https://www.dpreview.com/forums/post/60638274There seems to be a workaround to avoid the Star Eater issue on the Sony alpha camera's. Setting it to continues-Hi shooting mode should avoid the star eater algoritm from kicking in after 3/4sec....although, setting the camera into bulb seems to be a no-go since star eater is a plied again.
I personally think that the Star Eater issue is made bigger then it really is. Of course it's a pity that Sony implemented this feature, but most of us astrophotographers wouldn't even notice some stars were eaten in their image. Take for intance the image below, which was shot with a Sony A7R2 at ISO1600 and 60minute subs (90 of them to be exact).....there are probably stars eaten, but I can't see them because I don't even know they were there in the first place.....get my point?
So just go out, take the shots you like to take, and share your results here.
Just my 2 cents.