A99 II - Unintuitive Things (Part 2)
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- Опубликовано: 7 сен 2024
- In this two-part video, professional photographer Gary Friedman explains some of the more unintuitive aspects of this 42-megapixel engineering wonder. Fully-detailed book available at friedmanarchive... . See Part 1 at • A99 II - Unintuitive T... .
Always good to review this video again and again as a memory refreshing tool. This camera remains crazily sophisticated... Thanks for all your tips and discoveries about Sony camera systems.
Mr.Friedman is one of the fEW,who teaches on a deeper,simpler level,and someone who actually knows what these cameras do.Most of the time,RUclipsrs are guessing,lying,and misinforming.....invaluable teacher/mentor...
You are most welcome..
I had shot with the Sony A580 and LOVED that camera.It took some amazing images,and I never even bought any glass for it,just using the 55-200mm SAM most of the time.It got broken by accident,and now i use the Pentax k1mk2,which i love as well(Sony sensor).I am contemplating a second camera,yet the Sony a7iii has this small body,like a matchbox,so i tried it in store,with the battery grip,and the 70-200mm 2.8 G Master.I really dont care about weight,so i am wondering if the A99mk2 will be a great second camera,seeing that it's also mirrorless.
I shoot i would say 80% outside,natural light,sometimes in the dark,because the Pentax and the Sony allowed me to.Video is something i wanted to do a bit more of,maybe some Vlogging,some action,like skaters,BMX,mountain bikes,because I used to cycle,and i love to capture that type of action.I took some stils in the part this summer of some skateboarders,so since the Pentax has a slower frame rate,I just anticipated and led the shots to get what I wanted..Do you think the A99mk2 is good now or should i wait until Sony possibly updates it?
Ok,I was thinking along those lines as well..I did hear about that f/3.5 thingy..so as far as lenses,i was thinking about the 70-200 G master,something like a 24-70,and a prime,although i am not sure which one..I took a peek at the 85MM though..
yes,i do know that trinity,and I like it,because it's concise.I'm not comfortable with 20 lenses,and I am not going to carry more than 2 other lenses anyway.I'm more comfy with maybe three cameras and a minimum of glass.I went to New Orleans and had a ball,just with one lens,and I left my tripod home,which worked out fine,since i had objects to sit the camera on or to brace against..Do you recommend those Laowa/Irix 12-15mm offerings?
Another great job Gary
Gary is the best when it comes to autofocus! Great video.
Nice. I didn't know it had some of these features, but it does make me want to get the camera more. I would assume highlight metering would be great if one were to do the method of ETTR (expose to the right). It saves the time of spot metering/AE-L focus/recomposing. Thanks for the videos!
Hi Gary, thank you for this additional information set. I am slowly working my way through both your ebook on the A99ii with the camera. The plethora of options is currently overwhelming as I come from using the first release A77. I do like the ergonomics and that I can re-use the battery grip, batteries and flash (with the adapter). I am very happy with the camera. It's a learning curve to know when to change settings and what settings will maximize your "keepers" in that situation. Practice and experience is the solution. Prior to the release of the A99ii, I had collected a good range of full frame A mount glass in preparation to move to the A99ii when it would be released. I am not disappointed
One thing I have noticed. While I was using the A77, I was constantly trying to achieve a shallower depth of field. Now with the A99ii, I find the shallow depth of field a restriction in some cases. Ironic?
Ironic indeed! :-)
Hi Gary, I am currently evaluating a 7RM5 with the LA-EA5 to see if it (7RM5) works well enough with my A-mount lenses to justify buying the 7RM5. (I really like the subject recognition ability in 7RM5). So, I came to this video to refresh my mind about how the A99M2 AF & metering works in the A99. Please don't ask me why I think that's important. I don't remember 🤔. Anyway, the question is tracking the samething as AF or like AF and Metering (exposure), which are not the same and not linked?
