abc123brian
Well-known member
Thanks. I’m sure that zone helped, but still great to see it didn’t get distracted.
Nikon z9 vs Sony A1---Which one
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Its on the lenes after all.
arcticfocus
Member
Sony’s auto area is called “Wide” and in the photo you’re talking about, Wide would have easily picked up on that bird's eye and tracked it throughout the frame. Zone or an even smaller AF area wouldn’t have helped in this case for initial lock or tracking afterwards.
fcotterill
Well-known member
This is a useful website for those who need to compare cameras and lenses across brands. This is one of the 3 sites I have relied for reliable and honest reviews of Nikon lenses before investing large sums
photographylife.com
Nikon Z9 vs Sony A1
Now that Nikon's Z9 has launched into the mirrorless world, the biggest question is how it stacks up against the competition. And while it's a seriously impressive camera, the same can be said about other cameras on the market today. Perhaps the biggest competitor to the Nikon Z9 is the Sony A1.
photographylife.com
It depends on what you want. The A1 is available today and the Z9 in a bit. Spec wise the two are pretty comparable, the Z has built in grip and is cheaper. Both shoot full res at 20 FPS and both go to 30 with limitations and the Z does 120 with limitations…but many folk here and elsewhere have said that 20 is plenty almost all the time and no IQ lost there. What are you shooting now also is important…if you’re already invested in one or the other…there’s something to be said for using what you know. Go to the store and pick them up and play with controls…I dont like the more angular Sony ergonomics.
Menu system is different…so if you switch there’s a learning curve…and if you carry both bodies then that means lens incompatibility as well as the “this one works differently” issue…I’m barely able to remember the differences between my Z7II and D7500 and tossing a completely different system in as well would kill productivity and muscle memory for me…but some don’t have that issue.
Given the Z being essentially equivalent to the A1 at this point…with numerous long term beta use videos available…I would stick with what you know unless there is a must have feature in the other brand.
In India the price difference between Sony A1 & Z9 is only 350 $ at curent prices.
www.gizchina.com
Nikon Z9 Professional Camera Launched In India With A Steep Price Tag
Nikon Z9 professional camera has been launched in India with an array of awe-inspiring features, and a steep price tag.
www.gizchina.com
RugglesZ9
Member
If you need a camera in the next 6 months, you choice between these two is going to be limited because of the massive amount of pre-orders for the Z9 ahead of you [unless you pre-ordered really early, or get really lucky to find a small store that gets one in, or have a strong, existing relationship with one]. I have no idea what the delay is on a A1, if any.
A couple of years ago, I bought a couple of Sony's [a6000 and a6500] for something convenient to shoot construction of a house. Never warmed to them. Didn't like the ergonomics or menus, and they sit unused: Your experience may be different. If both were sitting on a counter today, ready to buy, I'd buy the Nikon because it fits me.
Personally, at present I'd buy a used z7 and lenses I want until my number comes up on a z9 - keep the z7 for a backup thereafter. [I do little BIF] That's what I'm doing.
That is one reason to “audition” cameras. Several years ago I was shopping for a “vacation” camera. I looked at cameras from Nikon, Sony, and a couple of other brands. I didn’t much care for the user interfaces in the Sony and other-brand cameras. I easily figured out how to use the Nikon, so I went with the Nikon.
It seems that Sony has really improved the user interface in its cameras. You seem to really like your a1 - probably, to some extent, because of that. Nikon apparently did an overhaul of the menu system for the Z9. So, Z9 users will undoubtedly like their cameras.
I still think it is a good idea to try out a camera before buying it. That said, it appears that buyers have a lot of good cameras to choose from thesedays.
uday592
Active member
Can you please elaborate on the AF of Sony a1 being difficult to use
As others have already written, the answer depends upon your personal preference, and what you shoot. Both systems are excellent, and either likely will work well for you.
If I were on the fence about which system to invest in, I'd head straight to my local camera shop and try both (although you may need to wait a month or two to try the Z9). Which one feels best in your hand? Which one seems most responsive? Which AF seems fastest and most accurate to you? I wouldn't even think of buying a new car without first test driving it, and the same is true for cameras. My local shop recently had a Sony demo day, and I enjoyed using the Sony a1 for 30 minutes or so, and was quite impressed with what it could do. But, to me, it just didn't "feel" right ergonomically, and I didn't care of its comparatively light weight. But that's just me - obviously, many others are very happy with the a1. Personally, I like the heft of the Z9, and of course what seem to be amazing capabilities. I can't wait to try it out at my local shop with my existing F-mount lenses. Then, I'll know for sure whether or not I'll buy one.
