Franke Sanders (SonyAlphaForum) shared one single proposal for the new A7rm3. You may have found it by now on the picture above?
Here is what he writes:
From my point of view it would be helpful to have a joystick button at the place where now the AF/MF button is. For me this would be the right place where my thumb sits. I could use it to move the autofocus point, scrolling through pictures,….What do you think?
272 Responses
still way too many buttons. As I’ve written before, Sony should really take a look at Leica SL and copy its buttons placement/design.
Sure, the joystick is needed, but it could be placed where the fn button is, and keep the af/mf button where it is for those photographers who know how great it is to have a dedicated af button in the back of the camera.
Never tried any leica before. But im fine with the current buttons.. just add the joystick.
They don’t need the AF/MF button. Just enable manual override. There is no reason why we should have to tell the camera we want to rotate the focus wheel before we rotate the focus wheel. Turning it should be sufficient information. The weird toggle lever should go, and if they make a dedicated AF on button, it should be bigger (I use the center of the mode select dial).
well, most cameras have it, though not in that position. Some have it on the side, some in the front.
The inclusion of the joystick would be a great thing to a lot of photographers, but the dedicated af button is a feature in pretty much every pro camera, and it’s usually in that position.
I would like an AFon button up there which is easy to press. I find the AF/MF button hard to press since its buried in a toggle switch of dubious value (I would prefer two buttons to one with a hokey switch).
The center rear dial works better for me, and I have EYEAF on C3. AF/MF I use to actually toggle MF, since in Sony’s infinite wisdom I have to in order to use functions such as the focus ring or focus magnifier.
Get a Leica then. I do like functional buttons and dials. The more the better.
More buttons and add some switches please.
It’s not the number of buttons that’s important. It’s the location and use of those buttons that is. Too many of the useful controls are in the wrong place and have the wrong haptics on the Sony A7’s. I can’t think of a button I’d remove, though.
A77II has it’s one custom button located at the bottom below the joystick. I’d like to talk to the guy who thought that one up.
true. I should’ve added that it’s a matter of personal preference, in the end.
It largely depends on how you use the camera.
Still, I think the buttons layout of the A7 could use a smarter re-design. The inclusion of a joystick a-la 5D mark III or Nikon would be a huge thing for a lot of users, but not if that means sacrificing the af button. IMHO.
Just add the joystick please
Although I own a Sony system, and I really like the A7RII image quality and IBIS, right now I would rather buy a Nikon D750 because I have no confidence in Sony’s interface to get the AF point where I want before my subject wanders off. A Sony joystick would change that.
Yup, moving from Nikon to Sony (and back again), that was my biggest issue. It took as much time as focus-and-recompose in AF-S, so losing the shot was a definite possibility unless you just preset the AF point and cropped later. AF tracking isn’t as good as on DSLRs, so that wasn’t an option, either.
The command dial on my A7 is set to move the focus point and works just like my NIkon D700 does… except I need to push the centre button first.
It would be nice if Sony offered a firmware update for this (ie. af/mf could toggle between the command dial having ‘feature set 1’ vs ‘feature set 2’ but it’s not a ‘biggie’ for me)
You should use face detection for subjects that can wander. Unless you are talking about cats of course.
Thanks for the comment, but I’ve been down that road and I don’t find face detect holds up well in practice.
It doesn’t work with multiple faces (it picks the wrong one and you have no control). It doesn’t work fast/reliably in low light (I’m an available light specialist). It doesn’t work with faces that are small in the frame.
And I haven’t photographed a cat in 15 years. 🙂
Are you talking about AF tracking or moving the AF point yourself?
Moving it myself, i.e. getting it from wherever it was for the previous shot to “left of center 3 and down 2”, or whatever. The (fiddly little) button pushing to do that takes too long. Also if you happened to be in some other focus mode (e.g. face detect) for you previous shot, the controls for switching to flexible spot can take quite while too.
Really, I want to be able to put the spot AF point where I want it in less than a second. But it can take 5 seconds on a Nex-6 if you’re unlucky. Oh, and if you have chubby cheeks you have to take your eye off the EVF to get at some of the buttons…
I have tried some alternatives, e.g….
Face detect sometimes works, but:
– The face has to be big in the frame, it’s no good past about 20 feet on a standard lens.
– It’s slow at the best of times.
– It’s very slow or non-functional in low light
– It chooses the face when there is more than one, I have no control.
Lock focus and recompose (old school) doesn’t work with shallow DoF because you focus on a plane, not a sphere, and when you swing that plane you end up back focussed.
Lock subject and recompose using focus tracking (new school) doesn’t work reliably, especially not in low light, especially not for things that are small in the frame. But it reportedly works a lot better on the full frame Nikons.
So, I would really like a FE camera with the joystick from the A77 Mk II.
In less than a second?
Sony should try what Canon did long ago on one camera…choosing focus point on where your eye is looking in the viewfinder. It was gimmicky and didn’t work well back than but maybe now it’s a possibility lol…
Copying X-PRO2?
I would upgrade to an a7sIII for this joystick alone!
I would as well, or any dedicated AF interface which works while using the EVH (eg not a touch screen).
Me too! Although I’d take a touch-screen over nothing at all 😀
I would take a fully articulating touch screen.
The EVF and flash could be add-on. I use neither.
Would be nice to have both options. Touch screen and joy stick.
I don’t mind a touch screen, it would be nice in many applications. However I’d rather something which works with either display. Both would certainly be better.
One of my biggest complaints when using the LA-EA2. Since the AF points cover a limited area in an odd pattern, when using a single point, you’ll want to move it around a lot. Having to hit a button before moving it can quickly lose you a shot. Not sure why other manufacturers don’t do this, either.
I don’t believe in this proposal so much.
Sony has gotten a ridiculous amount of flack from pretty much all reviewers for not supporting a higher resolution LCD screen with touch features and swivel in the generation 2 A7 cameras.
At this point there is simply no way they will not address that particular complaint and make the touch screen one of the standard features in the generation 3 cameras. And once you have touch screen, you won’t need the joystick so much, except maybe for EVF usage.
What I hope for though, is a reworked sensor with improved PDAF speed+coverage, as well as BSI sensor, 3D stacked with more processing and a layer of RAM on the sensor for super fast low latency buffer.
And improved latency from sensor to EVF. It would make A7 iii the best sports camera at last.
“It would make A7 iii the best sports camera at last.” That would remain to be seen.
BSI + on-sensor RAM is exactly what the other camera makers are lacking. So if Sony can get this technology to work in full frame sensor, they will have a massive advantage over the other camera makers.
An unprecedented era of sensor envy would come alive among their enthusiasts.
