JonathanStewart

Performance with the adapter isn't great, especially for birding. I'm using the Sony LA-EA4 with my Sigma 500 f/4.5 and it's very difficult to catch moving birds. Focus is slow, hunts, and coverage is limited. For sports or birding, you'll definitely want better if your budget permits. I've used both the 70-200 f/2.8 and the 100-400 from Sony and both are excellent. The focus performance on the 70-200 is slightly better, but if you try to extend the range with the teleconverter, the focus performance and sharpness drop, and the 100-400 is definitely the better choice, and pretty close to the 70-200 in terms of performance and optics (slightly rougher bokeh, however). Bottom line, I echo everybody else when I say go native, if the budget allows.

I did a google shopping search and found one in stock at Focus Camera, and they included free overnight shipping. I've tried the lens out on a couple of outings and like the results so far. I gave up zooms when I moved to the E-mount, opting for lighter setups, so I have to get used to the shooting style again. I did miss the versatility, but the 24-105 mounted on the A7R3 is by no means a lightweight rig. I got this to be a general-use and travel lens and I think it'll be really great for that, but of course there will be no substitute for primes.

Take the 24-105, leave the rest. Boom. You're welcome.

Oops. Not my best effort in the post department. Yeah, they gave me tracking, which still shows as not picked up. I'm beginning to suspect the tracking number is a placeholder to keep me from cancelling my order and buying the camera from a retailer that actually has it in stock. I think B&H didn't actually ship the camera because they didn't actually get it in stock, and this is a tactic to delay. I've received several other orders from B&H shipped the same day, and before and after, and those have all left and arrived no problem. This is just too fishy to be a UPS glitch, that just happens to the A7R3, and not just mine. This will be my last order from B&H. I don't have time for such shenanigans.

I know others have had this problem. Item shows as not shipped on UPS tracking. I called B&H again today and they told me UPS has a huge backlog of packages to scan, but that the packages have left the B&H dock. In other words, they're blaming this on UPS. Not sure if I'm buying it. I live in California, so my shipping via B&H's "Expedited" is ground, 7 days. Anybody else with this problem that lives closer to NYC who may have already received their package? Anybody else with insights on this? Anybody else wishing they'd bought from somebody other than B&H?

Selling my A72. The LCD, rubber grip and eyecup were all just replaced. Sensor was cleaned by Sony this week, firmware updated and factory reset done. Camera works like new. See ebay listing. http://www.ebay.com/itm/122821488258?ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1558.l2649

If you could wait a few more months, the rumors all indicate that Sony is getting ready to release a new, higher-end body that's supposed to be better for sports/action photography. You're always at a disadvantage when adapting lenses, however, and it looks like you've got a pretty sizeable investment, so totally switching all your glass would be costly. If you can't wait, I'd recommend sticking with Canon. If you can wait, maybe give the new high-end Sony a chance, and see how people are reporting it works for your applications with adapted glass.

Nice shots, and great way to organize a sample gallery. I wouldn't mind having all three of those 35mm lenses either. jhemp_00, on 03 Jan 2017 - 09:20 AM, said:

Not sure what yours is doing exactly, but it's not abnormal for the lenses to make some noise upon startup as whatever motors engage. I had the 35mm f/1.4 and loved it, but eventually sold it and went with the much lighter and smaller Loxia 35mm f/2. There's only a minor tradeoff in sharpness, but the size reduction makes using 35mm as a walk-around lens much more feasible, especially for the type of stuff you're doing (and that I do). I actually did a youtube video comparing the two lenses https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MB0oJa6cE9k I've actually never used the 35mm f/2.8, and I'm curious, but I'm pretty much in love with the Loxia, despite the manual focus. Right now, I think the "best" lens for FE mount is the 85mm GM lens, which is definitely the "great portrait lens" you're looking for. I can handle a beast of a lens at that focal length because it's not a walk-around lens that lives on the camera like a 35mm. The Sony Zeiss 50mm f/1.4 is a similar-quality lens to the 35mm, and also huge, but the 55mm f/1.8, as everyone agrees, is probably the best bang-for-buck and bang-for-size lens you can get for the system, and I'd highly recommend adding it to any kit.

Mine died yesterday in the cold and rain. Not sure which of those did it, but probably the cold, because the camera later came back to life and is working fine now. It was only around 30ºF. Not promising for those time I need it in real cold.

Wow, nice job. Thanks!

You might consider the a6500 which, with internal stabilization, will let you use slower shutter speeds, thus lower ISO, and you can continue using your 16-70 f/4. I would say the G-Master 24-70 f/2.8 is overkill for that body. Maybe invest in the 55mm f/1.8, which is plenty fast, and a great optic (and can be found on ebay for cheap), and gives you a path to full frame should you go in that direction eventually.

Watching the Morocco episode of The Grand Tour and it looks like they've got Sony A7-series cameras pasted to the windows of their cars, and judging by the rolling shutter, the footage is consistent with that observation. Anybody else notice this?

Don't know. Mine worked fine the couple of times I've taken them in extreme cold, including setting up for a multi-hour timelapse at -20ºF. Yeah, it's beyond specifications, so Sony probably wouldn't consider yours defective, but curious there could be such a difference compared to my experiences.

You might have some debris in the shutter mechanism. Just a guess. Probably a good idea to get it checked out before more damage could be done.