A77 arrived!

First impression. This camera is BIG and HEAVY. It didn't sink in how big and heavy it was going to be. Now I can make the opposite complaint of those who say the A55 grip is too small for them. I really can't hold this camera one-handed, not only is my hand kind of small for it, my arm complained about keeping the weight in the air. For sure my right arm is going to get stronger. Yes, I shoot two-handed, but still...

This is surely bigger and heavier than it needs to be? What is causing it? The metal? The weather sealing? Surely a couple more buttons don't count. Sensor is same size. More features are all software that I can think of at the moment. I'm afraid this camera is almost in the class of cameras that get left at home in favor of a point and shoot -- or, in my case, an A55.

So beware, small handed people and all the wimps out there! Is the A65 the same size and weight?

I said to my husband: Now people will think I'm a "real photographer". He said, no, not with a Sony camera. Oh, well...

Battery is charging. Battery charger takes half of my power strip, the A55 charger taking the other half, sitting on top of all the other outlets... I like chargers with CORDS. My Panasonic and Olympus chargers have cords...

--
Judy
http://nichollsphoto.com/

Congrats Judy!

Funny because my initial observations were just the opposite and I was surprised a bit that the camera was not bigger. (I was then glad I didnt consider the A65 which is known to be smaller still). Anyway, I added the grip battery handle to mine and the leather wrist strap and now I feel at home with it. Enjoy it!
--
Ken
Sony Alpha Seventy Seven & Kit 16-50 lens
5 Tamron lenses, 10-24, 60m, 180m, 70-200, 200-500

Print this article for your husband

http://www.popphoto.com/gear/2011/09/lab-test-sony-a77-new-king-aps-c-dslrs

Congrats and enjoy your new camera. Mine is probably under water in Thailand

JudyN said:

First impression. This camera is BIG and HEAVY. It didn't sink in how big and heavy it was going to be. Now I can make the opposite complaint of those who say the A55 grip is too small for them. I really can't hold this camera one-handed, not only is my hand kind of small for it, my arm complained about keeping the weight in the air. For sure my right arm is going to get stronger. Yes, I shoot two-handed, but still...

This is surely bigger and heavier than it needs to be? What is causing it? The metal? The weather sealing? Surely a couple more buttons don't count. Sensor is same size. More features are all software that I can think of at the moment. I'm afraid this camera is almost in the class of cameras that get left at home in favor of a point and shoot -- or, in my case, an A55.

So beware, small handed people and all the wimps out there! Is the A65 the same size and weight?

I said to my husband: Now people will think I'm a "real photographer". He said, no, not with a Sony camera. Oh, well...

Battery is charging. Battery charger takes half of my power strip, the A55 charger taking the other half, sitting on top of all the other outlets... I like chargers with CORDS. My Panasonic and Olympus chargers have cords...

--
Judy
http://nichollsphoto.com/

Click to expand...

JudyN said:

This is surely bigger and heavier than it needs to be? What is causing it? The metal? The weather sealing? Surely a couple more buttons don't count.

Click to expand...

Sony probably listened to people whining that A55 being too small. That's just a design decision. There is nothing inherent why enthusiast model couldn't be made smaller (K-5 is much smaller but it is still a semi-pro model).

I do agree that that's a serious problem with A77. It should have been smaller, about the size of A65 would have been perfect.

Sony should take a note of this for future (especially A99 and A77 upgrade in a couple of years).

Congratulations!

Heavy = quality, rugged and good.

I've got a SLT-A55 and a 70-400g, just doesn't feel balanced conected to each other. I can't get on with any camera unless it has a battery grip, just doesn't feel right.

You will get used to the weight and balance of the A77, I'm sure.

--
Nick -

NorthwestF said:

JudyN said:

This is surely bigger and heavier than it needs to be? What is causing it? The metal? The weather sealing? Surely a couple more buttons don't count.

Click to expand...

Sony probably listened to people whining that A55 being too small. That's just a design decision. There is nothing inherent why enthusiast model couldn't be made smaller (K-5 is much smaller but it is still a semi-pro model).

I do agree that that's a serious problem with A77. It should have been smaller, about the size of A65 would have been perfect.

Sony should take a note of this for future (especially A99 and A77 upgrade in a couple of years).

Click to expand...

