Amazing picture taking experience

[SpenceJack]

I just bought this camera a week ago and I just cannot stop taking pictures. Don't get me wrong, the quality of the camera, the build, the tech specs, the shear number of megapixels on a full frame sensor and an incredibly sharp Zeiss 35 mm lens, all of that is spectacular. But what is really amazing is how much fun it is to use.

This camera just begs to fall into manual mode. I turned it on and within five minutes was using manual focus and aperture priority mode just like I used to on my old mechanical Nikon FG. Remember how that used to be?

The simplicity is accessible, but the complexity is deep. So right off the bat I'm having fun with aperture priority and notice that the shutter speed does not seem to drop below sixty, and it becomes apparent that it's automatically adjusting the ISO to preserve the 1/60 shutter speed. In two seconds I limit the ISO Max to 6400 or something like that. Easy. And in doing that I noticed how to turn on Manual Focus and then I was playing with the cool red lines and intuitive zoom-to-precision manual focus.

And the pictures are just spectacular. I have a one of those Giant new iMac screens and I can zoom in about to someone's eye tooth, and even the pixelation seems to have a texture. Shooting in Raw mode the nuances of detail and light are fun to play with.

Buy this camera. Just go buy it and get used to a 35mm lens for a while until a few more lens are available. In the meantime, have fun remembering how to take pictures.

The ratings below reflect that it does not bother me to wait a while for lenses to be released. I don't mind investing a little at a time.

 

[Keit ll]

A good attempt at making a virtue out of a vice but the current shortage of native lenses is a big negative for many prospective buyers at present. How much of a problem will depend on whether you want to experiment with legacy lenses or have other cameras but if an A&/7r is your only camera it could be a big issue.

 

[socode]

the current shortage of native lenses is a big negative for many prospective buyers at present

On the plus side, it stops you buying new lenses

 

[tesch]

the current shortage of native lenses is a big negative for many prospective buyers at present

On the plus side, it stops you buying new lenses

You can only use one lens at a time!

 

[harold1968]

I just bought this camera a week ago and I just cannot stop taking pictures. Don't get me wrong, the quality of the camera, the build, the tech specs, the shear number of megapixels on a full frame sensor and an incredibly sharp Zeiss 35 mm lens, all of that is spectacular. But what is really amazing is how much fun it is to use.

This camera just begs to fall into manual mode. I turned it on and within five minutes was using manual focus and aperture priority mode just like I used to on my old mechanical Nikon FG. Remember how that used to be?

The simplicity is accessible, but the complexity is deep. So right off the bat I'm having fun with aperture priority and notice that the shutter speed does not seem to drop below sixty, and it becomes apparent that it's automatically adjusting the ISO to preserve the 1/60 shutter speed. In two seconds I limit the ISO Max to 6400 or something like that. Easy. And in doing that I noticed how to turn on Manual Focus and then I was playing with the cool red lines and intuitive zoom-to-precision manual focus.

And the pictures are just spectacular. I have a one of those Giant new iMac screens and I can zoom in about to someone's eye tooth, and even the pixelation seems to have a texture. Shooting in Raw mode the nuances of detail and light are fun to play with.

Buy this camera. Just go buy it and get used to a 35mm lens for a while until a few more lens are available. In the meantime, have fun remembering how to take pictures.

The ratings below reflect that it does not bother me to wait a while for lenses to be released. I don't mind investing a little at a time.

Agree

Welcome to the best ever camera club

--
harold.co.il

 

[Felice62]

the current shortage of native lenses is a big negative for many prospective buyers at present

On the plus side, it stops you buying new lenses

.. which is itself a lotta fun

 

[Keit ll]

Didn't know that so many optimists existed ! :-D

 

[nzmacro]

I just bought this camera a week ago and I just cannot stop taking pictures. Don't get me wrong, the quality of the camera, the build, the tech specs, the shear number of megapixels on a full frame sensor and an incredibly sharp Zeiss 35 mm lens, all of that is spectacular. But what is really amazing is how much fun it is to use.

This camera just begs to fall into manual mode. I turned it on and within five minutes was using manual focus and aperture priority mode just like I used to on my old mechanical Nikon FG. Remember how that used to be?

The simplicity is accessible, but the complexity is deep. So right off the bat I'm having fun with aperture priority and notice that the shutter speed does not seem to drop below sixty, and it becomes apparent that it's automatically adjusting the ISO to preserve the 1/60 shutter speed. In two seconds I limit the ISO Max to 6400 or something like that. Easy. And in doing that I noticed how to turn on Manual Focus and then I was playing with the cool red lines and intuitive zoom-to-precision manual focus.

And the pictures are just spectacular. I have a one of those Giant new iMac screens and I can zoom in about to someone's eye tooth, and even the pixelation seems to have a texture. Shooting in Raw mode the nuances of detail and light are fun to play with.

Buy this camera. Just go buy it and get used to a 35mm lens for a while until a few more lens are available. In the meantime, have fun remembering how to take pictures.

The ratings below reflect that it does not bother me to wait a while for lenses to be released. I don't mind investing a little at a time.

Well I must admit, some of these user reviews are good for a smile or two

Excellent for sports and action huh, care to post a few shots up taken at a fast burst with the 35mm lens ??

