S?

 

 

 

 

 

 

When I'm out shooting live events, such as a concert or wedding reception, I like to stick with one lens if possible.

 

 

There is the A7 kit lens (28-70 3.5-5.6), the 24-70 f4 and the 70-200 f4 in native FE lenses currently but in a few months (well 2014 on the Sony roadmap anyway and they have been good with it to date) should also be a 16-35 f4 and 28-135 f4 available all with stabilization.

If you are happy using APSC mode (great for video maybe not so great at around 5mp for stills) you can add all the APSC OSS lenses including a 50mm 1.8 prime that is cheap.

Canon IS works depending on the adapter though AF is pretty slow I believe, Nikon VR (and AF) does not work currently.

Sony/Minolta A mount lenses with stabilization (are there any?) will work via one of the LA-EA# adapters though AF wont be quite to the same level in low light.    Some of those adapters are APSC and some FF.     There are some Sigma stabilized A mount lenses that you could use with the LA-EA4 I think.

My only stabilized lens on my A7 is the kit lens and it is fine.    I take it to music gigs but don't use it much as I prefer to use fast legacy primes (for stills but dabbling in video).

Is there any kind of tele converter on the a6000 like we can find on the gx7 ?

Thanks !

No, I don't think there is.      I don't have a A6000 but I do have an A7 and GX7.

What I do find though is that the lossless ETC in the GX7 is not something that can be used seamlessly.    The GX7 also has 2x and 4x digital zoom but with the 2.6x lossless ETC, you either have it on or off.

With the A7 (and I believe the A6000 though not sure) while there is no lossless built in teleconverter, the digital zoom is much better as it is variable up to 4x.        It can be set to use while recording and up to something like 1.6x or even more might be useful.     That means you can zoom in with a fast prime on a tripod and if you don't use too great a zoom level could be ok.        You can have it set as digital zoom (which goes up to 4x) or clearzoom which goes up to 2x.

The GX7 ETC is very handy if you use it to make one lens effectively two though in video mode.

http://vimeo.com/101671878

I shot 'Nomad' with my friend Susanna and the Sony A7S a few days ago, in 120fps slow-mo mode.

Light sources were only a candle, iPhone torch and an old industrial German desk lamp with red filter on the front. I am amazed at the clean results. ISO levels were pushing on for 12,800 in most of the shots.

Read the full article here

I like that.

Wonder how the camera would go with a 720nm IR filter on a fast lens?      I think it might be good enough to use one unmodified and still be able to use the EVF.       I can do that now almost with a normal A7 (though video would be much better with the a7s).    

Thanks.

Is that a Spotmatic she is carrying?       I wonder if there will ever be anything like it with digital in the sense that some of them have greater spec than shown/listed.    Mine (sp500) has a maximum shutter speed of 1/500 on the dial but has a 1/1000 that is there but not listed/shown.    Guess Pentax was just too cheap to make two shutter mechanisms.

Is there a secret button on my A7 that will give me 4k maybe????

... but L lenses are weather sealed...

 

Does anyone know if Metabones speedbooster effectively breaks weather seal between A7S and Canon L?

The L lenses might be but the A7 series cameras are not.

They are listed as dust and moisture resistant but I would not consider them weather sealed.

I have used my A7 (ordinary version) in light rain for an hour or so with a non sealed lens and plastic bag over the lens and mount.

After an hour or so it stated playing up (seemed to be shorting out) so I turned it off and got it home and dried it out and it is fine.

Water could have got in any of the doors (none of them are really sealed).

I think it safest to consider the cameras as not being sealed but might be ok with care if caught in light rain or dusty environment.

Maybe the A7s has a little more protection though maybe not.       Has anyone got an A7s and either A7/a7R to compare??

 

Guys I have many M42 lenses and the A7s is the camera I'd like to buy. 
One question: Is there a compatible M42 - E-mount adaptor to cover the A7s full frame sensor?

There are many M42/Nex cheap adaptor on internet but I don't know whether or not they work with Nex (Apsc) cameras only.

If not with one adaptor, is there a way to fit a M42 lens in an A7s body (maybe with 2 adaptors)?
can someone recommend to me the best way? Thanks!

 

The E mount is the same regardless.    ALL the simple adapters listed as for NEX work with the A7 (maybe not some of the Sony LA-EA# ones though).      It is the lenses that may or may not cover the full sensor of FF.      Most normal E mount lenses do not fully cover the FF sensor.     Some of them do.     The Samyang/Rokinon/whatever lenses do cover the full frame sensor as do those labelled FE.     Some of the normal E mount Sony lenses cover the FF sensor at least in part.

FF legacy lenses with simple adapters (like most if not all M42) will cover the full sensor.      I use m42 lens to Pentax K adapters in a Pentax K to NEX adapter for my A7 (though have recently sold most of my m42 lenses and only have a couple of old oddball lenses left in m42).

So in terms of a workhorse zoom, would you recommend the zeiss 24-70 kit lens, or something from Canon or Sigma?

