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Forum: Canon, Nikon, Sony, and Other Camera Brands 03-08-2017, 01:11 PM  
X-Trans vs Bayer Sensors
Posted By philbaum
Replies: 5
Views: 2,590
2 facts stood out for me (if they are facts :-))

The skin tone problem on faces as demonstrated in the article really looked bad - and i've read of that before.

The demosaicking efficiency for x-trans is only 30% of that for Bayer per the article. And that was give as a probable explanation of why Fuji went to a Bayer format for their MF camera - too slow in camera processing for such a large MP camera. Fuji makes good hardware - hopefully they will shift away from X-trans as a dead-end.
Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion 11-28-2016, 02:53 AM  
So I got into a pretty bad accident a few hours ago
Posted By philbaum
Replies: 44
Views: 4,833
That happened to my nephew and also myself much longer ago - 50 years ago. I pulled up at an intersection behind another car. The other card decided he needed gas and backed up into my car so he could later pull into the gas station. Said it was his fault and all that and then filed a report at the police station saying it was my fault. His insurance company chose to believe the adult vice me, a teenager. No wonder the statistics show so many accidents by teenagers.:(
Forum: Canon, Nikon, Sony, and Other Camera Brands 10-06-2016, 08:55 AM  
Is the A-mount dead/end of the SLT
Posted By philbaum
Replies: 132
Views: 8,552
Let's hope you are correct. I think the drive towards mp, has left other needed attributes in the dust. I never was of the school of frequent burst shots to get the precise moment of a bird doing whatever. But i did notice that when the mfr shifted to more FF cameras, the burst rates dropped to the now common 5 fps (due to the larger amounts of data that needed processing). I was once asked to shoot an actor jumping. The K3's 8.3 fps were barely adequate to get me one shot of this actor at the highest arc of his jump. So i can understand wildlife and sports shooters wanting a lot more than 5fps. In fact, thats what justifies larger cameras to me - the size needed to support higher shooting rates, processing speed, double SD card slots, larger batteries, etc. Sony had to compromise a lot of functionality to cram APS and FF cameras into the small packages they did. Customers can't have it both ways, usually :-)
Forum: Canon, Nikon, Sony, and Other Camera Brands 10-02-2016, 11:26 PM  
Is the A-mount dead/end of the SLT
Posted By philbaum
Replies: 132
Views: 8,552
Yep, Nikon has a second processor in their D5 for the same reason, i think. This may also be the reason that Sony won't let the A-mount die. In a smallish body like the A7 series, there is a limit to what you can cram into a small body and not have heat problems. If Sony wants to compete fully with Canon and Nikon, they probably need the A-mount to provide a big enough case to do that. I suppose Sony could build a bigger body around the FE mount, but then they would still be missing some of the A-mount lenses and some other features. So i'm speculating that the A99II is not some gift for the existing A-mount owners but is part of a bigger plan.
Forum: Canon, Nikon, Sony, and Other Camera Brands 09-24-2016, 07:50 PM  
Is the A-mount dead/end of the SLT
Posted By philbaum
Replies: 132
Views: 8,552
After reading your post, I felt like pretty much agreeing with everything you said. So i went back and looked at some of the history on the A7 series and came to a different opinion.

In 2013, the A7 and A7R were announced

In 2014, the A7II and the A7S were announced

In 2015, the A7RII and the A7sII were announced, along with many other camera bodies during those 3 years including a fixed lens FF mirrorless body.

As to high costs, today's engineering and manufacturing costs are much higher than they were years ago. The Nikon FX 85 f1.4 G currently lists for $1600. rounding off. But its current basic configuration was first issued back in 1995. The comparable FE lens 85 f1.4 G costs $1800 rounding off. I don't think this is a big difference in costs considering that the FE lens was engineered in the last year - i would guess. BTW Tamron apparently is manufacturing a lot of these lenses judging by a statement on their corporate website. I don't like today's lens prices either, so my recent purchase of a lens for my Sony A7rII was a Canon EF 85 f1.8 USM lens (first engineered in 1992) that has superlative sharpness in the F4, F5.6 area on up and gorgeous bokeh - all for the price of $369. With Sigma's MC-11 adapter, it has fast and reliable AFs and AFc.

