The Sony A7rII specs are kept secret in Sony Japan headquarters. And while I am trying to get through that secrecy wall let us all know what you hope to get with the new A7rII. That’s my personal improvement list:
– Silent shutter mode
– “uncompressed” RAW
– Phase detection AF
– Same grip and improved button layout of the A7II
– Same 5 axis stabilization as the A7II
– Improved battery life
And you?
398 Responses
Seems unlikely there could be better battery life if all of those other improvements are implemented.
classic quid pro quo!
Your list is the same as mine 😀
I think the option of better battery OR 5 axis is more realistic. Does the 5 axis not have quite an adverse effect on the battery life?
I agree. But you can turn off IBIS for extended battery in this situation. So it’s an advantage, and you get to choose which advantage you prefer.
This is the year that if you’re not doing In body 4k you’ve shit the bed. With that said, if Sony hesitates on this then they’re probably going to start looking like canikon which is a shame because they really shook up the mirrorless game in the last couple years. Samsung nx1 (120fps!) and gh4 (96fps) offer both 4k and high frame rates at 1080, it would be embarrassing to miss that this time around. Gopros and cell phones have it, Sony do not nerf the hell out of this one.
…and base iso of 64.
Many would ask for base iso of 800, or 640, for better low light performance.
You can’t please everybody, eh?
additionally to your list:
– startup time <0.5 s (as it was in the days of an a900…)
– same (wobble-free) lens mount as 7s/7MkII
– 2nd battery and external charger already included (as with the 7s)
– some software "add-ons" like focus stacking, wireless shutter release with eye proximity sensor
Uncompressed RAW should be something Sony should do for all cameras starting from th RX100 and continuing through the A7 and SLT series.
SAR has online gravitas, why does it not create a poll or petition to pass on a message to Sony? That online change.org thing didnt get anywhere. SAR could help make it happen if it really cared.
It’s the first time, in my remember, SAR put into consideration the uncompressed RAW request. It’s not a joke! thank you so much!
Narrowed down it would be:
– Fixed and silent shutter
– More natural color reproduction from improved color filter (see a7s)
– Shutter speed dial replacing PASM (unlikely)
– Optical viewfinder with digital rangefinder (completely unlikely)
Updated body, grip and IBIS should be a given.
Higher resolution….or second camera with higher res
IBIS
Electronic shutter.
Better non E mount AF compatability. ..both updated laea4 and Canikon laeaf, possibly licensed to 3rd party….alternatively modify the focus system so it actually is compatable with mirrorless simple adapters.
E mount should be made FULLY compatable with any lens.
– Uncompressed RAW is first and foremost IMO. (Come on Sony… that should be a given.)
– All of the updates put in the A7ii
– Focus at least on par with A6000
– Touchscreen focus and shutter activation
If they go for the a7ii layout, they should tweak the dials to be a bit bigger. They can be hard to use. Also, the front one, I have accidentally turned the camera off because the the size and close location to the power switch.
Same body as the a99. 🙂
no way. that thing looks like a camera with elphantitus compared to current a7 body style..
– Lossless RAW format !!!
– Improved dynamic range
– Longer battery life
These are my big three…
An extremely nice to have, would be IBIS.
In addition to your feature list:
– retractable viewfinder
– fixed 35mm 1.8 lens
– curved sensor
🙂
A curved sensor would make existing lenses useless
Of course. That’s why it should be a fixed lens!
(I was kidding in the above. I want an RX1 successor, and I don’t care for one more minimal mutation of the A7rsII.)
My opinion:
– Silent shutter mode < If A7 II still does not support this feature, then it is quite likely A7R II won't support too.
– “uncompressed” RAW < Sound's good but Sony might need to support a higher write-in speed. And it costs more and may drain the tiny battery quickly like hell.
– Phase detection AF < Forget it. PDAF is only available with AA filter
– Same grip and improved button layout of the A7II < Should be. No further comment.
– Same 5 axis stabilization as the A7II < Should be. No further comment.
– Improved battery life < Buy the hand grip then it is done.
My wish:
– Adding Ultra high res mode feature that is as same as Olympus E-M5 mkII. A7R II should be able to produce 90+ MP image. That should blow the MF digital back and Canon EOS 5DSR away.
– Auto Correct of Cyan color shift on the corner when using ultra wide angle lenses.
logically its a higher megapixel version of the a7II.
nothing revolutionary but good enough to capture amazing images.
Adim, I like your suggestions plus XAVC codec
uncompressed RAW, lossless RAW, regular RAW, normal RAW, useable RAW, workable RAW. RAAAAAAAW
Don’t forget RAW fish, RAW steak, RAW eggs, and RAW BACON!
Better video – Full matrix readout, XAVC, S-LOG and Cinegamma, 4K, 120 fps on 720p, minimal possible ISO in video mode should be ISO 50 , Wi-FI video monitoring and recording with Smart Remote and Play Memories apps
Electronic first curtain and silent shutter
Flash sync at 1/250
CDAF
Better color reproduction more important than high ISO
SONY! Give us back A900 colors please
5 Axis IBIS
A-mount option.
I agree. I don’t understand why they can make an a7 camera plus adaptor so that a-mount lenses work and not just provide an equivalent a-mount camera at the same time. Why isn’t there already an a-mount version of the a7r and a7s? Some people actually prefer the size and ergonomics of a DSLT over the small a7 series cameras. Just sayin’…
Because A-mount cameras are more expensive to produce, thus cost more, thus gets fewer buyers, thus isn’t worth it for Sony.
Mirrorless is the future.
Nothing prevents Sony from making a mirrorless A-mount body with A7R(II) internals. That’s equivalent to using an adapter, and placing the whole system within an SLR-style body.
Wasn’t there something about increased flange distance in that case?
It’s better to lay the foundation sooner, and optimize your lens lineup for the mirrorless system than waiting for your competitors to do so.
Yes the flange distance increases – that’s what enables you to use A-mount lenses (in addition to having a slightly different mount). It’s just the same as with separate adaptors. It’s not an impossible idea to release a mirrorless successor for A99. In fact it would make a lot more sense than releasing new SLT cameras, unless the mirror is really necessary for video af. The sensor (filter pack?) may have to be tuned for different lenses, but there’s nothing to prevent that.
Mirrorless is the future, I agree. Current a-mount cameras are a hybrid between mirrorless and mirrored cameras. The mirror is only used for autofocus at the moment. But mirrorless does not have to equal small.
There is a market for larger size cameras or Canon and Nikon would already be out of the camera business. The innovations that Sony has made in sensors, IBIS (I know they aren’t the first), low light, autofocus, etc. should be selling points on SLR like cameras just like they are on the a7 line.
AF system as a6000 or better
Unless they have re-engineered the 36mp sensor with PD points, or it has a new sensor, that isn’t going to happen.
Same list as Andrea, plus much faster start up time.
since 7r series is about max resolution, i think it should take the 50MP sensor 😉
sorry for the stupid question…. but what is “uncompressed” RAW ? do you mean RAW is not a lossless format on Sony camera ?
gif is lossless
png is lossless
raw is lossless
Some people are whining about .gif not supporting enough bits per colour channel.
Some people are whining about Sony .raw not supporting enough bits per colour channel.
You can’t really win this.
The day Sony makes a format that exceeds Nikon/Canon, you’ll see people whine about Nikon/Canon not storing enough bits per colour channel.
Doesn’t Sony use .arw? File format and extension are not the same. RAW is a format, .raw is an extension.
You’re right about that.
Affordable quality lenses for FE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
“what improvements would you like in the new body?”
“I WANT NEW LENSES!!!!”
“here are the new lenses”
“I WANT NEW BODIES!!!”
It’s the 14th time you write this….
Well… He is not wrong…
one of my pet peeves of the a7r was, you could not fire off bracket shots with timer, you had to hold down the button. I also want 9 brackets instead of just 3. also more button customization, there was no way to map monitor/LCD. case in point you want to access menu to change something and it makes sense to use the LCD instead of being forced to use the viewfinder. people said a simple firmware would fix these simple enhancements yet we never got them….as i predicted. sony is terrible at doing just that.
I’ve seen people ask for uncompressed RAW, but do not understand why you would want it. What is the reason? What is the benefit over losslessly compressed RAW?
I think the complaint stems from the fact that the compression is not lossless.
Is it that the people do not understand what is the difference between lossless compression and compression? I can see how someone would want lossless compression but to want uncompressed I do not understand.
for example compressed RAWs can produce some artifacts in star-field photos
Yeah that problem occurs when the compression is not lossless and the data changes.
If you claim Sony isn’t “lossless”, then Nikon and Canon aren’t lossless either, but because they only support 14 bit colours per channel…
I don’t claim that. I want to understand this. If you have bits of data, why would you prefer uncompressed over losslessly compressed.
What does the 14bit colours have to do with compression though?
Has nothing to do with it, that’s why I suggest you to call all the formats lossless. Because they are all lossless.
If Nikon/Canon is lossless, then so is Sony’s.
Yeah that’s what I thought that RAW files are. Losslessly compressed. All you get from not compressing is bigger files and reduced processor load. So why is the post asking for uncompressed, I do not understand.
