Sony A1 Photography - Amazing, but Overhyped

Рет қаралды 13,339

Күн бұрын

Sony gets a ton of hype for their cameras in the Wildlife Photography industry. I got my hands on the Sony A1 to test out for a few weeks and found myself amazed in the results with two exceptions to the camera. Watch this video to find out what I loved about it and what I wasn't a big fan of!
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Timestamps:
0:00 - Intro
0:49 - Image Stabilization
2:12 - Image Quality/Features
3:20 - Video Quality
3:41 - Autofocus Use Cases
5:26 - AF Examples
7:44 - Build/Button Placement
9:00 - Color Space
9:23 - Amazed and Underwelmed
#wildlifephotography #birdphotography #sonya1

Пікірлер: 60

@JeremyNeipp Жыл бұрын

Hey y’all! I appreciate your feedback as I’ve been getting a lot of “rebuttles” about the AF… I understand I should have done a better job of representing more extensively my AF tests, there is also so much to display that it’s hard for me to always pick what I should be spending time on, but ultimately I tried it in a few different AF modes and still wasn’t finding myself completely satisfied as you see in this review. Yes, I am sure I could learn more about the A1 and focusing better, but the point in my perspective of having a fantastic AF hyped up as much as the A1 was is so that you wouldn’t have to jump through so many hoops, otherwise we are just back to where we started with having to micromanage our autofocusing like we have for years. Someday (not yet) we won’t have to micromanage our AF and we can rely on it in any situation. This Sony A1 wasn’t that solution yet. Again, in more scenarios then I would have preferred, manually focusing with the techniques I’ve developed would have been quicker than having to joystick spot the subject, select the subject to track by pulling back from the viewfinder to look at the LCD screen, or hunt through different focus ranges in order to get the camera in the right spot, so it just wasn’t as good as I’d like. You can agree, or disagree with my statements, but that’s what I believe a “good AF” should be when it’s hyped up as much as it is. And please don’t forget, I did say that it was the best I’ve used, just still not what I’ve hoped for… so no need to get defensive :) Thanks for the consideration!

@KurtisPape Жыл бұрын

Great review mate! I understand boths sides, as you stated in the video you have only used the camera for a few weeks so you couldn't test every scenario and setting but I do understand peoples feedback about your auto-focus examples not mentioning the focus area or if bird eye AF was used. Auto-focus still doesn't quite do everything 'automatically' so there is still a bit of technique to get the bird eye AF to work correctly. I have been considering the Sony A1 if a really good discount appears, but knowing how much camera bodies age and loose value I have realised im best to wait, I think a new lens would serve me much more value compared to a new camera body, hopefully Sony brings out some new telephoto lenses this year, the new sigma lens was promising but my 200-600mm lens is already heavy enough for me.

@sjm.photos Жыл бұрын

Owned the A1 a year now. And its an insane tool for so many types of photography

@Shawns_snapshots Жыл бұрын

Hey Jeremy, you can solve the camera moving onto the foreground by using the correct focus area and tracking settings. If you use something like small spot to lock in the tracking on your subject, with tracking sensitivity set to locked on, it will never move off of the subject onto the foreground. I’d also recommend a SmallRig or RRS grip extension to solve the pinky ergonomics. You can change the way the image in your viewfinder looks by adjusting the settings for Jpeg recording. I’m down to chat if you wanna find out more. Best regards, a happy A1 user.

@JeremyNeipp Жыл бұрын

Thanks for your input Shawn! I did test out a few different AF focus modes and I still didn't get the results I was hoping for always. Like I mentioned, it seemed to still struggle decently with poorly contrasted subjects like the Horned Lark you'll see in this weekends video, and it did struggle with foreground quite a lot, although that is easier to fix with AF modes. However, with wildlife you rarely have the time to cycle through your AF modes quick enough for each shot, so in my opinion, you need one you can stick with and that's relatively reliable through the whole scenario you're shooting in. I was not aware of some of the viewfinder settings, I wish I could see what it would look like with those adjustments and if it would have solved it for me! Appreciate your input.