Unlike Nikon with their FX mount or Canon with their EF mount, Sony had no such long line of mirrorless lenses to borrow from for the A7X system. They've done a remarkable job. The only lens i would object to is the FE 24-240mm - don't much like super-zooms. All the F4, F2.8, and even the f4.5-5.6 70-300 are pretty comparable to similar lenses for other brands. Not sure why you would call theses lenses slow for zooms.

In short, i think Sony did an amazing job in going thru 6 "generations" of FF mirrorless body designs in as little as 3 years time. Perhaps the real reason that Canon and Nikon haven't built a FF mirrorless body is that they don't want to compete with Sony on Sony's FF turf.

Far from being annoyed with Sony, i think we ought to be grateful over their superlative sensor designs that are now a feature of many Pentax bodies, several Nikon bodies, some Canon bodies and didn't they build some for MFT - i can't remember.
Forum: Canon, Nikon, Sony, and Other Camera Brands 09-23-2016, 11:14 AM  
Is the A-mount dead/end of the SLT
Posted By philbaum
Replies: 132
Views: 8,552
That has the ring of credibility to it. So it isn't nostalgia thats keeping the A-mount live, i don't think a lot of us individuals understand the larger Sony business plan. After i got my A7rII a year ago, i bought a plastic fantastic lens, the Sony 85 f2.8 lens with SAM focus motor (apparently these SAM motors are cheaper than the SSM actuators used in pricier lens). Even so, this lens was quite good, but there are FEW of these cheap lenses about. Most of them have screw actuation which is the same situation with Pentax. But the screw actuated lense require a different Sony adapter. Eventually i ended up buying the Sigma MC-11 adapter and a great Canon 85 f1.8 lens that was designed back in 1992 but has excellent sharpness stopped down and excellent bokeh wide open.

So the world of A7X cameras has become a world of various adapters, but more choices because of them. But i can see the value of the A-mount for more intensive studio and industrial applications. To Sony's credit, they are tailoring a more complete cadre of camera types to suit the wider photography spectrum. And there has been no quick sell-off of A-mount lenses that might indicate any short term future.
Forum: Canon, Nikon, Sony, and Other Camera Brands 09-23-2016, 10:40 AM  
Impressive new specs of canon mirrorless camera leak - eos m5
Posted By philbaum
Replies: 49
Views: 5,843
That's interesting. As soon as you talk about remote operability via smart phone or the tethering to a computer, then the mirror becomes something one has to work around - taking more effort and cost possibly. The simpler approach is almost always better in the long run.

Of course as Mecrox point out, if you have a warehouse full of mirrored cameras, it might bias one regarding their judgement on which is the better camera type.

Thats the power of free markets, free speech that the more efficient ideas win out - usually and eventually :-) Which is not to say that for the individual, what works best might be what you're used to and know how to operate. Graphite pencils and paint brushes are still being used.
Forum: Canon, Nikon, Sony, and Other Camera Brands 09-23-2016, 12:59 AM  
Impressive new specs of canon mirrorless camera leak - eos m5
Posted By philbaum
Replies: 49
Views: 5,843
I thought it was interesting that 2 of the 3 most recent MF, Pentax, Hasselbad and Fuji, were mirrorless designs. Fuji is kinda of a given, but even Hasselblad went that way. Perhaps with fewer parts, mirrorless cameras can be brought to market quicker, but i dont' know for sure. MF cameras are hardly considered "consumer" cameras which flys in the face of the attitude that mirrorless belongs to non-professional categories only.
Forum: Canon, Nikon, Sony, and Other Camera Brands 09-21-2016, 10:39 PM  
Is the A-mount dead/end of the SLT
Posted By philbaum
Replies: 132
Views: 8,552
Interesting, there is clearly more to this story than we know. They wouldn't be doing this unless there was something in the A-mount system that might be reused in the future - i agree.
Forum: Canon, Nikon, Sony, and Other Camera Brands 09-18-2016, 10:25 AM  
Impressive new specs of canon mirrorless camera leak - eos m5
Posted By philbaum
Replies: 49
Views: 5,843
My normal lenses are smallish, even though they are at least F2. I won't buy heavy f2.8 zoom lenses, just because of your reason. As i said before, if its a heavy lens, say 2 lbs, that i will only use infrequently, then i wouldn't mind it. .
Forum: Canon, Nikon, Sony, and Other Camera Brands 09-15-2016, 11:02 PM  
Impressive new specs of canon mirrorless camera leak - eos m5
Posted By philbaum
Replies: 49
Views: 5,843
Folks complained about Sony building bodies before they had enough lenses but those kind of complaints are good for a mfr to hear. As the lenses got built, the complaining dropped off. Canon should just build the FF mirrorless body if the EOS m-mount is capable of that. And they can provide an Canon adapter to use their EF lenses with the new mirrorless model. And then build a native lens or two :lol:
Forum: Canon, Nikon, Sony, and Other Camera Brands 09-15-2016, 10:49 PM  
Is the A-mount dead/end of the SLT
Posted By philbaum
Replies: 132
Views: 8,552
I've thought that Pentax dropped the K-01 because they were affronted by the K-01 reception. But now I think that it was a smart assessment that the K-01 did not offer the effective way forward. Moving a part of the lens into the body cavity resulted in limitations and was a long-term dead end. Sony's provided the best model for the way forward. You design a mirrorless camera around a new shorter lens mount, then provide a smart adapter to use the legacy lenses. Once in place, the adapter becomes an integral part of the body - no big deal. Long term, folks will move to new native lenses. Life's messy at times - get used to it :)

