A55: Sony says no AF micro adjustment feature in future firmware

[darkdirtydwarf]

Then why does the NEX-5N+LEA2 get it then?

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.

exactly. That's why I asked Sony. But they crushed my hopes with no mercy..

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

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).

The A55 is my first DSLR and I'm very pleased with it. I bought it after getting a contract as photographer for a known website (couldn't do the job with my NEX only

I wanted then to upgrade to something more professional, but Sony isn't offering anything to my liking right now, and given my lens collection, I can't afford to change brand.

Oh well, maybe I'll wait for the A99 and make the big step then (if it has decent high ISO performances )

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).

LoL! The thing is, I already feel the need to upgrade. I wanted to make the switch between my A55 and something better now that the A55 has still some resale value. By the time the A99 is out, the A55 will sell for nothing. I could keep it as backup, but as I want now a WR kit and I plan to buy a K5, I'll end up with one body too much. Who will tell it to my girlfriend???

Oh, and someone should tell her I'll need a new computer too. 36MP? My old laptop compains already about the 16MP...

 

[Ralf B]

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.

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.

Some thoughts that might help to get it:

• Only the combination of the two makes use of micro-focus adjust, as a Nex body and native E-Mount lenses work with on-sensor CDAF and do not need AF adjust as result
• The combined cost of a Nex5/5N/7 plus LE-A2 adapter to get PDAF with A-Mount lenses makes for an A-Mount body priced considerably above entry-level DSLRs.
• Finally and eventually most important, an adapter comes with added mechanical tolerances. These may make AF micro-adjust an eventual necessity for Sony to avoid massive returns due to mechanically caused front-or backfocus issue of the set-up: You are handling three system components instead of just two.

My three cents worth. What do you think?
--
Ralf
http://RalfRalph.smugmug.com/

 

[TrojMacReady]

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.

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.

Some thoughts that might help to get it:

• Only the combination of the two makes use of micro-focus adjust, as a Nex body and native E-Mount lenses work with on-sensor CDAF and do not need AF adjust as result
• The combined cost of a Nex5/5N/7 plus LE-A2 adapter to get PDAF with A-Mount lenses makes for an A-Mount body priced considerably above entry-level DSLRs.
• Finally and eventually most important, an adapter comes with added mechanical tolerances. These may make AF micro-adjust an eventual necessity for Sony to avoid massive returns due to mechanically caused front-or backfocus issue of the set-up: You are handling three system components instead of just two.

My three cents worth. What do you think?
--
Ralf
http://RalfRalph.smugmug.com/

 

[WaltKnapp]

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.

The shutter life expectancy is a statistical average prediction, not a set point when the shutter will quit. If you are expecting it to quit on exactly 100k, you will probably be wrong if you think at 100k plus one it will be broken and you can send it in.

 

[TrojMacReady]

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.

The shutter life expectancy is a statistical average prediction, not a set point when the shutter will quit.

Obviously never implied it is...

If you are expecting it to quit on exactly 100k, you will probably be wrong if you think at 100k plus one it will be broken and you can send it in

IIRC it's rated 60k and I'll be most likely hitting close to 100k after my trip to the US in march already. I'd rather double that the next 2 years without much worry about my shutter. Simple statistics too.

And based on the rated 60k, good chance it will die well before I hit say 200k in a wear out session.