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Why use MF lenses other than Pentax or Nikon?
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PostPosted: Sun Dec 23, 2012 10:51 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
philslizzy wrote:
Your set up is great but I think with all that paraphernalia attached to your camera, you could be using a DSLR. The point of (as I understand it) these mirrorless cameras is size and convenience. Having said that however... I expect I'd be buying a hood and making some sort of bracket. It's what I do!!

Remember the latest firmware (at least for the NEX-7) includes an option to disable the video button. This has been a huge improvement for me.

Quote:
Oh. Lloydy that monopod holder is fantastic. You are an inspiration. I'm gonna make one tomorrow!!

I think I will too, but after Christmas! Smile

Quote:
Y'know this is an ace forum!!

+1


PostPosted: Sun Dec 23, 2012 11:43 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
philslizzy wrote:
This has been an interesting discussion. I am considering getting a NEX as this has been recommended by several members. Dave (Lloydy) makes a good point about using this type of camera. I have absorbed all your comments and intend to purchase one in the new year. I must sell a few things first though!

Woodrim, please don't read this a criticism, this is the first thing that popped into my mind when i saw your photos.

Your set up is great but I think with all that paraphernalia attached to your camera, you could be using a DSLR. The point of (as I understand it) these mirrorless cameras is size and convenience. Having said that however... I expect I'd be buying a hood and making some sort of bracket. It's what I do!!

Oh. Lloydy that monopod holder is fantastic. You are an inspiration. I'm gonna make one tomorrow!!

Y'know this is an ace forum!!


You are correct that the original market intent was to introduce a much smaller camera for those who wanted to be able to carry it easily, yet were still serious enough about photography that they would appreciate interchangeable lenses. I don't think Sony ever expected it to take off the way it did as a tool for MF lens use. I do have a DSLR, but the attraction of the NEX is not size for me, as I explained, it is the short register which allows use of virtually any and all MF lenses. Honestly, if there was a DSLR better suited for MF lens usage, I'd want it. However, other than not liking the size, the NEX-5N seems a wonderful camera for these MF lenses. I would prefer an optical viewfinder, but the focus aids are only possible with EVF, and that benefit alone is enough to make me happy. Essentially all that we do is outside the intended purpose for these modern cameras. Sony might have considered a larger camera body had they known people would be using them with big and heavy lenses. Please explain "It's what I do!!".


PostPosted: Sun Dec 23, 2012 11:53 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
peterqd wrote:
philslizzy wrote:
Your set up is great but I think with all that paraphernalia attached to your camera, you could be using a DSLR. The point of (as I understand it) these mirrorless cameras is size and convenience. Having said that however... I expect I'd be buying a hood and making some sort of bracket. It's what I do!!

Remember the latest firmware (at least for the NEX-7) includes an option to disable the video button. This has been a huge improvement for me.

Quote:
Oh. Lloydy that monopod holder is fantastic. You are an inspiration. I'm gonna make one tomorrow!!

I think I will too, but after Christmas! Smile

Quote:
Y'know this is an ace forum!!

+1


I'm not sure if I can run to a Nex 7, I'm probably looking at a used body of some sort, I saw a Nex3 (I think) in Manchester for £100. Is that worth it?


PostPosted: Sun Dec 23, 2012 11:56 pm    Post subject: Re: Why use MF lenses other than Pentax or Nikon? Reply with quote
hifisapi wrote:
While I have been thinking about picking up a NEX-5n to use multiple brand lenses, it really bothers me not being
able to use benefits of DSLRs. At least with Pentax and Nikon lenses you can buy brand new DSLRs that maintain
most if not all of the features of their legacy MF lenses. With other brands of lenses, like Minolta MD, Canon FD, etc,
you are stuck with very little features and only on mirrorless bodies. That seems like too much to give up to me.
To those using those other brands and on mirrorless bodies, what benefits do you get that make up for what you
lose to make the endeavor worth while?




I used to use Pentax with M42 and Pentax K lenses and was very happy with it, A mode or M mode + green button, decent viewfinder. I much like Pentax ergonomics, specially of the smaller bodies, and found compatibility for shooting manual lenses "good".
Now I use NEX and it practically exposes any lens "as if" it was a dedicated manual lens that communicates the aperture to the camera.
That's a neat advantage, there are many other obvious more, if one likes that, small size, little weight, that any lens goes with amazing aids for manual focusing, the auto exposure. For me personally it was the articulating viewfinder, which I loved on my Konica Minolta A2, that made me jump on the NEX5N.

hifisapi you are referring to the benefits of the dSLR, and that "going mirrorless could be "too much to give up".
For me it's the other way around and the NEX the camera that has more benefits.


PostPosted: Mon Dec 24, 2012 8:20 am    Post subject: How about the K01 Reply with quote
Anyone here using a K01? How does it compare to the new when it comes to use of manual glass? It too has focus peaking. Is that any good?


PostPosted: Mon Dec 24, 2012 1:28 pm    Post subject: Re: How about the K01 Reply with quote
ariban wrote:
Anyone here using a K01? How does it compare to the new when it comes to use of manual glass? It too has focus peaking. Is that any good?


one cannot choose different peaking colors as on a NEX but from what I read I'd think that focus peaking on K-01 works about as well as on a NEX, e.g. see this comparison of focus peaking on K-01 and NEX3 incl. videos showing focus peaking on each camera in action: http://steevemarcoux2.com/2012/04/07/peaking-feature-k-01-vs-nex-3/
or: http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/thread/3338709


PostPosted: Mon Dec 24, 2012 2:27 pm    Post subject: @kuan Reply with quote
Thanks. That was quite useful indeed.


