Sunday, February 16, 2014

Sony ALPHA A7r and A7 TIPS of the DAY Part 4

Sony ALPHA A7r and A7 TIPS of the DAY Part 4


These are a few of my TIPS of the DAY  I have been posting on a Sony ALPHA - TALK  Group created on Facebook.  It "is" open to everyone ,  Just "JOIN"  by entering your FB name to the box with " + ADD people to Group ".
 https://www.facebook.com/groups/SonyAlphaTalk/


Sony ALPHA TIP # 70: A7r + LAEA4 + 16-35mm f2.8 ZA at the 2014 NFL PRO Bowl
ALL the Wide shots was done with the Sony A7r


Really, "REALLY" useful FL for a event like this, But it needs to be updated to FE and Optimized for the 36mp non-AA and beyond.

On this event I  never felt limited in any way.
Note the LAEA4 has a PDAF sensor for AF.    and it "just" worked.
But, was not as sharp as the 35mm f2.8 ZA FE.

Have a feeling my sports shoot WIDE combo will probably be a A7r + 16-35mm f4 ZA "FE".       Yes FE !
On a sports shoot this is the ONLY WIDE you will probably need.
and it keeps the size/weight down.  Important , because chances are it will be your third body.




The 16-35mm is a great Wide to go along with your Tele's you have to use at this type of event.
77mm filter is a benefit.  Things are flying , and it's bound to hit your lens. :)
f2.8 is a must for a night event imho.

* Sony needs to make a new 14-24mm f2.8 Zeiss SSM , or a 16-24mm (or new 16-35 if a 14mm cannot have a 77mm filter) f2.8 Zeiss  "with" a 77mm filter , Weather Sealed , with ALL Metal including the Zoom and Focus ring. and Optimize it for the new HIGH Resolution 36mp PLUS future.
and Fast SSM.





Sony ALPHA TIP # 69: This is not a "ALPHA" TIP ... but deserves to be Re-Posted.

Sony ALPHA TIP # 68:  Don't be afraid to shoot ISO 6400 on the A7r

Had to drop off something at the NFL office/room at the Sheraton Waikiki in the morning. So, I was a little late at the Aloha Stadium for the PRO Bowl Practice.
I am walking down the back hallway to get to the field, and the Cheerleaders are in the hall warming up.  Looking around I am the only one.
So I  took a quick pic  at auto iso.
It turned out to be iso6400 !   f4.5, 1/125 , A7r + 35mm f2.8 ZA FE
So,  now this is my current favorite  .. ISO 6400  shot.
I would put this shot in the use-able column. :)



Sony ALPHA TIP # 59: USA Contest. Win a 1 year contract to be a SONY ARTISAN of Imagery for a year !  WIN the SONY Photography Contest they are having http://www.a7experience.com/
http://www.a7experience.com/#/learn-more , win the Grand Prize of a 1 year contract to be a Sony Artisan of Imagery -- joining the ranks of noted celebrity photographers Brian Smith and Matthew Jordan Smith and National Geographic photographers David McLain and Cristina Mittermeier.
Some have asked how do you become a Sony ALPHA Ambassador  ... imho,  Win this contest ...  and that just "might" be easy. :)

Sony ALPHA TIP # 58: Don't be afraid to take out the A7r + 35mm f2.8 ZA FE as your main camera on a paid shoot.
I did, on some NFL PRO Bowl events.   This web link has some of the PPK_NFL event pics on the web: http://www.honolulumagazine.com/Event-Photo-Galleries/January-2014/NFL-Punt-Pass-Kick/
Also shot the A7r + 35mm f2.8 ZA FE as my main camera last night at the NFL-CEO Black Book event for Hawaii Business Magazine.



A7r + 35mm f2.8 ZA FE    Handheld 1/60, f3.2, iso1600

Sony ALPHA TIP # 57: DPR: Sony Alpha A7 Review


Sony ALPHA TIP # 56:  DPR: Using Third-Party Lenses on the Sony A7/A7r


Sony ALPHA TIP # 55: Sony's Next Z1 (Sirius)  "could" shoot 4k Video.
Well,  that just raised the expectation of the  TOP ALPHA PRO camera to shoot 4k video.
There was a leak out already.
You would kinda expect  SONY to have class leading video.  So, this is interesting.
Many are saying even  HD 1080 benefits on the down-sample of the 4k video ... all makes sense ... and the TREND.



Sony ALPHA TIP # 54: DeOxIt Pen  for  Hot Shoe and Lens contacts.
If you are shooting out in the rain, it's probably a good idea to have your Hot Shoe cover on.
But, if you get caught in the rain.  This is what I do.
When I get back I wipe it off well first. Then I apply DeOxit.
My favorite way to clean and improve connectivity on Hot Shoe and lens mount is using the DeOxit PEN.

Started using it back when the Nikon D700 had a Hot Shoe issue. It would get loose. and a "Temporary" solution was this pen. But, the only lasting solution was a New Hot Shoe done at Nikon NPS (where you could see it was more heavy duty)
should also mention Nikon sells a rubber boot that protects the Hot Shoe from rain when the Flash (sb900/910) is mounted. and yes, I have used the flash (and RadioPopper triggers) in the Rain.