Don’t agree. Yes, Sony has gotten flack on its UI and some missing features like touchscreen, but adding a touchscreen doesn’t necessarily fix the things that are wrong with the A7 II models in terms of handling while shooting. It’s a bit as if Sony is still discovering what Canon/Nikon learned in five decades of making high end cameras. Ergonomics becomes important, very important. That includes everything from grip size and shape to button/control placements.
It’s not an easy task. Some of the placements are where they are because that makes it simpler from a manufacturing point of view. But I personally don’t care how easy it is to make, I only care how easy and natural it is to use. The A7 II’s still have a lot of rough edges. Moreover, the still designers are now in the same group as the video designers, who didn’t learn that lesson yet themselves. My Sony video camera is littered with buttons randomly placed.
I found the AF-ON button on my A850 so uncomfortable to use that I simply stopped using it. Somehow I knew Sony wasn’t going to address that in a timely fashion, and there never was another 135 format DSLR from Sony anyway — so now I exclusively use Nikon, again.
What do I think?
I think AMount cameras already had/have everything (and more) that people keep suggesting to improve the EMount cameras with. We’d be so much further along if Sony put a FF sensor inside a tiny a33 body. We’d be so much further along if Sony put high mp sensor inside a99.
Joystick better on AMount because it offers diagonal scrolling and instant centering… without having to engage a separate button release lock first.
I’m more interested in the A6000 successor
Checked Amazon’s best seller list yesterday. For bundles and mirrorless the A6000 holds almost ALL of the top ten spots on both lists. Why would they replace it right now when it’s making plenty of money. I think this is the reason for the hold off.
Could be. There is tons of guesses and nobody but Sony knows for sure.
Samsung gave up with camera market ( without trying FF camera ) to innovate in P&S camera…. They can win there too while Sony will try to convince with its showtime line and its technologic innovation in order to make ppl switching from Canikon to Sony. HOWEVER they only dispayed entry level or no recent technology the mass can afford… With such a policy, Apple d be bankrupt quickly with only MacPro to sell.
Who s silly enough to remove a great couple of features from Nex 7 to A6000… Sony is by removing Tri-Navi and leveling gauge ( i have it on a 200$ smartphone)
I’ve just understood Sony want to become the Apple of Camera market;)…..
However they forget or erase from their mind that Apple develop and sell at the same time from mid to high end gears…..
Why not a touch screen like the NX1? As Samsung is stopping with camera’s anyway, Sony could buy their UI technology…..
You lose a back focus button, the ability to have the lever up or down for center press of Eye AF and up or down for AFC in continuous depending how you like it. Joystick nice for moving AF around granted and playback but without the abilityforback focus button and as options stated its not overall the answer.
Touchscreen i am not for at all. Amateur stuff. Besides my nose is all over that screen
If it were fully articulating like the GH4, you could swing it away from your nose.
I agree! That would be a better used space
EM10 II allows you to trace your thumb on the rear touchscreen to track focus. Sony, please allow for this in Gen 3.
Nikon D5500 does the same
Ah, I knew it had a touchscreen. That’s a cool little camera. I just wish Nikon or third parties had more wide angle APSC choices. Camera gets great reviews though.
It’s a great little camera
Tokina has some nice wide-angle options for APS-C, with the infamous 11-16/2.8, and now the new 14-20/2.
Exactly. Nikon DX is an eternal fail by lack of a native 24mm (35mm eq.) option which is an essential focal length for any system.
The 24mm/1.8 is a great lens.
24mm (35mm equivalent) on DX would be a 16mm lens.
He specifically said 35mm equivalent, not 24mm equivalent. 24mm is 35mm equivalent so hes right.
I’m sure you are right, but it’s pretty ambiguous given that “35mm” is widely referred to as a format. For instance, see: http://www.digified.net/focallength/ That was literally the first hit, but there are numerous others too.
Since Nikon doesn’t have a 16mm prime lens, it also stands to reason that was what was meant. Besides the fact that Nikon does have four 24mm lenses (f/1.8G was mentioned, but there is also an f/1.4G, an f/2.8 AF-D, and an f/3.5 PC-E), if it was a 35mm focal length equivalent then Mike did not specify that it was equivalent to “Full Frame,” 135 format, or FX — maybe I missed that from an earlier post of his, or one to which he was replying.
Can your right hand thumb reach the lcd? If you mean your left hand, what when using heavier lenses?
Right thumb when eye up to viewfinder.
Only for very small cams. I find that inconvenient on my A7ii, not enough stability for me unless the second hand is used. Why not a small touch pad instead of a stick in a better ergonomic position?
The touch pad is the LCD.
I know what you mean, but I find it too far away. As my index is on the shutter button and the small finger is below the grip already, there are only two left on the grip. Requires two hands for me.
I cant see Sony making a seperate touch screen from the LCD at all just to move AF point. It would be incredibly niche. The whole User interface woild have to be reworked to incorporate another control interface. This would be very hard to do succesfully and would overcomplicate things. I could see it getting a backlash from photographers as people already have a childish mind set that “lcd touchscreen is for amateurs and is new tdchnology and bad”. Can you imagine what they would say if there was another seperate tiny touchpad on the back as well? Also having the touch screen on the LCD is far more intuitive. Just look at Wacom tablets.
The touch screen is too far away in my opinion, especially if you use slightly larger cameras. For m43 or a6000 like tiny cameras this may be nice. But if you photograph a wedding for 10h a piece every ergonomic niggle bothers you.
Other thing that must happen soo.
http://i.imgur.com/85EbDyV.jpg
bad idea
No more mode dial, instead dedicated shutter speed wheel
You mean dedicated ISO wheel?
The cameras already have two wheels dedicated for shutter speed and aperture.
Nop, in this terms, it already has a ISO wheel to. I mean a dedicated wheel like Fuji xt1, Panasonic lx 100, etc
Why one need to look to the dials when shooting? Custom dials are a evolution, getting back to marked dials is a step backwards.
Because when you are a photographer, you know the exposure and ISO you are going to use before even turn on your camera. But that’s OK, this are enthusiastic cameras any way…
That would be nice. But the dial would be very finicky because the stops go up to iso 400000 now
Agree. That for I am only claiming for a dedicated shutter speed wheel. Let a dedicated blank wheel like the front or the back one for ISO.
And why do they both do the same thing?
I want them them completely and independently programmable.
Faster burst rate..especially in jpg mode
Better af partcularly with longer and adapted lenses
Bigger battery…much bigger battery!!!
Add extrafine jpg plus uncompressed raw option
Dual card slot
New higher resolution evf
And bigger battery
And bigger battery
And bigger battery
And bigger battery
And bigger battery
And bigger battery…!!!!!!!!!!!