PostPosted: Mon Dec 24, 2012 7:02 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
@Kuuan,

One of my colleagues has a Nex 7 and can choose focus peaking colors of red, white, and yellow. I'm not a Nex expert, so I don't know if that's new on the 7 or not.


PostPosted: Mon Dec 24, 2012 7:22 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
David wrote:
@Kuuan,

One of my colleagues has a Nex 7 and can choose focus peaking colors of red, white, and yellow. I'm not a Nex expert, so I don't know if that's new on the 7 or not.


It's not, it's available on the 5N as well.


PostPosted: Mon Dec 24, 2012 9:08 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
Arijit: This pretty much repeats some of what I have already said, but I think it is an important distinction: Focus peaking is good for getting you close, or within the depth of field, but does not help that much for precise focus. The focus zoom feature is fabulous for getting it precise, even with my poor eyes. However, I do use peaking when trying to capture something like a bird inflight. There is no time for the focus zoom and impossible to track to bird with it, so I look for the peaking as an indication and then it's still a percentage shot., but I do get lucky. Sometimes I'll just wait for them to fly into the peaking field...



PostPosted: Mon Dec 24, 2012 9:18 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
I found that only the COMBINATION of focus peaking AND zooming in does it for me. I'd nail almost 100% of my shots using this combination. Focus peaking alone on the full frame is not precise enough and zooming in without focus peaking also does not work so well for me. Thomas


PostPosted: Tue Dec 25, 2012 1:27 am    Post subject: Woodrim Reply with quote
Thank you so much. Going by this sample shot, it worked as good as the best AF anywhere.

Practice and adopting those steps that work for you is the way I guess. The advantage of zooming to focus seems indeed more important than peaking alone.


PostPosted: Tue Dec 25, 2012 8:37 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
David wrote:
@Kuuan,

One of my colleagues has a Nex 7 and can choose focus peaking colors of red, white, and yellow. I'm not a Nex expert, so I don't know if that's new on the 7 or not.


And the NEX-3, at least on the latest Firmware.


PostPosted: Tue Dec 25, 2012 8:59 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
NewStuff wrote:
David wrote:
@Kuuan,

One of my colleagues has a Nex 7 and can choose focus peaking colors of red, white, and yellow. I'm not a Nex expert, so I don't know if that's new on the 7 or not.


And the NEX-3, at least on the latest Firmware.

Does this firmware include disabling the video button on the 3?


PostPosted: Tue Dec 25, 2012 9:43 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
peterqd wrote:
NewStuff wrote:
David wrote:
@Kuuan,

One of my colleagues has a Nex 7 and can choose focus peaking colors of red, white, and yellow. I'm not a Nex expert, so I don't know if that's new on the 7 or not.


And the NEX-3, at least on the latest Firmware.

Does this firmware include disabling the video button on the 3?


I will have a look for You. I've not noticed it, but then, I wasn't looking for it (I do a fair bit of footage using the NEX).


PostPosted: Tue Dec 25, 2012 10:08 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
AFAIK there is still no way to disable video button on 3/5. I guess that's their way to force you to update to later model Smile.


PostPosted: Tue Dec 25, 2012 11:47 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
Thanks, it's only for my info really for advising other people (see earlier in this thread).


PostPosted: Tue Dec 25, 2012 12:39 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
I'll concur. I've just spent 15 mins having a good look through, and nothing seems to relate to disbling/re-purposing that button.

I wonder if anyone has done a CHDK type workaround for it?


PostPosted: Tue Dec 25, 2012 1:08 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
David wrote:
@Kuuan,

One of my colleagues has a Nex 7 and can choose focus peaking colors of red, white, and yellow. I'm not a Nex expert, so I don't know if that's new on the 7 or not.


on all NEX one can choose between 3 different peaking colors, you must have misunderstood, it is the Pentax K-01 which only has one peaking color grey

memento wrote:
I found that only the COMBINATION of focus peaking AND zooming in does it for me. I'd nail almost 100% of my shots using this combination. Focus peaking alone on the full frame is not precise enough and zooming in without focus peaking also does not work so well for me. Thomas


I agree, however consider zooming to be the more important aid, focus peaking usually does but not always helps additionally

NewStuff wrote:
I'll concur. I've just spent 15 mins having a good look through, and nothing seems to relate to disbling/re-purposing that button.

I wonder if anyone has done a CHDK type workaround for it?


various methods have been presented, shown on the NEX7 the same work arounds are doable on any other NEX, e.g.:
http://www.luminous-landscape.com/reviews/cameras/the_sony_nex_7_redneck_edition.shtml
http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/thread/3176192


PostPosted: Tue Dec 25, 2012 4:26 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
kuuan wrote:
various methods have been presented, shown on the NEX7 the same work arounds are doable on any other NEX, e.g.:
http://www.luminous-landscape.com/reviews/cameras/the_sony_nex_7_redneck_edition.shtml
http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/thread/3176192


The first solution seems so obvious once seen - I'll probably do that too, but my use of a handle has reduced the accidental engagement of video to a rare occasion. The second solution is just brilliant.
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