Sony A77 is amazing . . . for SO many reasons.

[Scottelly]

This is the best camera that I have ever used. I shouldn't have waited so long. I absolutely LOVE it. I haven't even shot fast with it yet, and I still love it. The screen is SO flexible (the mount of the screen). I like the dial on the back, for adjusting aperture, which I didn't have on my lower-end cameras (Sony A65 and previous cameras, like my Canon Rebel T2i and Nikon D5000). The camera is very much like my Sony A65, but a little heavier, a little more solid feel, and a little faster to react, when I am navigating around in the menus and stuff like that. For some reason my A77 can only do 1080p50 video, rather than 1080p60 (which my Sony A65 can do). That may be something that can be fixed with a firmware update, hopefully.

What I like about my A77:

It has a great EVF, like my A65 bodies.

It has an external flash connector plug for shooting with studio strobes tethered.

It feels great in my hand(s).

It has an LCD screen on top, which shows key information.

It has GPS, like my A65 bodies.

It has a super-articulated mount for the screen on the back.

It has a dial for switching the lens from auto-focus to manual focus (and S and C focus settings, which mean single and continuous).

It has a big buffer for shooting raw and almost never makes me wait to shoot.

That's it so far, for now. I just got it the other day. So far I've shot a couple of sunrises, a mango, and done a model photo shoot with it. Here's one of those photos:


My first photo shoot with a Sony A77 (out of camera jpeg)

Image quality from this camera seems at least as good as that from my A65 bodies, as it should. I haven't shot it above ISO 200 yet. (I rarely shoot at higher ISO settings, because I hate noise in my images.) I expect my A77 will be a great performer in years to come, especially when I get some stellar lenses. For now I make do with some old Minolta lenses and a super-wide Tamron.

Comparing with my Canon 5D it is a higher resolution camera, shoots faster, does video, includes a GPS and EVF (something I prefer over OVF), and a built-in flash. I would guess its main competitor would be a Canon 7 D or Nikon D7100 (the newer cameras should be compared with the A77 II), but those cameras really lack something, where it comes to GPS and the articulating screen. They don't have built-in image stabilization, like the Sony SLT cameras do either, which can be sigificant. Those other cameras can't shoot as fast either. (Please don't tell me you can't follow the action with an SLT camera. My A65 bodies are perfectly fine for following action. I have tried that more than once at the inlet, as boats and Wave Runners go in and out. I don't shoot sports for a living, but I there is a reason so may bird and sports shooters have been buying the A77 and A77 II bodies. Obviously the EVF is fine for shooting action.)

I believe the A77 to be the best value in a mid-range DSLR/DSLT body. Mine cost me less than $350 (used, of course), but even the A77 II has a very low price, when comparing it to the competition. I want to have a GPS, so the A77 II is not an option for me. I don't believe it captures significantly better image quality anyway, so why spend the extra money, if I don't need the Wi-Fi capability?


Another OOC jpeg from earlier that same day.

Hopefully I'll have some more photos for you to see here soon.

 

[gordonpritchard]

Why beat around the bush - just let people know how you feel about the camera! LOL!

 

[Steve West]

Great shots! That first one just cries out for flash with high speed sync.

 

[tbcass]

For some reason my A77 can only do 1080p50 video, rather than 1080p60 (which my Sony A65 can do). That may be something that can be fixed with a firmware update, hopefully.

It sounds like you have the European vesion because the North American version shoots 60 1080P

What I like about my A77:

It has a great EVF, like my A65 bodies.

A77ii even better

It has an external flash connector plug for shooting with studio strobes tethered.

It feels great in my hand(s).

It has an LCD screen on top, which shows key information.

It has GPS, like my A65 bodies.

Unfortunately the A77ii added WiFi and removed GPS.

It has a super-articulated mount for the screen on the back.

It has a dial for switching the lens from auto-focus to manual focus (and S and C focus settings, which mean single and continuous).

It has a big buffer for shooting raw and almost never makes me wait to shoot.

The A77ii buffer is much bigger. I can fill my A77 buffer rather easily but never my A77ii.

My first photo shoot with a Sony A77 (out of camera jpeg)

Image quality from this camera seems at least as good as that from my A65 bodies, as it should. I haven't shot it above ISO 200 yet. (I rarely shoot at higher ISO settings, because I hate noise in my images.) I expect my A77 will be a great performer in years to come, especially when I get some stellar lenses. For now I make do with some old Minolta lenses and a super-wide Tamron.

