Sony A7 and A7r , FF gems, like GH3 but FF

fotosiamo

I uploaded a full-resolution panorama stitched from 11 36mp jpegs taken with the Sony a7R

http://www.flickr.com/photos/fotosiamo/10603386124/

Because of Flickr does compress the image a bit, I uploaded the full-resolution to Google Drive also:

https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B5z9ggEcvy77SWdaNVc3cnVqWE0/edit?usp=drive_web

Vitaliy_Kiselev

http://www.dxomark.com/Reviews/Sony-Alpha-7R-review-Highest-ever-full-frame-image-quality/Sony-A7R-versus-competition

Vitaliy_Kiselev

apefos

I would like to understand why the 5D Mark III low light iso has a lower rate than D800 in DXO, but the low light video fron 5D Mark III is less noise than D800. Any thoughts about?

Aria

@apefos, I think the RAW sensor performance of the Nikon D800 is pretty impressive. That doesn't mean it will turn out the same in video performance. It's a totally different ball game when it comes to video. Even at it's lowest setting I believe that there's a lot of Noise Reduction still going on in the 5Dmk3 and it seems like that process is one of the best out there or maybe it's just the inherent nature of each individual sensor. The 5Dmk3 sensor seems to be a beast in terms of it's ability to perform very well as you increase ISO. Perhaps it just has a lower noise floor than other sensors. It could be sensor cooling of some kind.

What is interesting is that the lowly Nikon D5200 seems to have a much better low light performance than many of it's better cameras. Just based on videos i've seen comparing the D5200 and the 5Dmk3, it's amazing how close the D5200 comes to the low light performance of the 5Dmk3. By all rights it shouldn't be close.

From the early videos i've seen of the Sony A7 and A7r these cameras may be pretty good in low light as well. Perhaps Sony has done something right with these sensors recently that may differ just enough from their earlier versions of the same sensor in the D800. It's gonna be interesting to find out one day just what the reason is for the difference in low light performance. Is it just the sensor being inherently better or a combination of that and the processor doing better NR.

apefos

@Aria Thanks. Yes, for video we need to see the footage to perceive the noise. The dpreview noise comparisons in low light can give a good idea about it also. Probably the D5300 will be as good as D5200 in low light... A7 and A7R seems to be pretty good at 3200 iso in the new youtube videos, and usable at 6400. 12800 iso from 5d3 is impressive, but it lacks 1080p 60p, wifi and articulated screen, more expensive also.

Vitaliy_Kiselev

Vitaliy_Kiselev

http://www.digitalcamerareview.com/default.asp?newsID=5441&news=sony+a7+sample+image+gallery+nashville+tennessee+singer+leah+turner+overland+unlimited+off-road+experience

Vitaliy_Kiselev

http://www.frankdoorhof.com/site/2013/11/sony-a7r-part-i/

Vitaliy_Kiselev

Sony test shots A7r comparison with multiple cameras including medium format - http://www.imaging-resource.com/camera-reviews/sony/a7r/#IQC

Tscheckoff

Just one word to the A7R performance - ingenious ... For sure one of the best cameras image quality wise for a LONG time.

vstardust

Here is a video shot with A7R that you can actually download:

Here is same the video slightly graded and deinterlaced(??)

Hard to judge because of the shaky footage, but to me it seems pretty sharp. What do you pixel peepers think compared to GH3 for example? Is it worth investing to A7R or would you wait for the next "big one"?

fotosiamo

If you want to see how the Sony a7R performs in low-light environment, check out this article:

http://www.slrlounge.com/night-sony-a7r-low-light-performance

Aria

I must say that i've been very impressed with the A7r video i've seen so far. It looks to me like it has good enough detail for most purposes aside from maybe high detail landscape shots. This is really good since it also appears that the camera does a good job in low light and has very good DR. Gotta say that FF with mirrorless mount is very enticing. Talk about flexibility of lens choices!

I'm not sure i've read if anyone confirmed that the APS-C Crop mode of the A7r works in video or not. Anyone confirmed that it does the crop mode in video?

sicovdplas

Man, these jpg(!!!!!) examples are insane, i want those 14 bit raw stills!

