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A55 views please? It feels SO responsive! And great EVF!

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and in the same review he also says that the metering doesn't work in low light levels, the first for a Nikon in decades.

I've owned a D300 for a while back in 2007 and I think that maybe the D7000's AF about matches that performance.

The light levels drop, and both are slower than an advanced compact.

But you're right, maybe I'll just stick with my advanced compacts. i get great shots, and I don't have to worry about all that stuff and lenses and be dragged down by the size and weight.
 
 
Hey, if we're gonna quote Ken Rockwell let's take note of this gem found in his D7000 review...

http://www.kenrockwell.com/nikon/d7000.htm

"The D7000's Live-View AF system can't possibly keep up with action, and with the tiny depth-of-field of a DSLR, everything is lost if it's not in perfect focus. As soon as the mirror flips-up for Live View and video, the D7000, like every DSLR except the Sony A55, completely loses its usual ability to focus."

This from someone who historically has trouble acknowledging that Sony cameras even exist. ;)
 
tbcass said:
tbcass said:
i know that only too well. just glancing at this site over the last few days confirms that advice. i'm no scientist, so couldn't tell if the article was b/s or not - you can form your own opinion:

http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn2796-speed-of-light-broken-with-basic-lab-kit.html
Click to expand...
That article makes a claim, doesn't back it up with proof and then says it doesn't defy the theory of relativity because energy is lost. Take it for what it is.
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again - looking at this forum over the last couple of days, that all sounds very familiar
--
i know what i know, which is a fraction of what i don't
 
PC Wheeler said:
My first digital camera of note (Oly C-2100UZ, "Uzi") had an EVF and I enjoyed it -- sort of an ultrazoom forerunner of the Panasonic FZ-18 (had one of those in 2007) etc. Newer EVFs are better and the A55 is the best I've used (including the very good EVF in my GH1). My "main camera" is a Canon 7D, which has a 100% OVF, one of the best in a crop DSLR, and I found no disadvantages to the A55 EVF. OTOH -- my wife really dislikes using an EVF.

Last Tues I used a friend's new A55 and it seems to be an outstanding camera; fast, accurate focus with very acceptable results at ISO 3200 and shutter speeds as low as 1/8 sec. No grip problems with his Tamron 17-50 f/2.8 lens mounted -- which is about the same weight as the Sony 18-250 lens.

My A55 will arrive next Wed, as will my Tamron 17-50 f/2.8 lens (interior and low light use) and my Sony 18-250 (for outdoor and travel shooting). My wife doesn't mind: She'll get to use the 7D while we're traveling (but I'll let her carry that heavy package - one lens weighs as much as the A55 and two lenses - since she's younger and stronger!).

Since I'm not much into videography, I'll sell the GH1 -- excellent for video but not so good at low light, high ISO as the 7D and A55.

--
Phil
Canon 7D, 40D, S90; Panasonic GH1, ZS3, ZS7
http://www.pbase.com/phil_wheeler
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PC Wheeler:

Thanks for the comparison. I am still using an stone aged 30D at EF mount and A700 with alpha mount. Can you tell us more about the AF both in your 7D and A55? My impressions, just calculating from the number of crossed AF sensors, are the A55 being faster than any of my current cameras and 7D being the fastest of all.
Thank you
--
Mark K
 
Thanks for the explanation. I almost send you a message about your 50D vs A320.
I am lucky being able to keep all my cameras and lenses.
Condor99 said:
Gavin 11 said:
Fair enough, buy the way I like your telephoto stuff, all very nice.

I noticed some were taken on Canon DSLR's do you still use them or have you jumped ship ?
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Thank you for the kind words. Last year I was living in a motorhome that my girlfriend owned. When I left her I was essentially homeless (what do you call a drummer that breaks up with his girlfriend? homeless). Since I have no savings and I don't do credit I was forced to sell my Canon 50d and my Canon 100-400 L lens. I got $2500 for the two and I found an RV to live in for $2600. It took me a few months to be able to afford a camera and I got a Nikon P100 p&s. It was a great camera but it could not do birds in flight. The shutter lag was terrible. So I only had it one month and sold it so I could get a DSLR.