I wish you the very best of luck in your deliberations, and with your ultimate decision. I know you'll make the right one for yourself.
And in addition to Photography Life, the other two are? Thom Hogan and Brad Hill? Others?
uday592
Active member
Waiting for your test results
I agree, rent before buying is a good thought. Especially if a shop will allow you to put some or all of the rental to the purchase of the same type camera. Just these questions and, a little more thought on the topic, I've cooled my jets off from running out and pre-ordering. I'll wait until some real world reviews are out and maybe a couple friends who are NPS members will have received theirs by then.
Honestly, the more I consider it the more I realize a flagship camera is a "want" not a "need" for me. There will be a day when a new camera is a "need" if my D500 bites the dust. But until that time, balancing "want" vs. "need" will need to be something I need to keep in mind.
Jeff
fcotterill
Well-known member
Hi Bill, responses follow 
......
Yes to both I found Thom Hogan's Recommended Lenses insightful and accurate. When evaluating a lens it pays off to spend some time scrolling the beautiful collections of images in the dedicated lens threads on FM.
I found Thom Hogan's list of Recommended Lenses insightful and accurate.
When evaluating a lens it also pays off to spend some time scrolling the beautiful collections of images in the dedicated lens threads on FM. Ultimately, one only knows after personal testing and more, but this is not feasible for many of us.
For wildlife, Steve Perry, obviously and Brad Hill. Their images speak loudly
Overhaul, no site beats Photography Life
IME over past 6+ years
Ming Thein is another insightful photographer, who shoots across systems. But he has closed his blog, and did not cover telephotos much. His is still a valuable archive, nonetheless.
Roger Cicala and his team at Lens Rentals are unique eg not least, because their testing follows is utterly unique - they the Science 101 axiom of testing multiple copies of a lens eg their comparisons of fast 400 telephotos and 70-200's and most recently the 120-300 f2.8E SR Nikkor. They demonstrate this beats the excellent 300 f2.8G
Ming Thein is another insightful photographer, who shoots across systems. But he has closed his blog, and did not cover telephotos much. It still a valuable archive, nonetheless.
The German site Optical Limits is honest. Bjorn Rørslett is solid also, but restricted to the older "Classic" Nikkor lenses. I have many blogs bookmarked and databased for specific lenses, such as the 58 f1.4G Nikkor, - the Neo-Noct; because it was controversial as many did not invest in optimizing its performance. And it is expensive, and then it took me some months to find a Used copy in London. The NeoNoct is one my most valuable primes and a legendary Nikkor designed by Haruo Sato. This review swung me!
https://50lux.com/2018/05/30/the-af-s-nikkor-58mm-f-1-4g-review-a-look-inside-my-photographic-heart/
And the collation of links etc on this page of the dedicated FM Thread. One has to sift out the nuggets in all the noise on forums eg this dpr discussion comparing bokeh with this interesting comparison of lab test results by Marianne Oelund:
......Yes to both
I found Thom Hogan's Recommended Lenses insightful and accurate. When evaluating a lens it pays off to spend some time scrolling the beautiful collections of images in the dedicated lens threads on FM.I found Thom Hogan's list of Recommended Lenses insightful and accurate.
When evaluating a lens it also pays off to spend some time scrolling the beautiful collections of images in the dedicated lens threads on FM. Ultimately, one only knows after personal testing and more, but this is not feasible for many of us.
For wildlife, Steve Perry, obviously and Brad Hill. Their images speak loudly
Overhaul, no site beats Photography Life
Ming Thein is another insightful photographer, who shoots across systems. But he has closed his blog, and did not cover telephotos much. His is still a valuable archive, nonetheless.