I disagree, I wouldn't want to see it any smaller. If you want smaller, look to the A65 instead. Sony did the right thing by offering the A65 smaller. One size does not fit all nor should it ever. But if they aren't careful by only offering smaller, they lose a portion of their users to other brands instead. Those who want or need small should gravitate to the NEX series.
--
Ken
Sony Alpha Seventy Seven & Kit 16-50 lens
5 Tamron lenses, 10-24, 60m, 180m, 70-200, 200-500

Judy, your husbands comments are funny. I am a seasoned experienced photographer and have been shooting for years, most recently even professionally, and a couple months ago I went out on a photo expedition and took my Sony A55 and the 70-400 and I was totally snubbed by everyone on the trip, some who were shooting with the Canon Rebels and Nikon D50s. Finally somebody asked how long I had been shooting and when I stated over 10 years, the person looked at me and asked me if I had ever considered getting a "real" camera? I asked what made up a real camera and the funniest thing was they really couldn't tell me anything more than "well, that Canon quality". I asked about the Canon quality with their HUGE autofocus issues that almost killed the whole Mark III release? Then they came back with that Hi ISO thing and I asked them (in our middle of the day sunlight shoot) what about this shoot required Hi ISO. Well, then I stopped them and told them, if this did require Hi ISO, I probably would have brought my D3S and my assortment of lenses but this shoot didn't require it. Now, all of a sudden everyone wants to talk to me. It is funny how Sony gets no street cred yet but hey, their loss our gain. Good luck with your 77. I am thrilled with the initial impression. Now if I can get some decent weather and get over these kidney stones, I will go out and get some pictures. Take care.
--
Robb
http://www.robbquinnimaging.com




'Dancing through life......those who don't try, never look foolish'
NPS Member
NAPP/WPPI/NANPA Member
WSSA Member #76

Features and weight are very little connected. I wanted the features of the A77 that the A65 doesn't have. I didn't really choose it for the weather sealing and certainly not for the weight.

I think it's another decision like the 24MP. Every time I happen across my Canon SLR film camera I am shocked at how light it is and how HUGE and HEAVY the Canikons I see everyone with these days. People come into our gallery with monster cameras hanging around their neck and talk about photography. Their first question is what kind of camera do I "have". Most have no clue at all about photography. But their camera is BIG and BLACK and HEAVY and that's all that counts. If Sony really wanted to make an impression shouldn't they have written 24MP on the camera? I have more pixels than you have, yah yah!

--
Judy
http://nichollsphoto.com/

He was tongue in cheek, but he was also right.

FMPhoto said:

Judy, your husbands comments are funny.

Click to expand...

--
Judy
http://nichollsphoto.com/

It's funny but the camera was smaller than I imagined it to be from Youtube videos. It's the same size as the A700 but lighter. The weight comes from the magnesium body and that's why the A65 will be much lighter.

I was on a wildlife masterclass a few weeks ago and was asked by a Canon owner to help him navigate arouind his DSLR because he found it confusing and had to keep referring to his manual. I showed him the A77 interface and how every important camera function had its own button plus the Fn button for making changes. It even has an ? button if you need help. Canon is for real photographers?

It's funny how DPreview think the A77 interface is confusing.

George Evans
http://www.wirralpix.com

George Evans said:

It's funny how DPreview think the A77 interface is confusing.

George Evans
http://www.wirralpix.com

Click to expand...

See, that right there goes to show how you can't (and shouldn't) take the DPreview as the written gospel, like so many are inclined to do. That statement couldn't be further from the truth in my opinion as compared to both Olympus and Nikon cameras I've owned previously. The menus, buttons and interface is pretty accomodating if you asked me. So DPreview got that wrong I feel. I wonder what other things they got wrong too?
--
Ken
Sony Alpha Seventy Seven & Kit 16-50 lens
5 Tamron lenses, 10-24, 60m, 180m, 70-200, 200-500

harleydavidson said:

NorthwestF said:

JudyN said:

This is surely bigger and heavier than it needs to be? What is causing it? The metal? The weather sealing? Surely a couple more buttons don't count.

Click to expand...

Sony probably listened to people whining that A55 being too small. That's just a design decision. There is nothing inherent why enthusiast model couldn't be made smaller (K-5 is much smaller but it is still a semi-pro model).

I do agree that that's a serious problem with A77. It should have been smaller, about the size of A65 would have been perfect.

Sony should take a note of this for future (especially A99 and A77 upgrade in a couple of years).

Click to expand...

I disagree, I wouldn't want to see it any smaller. If you want smaller, look to the A65 instead.

Click to expand...