Well, I really enjoy the big battery of DSLRs, but newer Sony’s cameras have ability to get electrical power through miniUSB. So, USB-powerbank could help you (and, I hope, me).
I do not plan to walk around with wires and battery packs sticking out of my camera.
Someone just needs to make a vertical grip that houses an entire huge rechargeable ion lithium battery pack that will be able to power the camera for 10+ hours.
Yes this.
One NP-F990 (10400mAh) will do it!
Because with that adapted 800/5.6 someone may label you an enemy combatant if they see those wires & battery packs too……… 🙂
I tried shooting Video while connected to external power thru USB with my A7sII.
Not only does the charging not keep up with usage, but the camera overheated faster.
Bigger battery= A99m2!
Only existing A mounters that have not already switched will ever buy an A mount camera.
Sony has not burned thier bridges, but has neglected them for so long that they are falling down.
And a bigger camera
And there you go again, WTF do those of us shooting “under the radar” want a BIG HUGE DSLR looking behemoth! Simply REFINE the A7x series, don’t make them big as DSLR’s FFS…………….
But, they already are as big as a DSLR if you put the equivalent zoom lens on them.. and going to f/2.8 will be worst.
GET SONY TO OFFER A BIGGER BATTERY BY WAY OF A RE-DESIGNED GRIP. LOOK AT OUR D4S. It isn’t running a D800 battery for a reason!!!!!
Get the grip if its a problem. The battery is more than fine.
The grip is not a good solution.
two wimpy batteries is still not enough for Video.
I have to use a dummy battery, plate, and large NP external battery.
If you walk around and shoot only a few stills hand held, then the battery is “fine”.
And then maybe they could release a Ms. PacMan Play Memories app. 🙂
A joystick would be great… if this was 1985. I’d rather see a good, touch-screen implementation (as would many videographers I’m sure).
Did you ever have to shoot professionally with heavy lenses in a fast pacing environment? And what about the screen reflections in bright light? I just imagine balancing a 70-200/2.8ii with one hand, zooming and doing a touch to focus. If they want to provide a touch screen, fine. But for many use purposes I would prefer a joystick, especially in a camera targeted at pros (3500 Euros here) when you have to change focus points fast and eye-AF is not an option.
Exactly this. Touchscreen is great if you never plan on shooting on sunny days or handhold with large lenses.
I don´t get the point. In sunny days you look through the EVF while using the screen as a touchpad – that way it works in Lumix cameras.
Haven’t tried those. Does that set up work? How would it tell the difference between my thumb and my rather large nose?
If the touch work like a laptop trackpad when holding the camera on your eye, what difference would make?
Let’s be honest here…both a touch screen and fast focus point change function are needed.
These are not targeted at pros. See my response above at Tony N.
If you base them by price than it’s still in the advanced/high end category.
I don’t think it matters. Once you apply enough lenses and enough sensor envy, any pro will migrate.
The question is simply how many lenses and how much sensor envy.
Don’t be tempted by the dark side, Luke! Resist the envy!
I’ve shot (and still shoot) the D700 with 80-200mm f2.8 – that’s a relatively heavy combo. I wouldn’t use touch screen in that scenario (I’d use the command dial or focus and recompose in a fast-paced situation).
I would however use touch-screen when doing waist-level shooting. I’m not saying touch-focus should be the *only* method of focus, but rather that I’d prefer touch focus + command dial to a joystick.
I’m so on board with the joystick. No real interest in touch screen, as if we are doing video, Atmos is on there.
Missing out. Touchscreen simplifies AF. I can move the focusing point for even manual focus from one side to the other with one touch. So much better than nudging the joystick 4 or 5 times or hitting it to reset to center and then move over. Nope- touch the spot you want it and move on.
What I hope for is better manual focus options as well. Put the magnification in a small box on the screen and leave the actual scene outside of it. I’d like to see face and eye detect work in tandem with magnification as well.
Bunk.
I own several cameras with touch screen + EVF, and the amount of accidental nose-touches causes significantly more head aches than moving the focus point with the scroll wheels while keeping your eye on the EVF.
From a UI point of view it also makes no sense what so ever. Why would you want to move your eye away from the EVF to change the focus point? That’s just ridiculously clumsy.
“Why would you want to move your eye away from the EVF to change the focus point?”
You don’t.
Never experienced that issue. I have no experience with touchscreens outside of Olympus though.
I wouldn’t be upset if they implemented any of the things you want 🙂 Personally, I like the camera up to my face, and a joystick makes things significantly faster when thats the case. Think this is more of a personal preference as to how one prefers shooting.
Did you ever use back AF button for focusing? It’s a MUST and has to be placed near thumb! You can not change it for joystick, very bad idea. Back AF button sholud be even bigger – now it’s too small for comfort using.
I just prefer touch focus that i had on my G7. It was so fast changing focus point. And easy.
I don’t think that touch focus will work here, the A7/R/S II (with appropriate full frame lenses) are bigger cameras. You need one hand on the camera grip to press the shutter. Second hand to support the lens and zoom. And a third hand to touch the screen? My right hand’s thumb only reaches the far right side of the screen.
You never use a G7 (or a Em10II)!!! With your G7 in hand, you can move the focus point, panning on your thouchscreen while you are using the EVF. So with one hand you hold your big lens. with other one you hold the grip of the camere, and with you thumb, instead of playing with a joypad… (pressing pressing pressing)… wasting many time and moves, you just pan you thumb on the screen, moving you focus point where you want, and in fast way. Use the screen like a trackpad.
That makes sense. On the last touch screen that I saw you had to touch the live view image where you wanted to set the AF point.
With new Panasonic and Olympus you could use it like a trackpad. Very useful. I miss so much that technology. You could use EVF. Not live view.
And you have to touch just one part of the screen.. like you could do with you trackpad on your notebook. Not the whole screen. Easy to use e very fast. You have to try.
on the nex7 it broke.
I prefer touchscreen to move focus point…
I do miss the joystick when I use my E cameras, so would welcome this; however, not in place of existing AF button, but in addition to it – still need the option for back-button AF.
A touch screen is nice. BUT… a joystick is much faster and more convenient.
Coming from 5D3 and 100D (wifes cam) to the A7R II + A7 II I would much prefer a joystick for focus point selection. For fast paced action a touch screen is just about…. useless!
But why not both 🙂 ?
Perhaps if you already have your finger on the joystick, but
a good TouchScreen camera focuses as fast as you can touch the screen
But then you have to stop looking at the viewfinder – and then “the moment” is gone. Touch is of NO use then. I almost exclusively use the viewfinder.
Very simple
I prefer a TouchScreen (I shoot from TriPod)
and you prefer a ViewFinder (perhaps you shoot HandHeld).