I looked at all 6 of the current DSLR manufacturers lineups and liked Sonys lineup the best. So I got the a330 in copper because I really fell in love with the copper color. Three weeks after I got my a330 Sony announced the a55. I realized it would be the perfect complimentary camera with the Tamron 200-500 attached to it. So now my a55 does my telephoto shots and the a330 is used for wide angle. They are the perfect pair for me and my photography.

I am not anyone's fanboy. I used Nikon film cameras for 25 years both above and below water. I shot Canon DSLRs for 5 years. If either Canon or Nikon were to come out with something that really impressed me I would have no problem jumping ship. But I seriously doubt Canon and Nikon will have anything to impress me with until they can do 10 fps at under $1000. And they are several years behind Sony so I think I will be with Sony for a while.

--
Tom Seiler
My portfolio:
http://picasaweb.google.com/SeilerBird/MyPortfolio
Sony a330 Copper > Sony 18-55
Sony a55 > Tamron 200-500
Sony 75-300
Click to expand...
--
Mark K
 
PerL said:
.... Do you prefer a viewfinder with limited DR and color casts depending on WB? Do you like noise in EVF and slow update in low light?
Click to expand...
Well these things may appear in the final photo and when you use an EVF and see them while previewing before taking the shot, you have the chance to change your settings so as to get a better shot (thanks to the "alert" that you got from the EVF preview). it is one of the biggest disadvantages of OVF vs EVF that the former is completely divorced from the reality of what is going to be captured under whatever shooting settings are selected.
 
There is more delay in the time it takes to raise the mirror in a DSLR than there is electronic delay in the EVF. Electricity moves faster than mechanical devices. Now go home and try to dream up something else.
--
Tom

Look at the picture, not the pixels

http://www.flickr.com/photos/25301400@N00/
 
I don't notice any shutter lag at all. I just took about 10 shots at various isos and couldn't detect any shutter lag. Even the blackout period wasn't much different from my DSLR. Are you pre focusing?
--
Tom

Look at the picture, not the pixels

http://www.flickr.com/photos/25301400@N00/
 
PerL said:
Glenn said:
um Viewfiner on the Nikon just plain black between frames..
Click to expand...
The blackout of the A33/A55 is much longer in single shots, in fast continous they freeze shortly. How is that better?
Click to expand...
Compared to my A100 DSLR the blackout between frames is pretty close. If it is longer with the A55 I can't really sense it. I have image review turned off. With image review turned on there is significant delay. There are advantages to an OVF however. Longer battery life being the biggest for me. Image review making the camera slow is another so I have it turned off which is off set by the WYSIWYG nature of the EVF. I am having a hard time getting used to it as I constantly want to review the photo in the LCD. I just have to learn to trust what I see because the results are always spot on. There is a 1/4 sec shutter lag with flash which I don't like.

--
Tom

Look at the picture, not the pixels

http://www.flickr.com/photos/25301400@N00/
 
PerL said:
Blink of eye or not, one sees clearly that the EVF is out of sync with reality. If I was a sports photographer sitting on the line shooting a whole game I would probbaly get a severe headache with an A33/A55
Click to expand...
You can do 10 fps sports with the A55 as many of the results here testify but compared to a higher end OVF DSLR camera it simply isn't as good. Compared to other DSLRs in it's price class I have to say the A55 is probably better so it sits in between the two.
--
Tom

Look at the picture, not the pixels

http://www.flickr.com/photos/25301400@N00/
 
Leo said:
Wait,

A55 AF delay is 0.22s (the same as for the A580). The shutter delay is 0.103s. The total A55 delay would be 0.323s. For A580 add little time mirror flip. The A55 does not have a mirror to move up/down and will be little faster, however it has the same shutter as A508 to be opened and closed :-).
Click to expand...
Walt is forgetting about the mirror flip which is slower than electrical delay.

--
Tom

Look at the picture, not the pixels

http://www.flickr.com/photos/25301400@N00/
 
MCromer said:
MCromer said:
Matters to people who are after the very top IQ in real life shooting. Those that spend more than a week or two and spend their money on their cameras.
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That obviously wouldn't include you.

The 55 just WIPES THE FLOOR with the A700 in IQ, more resolution, less noise, better DR, better faster and more accurate AF (really important for IQ to have your image in focus!), no sharpness-robbing mirror slap. All of those are real-life IQ issues more important than the minor occasional ghosts from the A55.