A77ii even better and has a better JPG engine.

I don't shoot sports for a living, but I there is a reason so many bird and sports shooters have been buying the A77 and A77 II bodies. Obviously the EVF is fine for shooting action.)

The AF in the A77ii is better than A77.

I believe the A77 to be the best value in a mid-range DSLR/DSLT body. Mine cost me less than $350 (used, of course), but even the A77 II has a very low price, when comparing it to the competition. I want to have a GPS, so the A77 II is not an option for me. I don't believe it captures significantly better image quality anyway, so why spend the extra money, if I don't need the Wi-Fi capability?

If GPS is that important to you then the A77 is better for you. I am selling my A77 with 16-300 Tamron lens for $600 (I never use it since I bought the A77ii).

Hopefully I'll have some more photos for you to see here soon.

Looking forward to it.

 

[Dave Oddie]

I love my A77 as well - and the GPS.

If Sony had included it in the A77II I may have upgraded - but maybe not. Unlike many on here I can't easily justify taking a loss on a perfectly good camera just to have the latest and greatest when the current one does the job.

I waited a long time to upgrade from my original A100, passing on the A700 and then all the A3xx/4xx/5xx camera as none of the latter had features dropped from the A100 I valued.

They all came back with the A77 with the only ones missing a viewfinder indication of IBIS via the scale and an external button to turn IBIS on and off.

I sometimes think I ought to move onto a smaller camera as it can be a pain lugging the A77 and my lenses about but every time I pick it up I am reminded that for me it is an ergonomic masterpiece and hence so good to use.

I just wish Sony would not do what many Japanese electronic manufacturers do which is drop useful features (such as GPS) from the next generation of models. It's as if they go back to first principles every time and forget what great ideas they had previously. I find Sony very frustrating with its two steps forward, one step back approach.

 

[Bart7D]

I love my A77 as well - and the GPS.

If Sony had included it in the A77II I may have upgraded - but maybe not. Unlike many on here I can't easily justify taking a loss on a perfectly good camera just to have the latest and greatest when the current one does the job.

I waited a long time to upgrade from my original A100, passing on the A700 and then all the A3xx/4xx/5xx camera as none of the latter had features dropped from the A100 I valued.

They all came back with the A77 with the only ones missing a viewfinder indication of IBIS via the scale and an external button to turn IBIS on and off.

I sometimes think I ought to move onto a smaller camera as it can be a pain lugging the A77 and my lenses about but every time I pick it up I am reminded that for me it is an ergonomic masterpiece and hence so good to use.

I just wish Sony would not do what many Japanese electronic manufacturers do which is drop useful features (such as GPS) from the next generation of models. It's as if they go back to first principles every time and forget what great ideas they had previously. I find Sony very frustrating with its two steps forward, one step back approach.

Say that again.. and again over and over, loud and clearly. I'm with you.

Altogether now: CONSISTENCY (in development and production).

We don't NEED 11 lines of cameras from Sony, all cannibalizing on each other, while dropping features that were already fine and appreciated

 

[acdtech]

That is the same reason I have never upgraded from the A77M1 to an A77M2. I weighed the gains over the loses and am staying with the A77M1. Since I am now retired I cannot afford the upgrade costs to justify I believe is a minor upgrade. The original A77 is still an excellent camera.

 

[RobertBarnett]

I still have my A77 and love it. It is the first camera I have owned that I haven't felt a need to upgrade.Great camera, great features, great images.

Robert

 

[daqk]

I love my A77 as well - and the GPS.

If Sony had included it in the A77II I may have upgraded - but maybe not. Unlike many on here I can't easily justify taking a loss on a perfectly good camera just to have the latest and greatest when the current one does the job.

I waited a long time to upgrade from my original A100, passing on the A700 and then all the A3xx/4xx/5xx camera as none of the latter had features dropped from the A100 I valued.

They all came back with the A77 with the only ones missing a viewfinder indication of IBIS via the scale and an external button to turn IBIS on and off.

I sometimes think I ought to move onto a smaller camera as it can be a pain lugging the A77 and my lenses about but every time I pick it up I am reminded that for me it is an ergonomic masterpiece and hence so good to use.

I just wish Sony would not do what many Japanese electronic manufacturers do which is drop useful features (such as GPS) from the next generation of models. It's as if they go back to first principles every time and forget what great ideas they had previously. I find Sony very frustrating with its two steps forward, one step back approach.

