I was one of those displeased with the original video mostly because I truly respect your content being presented as an industry professional focused on education versus the “influencer” creators. As a user of the A7RIV and A7RV, it was clear to me that you did not have all the information in the original video which is unlike what I’m accustomed to on your channel. This updated video to clear things up with better information only confirms why I respect you and your content, well done!
Hi Glyn! Been following your channel for some time now, and this is so refreshing. Nothing other than respect for you to admit a mistake and then make yet another video showing how the mistake was corrected. Been learning a lot from your tutorials (more of a portrait photographer myself as well), and hope you keep up all the awesome work you do! Cheers, Peter
Glyn...as usual a smartly produced video and further proof why you are good at what you do and a nice bloke. I did comment on the former video although it was mainly to point out that as a long time Canon user I would need some persuading to spend £4000 on a Sony. Frankly you would have been the only person likely to persuade me assuming of course that your review was so positive that I'd be a fool not to give it a go. To be honest, I'm still not convinced because it does seem such a huge faff to make the appropriate settings adjustments. It seems that you are required to have taken a degree in Sony Image Technology and Software Design, and eaten the User manual in order to understand how to drill through the menus and sub menus. It certainly doesn't look like its something that you could do (or remember to do) on the fly when out on location. I'm assuming that if you then went on to something else ( like photographing a landscape whilst out and about) you'd need to dial in lots of resettings. The whole idea of the in camera AI is a bit mindboggling and I wonder if its best to see how further iterations of the technology pan out (pardon the pun), especially if the clever folk at Canon plat with it for us mere mortals. Anyhoo, do you have any observations on Canon R5 versus R7 because there seems to be a school of thought that the cheaper R7 has enough going for it that means its difficult to justify the additional expense of the R5 (assuming the same decent Canon lenses of course)
Great update. Mark Smith Photography is a great channel to follow for BIF settings/tips and tricks. Im excited to see what the new AI chip will do in the upcoming a9 update.
I wonder if the 100% focus point coverage, combined with the reduced megapixels results in a stacking benefit to the sensor latency. I've heard that the "sensor is too slow to keep up with high speed birds" sort of thing, as an explanation for why shots are being taken on allegedly in-focus birds-in-flight and coming out blurry, from photographers who would know enough to increase the shutter speed.
Very helpful. Just bought camera, swapping from canon, and today was my first day out with it. I had same issue with a surprising amount of missed focus. Followed your advice and it helped. So many settings to adjust, and new muscle memory to form, and a strange menu system, but the pictures were great.. very pleasantly surprised by higher iso performance with less noose than I feared.
I’ve just sold all my Fuji gear and am considering this camera. I shoot macro and wildlife, but not really birds in flight more like birds that are stationary. So far I am leaning towards this and a 200-600 lens to get started
@ads3453 I can't comment on macro.. I bought the 100-400 gm (mainly due to size and weight), I did have sigma 150-600 but although it was good, I found the size and weight made me think twice before I got it out, I find thec100 -400 at zoos is easier to carry and less conspicuous. If you get an a7rv then crop mode makes a huge difference and was a game changer for me. The new denoise feature in lightroom also helps.
I shot a few birds recently (which i don't normally do) using Mark Galer's specific Camset settings. The camera is fantastic, a beast.. more camera than i'll ever need as a casual hobby shooter 😅
Thanks for the update. I went from the A7Riv to the A7Rv mostly because of the volume of smaller improvements, the AI focusing is a bonus. Things like the articulating and flip rear screen, lossless compressed raw, option for medium raws, focus bracketing, improved IBIS, display resolution, still/video/S&Q switch, bulb timer, better menu layout, touch menus, ultrasonic cleaning of the sensor, more reliable connection with the phone app (though still room for more improvement), exposure compensation dial is more flexible, potentially better weather sealing, pixel shift motion compensation (still room for lots of improvement and I want it in camera like Olympus does), better USB C 3.2, faster WiFi, faster in camera charging, CF Express card support (would have preferred type B), and faster image processor. BTW did you test the scenario again with the person stationary and the bird on his outstretched arm. Last time you found it focused on him not the bird despite being in bird subject mode.
I feel like this is part of Sony's fault though too. Some of these settings should be set up by default. One setting that nobody talks about is the ability to map one of your focus buttons to always track the subject regardless of where you're focus point is. This is super helpful for portrait and I could see it being helpful for animal as well. It means you could keep it on medium spot, and not need to switch to zone because it'll essentially act like zone cuz it doesn't matter where your focus point is.
@@loganbeach you go to the dial customization menu, And then when you choose a button, like the AF on button. You choose subject recognition I think is what it's called.