@johnrobertsonphotography Жыл бұрын

@@JeremyNeipp Great video as usual. However, as Shawn said above, the AF focus modes and sensitivity will solve the issue you mentioned with focus jumping. The AF modes and sensitivity are easy to do on the fly if you put them on custom buttons as I do and never take your eye off the viewfinder. So, you don't need to use one mode and stick with it. Problem solved. If you still have the camera, give it a try and update us. If you need a walkthrough on how to do the settings, let me know.

@JoseHernandez-ir2sm 8 ай бұрын

Spent lots of time using all combinations of AF modes and still does not resolve the issues of focus jump that Jeremy mentioned. Don't get me wrong despite these issues the a1 AF performance is better than the Canon R3 and Nikon Z9...friends using those cameras shooting same subjects together cannot get the # of in-focus images at high f/s rates that I get when all using latest versions of the 400 mm f 2.8 repsctively.@@johnrobertsonphotography

@swarnendu.wildlife 4 ай бұрын

In my extensive two-year tenure with this setup, I have consistently found it to be exemplary, particularly in the realm of birding. My predominant utilization involves employing either a singular focal point or a singular focal point with tracking functionality, both of which have consistently delivered outstanding results.

@jlynpphotography 6 ай бұрын

Hi Jeremy, I've been using this setup since its inception and I find it incredibly accurate. As others have suggested, there are many workarounds regarding your foreground interference. Small spot autofocus is helpful as well as setting AF tracking sensitivity to "locked on". My keeper rate is insane with this camera!

@rodrigomartin-hidalgo1592 Жыл бұрын

While explaining the AF wins or issues, it would also be good to know what settings you were using. Like bird eye AF, wide area, small area etc. Hard to know what you are referring to without having some context.

@JeremyNeipp Жыл бұрын

Good suggestion, I'll try to keep that more in mind for the future.

@ddespair 8 ай бұрын

I solve autofocus issues with the lens button to hold focus. Once I find it I just hold the button and everything’s fine. May be harder on those larger lenses though!

@lancechennault1231 Жыл бұрын

Great Video Jeremy. I use this exact set up and have added the 24-70 G Master and the 70-200 G Master lenses to my collection. I absolutely love this camera, and you are correct, there is some issue with the AF system as I have missed some shots as well. I appreciate your unbiased review of the very system I use and found everything you stated, to be very accurate and real world. Thank you so much

@JeremyNeipp Жыл бұрын

Thanks Lance! I'm honored that you perceived it in that way, I was definitely trying to do the most unbiased review possible. Overall, quite an amazing camera, you must enjoy it quite a lot!

@paulvalerio3887 Жыл бұрын

Hi Jeremy! Who’s setup tutorial did you use for the A1? Most setups employ the dual back button AF, one which is more for tracking and nearest items first and one for flexible spot. If you’re only getting near items first there are other modes that don’t do that. Dual BBAF let’s you pick per scenario.

@mikeyb9819 Жыл бұрын

I quite like the ergonomics of the A1 but, I did buy Really Right Stuff’s BA1 Modular L Plate (a beautiful piece of kit) to connect to my tripod head for Astro photography. More by luck than judgement, I found this improved the ‘feel’ of the camera. I’ve owned the A1 for around 2 years now and simply love it. The 200-600 is my most used lens. Never had issues with AF and often feel like I’m cheating, the results are so good. I used a combination of Mark Smith and Steve Perry to help me set up. I use Manual with auto ISO (a Steve Perry tip) on AF-C for all wildlife and never worry about cranking up the ISO thanks to Topaz

@apkossowski 3 ай бұрын

I think with the upcoming update, this should read amazing and still underrated 😊

@brucegraner5901 Жыл бұрын

Jeremy, I've followed you since your Lumix G9 days and was impressed with this review and your on-camera presentation. I was wondering if you remembered to turn the A1's EVF refresh rate up all the way? Reviewing is hard since it takes time to really get to know today's complex camera systems. Some of my camera manuals now are over 300 pages.