Vitaliy_Kiselev

http://www.popphoto.com/gallery/sample-image-gallery-sony-alpha-7

apefos

maybe he will do moire comparisons between a7 and a7r...

apefos

Some things I perceived:

A7R resolution is slightly better than A7, just a little, but makes difference, but not a main reason to decide. Iso performance is pretty equal for both cameras, not a reason to decide. Maybe the moire performance in the roofs will be the most important difference. To my eyes 5D3 resolution is similar to the A7R, better than A7. Dynamic range in 5D3 can be improved with custom picture styles, and it is moire aliasing free, curious to see moire aliasing tests in A7R and A7. 5D3 iso performance is the king, 25600 iso from 5D3 is similar to 3200 iso from A7 and A7R or even a little bit better. If you are low light hungry would it worth using an external LCD in the 5D3 instead of the tiltable LCD in the A7/A7R and lose wifi, 1080p 60p, and the short flange mount ?

Vitaliy_Kiselev

Cameras manual - http://download.sony-asia.com/consumer/IM/4478729112.pdf

DrDave

As someone who constantly has to make videos in spaces that have flat or smooth curved surfaces that are partly in shadow, the new Sony seems less "blinky" in the shadows, even at ISO 3200 in the vid above. However, the vid above does not seems as sharp as what I would get with the GH2 and the Panny 20mm. Maybe part of that is NR.

Smooth transitions from the lamp, which usually would be problematic in the center where the bulb is. I'm assuming the bulb is not that bright.

DrDave

@apefos, how do you think it compares to the 5D2, just as a reference? I don't have the 5D3.

Aria

@DrDave, are you suggesting that you get sharper video from your GH2 at ISO 3200 in a dark room like this? Also remember that the lens used was a Zeiss 35mm f2.8 which I would guess most of us would like to use a lens that is a bit faster in a situation like that dark room. I also wonder what the NR setting was on the A7r. IMO ISO 3200 is a bit high. Personally I really only go as high as ISO 1600.

I saw an A7r low light video that seemed to show a bit sharper video. I'm guessing they didn't have it cranked up to ISO 3200. Need more tests with different settings I guess.

apefos

@DrDave, I think the Sony A7/A7R will not be better than 5D2 for low light, maybe similar? or even worse? I think if your main goal is to improve low light performance the Sony A7/A7R do not worth over the 5D2, go for the 5D3 or just keep the 5D2. But if you want wifi, 1080p 60p, articulated lcd, e-mount to use legacy lenses, then A7/A7R are good choices. The 5D3 25600 iso with small denoise is perfect.

Remember there are new 5" or 3.5" Lcd in ebay with interesting design and good price for the 5D2 and 5D3:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/3-5-inch-Color-TFT-LCD-Monitor-EVF-Electronic-View-Finder-HDMI-In-Out-5D-7D-D800-/321057041971?pt=US_Viewfinders_Eyecups&hash=item4ac07dae33

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Genuine-Sony-CLM-V55-Portable-LCD-Monitor-5-w-Hood-fr-camera-camcamcorders-/160748660930?pt=AU_Cameras_Photographic_Accessories&hash=item256d5de8c2

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Swivi-SV-50H-II-HD-DSLR-LCD-External-Swivel-LCD-Monitor-5-5inch-/271292675064?pt=US_Viewfinders_Eyecups&hash=item3f2a4db3f8

I would like to use a full frame camera, but it seems the lower price A7 will suffer from moire and both A7 and A7R does not bring the dream low light performance and great dynamic range... I think if you can wait it will be better give a time to see if a Canon 5D4 will come with 1080p 60p, Digic6, better 25600 or 51200 iso, Dual Pixel AF, wifi... and it will be a great full frame camera. Also, good picture styles can improve DR in Canon cameras a lot. Resolution from Canon is on par with A7R.

Vitaliy_Kiselev

Sony A7 test shots comparison with other cameras:

DrDave

@apefos, thanks, I see what you mean. I have an external monitor, I'm looking for as you say the "dream" low light performance and lack of aliasing/moiree.

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