Yes I mostly shot handheld, though I also shoot from tripod (astrophoto). But then I have lots of time to focus.
I agree that touch-to-focus would be convenient. But not as important as a joystick would be when handhelding and shooting action.
I suggest Sony do both to sastify everyone – one option doesn’t exclude the other, eh? 🙂
Just like they removed the pop-up flash,
I would like to see the EVF as an accessory.
One that does not have to be attached in the same place
but could be moved elsewhere on a RIG.
Thus the A9s would be smaller and lighter even with two SD slots.
I don’t just want a TouchScreen but a fully articulating one with higher resolution and view-able in daylight.
Sony should also add an attachable bigger battery grip with either 3 batteries or (preferred) room for a NP-F990 (10400mAh).
1. The joystick will be great when shoot with evf.
2. Touchscreen will be great when shoot with back screen.
I want both :))
What do I think? You take a useful control and replace it with a different useful control. That just moves the complaints from Point 1 to Point 2.
Put AF/MF at Fn spot; move Fn down at the bottom next to the Play and Trash button.
Where do I put the button for ND Filters. I’d respectfully suggest, on a hybrid camera of this price-range a built-in electronic ND filter would be WAY_WAY_WAY higher up the list than an AF point joystick. Just Sayin’
The Fn button is a little low on the camera for AF On, as it moves your thumb from its natural position. Technically, the current AF/MF is a little low, too. I’d support a button for AF On and the joystick side by side a little higher on the body. Moreover, if you use the vertical grip this becomes even more necessary to get the right position for that on the body+grip when held vertically.
Oh oops, I was thinking of Nikon’s joystick style with the button in the middle instead of the picture above…that would be better.
Touchscreen. … DONE.
Then where would we back button AF from?
A thousand times yes, but don’t take away my back-button focus.
And I will pull my remaining hair out if Sony makes another pro camera with that tiny battery.
A7’s aren’t pro cameras. They’re advanced/high end.
Menu digging and an ergonomic nightmare to be pro status.
The menu organization “pulls my hair out”.
What you want is the so called A9 like many others on here.
An ergonomic nightmare is flipping a mirror out of the way before being able to engage the video mode. And as you’re quoting “professional usage” here, every last one of those rational & thinking professionals recognizes the imperative to learn and adopt video.
It’s a hybrid system, designed for both stills and video, as it stands it offers the best compromise currently available. Menu digging is unfortunate by inevitable on a small hybrid” still/video” camera. Look at your average prosumer video camera, count the buttons on it, and there’s still a fair amount of menu-diving on it & it doesn’t offer pro-level stills!
Let’s refer from the “this isn’t a professional camera mantra” especially if you want professionals who actually make a good go of these things to take certain points you make (that do need addressing) seriously.
The time it takes to switch between still & video on DSLR or A7 is negligible. Cmon now, that was the best you could think of?
These are definitely capable of supplementing one’s workflow.
Really, you think a journalist has time to flip the mirror and attach a Z-Finder to the LCD overtime he sees that “video clip.” Come on now, are speaking from a place of practical experience here? In actual fact, even trying to work the LCD with a Z-Finder is basically unusable for spot news, too slow, too laggy. If we’re being completely honest here, the EVF on the A7Rll is BARELY fast enough for spot news!
The Canon 5D3 has one BIG advantage over the A7x when working from the LCD though, when running video you can at least trip the shutter button and record a RAW still, and the video then continues on automatically with about a 30 frame interruption. That’s something the Sony A7x should absolutely do for those shooting spot news.
claiming cameras are pro and not pro is kind of ridiculous. I’m a pro and whatever camera i decide to use for the job at hand is my PRO Camera.
I have an A7s and I’ve chosen it for a lot of shoots. I’m not 10000% in love with it but I’ve never thought, “this camera isn’t PRO enough for me. ( I use panavision too)
No…you are a pro using a non pro camera…
These are definitely capable of supplementing one’s workflow however.
Reasons I’ve been going bald due to Sony related excessive hair pulling:
-Tiny batteries on mirrorless. My 14 year old Cybershot S75 has a larger battery. In fact, it has the same batter as A99.
-Memory modes. It’s great that we have them (Though only two of them on A7) but they only save the first tab in the menu so you can’t fully utilize them. I want Image Preview and Live View Setting Effect OFF on my memory mode so that I can use it in studio more effectively but I have to dive into menus to get what I want.
-Menus. I hardly ever have to dive in but when I do… And I’m none of the recent switchers from CaNikon who are constantly getting lost everywhere, I’ve been using Sony for a much longer time.
-Endless product announcements with seemingly no good plan. It was almost rude announcing Nex 6 one year after Nex 7 with much better AF and not updating the 7 model for.. how long has it been? So if you want a higher model, you actually end up with a less capable one? What was the plan in this? Same story with a6000 and A7 and many other models.
-Changing ergonomics of everything every year. You had no mode dial with Nex model until Nex 6, which killed the Tri-Navi interface which was actually the best thing Sony has ever done. Gone with it was the perfectly programmable behavior you could’ve had with the custom button right next to the shutter release. That was a good idea, why have they killed it? Oh, did you like the old Nex menu design? That’s gone too. Also, we have aperture rings on the lenses now but not on all of them. There is even an A mode on the lens but it doesn’t work like you’d expect it to. You can also push and pull a ring to activate manual focus, but that’s only on one lens.
-How existing users are mostly left alone. You still have the A7? Would you like to have a proper Auto ISO behavior like everyone on the planet had for years? That’s 3200$ for you. You also have to have a much heavier camera and 42MP files with it.
-How Sony forgets and ignores themselves. You know you can always go back to A mount for that proper Auto ISO according to focal length right? Not on mirrorless, sorry. Actually you can still have it, if you have an adapter for A mount lenses (Canon works too, funny enough). So, if you have a Minolta lens from 80s, your Auto ISO will follow the 1/focal length rule. Do you have a recent, state of the art FE Zeiss? Bummer. Sorry. Maybe you should just go back to A mount, you know. That would also get rid of the overly excited EVF sensor. A77ii got that fixed and actually no other Sony ever had that problem until the latest generation of Mirrorless. Nex 7 was fine for sure.
-How Sony pretends they’ve saved the world. Reviewers are at fault too. There you go, A7 series. Absolutely best camera for every purpose. Except you have to choose between a remote shutter, USB tethering or continous power now. A7 are probably the most capable cameras in the world right now, doing a bit of everything but I don’t think they’re perfect for any single thing. There is always a better cammera for that particular job.
Seriously, the moment someone comes up with an equally capable camera, I’m going goodbye Sony. It was painful while it lasted.
