I think he must wait again ...

Being retired now, I have introduced the photografie as one of the main strengths of my free-time activity.
Previously, my professional travels have led me around the world and have the opportunity to photografier Russia, Japan, China and the Pacific with Canon and in Savannah, deserts and tropical forests with Nikon.
Become sedentary end of 1994 for family reasons, I made around 2000 the transition to digital, especially for documenting local and commercial and industrial facilities in order to make quotes or first digital plans.Ma was barely 1MP.

Things have changed and A7 are currently top technology, each in its kind.
I have long remained true to Nikon and I still have a dozen und D7100 and goals that I use very little, mostly with Novoflex adapters Sony, MFT (Olympus and Lumix) and rarely with Fuji.

But the technological advances of the last 3-5 years has revolutionized my equipment.
I spend a lot of time to find out and spending a lot of money to m equip, to the search for optimal and efficient solutions, but with limits that are about 2,200 Euros per case and for each objective.
Therefore, I stayed a long time without 24x36 sensor.
The reason for this limitation is that I do not want to be dependent of a brand or a very specific frame that may prove lapse after 12 or 18 months and cause a complete renewal.
My strategy is to tread carefully on several parallel tracks, given the available targets and their value. I went through all the D, EOS, GH2, GH3, GX7, X-T1, X-Pro1, OMD EM10, EM1, Kr, K-30, RX10, RX100 and so on .... Lately A6000, EOS-M, FZ1000, GM5, G7X and LX100. Some of these cameras are so good that it's hard to part with.

To be honest, it is not necessary to have und A7, D810, D750 or 5DII to make absolutely detailed pictures in lighting conditions unthinkable 10 years ago.
But the temptation to have in her wardrobe the cream of the crop and the search for perfection in a professional life does not leave décramponner used as a pair of socks.

When Sony introduced the A7 and A7R on the market, I already had excellent systems as MFT and with Olympus and Fuji-Lumix X-Mount. These systems offer waterproof cameras, high performance at any point of view, an impressive range of interchangeable lenses and the range of use without limit.
The system A7 does not have significant assets such as 5-axis stabilization, tropicalization, 4K live video on board and especially the choice of targets is very restraint. The brutal trigger the A7R entails the use of a tripod and a remote or ultra-fast shutter speeds that cause problems ... In short, the three A7 have big attractions, but also big disadvantages and for these reasons, I have delayed long to integrate this system in my gear.

Virtually control the hors d 'oeuvres, I still bought some Sony, whose Alpha 6000 to prepare the software and start collecting objectives, Sony, Tamron, Zeiss ... and made an initial triage .
I will return to this very important chapter later.

As for the boxes, my instinctive m 'has focused on the A7R that I first purchased it a few months ago when the A7s n' was not yet available. But it is obvious that the A7s has so unique and exceptional qualities that sooner or later all committed photographer will succeed there, it is only a financial issue.

Now I would like to address the essential question that bothers me: When to buy the Alpha 7s and why?
You are aware that Sony will deliver these next few days (just before Christmas 2014) the new A7 Mark II.
Among the cosmetic corrections, the trigger will be moved forward that will make more accessible and comfortable and will have access to 2 functions on top.
The shutter is quieter and produce less shaking ..
The bayonet will be machined more accurate way. It is likely that the seal will be improved.
The camera will be equipped with an internal 5-axis stabilization as the Olympus OMD EM 1, allowing the use of clean or foreign targets non-stabilized ..
The case will be fully léger.etc alloy.

These changes are essential to the decision to purchase a A7s for the following reasons:
After ravallement the A7, Sony worm will turn the A7R and A7s. He will do it because Lumix walking his heels and has already released the GM5 and LX100 for the RX100 détronner which undoubtedly rules the subcompact luxury market. In addition customers want improvements like electronic shutter, the 4K video directly on SDXC card without a recorder etc ..

Any potential buyer must ask themselves if there is urgency and when the purchase decision will be, even more than the current model will lower prices during the introduction of the successor. As in other Lumix, he will not sit back, they also want a piece of cake. All this will play on price and performance. The time is working for us.

The A7s can do things that A7R can not and vice versa. This market segmentation requires customers to purchase 2 boxes to cover the operating range, the retail A7s the sensor is currently limited to 12 MP.
.
There are few alternatives to the A7: The Nikon Df, D810, D750, Canon D5 II, the DX1, the Pentax ... full frame, all very expensive, with mirrors, voluminueses and some more or less exotic and limited in their use as the DX1 or Df ..

To take advantage of A7R and A7s, mount the Goals very upscale, with high optical resolution (A7R) and a large diaphragm (A7s).
Currently the situation is as follows:

- Wide: I advise or Walimex Pro which exist in 8 and 14 mm. I use the 14mm f / 2.8 with a Nikon mount and adapter Novoflex NEX / NIK, which works very well, but it also exists in Sony E-mount Its quality-price ratio is exceptional.

