heliguy
Forum Enthusiast
Probably wrong on this but didn't I see a post here in the past where you could manually do some AF microadjust on the A55 by popping off the covers under the pop up flash and making some adjustments with a screwdriver????
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A55: Sony says no AF micro adjustment feature in future firmware
- Thread starter darkdirtydwarf
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- sony slt-a55
TrojMacReady
Veteran Member
Yes, you can with about every DSLR (altough with most non SLT cameras the screws are located at the bottom of the camera). But again it's a "one correction should fit all lenses" solution.
And in theory could void your warranty. I say in theory because I've never heard of anyone getting into warranty trouble after making adjustments.
dennismullen
Veteran Member
There are no screws to adjust the A65 which suggests a possible software test mode where you adjust front/back focus. If Sony wants to differentiate the products they should give the A65 a one setting only adjustment. It would save cameras being sent for repair because of front/back focus issues.
Cheers,
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Cheers,
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Corkcampbell
Forum Pro
no text
TrojMacReady
Veteran Member
Thanks, that's good to know as I adjusted mine and plan to send mine in for repairs under warranty.
I'm planning to wear out the shutter before may when the standard 2 year warranty on my A500 expires, as I've alreay hit > 70k clicks and don't want to call it an economic total loss when it dies just after warranty expires.
chlamchowder
Senior Member
In my opinion, it looks like a business decision to differentiate the 5-series cameras from more expensive models. I see no technical issue preventing them from implementing AF micro adjust on the 5-series cameras.
I think AF micro adjust works by using an offset, so the final focus position is one where the AF sensors indicate a slight front or back focus, depending on the adjustments ordered by the user. I bet that the firmware controlling the AF system can be overwritten by an upgrade, so it's possible for new firmware to be able to apply micro adjustment by telling the motors to move a specified number of units away from the 'proper' focus position determined by the AF sensors.
Even if the motor in 5-series and lower cameras is indeed less precise than the ones found in more expensive models, micro adjustment would still be possible, albeit less precise.
As a business decision, it does make sense. I recall hearing several people considering the a77 and not the a55/580/65 only because of the AF micro adjust feature. Some people are willing to pay twice as much to get that feature, which works to Sony's advantage.
I think AF micro adjust works by using an offset, so the final focus position is one where the AF sensors indicate a slight front or back focus, depending on the adjustments ordered by the user. I bet that the firmware controlling the AF system can be overwritten by an upgrade, so it's possible for new firmware to be able to apply micro adjustment by telling the motors to move a specified number of units away from the 'proper' focus position determined by the AF sensors.
Even if the motor in 5-series and lower cameras is indeed less precise than the ones found in more expensive models, micro adjustment would still be possible, albeit less precise.
As a business decision, it does make sense. I recall hearing several people considering the a77 and not the a55/580/65 only because of the AF micro adjust feature. Some people are willing to pay twice as much to get that feature, which works to Sony's advantage.
darkdirtydwarf
Senior Member
The D-range button is now programmable (feature) and they address the HSS flash issue (bug fix).
As far as I know these are the changes they made.
darkdirtydwarf
Senior Member
That applies to all your lenses. Being a hardware solution, it could fix only a problem that happens with all your lenses. But if you have a problem with one lens only, fixing it in this way would cause problems with the other lenses that before where working fine (if one has a FF issue and one is fine, if you fix the FF issue you'll end up with a BF issue with the other lens).
I'd rather not tamper with those screws in any case. There is always MF after all...
Amateur Sony Shooter
Veteran Member
Not just Sony, Canon for example only offer this feature in their 7D, 60D doesn't have it. Obviously camera makers want to sell high rank model to buyers with sizable lens collection (hence more chance of FF & BF), while entry-mid level buyers are assumed to have only a few basic lenses (18-55, 18-250, 75-300, etc.).
