Can we have a discussion about this? I'm curious about why the A7 has taken over your other cameras.
Here's my garbled train of thought:
- The A7 has a full frame Sony sensor which can also be found in the Nikon DSLRs.
- The difference is it's in a smaller body. But Leica has been producing smaller bodies too.
- Some features that Leica doesn't have are autofocus and IS.
- On the other hand, I've been hearing that autofcusing with the A7 is not very fast.
- I prefer manual focusing which the A7 doesn't really excel at. Its focus peaking doesn't work very well which leaves zoom focusing as an aid. But zoom focusing really slows down the focusing process in my opinion, it adds a few steps which means I have to reframe a couple of times and missing the moment especially when I'm shooting with shallow depth of field.
- NB: I've just recently given up and switched off focus peaking completely BUT in the process I've discovered that I can focus far better without it (straight off the viewfinder, without having to defer to zoom focusing). This has actually made the A7 much more useable for me and I'm looking forward to using it this way.
- The shutter sound still doesn't fit well with me.
- Plus the other niggling issues I mentioned in the firmware thread.
I don't profess to be the perfect role model for camera selection. The A7s work for me.
1. I couldn't care less about the shutter. It's not as loud as an M9.
2. I've been carrying four cameras (2 M9s and 2 m43). Now I carry two. Both use the same batteries and flash system. Even the a99 means I'm not carrying two FL50s and a Metz for the Leica. I actually have less gear to carry.
3. I'm Ok with the manual focus. It's not as good as my M9s but for my use I can press the C1 button twice in about 1/5 of a second. I don't think I'll ever be as good as I a with a rangefinder but I'll be better than I am today.
4. The Sony lenses are awesome. They just are. And a couple of f4 zooms and a 55 1.8 is like my perfect base kit.
5. I use my cameras with the grips, most of the time. I dont think they're perfect but I'm used to them now. The wheels are in the wrong spot. I love having shutter, aperture and ISO always available. I wish Sony would make the 2nd wheel more useful in aperture priority. I'd like FEC to be able to utilise it, at least.
6. I like Sony flashes, a lot. I don't like that they overheat all the time, but I can swap them easily enough to let one cool down. They have the best bounce swivel in the business.
7. I like Zeiss lenses. Plus all my Leica lenses ae stellar on the A7. And dead accurate. I've had all my Leica gear sent in more than once because it's out of friggin calibration. No point being fast if your 135 isn't in spec. Doesn't matter on the A7 because every shot is perfect.
8. I aint buying a Nikon, ever. I have little interest in big cameras. I got the a99 purely because of the 135mm Zeiss. But I'll only use it out of a car. If I have a tripod with me I'll be using the A7. The D800 was one of the most uncomfortable cameras I've ever picked up. I'm not into the D4 or the D600 shutter fiasco.
9. I find the Af fast enough. m43 is faster by a ways. But I don't need it faster than the A7. And its deadly accurate unlike any DSLR (which I'm rediscovering with the a99, by the way). And I am comfortable with the manual focus of the A7 ( I mix peaking, magnification and just winging it and I'm OK, so far.
10 I don't like the ratio of the m43 cameras and I don't like xtrans. Sony has both the resolution and ratio I like.
It's possible you wont get the Sony to work for you. I couldn't get Fuji to work for me. There's no right or wrong. It's a developing system and I'm just lucky much of the initial stuff works for me. Plus I've had a go at alpha and NEX before and had to let ot go even though I really liked some things about it. Most of those issues are improved in the a7, for me. I don't *need* a camera to do a lot except handle well and Imlike how the a7 handles.
The A7 is like an EM5 and a M240 had a love child. So I'm just consolodating the cameras I've already owned into a smaller overall kit. Bizzarely, now I'm using the a7s a lot I find the EM1 a bit weird in the hand.And I really dislike the location of its power switch. I wish the A7 had a touch screen but on the other hand teh a7 has a better implementation of the electronic levels.
But damn, I miss the IBIS of the EM1.
And the way I change cameras I'm just as likely to be shooting something else next year, anyway.
Gordon