Manual lens use.

[Mr. Lips]

I have an Alpha 7 II.

I just bought two manual focus lenses for it, assuming I'd still have auto exposure but, apparently, it's manual everything.

I'm setting the F stop and adjusting the speed to get proper exposure.

The problem is the indicator, telling me if the exposure is right, is microscopic.  It took me a while to even see that it was there.

I took a couple test shots and they came out good, so I guess I got it right but, man, I need to be able to see that indicator better.

I see that I can adjust the viewfinder brightness, but not entirely sure how to do that or if it would help any.

Any suggestions.

[Pieter]

If you set your camera to 'A'-mode, the camera should still do auto exposure by varying shutter speed and ISO.

In the menu you can set what display options should be shown while composing your shot. Try cycling through the options by pressing the Disp-button (top side of rear scroll wheel) while composing. The info screen should have a fairly large exposure meter.

https://helpguide.sony.net/ilc/1450/v1/en/contents/TP0000301857.html

Edited November 21 by Pieter

[wd61]

Maybe you can use the same solution for monitor brightness as I used for my problem:

evf brightness

[Mr. Lips]

I already have the lenses, so I don't need to look at ones on Amazon.

I assumed that I'd be able to use these lenses in aperture priority, but I tried that and no luck, it doesn't recognize my aperture setting.

I got an eyecup for the viewfinder, to block out more external light, and that helps some.

I'll try increasing monitor brightness.

Getting old stinks.  The one advantage is that I started photography before there was auto exposure or auto anything, so going back to manual is like going home.  I'm still getting the help of more advanced exposure metering and some other advanced features that I never would have dreamed of in the mid seventies.

[XKAES]

It sure would help if we knew what lenses you are referring to -- and whether or not you have a user manual for the camera.

[Cameratose]

Here's a link to the A7 II Online manual, which is searchable.

Help Guide | Top

 

[Pieter]

6 hours ago, Mr. Lips said:

I assumed that I'd be able to use these lenses in aperture priority, but I tried that and no luck, it doesn't recognize my aperture setting.

The camera doesn't need to know your aperture setting. You can even do auto exposure with 'dumb' lenses lacking electronic contacts. The camera will show '--' for aperture value, but it will still measure the light intensity hitting the sensor. Based on this, the camera can determine shutter speed and ISO to get correct exposure.

[Mr. Lips]

Actually, when I first got the camera, I bought two books on how to use it, David Busch's Soney alpha 7 II book and the Sony a7II guide by Masumoto and Roullard.  Maybe I'm just technologically challenged.  In fact, I know I'm technologically challenged.  A few months ago I got my first smart phone (yes, really) and had to buy a how to guide for seniors.  It's a Samsung S24.  It takes surprisingly good photos.

When I first bought the Sony A7 II, I bought a couple of Samyang auto focus lenses for it, a 32mm and a 24 mm.  Super light and compact.  Great for hiking. 

I then bought an auto focus Rokinon 24mm F1.8 (I shoot mostly landscapes), but it seems to be malfunctioning now.

The two manual lenses I just bought are a Samyang F2.8 100mm macro and a TTArtisan 21mm F1.5.

I haven't tried the 21mm yet, but I've taken a few test shots with the 100mm and it seems to be pretty darn good, for the price.

The camera's image stabilizer seems to work pretty well.  I literally stepped out my front door, last evening, and took a hand held sunset shot at 1/30 second and it looks pretty good.  At least on the camera's monitor.  Haven't downloaded it to my computer. 

[tadwil]

Just leave your A7II in P mode and manually adjust the aperture as you see fit, depending on the shooting environment you happen to be in -- the camera will take care of the exposure.  Recently, I shot with Super Macro Takumar 50mm f4.0 M42 lens, going from f4.0 to f22.  The exposures were mostly consistent, however the shutter values went from 1/500, 1/200, 1/80, 1/50, 1/20, and 1/8 second.  I assume the diaphragm opening size varies a bit in my 50+ years old lens.

[XKAES]

Don't forget that the camera don't display the actual exposure.  A 1/54 exposure shows up a 1/50.

