A7s for stills

Erik Naso said:
In video mode you can take stills. If you have the camera set to manual (M) then both triggers work. One advantage to using Video Mode is you get audio VU meters. On the other hand if you are in M mode you can custom white balance. In Video Mode you have to dial a kelvin setting or use a preset. If you perform a WB in M mode it stores it as a preset so you can switch between the two if a custom WB is needed. This drives me crazy because I prefer to perform a custom white balance as opposed to using kelin settings.
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I could be missing something, but from what I can see, I can't take stills in movie mode (filmstrip icon on top dial). I get an error message if I try. In manual mode (M on top dial), I can start recording a video clip, but I cannot shoot a still while recording. Also, I get audio meters whether I'm in Movie mode or a photo mode, but in the photo modes they only appear after you hit record.
 
that's correct

what Erik said is that in M mode you can either record video or shoot a still, he never said you can do both things at once (i.e. shoot a still while recording video)
 
Erik Naso said:
In video mode you can take stills. If you have the camera set to manual (M) then both triggers work. One advantage to using Video Mode is you get audio VU meters. On the other hand if you are in M mode you can custom white balance. In Video Mode you have to dial a kelvin setting or use a preset. If you perform a WB in M mode it stores it as a preset so you can switch between the two if a custom WB is needed. This drives me crazy because I prefer to perform a custom white balance as opposed to using kelin settings.
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Really? This is what I get if I press the shutter when the top dial is switched to movie. And I have mine set to full manual when shooting video.
 

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Mestizo Devon said:
Anyone using the 28-70 3.5-5.6 sony fe?
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I'm curious about this too - as I just picked one up on the cheap. From what I hear the performance is not bad for a kit lens and approaches the level of the 24-70/4...if you can get passed the build quality that is. I guess we'll see when I pick up my A7s in HK this weekend.
 
The 28-70 is well regarded as one of the best kit lenses around - which isn't saying much, but still. Its light, cheap, has a metal mount (unlike many lower price lenses) and its stabilized. Its not prime sharp, but it produces impressive sharpness on the A7 at 24mp and decent bokeh at various FL's. Here's a nice test showing sharpness.

http://www.fredmiranda.com/forum/topic/1255761

I've seen them listed for $250, at that price its a no brainer for a good walk around lens. Mine is good enough that I have no desire to spend $1000 on the FE 24-70. Search Flickr, there are lots of great image samples and you can get a feel for the rendering.
 
photochris said:
The 28-70 is well regarded as one of the best kit lenses around - which isn't saying much, but still. Its light, cheap, has a metal mount (unlike many lower price lenses) and its stabilized. Its not prime sharp, but it produces impressive sharpness on the A7 at 24mp and decent bokeh at various FL's. Here's a nice test showing sharpness.

http://www.fredmiranda.com/forum/topic/1255761

I've seen them listed for $250, at that price its a no brainer for a good walk around lens. Mine is good enough that I have no desire to spend $1000 on the FE 24-70. Search Flickr, there are lots of great image samples and you can get a feel for the rendering.
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Thank you for the info
 
Erik Naso said:
I have the Sigma 50mm f/1.4 ART in a Canon EF mount and it's amazing. On the A7s auto focus isn't great with Metabones adapter just like all my EF glass, but if it was a native Alpha mount how much better would auto focus work? I would think it would be pretty good.
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Bubble said:
not that much Eric. Even when you pair up with the latest LA-EA4, AF is about 80% speed vs if you'r using ZA lens with sony alpha camera such as A99. I tried it and return the LA-EA adapter back.
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Sorry to revive an old thread, but I'm doing some research on lenses for my A7S that will AF (without breaking the bank), and I found some information that seems to conflict with what Bubble is saying above.

The LE-EA4 from what I've seen so far, is AMAZING at AF speed- faster than native FE lenses at least according to youtube tests I saw with someone using an A7. Even in video mode, the contrast detection snapped the proper focus instantly, whereas the FE lens took noticeably longer to lock on. I don't know if that "80% of the A99" speed thing is correct, but perhaps the A99 is just incredibly fast. Who knows. The samples I've seen focus faster than native FE lenses on the A7, so that's saying something. It also seemed faster than, say a Tamron 2.8 zoom on my Canon body, but that's not really news (Tamron is nice and sharp but not really fast at AF).

Meanwhile, I'm suddenly aware of all these cheap A-mount lens options, such as old the Minolta "beer can" 70-210 f/4, which will AF just fine on the LA-EA4 in split seconds. A $350 adapter + a sub $100 lens = $450 for what is essentially faster and slightly more reach than the FE 70-200 f/4 which is over 3x the price! Granted, you'd lose stabilization, but I'm thinking of doing this for stills where a higher shutter speed thanks to the A7S' ISO performance can even that out that anyway.

Suddenly on a hunt for A-mount glass- I might be able to replace my Canon for stills if I can find decent equivalents!
 
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