Not certain I understand your question (maybe you could re-phrase it), but it's possible I address it in this other youtube video where I compare the LA-EA5 with another adapter and I specifically test tracking: ruclips.net/video/Xy4GZURBkF0/видео.html
I find Your videos are an information giant!.....Thank you
Great informative video Gary... Could you also do a full comparison video between Sony A99II & A7RII. Thanks
That would be a six hour video! Why not just buy both books and see for yourself? :-) (Anyway, it wouldn't help people sway their decisions... The A99 II is best for people with a lot of A-mount glass and for those who love great ergonomics.)
Excellent explanations !
An excellent detailed tutorial from someone who really knows what he's talking about. I have a Samsung NX1 so none of this applies to my ahead-of-time camera ;)
I wish Samsung had continued with that product line. Like all of the current Sigma cameras with foveon sensors, the NX-1 was an outstanding technical achievement and underappreciated by most of the world.
Interesting you mention the Foveon sensor as it's my favourite but it will have to be in a different camera body with better electronics to truly justified it. Samsung were never taken seriously as a camera manufacturer but I believe there was a behind the scene reason the public at large will probably never know.
By the time you chose your AF option, you could have easily taken the shot with manual focus.
Gary, I've watched your I & II videos a number of times to get to the grip of various focus and metering modes, thanks for making it clear and easy. However is it correct that these metering modes are important only when using P or A/S modes? I usually use M mode and thanks to the SLT architecture have a live view of the exposure through the EVF. Hence, I pay attention to the focus and disregard the various metering modes as any deficiency in the exposure can be quickly corrected simply by adjusting the aperture/shuttle wheels or ISO button. Being able to adjust the exposure in M mode so easily makes the metering modes redundant (It would be more relevant in DSLR architecture). Is this correct? Should I really be bothered to practice the various metering modes if I decide to use M mode in general?
Thanks Gary. One quick point to clear: In menu item cam 1 - 4/12 (Selectable autofocus area) when 'only Cross type AF' is selected does it select yellow areas as well as it's a 'virtual' cross type with sensor based vertical and dedicated phase type horizontal making it a cross type, or only the green squares? And why do some sports photographers prefer to select 'Only cross type' instead of auto (which would make more sense to me) saying that this gives better results? Thanks for the reply...
Gary, any thoughts on the a9? I have seen your videos explaining Sony's focusing system. How do you figure they applied them to the a9?
.What i like about using the AEL button which you taught me to do is that i can apply pressure to this button and not have to worry about accidently taking the photo until i am ready too....Thanks
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I have a boatload (14) older Minolta lenses, and I've not yet decided to sell them or to get the A99II. Is there any way I can get the list of lenses that will work with the A99II, In ALL AF Modes, without purchasing your fine book? (My lenses all are of the era when the Maxxum 9 was THE best film camera around) (Many of my lenses are f2.8 or faster pro lenses, and four are "G")
You stated that your book had a lens list of those lenses that worked with ALL AF points. Can you share that without/before buying your book?
Thanks! I have that lens, too!
Just we are clear: @~7:47 you stated: "I have a hybrid autofocus compatible lens attached". So all of mine are, except the 500/f8?
The Sony camera body has several key features neither the Nikon or Canon have and they are deal killers for me……..First, the Sony body has image stabilization, which means that all the lenses for the Sony have image stabilization and this system is much better than having the image stabilization in the lens…….another advantage the Sony has is that in their bodies in the “A” mounted cameras have a built in 1.4x and a 2.0x clear view magnifier which produces terrific images as compared to using a convertor lens……Also the Sony uses a EVF (electronic viewfinder)…..This system allows you to see before you snap the photo exactly what your picture will look like so if you do not like it, you can change the settings, the other two cameras use optical viewfinder which lacks this time saving feature to get the best image… However, i believe the Nikon and Canon bodies are built better (better quality control produces cameras with less problems) regardless of what the advertising says…….Sony cameras always seem to need to be service and their service is outside comp[anies who do not keep an inventory of parts so turn around time is 3 months which has been my experience and it is not acceptable!……….IF Nikon and Canon make the changes i say above i would rather have their cameras because of the POOR quality control and service of Sony…...