@JeremyNeipp Жыл бұрын

Thanks Bruce! I really appreciate you following me as I’ve grown as a reviewer. I did make sure to do that, the refresh rate was great on it, it was just the overly sharpness of it that I referred to that bothered me, not a huge deal it just wasn’t my favorite. But yes you are right, it can be quite time consuming and it is difficult when I’m only given a few weeks from the company!

@brucegraner5901 Жыл бұрын

@@JeremyNeipp Just a thought. Since your time with these cameras is brief you might approach gear you've never used before as a first impressions review. I found your assessment on the A1 different than a lot of reviews I read, your take on the viewfinder for instance. I'm sure the A1 is probably a great camera but I'm not sure any camera can instantly live up to the hype the A1 has received. A year ago I bought the Lumix G9 after the 2.4 firmware upgrade ( a light kit was a priority) and it took time for me to learn the camera. Given a little bit of direct sunlight it autofocuses with animal detect technology better than most people give it credit for but you need to overlay that feature on the center square focusing mode to get the best out of it. It took a little time to find that out. You also have to nudge the thumb toggle near the viewfinder to wake up bird detect as you acquire the bird but when that becomes muscle memory you have crazy reach if you combine it with the Lumix/Leica 100-400, giving you the 35mm equivalent of an 800mm lens in a lens that weighs about a pound. I think your take as someone coming from a different camera system might make your first impression reviews unique.

@HokKan Жыл бұрын

I tried the A7RV and found similar issues with the AF. OM-1 in my experience has the best overall bird AF performance.

@hmmm6509 3 ай бұрын

So what's the best camera for wildlife photography and for wildlife videography

@SomeonewithaSony Жыл бұрын

The issue with autofocus locking on to foreground objects, etc and not picking up the subject is a problem with all mirrorless cameras, not just Sony. Other popular YT channels have noted this with both canon and Nikon

@livejames9374 Жыл бұрын

Great review. A1 has always been a consistent performer with me. Hopefully Sony brings an update to add features newer lower end model cameras have. However, Z9 exceeds the A1 for video recording specs. It’s modes offer higher quality recording (oversampled), 8k 60 raw, subject detection in video etc.

@JeremyNeipp Жыл бұрын

Agreed! Some firmware updates would be a game changer on the A1. But like you said, already an amazing camera. I’d love to personally get my hands on the Z9 as well, hopefully one day! In my mind, that’s it’s biggest competitor rn.

@livejames9374 Жыл бұрын

@@JeremyNeipp I think you’ll really enjoy the Z9. The 4k 120 w/ 2.3x crop is an amazing video mode for wildlife. And if you can get your hands on their teles, which is a tough task, 600 and 400 with TC / 800pf even the 400 4.5 are all superb.

@AndrewMacdonaldPhotography Жыл бұрын

Great video dude. I think the things you were having issues with would be solved with more use tho. The video mode, you can tap on the back LCD screen to track a subject. I use this all the time and it locks on very well The issues with foreground I rarely had if I am using the small spot tracking option. You can just use the small "joystick" to select where you want the camera to focus and it will lock on, You could also move the camera to lock onto the subject then move back into position with the foreground element. A battery grip or small extension grip will solve the grip issues you had and all the buttons become second nature with more time and you can just configure your own custom menus and buttons to help this too. All in all....I think you should still switch so we can be Sony buddy's haha. Keep up the good work dude

@JeremyNeipp Жыл бұрын

Thanks man! I appreciate your input. I’ve worked with joystick selection and to me that takes too much time, longer than it takes me to MF so for me that defeats the purpose… and in regards to touching LCD screen I never photograph Wildlife without my eye to the viewfinder so that defeats that purpose too. To me, if the AF doesn’t work faster then I can MF, I wouldn’t consider it worth my time. Definitely there are ways you can make the AF work like you said, but to me it’s not just as consistently quick in all scenarios as MF still. Particularly in video. And I hear you on the battery grip/etc. but still those buttons are cramped man, when I had my thick gloves on I couldn’t fit my finger into some of those buttons correctly, I didn’t show that on video with thicker gloves unfortunately but I should have. Button placement is very similar in many ways to Panasonic so intuition of where the buttons were weren’t the problem. And this is a common agreeance for many Sony users too, so I’m not just the only one haha There were still plenty of pros to the A1 and I’ll stand by it all! But those cons are still real in my opinion at least, I don’t think it was just a lack of effort or knowledge in understanding the camera

