Sony A7R IV Focus issues with A7r4 and 200-600

[mapleleaf56]

Hi all
I have the A7r4 and I am looking to purchase the 200-600 for bird and wildlife.. I have been reading that there are some issues withe the A7r4 and the 200-600 with regards to focusing. Have any of you come across this issue and if so what was the problem and has it been fixed.
I’m hoping to purchase the lens this week but have for now become hesitant.
Your help and advice would be greatly appreciated..

 

[Jeff A]

Hi all
I have the A7r4 and I am looking to purchase the 200-600 for bird and wildlife.. I have been reading that there are some issues withe the A7r4 and the 200-600 with regards to focusing. Have any of you come across this issue and if so what was the problem and has it been fixed.
I’m hoping to purchase the lens this week but have for now become hesitant.
Your help and advice would be greatly appreciated..

I have no idea but a purchase with a 30 day return policy might give you comfort.

 

[mapleleaf56]

I have no idea but a purchase with a 30 day return policy might give you comfort.

Unfortunately I don’t think any Canadian retailers offer 30 day refund.
Henry’s and Vistek offer only a 14 day return and refund..

 

[Jeff A]

Unfortunately I don’t think any Canadian retailers offer 30 day refund.
Henry’s and Vistek offer only a 14 day return and refund..

Well Keith, I'm betting you could evaluate it within a week. Welcome to the Forum, BTW

 

[Uncle Kevriano]

There has been so much written about this. There were issues with the early batch of bodies, seemingly with the sensor being incorrectly positioned, but mine has been spot on from day one. There is a lot of user error too. I think a lot of inexperienced people expect perfection from the outset, but are using the wrong focus mode, shutter speed, or any other factor. This is an advanced camera, you can't put it in P and expect it to be right.
Anyway, trust me, there is no issue and you will be fine.
As a side note, to back up my first part. A friend had an early body, had all sorts of issues, and sold it. He later bought another body and has had no problems at all.

 

[mapleleaf56]

Well yesterday I pulled the trigger and purchased the 200-600 to go with my A7R4.
I’ve only been able to use it a little today because of the weather but I am not noticing any of the issues I was concerned about….

 

[AlphaWorld]

Might be worth searching - I saw a report on another site that changing one setting (I don’t recall which) fixed things for at least some people.

 

[TerryL]

Well yesterday I pulled the trigger and purchased the 200-600 to go with my A7R4.
I’ve only been able to use it a little today because of the weather but I am not noticing any of the issues I was concerned about….

I sure would like to know what is considered an early model. I have the same comb but haven’t tried it yet.

 

[Uncle Kevriano]

I sure would like to know what is considered an early model. I have the same comb but haven’t tried it yet.

Anything manufactured before April 2020

 

[AlphaWorld]

Anything manufactured before April 2020

Eeek! I bought mine in 2019…

 

[Uncle Kevriano]

Eeek! I bought mine in 2019

Have you had any focus issues( if you have the 200 600)?

 

[mapleleaf56]

I sure would like to know what is considered an early model. I have the same comb but haven’t tried it yet.

The A7R4 was updated but ever so slightly, I think the monitor was

Eeek! I bought mine in 2019…

i actually have both models and happy to I have had no issues with either..

 

[TerryL]

I just want to know what problems people are having with my camera and the 200-600.

 

[TerryL]

Anything manufactured before April 2020

Thank you Kev. What problems are people having with the 200-600 and my camera.

 

[TerryL]

Anything manufactured before April 2020

How can I tell?

 

[Uncle Kevriano]

How can I tell?

Firstly, to answer what problems. People with early models had issues with very soft images or just plain out of focus, and also with the camera not focussing where it should be. This is down to the sensor being incorrectly aligned, but was definitely resolved on later models. A friend of mine bought one on release and had so many issues he sold it and bought an A9. After a year he bought another A7R4 and has had absolutely no issues, he said it's like an entirely different camera.
As for how you tell. The only way is with the serial number, but if you bought one after April 2020 I reckon you'll be fine. I bought mine then, and have had no issues, save for user error sometimes. I have seen people moaning from time to time about things that are almost certainly user error.

 

[TerryL]

I bought mine on 4/21.

 

[Uncle Kevriano]

I bought mine on 4/21.

You will be fine, should be no issues at all.

 

[AlphaWorld]

The A7R4 was updated but ever so slightly, I think the monitor was

i actually have both models and happy to I have had no issues with either..

I have had no problems either, but I do enjoy the occasional over-reaction

 

[AlphaWorld]

Have you had any focus issues( if you have the 200 600)?

None. Maybe I was lucky and mine came off the good production line?

 

[Uncle Kevriano]

None. Maybe I was lucky and mine came off the good production line?

Yep. I would imagine so. Not everyone with early models had issues, but there were certainly enough to indicate that there was a QC issue

 

[jav_eee]

So this issue is cleared up? I have a A7RivA and am research super telephoto options. Currently between the Sony and the sigma but just read about this issue last night.

 

[Uncle Kevriano]

So this issue is cleared up? I have a A7RivA and am research super telephoto options. Currently between the Sony and the sigma but just read about this issue last night.

Yes, long solved, and get the Sony

 

[jav_eee]

Yes, long solved, and get the Sony

Great! My only remaining concern about the 200-600 is lens creep when photographing the moon at high angles. I’ve read a couple of instances where people have noticed this. Maybe 3 out of 15 reviewers mentioned it.

 

[Uncle Kevriano]

Great! My only remaining concern about the 200-600 is lens creep when photographing the moon at high angles. I’ve read a couple of instances where people have noticed this. Maybe 3 out of 15 reviewers mentioned it.

Really? Far more likely on an extending zoom. The Sony is all internal focus and a very short throw from 2-600 too, less than a half turn. I'd be amazed if there is any creep at all, it has no forward weight to push back against it. Most bizarre, but also very easily prevented. You really can't beat native glass and the Sony is an epic lens.

 

[jav_eee]

Really? Far more likely on an extending zoom. The Sony is all internal focus and a very short throw from 2-600 too, less than a half turn. I'd be amazed if there is any creep at all, it has no forward weight to push back against it. Most bizarre, but also very easily prevented. You really can't beat native glass and the Sony is an epic lens.

Well in their defense it happened at high vertical angles, say 60° or so. It’s probably not an angle I’ll shoot at very often.

 

[Uncle Kevriano]

Well in their defense it happened at high vertical angles, say 60° or so. It’s probably not an angle I’ll shoot at very often.

I'm going to test that!

 

[jav_eee]

I'm going to test that!

That would be great if you could! Maybe even 90°, that would kind of be a definitive test of whether there is creep or not.

 

[Uncle Kevriano]

That would be great if you could! Maybe even 90°, that would kind of be a definitive test of whether there is creep or not.

I'll get back to you shortly.

 

[Uncle Kevriano]

That would be great if you could! Maybe even 90°, that would kind of be a definitive test of whether there is creep or not.

Ok, so after an extended 1 hour test. If it's set at 600mm, no creep whatsoever, rock solid. Set at 200mm, it does creep to 250 fairly quickly as it goes, but no further. It does not creep at any other focal length. Now obviously I don't know what focal lengths you intend shooting at, but this was interesting, but will certainly be no worse than any big zoom. It's really testament to how smooth the Sony zoom ring is I guess. Regardless there are anti creep bands available, and I would still pick the Sony over the Sigma every time.