He has been listening to Anton too much. It’s what happens when certain fanboys spam the same sentence over an over, it becomes true in people’s minds.
I see 🙂 so a bunch of nonsense like what it sounds like. That I can understand. Thanks!
I wouldn’t go as far as saying it’s nonsense. The additional colour resolution can be important to some people, and I wouldn’t mind if Sony began to support image formats that exceed their competitors.
Then we can be the Antons and go to Canon/Nikon websites and rub it in their face, if that’s what we want to spend the time doing…
You can not gain color resolution or any other extra information between uncompressed and losslessly compressed. If you could then the compression would not be lossless. You can zip and unzip what ever files and the information in there is not lost. Anywhere else except image/video files lossy compression is totally out of the question because all the files would be corrupted.
No I meant 16 bit RAWs or 18 bit RAWs. Sony just needs to exceed their competition, and Sony people can go to Nikon websites and make people over there jealous. Just like Anton has successfully done here.
The best argument I have heard is the fact that Sony files at 14bit are @70-80mb and Canikons at 14bit are @130mb. It would put some credence to the fact that Sony’s codec is compressing the files somewhat. But I have not seen any proof as I do not own a A7Rmk1
Sony A7r raw files peek in size around 37mb. My Nikon NEF files are typically 70-76mb. Realize too that Sony’s 11+7 bit compression math takes up space in their smaller files. When one analyzes a Sony file in RawDigger, the Sony files have less than 10% of the discrete color values than the Nikon. It’s like paying for a gallon of gas an only getting a pint.
Not that many converts so far.
There’s a psychology at play in defending already ‘set’ decisions.
I was one of those until I made a single ‘same composition same lens’ comparison of my A7r and my friends D810.
The differences were massive and undeniable.
https://sonyvnikon.wordpress.com/2015/02/11/hello-world/
Sony uses lossy compression. Loss of data is stupid if you shoot RAW since one shoot RAW not to loose data.
You’re right. Any digital sampling is lossful compared to analog (let’s not get into the duality of light as waves and particles) but there are 2 issues at play – 14 bit is acceptable to accurately sample the visible spectrum at this time. (audio mastering is now at 24bit/192kHz but it’s not discernible to the avg consumer and takes up 6x the bandwidth as 16bit/.44kHz.)
The problem lies in Sony’s lies as they advertise and market the mirrorless line as 14 bit output when the reality is Sony’s compression delivers as little as 10% of discrete color values as a true RAW file does.
If you own a Sony mirrorless camera this issue impacts every shot and most Sony mirrorless uses don’t have the equipment to even discern the problem nor do they have the experience (as they are smitten to the ease of using Sony (which is a very user friendly product) or they don’t have the critical eye.
I shot 20,000 photos with my NEX7 before getting the A7r and seeing the compression problems in the 1st week of use with the new camera.
Then going back I looked at my archive and realized the problem was also there in the NEX files. To a large degree, I underexposed, over saturated and contrasted all of my NEX files (in the field) and that hides the compression problem.
Properly exposed ETTR techniques exacerbates the compression issue.
Nikon’s files are far more robust and offer 2-4 stops of range especially in shadow recovery and in dark gradients and against high contrast. (think of a full moon against a clear sky)
In such a composition the Sony file will band and posterize where the Nikon file will allow more aggressive post.
I sometime process Nikon files into this workflow because of portrait corrections (NEF to TIF in C1, then TIF to JPG in LR, then JPG to JPG in Portrait Pro, then JPG to JPG final output in LR. Most of the time this works but in some instances, I see Sony like banding in the gradients after 4 conversions (1 in 20 maybe?) . (degradation) Sony files produce this about 5x more often during the 1st conversion. (In C1 or LR)
Yeah, shooting ETTR can really expose the problems which is quite a problem since i always ETTR. The problem with this “discussion” is that there are way too many people saying complete crap about things they don’t even seem to have any sort of basic understanding of.
Jesus, Anton….
You are so boring….
You should get out more and have some fun….
Are you a bachelor middle-aged man?
Sony’s compression is not ‘lossless’. But you should ignore these overzealous freaks like Anton that think image quality is important. What matter is sticking to you opinion in the face of all facts.
GPS, as simple as that – would be a killer argument for me – besides all those wonderful features we already could read.
DUAL MEMORY SLOTS. (It shut up those f&*^tards that say you should never have large memory cards, fine have 2000 64MB cards instead of mirrored 128GB) Fully articulated screen. GPS would be nice.
Not in such a small device.
> And you?
And we will wait for an evolution of 12Mp A7s =)
VERY IMPORTANT: be able to choose the minimum shutter speed in A mode, or put it automatically on 1/focal length.
Or better yet, be able to choose X in 1/focal length * X !!!
Currently it is stuck on 1/60 even with a 15mm focal length…
Sony engineers if you read this…
So true! This has been posted so many times even on the Sony site itself. I don’t know why camera companies don’t understand this simple request. Olympus does it half right forcing a minimum 1/80 when in Aperture Priority.
You can adjust that by setting ISO to a fixed value.
What you say is true. However, the best way to shoot IMHO is to use M mode and Auto ISO. I have the AEL button mapped to Exposure Comp. The only place this is an issue is when using flash…
Just use manual
No it’s different, I have to adjust speed each time for ISO to be at the good level then.
No, it’s not different. Once you do it for a while you realise how pointless all the junk on these cameras are.
YOU ARE NEXT FAGGET. M43 and Sony users on their way to Canon reeducation camp, not many will come back. Punishment is a$$rape with the heredic lenses they used.Sony users will suffer more,M43 benefit from puny lenses:). Nikon
users will be next. Last chance,repent and join Canon!
WORSHIP THE MIRROR
SPOT ON !!! Thank you Sony 😀
I doubt that silent shutter is doable with 36 MP FF sensor these days in such a small device.
One must not forget that the silent shutter on the A7S does increase noise a bit !
But it is important to have it nevertheless in some situations.
I’ve been doing hundred thousand of pictures with the electronic shutter and never notice that it increase noise ? Really ? is there any sources of that statement ? i would like to read about it.
Yes, some serious site did make comparison tests, and ES was indeed a bit more noisy.
Sorry but I can’t find the site…
But while searching I found an other issue with hot pixels:
http://www.juzaphoto.com/article.php?l=en&t=sony_a7s_review
If Sony will provide uncompressed RAW, I want it for my A7ii too.
And the one thing I definitely want is a quick way to switch between VF and LCD. Say, we should be able to assign it to customizable buttons (should be easy with a new firmware). Even better for A7R ii, the VF should automatically switch off as soon as LCD is tilted, a la Olympus EM5 style.
I guess my belly is too big and activates the VF during from-the-hip (errr, from-the-belly) shots. 🙂
50MP and silent shutter mode? Come on, let’s be real. Admin has finally lost the plot lol. But since we’re going to go crazy, I hope we get 8k video at 120fps.
No one has said the A7Rii is 50mp. Why do people keep saying that? the 50mp rumor is for a different camera all together.
We don’t know that either… The a7r is supposed to be a resolution monster for people who prioritise resolution over for, af speed and shutter noise. On the other hand an a9 is going to be aimed squarely at the pros, so efcs, fast af and a quieter shutter are far more likely get a look in. I could see the a7rii bring 50mp and the a9 getting an updated 36mp sensor.
Interesting point
I’m still waiting for internal 4K recording, buy I doubt the A7rII with its high pixel count will be the one…
Basically, make it an OMD5II, but with a Sony FF sensor. Nuff said.
Going price of an A7 now is about 850-900 bucks. I’m pretty sure these cameras bought new are loosing about 700 bucks a year in value. That means if you trade in every year- 5 years folks. You’re out 3500.00 fat ones. I’m being conservative in the estimate. What Sony really needs to add to their next camera is anti-depreciation mode.
Very true !
My 2000euros 1 year old A7R value is now not more than the Canon 1DII I purchased for 2700euros in 2005 (and made 100.000+ shots with) !
It’s costs big to have the “latest and greatest.” A900 and A850’s have stayed relatively the same in value for almost 3 years. You can grab an A77 for 400 bucks which is a steal! Of course, they are “dated.” But man, there is something to be said about staying behind one generation and reaping the cost benefits.
My a7 went up in value. Purchased my a7 last year from the crazy Sony sales in Australia for $300AUD body only. Now the value has tripled!
the option of a fixed 28/35mm lens , where is my rx1 v2 ?
I want an A7s-II.
If Sony addresses this entire list, I will be ready to purchase my first Sony camera.
What will it cost ??? 2200 Dollars? Or more???
An a9 at $3000-3500 would be welcome.
Likely more. About 2599$ I guess.
Make larger grip extended from side… not forward. a7II has less finger room for Metabones IV adapter than a7R does. Forget using gloves, and fingers have permanent red mark at knuckles where adapter presses into them.
@Admin,
If you want to advocate for uncompressed RAW, then why not make a poll for current Sony camera owners and show Sony how much it is wanted in their current lineup?
because it requires stupid fast, crazy expensive SD cards. That’s why … but hey, if you are buying a 36mpx camera w/ 80-100 meg file retention .. wth more do you want?