Gary would you buy the A99 II or the A9? I'm on the fence because of MP and glass. Thanks
I'll add I prefer the form factor of the A99 II
I purchased your eBook but can’t find the section that covers the eye autofocus function.
Gary Friedman ok, thanks. However I was looking for methodology that could perhaps use the function as part of an overall strategy to replace my back button focus recompose habits.
I have assigned the eye autofocus function to the focus hold button on the lenses, enabled face detect & continuous, wide area focus, and assigned the center joystick to focus standard. I’m hoping if I “play” this right I can mimic the real time tracking on the a9 etc. I must admit to some hard feelings toward Sony for that non improving operating system update they put out a few months ago.
Thoughts?
am i the only one finding that the audio is clipping or compressed?
It's clipping. It's what happens when you suddenly become more enthusiastic than during the sound check. Time constraints meant there was no time to re-do it. Still, it's got better production values than most youtube videos. :-)
Don't get me wrong. I like the videos and all the information is nice to know but I would like to know if any National Geographic photographers use this technical information to take a picture? I wonder how a picture ever got taken without phase detection thingy? :-) This stuff is like pixel peeping to me. What I need is practical information. This is kinda like how we were told computers would make life simpler.
my Zeiss (Sony) 135mm f1.8 hunts for the focus, it is in focus, then out of focus, back and forth this happens. ..The green box turns black and again i hear the beep, the box turns green then the box turns black..is there anything i can do for this?...All my others lenses at times do hunt, but once it finds the focus it stops hunting and locks in, this lens just continues....i have to be lucky to snap the shutter at the exact time to get everything in the image in perfect focus....I use back focus that you taught me and i find that i then must lock the focus on the lens, also, but this does not always work because i missed the right moment to push the shutter down..........going nuts! ....... i use a99/2, a99, a77/2, a77, a33 and a380.......
Thank you very much.... did change from wide to flexible spot also af/s, af/a, af/c, i tried all the different , button combinations....I must do as you say----- stay in very well lighted areas with adequate contrast....This lens is so sharp it is a problem to use because it needs the perfect scene, much easier to focus using a good lens with mm under 75mm, at least this is what i am finding...This lens is limiting my subject shooting because of the reasons you have made clear to me....Thank you very much....This lens is like a very fussy female, smile.....
Gary do you know if the A99ii have the same Sony star-eater algorithm that the mirrorless cameras have?
I do not know. Have you consulted with the astrophotography forums?
Not yet, perhaps I will look for one of those now.
Hi!
Is there a technical reason why the A99 II cannot shoot completely silent using only electronic shutter, or did Sony just not implement it?
Yes, the f/stop mechanism is mechanically actuated, and a sound would be made if you're shooting at any f/stop other than wide open.
Ok, but it would still be useful to shoot silently wide open and it would probably be easy to add in a firmware update.
When your audio system has mono conversion 😏 (feel a tad sorry for pretty much everyone else)
you probably dont give a shit but if you guys are bored like me during the covid times then you can stream pretty much all the latest movies and series on instaflixxer. I've been streaming with my brother lately xD
@Devon Kenneth definitely, been watching on InstaFlixxer for years myself =)
@@devonkenneth7763 Haha I run a media server withb 50TB of BD Content
👏👏👍👍
With respect for all, Huh? :-) you guys are kidding me right. I know you all are highly intelligent people but can anyone really say they think about all this before you take a picture? No offense but I just want to take a picture. Maybe I'm too simple.
Yes, there are many of us who take all this information into consideration while taking pictures. Actually there are some of us who no longer really think about all of this information as much as we automatically act on the information. It depends on how long, how often, and the range of environments in which you shoot.
Simple is fine and therefore keep your camera in full auto mode and shoot during the daylight hours. For the times where the light is low, buy a flash, point the head at your subject, put your flash mode in TTL and your done.