Edited November 26 by XKAES

[Mr. Lips]

On 11/23/2024 at 11:55 AM, Pieter said:

The camera doesn't need to know your aperture setting. You can even do auto exposure with 'dumb' lenses lacking electronic contacts. The camera will show '--' for aperture value, but it will still measure the light intensity hitting the sensor. Based on this, the camera can determine shutter speed and ISO to get correct exposure.

I'll play around with it some more.  It would definitely be helpful, if I could shoot in A mode.

[Mr. Lips]

A couple test shots with the 100mm macro.  Sunset is hand held.  Crabapples were shot with tripod.

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[Mr. Lips]

I've played around with it in aperture mode and it does indeed work with a manual lens.

Thanks for the tip.

[FunWithCameras]

The manual lenses I have tried are Voigtlander, and they do communicate with the camera, so the aperture is communicated to the camera. Aperture priority works perfectly.

[tadwil]

On 12/6/2024 at 1:44 AM, FunWithCameras said:

The manual lenses I have tried are Voigtlander, and they do communicate with the camera, so the aperture is communicated to the camera. Aperture priority works perfectly.

I don't have a Voigtlander or any of the Loxia lenses but I have a question regarding aperture control with these MF lenses with electronic contacts.  With my Pentax lenses with dumb adapters, when I stop down the aperture ring, the viewfinder gets darker.  It doesn't become an issue until f8.0 and smaller but in very low light situations, it gets dark very quickly.  My question is with your lens, does the camera keep the lens iris wide open and close it at the instant the the shutter is released?

[Pieter]

Not sure which camera you have @tadwil but do you have 'Setting effects' set to ON in Live View? If the exposure is correct, your camera should compensate for low light in Live View. Might look very noisy and with low framerate but shouldn't be dark.

https://helpguide.sony.net/ilc/1710/v1/en/contents/TP0001629730.html

Your camera doesn't need to know the set Aperture value, it just measures light intensity on the sensor. Same with applying ND filters: even with smart lenses your camera doesn't know what ND filter you're using, if any. Yet still it'll show proper exposure in the viewfinder.

Edited Sunday at 09:36 AM by Pieter

[tadwil]

On 12/8/2024 at 1:34 AM, Pieter said:

Not sure which camera you have @tadwil but do you have 'Setting effects' set to ON in Live View? If the exposure is correct, your camera should compensate for low light in Live View. Might look very noisy and with low framerate but shouldn't be dark.

https://helpguide.sony.net/ilc/1710/v1/en/contents/TP0001629730.html

Your camera doesn't need to know the set Aperture value, it just measures light intensity on the sensor. Same with applying ND filters: even with smart lenses your camera doesn't know what ND filter you're using, if any. Yet still it'll show proper exposure in the viewfinder.

Hi Pieter,

I have the A7II and the Live View is on.  When I said it was getting dark, I meant the viewfinder getting very noisy.  I think I will start switching back and forth between Live View on and off.  Compose with Live View off, and expose with Live View on in very low light situations.

[Pieter]

When shooting still subjects off a tripod, it might help to compose and focus with the aperture wide open, then closing down right before taking the shot. Bit cumbersome but at least it's workable.

I'm not 100% sure but I think Loxias and Voigtlander lenses have mechanical apertures despite being 'smart'. All they do is communicate EXIF information with the camera, so e.g. IBIS should automatically work at the proper focal length.

[Mr. Lips]

8 hours ago, Pieter said:

When shooting still subjects off a tripod, it might help to compose and focus with the aperture wide open, then closing down right before taking the shot. Bit cumbersome but at least it's workable.

I'm not 100% sure but I think Loxias and Voigtlander lenses have mechanical apertures despite being 'smart'. All they do is communicate EXIF information with the camera, so e.g. IBIS should automatically work at the proper focal length.

Yeah, Pieter is right. I compose and focus wide open then close it down for the shot.

[FunWithCameras]

11 hours ago, Pieter said:

When shooting still subjects off a tripod, it might help to compose and focus with the aperture wide open, then closing down right before taking the shot. Bit cumbersome but at least it's workable.

I'm not 100% sure but I think Loxias and Voigtlander lenses have mechanical apertures despite being 'smart'. All they do is communicate EXIF information with the camera, so e.g. IBIS should automatically work at the proper focal length.

You are correct for the Voigtlanders I own - the aperture ring is mechanical. It tells the camera what the aperture is, but yeah, no control from the camera.