I have yet to find anyone using any of the other major brands that offer uncompressed RAW files that say THEY NEED crazy expensive cards.
Yes, faster and bigger storage cards can be expensive, but hardly a $75 64GB Extreme Pro 95mb/s is something ONE NEEDS.
Storage isnt as expensive anymore. People need to revisit their logic with this. It isn’t as if anyone shooting with anything from the 5D2 days until today HAD to get the latest and greatest.
I think it’s Sony’s ‘engine’ . As an example the Nikon D810 formats a 64 gb SD card in about 2 seconds, the A7r takes about 8. It’s always been my position that Sony could have fixed the 11+7 bit compression with a software upgrade at the expense of FPS and made a truly great ‘landscape camera’ but the recent work on sensor stack thickness also prevents Sony from achieving the resolution of same lens testing on the Nikon. There is a consistent 20% better resolution with Nikon in same lens testing and when comping Sony and Nikon systems (70-200) the Nikon is 2x as good as Sony.
Sony is an innovator.
Nikon is an imaging company.
I prefer better images.
It is not the card, it affects the speed that the sensor needs to communicate with other modules. Lossless means to have lower speed of capturing, etc. To keep similar speed same as the current lossy model, they simply need to use faster hardware which translate to a more expensive final product. And more expensive product means fewer number of customers. Simple math.
An A7R ARW is 39,6 MB, a D800E NEF with lossless compression is also around 40 MB. File-size is a non-issue for sure.
I just did a scan of 35,000 Sony ARW files and found none over 37mb.
It depends on camera settings, subject, details in image, ISO and more. There’s also a preview JPEG of various size embedded. Generally my ARW files seem 2-4 MB smaller than lossless compressed NEFs. Nevertheless I don’t know why everybody wants “uncompressed” ARWs. “Lossless compression” is much more favorable.
Ah yes, the 5D2 had files ranging from 28-50mb for 21mp. That’s hardly an issue for anyone with 30-60mb/s write speed cards of 4-8gb storage.
And finally…since we want the OPTION…it doesn’t mean you have to have uncompressed all the time…but you have the option to do so. Right?
To be fair, you can pick up a 64gb sd card for about £20 these days. I’m not necessarily saying we need uncompressed raw – I’ve made large prints from my a77 and was blown away with the quality.
I wish a silent shutter mode … but on a 50 Mpx it will be difficult i think ! Will have to be hyper quick scanning to avoid Jello effect. Hope the A7S II will have at least 16 MPX though !
I’d rather have one even with high risk of jelloing, I mean like a function barely out of alpha but there for me to use if I need it.
Just waiting for A5 and more lanses priced like 28/2
a5 FF + 24mm-50mm zoom lens f1.4 = 700 euro
I think your wish is to easy to create. The camera is OK, but the lens is meh… Why just 24-50mm and why just f/1.4? I want a real FF 4-1000mm f/0.8 zoom in the size of the 16-50mm APS lens, and not heavier! And not more expensive then $700 with camera (so you have the price right! 🙂 )
FF 4-1000mm f.8 pancake lens!! with internal zoom! BOOM!!!
Nah, with focusing helicals.
Ha! I know its meant to be a joke. But just for the kicks, here is what a 6mm 2.8 lens looks like…
http://petapixel.com/assets/uploads/2015/03/00N0N_eoOouZDy76q_600x450.jpg
http://petapixel.com/assets/uploads/2015/03/00z0z_3K3NxYZg6NI_600x450.jpg
haha nice!! that lens is crazy! to bad its not f.8 though… lol
But Zeiss 24-55/2.8 Vario-Sonnar would be my lens of choice)))
dreams, dreams, dreams…
50mpx? *snark snark* … its already a great camera and with 36mpx only matched by resolution from the Nikon D8** series cameras. Either way, welcome changes/updates and also dropping an already stupid crazy good camera on the used market with the A7R1 🙂
Hi – more speed – During my night observation duty I need: speed & high sensor sensivity to see who is what doing at this very moment…
mac-baar
Full articulation LCD and full controls on vertical battery grip.
Please stop crippling your vertical photographers Sony. Magazine editorials and portraits are VERTICAL… Far easier to shoot with Alpha than Elpha.
Magazines and books are VERTICAL… Retail signage is VERTICAL… Portraits are VERTICAL…
Stop treating VERTICAL TOGS like second class citizens. A-Mount gave us the best. E-Mount is the absolute worst for VERTS… Insulting.
I’ll bet you’re one of those clowns that holds their iPhone vertical and then gets mad that it only takes up 30% of the tv screen on playback. All of the things you say might be true but this is Amerika and in Amerika we live and die in front of a tv which by the way isn’t vertical.
They can take my remote from me when they pry it from my cold dead hands.
No. Do not ruin the perfect tilt screen mechanism with a twisting joint that’s a chore to use and makes waist level viewfinding impossible. It’s uglier too.
Perfect for horizontal photos. Useless for vertical photos.
Not perfect.
Uglier? My A-Mount LCD’s are in perfect condition because I can turn them inward to protect the glass. My E-Mount screens are scratched and ugly because they cannot be turned inward.
I’m sorry you consider added features a “chore” to use. A little dramatic there friend. Don’t use it if you don’t want. But don’t prevent me from using it when I need it for low angle vertical shots. It’s a chore to lie on the ground for low angle vertical shots.
Yeah, it’ll be perfect if it flips 4 ways, but not the joint, it takes a lot of work only to set the screen to inconvenient positions. I’d like it if the screen could face many directions but hates it if it had to shift to the left to do that. It slows viewfinding and gets in the way of my left wrist.
Besides with the flip mechanism you could change the screen’s position with one finger in a fraction of a second, with the joint it’s much slower and harder to get right, and you lose waist level viewfinding altogether, having to look to your left and adjust composition complicates things and negates any convenience of waist level viewfinding. And there’s such a thing as a screen protector, it helps.
Insulting???
Yes, insulting. Full articulation available on A-Mount. But to get best resolution E-Mount takes away a feature needed by vertical photographers. First Sony kills my A system, then cripples the replacement E system with less functionality.
Vertical photographers are no less important than horizontal photographers. It’s insulting that Sony doesn’t offer same high res solution for us… The Magazine Editorial and Advertising crowd.
I assume that it’s too late for sony to change most of the hardware since the camera is already in production. A thinner sensor stack should be possible.
I thought the complaints about lossy raw were unjustified until this weekend when I had received my 30inch print from a professional company. Meh. It was ruined…
Uncompressed raw is a high priority to me. In most pictures it doesn’t matter, but when it does…
More manual focus options would be great! Digital split prism, split view (for focus magnification and composition at the same time).
http://fujifilm-x.com/development_story/common/images/developer/gui/img_03.jpg
More automatic ISO options.
Electronic first curtain and full electronic shutter options.
Flickr app, to upload straight to flickr.
GPS app, to tag photographs with a phone’s GPS data.
Opensource options to make own apps.
– Silent shutter mode
– “uncompressed” RAW
– Phase detection AF
– Same grip and improved button layout of the A7II
– Same 5 axis stabilization as the A7II
– Improved battery life
All of this and metal dials. Plastic is a step backwards, and the 50% price reductions show sony’s mark-up. I’d be happy with a slightly smaller body than the a7ii if the shutter button was placed appropriately.
A shutter button with an obvious half-press.
Superior auto white balance.
Tools to calibrate the Oled EVF.
Superior sealing against moisture.
I am not the bob that usually trolls this site
Yeah, I saw it show up after I read the article and went into LR. I think I had pushed the file about 3 stops- but it was noticable. Pisses me off but what can I do? Nothing is what- nothing.
I don’t think the original a7’s had half press at all, I mean none, not that you don’t feel it.
Remove the ridiculous dedicated EV Comp dial… Replace it with a customizable dial without end stops and option for click or free roll.
Then anyone can use the dial for anything they want.
That’s my favorite dial!
Me too
Please don’t impersonate me. Thank you kindly.
i already was .
no offence
thank you
Doesn’t it get pushed accidentally when the camera’s in the bag? I like it the NEX 7 way. Customizable and disabled without power.
It’s pretty tough to move it in A7II.
My suggestion provides same function for you, and more options for me.
I hope that will not happen!
Better to have a dial that can be repurposed for anything, including the EV Comp dial. No loss of function for you. More options for me.
Current solution only makes you happy.
The shape like nex7.
You know the sensor and IBIS will leave no room for a viewfinder in the corner, right?
It could be made like a compromise. This would perfectly into the right eye so your nose don’t get in the way.
This would be ideal. The rangefinder form-factor is much more comfortable imo. The SLR shape is only necessary because of the mirror box and prism. EVFs can be placed anywhere!
Even if the EVF is on top of the body, this would be a better option. Hell, give us an e-ink screen on the top plate and we’re golden. Or a shutter dial. Even an ISO dial. I want three dials on top.
And a threaded shutter release.
I actually prefer a hump-less FF cam with optional evf to put on when needed.
