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

k-hawinkler

Well-known member

Quote:

Viramati wrote:
While waiting for a response from Japan I have had this from Sony Pro support UK (I had a new motherboard last year)
"Encountering a WiFi issue with a new mainboard would be unfortunate, but it's not possible to guarantee that this will not occur.

The new firmware introduces a detection mechanism for the Wi-Fi chipset. Should a user encounter a chipset failure on a version prior to this mechanism's implementation, the camera may fail to boot, become inoperable, display a System Error, or enter a boot loop.

Since your camera is functioning properly and you've indicated that the features available with firmware 2.01 do not interest you, we still recommend against updating your camera's software."

——-

LBJ2 responds:

Interesting facts as opposed to some of the forum or Facebook comments speculation. Also, interesting Sony feels the need to include this particular detection mechanism in v2.01.

"The new firmware introduces a detection mechanism for the Wi-Fi chipset. Should a user encounter a chipset failure on a version prior to this mechanism's implementation, the camera may fail to boot, become inoperable, display a System Error, or enter a boot loop."

In other words, for those that care, even if you never plan to use either might be wise to check your BT Wifi asap particularly if your camera is under warranty so it can be repaired under warranty.

For those realizing they were affected after the firmware update, I don't think/or I hope this is not the end of the story from Sony. But probably going to take some time for this multinational conglomerate and their supplier partners and their legal department(s) to sort and communicate a potential remedy.

In the mean time and as others has posted--to include those the never plan to use BT/Wifi, if there is a BT/Wifi chipset failure the camera is otherwise functional and in some cases e.g., a USBC cable can be used to transfer files directly from the camera instead of Wifi.


WOW! What a wild story.

I updated my A1 to Firmware version 2.01 and can shoot pictures without issues.
So far I have not tried Wi-Fi or BT yet, as I have never used it before.
Tempted to try. What could go wrong?
Famous last words.

As I understand the above discussion my A1 should not turn into a paper weight trying to use Wi-Fi or BT as it still works correctly otherwise now that it is on 2.01.
 
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k-hawinkler

Well-known member
I think you really need a higher frame rate (fps). Would make for an interesting study of how the bird takes to the air.
Thanks Bart. Of course the images were shot at 30 FPS and displayed as such, followed by 3 FPS.
The new A9 Mark III can shoot up to 120 FPS, is 4x faster.
Unfortunately it has only a 24 MP sensor, same number as my old A9 Mark I.
I always felt that wasn't quite enough pixels for birding photography.
Hopefully a new A1 Mark II camera with at least 50 MP will materialize in the not so distant future.
I think I will be in the line for that one, but I would be impressed if it could go beyond 60 FPS.
It would also need to feature pre-capture with a large enough buffer space.
 

k-hawinkler

Well-known member
For my own reference so that I can find it in the future. :cool:


Quote:
"
p.16 #2 · A1 Firmware v 2.01 is out now. On the fence about installing it though. :)

BillinTexas wrote:
I wouldn't expect anyone to do that but thanks for the mention.
I have seen this but relating to a screen view isn't particularly easy to do. Thanks.

Thanks LBJ2 for the pointer to the Help Guide, much appreciated.
https://helpguide.sony.net/ilc/2420/v1/en/contents/231h_list_of_menu_items_ilc2420.html

I agree with you Bill that an overview of the Menu structure might be useful.
I took this image off the LCD screen of my A1 with my A9.




Sony refers to this by Main. It's the second page selectable on the very left column.
This is the order of the various Menu pages - top to bottom. Here goes:

1 • My Menu
2 • Main
3 • Shooting
4• Exposure/Color
5 • Focus
6 •Playback
7 • Network
8 • Setup

Several of the items have 2 pages of settings.
Each individual setting can have several options to chose from.
So a long list of options pointed to by LBJ2.

This screen certainly gave me a general orientation overview.
Maybe you were looking for something like this.

Anyway, enjoy, K-H.

Multi-quote · Like
May 12, 2024 at 08:47 PM
"
 
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k-hawinkler

Well-known member
Well, here is an interesting post.


Quote:

"duncang wrote:
I learned something new today. DxO PL7 seems to rely on the optics modules for some sharpening - someone pointed out that the low ISO images in particular looked a bit oof. I restarted DxO and they seem to be looking a bit better now.

If anyone is interested I created a python script to batch modify the A9M3 files to A9M2 files so DxO PL will process them normally. The optics modules failed to load initially but I thought I could just ignore them - a bit surprising that they have lens specific sharpening that gets applied.

CanadaMark replies:
The reason DXO has arguably the best sharpening algorithms and lens correction is because they are lens specific and lots of manual labor goes into their creation - that is why there is sometimes a ridiculously long wait for profiles to materialize depending on product availability. More generic profiles like what Adobe offers are available almost right away for new products.

DXO's sharpening is proportionate to the lens' sharpness falloff from center to the edges, which is why it has to be lens specific. For example on a cheaper lens, sharpening is applied more aggressively as you move out from the center of the frame compared to an exotic prime where there is barely any sharpness falloff as you move out from the center of the image. Every other program applies sharpening either globally, or at least not proportionately though the frame.

DXO actually builds an all new RAW file from the ground up if you are using their RAW converter or Pure RAW - that is how they get the NR so perfect and is part of the reason why it doesn't have blotchy NR, artificing, or edge detection issues like Topaz is famous for, particularly with fine details like stray hairs or fine feather detail. It is not completely flawless but the reason it works as well as it does is also the reason why sometimes it takes them forever to release profiles for new equipment."

Here is an older image I edited in the current version of DxO PureRAW 4 and cropped in the current version of Capture One.


This is the jpg I created back then in 2023.


Sony ILCE-1 + FE 200-600mm F5.6-6.3 G OSS @600 mm, f/6.3, 1/2000 s, ISO 250, Date Taken 2023-03-14 14:26:36.

To my eyes the newer image appears more crisp.
 
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k-hawinkler

Well-known member
Same raw file - different post-processing.





Sony ILCE-7RM2 + Nikon AF NIKKOR 28mm f/1.4 D Autofocus Lens @ 28 mm (28 mm in 35mm).
I used the TechArt Pro LM-EA7 autofocus adapter.
 
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k-hawinkler

Well-known member
House Finch taking off

GIFs





Sony ILCE-7RM2 + Nikon AF NIKKOR 28mm f/1.4 D Autofocus Lens @ 28 mm (28 mm in 35mm), 1/3200 s, ISO 8,000.
Hmm, 1/2,000 s is not fast enough to avoid motion blur, 1/3,200 s seems to get there. :D
 

k-hawinkler

Well-known member
Another experiment, taking pictures of an airplane overhead and aligning the images in Photoshop. :D

JPG




GIF



Sony ILCE-1 + FE 400mm F2.8 GM OSS @ 400 mm (400 mm in 35mm), f/2.8, 1/3,200 s, ISO 125.

Most images I took were actually in focus.
But I couldn't hold the heavy lens steadily enough. :(
Oh well. :D
 
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