Sony a7 Rii (mark2) in studio surrounding (problems)

[teemax]

Hi,

I had a shooting two weeks ago using the Sony alpha 7Rii with the 90mm Macro lens in a studio surrounding with two external studio flashlights over a period of 8 hours.

3 problems popped up during the shooting:

_ the autofocus had problems focusing orange surfaces and both displays (VF+big display) showed pulsating, blurry sections everytime the orange surface came into view. I had to use some aid (newspaper) to focus on that objects (orange plastic).

Later, viewing the image on the computer, these objects where sort of allright.

Any ideas (apart from the fact that certain surfaces reflect the light in a way which irritates the autofocus)?

_ after 2-3 hours the displays went black for a few minutes, while still showing all the relevant data (digits, bevel, histogramm etc.) regarding the object. I had to switch the camera on and off with 10 - 20 seconds pause inbetween until it worked again. That happened three times during the shooting, which was a bit embarassing, having the client arround. What is the reason?

_ working with the remote camera control software via my Mac BookPro I also had problems starting the camera as well as taking pictures. This time I had to restart the programme on the computer a few times during the shooting.

It would be nice to get some answers to this problems.

One more thing regarding the manual of the SONY a7Rii: I was  missing a section in the manual going into detail with the Live-View Mode. Especially in a studio surrounding with professional flash equipment using a non-optical viewfinder it took me quite a while to find the right information, that you have to switch of Live-View with professional flash. I found that info in YouTube, not in the Sony Forums.

Thanxxs, Thomas

[Normski4ash]

Hi regarding your third point, using studio flash... I either use speedlights or studio lights, depending on the situation. Problem I am having is if I set the light power to give me e.g. F8, 1/125 & iso 100, set the camera to reflect this, nothing, completely black screen cannot see anything on the screen or through the oled. Are you saying you can turn off live view and actually see what is there ? if so please give me the you tube link,

Thnx, Normski4ash

[Normski4ash]

Found it, panic over, just gone through the menu settings until I found the live view on/off, problem solved, thnx you pointed me in the right direction.

Tried setting this to a C1 - C4 button but it won't let me, doesn't seem to have this option, still looking,

Again thnx

[teemax]

Hi,

you can't use the C1-C4 section. A setting is only possible in the Memory Settings which relate to the M 1 + M 2 dial.

There you can save two groups of settings.

Some people prefer portrait-settings under M1 and sport-settings under M2. Because M1 and M2 offer more than just two settings you can save a whole group M-section. For me I'm experimenting with outdoor (Portrait, Night, Low Light) under M1 and Studio (Portrait, Stillife…) under M2.

I use C1 for white balance, C2 for light reading method, C3 for AF-Mode and C4 for AF-Area. The AF/MF I left as a manufacture setting AEL lock I use for eye-AF. The rest I saved und FN and the dialwheel. It's very individual.

I would be great, if the customer support would answer to the color-/surfacereflection problem (orange surfaces)…

Have fun with the settings. It took me 2 weeks learning all the possibilities and I'm still learning.

By the way, stumbled over GaryFong.com, this guy has some great tipps.

[Amfion]

The orange surface thing is very strange! Don't have an answer for that unfortunately. 

I do have the same experience using the remote camera control with the A7rII. My thoughts on this are that it's because of the big size of the pictures. The remote camera control is not a very stable piece of software I'm afraid.  Maybe try in small jpg to see if the same problem still occurs?

If you like to use tethered shooting more often I would highly recomment Capture One. They have a special version for Sony users which is very nicely priced. The 'Express for Sony' version is free, but doesn't support tethered shooting. https://www.phaseone.com/en/Products/Software/Capture-One-for-Sony/Sony-Express.aspx

[teemax]

Hi,

I'm using CaptureOnePro already after I was not satisfied with the SONY Remote Software Solution. Last one crashed constantly.

I talked to a collegue which has the same problem with the SONY. It seems to be a reflection problem (wavelength of reflected light) which irritates the viewfinder. On the final product is not as strong and seems to be an optical illusion (RAW and JPEG), but it is slightly there – a very suttle blur. Funny enough the blur effect looks like some kind of bacteria which breathes …

[Amfion]

Mmm I just returned my testmodel a7rII unfortunately so can't test this any more!

Did have a simular problem with an A7r I once tested which was a pre-production model which had a very strange reaction on the color blue. But that was also visable in the pictures as clipping and probably due to the fact that these pre-production models are put together by hand so something was wrong there. 

[teemax]

Hi Amfion,

well, a collegue of mine has exactly the same problem with orange. So I#m not alone on that. I will check if it is just the colour orange in generall or orange in plastic surfaces/materials. I had a similar problems years ago with certain ceramic materials under studio-flash. After I changed from Kodak Tmax to Technical Pan film the problem was solved.

I was shocked coming across that similar problem again with the digital camera.

Can Sony help? Is there a supportline, where I can call?

Thanxxs!

[Amfion]

Hi Teemax!

Does the collegue with a Sony also have an A7rII? Or a7r? One thing that comes to mind is that is has got someting to do with the absence of a lowpass-filter in these models. 

Asked someone with an a7rII to check this out for me, but so far no reaction from his side. 

You can always try to contact Customer Services, but they're more orientated towards the common questions and don't know if they can help you out. Maybe they can bring you into contact with a product specialist in your country. 

[teemax]

Hi,

yes, exactly the same. If you get me in contact with an expert in my country (Germany) that would be great.

Question: are you working for Sony (directly or indirectly) when you are an "Expert"?

Thanxxs for your help!