I like the idea, but this thing is too ugly for me…
Awful…
Wow… that looks terrible. I’m happy with what the A7II looks like already.
That would be nice… but A7II is even thicker than the previous model (because of IBIS?)
– Have a screen that don’t degrade after a few month of daily use… (just same problem than Nex 7)… killing the camera value !
– Find a way to protect the 18mm-away sensor from dust and liquids when replacing the lens!!!
(Close the shutter while lens is removed ?)
Otherwise, as listed here :
– Image stabilized sensor
– Silent mode (and electronic shutter)
– Ability to set the lowest speed logic in Auto-speed mode (1/focal length or directly set the speed for use with an adapter)
– Faster AF ? (I mostly use manual focuses lenses so…)
– Better grip, where we can load batteries with the grip on the camera and where ergonomics is better, providing a real ‘vertical’ mode (even for small hands)
– Provide a way to input some values in the EXIF when using older-adapted lenses (like Focal lens and Max aperture/Actual aperture)
– Provide a way to rate the pictures from the camera – “A La Canon” (where you can set starts to a picture in review mode) and store it in EXIF
– Allow the copyright data to be set in EXIF
– Open the app development APIs so that the user can develop all those things and more themselves 😉
– Losseless-compressed 14 bits RAW files, in any mode
– Panoramic and HDR also in RAW
1080P 480fps video recording 😀
Make it A-mount with an available E-mount adapter.
that’s not physically possible.
Yes it is, just move the sensor forward when e glass is mounted.
Or, move the lens forward with a thicker adapter when the “A” glass is mounted while leaving the sensor in the same place. The E-mount adapter could be thinner. Seems to me it should work either way.
LOL 🙂 This is not as crazy as it sounds. I’d love to see Sony make
“unisex” camera with available removable adapters. The adapters for
A-mount and E-Mount lenses should be fully functional, providing
auto-focus, shutter priority, etc. Third party manufactures could make
adapters for other lenses as they already do for C-Mount cameras.
What exactly is the difference between an “unisex camera with available removable adapters” and an existing E-mount camera with LA-EA4 adapter?
The translucent mirror and less focusing area
S. Yu answered the question. Also there is the price of paying for an expensive alternate focusing system that you may not what or need.
Would help if upvoting were open to everyone on this thread.
Why?
To see which features get most support from readers… not just subscribers. Not everyone wants another subscription in their life.
then create an actual profile instead of logging in as a guest
Or have admin change it back to the way it used to be… Didn’t need login for the 50mp thread yesterday.
Touchscreen
i dont get why everyone wants a touch screen?
Iphone syndrome.
Don’t put it down just because it came from the smartphone world. I am skeptical it would work well for some reasons, but snobbery isn’t one of them. If I could pull focus by manually tracking with my finger, it would be very helpful.
So true. I don’t get why people would want to use their greasy fingers on the display. I use my display quite much since i shoot with a tripod and often at angles where it isn’t great to use the EVF. Having a screen full of smeared grease isn’t exactly ideal then.
I don’t care much for a touchscreen, however, tapping on the screen for where you want to focus is pretty nice.
1. Setting autofocus spot for stills (and maybe during video)
2. faster browsing through pictures
3. zooming in and out of my pictures
4. my cheap, five year old smartphone has touchscreen and I got used to it
all valid but all also pretty easy to do now with buttons and wheels. making it a touch screen just makes it more expensive when there are already dedicated buttons for doing all that stuff already.
As the Nex5 came out, it was a very capable camera in terms of image quality and functionality. Most complains has been the awkward control-layout and the bad menu structure.
Having touchscreen or not is the same issue. You are faster doing things with your camera, and especially on cameras with a relative small body having less space for buttons, an additional interface-surface is welcome.
Tony northrup did this in a nice video-clip, too:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YIwTmGTuwlQ#t=8m55s
(another good comment at 5:10)
ah very good point!! i was in the mind set of a traditional DSLR and didn’t think about the smaller body or mirrorless cameras and the lack of button realestate!
Exactly.
And even in traditional DSLRs you find touchscreen more and more. Imagine you are a professional, shooting a wedding, you take same pictures of a group of people and want quickly check if the pictures are good and if the focus had nailed down (zoom in and out). You can check it faster with touchscreen. You need this info to decide if you can go to the next group of people or not.
In general:
The faster you are with your camera, the more pictures you can take, the more effective you are.
I prefer the tactile feedback I get from GOOD buttons/wheels.
Setting manually the point for magnify focus! The wheel is much slower! You can take the short route by focussing quickly in the center of the screen and then recomposing, but then you risk to get caught by field curvature of the lens.
I am not using auto focus, but I guess it is also faster to set the focus point on the screen and shifting around with buttons or wheels.
I used both the aperture and shutterspeed dials simultaneously when selecting a single autofocus point. Takes a little getting used to but better than using the rear dial.
Good luck looking through the viewfinder and using the touchscreen
With Panasonic Touchpad AF mode you can.
1/250 or 1/320 flash/shutter sync
yes! or even better!!
No! Nothing less than HSS (1/4000) from a built-in wireless trigger is not acceptable in year 2015.
global shutter with synch at any speed just like a leaf shutter from the old days
That list’s too good to be true already. I wouldn’t dare hope for anything more than EFC in addition to the upgrades we’re pretty sure are already coming, but I agree that all those improvements ought to be made eventually, eventually…
Built in Popup-Flash (as Olympus OMD)
Please no. They produce a horrible type of light due to the small light source. They’re no use for anything other than a water hole. Before someone says “they can trigger an external flash”. External flashes should be radio triggered moving forwards
I know how to use it, I know when to use it and I know when to use it not.
If you don’t like to use it, don’t use it.
BTW: if you are thinking a serious photographer always has to use an external flash – please go and buy a bulky DSLR. Size and weight optimizations does not have the same value for you as for me.
Not CMOS sensor ? more like Foveon but with Sony experience too…
I would like to add a lot of the quotation.
a6000 AF + Phase and contrast detection + Movie 120Fps 1080p / 240Fps 720p + Silent shutter + IBIS +
Batteries life are OK for me. If I need more batteries I get two of them or three… Lighter is better.
GPS… No thank
Touchscreen… No thank
remove all video capabilities and reduce price to the half 😀
YOU ARE NEXT FAGGET. M43 and Sony users on their way to Canon
reeducation camp, not many will come back. Punishment is a$$rape with
the heredic lenses they used.Sony users will suffer more,M43 benefit
from puny lenses:). Nikon
users will be next. Last chance,repent and join Canon!
WORSHIP THE MIRROR!
SLog 2 and XAVCS!!
Please Give Me:
36MP – No Need For 50MP On This Type Of Body
EFCS – Fully Electronic Shutter Option Would Be Great Too
Better All Mechanical Shutter – Less Mechanical Shock, Less Noise
A7II Exterior/ergonomics – Definitely A Step In The Right Direction
Better weather sealing – I’m Talking To You Rear Toggle
IBIS Like A7II – Great For Magnified Image Manual Focusing & Reducing Shutter Speeds
Better Cover Glass – I MIGHT Use Some RF Wides In The Future
Agree but I prefer A7II grip and A7 size… thinner would be nice
Silent shutter mode is definitely my #1 priority by a big margin. The A7r’s shutter is almost noisy enough to wake the dead! It would be nice to use the A7rII out on the street without turning every head within 100′ every time I press the shutter. Next in importance is the in-camera stabilization. There’s no question that that would also be huge.
yup. if only given one option on my wish list, its silent shutter. should be standard on all models
I sometimes found the click-clack quite satisfying, but it was extremely intrusive at times, and the shutter lag often caused me to just miss moments I thought that I had captured (very often). Slower than a DSLR, and WAY slower than a Leica. No good for street photography at all.
It is good that people make their wish list for their desired camera, but at the same time they need to offer a price point they are willing to pay for that.
If A7rII AF will not focus to -3EV like A7s or to -2EV, than I will be very dissapointed. ALL Sony cams apart of A7s are hopeless for low light AF shooting in any move of the subject. It’s beyond belief that Sony can not reach mirrorless Panasonic, Nikon, Olympus AF level performance, it’s very poor compared to them.
A7II is quite good. Cam pushes ISO to see in the dark and focuses. A7s is way better in this regard due to noiseless high ISO.
I tried it and AF is useless for shooting any moving subject. I think it focuses to only to 0EV like A6000.
Maybe everything is easier to implement when you’re dealing with smaller sensors like MFT…
Be nice to have IBIS in this new model. Would like to see Sony start making lenses with no build in stabilisation so they can reduce the size a bit and focus on improving quality instead.
reduce the price too.
Include wireless flash TTL trigger to all the new camera models. I have no idea why we need pocket wizardry when it’s all about one wifi chip (maybe even the same one that already exists in the cameras). If Yongnuo can do it for peanuts, Sony can do it too. That also opens the doors for income from selling accessories (updated versions of existing flashes, but including the receiver)
Agreed. Nikon and Sony need to get on this. I love my Cactus wireless flashs, but the ability to use TTL wirelessly without additional transmitters/receivers would be very welcome.
