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Tell me about your A7R
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Brownie View Drop Down
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Posts: 112 		Post Options Post Options   Quote Brownie Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Topic: Tell me about your A7R
    Posted: 27 October 2022 at 02:46
Thinking about an A7R as something to toss in the truck for a compact inexpensive unit. I've been shooting a lot of A-Mount on my 7M4 with the LA-EA5 and am having some fun with it, but I am uncomfortable leaving it in the truck for extended periods. Also have a 7RM3, but no LA-EA4 so the M4 usually wins out for the AF convenience. Not sure yet if I'd buy an LA-EA4, might just use it in MF for the time being.

Would like to hear some opinions on the 7R as an EDC for things like landscapes, architecture, etc.
 



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Wētāpunga View Drop Down
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Posts: 6459 		Post Options Post Options   Quote Wētāpunga Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 27 October 2022 at 03:11
Ok

I found the a7R was excellent as a digital back to my alpha-mount lenses.
There were a few caveats. It isn't stabilised. So I usually shot it on a tripod. That certainly helped.

It is also slow- something like 1.5 fps. So it sucks as a camera tracking action. I think- unusually- it only had contrast AF which meant it was poor at autofocus. I shot 99%+ of everything in manual mode. So I didn't have to rely on the AF.

There's also an odd shutter reverb that others have noticed, that kicks in at about 1/30s. So I kept the shutter either higher than 1/30s or lower than 1/5s.

So, on a tripod as a digital back shooting landscape photos it was fine. Try to use it like a normal camera and it becomes frustrating with a slow fps and bad Af system.
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Posts: 35799 		Post Options Post Options   Quote pegelli Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 27 October 2022 at 08:10
I think the biggest problem of the A7R is the absence of the Electronic First Curtain Shutter (EFCS) which leads to the vibration problem that Wētāpunga talks about. People have reported seeing it at all kind of different shutter speeds, both on and off a tripod.

For that reason having something "cheap" around I would pick the A7 over the A7R (if 24 MP is enough for you use), since the A7 has EFCS and doesn't have this vibration problem at certain shutter speeds when EFCS is enabled.
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addy landzaat View Drop Down
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Posts: 14016 		Post Options Post Options   Quote addy landzaat Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 27 October 2022 at 09:51
Yo're talking about A-mount lenses - are you gonna use those with the LA-EA4 om the A7r?

If you use E-mount lenses, be aware that the A7r only has contrast detect AF and therefore is less reliable then the A7 or A7m2.

The shuttershock is something to be aware of, but if it is your "toss in truck camera" you probably will keep it at higher shutterspeeds.
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Posts: 112 		Post Options Post Options   Quote Brownie Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 27 October 2022 at 12:37
While there’s always a chance I could use some of my E mounts, it’s primary use is inexpensive camera with inexpensive glass to keep in the truck.

Re First curtain, Sony recommends shutting it off for A mount glass anyway, especially the older stuff. It’s supposed to even out light and provide better exposure. I have noticed a difference since shutting it off in my M4 and RM3, not so much with exposure, but definitely more even light. I guess the old stuff likes mechanical.

Don’t really care about tracking, if I have something critical to shoot I’ll use the M4. Not concerned about IS too much for this purpose, outdoors in daylight 99% of the time. I’ll just stick to the old SS/FL rule.

I’ll probably end up with an LA-EA4 eventually, for the short term though I’ll use MF. Nothing I’d be shooting with this kit would require any kind of speed.

How’s the IQ? Is the old sensor pretty decent? Is the plastic lens mount I’ve read about really a big issue, or was it overblown?
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addy landzaat View Drop Down
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Posts: 14016 		Post Options Post Options   Quote addy landzaat Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 27 October 2022 at 15:06
The sensor is highly regarded - it was also inside the Nikon D800(e) and the Pentax K1 (II).

Wasn't the lens mount susceptible to some slight light leaks in specific situations? Don't remember, if you read the forums on this issue, you probably can tell us
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Posts: 3913 		Post Options Post Options   Quote Hezu Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 27 October 2022 at 17:38
I got mine soon after the release with Sony Zeiss FE 2.8/35 and LA-EA4 as I admired the high megapixel count in such small compact body. But initially I didn't use it that much since the sole native prime didn't offer much flexibility and the native A-mount cameras I had then offered better AF performance compared to the adapter. After getting Sony Zeiss FE 4/24-70 the camera started to get slightly more use as a nice compact landscape/general use camera, albeit the lack of sensor image stabilization and sluggish AF kept this camera always in a secondary camera role, especially once α7R II was released. Eventually it was traded when I got α7R III.
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Posts: 112 		Post Options Post Options   Quote Brownie Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 27 October 2022 at 19:34
That’s interesting info on the sensor. Yes, light leaks and other issues, but I can’t find much on it other than several manufacturers made replacement metal mounts for a few bucks. I’ve done some poking around but can’ t find much on it other than that.
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Posts: 14016 		Post Options Post Options   Quote addy landzaat Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 27 October 2022 at 19:58
I doubt you will "do very long exposure work in daylight" with a take everywhere camera. See: https://www.imaging-resource.com/news/2014/03/19/sony-a7-light-leak-part-iii-only-one-leak-with-certain-lenses-under-specifi

