A7rii Issues on ISO & MF

[reiniervano]

Hi everyone! 

I just switched from Canon to Sony a7r2, so I'm using my Canon lenses with an adapter on the new Sony body. After some shooting I stumbled on some issues, which I found some reports of on fora, but not yet any solutions. Was hoping you guys might be able to help out!

ISO: I read about 'great low-light capabilities', but so far every time I go over ISO 800, pictures go way to noisy (shooting RAW), while seeing posts with ISO 8000 (http://www.stevehuffphoto.com/tag/sony-a7r2/) where there doesn't seem to be any issue.

MF: Shooting in low-light, on a 50mm f1.8 lens (on f1.8) there is no way of getting any focus. The focus peaking doesn't even appear. I could easily nail these shots on my previous body, but the screen is making it impossible (effects view is already off) to gain any focus. Autofocus doesn't seem to work. I ready about this and was hoping there would be any solutions by now...?

Can it be the converter (metabones)? Or are there settings things that I'm overlooking? Or might there be any firmware updates available? 

Hope you guys can help me out! 

[Guest Peter Kelly]

First, the ISO noise is a tricky one to address, as I don't know what you're seeing precisely, or expect to see. I have to admit, it does take a little getting used to!

 

On first looking, the files will seem to be noisy at higher ISO settings, but because you'll be viewing the full resolution file they don't equate properly until resized. When I swapped ffrom the A7S it was quite a scary moment.

Given the high resolution, once you have applied noise reduction and reduced to an equivalent size the A7Rii will easily match the A7S up to 25600 and, in cases, 40000. You just have to be prepared for the apparent noisiness of the initial image.The only way you may be able come to terms with it yourself is to create your own direct comparison shots. I was a bit of a 'doubting Thomas' so tested the A7Rii alongside my A7S before I sold them. It is quite unnerving seeing the initial pictures, but very satisfying when you see them matched.

 

If you aren't able to, or don't have the time, the best place to see this in action is dpreview. If you look at their comparison widget and click between RAW and Jpeg you can see how much the noise is evident in the RAW shot but disappears for Jpeg, yet the detail is still there. It's a bit like looking at your wife's face from twenty feet and think it lovely and smooth, but then inspect it with a jeweller's loupe and see it's a mass of craters and imperfections! Think of the A7Rii as a jeweller's loupe of a camera.

 

As to the focussing, it is possible that the behaviour is different with an adapter, as regards focus peaking and enlargement. I can't speak about the Metabones, as I don't have one, but I know with the LEA3 that peaking works, enlargement doesn't. Again, the same applies with AF. It would need to be supported by the particular adapter, although a firmware update may well be needed. In any of these cases, though, having liveview effect on makes focussing much easier.

[UnSean]

Firstly focusing with setting effect ON for non flash shots, is essential to get the best out of the EVF, in other words it's WYSIWYG and that is exactly why a lot of us bought this camera, zoom into 12x and nail the focus, focus peaking can be hit and miss, I personally do not trust it for critical focus.

 

ISO noise is very personal too, to some 400 iso is like having golf balls in the picture and to others it does not exist, iso 800 on this camera in RAW is very good and usable, add some good quality NR and it can look as good as iso 100.

 

Hope this clears the problems.

[Golem]

.........

 

As to the focussing, it is possible that the behaviour is different with

an adapter, as regards focus peaking and enlargement. I can't speak

about the Metabones, as I don't have one, but I know with the LEA3

that peaking works, enlargement doesn't. .......

   

Is that problem particular to the "R" type ? Cuz using an LAEA3

on the basic A7-II I have both peaking and magnification, even

both at the same time.

[reiniervano]

H

 

First, the ISO noise is a tricky one to address, as I don't know what you're seeing precisely, or expect to see. I have to admit, it does take a little getting used to!

 

On first looking, the files will seem to be noisy at higher ISO settings, but because you'll be viewing the full resolution file they don't equate properly until resized. When I swapped ffrom the A7S it was quite a scary moment.

Given the high resolution, once you have applied noise reduction and reduced to an equivalent size the A7Rii will easily match the A7S up to 25600 and, in cases, 40000. You just have to be prepared for the apparent noisiness of the initial image.The only way you may be able come to terms with it yourself is to create your own direct comparison shots. I was a bit of a 'doubting Thomas' so tested the A7Rii alongside my A7S before I sold them. It is quite unnerving seeing the initial pictures, but very satisfying when you see them matched.

 

If you aren't able to, or don't have the time, the best place to see this in action is dpreview. If you look at their comparison widget and click between RAW and Jpeg you can see how much the noise is evident in the RAW shot but disappears for Jpeg, yet the detail is still there. It's a bit like looking at your wife's face from twenty feet and think it lovely and smooth, but then inspect it with a jeweller's loupe and see it's a mass of craters and imperfections! Think of the A7Rii as a jeweller's loupe of a camera.

 

As to the focussing, it is possible that the behaviour is different with an adapter, as regards focus peaking and enlargement. I can't speak about the Metabones, as I don't have one, but I know with the LEA3 that peaking works, enlargement doesn't. Again, the same applies with AF. It would need to be supported by the particular adapter, although a firmware update may well be needed. In any of these cases, though, having liveview effect on makes focussing much easier.

Hi Peter!

Thanks for the input. I'll try and sort out the ISO :-)
Only problem is when I'm shooting for posters, then it might get difficult yeah... The noise reduction that is needed makes it very 'woolly' though...

In regards to the focus; if I'm on f1.8, there is no focus possible. Everything is out of focus... I can come close, but in the end there is possibility of getting a good one (which is usually no problem for that same lens on a Canon 5D mark 2 body (the one I worked before). I can't really tell why...