This obviously isn’t the camera for you then and everyone needs to stop complaining about the battery, their fine! I only ever shoot on the go, never any studio stuff and have never once had an issue with the battery. If its a problem buy the battery grip. The camera is meant to be small. If you don’t like it buy a DSLR and stop ruining the A7 series for the people that get it.
Sony never made a pro camera with a tiny battery.
How can you focus on touchscreen when your nose is up against the screen?
You can’t. But touch-focus is another option when shooting from waist level for example.
With your brain. Panasonic allows you to do this just fine.
In the GX7 it works just fine. I use my thumb on the screen while looking through the EVF.
Check out Panasonic and nikon D5500.
I would prefer the EVF be an attachment.
I never use it nor a flash.
A higher resolution fully articulating TouchScreen that could be used in Sun light would be much better for my use.
Can there be a button inside the stick for back button AF
no – you would accidentally too often move the focus point a bit when pressing down
Like many cameras with a joystick?
Many other cameras with a joystick have a different button for backbutton focus.
YES, YES, YES! Should have been on the A7rii – I find shifting focus points on it very clunky. I see Fuji are doing this in the X-Pro 2, which is great.
Don’t have it in place of the AF/MF button, though, have it AS WELL.
Please, please, also implement the separate focus patch view that Fuji has in MF mode – so we can see the whole composition AND focus in magnified/split view when in MF. It’s awesome and after it, the A7x MF is just clunky.
I’ve been trying to figure out why you guys want that joystick. It makes no sense to me whatsoever.
When in MF mode, all you have to do is spin the dials to move the magnification point. It is super fast and easy. With one hand on the focus ring, and the other on the dials, you can control aperture, shutter speed, focus point and focus distance without taking your fingers off anything.
For AF-S with flexible spot, I just have the Focus Settings configured to C1. To change the focus point, I just push C1 and spin the dials just like in MF mode. Super easy.
But I prefer AF-C with zone focusing and face/eye detection anyway. That’s what AF is all about. If you have to manually define the focus point, might as well just manual focus all the way then.
EXACTLY Mike! Its all about mindset, why buy a “HYBRID” camera and try and turn it into a “one-trick-pony” DSLR from the 1980’s.
>I just have the Focus Settings configured to C1. To change the focus point, I just push C1 and spin the dials just like in MF mode
Too slow.
Because you know from your extensive usage of these cameras? I know, click click clicking a cruddy little joystick a million times is FAR better, because you don’t have to press one button first?
too slow with extra steps… sucks.
Get rid of the joystick and get straight to the point: a touchscreen.
The Panasonic implementation of touching the screen at whatever point to focus on while your eye is on the EVF, is the most simple and intuitive process to use for changing focus points. The joystick is as much of a hindrance as the direction buttons.
You won’t be able to use the touchscreen with your eye to the viewfinder.
That said, a touchscreen is definitely overdue.
Yes you can. Look at the D5500 implementation
He said specifically the Panasonic implementation, which you absolutely can use while your eye is up to the finder. Still neither is particularly great.
Look for the Nikon D5500. Got one of the best implementation of AF point selection even if you got your eye on the viewfinder.
Less commenting…more reading, duott.
Yes, get rid of the joystick and enjoy frozen fingers in winter … with joystick in (thick) gloves it’s hard, but better than nothing …. why not have both options in camera for that kind of money?
Well obviously!
But then again, it’s Sony, so…
They work out the best ergonomics ever with A77/A99, and then make this.
Agree!
Joysticks are stupid and outdated. They don’t suit the literally hundreds of AF points, they are for dinosaur DSLRs with a couple dozen points. Even DSLR users complain about having to shuffle around the sheer number of points on modern DSLRs with a tiny joystick and either group them or disable some for selection.
Introduce any other up-to-date method then. So far, Sony has none in E.
Again is this from your extensive use of them? BTW they have, but people always think what was there before must be better and completely ignore the changes.
>BTW they have
What is it?
Easy, you use 2 continuous controllers for X and Y movement, one under your thumb and the other under your forefinger. Both accessible at the same time and have finer grained control, while also being single directional (rather than click-release, click-release, click-release). Plus you have a third continuous controller to adjust the focus area mode.
Like I say, people don’t like change. But believe it or not, people actually DID think about the design, people that know a little more than the average internet opinionator. Unfortunately what they didn’t think about is just how backwards people really are.
But AFAIK those wheels normally control settings like aperture, shutter speed, so you have to press a button first to get into this mode, is it right?
Yes, but that then means you don’t have to press multiple button actions to move around. A dedicated X/Y controller would be better again, but give the AF system and set up, using the wheels after a single button press is actually faster than moving a joystick.
There should be an option to limit the number of joystick selectable autofocus points. That would eliminate this problem and make it super fast to compose your shot. NIkon can do this. Its very useful.
A ridiculous work around for an outdated control paradigm.
So you like the current implementation?
Well it seems you didn’t even try new cameras…. For example, the Sony a77M2 allows the user to decrease the number of selectable AF points if desired to prevent going through every single AF point. From 79 selectable af points, you can change some settings to only allow the user to go through 15 selectable af points. That way, you can go and move quickly from one side to another.
Well seems you didn’t even read my comment, where I said ‘either group them or disable some for selection’.
Panasonic GH4 has the best grip for mirror less camera . Wish Sony get better grip next time
That is one reason why I use the GH4 hand held instead of the Sony.
The other is dismal battery life even with a battery grip.
Sony needs to either use a bigger or a lot better battery.
A bigger grip would accommodate that larger battery.
Yes. Good idea. And maybe go back to the original control dials, and generally clean up and get rid of most of the buttons.
Instead of the joystick, how about putting a touch screen and using that to pick the af point?
Not a good idea. Touch screen is not fast and accurate enough. Plus screen is useless during bright sunny days.
Copy the D5500 method of using only the right side of the touch screen when the EVF is active. I too have thought about replacing the same button with a thumb joystick ala IBM THINKPAD but the touch screen makes more sense since the camera needs one for menu navigation anyway.
The AF on my GH4 using fully articulating TouchScreen is much better/faster/more accurate than any AF on my Sony A7 series body.
The technology is already there, I am sure Sony could improve on it.
Higher resolution and brighter more usable in SunShine would be two ways.
I think it’s a good proposal but i would add back the missing AF/MF/AEL switch which would imply back button AF by pressing the joystick in.
I like the Joy Stick idea “with” a center push for AF ON.
AND, keeping the switch Around it.
The touch screen can be useful, but not all shooters will easily transition.
Its good to have both, = More Options
I’m with you all the way on adding a joy stick with a center button. It’s the one thing I still miss even after a smooth transitioning from dslr to mirrorless.