 

Here's some of the lenses I'm spying;

 

EF 24-105mm f/4

EF-S 15-85 f/3.5-5.6

EF 24-70mm f2/8

Sigma 24-70 f2.8

Don't overlook the humble A7 kit lens.     Is quite good on the normal A7 and I think would be great on the A7s.

It is not constant speed like the 24-70 and you lose 24-28 but you could always use it as a 5.6 constant speed zoom (that would be similar to a 2.8 zoom with m4/3) and have faster 3.5 at the short end.    It beats the 24-70 in some ways and the AF is ok on the normal A7 so should be excellent on the S (if you want AF).     Stabilization is nice as well.

I also like FD L lenses, the 85 1.2 and 24 1.4 on the A7 in particular for stills and also seem great for video (video newbie here).

The thing I like about FD L lenses is they are optically close to the EF lenses in some ways but you can use them across formats with really cheap simple adapters.    Some of the FD 85 1.2 lenses were made after some of the older EF ones you might find on the likes of EBAY.

I'm interested in hearing what turns up here for full frame shooting.  In looking at the Sony FE lenses there are still only a total of only five, count 'em five!  I thought Sony was going to start cranking out more lenses.  Other than the "kit lens", they are expensive, too.  While the performance is great, they are overkill for video.  In fact, they are overkill for the 12MP sensor.

 

So then you have the adapters...(more money, more clutter)

 

http://briansmith.com/sony-a7-a7r-lens-mount-adapters/

 

Looks to me that only the Canon lenses are really supported for auto focus and aperture, but it doesn't look like distortion, chromatic aberration, or vignetting correction is supported.

 

Michael

There are only 5 SONY lenses so far but there are also the Samyang/Rokinon lenses in full frame E mount and there is also the Mitakon 50 f0.95 in full frame E mount.    So closer to around 10 native lenses with more coming.    The LA adapters are considered by Sony as native part of the system too I think, adds to the cost, yes but if someone has a few A mount lenses then it would well be worth getting an LA-EA4 maybe.

I like using FD L lenses on my normal A7 and think they would be very nice on the A7s for both video and stills.

Since I have an a6000 it hasn't made sense for me to use in crop mode on the a7.  It's an interesting question though, which would be sharper, the lens on the a6000, where it is binning across more 24 mpx, or the a7 where is using less (16?).  I"ll have to try an experiment! Check for the rolling shutter thing too.  Thanks for the idea!!!

A7 is only around 10mp in APSC mode (A7R is 16mp).      For stills for many uses it is actually enough and I am questioning if I need a APSC camera as well as FF and M4/3.    A7s must be about 5mp APSC mode (but I still want one)!

i bought the light canon and then kept it for this to come out. they sent me one and it was still awful but this was awhile ago now and if it is just coming out maybe everyone sent it back and they kept working on it...Hopefully it is better but the Excell +1 they sent me was still really bad. It was heavier and thicker the lens stuck out more out the back....anyways if anyone gets some good test results let us know.

Ok, that does not sound too promising.

Have you tried the Light Canon for video?

I am not good enough at video to really use it (yet) but I just get the impression it can have its uses.    

Did you try the Excel+1 for stills  as well as video?    I would have to think it would be more useable (the Light Canon seems ok with a lens like a Nikon 50 1.8 stopped down to around f4 to me.     Still not the sharpest but useable).

I've been going through an architectural photography phase and bought a Sony 10-18mm for the a6000.  It will also work, with some cropping, on the a7.  

Have you tried that lens in crop mode for video on the A7?

I used my FD 24 1.4 on my A7 on the weekend and tried crop mode for a couple of songs and I think I like it.       I stuffed up the sound for half the time and then when that was ok, the video is too light but the limitations are me at this point.     I think it will work well  (crop mode with 24mm) if I am a bit further away than I want.

Does work ok for stills.      

Would that 10-18 be worth it for a FF camera only or mainly for an APSC camera with FF as a bonus?

Might be too wide for me FF though.

Tempted to make the plunge but they haven't mentioned anything about the quality of the glass, which makes me suspicious.

True but they used to have a ok reputation and surely no company making optics could have TWO "Light Canons" and I am sure they would have tested these for a LONG while before announcing.

Also the Light Canon only has a single element.

http://www.fotodioxpro.com/lens-mount-adapters.html?price=100-150

They have released new focal reducers for M43 in Nikon and Canon FD mount (Excel+1).      More coming for E mount and others.

You get a free Light Canon (now sold as  a soft focus adapter) with one as well as a few dollars off to start.

The Light Canon is woeful as a focal reducer wide open but is ok with a good lens stopped down and might be good with a camera like the GH4.

I already have a m43 Light Canon but if I could get a E mount Light Canon as my freebie I might consider a FD Excel+1.

Might be good value (depending how good the Excel+1 adapters are)

.