I have no doubt I would enjoy shooting Sony cameras. But as a Nikon shooter, we always here how good Sony is. But then there are all these basics Sony is only upgrading to now. I guess it doesn’t which camera ecosystem we are a part of, none of them are perfect, but all of them are pretty good.
Thanks for the great tips! I do a ton of bird photography and have just received my new A7R v. I have set up my camera and Sony 200-600 lens as per your suggested settings. What an amazing camera. Best from Charleston, SC, USA.
It can be very tempting to try something completely new BUT it’s also a HUGE investment. I wouldn’t be ‘given’ the kit as some might think. A discount yes, but certainly not given, so it’s still a BIG expense. I have my own thoughts about where all the technology is going and where photography is leading. It excites me BUT I don’t believe it involves DSLR , Mirrorless etc …
@@glyndewis - Thanks, and I can understand that completely. I have been a Canon shooter my entire career. When switching to mirrorless I had the glass already so it wouldn’t make sense to switch platforms. It is an interesting time in technology we are living in and traditional photography as we know it is getting the boundaries expanded at a rapid pace.
Hiya, interesting video. I have watched camera technology change over the fifty years of my photography. The opportunities that modern cameras now offer could not have been dreamed about when I started. But understanding the cameras inside out takes real research and maybe training, how long before camera manufacturers start offer a series of learning modules with the camera’s I wonder. Exciting times 😎
Well Glyn, I t...... so. It takes a great man to admit his mistakes. When you put the tracking sensitivity to "1" (Locked on), instead of going the other direction (responsive), it sticks even more to the bird. In the Bird Eye AF you also have a sub-menu, containing 5 (FIVE) settings, to narrow down how you want that Bird Eye AF to behave. I bet you didn't look at those. But the biggest thing, in my opinion was Sony sending you a not upgraded 200-600, which has had an upgrade especially for enabling it to work with those sub-menu's, the AI -processor and the new Full Time DMF function. This upgrade causes me now to have trouble when using it on the A1 and not missing a shot on the wife's A7R V. I sticked around and I'm glad I did, because I love your work. Keep it up.
Ok the camera did a good job but all those setting/adjustments are a bit over whelming I feel ( wonder how the Canon would have managed ? ) but that's a Sony, menu after menu. Great video though Glyn. 👍
Cheers Warren. TBH though .. the first 5 settings would be the same in every camera, and then there just 2 more ... tracking and sensitivity ... and those settings are also availabnle in Canon to fine tune the result, so ... 🤷♂️ There are definitely times when tyou seem to have to dive deeper and deeper though, I'll admit that for sure.
This is my next camera. I don't really need blazing-fast frames per sec, but I do need to crop. A lot. So the 61mp would be helpful. Thanx for the review.
Would you think that being able to crop while still maintain acceptable amount of megapixels mean you can have more focal range for our lenses? Thus not needing to purchase certain focal length lenses? Sorry about the questions, I just need good reasons to upgrade my camera body and it's an old A7iii. Cheers
Thank you very much Glyn for this excellent and fun review. I am going to buy myself the Sony A7R5 - in about six months when the bugs that invariably afflict a new entry in any field of tech are worked out and someone else had to go through pain of enduring them! Interestingly, I was once a falconer and had a Harris Hawk (which for those who are not raptor (fancy name for a bird of prey) aficionados is a hawk (not falcon) that is native the the United States South West - including Texas etc. It is not as fast as - as a goshawk - but close - and definitely has a wonderful disposition whereas goshawks - American or European are the proverbial handfuls - being skittish as a young girl at her first debutante dance! I also flew a Peregrine - which is the ultimate bird of prey - in my estimation as a former falconer; my brother is still into it so when I get my Sony 7AR5 I will be doing some shooting for him. The pictures you took of the Harris Hawk for your friend are beautiful, and I am sure he was very happy to "help" you with your test! Keep up the good work, because? We inquiring minds want to know! Happy New Year from NYC!
Yea.. this is what I notice too.. When I use cont AF, multi shot high. Af area set to wide... with Shutter Speed of 1/500 and steadyshot on although the green box falls on the human eyes.. sometimes the picture still goes out of focus.. I was so puzzled. Now I just stop using af area wide and use tracking af wide instead.. all other setting keeping the same and I get more shot in perfect focus. Now makes me wonder.. if that's the case.. why and who uses wide af when there is tracking wide af available.
Not a lot of difference. The first 5 settings would be the same in any camera, then just Focus Tracking and Sensitivity, followed by 1 switch on a lens. So, not a lot for a BIG difference.
