Hype …and the new Sony A7R

Sydney July 2013 (3 images)

As I’ve mentioned before, when shooting the street, it pays to be prepared. My lens cap is always off. My camera is always on. Manual focus preset at 3 metres as standard, but adjustable at a moment’s notice. Widest aperture possible for the lighting conditions so the fastest possible shutter speed may be used.

I was walking along and saw this guy with camera in hand, so as if in an old fashioned duel, I walked at him, and took him on. He wasn’t ready, but I was. I got the shot. 🙂

Both of us were walking and I generally try to time my shot to my stride for minimal blur. I was really happy to get this so sharp. I really think that zone focussing is a great technique. And what photographer doesn’t enjoy shooting another photographer. 🙂

If the strap is correct, his camera was the very capable and worthy Fuji x100. But recently there has been another new camera release with an incredible build-up and hype, the Sony A7/R. The first compact, automatic focussing, mirror less camera with a full frame sensor. The A7 with 24MP is better for high iso, flash and candid photography, with fast autofocus (but not as fast as the Olympus OMD series). And the A7R with no low pass filter and 36MP is better for architectural and landscape photography. I’d been following the rumours and was quite impressed when the rumours were confirmed and the specifications released. Not a perfect camera but certainly a landmark camera. I see this as a great companion camera, particularly for my Leica as I can use my Leica lenses on this camera at full frame. And cheaper than a second Leica body. So I succumbed to the hype and pre-ordered it; sight unseen. I couldn’t help myself. I was second on the store’s preorder list and waited a month. And 3 days ago…

Apparently this camera has been so popular, it was sold out in less than a day at the store I went to. And the Leica M adaptors had almost completely sold out as well.

Christmas has come early. 🙂 Now I just need to set it up and find some photography time.