They already have the signal that is going for MI hotshoe. Just fork it to the wireless chip (these cost ~$3 when you buy single piece, so probably less than $1 for big volumes) and that’s it. Later they can sell receivers and updated flashes.
I have a feeling this will be in the Sony Pro E body.
Having touchscreen in your camera doesn’t make you less of a photographer… get over it!!
it’s very useful and save you a lot of time (AF, menu, …).
What Admin says plus XAVC-S and S-Log2. But I gotta say, if they give uncompressed raw to the A7RII, they have to update at least the A7II too. Ah yeah, add more future proof firmware updates to the list.
I’d consider this a fail, if it is another 36 mpx chip. The 36 mpx is old in camera terms. If it isn’t near 50 mpx I don’t thin it would be worth an ungrade.
The 50mp chip will appear in an A99II or A9. I’d like A7RII to have the 36mp chip. It might be a few years old, but it’s still one of the best sensors out there.
You have no idea what you are talking about., I bet you don’t even own a 36mp camera, do you? I suggest taking some courses on photography. It’s more useful than raising the mp counts in your camera.
36mp is more than enough for the vast majority of users. To please one in 10,000 photogephers who actually can make use of 50mp but dismissing the other 9999 who need a higher performing sensor in low light, dynamic range and color, is a bad mistake. Even the super low mp, A7s is already selling like a hot cake. Hopefully, they will not increase the mp.
Touchscreen.
Get an iPad to match your Maxipad.
Besides what you suggest I would like to have high-Res sensor shift mode as implemented in the latest Olympus, which does offer better files and should be possible with IBIS
http://diglloyd.com/blog/2015/20150320_0001-OlympusOMD_EM5M2-hiresMode-interior.html
Gps. It’s the one thing keeping me from switching to Sony. It’s great for automatic key wording. Oh and ability to record more than 29:59
The timing is limited because of taxes. After 30 minutes is considered a video camera and has extra taxes ( in Europe, at least)
They should come with a hack for this feature.
Use a smartphone to record and sync later. This also has the benfit of not having the GPS draining battery life and also the benefit using a device that may be much better then any built in GPS.
I currently use a Google Nexus tablet in combination with “MyTracks” due to the fact that i can leave it running for 10 days if i would like to.
S-LOG2 or S-LOG3 , internal 4k * raise the price by 1500$ or something * + 50 Mpixels for photography and including IBIS * where i can shoot 1/10 shutter with stable photos
and take my money
“This little Sony mirrorless camera was only
used by a little old lady to take 14 bit color photos of her church
choir.”
Only one thing really 🙂 , better shutter:
– higher sync speed
– Being to use a leaf shutter from lenses (and then lenses with leaf shutter)
– wireless sync with flash/strobe etc.
– Silent shutter mode
– “uncompressed” RAW
– Same grip and improved button layout of the A7II
– Same 5 axis stabilization as the A7II
– Improved battery life
– semi-weather sealing
-color depth
50 MP sensor with improved DR. Otherwise – skip and keep on using my A7R.
I actually want to stay with the 36mp. 50 seems over kill, but I guess some people like to crop a ton or print billboards. If I get an improved shutter, improved AF, and 5 axis image stabilization Sony can take my money.
Electronic First Curtain Shutter
Fix the dang LAEA adapters failure to use Minolta A-Mount teleconverters. My Canon EF teleconverters work with Metabones adapter. But I can’t get any readout or function with native A-Mount converters with any LAEA1,3, or 4 adapters.
Many little incompatibility issues like this reveal just how thoughtless and superficial Sony design really is. FIX IT SONY!
Stuff like this prevents me from moving entirely away from A-Mount. I hate these little E-Mount toys that force compromise upon loyal A-Mount users. Very disenfranchising.
Couldn’t agree more! Where are the DSLR bodies with proper egronomics, where is the AF, worthy of a high end camera, where is the lens selection, that doesn’t have the stupid fly-by-wire MF. Where are the E-Mount to A-Mount adapters, that have a proper AF module, and not the one that has been ripped out of a 3 year old A65.
Canon!
Blows!
Yep, your mom my canon
You better be careful, she bites, and doesn’t let up until your canon turns into a mini pensil…
Thanks for the heads up!
Too late 😉 Pensildick
Nah, wishful thinking…would have been, did not happen thanks to you! Cheers, mate!
Wishful thinking that you have a Canon? Not surprised needledick. Usually its either 13yo or needledicks that bring up “your mom” comments in the first place. Add a troll into the mix and we’ve got you – a 13yo needledick…
I am sorry.
I am Ghostsbyscary and I have small penis complex.
Joking aside, I would have considered Canon, if they had a DSLR model with EVF.
Who wants an EVF?
Apparently you are trolling the wrong board 😉
You are the only one on the entire web who talked about this issue.
I had the same problem with Minolta teleconverters and LA-EA4 adapter.
Do you know if Sony televonvetrters will work with LA-EA4 ?
Upgrade the laea4 and make Canikon versions.
lets hope they dumped that shutter for a start.
and the EVF. Put a mirror in that mof@
A7 II grip is better than A7, but, if you compare with Panansonic GH4, I prefer the ergonomics of GH4. Especially full frame lenses are much bigger and m4/3, a firmer grip is important for a tele-lens
But the GH4 with it’s tiny little sensor sucks for still photography. So it fits your hand well and takes crappy pictures. JOY!
I take that back.
The Panasonic GH4 is the best mirrorless on the market so far.
Sony can only dream about GH4 video quality….
They need do the following, otherwise it is pointless:
1) resolve the shutter vibration issue
2) provide the option for uncompressed RAW files
The design could be better, but that is not going to happen.
Yes, the design could be better; look at the competition. Oh wait, there isn’t any.
IMHO, The A77 and A99 are far better designed.
why do you need uncompressed RAW? the compression is lossless so there is no loss of quality. Is there another reason?
See my other response to you. Sony’s RAW compression is not lossless. It takes a 12-bit or, in the case of the newer A7 and A77II camera,s 14-bits of data and compresses it into an 11-bit +7-bit format, lopping off data it doesn’t think is that important. Evidence of this has been seen via posterization and color casts in specific high contrast scenarios and reduces the headroom you have in pushing/pulling the images in post.
There is no harm in giving the option to choose uncompressed RAW. For those that have no issues with compressed RAW, they can still use it. For the rest of us, we will gladly sacrifice a little more storage space and a slightly smaller buffer in exchange for full retention of the data captured.
If compressed RAW was perfect, then everybody would be dumping uncompressed RAW as an option and forcing the photographer to use compressed RAW.
Not true. There is zero difference between Leaf compressed raw and uncompressed raw. The issue is that the compression is proprietary so things like Adobe raw converter can’t read it. The file quality is exactly the same at least on my Leafs.
My statement was in reference to the compressed RAW where quality is being compromised due to data being thrown out or “averaged”. Lossless compressed RAW where the actual data is left intact but is compressed to a smaller address space is acceptable, and I don’t really think of it as being much different than my view of “uncompressed RAW”. Even Uncompressed RAW has compressed data, whether it be the image preview file and/or the file header.
Your LEAF has multiple compressed RAW settings that use a proprietary algorithm, an L and an S option. The L option is a lossless compression while the S is a lossy compression. Both, if I recall correctly, is based on a 16-bit file. I haven’t found what is compressed or not, but it does look like they separate some of the data a bit differently than what other manufacturers do. This may be a reason for some of the space savings.
But if I had my guess, some of it may be applied to the image preview file that is imbedded (if they decide to even imbed one). If they choose not to imbed an image preview file, that can save a decent chunk of space. Another area of savings will be the header information.
Aside from your Leaf back, which PhaseOne developed the RAW format, majority of other camera manufacturers still offer multiple options to the RAW format (Uncompressed, Lossless, and Lossy).
Actually on the latest leaf and phase have s and l setting. Since my work is all with artificial light I have no reason to update since aptus II.
Phaseone had nothing to do with the aptus II cameras LEAF’s Leaf MOS doesn’t include preview files at all. Sony’s don’t either unless you tell them too.
Only the very newest Phase and leaf (since Phase owns Leaf but Leaf is still an Israeli run separate company) have lossy compression as an option.
Sorry, you didn’t clarify and I thought you were referring to the newer LEAF backs that are owned by Phase One and where Phase One designed the RAW.
As for the preview file, the Sony’s do include an embedded preview file in their RAW files and as far as I know there isn’t an option to prevent that. Shame too since most RAW editors replace the preview seen on the screen with their own anyways.
If the raw is so bad how does it do so well at DPR for dynamic range?
going through this which is studio of course. I can find no real examples of the a7r raw not being pretty much amazing
http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/image-comparison?attr18=lowlight&attr13_0=sony_a7r&attr13_1=nikon_d810&attr13_2=canon_eos5dmkii&attr13_3=canon_eos5dmkii&attr15_0=raw&attr15_1=raw&attr15_2=raw&attr15_3=raw&attr16_0=100&attr16_1=100&attr16_2=100&attr16_3=100&normalization=full&widget=1&x=0.7797424652421386&y=0.7252663820630293
I am downloading the RAW files to have a much better look but it seems that the issue is not present and DPR at least says the dynamic rance is better in the Sony a7r then the d810. In their example the d810 is uncompressed. the difference should be very noticeable.