But i could be wrong and DSLRs will continue forever as the camera of choice for the majority. If you buy a camera for a purpose, and it fulfills that purpose, then the name on the camera body or the type of camera body matters not at all.
Forum: Canon, Nikon, Sony, and Other Camera Brands 09-15-2016, 07:38 AM  
Impressive new specs of canon mirrorless camera leak - eos m5
Posted By philbaum
Replies: 49
Views: 5,843
Thanks for the reference to the InvenSense site. I remembered a Steve Huff video comparison, real world testing, here: The Sony A7II Real World Camera Review. My Camera of the Year 2014. – STEVE HUFF PHOTOS
between the A7II and the A7S. This made quite an impression on me when i saw it in 2014. It seems obvious that Sony is either using the Invensense system or something like it.to stabilize its video from these cameras, and also to stabilize the EVF. As stated on the invensense site, their technology helps camera mfr bring their product to market quicker as it is not sensitive to different sensor sizes. Just plug the chip in and one is good to go :lol:

Now i'm not sure whether Sony has a mechanical system in their camera or the electronic. If its just a moving crop, then they wouldn't be able to produce a consistent full-size frame.

Wow, that Smart Deblur software is amazing.
Forum: Canon, Nikon, Sony, and Other Camera Brands 09-14-2016, 02:54 PM  
Is the A-mount dead/end of the SLT
Posted By philbaum
Replies: 132
Views: 8,552
I don't know either, but i'm willing to bet that on-sensor design focus imposes some limitations that aren't there for DSLRs. For example, i find it strange that Sony didn't incorporate cross focusing points in the sensor. If you're in landscape orientation, you'd better find some vertically oriented features or the camera will have a difficult time focusing. Or if you turn your camera into portrait mode, now you need some horizontal features to focus on. For a $3200 camera, one would think they could afford some cross focusing points, UNLESS, the design limitation was there that made it very difficult. There's more to this whole design story than we know - thats for sure.
Forum: Canon, Nikon, Sony, and Other Camera Brands 09-13-2016, 06:39 PM  
Impressive new specs of canon mirrorless camera leak - eos m5
Posted By philbaum
Replies: 49
Views: 5,843
I've just bought my first Canon lens, the EF 85 f1.8 USM for use on a A7rII. Its price of $369 is small compared to Sony's high prices. Focusing is quick and accurate in either AFs or AFc. Tracking function isn't available on my MC-11 adapter but i'm drooling at the possibility of having access to other Canon FF lenses. The lens provides incredibly sharp images at F4 and f5.6, but edges get wonky at f1.8. But i finally figured out i don't need sharp edges for my moody type of twilight pictures wide open.

