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A7r, A7r2 - and why I'm keeping both ...

k-hawinkler

k-hawinkler

Well-known member
We are definitely in the Monsoon season.
Last night pretty much solid overcast with a bit of precipitation but no wind.
This Morning it looked like this.



One circular break in the clouds.



The Santa Fe to Española area covered by a solid fog layer.



Another foggy cloud layer in front of the Jemez Mountains.



The cloud cover lasted all day and kept temperatures comfortably low.
This Evening's view.









ILCE-7RM2 + FE 35mm F1.4 GM
 
k-hawinkler

k-hawinkler

Well-known member
Last night and all day we had overcast, drizzling ever so often.
That kept the air and ground pretty wet and temperatures low.
Towards evening the Sun showed up and gave quite a performance.
I confirmed that yesterday's layer of clouds/fog



was situated somewhere between the
White Rock Rio Grande River Canyon
and the Sangre de Cristo Mountains.
It was definitely not over the Rio Grande itself.

A similar layer of clouds/fog could also yesterday be seen towards the Jemez Mountains.



Following are images I shot in the evening today.

This first one, looking eastwards



shows the fog layer in front of the Sangre de Cristos.
The Rio Grande River Canyon is located right behind the foreground houses.

Now looking westwards from a different location



we see the low fog layer in front of the Jemez Mountains.

A bit later another view westwards towards the Jemez.



Again a bit later and after a short hike another view towards the Sangre de Cristos.



And after hiking back a final evening view towards the Jemez in the West.



All images taken with Sony ILCE-7RM2 + FE 35mm F1.4 GM.

Double clicking the images should display full resolution ones.
 
k-hawinkler

k-hawinkler

Well-known member
Surprise Creation:
Dedicated Sony Firmware Update Computer

I wanted to update the Firmware of my brand new FE 50/1.2 GM lens, but could not! :mad:
Hard to believe, I know, but true! ;)
So i borrowed a neighbor's A1, tried to update its firmware, same outcome, no go! :mad:

My M1 Mac mini was out - not supported by Sony update software.
Early 2009 17" MacBook Pro too old - its OS not supported by Sony update software.
Late 2013 "trashcan" MacPro, running Mojave - Sony firmware update process did not recognize attached camera.

To make a long story short - the "trashcan" was truly trashy, had interfering apps on it, e.g. antivirus apps, etc.
So I wiped the internal SSD clean and installed the latest macOS Big Sur, version 11.4.
Then I added only the required Sony firmware update files. That's it.

Voilà a Dedicated Sony Firmware Update Computer was born.

Firmware update of FE 50 GM lens on A9 with non-Sony but quality micro-USB cable took only a few minutes.
A1 firmware update to version 1.10 took about 25 minutes.,
FE 70-200 GM lens to version 6.0 again took only a few minutes.

Of course, before returning the A1 Sony gear to its owner, I took a few quick shots.
The A1 Menu system is sufficiently different that I surely didn't know what I was doing.
Read the Fine Manual - RTFM - seems my next priority, now that I know how to update Sony firmware.
Preliminary reports seem to indicate that Sony indeed successfully fixed the A1 EVF/Eye sensor issue that frustrated many users.

A few quick throw-away A1 + FE 70-200 GM images.



A 3840x1600 format crop.


Impressed that the A1 could handle this pretty featureless scene.


Leafs moving in a light wind.


Flowers.




Yup, the A1 is as impressive as I thought it would be.
A definite improvement over my A9.
I am hooked! ;)
 
k-hawinkler

k-hawinkler

Well-known member

A1 firmware update coming in a few hours

www.fredmiranda.com

Quote:
”
I've now had 3 straight days with about 6000 shots taken on the new FW.

My impressions:
1) EVF is 100% fixed...I know how to make it happen predictably when I have full sun in the first 2-3 hrs of the day. I did my test and it never once had an issue. I'm impressed Sony was able to fix this.

2) I don't see any difference in AF performance with 200-600 or 600GM.

3) I do see the Eye-AF indicator appears quicker and is less jumpy. Same goes for the RTT icon.

4) I do not see an increase in AF hit rate. I do not see an increase in BEAF for BIF and I don't see any improvement in the species it had trouble with previously.

Maybe after a few more days shooting I'll change my thinking but that is how I see it so far.
FWIW subjects have been swallows IF, kingfisher diving and IF, osprey diving and IF and all sorts of perched passerines.

”
 
k-hawinkler

k-hawinkler

Well-known member
Our resident Hawk taking a bath again.
It seems to be doing that pretty frequently. :D

Overview.


Crop.


A9 + FE 400/2.8 GM @ f/5.6

An A1 with its 50 MP would do nicely here, as would an A7r2, A7r3, or A7r4 for this 2 in 1 image.
First the overview showing the widely sprayed water.
Second zooming in on the "culprit". ;)
 
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k-hawinkler

k-hawinkler

Well-known member
A7R (from 2013) and FE 50/1.2 GM (2021) on early morning walk.

To the left: Grand Canyon Dr.
To the right: Pajarito Rd.




La Vista Dr.




Raven in the sky.


Join us online.


Fog layer.


Fog layer.










A little puddle from last night's rain.


The A7R shutter is really noisy and its button is too far back.
 
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