A900 programming your lenses

[Javelin]

Found this in the A900 specs and looks like it's been missed thus far and I know people were looking for this feature.

thats a biggie for all the focus errors we see. no more screw adjustmens I guess.

Might be why there is a disclaimer now for tamron and sigma lenses maybe not working?

"AF Micro Adjustment- +/- 20 step increments (for up to 30 lenses), Predictive Control, Focus Lock, AF Illuminator (LED type 1-7m Auto on/off selectable)"

[Dr. Harout]

I told you to rely on Sony lenses didn't I?

[Dr. Harout]

Go Sigma!

-Sonolta

Or rephrasing that: Sigma, go to...

Now seriously, Sony made an important step in the market (though I understand nothing from business/marketing), and you might be tempted more to get a Sony lens rather than a 3rd party one. Personally I would consider Sony. But that's just me...

[Dr. Harout]

By the way, Minolta lenses are cheap in the former Soviet republics, cause N & C are used the most.
A couple of weeks ago I bought a Minolta 35-70/3.5-4.5 in good condition for USD 27 and I think it's a good price.
I've tried it and really like it.

[Javelin]

I like my minolta glass. Zeiss will always be out of reach for me (well maybe i'll get one ... one day)

I put together the Micro AF adjustments on the A900 with the new disclaimer I haven't seen beofre and the post from Olaf in the adobe forum that Sonolta pointed us to, and I'm wondering if the tamron and Sigma lenses will work at all if that micro AF can't be turned off or ignored. Acording to that Adobe post the sigma and I imagine the tamron too ROMs are full of random numbers where the lens ID should be. the Disclaimer is an odd thing to pop up and Sony doesn't do things for nothing.

[gedbrogan]

Dr Harout,

You mentioned buying minolta lenses from the eastern bloc. Do you have a web resource for that or any other information that you could share. thanks.

Gerard

[Dr. Harout]

Dr Harout,

You mentioned buying minolta lenses from the eastern bloc. Do you have a web resource for that or any other information that you could share. thanks.

Gerard

Though I have answered Gerard, but I think people might be interested. So here it is:
Nikon and Canon are the major equipment used here, so Minolta product are looked as cheap products (do excuse me). There are no sites as I am aware, but you may find them at open fairs all around ex-Soviet countries. For example the "Vernissage" in Yerevan, open on Saturdays and Sundays only. It's kind of an open fair/market where the majority of items sold pertain to art. If you go to the photographic part/site/location you might have a chance to find Minolta lenses. Last Saturday I saw a Tokina 70-210 and 2 Sigma lenses (don't ask which, cause I'm not interested). You could even see old Leicas, Contax etc. and don't be surprised to find junks too.
If time permits I'll pay a visit this weekend and take a picture to post. Should I ask it in the poll section whether you want to see such a shot?

[OLSKOOL]

Talking about lenses, here is my drama.

I have waited to see what the A900 delivers compared to the A700.
I currently own a basic A100 Camera with the following lenses.

SONY SAL1680Z 16-80mm
SONY SAL70300G 70-300mm
SONY SAL50F14 50mm
and, a
SIGMA EX DC 10-20MM

I thought these were reasonable choices at the time.
Now I am not so sure
I am a serious amateur that takes mostly automotive shots and slowly but surely I have been getting some work published.
I need my images to look good and I am always looking for self improvement.

Do any of these lenses have any dramas working on the A900?
Should I just be happy with the A700?
I live in Australia so the new A900 looks to be about the 4K mark where as the A700 only retails around the 2K mark.

On advice from some of the people here I have decided to buy a handful of the SONY HVLF-58 Flashes over the Metz flash systems.
Just seems smarter, simpler and cheaper

Can somebody please point me in the right direction regarding my lenses, the camera body and what a sensible choice is to make.
It has got me f#cked.

Cheers!

Jordan.

[Javelin]

the 16-80 is a DT lens so you may not get the same range on the A900. seems to me using flashes on cars is going to cause you a lot of grief due to hot spots but I don't have that much experience with them. dark colour cars look better in smooth shade. bright colours cars look best in busy light. but glare is always bad. I suppose you need something to diffuse the flashes. also I had a chance to shoot a few pictures with the CZ 24-70 I think that would be awesome on cars. The A900 should do a really nice job with cars. Lots of those pictures wind up as posters.

[OLSKOOL]

Thanks for your input Javelin.
I would love to upgrade to the CZ 24-70.
I feared that the 16-80 might not cut the mustard like I read.

Forgot to mention that the flashes will be used mostly for for fill to even out the shadows and once I am more comortable I plan on doing some 'strobist' style stuff.

I might post some of my pics up in the gallery soon.
Just nervous because I am only a novice.

[Javelin]

Oh man post away. this place needs a few pics. the stuff I've posted here has been pretty bad, you'll only get constructive comments here. if they haven't pointed and laughed at some of my shots they sure won't do that with yours. Besides if the other more experienced users here see your stuff you will be helped a great deal once they know what your doing.. Posting rules here limit your images to 800px on the long side anything bigger won't allow you to post o0ther than just a link to it. even if there small it's still better to post the image so it displays.

I might post some of my pics up in the gallery soon.
Just nervous because I am only a novice.

[Dr. Harout]

The size limit is 1000px on any side as DK pointed in one of the recent posts.
As for the lenses you have the 70-300 G and 50/1.4 are FF. you still can use 16-80CZ but with the cropped version that the A900 will allow.
For the Sigma lens, you have to ask Sonolta as he knows quite well (personally I dislike Sigma due to its construction, but Sonolta is showing great pictures done with them).

[David Kilpatrick]

I have bad news for you - the DT lenses can not be reliably used with auto metering (exposure) on the A900. Although the AF sensors are clustered into the APS-C frame, the 40-segment matrix metering covers the whole full frame as normal. Paul Genge said that it was recommended to use manual metering only. But - and I forgot to ask him this! - surely spot metering would work fine with the reduced format.

I can confirm that the 50mm f1.4 and the 70-300mm SSM both produce exceptional results on the A900, the only downside being strong distortion on the long end of the 70-300mm SSM. The 70-400mm is much better for straight lines. I also got excellent results from my 28-75mm f2.8 - good enough for me to say, I don't need a 24-70mm CZ to start with. And I got some unexpectedly good sharpness from the 24-105mm D, which has strong distortions. Not one of these lenses (or my 17-35mm D) failed to focus precisely - they all worked perfectly, no adjustment needed.

David

[bossel]

I have bad news for you - the DT lenses can not be reliably used ...

Whaaatt? No scene modes and I can't use my 18-70? That's a deal breaker! (And I don't even ask for smile detection )

Thanks for your continous flow of information, looking forward to hearing more!

Thomas

[Dr. Harout]

Thanks for your continous flow of information, looking forward to hearing more!

Thomas

Yeap, and that goes for me too.
Am a bit shocked for the 70-300 G SSM