A65 doesn't have all the same features as A77. Add all the same features, and most people will always pick the smaller camera. A smaller camera is the preferred preference for most people.

been posted on every website and there have been numerous photos of the A77 next to other cameras and comments about how heavy it is, and how similar in size it is to the A700.

That being said, after buying the A77 (and grip), I find that, even without the grip, I prefer my A33 for daily use (and my GH2 even more). It is sad, but I may be eBaying my new camera only because having bought it has made me realize how important portability is to me.

Corkcampbell said:

Size and weight shouldn't have been a surprise and the weight has been posted on every website and there have been numerous photos of the A77 next to other cameras and comments about how heavy it is, and how similar in size it is to the A700.

Click to expand...

In the literal and obvious sense I agree, but pictures and tables can't quite prepare a person for the reality of actually holding the object in their hand.

I bought a Sony 70-300 G lens on eBay after having done all of my homework. I could quote the exact size and weight of that lens, yet when it arrived it was twice as big and heavy as I had expected so I feel Judy's pain. The only on-line sympathy I got was from about six different people telling me to be glad I didn't buy a 70-400mm lens.

That said, my wife has a Canon 7D and I know the a77 is smaller and lighter. God bless the a77.
--



Tacoma, Washington, USA

Corkcampbell said:

That being said, after buying the A77 (and grip), I find that, even without the grip, I prefer my A33 for daily use (and my GH2 even more). It is sad, but I may be eBaying my new camera only because having bought it has made me realize how important portability is to me.

Click to expand...

Exactly. The size is the real issue (unlike 24 MP sensor). Sony should have listened to the rest of us (the majority) about the size issue.

Ray Maines said:

Corkcampbell said:

Size and weight shouldn't have been a surprise and the weight has been posted on every website and there have been numerous photos of the A77 next to other cameras and comments about how heavy it is, and how similar in size it is to the A700.

Click to expand...

In the literal and obvious sense I agree, but pictures and tables can't quite prepare a person for the reality of actually holding the object in their hand.

I bought a Sony 70-300 G lens on eBay after having done all of my homework. I could quote the exact size and weight of that lens, yet when it arrived it was twice as big and heavy as I had expected so I feel Judy's pain. The only on-line sympathy I got was from about six different people telling me to be glad I didn't buy a 70-400mm lens.

That said, my wife has a Canon 7D and I know the a77 is smaller and lighter. God bless the a77.
--



Tacoma, Washington, USA

Click to expand...

You think the Sony 70-400's heavy, wait till you get a load of the Tamron 200-400 LD f/5.6. That thing's a Sherman tank compared to all my other lenses..in fact it outweighs my six other lenses AND A230 COMBINED! Can you imagine hooking that beasty up to the A77? I'd probably need a solid steel back brace just to keep myself from toppling over every time I took a shot. It'd be worth the discomfort though...just the idea of my Tammie on an A77 makes this lil kitten's heart go pitter with joy....um, Santa? If you're listening I know what I want for Christmas!

Sorry that you are disappointed in the physical size of your new A77. Sure would be nice if the camera was available at the local stores so that one could handle it before laying out a ton of money. My guess is that you will get used to it after a while. Still waiting for mine, should have it by the weekend.
--

• May the good light always be with you! - Karl: A77 - (8/10-20/18-250/50-500mm)

Coming from a Canon 7D and EOS 50D before that, all with heavy L lenses, the a77 feels like a feather so far to me. Wouldn't like any smaller. Congrats on getting your cam. Still dazzled by mine. That EVF is dead sexy.

Landon

You already own an A55, which is significantly smaller and lighter than an A77, and yet you find the A55 to not be portable. Perhaps you should have looked into the A65, although it lacks some important extras. However, no point in having extras if you can't put it to use because of the size and weight. The size & dimensions of the A65 and A77 have been well-discussed on this forum, reviews, and Youtube videos.

That being said, hopefully you will get a hang of the A77's size. Enjoy.

I knew the size -- I looked carefully at pictures of A77s and A55s sitting side by side. I wondered if I should find some weights the weight of the A77 to heft, but I thought the size was enough to think about and decided it was not too large. You mean I find the A77 to not be portable? I almost never leave the A55 at home. It often lives in my purse, even with the Sony 18-250mm lens on it.

Since the IQ difference between the two is not as great as some of us (including me) hoped, I guess there would be no loss in taking the A55 day to day, when I most likely will find nothing very interesting to shoot.

--
Judy
http://nichollsphoto.com/