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A700 V4 and Auto Focus

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Ronni H

Ronni H

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Now that you guys have been using the v4 firmware for a couple of weeks - I was wondering if anyone's been noticing any difference in how your lenses focus?

Sony says nothing about AF changes but I am 99% sure that my lenses are focusing differently:

Minolta 50mm 1.4 RS

I used to get really frustrated by this lens back-focusing on my A700 – especially when using external flash. After the firmware upgrade this problem seems to have disappeared or at least gotten much better.

Beercan

I loved this lens on my KM 5D but since I got the A700 this lens was not what it used to be. I started thinking it’s resolution was not up to 12 MP – but now I can see it was just not focusing accurately. This lens really shines on my A700 v4 now.

Sigma 17-70

This was my only really sharp lens on the A700 but now it’s kind of an average performer. I am not 100% sure but I think it’s gotten worse – still useable though...

Am I the only one with these thoughts? Or have I been struck by a severe case of placebo?

--
Ronni

http://www.pbase.com/ronnihansen
 
Ronni H said:
Now that you guys have been using the v4 firmware for a couple of
weeks - I was wondering if anyone's been noticing any difference in
how your lenses focus?
Sony says nothing about AF changes but I am 99% sure that my lenses
are focusing differently:

Minolta 50mm 1.4 RS
I used to get really frustrated by this lens back-focusing on my A700
– especially when using external flash. After the firmware upgrade
this problem seems to have disappeared or at least gotten much better.

Beercan
I loved this lens on my KM 5D but since I got the A700 this lens was
not what it used to be. I started thinking it’s resolution was not up
to 12 MP – but now I can see it was just not focusing accurately.
This lens really shines on my A700 v4 now.

Sigma 17-70
This was my only really sharp lens on the A700 but now it’s kind of
an average performer. I am not 100% sure but I think it’s gotten
worse – still useable though...

Am I the only one with these thoughts? Or have I been struck by a
severe case of placebo?

--
Ronni

http://www.pbase.com/ronnihansen
Click to expand...
I haven't really noticed much of a difference as I have always been impressed with my A700's AF. But you are not the first to suggest an improvement with V4 wrt AF. Do a quick look/search and you should find some threads about it.

--
fjbyrne
 
Yes, my FF decreased somehow but did not disappear. I only see a change in the fast lens, ie F/2.8

lock
 
I now notice a slight difference in speed between FAST and SLOW auto-focus now, something I could not discern before V4, but then again maybe my hearing got better!
--Phil
 
I upgraded from v1 to v4. For me the AF remains fast and accurate with the CZ16-80 and the beercan. I took a good number of shots last weekend at my brothers wedding and general sightseeing. I didn't experience any autofocus problems.
--
Richard B.
http://www.pbase.com/richard_b
 
I've been having BF with my Minolta 50mm f1.4 RS and 50mm f1.7 on my A700. Both seem to work very well with my A100 after it was serviced

I was about to sent it for a warranty adjustment when I heard about V4. I waited until the official version was available and installed it.

I do not see any great improvement. The first shot or two I took seemed to be correctly focussed but when I did tests more rigorously, especially further from the subject, it seemed to BF about 6 inches at a subject distance of 6 feet.

I'm also having ever worse focussing on my 35mm f1.4.

Camera now sent back through my local dealer, who had just, minutes before, received his first A900 and offered to open the box for me. I declined the invitation as the temptation would have been too much. I've set my heart on some of the lovely new glass which I ordered instead. The Min. 50mm 1.4 is my newest piece c. 2002. I need to get the A700 focussing perfectly before I get tempted to upgrade.

--
robrol
 
i have everything you have listed except my 50mm is 1.7, and each lens has been exceptional (for me) on V3 and V4, so have not noticed any change to the autofocus. however, my sigma 105mm macro seems to have perked up speed wise!
cheers
 
Ronnie,

Yes, I really noticed my AF is more accurate and the images are really sharper on V4. I am very very happy with my A700 V4 now!!!

http://www.pbase.com/emmanuelg

Emmanuel
 
Seems like this is a very random problem - some has it and others don't. Also makes me wonder whether some people would notice it and others wouldn't.

For you guys who never had the problem - would you have accepted a focus like the picture below?:



--
Ronni

http://www.pbase.com/ronnihansen
 
I once had a Sigma 28-70. 2.8. Great lense but there was a bit of FF. Finally I sold it. Close up pictures just weren't sharp enough because of that. And it bothered me.

--
Today's oppressed become tomorrow's oppressors...
 
Apart from the central one, does this problem also occur with the other sensors ? It would be nice if you could check this cause. If it doesn't, you are getting closer to a solution (readjusting the F/2.8 wide sensor).

lock
 
I had a slight FF with V3, except from my Sigma 180mm macro.

I finetuned the focus under V3 and have a nice focus then with all lenses except the macro. So the opposite world.

With V4 none of my lenses was in focus anymore and I was very disappointed with the blurry images and I posted here about the uggly JPEGs after V4 was installed.

I did a finetune again and a get all my lenses again in focus except again the Sigma 180 mm macro. The Bigma was never as sharp as now.

So as an answer on your question, yes definitly there is some change in focusing after V4. I noticed a BF after V4. With V3 I had a FF. So I asume that when I didn't finetuned the focus under V3, it's possible that with V4 all is more in focus.

regards

Rob

--
http://www.picasaweb.google.be/alphamember
 
BillCarr said:
So your reply was irrelevant to the question, which was specifically
about the a700. Do you discuss the A900 in any forum question
regardless of the question being asked? I hope not.
Click to expand...
It was also about the beercan:
BillCarr said:
Beercan

I loved this lens on my KM 5D but since I got the A700 this lens was not what it used > to be. I started thinking it’s resolution was not up to 12 MP – but now I can see it was > just not focusing accurately. This lens really shines on my A700 v4 now.
Click to expand...
By the way, do you go around to everyone (friends, family, co-workers, strangers) and inject yourself making smart-a$$ comments? You aren't even the OP. Sheesh.

--
Henry Richardson
http://www.bakubo.com
 
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