Should have a mirror 🙂
so you can check your hair?
Did not think about that one, but good idea!
The biggest problem with Sony A7 series is lack of affordable lens and no third party support yet. I wish sony can convince sigma and tamron make their new lens in e mount instead of the a one.
Agreed, we need more cheap junk lenses.
Yep, cheap junk brings people into the system, who then buy more expensive junk.
You get what you pay for Stan, don’t be an idiot.
How do you think people start investing in a system? You start off with something, then you figure out that it blows and upgrade. No-one will invest 2k into a camera and 4k into lenses, if they haven’t tried it out yet. Cheap FF lenses also provide APSC upgrade path. Then there’s also a buyer, that cannot afford expensive glass.
Stan needs a better job, working on the garbage truck ($100 per week + all you can eat) isn’t cutting the mustard.
Wow, is that the best you can do? Thanks for a constructive criticism, you f*ck*ng as*ho*e. No wonder SAR is taking a dive in comment quality. All because of people like yourself, who still live with their mom’s
Calm down Stan, call your anger management sponsor and take some deep breaths.
I am calm. You are the one who started with insults.
I am Ghostsbybarry.
I made up this whole conversation because I am demented.
Stop Now!
I am Ghostsbyscary or Ghostsbybarry if you want….
Stan is right. More people who get in the system even if they just buy crap lenses means a much better chance of more good lenses being made because there are just more people who might by the better glass. It also helps keep that cost of the better glass down as they will probably make more of it.
True that. That’s how I started.
Don’t be an idiot like me.
Agree, I did not go for Sony FF because there are not more lenses like new 28/2 – resonably fast (f/2) and resonably priced, actually it’s the only such lens in Sony offer. Even if such BEHEMOT like new 35/1.4 ZA would cost under $1000, I would not buy it because of its size. 35/2.8 ZA is overpriced for what it gives and it’s only f/2.8 (it’s ridiculous on today’s standards with 35mm prime). 55/1.8 ZA is great but I would rather buy G 50/1.8 for $500 if it was offered. Where is also small 85/2 (no, thank you for ZA new 85mm MONSTER), where is G 35/1.8, where G 24/2 and G 135/2.8? It will take 5-7 years for Sony to bring affortable E FF lenses, so forget about it now.
If Sony do release more cheaper primes, they won’t be G branded. Sony sees G and Zeiss as equals.
What are you talking about?!?
You’d better shut up….
How polite.
I didn’t think my post was that difficult to understand.
http://www.sony-mea.com/microsite/dslr/09/gLens/
You are naive….
The 35/1.4 G A-mount and FE 90mm Macro says otherwise. There will be no cheap G primes.
You didn’t understand.
You are right that G lenses are not cheap. You were wrong saying that Sony sees G and Zeiss as equals. They aren’t.
This is where you show me why I’m wrong…
The link I posted backs up what I said.
OK. I repeat:
You are naive. Sony G lenses and Zeiss lenses are not equal!
Sony Zeiss lenses are clearly better!
No matter what Sony says in their website…..
I didn’t say they were equal, I said Sony sees them as equals.
So what lenses are you comparing?
Thats highly negative thinking. Cheap doesn’t mean junk. I bought into the Sony system only cause I could get dirt cheap Minolta lenses used for peanuts.
Now I have much better lenses and I still use Sony. A lot of people don’t want to buy a very affordable A7 (especially used) only because the body is inexpensive but the lenses are not. (except for the new 28mm f2)
In a recent post; an interview with “Kazuto Yamaki, CEO of Sigma says development of lenses for the Sony FE system is one of their priorities.”
Good luck with that, Sigma CEO is full of $hit. It won’t happen.
What did you say!?!
He also said it is a “nightmare” to develop FE mount lenses due to the small mount diameter.
H.265 4k internal video.
why would you want uncompressed
RAW? compressed raw is LOSSLESS and allows for faster camera to card transfers. It only advantages is that you get easier 3rd party raw support with uncompressed and thats even not really an issue anymore.
Compressed RAW is NOT lossless, at least not the RAW compression that Sony is using. There is quite a bit out there stating as such if you do a Google search (look up Diglloyd’s blog and DPR’s recent A7 reviews). You are taking at minimum 12-bit and at max 14-bits of data and cramming it into an 11-bit + 7-bit compression. Data IS being thrown out and in certain, but rare, high contrast scenarios, it can be seen with posterization and/or color casting. It’s got more of a negative impact, from my observations, on the newer 14-bit sensors (A7 series, A77II, etc.) than it did on the older 12-bit sensors.
At the bare minimum, Sony should at least bring back uncompressed RAW as an option like they did in the past. Back in the A900/A700 days, you had RAW and cRAW. With the newer cameras, they took away RAW and left cRAW, but renamed it to appear as if it is just RAW.
Right how about just proper compressed raw like on my Leaf backs or other cameras or even dneg.
Mamiyaleaf or leaf shutter? Neither have anything to do with compression
No it’s not lossless!
…http://diglloyd.com/blog/2014/20140212_2-SonyA7-RawDigger-posterization.html
don’t believe what Sony tell you
AgNO3 – you have misunderstood the Sony RAW 2.3. It is lossy compressed RAW. And it is the only option.
Mature systems offers two or three alternatives:
– Uncompressed RAW
– Compressed non-destructive (lossless) RAW
– Compressed destructive (lossy) RAW) RAW
An absolute requirement on Sony is to offer at least one lossless RAW, compressed or not.
I didn’t misunderstand I just made the assumption that it worked like my Leaf backs. which was clearly the wrong assumption 🙂
Leaf, as in leaf shutter? Shutter has nothing to do with compression
Leaf is a company in Israel that makes digital backs for medium and large format cameras.
When this A7RII comes out I think there should be a generous trade up program from Sony for us A7R bagholders.. What’s my A7R going to be worth now $800 from $2300? Talk about ROI baby!
Are you buying cameras as investments?
Yes, Lightleak_101 only invests in cameras and used bedding.
Ignore me.
Lol I also collect enlarging lenses so yea I make bad GAS decisions.
ROI should be based on the sales of your photos not the resale value of the camera. If you are looking for ROI on your camera, it begs the question of how did you see the camera increasing in value over time?
Agreed, a digital camera as an investment in and of itself is a terrible investment.
You can never make people happy. Once Sony releases new A7 each year its bad because of the resell value drops. Once they do not release A99 replacement its horrible because people want upgrades. Hopeless.
Sorry just trying to laugh off my losses.
Talk to your accountant. You should be able to write off its expense immediately if you are a pro or over a 3(?) year period otherwise. To a photography business, cameras are written off to have $0 value after 3 years (same goes for computers.) No coincidence that this is how frequent Canon introduces new pro camera.
I would LOVE to get a good video mode (so you don´t need to get the A7s / A7s Mk-II as a “must have”). It was already A SHAME, that the original A7 and A7r bodies hat such huge problems with aliasing and moiré – So they were nearly unusable.
Would be GREAT for hybrid shooters …
As an owner of the A7II instead of asking for drastic changes to the
form factor I would ask for little things to make it more polished.
Remember these are opinions so need to crucify me..
What I would like just generally on the next A7II*;
1) Recess the movie record mode button so I will quit accidentally
activating it.
2) Make the card slot cover snap tighter as it accidentally opens enough
for me to worry I am going to break it off.
3) I would like the rear wheel to either be wider or have more texture.
4) Give me back the screen articulation of the A77.
5) I miss the joystick of the A850 and A77 (I am sure its on other
models but those I own) I am not the biggest fan of that of the rolling dial
and I have enough custom buttons if I need fast access to ISO or shutter mode I
can easily program one.
6) Make it focus better in low light. I like using manual flash and
apparently I don’t have enough ambient light as I have found portrait focusing
a challenge. On the A850 or A77 it was a non-issue. I find myself using manual
focus more and more with this A7II and it all seems to be due to lower light
focusing.
7) Give me back the doors that cover the ports on the A6000 or even the
ones on the A850. The ones on the A7II are kind of cheesy and I am afraid with
use they will get looser than they are now.
8) I do miss the GPS but I don’t think it would help the battery life
😉
9) Obviously battery life! Man I got everything turned off extra to
squeeze a few more shots in. I will be carrying 5 batteries in Disney World.
10) I would like the
exposure compensation dial to need more force to turn.
What people have said I don’t care about; (not dissing your opinion just
giving mine)
1) Yeah so I like not having a built in flash. I really have no use for
it and it would just waste space and battery. I use off camera flash most of
the time so I like using wireless triggers and if I need a on camera flash I
will just stick one on that uses its own batteries J
2) I don’t care about a touch screen but then again I use the viewfinder
almost all the time and when I do use the screen it is not a big deal to not
have a touch screen. Again just my view.
