Plenty of SAR readers are now receiving their A7-A7r cameras. And I guess most of them will use third-party lenses on their camera. Not all of them know that Sony has launched a new APP called “Lens Compensation” (available here). As you can see from the video on top this may be THE solution to fix most of the issues you can have on some wide angle glass. The problem now is that Sony still has to update it to make it work with our A7-A7r cameras! Let’s hope Sony will updated the APP with RAW support and also a database with some legacy lens settings!
Meantime let’s check out the new legacy lens test posted by two photographers:
Karel Van Wolferen:
KVW wrote an article about the A7r with a ton of legacy lenses at The.me (Click here).
The A7R is on the right track for people like me and others who believe in detail. I have not yet seen any large prints from it — and isn’t that among the main aims of good photography. Let me say that my hope have been given a lift.
Frank Doorhof:
He tested the A7r with Leica R glass (read here). According to Frank both, the 50mm f2.0 with Kipon and on the R4 a 135mm lens render a sort of 3D feeling image. He also tested the Zeiss Jenna 135mm f4 and a Petri 50mm (read here):
as mentioned before according to some people (actually a lot of people) the 36mp sensors would only perform well with top glass, this sample proves that you can actually get great performing glass for a small budget and it really shines on a camera like the A7r, I’m 100% sure that the lack of the AA filter helps a lot by the way.
Specs and Preorders in US and Canada:
Dedicated Sony announcement page at Amazon US (Click here).
Sony A7r body at Amazon, Adorama, BHphoto, SonystoreUS. TheCameraStore Canada.
Sony A7 body at Amazon, Adorama, BHphoto, SonystoreUS. TheCameraStore Canada.
Sony A7 with 28-70mm kit lens at Amazon, Adorama, BHphoto, SonystoreUS. TheCameraStore Canada.
Sony RX10 at Amazon, Adorama, BHphoto, SonystoreUS.
Zeiss 24-70mm at Amazon, Adorama, BHphoto, SonystoreUS.
Zeiss 35mm at Amazon, Adorama, BHphoto, SonystoreUS.
Zeiss 55mm at Amazon, Adorama, BHphoto, SonystoreUS.
70-200mm A-mount at Amazon, Adorama, BHphoto, SonystoreUS.
Sony A-Mount to E-Mount Lens Adapter at Amazon, Adorama, BHphoto.
Sony A to E adapter with mirror at Amazon, Adorama, BHphoto.
A7/A7r leather case at Amazon, Adorama, BHphoto, SonystoreUS.
A7/A7r vertical grip at Amazon, BHphoto, SonystoreUS.
Sony W Series Battery Charger at Amazon, BHphoto.
Sony FA-CS1M Off-Camera Shoe at BHphoto.
Semi-Hard LCD Screen Protector for A7-A7r at Amazon, BHphoto.
Specs and Preorders in Europe:
Sony A7r body at Sony DE, UK, FR, IT, ES, NL, BE, CH, AT, SE, FI, NO, PT, WexUK, WexDE.
Sony A7 body at Sony DE, UK, FR, IT, ES, NL, BE, CH, AT, SE, FI, NO, PT, WexUK, WexDE, Amazon UK, Amazon DE, Amazon FR.
Sony A7 with 28-70mm kit Sony DE, UK, FR, IT, ES, NL, BE, CH, AT, SE, FI, NO, PT, WexUK, WexDE, Amazon UK, Amazon DE, Amazon FR.
Sony RX10 at Sony DE, UK, FR, IT, ES, NL, BE, CH, AT, SE, FI, NO, PT, WexUK, WexDE.
Zeiss 35mm at Sony DE, UK, FR, IT, ES, NL, BE, CH, AT, SE, FI, NO, PT,
Zeiss 55mm at Sony DE, UK, FR, IT, ES, NL, BE, CH, AT, SE, FI, NO, PT
Zeiss 24-70mm at Sony DE, UK, FR, IT, ES, NL, BE, SE, PT
Sony G 28-70mm lens at Sony DE, FR, IT, ES, NL, BE, CH, AT, SE, FI, NO.