No joystick, no touchscreen, i want a straight connection to Sony Playstation gamepad for autofocus points. Plus you get L1 L2 R1 R2 for added functionality and for unlocking hidden features. Left left right right L1 R2= compressed losless RAW etc
You can already connect your Sony camera to use it as PS4 camera and even in “PS3 Move” games
Why not make the button in the middle of the dial a joystick? It might make the dial a bit harder to turn, so make the rim a touch thicker, and put a raised knob to use as a joystick/button where the button already is. Then you don’t have to loose back button focus.
Fine idea, but replace joystick with a continuous controller (a trackball maybe). As it stands the X/Y controllers are a better option.
Now we are getting somewhere, what about a large round touchpad that can function like the iPod’s ringwheel with buttons underneath? You could do some interesting touch stuff with area-selection, focus modes, etc. Swipe for point selection, press an area on the screen and select that area, change settings using the ringwheel.
If they make it resistive (given that they can make it feel responsive) instead of capacitive you could use it with gloves as well, or maybe a “glove-mode” that some smartphone screens have. With a good haptic engine you get some feedback as well.
Sure a trackball would be nicer, but a trackpad would survive the tests of time longer plus weather sealing is easier and in use its more flexible in what you can do.
Weather sealing would particularly be an issue. Yes they can get gummed up with crud though, but in terms of haptics and precise movement it would be quite nice. Trackpads can be a bit hit and miss and resistive is still pretty awful.
But either would be better than a joystick I have to agree.
Higher price…. to compensate the lower number of sales after Sony will kill APS-C lines 😉
After using some Panasonic cameras I’m a total touchscreen convert, I’d much rather have a touchscreen than a joystick.
I find touch a faster way of choosing the AF point than the joystick on my A77II, and it also lets you quickly adjust the size of the AF area. On some of the newer Micro4/3 cameras you can use the screen to move the AF point even while you’re using the EVF.
It’s a great feature that’d enhance the A7 series without requiring physical controls to be moved/replaced.
Viewfinder shooters still need a way to quickly change AF point. Touchscreen is completely counter to viewfinder shooting. So while touchscreen is a good addition for people that shoot at arms length, it needs to have another fast method that can be done with the eye in the eyecup too.
why add a joystick just have sony program the wheel with a button that allows us to scroll through focus points of zones (kind of like canon) only not canon.
This is definitely too slow. The description from davek99 sounds way, way faster.
Until you accidentally brush your nose on the screen and miss focus.
They already do this. Continuous controllers like this are a far better solution than a ‘click, click, click’ joyless stick.
Like I said, some Micro4/3 cameras use the screen to move the AF point even while using the EVF.
With your eye at the viewfinder, the touchscreen becomes a touchpad allowing the AF point to be changed by dragging on the screen.
I think that would work better for right eye shooters. I am a left eye shooter and I would think that it would be more difficult but could be wrong. Also, what’s to keep your nose form constantly changing the focus point?
I miss the G7 system!!!!!! I was so fast and easy!
I have a GX8 and GH4, touch focus is completely useless to me with eye up to the VF.
Agreed with the touch screen. However that has nothing to do with the joystick. With the eye on the EVF, touch to focus is pretty much useless. A joystick is way more useful in this case.
Why can we not have both?
People seem to assume that AF point selection is slow because they don’t have a joystick and have to press a button first and that DSLRs are fast because they have a joystick. Seriously? Ever think that maybe these AREN’T a DSLR and that ‘might’ have something to do with it? No? Didn’t think so. So it has nothing at all to do with the fact these are completely different AF systems and everything to do with a joystick vs buttons?
I for one am really glad you people aren’t designing these cameras. I am less excited by the fact that Sony actually seem to listen to these internet experts.
I held a d810 for the first time yesterday. It felt massive and unwieldy to the point of being stupid yets that’s what everyone here is begging for
If only we all didn’t have kid sized hands.
Any shooting longer than 1hr…I would take the D810 with me instead of the A7II.
Well I do actually have rather large hands but I guess maybe because I started with mirror less it’s what I’m used too
Is your pinky finger resting on the grip?
I would use the battery grip but it’s poorly designed. Edge of palm can push down the vertical shutter button for horizontals.
My pinky is below the grip, a base plate can solve this though
The d810 is a work horse, the Sony is a toy
Bla.
Bahahaha! Enjoy your steaming pile of D810.
The 810 is the better camera for me. Sony a7x mk II have abysmal battery life. Looking thru an LCD screen is gay
Whereas looking through scratched up glass is for hard arses. Become a real man, get yourself a rangefinder or you are just a wannabe.
“Looking thru an LCD screen is gay.”
Hmmmm… Interesting.
Don’t do it Sony!! This isn’t some c r a p dslr. If you want a dslr or a camera with a joy stick go buy one that already has. Those things are sloppy. If anything I would rather see a touch screen.
Yep…. MUCH MUCH MUCH rather have a touch screen…
Yeah, I also hate these c r a p DSLR/DSLT that allow me to change focus points quickly without breaking my thumb and pessing button combinations. Who needs a fast and easy to use camera? (Except some CaNikon fools, right?) We need a camera that is different. A camera that is special! A camera that makes me special! FACEPALM
However, I pretty much agree with the touch screen. That would be great!
The joy stick is a hell of a lot less useful than the switch with center button. Leave it up to DSLR lovers to want to implement old technology and take away useful features. If you want to be able to select a focus points fast the only way it should be done is with a touch screen. I don’t even understand need to set the focus point fast with a joy stick. Setting the camera to center spot focus and then recomposing will be wayy faster than any joy stick could ever be.
The body dimension is Approx. 126.9 x 95.7 x 60.3 mm in A7Rii body, on your next model just do it 135 x 105 x 63 mm. In these way, we would hold it comfortably onto our hand & also fit nicely for a bigger battery size to settle the battery life issues as well.
Buy the battery grip.
Already got, only used with native 70-200mm F4 lens only.
what about a Pana GX8 ish style?
How would that be better?
The grip is higher than A7, more fingers can rest on the grip. There is more space for placing buttons on the back of the body. But the overall body height is less because there is no viewfinder dome.
To satisfy everyone, it has to be a NEX7 and A99 form factor at the same time. At least, according to the comments here.
Like it. Sony did a fantastic job of improving focus selection from the a7r to the a7r mkII. I have one less step now to change focal selection and focus point selection. However I still have too many steps to choose focal points which is not great when working with people who are not use to being in front of the camera such as corporate and editorial work. It would make it even easier. It’s irrelevant whether the feature exists on DSLRs or not only whether it would improve the usability in the field for the photographer and make the a7 series even better.
Great way of putting things into perspective. Too slow and too many steps. It’s too bad because of the 399 af points it has.
Touch screen will be great, so, how about touch screen switch ?
