Reading mode: Light Dark

It’s time to say goodbye

Go to last post
Richard B.

Richard B.

Veteran Member
Messages
5,931
Solutions
1
Reaction score
635
Location
MA, US
It’s been a great ride with Minolta and Sony. I got back into photography after a fairly long break with the Minolta S404, then the A1, the KM 5D and then the A700. I have have fond memories of those cameras and the great results they gave. I tried the A55, but it is not for me. The viewfinder and autofocus just don’t work well enough in the situations I need them to work. I don’t know if it’s my sample of the CZ16-80 or some interaction with the SLT design, but I have seen increased CA and in areas I wouldn’t expect to see it, such low contrast areas in landscape photographs.

Sony has produced a great APS-C sensor in the 16MP, so its especially frustrating that they haven’t made the sensor available in an high end APS body. I would have been pretty happy if Sony had offered a sensor upgrade program e.g. the new 16MP in my A700 body for, say, $500.

From everything I have read, it appears Sony is moving aggressively to EVF, so I am switching brands to Nikon in the hope that I can find a stronger commitment to OVF with that brand. I am fortunate that I don’t have a huge investment in alpha mount glass, so switching brands is feasible for me. I did consider Sony FF, but switching to FF would be substantially more expensive and I just didn’t want the added weight of a FF system.
--
Richard B.
http://www.pbase.com/richard_b
 
from Canon years ago to go to Minolta/Sony and really like what's happening now - my Minoltas gave me some experience with EVFs. I have also acquired an interest in video. I really liked and used Canon since high school and was very loyal, but I know that Nikon has brought out some great products recently, so good luck with that. It's always exciting to try out a new platform.
 
Richard B. said:
It’s been a great ride with Minolta and Sony. I got back into photography after a fairly long break with the Minolta S404, then the A1, the KM 5D and then the A700. I have have fond memories of those cameras and the great results they gave. I tried the A55, but it is not for me. The viewfinder and autofocus just don’t work well enough in the situations I need them to work. I don’t know if it’s my sample of the CZ16-80 or some interaction with the SLT design, but I have seen increased CA and in areas I wouldn’t expect to see it, such low contrast areas in landscape photographs.

Sony has produced a great APS-C sensor in the 16MP, so its especially frustrating that they haven’t made the sensor available in an high end APS body. I would have been pretty happy if Sony had offered a sensor upgrade program e.g. the new 16MP in my A700 body for, say, $500.

From everything I have read, it appears Sony is moving aggressively to EVF, so I am switching brands to Nikon in the hope that I can find a stronger commitment to OVF with that brand. I am fortunate that I don’t have a huge investment in alpha mount glass, so switching brands is feasible for me. I did consider Sony FF, but switching to FF would be substantially more expensive and I just didn’t want the added weight of a FF system.
--
Richard B.
http://www.pbase.com/richard_b
Click to expand...
im sorry ..a sensor upgrade program?? u want the red carpet with or without it...
common...

sure ur intitled doing anything you want and good luck with nikon or if u choose canon or even pentax...non is bad thats for sure...

but EVF's are the future like it or not..so sooner than later you are gonna see EVF's on canon and nikon's cams also...may be 5 years but thats the direction.
so your move should be from other reason's in my opinion.
 
You did the right thing. Sony does not provide you with what you need, you move to the manufacturer that does. I wish more people do that. That way we would have less moaners and bashers on this forum. I guess I'll see you on the Nikon board. What model do you plan to get from Nikon?
--

When I see some self called Advance Amateur that shoot at a higher level than a pro's work, I am proud of being a beginner.
 
It depends on glass investment... If you don't have a lot of money in the lenses/accessories, no problem. If you do it would be wise to think twice, because indeed Sony is only starting a trend that will most likely become a standard, and it might not be very beneficial to switch system/lose money only to find your new brand doing just the same on their next generation... which will be their first one, most likely less than perfect as well, while Sony will be at their second and will have ironed out the quirks of the first one, leading you to switch again...

The A580 is a very good camera to use in the meantime if you're really an OVF type.