Its ironic that Canon isn't taking mirrorless advantage of their FF lenses, but several Sony A7X owners are - at least they are writing a lot about them - even have databases of which Canon lenses are the best with the metabones and/or Sigma adapters. Maybe this aps M5 camera is a way of testing their product for a subsequent full frame mirrorless. At this point i don't care. The adapters are good enough now that I'd be fine with either a Sony FF or some hypothetical Canon mirrorless FF model as my single new and future Canon glass will fit either.
Forum: Canon, Nikon, Sony, and Other Camera Brands 08-27-2016, 10:26 PM  
Is the A-mount dead/end of the SLT
Posted By philbaum
Replies: 132
Views: 8,552
To some extent you're right, you can have focus shift with DSLRs. What's different is that the focus sensor on DSLRs is not on the main sensor as it is with mirrorless. And i'll bet that makes a difference as to the size of the focus sensors on mirrorless.. These are still early days for mirrorless design compared to DSLRs.

I don't think even the DSLR makers know exactly where the photography market will be 10 years from now. Today's DSLRs and MILC may both be dead - i hope not but there hasn't been a lot of accurate predictors lately.
Forum: Canon, Nikon, Sony, and Other Camera Brands 08-25-2016, 04:59 PM  
Is the A-mount dead/end of the SLT
Posted By philbaum
Replies: 132
Views: 8,552
Yep, i think thats the root of the problem. One doesn't have some percentage of light being diverted by the mirror in a DSLR, but on the other hand, the size of the AF sensor area is limited by what can be "stolen" from the mirrorless image sensor. Maybe future mirrorless designers will find a way to overcome the difficulty.
Forum: Canon, Nikon, Sony, and Other Camera Brands 08-25-2016, 12:56 PM  
Is the A-mount dead/end of the SLT
Posted By philbaum
Replies: 132
Views: 8,552
The Hassy sounds a bit more sophisticated than the Sony at this point. I think (may vary between exposure modes) Sony has two configurations - Setting Effects Off (maximum visibility, wide open) and Shutting Effects On (truest reflection of what will become the actual picture with DOF, etc. - but details in shadows are often hard to see for framing purposes). I mostly have Setting Effects Off for framing reasons, then i push a customized button which gives me "setting effects on" to see what the actual shot will look like.

Really sounds like DSLRs and mirrorless both try to solve the focus shift phenomena, but in different ways depending on when they were designed and the goals of the designing team.

I get the feeling that we haven't seen anything yet as far as radical changes of photography equipment. Companies seem to have trouble bringing new ideas to market - but the "dam" will break at some point :)
Forum: Canon, Nikon, Sony, and Other Camera Brands 08-24-2016, 09:07 AM  
Is the A-mount dead/end of the SLT
Posted By philbaum
Replies: 132
Views: 8,552
I'm talking about AF. All mirrorless, i think, need to go to the widest aperture to maximize the light on the sensor, where the focus sensors are located, in low light situations that is. I often chase fog in the evening or early morning when it develops. Focus peaking often doesn't work if there's no light reflections to trigger the peaking effect. Flashlights or the cameras own focus assist light can often be the only thing that works.

---------- Post added 08-24-16 at 09:33 AM ----------



Thats an interesting observation. I wonder if Sony couldn't have done a better job with building those adapters. They are machined and fit well enough, by all accounts i've read and by my own use of the LAEA-3. But to give one example, the focus assist light from the camera will not work if an a-mount adapter is used. There's no way to even manually turn it on. Many of the A-mount lenses are still very pricy and with the LAEA4 running at about $350 new. Combine that cost with sometimes pricey a-mount lenses and one asks why. Especially with the metabones and MC-11 adapters out there. Sony has had their adapters on a month long sale before, and they need to do it again, IMO.

Just checking the price of the LAEA4 adapters and found one used at BH for $199. Just scooped it up. Good price. :)
Forum: Canon, Nikon, Sony, and Other Camera Brands 08-21-2016, 02:51 PM  
Is the A-mount dead/end of the SLT
Posted By philbaum
Replies: 132
Views: 8,552
This is the kind of discussion i always like to have with folks who can objectively and dispassionately see both sides of an issue. One thing i've read about the A99 some time back, was that owners could dial in a focus range limiter from the camera body - how clever.

Back to Sony's e-mirrorless, i've come to the conclusion that there are limitations to mirrorless designs, and i don't know whether they can be circumvented in the future or not. The focus shift that happens when you focus with the lens wide open, then stop down to take the shot is a real issue. Mirrorless really need the light to the sensor for best focusing, yet too much focus shift can adversely affect the image. Right now i have my A7x mirrorless set up to have "setting effects off" for best focus in low light conditions. Then i have customized a button to show what the scene is like at the planned aperture. If one is not in a hurry, it works great. So i still enjoy my A7x camera, but wish Sony would open up the app designs to user groups for customization.

