Featured Forum Thread: 'Sony A7 with Leica Lenses' by Chrisnmn

Hi and thanks a lot for all that information, I have just received mine, haven't had time to test it properly but with the hawk adapter and noct lens it feels fantastic, the focus peaking really helps me focusing this lens, I have been waiting for this camera for a long time now. If it lives up to its promise I will be selling my m240 and it will give me cash for a second leica lens, probably a 35/1.4 to put in front of it.

I was amazed by the clarity of the OVF in very poor lighting, really helpful for manual focusing in difficult conditions. This camera with manual lenses is what has made the most sens since the first nex has come out.
 
And as far as peaking goes, it is not as sensitive as on the nex as your experience points out, but I had more throw aways with the nex than with this one if I can judge by my little experience with this camera. At 0.95 it does need more contrasty edges to peak onto, but when it does it is pretty much accurate. As you have mentioned, the OVF is so good that doing it by the eye makes a lot of sense and is indeed possible. So when I cannot find a proper edge to nail focus I go by the eye, but again, this is only based on my first 100 shots with it, basically playing around.
 
Hmmmmm....

I have yet to pull the trigger and was heart set on a a7r, but after reading about folks experiences and seeing these images, maybe the a7 will suffice, I want a 36mp FF sensor but several in my household are telling me to wait for a future release from Sony using this sensor, and just get the a7 and save some cash..
 
It would be interesting to compare the shutter sound of the M9 with the A7. The recock sound of the M9 is the killer.

I absolutely love the processing you did with the colour images. Does it take much effort to get this look from the A7? The richness and depth of the colour reminds me of the M9 and Ricoh GXR-M, but with an even glossier 'finish'.
 
Having a peek at the histograms on Chris' images (colour and b&w) will reveal a lot. You'll see that they have a heavy bias to the left which creates a lot of deep blacks and darker shades. This provides a lot of contrast to emphasise the brighter colours in particular (at the expense of detail in those shadow areas, of course. It's difficult to have it all).
 
Hey Tony,

as promised heres a shot with the A7 paired with a 50 f1.4 summilux. shot at 1.4 handheld while walking (both the subject and me) at 10pm. ISO3200.
NR off
DR off
SOOC file.

_DSC0311.jpg


now the moment of truth...PIXEL PEEP!!!!! https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/1030775/epl2/sony test/Screenshot 2013-12-02 21.30.13.png

what do you think?.

wow chris, that is pretty impressive. maybe its me, but i see a crispness to the 7 files i just dont see from the R...
 
Hmmmmm....

I have yet to pull the trigger and was heart set on a a7r, but after reading about folks experiences and seeing these images, maybe the a7 will suffice, I want a 36mp FF sensor but several in my household are telling me to wait for a future release from Sony using this sensor, and just get the a7 and save some cash..

Hey Lucille, the A7 is more than enough for anyones purpose. a 36megapixel wont give much other than a even bigger raw file to begin with. Mind you, with any of these cameras the wall size is the limit not the sensor quality for the prints. Go for it! its an awesome little beast!

It would be interesting to compare the shutter sound of the M9 with the A7. The recock sound of the M9 is the killer.

I absolutely love the processing you did with the colour images. Does it take much effort to get this look from the A7? The richness and depth of the colour reminds me of the M9 and Ricoh GXR-M, but with an even glossier 'finish'.

Id love to compare it, though i dont own a leica body. but apparently the A7 is much quieter than the R. And by much quieter also means normal like any other big sensor camera out there. It is not quiet as a leaf shutter for obvious reasons, but then theres only a few leaf shutter cameras out there now. like the fuji x100/s and the Ricoh GR, etc.

As for the processing thanks for your words man, all images were processed with LR 5.3RC if thats of any help.

Having a peek at the histograms on Chris' images (colour and b&w) will reveal a lot. You'll see that they have a heavy bias to the left which creates a lot of deep blacks and darker shades. This provides a lot of contrast to emphasise the brighter colours in particular (at the expense of detail in those shadow areas, of course. It's difficult to have it all).

Nic, you are right. I tend to go to the left, in the border of underexposing sometimes. But it also depends on the situation. But like you've guessed i love contrasty images, which also in this case this is done by the lenses. Im using this summilux lenses which they are in fact super contrasty by default. and im loving that!.

wow chris, that is pretty impressive. maybe its me, but i see a crispness to the 7 files i just dont see from the R...

Tony, you are right. no matter what everyone say about the megapixel war is over and that is not about that anymore and bla bla bla, this two cameras show how much people still care about the megapixels. Most people is heading towards the R despite being slower for AF, louder, etc. which obviously makes me think they want the 36megapixels. Its also been said and tested on several "brick-wall-chart" websites that when downsized to 24megapixels the A7r has little to no difference at all to the A7.

Im a raw shooter, and i also happen to work in advertising, i point out the latter, just to tell you, that i do print billboard size prints. And i can assure you, that is only in few different cases when a medium format camera is been used. Therefore most of the photography used is under the 24megapixel sensors and they are more than enough to suffice any print quality. Like i said to Lucille, this two cameras are not about sensor quality anymore, and your walls are now the limits not the print quality.

In fact theres already rumors about sony developing a 40 or 50+ megapixel sensor. what for. perhaps some super hd retina retina 600dpi computer screens in the next 2 years or something, which by the way a then "old" X100 of 12 megapixel will still be enough to render that.

So, to go back to question, comment, yes i think that the A7 is already more than enough for most people needs, and in fact because its "supposed" to be faster, quieter, or something may have some "extra" something on the sensor as well that we are not aware off. Im a happy camper, and im still trying to ride this stalion which is indeed too much camera for this servant...go for it!. you wont regret it!.
 
Having a peek at the histograms on Chris' images (colour and b&w) will reveal a lot. You'll see that they have a heavy bias to the left which creates a lot of deep blacks and darker shades. This provides a lot of contrast to emphasise the brighter colours in particular (at the expense of detail in those shadow areas, of course. It's difficult to have it all).

Thanks a lot for that! I tend to like this style of processing, and depending on the image I don't mind if there is a loss of shadow detail.
 
Hey Lucille, the A7 is more than enough for anyones purpose. a 36megapixel wont give much other than a even bigger raw file to begin with. Mind you, with any of these cameras the wall size is the limit not the sensor quality for the prints. Go for it! its an awesome little beast!


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But I already have a Sony a65 with a APSC 24mp sensor and a Rx1 with a 24mp FF sensor.
 
Nic, you are right. I tend to go to the left, in the border of underexposing sometimes. But it also depends on the situation. But like you've guessed i love contrasty images, which also in this case this is done by the lenses. Im using this summilux lenses which they are in fact super contrasty by default. and im loving that!.

Thanks a lot for that! I tend to like this style of processing, and depending on the image I don't mind if there is a loss of shadow detail.

It immediately stands out to me because it is almost the mirror opposite of how I expose and process!
 
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