Gaz
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Sony A7 IV Resources: Memory Card Tests | Accessories | Firmware | User Guide | Price Check: B&H Photo
I ran a test this morning shooting a few frames at 2x Clear Image zoom. It’s a heif file…. That’s how I know it wasn’t shot full image.All you're doing with any of those is cropping in camera. Same as Super 35 mode. You're reducing your MP count. On the A7-IV shooting in APS-C results in just under a 15MP shot, as I recall.
The reason that Clear Image Zoom results has 'less noise' is that when you get a jpeg from your camera, it's a processed RAW, but it happens in-camera and is based on what Sony engineers think you want your images to look like. It adds NR when it processes. If you don't like the amount of NR it adds, you're out of luck.
If it were me, I'd set up focus assist so you can zoom in on the focus area, then make the shot in RAW and crop how you want in post.
Any mode that "zooms in" to take the photo is a crop. Digital Zoom, Clearview, APS-C, etc. Some result in processed images only, some can be used in RAW. It probably makes more sense for someone with an RIV or RV, because they end up with a 26-ish MP image, if memory serves.
Optical zoom will always beat digital zoom. I know many people prefer primes, but to me, the ultimate walk around lens has a good FL range.
You can use heif or jpeg I think, but I use heif since I use Apple equipment, and it is not lossless but it is considerably better than jpg. No doubts.So it's HEIF, not jpeg? Or do you get to choose?
I went and watched a couple of videos, no one seems to know exactly what the process is, but a statement from Sony leads one to believe they're upscaling in camera using something they call 'By-Pixel Technology'. It must crop the image then spread it out over the entire sensor by upscaling. One video reviewer did a lot of side-by-side testing of Crop Mode and Clear Zoom. Crop Mode has slightly more detail, but Clear Zoom's signal to noise ratio is a bit better. That makes sense considering the processing they're applying. Sounds like it's a decent choice if you don't want to process, but APS-C RAW would be better if processing.
There’s a thought. I can test it on the moon. The 200-600 isn’t quite long enough!If you can get to the point that you trust it for critical shots, a 200-600 all of a sudden becomes 1200. That'd be fine as long as you don't need a lot of processing. It would definitely be safer shooting to HEIF like you are so there's more bit depth for adjustments. Might be fun to play with! Of course you can still do the same thing with most software: RAW>process>crop>upscale. It all depends on how much time you want to invest.
Now I'm wondering what happens if you shoot in clear zoom, then crop and upscale again in the computer?!![]()
Edited to add: Evidently Affinity Photo will open HEIF files. Might play around with it this weekend if I get the chance, I'd like to compare IQ with processed RAW.
That’s quite impressive for free!Well, tried to mess with it today, but can't decode HEIF without downloading a CODEC, can't download the CODEC without an MS account, and I'm not going to open an MS account for a $0.99 CODEC. Am not interested in jpeg, so I guess I'm out until MS decides the $0.99 charge isn't worth the effort it free.
FWIW, I did shoot some and view in-camera using the Sigma 100-400. From what I could see on the little screen they looked pretty good.
Edit:
HOLEEEE CRAP!
@Gaz, thanks for the incentive to research this! Not sure how often I'll use it, but the results are pretty amazing.
I realized I may have a back door so I tested my other programs. Turns out Darktable will open HEIF, so I imported the folder and picked one, then exported as a PNG and opened it in Affinity.
You can click through any of these to Flickr to avoid the forum's downscaling.
First image is SOOC (almost) with a slight bit of sharpening applied. No other adjustments were made. It is uncropped.
First image by telecast, on Flickr
Second image is a 7MP crop of the same image, no further adjustments.
Second Image by telecast, on Flickr
Third image is a 37MP upscale of the previous image. No further adjustments.
3rd image by telecast, on Flickr
Fourth image is a 7MP crop of the upscaled image.
Forth Image by telecast, on Flickr
I’ve already been looking at it.I want to see if I can assign Clear Zoom to a key and have it function without having to adjust the amount of zoom.
I’m going out tonight at sunset to get the flying foxes! The 200-600 was simply too heavy for all that action but excellent while they’re roosting. The 85mm was too short for flight. I was about to buy a 135gm to do the job.I'm not sure I'll use it that often. I can see it if I'm out trying to catch bird closeups or wildlife, but those aren't all that often. I don't need instant access, just convenient. When I think about trying to capture BIF with a 1200mm FL Equiv it sends shudders down my spine!
Weather is supposed to be better tomorrow. I may mount the 200-600 and sit out in my hide and give it a real workout. It's going to come down to the usability of the images. Very interested to see if shadows and highlights can be recovered when needed.
200mm would be just about right, I think, for capturing them in flight if you're aperture is wide enough. I've been fiddling around with ISO, shutter speed and aperture to try and get it right... but I've got plenty more work to do, and every night there are about 15 minutes before sunset when they start flying off, after which they're just black spots on a darkening sky.Cool! Love that top one.
Seems like a good place to try a 70-200 with clear image zoom.
Sony A7 IV Resources: Memory Card Tests | Accessories | Firmware | User Guide | Price Check: B&H Photo