2013 PRO Bowl Practice



At the time these two runners had the two fastest World Record times for the Marathon



note: there is also a DeOxit SHIELD pen, but it does NOT Clean the Contacts the way the DeOxIt PEN Cleaner does. The Dezoxit PEN works and it's easy


Sony ALPHA TIP # 53:  SONY is the Worlds #1 Manufacture of Image Senors for Digital Cameras and Video Recorders.
With a 50% Market share.
Not really a TIP.  But, something you can tell your Nikon and Canon friends.  So, I guess it could be a useful tip. lol


Sony ALPHA TIP #52: Whenever you get a New SD or CF card for your Camera , ALWAYS do a "FORMAT" ON the Camera you are going to shoot with.

*And Before any Major PAID Jobs , Format to clear images off the card "ON THE CAMERA YOU ARE GOING TO USE".

My favorite is to also use PRO cameras with two(2) Card Slots , and use the second slot as a back up ... not just a ALPHA Camera TIP

If you forgot to format ... and you cannot access the SD card on your computer  ... try this.
Put the card back in the camera ,  connect the USB  ... set the camera USB to MTP  ... then download the files from there.  then Format your card IN-Camera.

Make sure your camera is compatible with the type of card you are using. :)


Sony ALPHA TIP # 51: Sony FREE download Tether program and the A7r RAW performance
What I learned today

Ran it on USB2 , have usb3 on computer, and wire. (A7r does not support USB3 and it should, as does the D800/e)
i7 24gig ram , two SSD drives and 3tb seagate XT 7200rpm on Win7 64bit. (only my laptops are Win8 ... including a new Sony)
Run the Sony Remote download to my "watched" Lightroom folder.
Lightroom converts the RAW to DNG, 1:1 previews and builds Smart Previews ... why do I do this? because I can (normally don't watch my files import) lol
Configured the A7r to SPEED PRIORITY , in RAW ... it fires off pretty fast, it's max fps
So, there is a lot going on in this test config.

1) From the camera , there seems to be NO lag. It's pretty quick and it basically kept going. just went as far as 10 consecutive frames (I think). don't think this would be limiting. It seemed to keep fire-ing "as" the download was happening.

2) Now when FIREing from the Computer via the FREE Sony Remote Camera Control program. It fired off a Burst (still in SPEED PRIORITY) or two and it felt ok, but then the response was not there consistently maybe after 10 shots or more? Remember we are talking 36mp RAWS downloading then importing into Lightroom with processing going on.
imho, under normal use it was ok. SAF did not feel limiting to me. but note this was just a quick test.

fyi: by the time I was finish with this quick test, it's surprising that my Lightroom gallery ended up with 50 RAW shots in my Lightroom gallery. it really did not feel like I shot that many frames.
Did the trigger on camera first ... with little wait time between my test that was on the computer with the Sony Remote Camera Control program.

The test was just for me (curious), and someone that needed to know, on the LINK.

Tether your A7r to Computer using the FREE Sony software.

Download Sony's Remote Camera Control app and switch your USB connection on your camera to "PC Remote"

You can also have it  Auto Import into Lightroom by having the files Download to a Lightroom "Watched" Folder.

I have done this with other manf. software ...   tether using there software ... shoot from the camera ... have it download to the Lightroom watched folder ... and on my laptop , ONLY  have Lightroom  FULL Screen.
It will give you the illusion that it is tethering from Lightroom Directly. :)


Sony ALPHA TIP # 50: A7/r .. uninterrupted power supply with this AC adapter compatible with select Alpha DSLR and NEX cameras.

I would not rank this as my favorite solution.
imho,  ALL NEW ALPHA  cameras  should have an  INPUT  ... that you can use a Standard  Power IN.
Having ALL ALPHA  use common ACCESSORIES imho is KEY.     So, USERS can leverage the SONY Accessories that they already have.
And that would be the benefit of being a loyal Sony Customer.

APPS  are the same ... ANY time you see or hear about a NEW  APP  on a ALPHA camera ... you should automatically KNOW, it will also be "there" on "YOUR"  ALPHA camera , no matter what model , as long as it is ALPHA and WIFI.  You should never have to wait.
just my view.

note: there seems to be an issue with the USB supplying enough power?   Even if it is not enough , it will help ... if it could Charge the  Battery  "while" you are shooting.
fyi: I thought  USB3 supply's more juice ?     so, maybe  USB3  could be more useful?  in more ways than one. :)

hmm, even with current USB  my i7 smartphone seems to charge while I use?


MORE TIPS OF THE DAY LINKS:

TIP 89-109

TIP 88   A7r & A7 Back Button Auto Focus + ZOOM IN on any LENS

TIP 71-87

TIP 50-70

TIP 32-49

TIP 31   Exposure Compansation Dial "PRIORITY"

TIP 20-30

TIP 1-19




Hope this helps someone,

Ross Hamamura
The Tourist of Light
www.RDHphoto.net
SONY ALPHA Camera Ambassador
In addition ‪#‎SuperUserbySony‬
(and have been given SONY products for accepting this additional role)
Please follow me on Instagram:  @RDHphoto
Facebook Sony ALPHA - TALK  Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/SonyAlphaTalk/
SONY Community ID:  Hawaii-Geek
http://community.sony.com/t5/Alpha-SLT-DSLR-Cameras/bd-p/alpha-slt-dslr-cameras
Posted by Ross Hamamura at 6:02 AM

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