- Average Focal length: 35mm currently found in 600 Euro for the Sony SEL35F28Z Sonnar T * 35mm F2.8 ZA FE which is not known to be particularly accurate. I preferred the Sony 55mm Sonnar T * SEL55F18Z EF 55mm F1.8 ZA which is very accurate and fast, probably one of the best optics, built by Zeiss and an affordable price is currently less than 900 Euro.

- Wide Zoom: The economic solution is the Sony Vario-Tessar SEL2470Z FE T * 24-70mm F4 ZA OSS E-Mount for about 850 to 1000 Euro which is highly contested. I opted for the Sony Vario Sonnar T * 24-70mm F2.8 ZA SSM Carl Zeiss which is significantly more expensive (1650-2000 euro) but is also faster and unanimously considered one of the best viewpoints. To mount it on a A7 or A6000, I use the adapter LA-LE4 (about 250 Euro). He does his weight, but this is not a problem.

- Zoom long distance: Again 2 solutions: Sony SAL-70200G 2.8 G / 70-200mm for Euro 2800 with adapter LA-LE4 (so in total more than 3,000 Euro) or Sony SEL 4 / 70-200 G for about 1,500 Euro. I opted for the economic solution with f / 4.0 and bought a GH4 for the difference. It seems to me more profitable. But if you are looking for the optimum in 200mm f / 2.8 and ISO 64000 or more, of course ...

I tried some Tamron A-Mount adapter with LA-LE4 with adapter and Nikon Novoflex. N The results were not better than with a kit lens and A6000, and again, indulgently. In short, if we want to enjoy bein A7, we must go to the checkout, if not we can stay below 1,500 Euro with A6000 and accessories.

The first conclusion is that although obviously, the A7s is not a camera for smigards. And I do not count the handle with Additional batteries, remote control, carbon fiber tripod etc. In my view, to seriously use this camera, it takes a total investment between 6,000 and 8,000 Euro. Maintemant, if one wants to enjoy the dive the more A7R, add 2.000 Euro.
If you are new in the photo, so you better start with A6000 for if you want to play right away with a Sony A7s / A7R, it is best to have an oil well or two in Saudi or diamond mine Africa or elsewhere.
Full size does not mean hot! To switch from APS-C format 24x36 (factor x 1.5 diagonally), multiply by putting 3 or 4!

The second conclusion, that is that if you want to get in the full format, there are not many alternatives and they are all with mirrors and more spendthrift.

The third conclusion is that I still wait a bit before you spend a big amount for the A7s, they undergo some substantial improvements. 98% difficult or extreme situations seem manageable with A7R a super powerful above objectives, ISO 12800 and some bug exposure speed, good support, remote control, a good post-production lociciel etc.

But that is my personal opinion. Anyway, I give you the arguments to make your decision wisely!

The great performance of the A7s is neither format nor its resolution of 12 MP or his video, but the breathtaking sensitivity of its sensor to fotographier night without flash - appropriate goals implied.
There 's only 3-4 cameras that can hold the road in such conditions.

Now, we must not overestimate the character of this performance. I have a half dozen recent cameras (and cheap) that are clear, bright and sharp images from a library cabinet in an unlit corridor cornerback in late winter afternoon at 1 / 15s without flash or tripod. Even beautiful images around a campfire are possible, the only condition are goals that cost several times the price of boitier.et some experience. Moreover, beyond 50,000 ISO, the colors are not natural. A good flashlight and an aluminum sheet are also miracles.

Since I do not work in espionage, Sony A7s is not an absolute necessity and I would advise to wait for the Mark II model.

PS:
I think Lumix has the best chance to play an active role in the segment of A7.que the rest:
- Canon 2 years late, reacts slowly. The EOS-M is sold off a third of the price, I sold mine after 6 weeks.
I am satisfied with the GM5 but can not boot the Lumix LX100.
- Nikon is too focused on small formats and too resource blocked on DSLR
- Samsung again with his teeth and no NX1 of objectives, which are too rare and expensive rop.
- Pentax has to mop the monumental flop of its K-S1 (worst Camera 2015) whose price goes down faster than a lift.
- Olympus has placed its bet on the MFT card and it is doubtful that they have sufficient resources for a 24x36 project
- Fujinon fate of whole suitcases or Models all based on their new 16MP sensor. One wonders where they would look for resources for a project from scratch.

In short, I see only Panasonic that has the dynamism, technology and resources to tackle the cake 24x36. But they have no purpose and no bayonet, so that Sony can even two or three years after the introduction of the Alpha 7 quietly mopping the 24x36 market and pick up our loot by selling us every time for more Euro 2,000 or less a basic box, a box for detailed photos, a box without light for shooting and innovations in dribs goutte.à a juicy fee.

And it could last like this until the other does not come out of the mess they were filled with their little boxes or their grosss DSLR that nobody will soon hang in big bags as suitcases ...
It can therefore even last a year or more before the makeup A7s passes out on stage!

I hope I did not upset you, but before you spend so much money and set sail full sail on A7s, I thought it might be interesting to make a small review complete.