--
http://kilrah.dynalias.net/gallery
http://www.rc-tech.ch/aviation
 
I did a good deal of video (on a camcorder) when my children were small. It's a great way to document the kids growing up, but the media never had much appeal to me as still photography. And thanks, I am sure I will enjoy the Nikon.
Corkcampbell said:
from Canon years ago to go to Minolta/Sony and really like what's happening now - my Minoltas gave me some experience with EVFs. I have also acquired an interest in video. I really liked and used Canon since high school and was very loyal, but I know that Nikon has brought out some great products recently, so good luck with that. It's always exciting to try out a new platform.
Click to expand...
--
Richard B.
http://www.pbase.com/richard_b
 
rinkos said:
im sorry ..a sensor upgrade program?? u want the red carpet with or without it...
Click to expand...
Any color carpet will be fine ;-)
rinkos said:
but EVF's are the future like it or not..so sooner than later you are gonna see EVF's on canon and nikon's cams also...may be 5 years but thats the direction.
Click to expand...
We will have to disagree on that on. If cameras only had EVF, I would buy an OVF and mount it on the accessory shoe of my NEX-120 or whatever it is.

--
Richard B.
http://www.pbase.com/richard_b
 
I bought a D7000 and will likely show upon the Nikon board, once my 16-85 Nikkor arrives.
mzd said:
You did the right thing. Sony does not provide you with what you need, you move to the manufacturer that does. I wish more people do that. That way we would have less moaners and bashers on this forum. I guess I'll see you on the Nikon board. What model do you plan to get from Nikon?
Click to expand...
--
Richard B.
http://www.pbase.com/richard_b
 
rinkos said:
but EVF's are the future like it or not..so sooner than later you are gonna see EVF's on canon and nikon's cams also...may be 5 years but thats the direction.
so your move should be from other reason's in my opinion.
Click to expand...
Sorry but how do you know Nikon or Canon will follow Sony route with EVF??? Sony did it cause SLT cameras have different design than classic SLR cameras. If Nikon and Canon continue to follow SLR route they don't need to replace OVF with EVF at all.
 
Sounds like you made a sensible choice. Best of luck with nikon.
 
trying to be reasonable here by stating why the new Sony is not for you. The fanboys love it when somone says goodbye. You will only get hammered by them, they just cant say we see your position and wish you well, it always has to be their way....I personally think that they are doing more to drive off folks here and cause more anti-Sony than Sony themself. But thats just my opinion.

Sony again is attempting to change the world: just like Betamax, minidisk and so on ......

In any event, I wish you well and understand your feelings and position and respect it. Because after all, its your money!

Good luck to you.

--
Thanks,

Digitalshooter
 
Kilrah said:
Sony is only starting a trend that will most likely become a standard,
Click to expand...
I don't doubt there be broader use of EVF, but I don't see it wholly replacing OVF. EVF is always constrained by sensor performance. Seeing what the sensor sees is great for checking exposure, but from a compositional perspective I want to see the scene I am trying to capture, not how the camera interprets it.
Kilrah said:
The A580 is a very good camera to use in the meantime if you're really an OVF type.
Click to expand...
Agreed, the A580 is a very good camera. I could likely live with the pentamirror viewfinder for a while, but per my previous post, I doubt Sony's long term commitment to OVF.
Kilrah said:
--
http://kilrah.dynalias.net/gallery
http://www.rc-tech.ch/aviation
Click to expand...
--
Richard B.
http://www.pbase.com/richard_b
 
Richard B. said:
I tried the A55, but it is not for me. The viewfinder and autofocus just don’t work well enough in the situations I need them to work. I don’t know if it’s my sample of the CZ16-80 or some interaction with the SLT design, but I have seen increased CA and in areas I wouldn’t expect to see it, such low contrast areas in landscape photographs.
Click to expand...
I am interested in knowing if your experience with the a55 and Zeiss CZ16-80 is typical. I just ordered a 16-80 for my (1 week old) a55 and am concerned that I may have made a bad mistake. Until the new lens arrives, I won't know if mine also exhibits problems with CA, but would be extremely unhappy if this is indeed the case in low contrast especially. And I am also wondering if this CA is lateral or radial, since I have a much easier time dealing with lateral CA in post processing.

I would appreciate any comments, Richard, or anybody else who is aware of this problem.