I see occasional references to implementing hybrid view finders in DSLRs so one has the best of both design types. Fuji was only able to accomplish this with one camera, so i have doubts that this can effectively be done in a general application. But niche cameras are OK in my mind.

I hope Sony takes the time to hone and appreciate what they h7ave accomplished - a nicely designed camera is a thing of beauty like any fine tool. Thats what great about companies like Canon, NIkon , Pentax, Ricoh and Fuji, they have some sense of the photography culture.
Forum: Canon, Nikon, Sony, and Other Camera Brands 08-20-2016, 03:43 PM  
Is the A-mount dead/end of the SLT
Posted By philbaum
Replies: 132
Views: 8,552
One thing that might be undercutting A-mount more in the futue is the continued refinement of the Metabone EF to E adapter. The team behind that adapter is very responsive to improving it such that if you buy that adapter, one has access to lots of reasonably priced Canon lenses. While some of the recent A-mount lenses are still high priced. E.g. the 70-400 GII lens is over $2K i believe. With the $300 LAEA4 adapter - thats a fair amount of money.
Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion 08-16-2016, 03:31 PM  
Why third party lens companies are running away?
Posted By philbaum
Replies: 124
Views: 10,697
Third party "support" for Sony is complex to say the least. Tamron is actually making some of the Sony lenses per this quote off the Tamron website:

From consumer products such as photographic lenses in a wide assortment of focal lengths for full-frame and APS-C digital SLR (DSLR) cameras and Sony mirrorless interchangeable lens cameras,

So it doesn't make any sense for Tamron to compete against their own lenses.

There are metabones, a-mount, and sigma adapters to convert various lenses to FE mount. But you lose various Sony features when you do that. So there isn't any financial incentive for Sigma to build lenses for the FE mount other than support their MC11 adapter. A mixed bag of support.
Forum: Canon, Nikon, Sony, and Other Camera Brands 08-12-2016, 01:21 PM  
Canon and Nikon mirrorless full frame for Photokina? Rumour
Posted By philbaum
Replies: 10
Views: 1,715
Photokina 2016 Rumor « NEW CAMERA

I think Canon will do it - but i doubt that nikon will do it - different attitude in the 2 companies.

I've always thought that these larger companies should offer both types, i.e. mirror and mirrorless and let the customers decide.

For almost sure, Sony will have a new A9 for Photokina. There are several Sony owners who think that Sony is leaving their roots of lightweight mirrorless behind. Hopefully not, should be no reason they can't serve both camps.
Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion 08-04-2016, 08:43 AM  
Will Ricoh-Pentax ever create k-mount mirrorless camera?
Posted By philbaum
Replies: 62
Views: 11,055
I usually use a shoulder strap with my Pentax or my Sony. One day, i released my k5 at my side hanging from a key ring connector to my camera and it fell to a wood floor, hitting on the edge of the DA50-135 lens hood. No damage to camera or lens - just the hood. Amazing, and it was a big shock to me :-( Somehow, the larger D-ring had worked its way off the smaller key ring connection. I do wish my Sony had the weather protection of the Pentax designs, the Sonys just don't have any seals that anyone can find, so must resort to these plastic sleeves if it rains. Alas, there are no perfect camera systems, just a series of compromises.

It is an interesting experience to move to a second system and find out how another mfr does it. Some things are better, some are worse.
Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion 08-04-2016, 12:08 AM  
Will Ricoh-Pentax ever create k-mount mirrorless camera?
Posted By philbaum
Replies: 62
Views: 11,055
Just about anyone who wants a mirrorless camera has already left Pentax. There's no chance that they will ever make one at this point, except for their Q lineup which is too small for me. As has been pointed out by others, you should buy into a system for the existing equipment they have for sale, not something that is projected, speculated on, or is wished on.

As for the claim that Pentax cameras are more durable than Sony cameras, not convinced that is true. None of my Nex 5n, 6 or A7r2 cameras ever had to be sent back to the vendor for repairs. But my K3 had to be sent back to precision repair to fix the run-on shutter problem. Had my mirrorless FF Sony for 8 months so far and love it.
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