Now, per your previous comment, this is not how National Geographic Photographers do it. Even though they make it appear quite simple when you watch them shoot, they've spent years learning their craft. They have done extensive studying about light, the effect of focal lengths on light and subjects, exposure modes, metering modes, composition, the habits of their subjects, and finally, they know the location of every button on the camera they're using and what it does. They've practiced so much that they instinctively select the settings they need without ever taking their eye away from the viewfinder. A beginner makes decisions after they've taken a shot and have decided the camera didn't get it right. The professional plans the shot and makes the decisions before pressing the shutter button. The professional has spent the time to get the experience to pre-visualize in their mind what they will capture with specific camera settings in specific situations.
In the end, it's your style that should matter to you. You can keep it simple and leave the camera in automatic and just take pictures or learn more about the craft and start creating images that reflect your own vision.
Dear Mr. Holmes,
Thanks for your response. I welcome all perspectives but you missed my point or I didn't articulate my thoughts well. Which is probably why your response seems a bit condescending but no offense taken.
I have been taking pictures for over 30 years. I am 66 now (not that it matters) and have had or used about every format of camera including 70mm, medium format, tslr etc. Only major modern day formats I haven't used is large, meaning 4x5", 5x7", 8x10". My first digital camera experience was the Kodak DCS of the late 90's and early 2000's that was based on the Nikon body at the time. At various times I have shot professionally as a studio photographer for various studios as well as operated my own, albeit short lived, studio.
To try to explain my previous comment it is in comparison to the day there was little else on the camera to be concerned with besides the lens, f-stop, ss, iso, and flash if using one. Of course external to the camera is subject, lighting, purpose of the photograph and possibly posing the subject or the environment if outdoors. There wasn't a whole lot else especially in terms of operating the camera to be concerned with. Hope that puts my prior comment in perspective.
Dear Mr. Givens,
I agree, the articulation was weak and this comment is much clearer than the original. To me, your original comment did not represent an individual with 30+ years experience in photography and it came across more as someone who didn't care about the technical aspects of photography and just wanted to pick up the camera, click the shutter and have something amazing pop out. With this clarification and more knowledge of your experience I understand that was not your intended message and apologize if you felt offended.
I'm glad to meet someone with such an extensive background in the craft. Like you, I've been involved in photography for quite some time, over 40 years. I got started when I rescued an old Kodak 35 Rangefinder with bulb flashes, Weston II hand meter, flimsy telescoping tripod and various other attachments sitting in a box awaiting the garbage pickup. That was my camera all the way through High School. After graduation I worked in a large film processing lab where I developed every type of film to include B&W, C22-C41 Kodacolors, E3-E4 Ektachromes, and the K12-K14 Kodachromes. I moved up to the Pro B&W lab where I had to make other photographers images look good. Some of the photographers were talented, others really needed to take a few more classes. Too bad we didn't have RUclips then. Over the years I've had many cameras and took pictures of weddings, landscapes, bands, concerts, charity events, military functions, portraits, nature and pretty much anything else I could focus the lens on. I always had my own darkroom and processed all my own film and prints and had to learn all the tricks to get my images just so. Even with digital, I manage the majority of the process for all of my images.
So, due to my experience, I personally never viewed photography as a "just take the picture" process, which is where I had the mis-perception with your original comment.
I had an interesting conversation with Zeiss concerning the Zeiss lens they made for Sony....We are talking about the Zeiss (sony) 135mm f1.8 lens....Zeiss does not support or service this lens, if the lens was made for nikon or canon, yes, but no service for this lens made for Sony....I called Sony, they told me, even though i bought that lens from their online store when it was operating, cost 1,798.00..... Sony does not support or service that product, they told me to contact Zeiss....This is just another example of Sony's rotten no good customer service....I would urge everyone not to trust Sony on any level.... I would say any negative so called ranting on Sony they have it coming.........