looking at some other sources as well, it seems it indeed is only a problem with long exposure times with a unmodified camera. If you do that a lot, I would look elsewhere, but for a day to day camera it seems to be no problem to me.
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Posts: 183 		Post Options Post Options   Quote glefebvre Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 27 October 2022 at 20:10
Bought the A7R when it came out with the Zeiss 55mm f/1.8 lens. I like that it a 36Mpixel sensor with no AA filter. Images with 55mm are sharp.

For me the camera is a bit small and unbalanced with a heavier lens attached. I ended up getting the battery grip. Much better balance with a heavier lens attached. One thing that isn't great on the camera is battery life. If you decide to get the camera, you should also pickup some extra batteries.

Didn't like the loud clunky shutter. Got a LA-EA4 adapter for my A-mount lenses and took the time to micro adjust them. Breathed life back into most of the lenses. Some that weren't too sharp on my A900 were sharp on the A7R/LA-EA4 combo. Ended up getting the Sony 24-240mm f/3.5-6.3 OSS zoom lens. Like other have stated, AF isn't that fast and with this lens you have to decent light for it to focus otherwise it hunts. Also added the Zeiss Vario-Tessar T* FE 16–35 mm F/4 ZA OSS to my kit.

Over the years I have used the camera more and more and I'm starting to look past the loud shutter and so-so speed of the AF and I'm starting to like it more. The images that it produces are nice and sharp for landscape, street and studio photography as long as you have good technique or a tripod. The camera also works well with my collection of MC/MD lenses.
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Posts: 112 		Post Options Post Options   Quote Brownie Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 27 October 2022 at 20:41
Originally posted by addy landzaat addy landzaat wrote:

I doubt you will "do very long exposure work in daylight" with a take everywhere camera. See: https://www.imaging-resource.com/news/2014/03/19/sony-a7-light-leak-part-iii-only-one-leak-with-certain-lenses-under-specifi

looking at some other sources as well, it seems it indeed is only a problem with long exposure times with a unmodified camera. If you do that a lot, I would look elsewhere, but for a day to day camera it seems to be no problem to me.


Excellent info, exactly what I was looking for. No, won’t be doing much of that! Most of this is stopping by the side of the road or going on a walk and getting grab shots when I’m out and about during the day. Thanks!
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Posts: 112 		Post Options Post Options   Quote Brownie Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 27 October 2022 at 20:44
Originally posted by glefebvre glefebvre wrote:

Bought the A7R when it came out with the Zeiss 55mm f/1.8 lens. I like that it a 36Mpixel sensor with no AA filter. Images with 55mm are sharp.

For me the camera is a bit small and unbalanced with a heavier lens attached. I ended up getting the battery grip. Much better balance with a heavier lens attached. One thing that isn't great on the camera is battery life. If you decide to get the camera, you should also pickup some extra batteries.

Didn't like the loud clunky shutter. Got a LA-EA4 adapter for my A-mount lenses and took the time to micro adjust them. Breathed life back into most of the lenses. Some that weren't too sharp on my A900 were sharp on the A7R/LA-EA4 combo. Ended up getting the Sony 24-240mm f/3.5-6.3 OSS zoom lens. Like other have stated, AF isn't that fast and with this lens you have to decent light for it to focus otherwise it hunts. Also added the Zeiss Vario-Tessar T* FE 16–35 mm F/4 ZA OSS to my kit.

Over the years I have used the camera more and more and I'm starting to look past the loud shutter and so-so speed of the AF and I'm starting to like it more. The images that it produces are nice and sharp for landscape, street and studio photography as long as you have good technique or a tripod. The camera also works well with my collection of MC/MD lenses.


Thanks. I do have some spare aftermarket batteries and charger from an A6000, so no problem there. I wondered if the small body would be an issue, but for the described use it should be ok. The lack of an AA is definitely on my priority list.
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