Yeah, I don’t understand why Sony isn’t utilizing the fully articulating LCD screen anymore, like on the A77 and A99. That’s one of my favorite features on those cameras. I can put that screen in about any orientation possible so when I need to get the camera in a weird position I don’t have to contort my body all over to be able to compose the shot, and otherwise I just keep it flipped backwards/off to save myself that battery power. It’s time to bring it to the E-mount cameras! I agree with you about the joystick, too – I much prefer it to the standard spinning wheel.
I miss my joystick too.
Воу воу Админ полехче
Pointless to give possible improvements, when everyone knows the A7RII will be just a A7R sensor in a A7II body.
Let’s hope the heavier body fixes the shutter vibration!
And let’s hope they replace that mushy “no idea where halfpress is” shutter release.
Yes Tom, and then there is your a$$ and a hole in the ground and you can’t tell which is which.
Sorry for this. I am mad. I can’t help myself.
It might have a d810 sensor
We can’t say that. A7r was first gen. They are aware that the lack of EFCS caused shutter shock and was pointed out by many reviewers. Most reviewers who pointed it out were pretty kind as it was first gen but if they keep that in the second gen Sony will be panned big time for it. So if they are spending money they better fix that issue.
Beyond that they improved the A7 AF with software so its possible they will do the same for A7r II as well.
And probably XAVC codec for video too.
well my wish is
– Better autofocus tracking
– Better low light focus
– LOSELESS RAW
It will be exactly the same upgrade as the A7ii. The A9 will have a more substantial redesign.
YOU ARE NEXT FAGGET. M43 and Sony users on their way to Canon
reeducation camp, not many will come back. Punishment is a$$rape with
the heredic lenses they used.Sony users will suffer more,M43 benefit
from puny lenses:). Nikon
users will be next. Last chance,repent and join Canon!
WORSHIP THE MIRROR…
Uncompressed raw or lossless compression. I want no reason to keep Canon gear.
“Silent shutter mode”
If it’s already hard to implement an electronic first curtain shutter on a 36MP sensor how much more a silent shutter on a 50MP? It would take 2 Bionz X processors to close the entire curtain and that would require much more energy which the Sony battery doesn’t have.
1. Make it a DSLR, dump EVF (only feggits do not know a OVF)
2. By intruducing OVF, ban all feggits from userbase
3. Put all Sony users refusing to buy OVF into reeducation camps b/c they are feggits
4. After reed camp they have learned to love OVF and be hetero and not spread AIDS, mirrorless and EVF is photographic equivalent of AIDS
One function to rule them all
A macro record and playback function with the ability to load macros from external text files (making sharing macros possible etc).
One could then simply record macro A, B and C to perform missing function D, E, F. It would open all sort of odd combinations of combinations if wanted. A function that comes to mind is especially bracketing of X frames but with Y delay between shots. Another one is taking X number of shots with Y delay in order to later on combine the images to remove Tourists from images.
If one has access to live data via liveview one could also create functions that does X when Y occurs. Imagine setting up a tripod + the camera pointed at a branch where birds sit before they go feed. One could then program the camera to look for specific changes in the light (via the histogram) that corresponds to a bird sitting on the branch and ofc fire X shots or whatever when that event occurs.
Shutter less noisy, no vibration; no AA filter/ or optional; non-lossy RAW; one or two more customizable buttons (a quick on-off steady shot button without need for going into the menu); improved battery; LCD tilt as A99;
M43 and Sony users on their way to Canon reeducation camp, not many
will come back. Punishment is a$$rape with the heredic lenses they used.
Sony users will suffer more,M43 benefit from puny lenses:). Nikon
users will be next. Last chance,repent and join Canon!
Electronic First Curtain Shutter, or no sale.
What about Electronic Front Curtain Shutter?
A7R doesn’t have it.
Fast battery charger
No battery drain when power OFF
+1000 to #1. I can’t believe Sony has these $2500 cameras with tiny batteries that barely last 300 photos but don’t have ANY additional fast chargers that take any lesser than 2 hours !!!
Thats ridiculous ! Canon and Nikon have MUCH larger batteries but they charge in less than half that time. A 1 hr charger is not too much to ask for at this price range.
There are 3rd party options but when I am spending this much on a camera I would want an original charger and battery.
+1 for #2. While I’m fine with battery charging time, battery drain is super bad. In-camera … in the charger … heavy drain! On my A77 I just recharge the battery, but it into the camera and leave it ready until I need it. On the A6000, you can’t do that. On top, battery life is like half or less of the A77’s battery, hardly making it a full day, although they’re not much smaller.
In order of importance
-much improved autofocus
-same or better IBIS (as A7II)
-fixed lens mount (like a7II)
-silent shutter for no blur highres shots
-loss less raw
-improved battery life
-UHS-II card slot and USB 3 it’s 2015 after all.. this camera is about larger files
-headphone + mic jacks (video side of things)
-Olympus like High res shot with the IBIS mechanism 8 x 50 mpix stills to make 100 mpix image.
EFC + a quiet shutter would make me happier than a silent shutter + increased noise.
On RAW, what we all want is lossless. Compressed or not is beside the point, the issue is the current RAW throws away information (also called lossy), so you don’t really get the advertised bit depth. I’m surprised Sony’s lawyers allow them to claim RAW is 14 bits, or maybe I’m missing subtle weasle wording that would get Sony out from under a class action suit. Even though Sony’s particular lossy algorithm is fine in most cases, we all strive for some new height in our work and the last thing you want is to have your best ever shot ruined because the scene is one of the few that are affected by lossy RAW. The complaints won’t go away until Sony delivers lossless RAW.
Other than that it is all about catching up with the rest of the lineup – IBIS, PDAF, better ergonomics, all metal mount, etc.
While I’m asking, in addition to camera improvements a new laea, w/o traslucent mirror light loss, that focuses via sensor, at speed, such that a-mount electronic af is limited by the lens not the adapter. Such an adapter closes the book on not enough lenses, complainers can switch to whining that a-mount lenses are too big, not enough small e-mount lenses and sony can make a fortune selling small lenses to go with the small cameras while practical needs (fast tele and super tele primes….) can be met via a-mount (more $ for sony selling a-mount lenses to practical photographers who know a FF 300 2.8 will never be described as a pancake lens – and even more if Sony does an e-mount fresnel a few years down the road…..)
Agree with you on the RAW issue. IMO its terribly blown out of proportion but its out there. My old A700 had the option of compressed and uncompressed RAW so why not give that option to customers.
I am an A mount user who moved to E mount not because I wanted to but I couldn’t take the loss I would suffer by selling all my old lenses. I am not too unhappy but that darn mirror gets scratched and dirty very easily.
I would be most happy when Sony gets rid of that mirror. Implement something like the Canon dual pixel tech. I tried it on the 70D and you get full AF speed without any crappy mirror.
14 Bit Uncompressed RAW!! Front Curtain Sync, Weather Sealed, better Battery Life, no AA Filter.
Most of my wish list is software:
Ability to add F-number to EXIF while using legacy lenses (via adjusting Aperture dial to match whatever aperture setting you have selected on the lens)
Savable Lens profiles for Legacy lenses (THAT CODE TO EXIF)
Programmable AUTO ISO algorithms
Dual screen Focus Magnification (a la Fuji)
Improved Focus peaking. (Maybe a gradient color scheme. When there are less focus peak points in the viewfinder the color is yellow but as they increase it turns red.)
Fully programmable timer (1 second, 2 seconds, 30 seconds whatever)
Allow timer before bracket capture mode!
Bracket with 1.0 EV increments. And more options for number of bracket shots, 3-5-7-9…
Built in intervalometer (why does this have to be a buggy app?)
Ability to assign Silent Shutter toggle to a custom button
If Sony insists on not including GPS in these cameras, at least come out with some sort of app (or build it into the “playmemories” iphone/android app) that can act as a sidecar file index (without having to transfer every file to the iphone.)
In Bulb Mode (Time Mode; a la Olympus) Watch the Long Exposure as it is ongoing. This would just be cool, not really crucial.
Ability to Switch to EVF only, or LCD only, to conserve battery life.
Not sure if A7II has this, but Steadyshot toggle should be able to be assigned to a dedicated button.
But for Hardware:
Silent Shutter Option
5-Axis IBIS (“SteadyShot”) obviously
GPS
More FPS (not a MUST) even at a scaled resolution would be nice.
NO plastic dials (like on A7II)
NOT A7II Grip (I know it is a foregone conclusion that it WILL be A7II grip, just want to make it known that I do not endorse this stylistic change)
Lot’s of good stuff on your post 🙂
Thank you for reading the whole thing! It’s a long list, but all very doable I think and I don’t understand why Sony seems to have such a difficult time implementing software features that we actually NEED and can use easily. If Apple is considered a “10” in the UI/human interface/usability department, Sony is surely a “4”.
I’m still shocked at how poor the English grammar is in all of the menus on the cameras and in PlayMemories apps. It’s like they used a bad Google translate verbatim from the Japanese sometimes, and it is really unprofessional. It just seems really sloppy. If I had to characterize the entire Sony experience from a Human Interface/UI/Usability standpoint the word “PlayMemories” sums it up for me: Contrived, awkward… inelegant. The people in charge of these things aren’t really keeping up their end of the innovation with the hardware boys and it’s sad.