Danny.

http://www.birdsinaction.com

 

[OvinceZ]

If you don't work for Sony then it is nice to read a positive post about the A7r. The lens rental comments put a damper on my thinking about getting the A7r.

I have the NEX7 and use it as my walk around camera but also for macros of flowers.

In Australia some shops have a deal that includes the Metabones adapter which is great for us Canon owners. I also use manual focus often with the NEX7 so the A7r would be as good if not better because of the improved viewfinder. Focus peaking and magnified view through the viewfinder can't be beaten for getting sharp results. Well, most of the time.

I have to choose between the A7r and a 5DIII. I have 2 5DII cameras.

The lack of lenses for Sony sucks. Their record for the NEX7 isn't good. I had to get a Zeiss lens and also the LA2 adapter. So having proper lenses for the A7r will make a huge difference. Buying a system with one lens isn't what I call sensible.

Vince

 

[Cane]

I am not going all manual. I don't think I'm old enough.

 

[rrccad]

5/5 for action / sports .. nikon and canon should be worried about their big D4s and 1DX bodies

 

[Allochka Emiliana]

Same here, the sharpest of the lens is just incredible - 1:1 in lightroom is pretty sharp. I haven't used any of my lens since getting it. The adaptor I bought is a waste of money now. If I need to zoom, I walk closer to the subject ;-)

 

[anagram4wander2]

Thanks for the review.. I love the results from mine as well ..

 

[efrazier]

Thanks for the review..I have the A7r as well and I can't stop taking pictures with it. I even went so far as to sell all of my Canon and Panasonic gear. This camera/system has allowed me to downsize my gear and kill my GAS (Gear Acquisition Syndrome) much to my wifes pleasure! Which is exactly what I was looking for!

I was also afraid of the lack of lenses but so far I'm happy with the 55 and 35 native lenses. The only other lens I would like to see is an 85.

 

[djp58]

I just bought this camera a week ago and I just cannot stop taking pictures. Don't get me wrong, the quality of the camera, the build, the tech specs, the shear number of megapixels on a full frame sensor and an incredibly sharp Zeiss 35 mm lens, all of that is spectacular. But what is really amazing is how much fun it is to use.

This camera just begs to fall into manual mode. I turned it on and within five minutes was using manual focus and aperture priority mode just like I used to on my old mechanical Nikon FG. Remember how that used to be?

The simplicity is accessible, but the complexity is deep. So right off the bat I'm having fun with aperture priority and notice that the shutter speed does not seem to drop below sixty, and it becomes apparent that it's automatically adjusting the ISO to preserve the 1/60 shutter speed. In two seconds I limit the ISO Max to 6400 or something like that. Easy. And in doing that I noticed how to turn on Manual Focus and then I was playing with the cool red lines and intuitive zoom-to-precision manual focus.

And the pictures are just spectacular. I have a one of those Giant new iMac screens and I can zoom in about to someone's eye tooth, and even the pixelation seems to have a texture. Shooting in Raw mode the nuances of detail and light are fun to play with.

Buy this camera. Just go buy it and get used to a 35mm lens for a while until a few more lens are available. In the meantime, have fun remembering how to take pictures.

The ratings below reflect that it does not bother me to wait a while for lenses to be released. I don't mind investing a little at a time.

Well I must admit, some of these user reviews are good for a smile or two

Excellent for sports and action huh, care to post a few shots up taken at a fast burst with the 35mm lens ??

Danny.

http://www.birdsinaction.com

Hi Danny,

I got a couple of chuckles out of this also - agree the NEX 7 still rules the mirrorless world for action/sports, especially when in the hands of someone who knows what they are doing (like you or Matt Durr) ;-) Something to be said for the extra reach the apsc sensor gives and you've gotta love the 10fps shooting (love that sound almost as much as I love the sound of the A7R shutter!).

With that said, I have to agree with pretty much everything else OP said about the A7R & FE35f2.8. Wow - what a combo for everyday shooting :-() I've had my A7R for 3 weeks and the FE35 for 2 weeks. The lens has rarely been off the camera - might actually start shooting native lenses more often (my 2 years with the NEX 7 rarely saw a native lens mounted - was too much fun shooting legacy).

All the best,

David

 

[SpenceJack]

Yes you are right about the lenses. I'm waiting for the promised 70-200 zoom lens, but what I would really like is to add super sharp 105MM and 200MM lenses to my bag. I hesitate to go with an adaptor because it seems like it must impair the resolution somehow. The resolution is an important part of what makes this camera such a pleasure.

 

[o Conlocha]

Yes,

I was very skeptical about this camera, but it hasn't left my side since it arrived, I bring it everywhere and I love shooting with it. I sold my Nikon D3 because it was just too big a machine to work with in my hands, and now I use all the lenses of my Nikon and they work just fine.

I have taken more shots in the past month, than in the last five years, when my D3 was just collecting dust!

The A7r has a couple fo drawbacks, but every camera does. Not one as small and light as this baby.

Regards

 

[Red G8R]

5/5 for action / sports .. nikon and canon should be worried about their big D4s and 1DX bodies

He scored action/sports a 1 of 5 .