A lot of settings to setup.. would it be possible to assign one of the 3 custom shooting modes with all these settings? I always tell myself would be cool to have one for long exposures.. birding and landscapes.. but can never figure out how to do it or if it’s possible?
So glad you updated your video, you maybe went off a bit half-cocked on the original one. A lot of folks pay attention to what you have to say, and am pleased you cleared the air
Any upgrade is a question of Need vs Want. Do you Need it or do you just Want it? If you can explain why you Need the upgrade in a way that makes proper sense, then go for it. Until then, save your cash.
Hi Glyn, and a lot of respect for standing up to the situation. As for brand preferences, the only thing I can say is that it always comes down to personal experiences, emotions and comfort zones. The best product in the world is the one that fulfills your needs entirely and makes you happy (in this case the camera body). It reminds me the definition of quality. What is quality? Short answer: the product or service that fully satisfies your expectations. Keep producing your videos, they fulfill my expectations 😉Cheers!
Funny Glen…just ten minutes ago I made the decision to upgrade…and added the 300 2.8 and the 1.4 tele. I’m pretty stoked..I think this combo is going to be awesome. Great video.
Mmmmm I think you know, but you say it wrong in the video ;-) setting to crop mode don't make your lens longer, but yes, it helps with bif fotografie if you need to crop a lot afterwards , and your focus points don't cover the whole censor. They cover your entire vieuw, the whole part of the sensor that is used in cropmode . but i still like your video ;-)
Yeah Peter I know it doesn't make the lens physically longer but the crop factor does extend the range from 600-900mm Re the Focus Points, when in crop mode (because you are theoretically cropping the sensor) the focus points do cover that which is now available and being used ... which is why Sony suggested using it so that the bird will always be covered by a focal point. Glad you like the video
In fact If jour FF canera ony works in APC mode, and even then is not really good, I have the A7R 5, BIF is not good at all!! As i have all my Sony lenses.,i wait for the a1 ii and sell this other “thing “ as quick as possible. 🥶. Sony should inform clients about the PLUS EN MIN POINTS . ‘The customer is not a moron. She's your wife" is a famous quotation attributed to advertising executive David Ogilvy in 1955 and still valid today.
I think there is a massive problem with the latest Cameras, they are so complicated, I recently got back into photography after around 30 years, bought a canon 5d mk4, and to be honest I'm struggling with what settings to use, there are so many options, try different things every time I go out, nearly 70 now so not got a lot of time lol, by the way I carried on using photoshop so have followed you from the start, you are a great photographer and teacher, thanks for your RU-vid channel.
As one of the first people to mention that you got the settings wrong in the first video, I want to thank you for re-doing it and owning your mistake. Good job!
Hi john, what settings would you recommend, took mine out today for the first time and whilst it was great at picking up cars and trains it wouldn't focus on birds and a small dog at all, thanks
Glad that you got there in the end. These cameras do need a period of familiarisation to get the best out of them and that's where good youtube videos help us all out.
I wonder why you'd use a mechanical shutter for that bird in flight situation? What advantage does that have over the electroic shutter in terms of getting the focus right?
The RIV was no where near as fast at tracking subjects or acquisition, looks like the RV is a big step ahead. Hope they push a firmware update for the A1 that can continue improving the subject tracking but it's almost foolproof now with "the right camera settings". I know I had assumed you were using focus tracking in your first review. Glad you reposted with new results
Great Video and i find it really cool that you updated the first video. It's great that you admitted your mistake and stood by it. In the last few years I've gotten the feeling that no one is honest online. So thank you. I recently upgraded my a7RIII to the RV and i love it. So the step is even bigger, compared stepping up from IV to V.
i was going to buy an A1/a9III for local sport but ended up with RV who they said couldnt be used for sport but ive been doing great with it and still seem to get the money shots despite not being 30/120 fps
Ah...never said publically that I'm moving over to Canon. Tempting ... but its' still vert much up in the air and I need to weigh up if the ££££ is worth it 😉
I can't count all the times I've been wrong in my 72 yrs. lol...I never got into shooting birds, but I love the idea of finding someone who trains them. What a great way to enter the genre. Now Glyn, you mentioned he was a friend but do you know how much these trainers charge to go out on a shoot with someone? About the camera, its out of my price range. I'm happy with my Pentax K3 MARK III.
Putting the camera in APS-C mode doesn't just help with the focus points, but also with giving you a faster sensor read-out speed (since it doesn't have to read out the whole sensor).
With the latest prices here in Sweden im Starting to look more and more at this camera or the a7iv When its time for me to go to mirrorless. If Canon wont let sigma etc make lenses with af pretty soon they Will loose me as a customer
Thank you for this insights. Getting those good results from bird photography do you think the RV is also a good choice for dog (in action) photography. I would like to upgrade from my A7III and a camera like the a1 is out of my budget.