Roger Cicala and his team at Lens Rentals are unique eg not least, because their testing follows is utterly unique - they the Science 101 axiom of testing multiple copies of a lens eg their comparisons of fast 400 telephotos and 70-200's and most recently the 120-300 f2.8E SR Nikkor. They demonstrate this beats the excellent 300 f2.8G
A chap by name of Steve Perry, obviously
Ming Thein is another insightful photographer, who shoots across systems. But he has closed his blog, and did not cover telephotos much. It still a valuable archive, nonetheless.The German site Optical Limits is honest. Bjorn Rørslett is solid also, but restricted to the older "Classic" Nikkor lenses. I have many blogs bookmarked and databased for specific lenses, such as the 58 f1.4G Nikkor, - the Neo-Noct; because it was controversial as many did not invest in optimizing its performance. And it is expensive, and then it took me some months to find a Used copy in London. The NeoNoct is one my most valuable primes and a legendary Nikkor designed by Haruo Sato. This review swung me!
https://50lux.com/2018/05/30/the-af-s-nikkor-58mm-f-1-4g-review-a-look-inside-my-photographic-heart/
And the collation of links etc on this page of the dedicated FM Thread. One has to sift out the nuggets in all the noise on forums eg this dpr discussion comparing bokeh with this interesting comparison of lab test results by Marianne Oelund:
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uday592
Active member
So how is the autofocus of sony 200-600mm at the 600mm end as it is f6.3.
geoawelch
Active member
Bird eye, once selected, works in all the AF modes. In this case it picked up on the eye instantly.
Cheers
George
nothing about the camera to add but did want to say that harrier is a great shot. she's a pretty girl for sure.It's not horrible. A quick shot this morning.
Sony ILCE-1
FE 200-600mm F5.6-6.3 G OSS
ƒ/6.3, 1/3200, ISO 640, 600mm
This Black-crowned Night-Heron was about 250 feet away. Not the most visually striking image but I was amazed that the A1 detected the eye and never let go with the sparkling rapids dominating the background.
click +
LCE-1
FE 200-600mm F5.6-6.3 G OSS
ƒ/6.3, 1/800, ISO100, 600mm
There is a certain amount of luck having harriers come close, but there was no luck in grabbing that shot. Nobody's that lucky. Well done!Thanks, got lucky she chose to give us a look this morning.
Nothing wrong with it at all, AF is even fine with TCs. A couple of flickr albums below for reference but there are much better examples in these forums then my stuff
200-600 Album: https://www.flickr.com/photos/johnw_trishw/albums/72157714885838898
200-600 with the 1.4x TC Album: https://www.flickr.com/photos/johnw_trishw/albums/72157714885838888/page1
200-600 with the 2x TC Album: https://www.flickr.com/photos/johnw_trishw/albums/72157717933365508
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The point is that Sony is an electronics company. That's their DNA. It's to their credit that they stayed primarily focused on their core business and have picked there battles while leveraging partners to fill in the blanks. Look at them now. Producing some awesome lenses. They married into it and now it's worked its way into their DNA.
On the other hand, look at the quality issues Nikon has had with some of their camera bodies. They have awesome engineering resources but keep stubbing their toes with the electronics manufacturing. You rarely see them having QC issues associated with lenses. DNA...
Thanks. Steve, of course. I’m here on this excellent forum and have all his books, so did not mean to exclude Him.Hi Bill, responses follow
Yes to both
A chap by name of Steve Perry, obviously
The German site Optical Limits is honest. Bjorn Rørslett is solid also, but restricted to the older "Classic" Nikkor lenses. I have many blogs bookmarked and databased for specific lenses, such as the 58 f1.4G Nikkor, - the Neo-Noct; because it was controversial as many did not invest in optimizing its performance. And it is expensive, and then it took me some months to find a Used copy in London. The NeoNoct is one my most valuable primes and a legendary Nikkor designed by Haruo Sato. This review swung me!
https://50lux.com/2018/05/30/the-af-s-nikkor-58mm-f-1-4g-review-a-look-inside-my-photographic-heart/
And the collation of links etc on this page of the dedicated FM Thread. One has to sift out the nuggets in all the noise on forums eg this dpr discussion comparing bokeh with this interesting comparison of lab test results by Marianne Oelund:
View attachment 26737
uday592
Active member
Surprised at flight shot with 2xtc as the f stop drops to 12. So is mirrorless faster to autofocus than DSLR as later will not autofocus at f12.
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From what I've read the A9/A9II can AF to F16 and the A1 all the way down to F22. Not sure about other bodies
Mirrorless cameras are not limited to the f/8 limitation of DSLRs because they do on-sensor hybrid Phase + Contrast AF detection vs bouncing some of the light off a mirror to a dedicated AF sensor. They are definitely more accurate than DSLRs and rarely if ever need focus fine tuning but only the top MILC models like the A1, A9 II, R3 or Z9 are generally 'faster' to auto focus than DSLRs.