Thanks,
Larry
 
Dayd3 said:
rinkos said:
but EVF's are the future like it or not..so sooner than later you are gonna see EVF's on canon and nikon's cams also...may be 5 years but thats the direction.
so your move should be from other reason's in my opinion.
Click to expand...
Sorry but how do you know Nikon or Canon will follow Sony route with EVF??? Sony did it cause SLT cameras have different design than classic SLR cameras. If Nikon and Canon continue to follow SLR route they don't need to replace OVF with EVF at all.
Click to expand...
ill tell you how..because as of now glass is a limited medium the least that we will see is a sort of hybrid VF ...maybe like the one the fuji x100 is gonna be on ( remains to be seen ) ..

there is a limit to what the best glass can do ...and besides if the vf is good enough you won't even know its electronic...thats is not the situation now maybe but will be very soon.

when ovf can't show u what ur picture is gonna look like and evf can...when evf can light up to make u able to shot under low light and darkness and normal ovf is useless at that...it is very logical from that point to see the OVF is just not good enough and this is the best we have mind you while evf's are only just begining their way on pro cams so they have a long way to go yet.
 
rinkos said:
Dayd3 said:
rinkos said:
but EVF's are the future like it or not..so sooner than later you are gonna see EVF's on canon and nikon's cams also...may be 5 years but thats the direction.
so your move should be from other reason's in my opinion.
Click to expand...
Sorry but how do you know Nikon or Canon will follow Sony route with EVF??? Sony did it cause SLT cameras have different design than classic SLR cameras. If Nikon and Canon continue to follow SLR route they don't need to replace OVF with EVF at all.
Click to expand...
ill tell you how..because as of now glass is a limited medium the least that we will see is a sort of hybrid VF ...maybe like the one the fuji x100 is gonna be on ( remains to be seen ) ..

there is a limit to what the best glass can do ...and besides if the vf is good enough you won't even know its electronic...thats is not the situation now maybe but will be very soon.

when ovf can't show u what ur picture is gonna look like and evf can...when evf can light up to make u able to shot under low light and darkness and normal ovf is useless at that...it is very logical from that point to see the OVF is just not good enough and this is the best we have mind you while evf's are only just begining their way on pro cams so they have a long way to go yet.
Click to expand...
Interestingly in the world of pro video cameras EVF's are accepted as the norm. Who is is the leader in pro video? Sony.
 
That Betamax/VHS remark always gives me a chuckle.

While VHS grabbed up the general public, the lowly Betamax proved to be the defacto for every professional news agency around the world...of course they probably didnt know any better.
Db
 
Hi Richard, it's been a long time and I always liked to look at your pics, since the days of the Minolta talk forum here which had so many talented people. I can understand your move, especially if your latest Sony body didn't satisfy you - enjoy your new gear and report back (somehwere) on the experiences with your change.

--
http://www.pbase.com/maurus_e/
 
Here is an 100% crop showing what I was referring to.



The sun was about to cross the horizon just out of frame on the right hand side of the shot. Both shots below were at 16mm and f8.

Here is the full scene



.

My CZ16-80 is over three years old and had pretty heavy use. Its possible it got a knock that moved something slightly out of alignment. It's possible I missed it, but I don't recall seeing CA on the CZ in this type of lighting situation before.

Oddly enough, I got the shot below around the same time and did not see the CA.



.

Here is more typical travel shot (16mm and f5.6)



There is some CA in the tree at the top right



and on the signal gantry



Both of these cases are consistent with what I might have seen with the CZ on the A700.
LSHorwitz1 said:
I am interested in knowing if your experience with the a55 and Zeiss CZ16-80 is typical. I just ordered a 16-80 for my (1 week old) a55 and am concerned that I may have made a bad mistake. Until the new lens arrives, I won't know if mine also exhibits problems with CA, but would be extremely unhappy if this is indeed the case in low contrast especially. And I am also wondering if this CA is lateral or radial, since I have a much easier time dealing with lateral CA in post processing.

I would appreciate any comments, Richard, or anybody else who is aware of this problem.

Thanks,
Larry
Click to expand...
--
Richard B.
http://www.pbase.com/richard_b
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Keyboard shortcuts

f
Forum
m
My threads
Mobile site
About
Editorial content
Cameras & Lenses
Community
All content, design, and layout are Copyright © 1998–2025 Digital Photography Review All Rights Reserved.
Reproduction in whole or part in any form or medium without specific written permission is prohibited.
When you use DPReview links to buy products, the site may earn a commission.
©GPS Media - Guides, Products, Services.
Back
Top