@keverton123 8 ай бұрын

i always use zone autofocus and never have a problem. for tiny birds in a tree use single spot

@KevinNordstrom Жыл бұрын

Hey Jeremy. Great review on the A1. I don't plan on switching from Canon as I'm saving for the R1 or the R5 mk2 within the next 2 years. However, the A1 seems to be very solid. Well it better be for $6,000 lol ... If I owned the A1, I'm sure I wouldn't be completely disappointed. Just a little thing I noticed in your video you shared the high winds in your upcoming field video and noticed you had your lens hood still on. I try to take mine off in winds because it acts as a wind tunnel and collects wind and alot of shake. Anyway im sure you knew that but wanted to point it out. Keep up the great work man. TBH, You can't go wrong with any camera these days. Happy shooting brother 📸

@JeremyNeipp Жыл бұрын

Thanks Kevin! Most definitely, I do know that, but I forget often to do that in high wind scenarios so it's a good reminder haha.

@KevinNordstrom Жыл бұрын

@@JeremyNeipp lol for sure i totally get it. i forget my own head was on most days im out. Cheers man

@ameychalke 25 күн бұрын

What is best camera for Bird Photography .... Z8, R5, A1 or OM1 ?

@amermeleitor Жыл бұрын

I would like you reviewing the Z9 and the R5 (or R3).

@JeremyNeipp Жыл бұрын

If I get the chance I would love to! Haven't gotten the opportunity yet but hopefully soon.

@alansunshinemd 9 ай бұрын

How do you feel the Z8 stacks up to the A1?

@JeremyNeipp 9 ай бұрын

I haven't gotten to test out the Z8 personally so I can't speak to it from experience, but from the spec charts and my research, I would argue that it seems like a better dollar for dollar camera, but the A1 is still better as a whole.

@barrybarfield2397 2 ай бұрын

I have had two A1's for two years now. If you don't spend time setting up the Customization of buttons and controls you are wasting your time and money. For Wild life they are the best camera body out there and set up correctly will get shots you would never have thought possible! The Sony A9iii is very good, but with 24 mp it's not in the same ballpark for me.

@welshfowler 2 ай бұрын

you mention the sound of the shutter in 30fps, the sound is artificial !

@fsi2210 Жыл бұрын

Too much to go into, will focus on the main issues. AF. When shooting over or through foreground. Using the smallest point helps. The A1 tracking is ultra reliable. I have a C button set up to single Small point AF Tracking + AF On and it is the most reliable way. Using Wider Zones will grab the foreground. Once on a background the A1 will get stuck, my workaround is an MF Hold button that I press and pull focus to within range of what I want. The 200-600 is slow and racks big jumps in distance terribly compared to the 100-400GM. I practice on Barn Swallows in flight at close range and the 100-400GM is good at distances of under 10m where the 200-600 was atrocious. Finally, on previous fw, the A1 was very poor at close up focus, it would always jump to the background. The latest fw has improved that a fair bit but the MF Hold and pull focus back is still useful. The A1 like any camera needs time spent to learn its quirks and the A1 has lots of them if doing the type of elements incorporation into a scene photography, that you do.

@JoseHernandez-ir2sm 8 ай бұрын

You are correct about the AF issues and the poor ergonomics of this camera a1. The top controls in the left top are hard to adjust particularly when hand-holding long lenses; in the a7IV you can access the same functions by programing some buttons to do the same without lifting the eyes from the viewfinder. Sony fixtation with small bodies particularly for wildlife photographers may cause lost of clients as Canon and Nikon catch-up with mirrorless technology not mention new lenses with built-in extenders. Why can't Sony releasea "real" professional camera with a built-in grip?