Asia:
A7r at Digitalrev.
A7 at Digitalrev, Amazon Cina.
A7 with 28-70mm lens at Digitalrev.
42 Responses
If only he (Frank Doorhof) could quit using “glass” in place of “lenses” every single time he needs to mention them in any of his writings (which is about in every second line)… I would perhaps be able to read him then.
“And I guess most of them will use third party lenses on their camera. Not all of them know that Sony will soon launch a new APP called “Lens Compensation”. As you can see from the video on top this may be THE solution to fix most of the issues you can have on some wide angle glass. Let’s hope it works as good as it has been showed in that video :)”
Two things:
1. It is already available.
2. It is only for jpgs. 🙁
Does it mention RAW files in the documentation for that app?
What would be the point of RAW support?
Since you have to process RAW files in Lightroom or any other raw-software you could just use a lens-profile there, it makes no difference! At the moment you alter a RAW file it is no RAW-file anymore, it is the same with HDR. People stop complaining about HDR RAW, the thing you might want is making a 32-bit TIFF out of bracketing (what would actually be awesome)
This!
I guess he want it to be cooked into the RAW file so doesn’t have to go through the hassle of fixing the image once it’s loaded into the computer.
I wonder would DAM software with build-in lens profiles will allow auto fix of the problems for RAW files? Especially software like DXO Optics Pro, it’s a pity Aperture doesn’t have lens profiles 🙁
Wow that’s a nice app idea! Hopefully it can docpres
This app has been out for over a month or longer. Obviously all the apps don’t work with the A7’s right away but every other sony camera that uses apps can use this. Most of the apps also only use jpg and we should rally to fix that!
i agree that raw adjustments would be cool (and hopefully it gets added), but even for jpg’s this is very interesting. users can have accurate previews of how their images will look by using this, so they don’t see the magenta shift or vignetting. these things can probably be fixed in raw with other editors, but it’s nice to see an in camera preview solution.
“Plenty of SAR readers are now receiving their A7-A7r cameras.”
Not in the Americas 🙁
“Plenty of SAR readers are now receiving their A7-A7r cameras.”
I’d love to see some more (user) images from the A7/A7r. Please post links to your photos!
But these apps are for NEX, not for A7/r:
“Compatible Cameras
NEX-5R NEX-6 NEX-5T”
Do A7/r cameras have “app” support to being with? otherwise you are waiting for a firmware update.
they do have app support, but they don’t have the apps working for A7/A7r ATM.
Sony is working on making them available for A7/A7r 😛
I hope they’ll allow SEA region to purchase them cause as of right now, SEA region can’t purchase any PlayMemories Camera App =.=
It mentioned in the app specs that it does support raw…
Can anyone post a picture of their A7 or A7r next to a Nikon FE2/FM or an OM1
Thanks
If it ever arrives I shall be picturing it next to OM4, OM2 and Pentax ME. I really hope it is as small as the ME, that’s be perfect.
Excellent, that would be very useful
Admin, do you have any idea when the North Americans will be receiving their cameras and lenses??? We are dying over here!
December according to both B&H and Amazon.
I’d also like the Timelapse app to be improved! it does not change exposure when Timelapsing, making usage for sunrise/sunset useless
If you change exposure during a time-lapse segment you will get flickering. In changing light, you need to do additional segments and use specialized software to blend them.
potentially you could do a in-camera algorithm to use different levels of d-range optimizer and shutter speed time/exposure comp to get a smooth transition. You can also use spot metering or metering for a selectable and a maximum shutter speed change/ramp between each frame to limit/reduce flickering
Or, an electronically controlled micro variable ND filter – that would change the game!
The amount of legacy lens tests is getting ridiculous.
Where are the lens tests that really matters? Canon and Nikon FF lenses.
These rangefinder lenses are being tested because not all of them work well with the a7/7r sensors, especially the wide-angle lenses.
canon and nikon full ferame lenses will work great. no need to test them.
I haven’t received my A7R yet and I’m in Australia, damn. Also I have lots of other legacy lenses and went to get a test going already!