If you'll need a camera when rolling shutter might be a problem, I think you better off with the GH4 then. If you need APS-C crop with Speed Booster to reduce it, unless you really, really need FF, a GH4 with Speed Booster will be more practical. Even more if you account that the 4K in APS-C can't be 4K and that if you'll need an external recorder anyway, GH4 can do 10-bit 422 instead of 8-bit.

 

I don't think most people will be buying the A7S BECAUSE it is full frame but more so because of its low light capability.

 

If you JUST want full frame there are other choices. (especially if buying for stills and video as most would).    FF video market is pretty small compared to other video and stills markets but this camera is a low light king because it is full frame but also a decent camera for video for specs requirements.

 

The A7 (ordinary) has all the right specs other than codec and a great low light sensor for stills but video is not the best (I do love it as an amateur though and the video is good enough for me).

 

 

 

I'm interested to see if the upcoming LX8 will have a 12MP 1" sensor, sure, this is not even Micro4/3, but it will be a great video camera. It's rumored to have 4K and most of GH4's stuff - just like the FZ1000 -, plus, it will have ND filter and as rumors say it won't feat the same 20MP from the FZ1000, a 12MP 1:1 pixel  in 4K, full readout in a lower count MP - and smaller - sensor should do wonders for video quality. The 24-90mm f/2-2.8 and EVF are not bad either.

 

LX8 if it lives up to rumours will possibly replace my GX7 and a pocket point and shoot (unless the GX# below comes along).

 

I can see Panasonic going less MP in a proper camera with Micro4/3 mount like a AF100 successor - if that will ever exist -, but I just don't see Panasonic going 12MP in a GH camera, the GH4 is sold as a hybrid camera and it's one great still camera, the video gets most of the attention, but it got praised a lot by its still capabilities as well, even more for the quick AF even in low light situations. So I don't think they would lower their MP from 16MP to 12MP.

 

How about a Panasonic 12mp GX7 with stabilization for video and a mic and headphones input?     If they do that I would seriously consider that.

Over Iso 6400??...I think maybe Iso 800…1600 with massive neat video….Unless I missed some major setting in cam?…don't own camera, but have seen many tests/shorts…Please let me know if you've found the magic recipe for iso 6400…thanks.

I don't own it either but it CAN be used at ISO 6400.    If it is good enough or someone wants to use that it is up to them but it can not go over that.

That is one of the things I don't like about the GX7.    It is restricted to a maximum of ISO 3200 for video and I often use 6400 (with a regular A7).       The GX7 video might be a bit better quality wise but it is so much easier with the A7 for a video novice like me.     And having things like a mic and headphones input as well as using any ISO and having decent auto ISO too.    

The A7S with better video than the A7 should be better for me to record songs.     I like to just find a spot that I can see all the band and turn it on and let it run. On a tripod or table.    Let the band do the movement.

Can someone explain to me the creative benefit of the low light performance of this camera?

 

I'm a bit curious, as all I can work out that it would benefit me would be if I wanted to film at night a well lit scene, but had no lights. Then I could just make it look well lit. Which is really awesome! But that's the only benefit I can work out at the moment...?

Over ISO 6400 you have to put the GH4 away.     The A7S is just getting started!

I think it will be a wonderful camera for stage photography (both stills and video).

Many full frame cameras also have a crop mode.

Indeed the A7R crop mode is about the same pixel count as M4/3 and still has a larger sensor area.

That applies for stills  of course.

I want  to get (soonish) a better focal reducer than my Light Canon (Nikon-m43) in m43 mount and try it on my GX7 and then A7 in both crop (APSC) mode and FF with various lenses.  The Light Canon is just a little too thick it seems to mount on my A7 on a m43 to E mount adapter.

I do think even the Light Canon (woeful as it is as a "speed booster") might be ok for video with a decent lens on some cameras.

How much of a compromise is the A7S in APSC mode?   Since it is a lot faster, rolling shutter will be greatly reduced.    Is it worth using APSC mode or not?

on the plus side, I bet slo moving interviews shot in the dark of night with no lights will look fantastic.  OK I'm being sarcastic.  forgive me.

Then again, if you came upon Elvis and Amy Winehouse doing a duet in a dark dingy club, what would you want then?

DXO Labs test result:


We have to keep in mind that if we shoot slog2, the base iso is 3200, so in bright conditions a7s loses lots of DR compared to GH4 or itself.

What I like is that the A7S still has almost 10 stops at ISO 6400 and is maybe the only camera with at least 10 stops at ISO 3200 in Dxo's data base.

It is starting to look to me that while maybe designed as a hybrid with a video focus, it is getting rave reviews for stills but less than that for video.

It is/will seemingly take a hit from many people because it may not do 15+ stops of DR except under very specific circumstances (maybe) but ignoring that it will still have a higher DR than any camera near its price at ISO 1600 and up.

For live music, I am seriously considering replacing my A7 with an A7S for stills and the video will be better as well and good enough for me (since it will mostly be covers that I can't show anyway).