@JeremyNeipp 8 ай бұрын

Agreed! 🙌🏻 if Sony listened to their customers a little more it could go a long way

@taylorhickman84 6 ай бұрын

The only reason I can think is the majority of Sony shooters(myself included) prefer the smaller body.

@jlynpphotography 6 ай бұрын

I actually know more Canon and Nikon users that have switched to Sony (than vice versa) and have never looked back. The battery grip or the pinky extension solve the "small body" problem instantly. I also think Sony does listen to customer feedback and with each update, Sony just gets better and better.

@martinfairbairn2820 Жыл бұрын

Hi Jeremy great review on the A1, I've watched so many reviews on cameras from dlsr to mirrorless for wildlife, but it seems no matter what the brand ppl have to be negative at some point... hey come on fella if we had the 100% camera,, People doing reviews would be out of a job, ya I appreciate the reviews from anyone, but lets get real as the old saying goes you can please some of the people some of the time , all of the people some of the time but never please all of the people all of the time... So in your view what would be your out right gear be at this moment in life for wildlife/bird photography , I mean stills not video ! as far as my own personal goes ! if you want to video then buy a video camera !! some folk just want a camera to take photos !! period ! companies are making a fortune from hybrid gear, because they don't take into account the ppl who put them there in the first place eg Photography guys/ladies who picked up their gear and went out and took photos were photographers ! whereas video ppl were camera ppl, personally again I don't touch the video button, just my opinion, Thanks for reading my gripe lol...

@JeremyNeipp Жыл бұрын

Thanks Martin! Yea I understand your gripe haha. I think more and more people are doing a hybrid mix which is why it’s becoming popular. Even for myself for example I don’t have the time in the field to switch cameras out so I need it all built into one body. But I understand that for many people, only either photo or video is needed so you bring up some good points! thanks for sharing ☺️

@guillermocabrera4206 Жыл бұрын

Check Mark Smith's settings for the Sony cameras. I have the A9 which is nowhere near as good as the A1 and using the double rear button focusing technique the autofocus is 99% accurate in all conditions.

@JeremyNeipp Жыл бұрын

I’ve never heard a single reviewer say that any AF system is 99% accurate in all situations… I think that’s an overstatement. The best I’ve heard from a professional reviewer who has credibility is in the 80% in Wildlife photography

@HokKan Жыл бұрын

That's very misleading. The 99% claim comes from mirrorlesscomparison's test where they test tracking of a slow, predictable and large bird in flight with a relatively easy background. That's a very specific bird in flight scenario. Just because it tracks well in that scenario, doesn't mean the bird AF overall is 99%. The OM-1 for instance has significantly faster acquisition speeds, but with less sticky tracking. It's down to the kind of bird you're shooting, and the environment.

@ChrisM541 10 ай бұрын

Question: with a top-of-the-line expensive camera like this, have they not figured out how to send the camera live view to your mobile/tablet (with accompanying camera setting editing) ?? DJI drones have been doing this for years on hugely less expensive products. There really is no excuse if this App camera control functionality isn't in the A1 !!

@johannesimmonen2125 Жыл бұрын

You have to test Canon R3!

@JeremyNeipp Жыл бұрын

I would love to someday! Hopefully I can get my hands on it

@justonbrazda3846 Жыл бұрын

You should have went into a different focus area like zone or large spot.

@JeremyNeipp Жыл бұрын

I did at times

@johannesimmonen2125 Жыл бұрын

Since when did you get A1

@Deb2Cam Жыл бұрын

If you watched this video from the beginning then you should have seen where he says that he was loaned the camera and lens to try out and review through Hunt photo.

@johannesimmonen2125 Жыл бұрын

@@Deb2Cam I didnt watch yet. Soon...

@jonspoard8416 Жыл бұрын

I've had the A1 since launch and I totally agree with all your findings. The AF is totally overrated and disappointing. In some situations it's great but other times it's terrible. This is my findings anyway I guess over people might disagree.

@JeremyNeipp Жыл бұрын

I would agree in my short experience with it! Interesting to see how many people got defensive about it but I’ve heard from several long-term users of it like you that it was overhyped often