A larger/higher resolution fully articulating TouchScreen with fast/accurate TouchFocus would be very welcome.
The larger AF button is welcome.
I would also like to see a much larger/better located Record button that I would not have to use a flashlight to find and 2-5 pushes to operate.
Programmable front/rear wheels/dials that do not do same thing.
Custom menu that only includes the items you select.
To be honest, I’m pretty thankful that they moved the movie record button to a location, where I not end up pressing it accidentally all the time. I hated my NEX5 for that “easy to find” record button placement.
So, I guess it’s impossible to please everyone.
That is why there are so many cameras.
Everyone has different hands.
Everyone has different methods
Everyone has different uses
Everyone has different budget
Problem is that every Manufacture is coming out with a different compromise.
I want a CamCorder but can only afford a camera optimized for low light Video.
The last Sony did what people claimed they change that record button, and no one liked it.
So true! Oh and they changed the menus. They moved the shutter button to the front of the grip, they changed the dials blah blah.
Eventually we will have a clone of CaNikon but without a mirror… Sadly.
Not sad for me!
My Nikon bodies are so much more ergonomic that I can actually use them without having to look.
At the recent CandleLight Service I soon became lost when trying to use my A7s.
Very tempted to ruin everyone Else’s experience with a flashlight.
Not only are many of the buttons in the wrong place but too small for my finger tips.
‘Wrong place’, you mean compares to what you are used to as you are inexperienced with the camera?
I mean I could not find the Video, AF, and function below it without looking first.
I have been using the A7s for many months and never touched anything else but my GH4 during that time.
The A7sII I sent back was no better.
It is great that we have so many Cameras to choose from.
I find the GH4 very user friendly and use it in daylight for stills and Video. It makes a great travel and hiking camera as my complete outfit fits in my smallest bag.
My Nikon D1 fit my hand the first day I used it.
The buttons were where I needed them and I soon programmed the AF button to AF-ON for even faster shooting of 5,000+ stills per Event.
My Canon 5DII was not so ergonomic and nearly worthless for Hand Held stills with really slow inaccurate AF. I bought it for Video but soon preferred the D90 for both.
If it weren’t for the poor/low light I have to shoot Video in, I would own a D750.
Sounds like incompetence to me. Sorry, but it just does. Couldn’t find the AF button… Really? Or the video button? Come on! The GH4 isn’t bad, I wouldn’t put it in a category of better or worse. Somewhat agree about the Canon though, not so much for button placement but some plain weird inconsistencies with the controls.
I felt incompetent because I could not feel the buttons in the dark even though I knew where they were by sight.
If I have a Nikon D4, D800, or D5300 in my hands, I can easily find the buttons with my eyes closed even though I have not held one for months..
Thanks to this conversation, I have just ordered a D750.
If it can shoot satisfactory Video at ISO 6400+, I will sell my Sony System.
I think there are some things that Sony could fix with a firmware update NOW, without changing the hardware:
– Currently there are up to 18 x 17 = 306 selectable focus areas (with flexible spot small)! Who needs that precision to set the focus point, all the time??? If you need to react quickly during a reportage, a 6 x 5 field (and a little recomposition after acquiring focus) would be much quicker to move though.
– Therefore at best Sony will implement a new menu for focus area layouts: a) all of them, b) a faster 6 x 5 field, c) “rule of thirds” areas + center, and maybe some more.
– Why not use the rear dial to scroll through those focus areas by rolling the dial? That’ll be very fast and you don’t need to press a button first to activate.
– Focus point wrap around. When your focus area is on the very right side, and you move it right, it’ll move to the very left side.
– For people who switch between AF and MF: align AF focus area and MF magnification area to be the same. Currently they are to distinct settings.
Then add a “my menu”, and I think 97% of all users will be very happy with the camera as it is!
LOL, who is forcing you to use the smallest focus spot?
Well you can use a bigger area, in which case it is already trivial to move the AF around.
Bring the Joystick. And a touch screen and the old dials -> perfect for me.
The joystick for small movements, the dials for larger movements of the focus point (works very well on A7x). And the Touchscreen for Focus magnification with Manual lenses! (works perfect on A5100, but the body is to small to support lenses + Adapter)
There are many reasons not to put a joystick there.
(1) It is a vital position for AEL. You can lock exposure intuitively while looking through the EVF.
(2) It is a vital position for AF/MF switch. Many lenses lack a physical switch, so you need to switch intuitively while looking through the EVF.
(3) It’s a bad position for a joystick. If you use it while looking through the EVF, you could poke yourself in the eye.
(4) Most often when you use a joystick, you’ll bring the camera down from your eye an look at the screen. The joystick doesn’t need the best spot for thumb operation while looking through the EVF.
(5) Sony’s small bodies don’t need joysticks. The wheel works just as well or better.
(6) Canikon users use a joystick to move AF points. That is often unnesseary with Sony AF, if you use the modes properly.
I could go on but I think it’s enough. I am actually happy with Sony’s button layouts (and menus). I’ve been using their cameras long enough to operate them intuitively.
I think newer Sony users complain because it’s different from what they are used to. But it’s just as big a change if you swap from Canon to Nikon, for instance. Or if you switch from iOS to Android. You have to adapt.
+1 Improvise, Adapt & Overcome = Photography 101
Not entirely true. Those are just your opionions, and not proven facts. I kinda dissagree. Why do you think joysticks are in aircraft, military control command centers,game controls etc. It’s been proven. Faster operation. If you poke yourself in the eye, then your brain doesn’t know what your fingers are doing, your eye is in the wrong place, or you’re simply clumsy. Nothing new here.
Yes, it’s my opinion, and that of most camera designers. You’ll find AEL in that position on most cameras. Many users also reprogram it to AF or whatever they need.
The main point is that Sony’s AF is smarter designed, so you don’t need to override it by moving the focus point with a joystick. Just embrace the new camera you bought, rather than wish it was the old camera you once had.
By the way, personal attacks are just silly.
If the joystick is placed like it the picture above, you need fake finger nails 3 cm long in order to reach your eye.
I’m a right hand left eye shooter. So my thumb on the AEL button is about 5mm from my right eyeball.
With a joystick there, I’d soon be left eye period 😉
The vast majority are right hand right eye shooters. Do you really expect that Sony (or anyone) would optimize a mass production camera for right hand left eye shooters?
Well, here is the solution: They should make different versions.
A7Riii-A: A99 size, optimized for right hand right eye shooters
A7Riii-B: A99 size, optimized for right hand left eye shooters
A7Riii-C: A99 size, optimized for left hand right eye shooters
A7Riii-D: A99 size, optimized for left hand left eye shooters
A7Riii-E: NEX7 size, optimized for right hand right eye shooters
A7Riii-F: NEX7 size, optimized for right hand left eye shooters
A7Riii-G: NEX7 size, optimized for left hand right eye shooters
A7Riii-H: NEX7 size, optimized for left hand left eye shooters
But, on the other hand, no one would buy one of these, because they would cost as much as a Leica M.
