I tested out the Sony a7R mirrorless full-frame camera about 1.5 years ago. It was a disappointment due to the feeble autofocus (posting 1; posting 2).
Sony has revised the camera, this time with a hybrid sensor that should enable competitive autofocus. The marketing geniuses have come up with a new name: Sony a7R II. See the Adorama page for details, the most notable of which are the improved autofocus, an in-camera image stabilization system, and the ability to capture 4K video.
Separately, Sony has also updated the world’s best point-and-shoot camera, the RX100. This new model has the exciting name of RX100 IV. This also can capture 4K video. Maybe somebody can educate me on this subject, but what is the point of awesome video capture if there is no external mic input?
Separately, Leica has decide to introduce a camera that is not completely laughable: the $4250 full-frame Leica Q, which has a fixed 28/1.7 lens. I admit to being in love with the simple user interface for setting aperture and shutter speed, a throwback to cameras from 20-30 years ago (no “mode dial”).
What do readers think? Who is tempted to buy a Leica finally?
Michael Reichmann has a good preview of the Leica Q and video discussion with Leica people. Here: https://luminous-landscape.com/leica-q-hands-on-and-video-interview/
I like the simple Leica UI. And quiet operation. But I’m too invested in Canon EF L lenses. About a house down payment’s worth. Currently still shooting Canon’s 1D IV (1.3 crop sensor). My system is built to serve one genre, sports car racing at Lime Rock Park in northwest Connecticut. I also occasionally shoot events for The Trustees Of Reservations.
I’ll never own a Leica. I’m not that good.
I’m surprised at the RX100 IV, given that the Japanese word for “four” is homonymous with “death” and thus companies try to avoid it like the plague in product names. The pricing has been going steadily up, though, and is now 50% higher than what the original cost at launch, which seems a tad expensive when you can get a Nikon Coolpix A with a full APS-C sized sensor (4 times larger than the 1″ on the RX100 IV) for $400.
As for the Q, if it had a 50mm or 35mm focal length, I would buy one in a heartbeat, but 28mm is too wide for me. When the Sigma DP1 came out as the first large-sensor compact camera, I gritted my teeth and bore it, but we have more options nowadays, if not as elegant as the Q. Let’s hope Leica follows Sigma’s example and comes out with a 50mm variant.
A fixed 28mm has a venerable history in film cameras, the Ricoh GR-1 and the Nikon 28Ti among them. Fixed lens, very compact, exceptional quality prime and reasonably fast, touted as an ideal pocket travel camera. Are you going to review one?
Fazal:
For counting they get around that by using “yon” instead of “shi”. This stackexchange answer has a good explanation: http://japanese.stackexchange.com/questions/328/how-to-choose-between-%E3%82%88%E3%82%93-yon-vs-%E3%81%97-shi-for-%E5%9B%9B-4-and-%E3%81%97%E3%81%A1-shichi-vs.
Sony’s Japanese launch trailer the PS4 is referred phonetically in English as “Play Station Four”. I’d imagine their domestic marketing is similar for most products with the number 4 or 7.
https://youtu.be/fLGs0qr-8TQ?t=50s
Did I hear correctly that the new Sony a7R II will accept Canon lenses with an adapter? If so…
What do readers think?
The A7rII looks amazing. Sony has incredible bodies. If I had more cash I’d buy the RX100 4. But the A7rII doesn’t solve a couple of major problems Sony still has:
1. Their name conventions, and by extension marketing, are at best bizarre. Only camera fanatics are capable of understanding the various models. They should call this the “A7 Pro” or something similar.
2. The FE (and E for that matter) lens selection is still weak.
3. I’m still curious about the rumored A7000, which is closer to my price range. I like the Olympus EM-5 I have now, but I’ve worked some with a friend’s A6000 RAW files and they’re amazing.