The problem is that more "professional" cameras tend to be more bulky and heavy... so the combination of precise AF and a small body does not exist in Canon or Sony land. This is a pity, I think. In Nikon land, it is slightly better (D7000 is not that big and offers adjustment), in Pentax land as well (K5: Small and feature rich), and also in Olympus land (small E620 has the most comprehensive implementation of AF micro adjustment today).
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Wolfram
occasional Mike
Active member
Hi Edward, this is not correct, lens adjust just gives the AF motor a correction (offset) value for each lens. Whether this is easy or not to implement via firmware I don´t know, but for sure the sensor does not move for micro adjust.
Cheers,
Mike
darkdirtydwarf
Senior Member
Exactly: why doesn't Sony offer it on one of its best cameras (A55), when other companies do offer it in the same segment (K5)?
It's a riddle to me, what these big corporations have in mind.
Or maybe it's me being naive and delusional, wishing to spare some money and get high end features
tbcass
Forum Pro
Yes you did but that method adjusts the focus for all lenses used so unless you use only one lens or all your lens are off by the same amount it is not a good method to use. Fortunately all my lenses focus accurately on my A55 so it's not a feature I need.
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Tom
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TrojMacReady
Veteran Member
And they added some jpeg filter effects?
TrojMacReady
Veteran Member
While both are great cameras, I don't think the A55 and K-5 operate in the same segment at all. The K-5 is closer to A77 level.
Yes (on the naive and delusionalOr maybe it's me being naive and delusional, wishing to spare some money and get high end features
)Nikon offers it in the $1200 D7000; Canon in the $1500ish 7D (not in the 60D). The K-5 is a $1200 camera and that's recently discounted. Whatever you think of the A55 it's not close to being in the same class.
The A55 is a consumer grade camera that just happens to have the same sensor (then again, so does the Nikon D5100) and a couple other performance features that differentiate it from similarly priced low end models. The A65 doesn't even offer micro AF adjust. There was never going to be a chance that Sony would do this.
- Dennis
Gallery at http://kingofthebeasts.smugmug.com
darkdirtydwarf
Senior Member
I can't remember if it was in the same update or before. I don't use them on the A55, as I shot raw (I do use them when I use my IR converted NEX5 though).
darkdirtydwarf
Senior Member
mmm, I guess you are right. Still, the A55 was the camera of the year, it would have been nice to see Sony support it a little longer.
darkdirtydwarf
Senior Member
LoL!Yes (on the naive and delusionalOr maybe it's me being naive and delusional, wishing to spare some money and get high end features
Then why does the NEX-5N+LEA2 get it then?
Both can be bought for a little more than the price of an A55.
That's what I don't get. But I suppose Sony is trying to push the NEX system, given the lack of native e-mount lenses.
Well, I make money out of it, and I don't intend to upgrade to the A77, so I would've loved to have some high end features on my low end -but still professional work worthy- A55
Oh well, maybe I'll wait for the A99 and make the big step then (if it has decent high ISO performances
)I was honestly impressed to see the FW for even the NEX-5 updated to include micro AF adjust with support for the adapter ! So I can see that it's inconsistent.
It's funny, when I had the A700, I never really missed AF micro adjust, but once it started becoming more prevalent, I decided I'd have a hard time buying a camera without it ! I think the A55 is a cool little camera. If Sony rolled out a DSLR successor to the A700 with features I wanted, I'd have been tempted to pick up an A55 to use as a compact option. The low res EVF (which I found tough to see in its entirety with glasses) would drive me nuts if it were my only camera and I'd sorely miss some of the controls I'm used to from the '7' series (dating back to the Maxxum 7 then KM 7D before the A700) but I really did find it an appealing little camera. (I was kind of disappointed that the A77 was so large).Well, I make money out of it, and I don't intend to upgrade to the A77, so I would've loved to have some high end features on my low end -but still professional work worthy- A55
Hah ! There's an upgrade for you ! If they come through with 36MP FF I expect it to be great at high ISO (great in every aspect of IQ).Oh well, maybe I'll wait for the A99 and make the big step then (if it has decent high ISO performances
- Dennis
Gallery at http://kingofthebeasts.smugmug.com
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