I can’t decide on the A7 or A7r. I like how A7r has ridiculous pixel counts and the lack if AA filter, but it doesn’t support most wide RF lenses, and it is more expensive. A7 is a great bang for the buck and supports RF lenses better, but with AA filter and lower pixels it won’t have as much details.
Ahh why are u doing this to me Sony!
Also take note that the lack of AA filter will make your RF lens perform closer to an M in terms of details.
I dont own a Leica M, but from what I’ve read, even the wide RF lenses have problem on a Leica M due to the digital sensor as RF lenses are designed with film in mind. Leica compensated this problem by having their build-in lens correction to fix the problem.
“…but with AA filter and lower pixels it won’t have as much details.”
Actually (pixel-peeping aside), unless you are printing well over 40cm x 60cm (16″x24″), you will not notice much difference
@Hudson – I have tried them side by side. The A7 has very fast AF, the AF on the A7r is pretty lousy. The difference is great enough that I would choose the A7 even if it cost more than the A7r.
You mean ” cost LESS than the A7r.” 🙂
Any word from those who’ve gotten their A7/A7R if they have a rebate for a free lens adapter in th box?
it’s Jena – not Jenna!
Ok, anyone care to enlighten me why PlayMemories Camera App are region based? Apparently many SEA countries cannot buy apps, we only get free apps =.=
Sony and their stupid policies.
I have now tried the A7R with both Metabones and Novoflex adapters and a selection of M lenses, and done a back to back comparison with the results from the Leica M(240). The lenses I tried were: 21mm Supe Elmar, 28mm Elmarit, 35mm Summicron, 50mm Summicron (non-asph), 50mm F1 Noctilux, 75mm Summicron.
Colour fringing doesn’t worry me, as ot can be corrected in post, but I can see noticeable fall-off in sharpness and detail (smudging of fine details) from about 1/3rd of the frame outwards on either side – on ALL M lenses I tried, even the 50mm and 75mm focal lengths stopped down to f5.6. This is not evident on the M. It really highlights the challenges that the Leica engineers faced when designing full frame camera hardware and software that would yield decent results with the “old” M glass.
The A7R offers incredible IQ (some of the best I’ve seen), a very well thought out user experience that I am super happy with even for professional use, and it’s a game changer for sure. The results with Zeiss a-mount lenses are nothing short of incredible, and I am confident the body will work superbly with legacy SLR lenses like Leica R-mount, but it’s no M-lens camera and it certainly isn’t a viable alternative or pro backup body for an M user. The A7 may be different, but after hearing people online stating how well the A7R works with longer M glass, I am now very sceptical after having done my own tests.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/109239305@N04/10949142995/
Interesting and thanks for the test you’ve done.
Argh, should have linked it in the forums, apparently there are people who sold their M Type 240 to use their Leica lens with the A7r.
I wonder how well would the lens correction app work.
I don’t see how software will fix corner/edge smudging. I would be VERY annoyed if I had sold my M240!
I’m not sure either, probably for his photography needs, the lens edges is not important?
and for that very same reason i’m considering purchase of M240 over Sony. thanks god there’s a long waiting list for M so I have enough time to read as many user reports as possible about Sony. but as of now, I’m 90% decided on Leica
Belated reply, but I just got my A7R (in Sydney). Sad to confirm that short-to-normal M lenses don’t really work.
* 24mm f/3.8 elmar-m asph – heavy smearing & vignetting + purple edges (not just the corners, but all 4 edges of the frame).
* 35mm summicron asph – is better, but still has purple edges and smearing
* 50mm summicron (IV) – no vignetting or purple, but slight smearing at the edges
Cornerfix? – maybe. You have to spend forever fiddling to take a perfect calibration picture however. Gave up on the 3rd attempt.
So… (deep breath) the A7R is _NOT_ the M body replacement we all hoped it could be.
Because in Australia you get a voucher for a free lens-mount ring, I ordered the Nikon version. It will be interesting to see how the Nikkor 24mm f2.8 AIS fares with the A7R.