Don’t get me wrong, I love my A7R, A7S, A6000, and my old NEX-6, but software/firmware is Sony’s achilles heel.
A7II has plastic dials?
Yes it does. They look cheap, feel chincy and fragile (liable to dent or degrade), and are a step backwards in the industrial design of the A7 series IMO.
Buy an iPhone 6 to rule them all just like what Andrew @ eoshd did! Buy now! Lololol
Low Light AF -3EV AF , Minimum Shutter Speed Setting for AUTO ISO ( N & C has had it for years ) . Programmable Menu Settings of 1) Live View Display – Setting Effect ON/OFF toggle 2) Finder Monitor flip on any button 3) AF w/ Shutter ON/OFF 4) Silent Shotting ON/OFF 5) * APS-C Size Capture , for a Fast Crop Zoom … and then Programmable in the Menu to move the Video Start / Stop to the Shutter Button & have that whole set up on a “Memorized setting on the top Dial”.
quiet easy the AF from the A6000 would be a milestone, front curtain sync, ibis , that would be already be a start, electronical shutter okay …for the A9 series a dream. No hassle with all this Hss, Hypersync, lalala stuff .sync with a studio flash with 1/2000 of a second with every normal Trigger like a Phottix strato II or Profoto air. Just that simple like in a RX-1 I dont understand that for years, they have the technology but they dont bring that. The camera would have the same level as a leaf shutter medium format camera. That would be for my art photography a milestone. Shooting against the sun with every flash I have with no worries with HSS, Hypersync , special trigger systems.
leaf shutter mechanism with electronical shutter, global shutter. 2 card slots , 85 mm tele FE lense , waiting for my portrait business for ages.zooms, zooms..but no 24,85, 135, even a shift lense , that would be pro!
If the only improvement in the A7rII is in-camera stabilization, it will be pointless, and it will show that Sony is innovative but will continue to fall short on designing a great camera. On the other hand, if they have resolved the shutter vibration issues, provided a quieter shutter, and will provide the option of uncompressed (or at least lossless compressed) RAW files, the A7rII will be a very attractive camera.
Hopefully it isn’t just a feature upgrade! The A7r was, and still is, a beta camera, with an odd limitation (lossy compressed RAW files) ~ hopefully the A7rII will be a mature version of this, and will not be limited in image quality.
I’ve yet to see an A7r photograph ruined by either the shutter shake or the lossy RAW, and I have shot over 30 000 in all sorts of conditions …
This makes you either blind – obtuse or both.
Or maybe I’m just an idiot?
Nope, just opinionated 🙂
Pascal – Anton is an idiot.
Oh, OK. Silly me 😉
Strong words sweetie 😉
It must make me blind, and Picfair, who sell my photographs, and Zeiss, for whom I’m a brand ambassador in France and the readers of SteveHuffPhoto, who seem to enjoy my photos, and of DearSusan, on which I post countless full size photographs, and my mommy.
Maybe I’m just obtuse … Thanks for showing us all the light with those words of wisdom.
Oh, and I used a Nikon D800e for 2 years before buying an A7r and used the exact same lenses. Same sensor, better IQ from A7r. Sorry.
Also waiting and looking forward to see the same three lenses be announced
( fast 24, 85 and 135 ). Happy though for the really good news that the A7RMII is soon to come. ISO, Shutter improvements and Axis stabilization most important for me. In combination with the three mentioned lenses and the already produced FE primes ( not the 28) then I will be content. Hopefully in 2016??
I would like following changes / improvments:
-beefier body, better ergonomics
-better shutter
-better AF something like the A77II
-better battery life
-best IQ possible, let the choice for RAW or cRAW to whom is taking the picks.
-better buffer
-better Mount something like A-Mount
-nicer name, something like A99II
that should be enough to call it a proper camera
So you basically want an A99II, me too.
I want a Display like on the A99, tiltable in both direktions.
YES
Hasselblad lunar body!
This can still be done. A software request!
Please add the ability to turn off/disable the LCD altogether. I don’t mean for it to show black pixels and still be illuminated. I mean DISABLE the LCD. Upvote if anyone else would like this feature.
Please
Did you request this at community.sony.com?
I did not. This is the only site I follow regarding sony news. I will have a look to see if I can request it there
http://community.sony.com/t5/Join-the-Inspiration/Disable-LCD-on-sony-alpha-a7rii-and-a7-cameras/idi-p/495772
It has been posted
https://www.reddit.com/r/photography/comments/2zt5hh/a7_a7r_a7ii_a7rii_disable_lcd_for_longer_battery/
It has been posted there too
Improved performance with flash – better metering, better focusing (use of the focus assist light on flashes), improved sync speed, why not built in trigger compatible with Phottix Odin
Improved Af closer to DSLR performance but always spot on unlike DSLR. I do not care how Sony build it phase detect or otherwise.
Next generation peaking function with super high accuracy and sensitivity
Ability to see the whole frame while zooming in to focus
Improved EVF much better than Fuji X-T1
Choice of Raw format including DNG and no compression
Sony really have a mountain of work to do even with great start like the initial A7 cameras
Fix the plastic mount, silent shutter and 4K video would be great. More auto focus points.
If you have an A7 or A7r I can highly recommend the Fotodiox Tough E-mount. I fitted one to my A7r and it has made a noticeable improvement.
I bought one and found it nearly impossible to get the screws off the existing mount. Didn’t want to strip the screws, but I may have already screwed that up. What screwdriver did you use?
I find throwing the camera up against the wall loosens the screws ever so slightly. Easy to take off after this:)
I’ve already tried out the pre-production version of this camera. The best thing I can say about it is it’s DOA.
I guess you did not sign a non disclosure then lol?
Actually, the best thing I can say is “I am a freak”….
Most importantly: sensor improvement in dynamic range, low light and color performance. No need to cramp more mp if it scarifies other aspects of sensor performance.
– the improvements already added in A7 II being added to A7r II as well: improved user interface, XAVC codec, etc.
– Silent shutter
– touchscreen
– improved low light AF (like A7s)
– Improved AF tracking
– giving the option of lossless raw would be nice too
– USB 3.0
– I prefer a humpless form factor.
Most of these features are demanded by most users so why not?
I have an A7r. What I’m really waiting for is the A7sII. If the second generation sorts out the A7s issues (like IBIS and internal 4K recording), then I think that will be a seriously good camera.
Few things:
No lossy RAW files
Make the viewfinder with a brigher option at max setting. It currently sucks.
Dual card slots or go home
AF should be as good as A7II- period. No- in fact, better or go home.
Body should be recessed where your fingers rest over the grip. You know, like most cameras.
Better eyecup options
Screen should swivel and turn around like EM5II or A77II- your pic, just get it done.
Offset the top deck with some trim for god’s sake. A7II looks like a brick and honestly it’s ugly.
Touchscreen would be nice, but not necessary.
Your menu sucks- but we all know that won’t change– so yeah, touchscreen I guess.
Everyone likes a new camera but everyone would love more lenses. Produce lenses that shock the market like Sigma has of late.
Say a shocker like 10mm/16mm f1.4 for astro-photography, or perhaps a 135mm f1.2 for dream like portraits. Or make a do it all lens with constant aperture.
If not lenses then how about a flash system that’s up to date with Photix Mitros +/ Odin Systems.
But if I must stick to cameras then…Touch screen, record setting DR with no baked in processing tricks, and possibly sensor shift 200mp files like the IQ180. Let’s crush the medium format industry.
They just launched 4 new lenses. I doubt we will see any more lens launches from Sony at least for a while now. 😛
On the other hand we have had just one body launch so we can expect more this year.
A 10mm/16mm f/1.4 and a 135mm f/1.2? Do you have any idea how big such lenses would be?
These lenses really aren’t realistic right now with this state of the industry, you could find an old 135/1.5 in the projection segment but I haven’t heard of anything faster, even if there’s a faster lens it’ll probably be x-ray which is pretty much useless.
I love my A7r as is and don’t need any update ! But what the system needs are new prime lenses, light, small, not super fast, but of premium IQ (say sharp corners and low distorsion) :
21 or 24mm F2.8 or F3.5 ; 90mm F2.8 and 135mm F2.8 or F4.
Recent releases suggest we will see a range of more modestly priced primes, and large, fast glass. The FE system is young. To expect large numbers of primes so soon is unrealistic. I think Sony have done a good job in a short time.
I agree I hope Sigma steps up and offers new FE lenses
I see lots of people talking about major physical changes. If an A7RII is launched, we know it will look almost identical to the A7II.
FULLY ARTICULATED SCREEN!!!
-Camera can charge while it’s turned on
-Can switch between single shot and continuous shot while images are still being offloaded onto the SD card
-Faster boot (Everything could use a faster boot)
-Stock eye cup stays on camera better
-Stock eye cups do not cost $20
-Touchscreen focusing (I honestly would probably not use it that much, but it would be nice to have)