We’ll we’re kind of arguing for the sake of arguing here.
The whole point is that Sony gave us Eye AF and Flexible Spot AF so we don’t need to fiddle around with a joystick.
These two modes take take of most situations where shooters normally struggle with focus. Such as action, sports, wildlife, reportage, events, functions etc.
Yes, you may be right.
But saying that manual focus point selection is superfluous, is, well, superfluous.
Also, if you look it up, you’ll find that right hand + left eye dominance is actually very common.
A lot of photographers use their left eye deliberately, as pressing the camera against their face stabilises the camera.
I don’t have any statistic figures. But from my own experience, anything other than right eye/right hand is pretty rare.
BTW: Why do you think, there are still people around who use manual focus? It is slow, less accurate and uncomfortable. But people still buy batis lenses. If you can’t see it, I’ll tell you. They use MF to put them in control, instead of a camera automatic.
Manual focus point selection puts you in control, instead of the camera. People will prefer that even in the future. Maybe it will be superfluous, when the camera is more intelligent than the photographer, and knows better where to focus. But then, the photographer becomes superfluous.
My photography teacher taught me to shoot left eye for stability. I’ve been doing it ever since. All you have to do is look at a random number of photos or clips of photographers working and you’ll see quite a few RH-LE shooters.
I use manual focus as often as I can. If the scene is slow or static, manual focus is faster and more precise than fiddling with AF points. I use AF more often in fast and fluid situations as the ones mentioned above.
But I started shooting before AF was even invented, so again, manual focus is second nature.
EDIT: I found this poll indicating that 37% are left eye shooters and 57% are right eye shooters. 7% use both eyes. 37% is a big enough statistic not to ruin the camera layout for them.
http://digital-photography-school.com/more-people-use-their-right-eye-than-left-when-taking-photos/
Please don’t kill us as we cross the stream.
I am guilty: Right hand, Left eye when still shooting.
I like the idea of having a direct way of moving the focus point but that is not the place for it. Many photographers shoot with back button focus and that’s the best button for that on the current layout. By disabling focus on the shutter button and enabling that button to engage focus independent of the shutter button this is easily accomplished on the a7 series. Many of the folks using the a7R/a7R II for landscape photography use the camera that way. There are definitely better ways to accomplish direct focus point selection as others have already written in this thread.
A joystick would be great, but MORE than anything else I wish Sony will improve on their next iteration is to redesign the menus and eliminate any LAG!
Also get rid of the scrolling animations, like when changing aperture/shutter/ISO. It’s not needed and just makes it feel slower than it needs to be.
UI animations are the stupidest invention, introduced after computers reached the point where they could perform UI operations without any lag.
Same is true to todays web design. Now, after computers are fast enough to perform even complex web applications really fast, they add ridiculous animations to bomb it back to the computer stone age (performance-wise).
Luckily if you’ve spent more than 5mins with the camera you’ll realise you can actually turn them off (and yes, I hate them too).
Yep, that’s exactly why they can be turned off.
Care to share how this is done? Checked through the menus and don’t see any way to turn them off! Does it have a name that no one can guess?
Certainly. On A7R II (similar on others but may be on a different page). Go to Cog Tab, Page 2, Exposure Set. Guide On/Off, turn off. It removes the animations when turning dials.
Go to Briefcase Tab, Page 2, Mode Dial Guide On/Off, turn off. This removes the mode dial splash screens when changing modes.
In both cases it speeds up the basic interface dramatically.
Anything else that irks? These are actually incredibly well thought through cameras, but they DO need some time to customise to personal tastes.
OMG, thank you so much. Who would ever guess that “Exposure Set Guide” means the animations though?
That’s one of the biggest issues with Sony. Compare it to Canon or Nikon (which I and many other users have converted from) the Sony menus just don’t make any sense. Yes I know long time Sony users and fans defend them to the death but for everyone else who haven’t been used to Sony’s menu system for decades it just doesn’t make any sense. There are too many damned pages and they aren’t exactly intuitive.
Yes Sony engineers are amazing and they did an amazing job creating this monster of a sensor and camera, but I feel like when they designed the interface, menus, buttons, they never got any input from a working photographer or videographer. You can tell right away that it was created by an engineer.
I do like that you can customize some of the buttons but wished that you can assign everything like video modes, frame rates (which you can’t). Also I wished that they could simply let you create a custom page of menus or at least let you hide the many pages that we may never use.
Also why in the hell would ANYONE put that record button where it is? Is that button on all A7 bodies? And if so, just WHY? That does not make any sense at all.
Anyway, thank you again for showing me how to turn off the stupid animations! It definitely does speed it up slightly.
Even though there are a lot of things I hate about these Sony cameras, I do love the capabilities. The 4k low light and slowmo monster can’t be beat at this time!
If Sony would take the comments in this (and other) forums serious, they would have to make at least 3-4 completely different body design variants of the same camera model.
Try to please everyone. Mission f*cking impossible.
WTF! Yall need another A7 camera already! Since 2013 there have been six A7 cameras produced that’s 2 per year I would have thought that any camera company would not have taken so many models to get it right! Just proves that e-mount full frame was not designed to be full frame and there are too many problems to over come! Seriously who has this kind of money to throw away on a new camera that has flaws every 6 months!
There has only been 2 generations of a7 bodies, not 6. This is the 3rd generation.
Gen 1 a7 announced in 2013. Gen 2 a7ii announced in 2014. Gen 3 a7iii to be announced in 2016.
Thats in line with every other camera manufacturer.
The s and r variants are not replacements of the preceeding base a7.
I don’t remember saying anything about generations so who gives a crap! Facts are Sony has produces 6 expensive cameras since 2013 that have really bad flaws and everyone is already asking for a new model again! I wish Sony had thrown this much money at the A900 or A99 sheit they would have been the best digital camera you could buy. And from your own commit about generation models remember they where only number one but they don’t have all of these crazy problems like e-mount! Geez
Each of those 6 Sony cameras brought more features and new technology to the market than Canon and Nikon over the last 4 years combined.
My Minolta Dimage A1 has a full size battery and and a PC socket and built in intervalometer and a tilting EVF I don’t see this with any e-mount camera. Oh by the way it was built in 2000! At least Sony used the flip screen design from the Dimage A1!
We need an A9 or A7xIII because Sony still has so many things to improve.
Because I am into low light Video I would prefer a NEX A7s CamCorder.