Been waiting on proper reviews and tests of this camera instead of the it's amazing you must buy it after a couple of hours of use ones. It's good to see there are a few genuine people out there
Great update, Glyn. I found your channel recently to help with my LR/Photoshop efforts - you have taught me quite a bit already. Saw the original video and wondered from the comments if something had gone awry! As you say, we all make mistakes and it takes confidence and maturity to put your hands up and admit it. I was delighted to see the new video - the A7RV looks amazing - I have the R3 and was looking at the R4, but now might have to reconsider and save up a bit more!! I have more confidence listening to and taking advice from someone who is open and honest and admits a mistake rather than someong who tries to brush it under the carpet and I look forward to more of your content.
That’s where you’re wrong. You DO need to change the settings to lock on and track a subject. Even Canon who loaned me the R5 gave me the settings required. Let’s not exaggerate.
@@glyndewis with all due respect, the only focus/track subject I change in the R5 is between human and animal, plus eye detection. I believe the human with eye detection is "On" by default. Not saying the Sony is a bad camera, just that I don't see a benefit over the R5 at this stage.
Thanks for your update video. I was using expandable spot/continuous focus, and that was highly unsuccessful, but switched over to medium spot/continuous focus tracking and things instantly got better with the bird photography. I tend to use Aperture Priority because of the changing light outdoors, and around ISO 400, which when using the 200-600mm in normal sun daylight generally gives me speeds of around 1/1250-1/2000. I'm hesitant to go up to ISO 2000 due to grain...how are your images shooting at the high of ISO in daylight?
Hi Robert Yeah the Tracking Spot Medium grest for me too when I switched over. Re 2000 ISO the grain is perfectly fine ... a totally useable file but yeah I agree ... always best to be lower if possible as you are.
I would not worry about bumping up that ISO to maintain shutter speed. Ive found shooting up to 5000 ISO and passing your images through Topaz photo AI still give outstanding results. It may well be possible to go even higher but as yet Ive not had the need.
Thank you for this beautiful video. I think the real magic in the settings you make is switching to crop mode. Did you shoot with the same settings without using crop mode? Since it is reduced from 61mp to 26mp, the machine works faster and can record and focus faster. In my opinion, Sony A7R is a nice machine full of V, its only drawback is that it is slow. It definitely had to be able to Shoot 20fps with A7R V AF/AE Tracking.
Glen enjoyed your update. I really like my RV but struggle at times with BIF. Some many opinions on You Tube for settings. Struggled with tracking sensitivity on #4 or 5 as recommended by many have suggested. Switched to #1 as suggested by Mark Galer and seemed to be more consistent. Granted, I don't have Sony 200-600 but Tamron 150-500 which is very sharp but wonder if the misses are lens or me or both. I've also found I'll find I'm getting good results using tracking M or L. then it out of the blue, won't lock on and find myself experimenting again. Not sure if anyone else is seeing this. Thanks
nice video. do you use back button focus in photo ? in video mode, did you try the new "tracking" option we can set to AFON... ? It seems to be able now, with heavy long lens, to use high resolution EVF to track basketball players,... with a flexible spot M.
I am So tempted. Question, does the evf go black between frames in HS shutter? Does it have to finish buffering when you realise the shutter but want to shoot again almost immediately? All problems the make my A7R3 just a third angle video camera. Nobody seems to mention it in their reviews. Thanks Glyn.
1) if it isn’t intuitive then it’s Sonys fault. They should do tutorial videos instead of leaving us to figure it out. I come from Nikon so I have even more learning to do. 2) focus bracket - perhaps Sony thought if their focus is perfect, their users won’t need such a feature. Suppose they gave in to popular request.
This video raises another issue for me - cameras are extremely complicated now. There are so many combinations of settings that it is easy to not have the optimal setup. I also find that Sony are very good at leaving gaps in their software, so I would not have been surprised if there had been issues. The A6400 is still a current model for Sony, yet you cannot track focus with animal eye detect switched on - so basically Sony is saying if you have an APS-C camera from them then you can only take static animals and not moving ones.
hI GLYN very impressive, i have an A7mkii, can you recommend the best settings to use eye focus and is it possible to achieve this when using a remote shutter cntrol?
Great tips, If I could add having the extra switch to separate still, movie, and S&Q settings make a huge difference. When I'm shooting birds in my back garden I also use two or three flashguns setup on light stands directed at the feeders
Recommended to use Mechanical Shutter because as I was outdoors there would be no 'light' issues and also Mechanical Shutter can produce semingly sharper images.