Anyone who struts around pretending he cares about "the very top IQ in real life shooting" and then slams the 55 while shooting a 700 is just full of (fill in the blank).
Click to expand...
I own the A55. To say the A55 wipes the floor with the A700 in IQ is a gross exaggeration. At high ISO's the A55 seems to be significantly better but below iso 1600 there isn't any difference other than resolution.

--
Tom

Look at the picture, not the pixels

http://www.flickr.com/photos/25301400@N00/
 
Kia2010 said:
this camera draws either rave glowing reviews or less the good reviews?
I would love to get my hands on one
BUT where in Colorado do I find one to at least make my own judgement
I Have just sold all my nikon gear and have cash in hand

you guys have been great filing l me in on the a55 thanks, I am looking for a camera before christmas
thanks again
Click to expand...
Ultimate Electronics has them in stock. Yes the A55 being a new design seems to have people either thinking they are the second coming or a horrible scourge on photography. Reality is somewhere where in between. I own an A55 and a DSLR, an A100. There are definite advantages to each and for me I like having both. If you are coming from a P&S you will probably like the A55 better. If you already own a DSLR you may be bothered by the differences until you get used to them.

--
Tom

Look at the picture, not the pixels

http://www.flickr.com/photos/25301400@N00/
 
tbcass said:
Kia2010 said:
this camera draws either rave glowing reviews or less the good reviews?
I would love to get my hands on one
BUT where in Colorado do I find one to at least make my own judgement
I Have just sold all my nikon gear and have cash in hand

you guys have been great filing l me in on the a55 thanks, I am looking for a camera before christmas
thanks again
Click to expand...
Ultimate Electronics has them in stock. Yes the A55 being a new design seems to have people either thinking they are the second coming or a horrible scourge on photography. Reality is somewhere where in between. I own an A55 and a DSLR, an A100. There are definite advantages to each and for me I like having both. If you are coming from a P&S you will probably like the A55 better. If you already own a DSLR you may be bothered by the differences until you get used to them.

--
Tom

Look at the picture, not the pixels

http://www.flickr.com/photos/25301400@N00/
Click to expand...
I am someone who cannot tolerate the delay. I tried it very hard in my A100. I barely shoot continuously using an A100 in jpg only. Currently I shoot all using cRAW+small jpg in my A700/A850. Can't do this in my older Canon bodies but Sony Nex 5 seems good.

However there is definitely a lag in A55. I wonder if this is the problem of slower card in my tested cameras. If there is no such delay, then A55 serves a good one for me either as a backup for A850 or as a companion to Nex5.
--
Mark K
 
Mark K said:
I am someone who cannot tolerate the delay. I tried it very hard in my A100. I barely shoot continuously using an A100 in jpg only. Currently I shoot all using cRAW+small jpg in my A700/A850. Can't do this in my older Canon bodies but Sony Nex 5 seems good.

However there is definitely a lag in A55. I wonder if this is the problem of slower card in my tested cameras. If there is no such delay, then A55 serves a good one for me either as a backup for A850 or as a companion to Nex5.
--
Click to expand...
Maybe. I use the fastest memory stick card available in my A55 and there is no shutter lag or delay. It is a much faster camera than the A100 for all but flash photography. There is a slight delay with flash.

--
Tom

Look at the picture, not the pixels

http://www.flickr.com/photos/25301400@N00/
 
tbcass said:
I own the A55. To say the A55 wipes the floor with the A700 in IQ is a gross exaggeration. At high ISO's the A55 seems to be significantly better but below iso 1600 there isn't any difference other than resolution.
Click to expand...
And no sharpness-robbing mirror slap. And faster and more accurate AF. And more DR.
 
MCromer said:
MCromer said:
I own the A55. To say the A55 wipes the floor with the A700 in IQ is a gross exaggeration. At high ISO's the A55 seems to be significantly better but below iso 1600 there isn't any difference other than resolution.
Click to expand...
And no sharpness-robbing mirror slap.
Click to expand...
This is an issue only when using a tripod. For that the A700 does have MLU which is admittedly inconvenient.
MCromer said:
And faster and more accurate AF.
Click to expand...
Is this true? I don't own an A700. The A55 AF is certainly fast and accurate.

Those things certainly don't constitute "wiping the floor" and the OP was referring to IQ and nothing else .

--
Tom

Look at the picture, not the pixels

http://www.flickr.com/photos/25301400@N00/
 
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