Hear Ye, Hear Ye, Hear Ye
I hereby proclaim the Sony A77 to be an outstanding camera!
As a matter of fact I'm giddy with joy.
I finally had the opportunity to put it through its paces in bright light on a recent trip to Italy and after reviewing the photos I am stunned.
The dynamic range, tonality and color are exactly what I saw through the EVF and exactly as I remember the scene. I can't say that about any of the cameras I have owned in the past, film or digital ranging from a Pentax to the Canon T90 to the Minolta 7D and lastly the A700.
The A77 blows the A700 out of water with regard to its ability to hold highlights. I took several hundred photos, many in what I know to be difficult lighting situations and not a single photo had blown highlights! I was never able to say that about my A700.
But it is more than just that. The dynamic range is clearly improved and what I would call the tonal transitions.
That together with the incredible resolution equals excitement in my book.
I also found the A77 to be very responsive. I found no perceptible delay from turn on to photo. The menus also are quite responsive, although I didn't find myself using them very often.
All of the FN entries were fast to react.
Handheld twilight works beautifully. I used it whenever I knew I would have to use higher than optimal ISO for the A77 and it did not disappoint.
For the first time in my digital life I decided to use JPEG extra fine for all of these shots, standard color, NR, etc. I DID use the lens functions, shading, CA etc. and they did a great job with my Sony 16-105. I also used DRO low bracketing so I have three of each. In most cases I chose the middle one.
At full resolution these pics are simply stunning on my calibrated screen. It really is like looking through a window at the scene as I experienced it.
For the first time in a while I can truly say I'm excited about getting out and taking photos!
I wrote in a previous post that I didn't think there was any reason for A700 owners to feel they should jump at the A77. I was wrong. VERY wrong.
Once you see the photos that you have taken, at least on screen (I haven't printed any yet), you are going to be amazed and deeply satisfied because you will experience the same emotional connection that caused you to take the photo in the first place.
And that, ladies and gentlemen is the highest compliment I can give.
I'll post more from this lovely trip, but this should give you an idea.
All taken with the Sony 16-105.
Cheers!
George
Exhibit A: I definitely could not have achieved this result with my A700 even if I had started with a RAW file. There are such smooth and natural transitions in her skin tones. The color and exposure are spot on.
Again, the sun is directly behind this tree shining through, but no exposure compensation necessary.
Again, no blown highlights!
I could have only taken this one if were lying on my back on the ground with the A700, but thanks to the A77's contortionist LCD it was a snap.
Handheld twilight ISO 1600
Amazing detail
The burning bush. It looked EXACTLY like this!
Another difficult lighting situation mastered beautifully:
Two more handheld twilight shots
ISO 500
ISO 2000!
--
Visit my galleries at:
http://www.pbase.com/georgew
I hereby proclaim the Sony A77 to be an outstanding camera!
As a matter of fact I'm giddy with joy.
I finally had the opportunity to put it through its paces in bright light on a recent trip to Italy and after reviewing the photos I am stunned.
The dynamic range, tonality and color are exactly what I saw through the EVF and exactly as I remember the scene. I can't say that about any of the cameras I have owned in the past, film or digital ranging from a Pentax to the Canon T90 to the Minolta 7D and lastly the A700.
The A77 blows the A700 out of water with regard to its ability to hold highlights. I took several hundred photos, many in what I know to be difficult lighting situations and not a single photo had blown highlights! I was never able to say that about my A700.
But it is more than just that. The dynamic range is clearly improved and what I would call the tonal transitions.
That together with the incredible resolution equals excitement in my book.
I also found the A77 to be very responsive. I found no perceptible delay from turn on to photo. The menus also are quite responsive, although I didn't find myself using them very often.
All of the FN entries were fast to react.
Handheld twilight works beautifully. I used it whenever I knew I would have to use higher than optimal ISO for the A77 and it did not disappoint.
For the first time in my digital life I decided to use JPEG extra fine for all of these shots, standard color, NR, etc. I DID use the lens functions, shading, CA etc. and they did a great job with my Sony 16-105. I also used DRO low bracketing so I have three of each. In most cases I chose the middle one.
At full resolution these pics are simply stunning on my calibrated screen. It really is like looking through a window at the scene as I experienced it.
For the first time in a while I can truly say I'm excited about getting out and taking photos!
I wrote in a previous post that I didn't think there was any reason for A700 owners to feel they should jump at the A77. I was wrong. VERY wrong.
Once you see the photos that you have taken, at least on screen (I haven't printed any yet), you are going to be amazed and deeply satisfied because you will experience the same emotional connection that caused you to take the photo in the first place.
And that, ladies and gentlemen is the highest compliment I can give.
I'll post more from this lovely trip, but this should give you an idea.
All taken with the Sony 16-105.
Cheers!
George
Exhibit A: I definitely could not have achieved this result with my A700 even if I had started with a RAW file. There are such smooth and natural transitions in her skin tones. The color and exposure are spot on.
Again, the sun is directly behind this tree shining through, but no exposure compensation necessary.
Again, no blown highlights!
I could have only taken this one if were lying on my back on the ground with the A700, but thanks to the A77's contortionist LCD it was a snap.
Handheld twilight ISO 1600
Amazing detail
The burning bush. It looked EXACTLY like this!
Another difficult lighting situation mastered beautifully:
Two more handheld twilight shots
ISO 500
ISO 2000!
--
Visit my galleries at:
http://www.pbase.com/georgew