Say that again.. and again over and over, loud and clearly. I'm with you.

Altogether now: CONSISTENCY (in development and production).

We don't NEED 11 lines of cameras from Sony, all cannibalizing on each other, while dropping features that were already fine and appreciated

Well said, I'm with you all.

Won't touch any "new" Sony without GPS in a 100 ft pole.

I have A77 and plan to keep using it as long as I can.

 

[tbcass]

Won't touch any "new" Sony without GPS in a 100 ft pole.

That seems a bit extreme. ;-)

 

[daqk]

Won't touch any "new" Sony without GPS in a 100 ft pole.

That seems a bit extreme. ;-)

--
Tom
Look at the picture, not the pixels
------------
Misuse of the ability to do 100% pixel peeping is the bane of digital photography.

To Sony's extreme stupid move (funny they always decide what we need what we don't need ... like the toy effect feature they added on A65 so you can trig it without notice ...), it will be only fair to response with the extreme boycott ... they did not listen unless we vote with their wallet.

Well, in the past I already have 5 Sony cameras with GPS except A6000. And I only would "upgrade" when I have to, plus Sony either add back GPS or have a new add-on solution to those fancy new cameras that do not have GPS built in. I almost ready to get A7 series but I decide not, the GPS is a major reason I am not afraid to tell them but I don't think Sony's Japanese culture would care it anyways.

IT'S A SONY! What can I say. lol

 

[tbcass]

If GPS is that important then by all means don't buy a Sony without it. I consider GPS pretty far down the list of importance so it hasn't stopped me. I have both an A77 and A77ii. As a photographic tool the A77ii is better so that's the one I use while the A77 sits on the shelf. I plan on selling it. The problem for you is I believe few people consider GPS that important, something nice to have but not essential, so your little boycott will have little effect.

--
Tom
Look at the picture, not the pixels
------------
Misuse of the ability to do 100% pixel peeping is the bane of digital photography.

 

[daqk]

If GPS is that important then by all means don't buy a Sony without it. I consider GPS pretty far down the list of importance so it hasn't stopped me. I have both an A77 and A77ii. As a photographic tool the A77ii is better so that's the one I use while the A77 sits on the shelf. I plan on selling it. The problem for you is I believe few people consider GPS that important, something nice to have but not essential, so your little boycott will have little effect.

--
Tom
Look at the picture, not the pixels
------------
Misuse of the ability to do 100% pixel peeping is the bane of digital photography.

If the Sony is the only game in town then you are right. But I moved on long time ago and always had my hands on what I needed not just limit on what Sony offered.

For landscape people the GPS is that important especially when we know how to use the info afterwards - which fortunately or unfortunately I had ... like a few of the others in this thread(s).

I can care less of Sony to shoot action with below average AF and ergonomics. My few Panasonics camera does most of the heavy lifting if I need to chase someone or something.

Ironically I had A77M2 for a short while then returned due to no OBVIOUS benefit in comparison to A77 on IQ. Well I do imaging processing and quality for living. I have almost same situation on A6000 vs. A6300 but hey that saves my $.

The main issue with few of us to have to stay A77 or legacy camera is simple, Sony removed GPS on new cams but never provides us an equivalent alternative (please don't mention the old Sony standalone GPS brick ...). The new flash interface is supposed to be very capable" for anything to plug in, but the accessory "GPS dongle" never was developed to put on these fancy new cameras. We are still waiting if Sony wants to hear.

I never asked the any "improvements" to ppl who ditched their Minolta style flashes and bought into the new Sony ones with 2x-3x more $ ... again IT's A Sony! lol

 

[Dave Oddie]

The new flash interface is supposed to be very capable" for anything to plug in, but the accessory "GPS dongle" never was developed to put on these fancy new cameras. We are still waiting if Sony wants to hear.

Never understood why they didn't. I'd hazard a guess those who claim GPS isn't of much use to them would also be joining the queue to buy one if such a device were to become available.

 

[tbcass]

Never understood why they didn't. I'd hazard a guess those who claim GPS isn't of much use to them would also be joining the queue to buy one if such a device were to become available.

In my case you'd guess wrong. I've had 3 cameras with GPS and never had much use for it.

 

[daqk]

Never understood why they didn't. I'd hazard a guess those who claim GPS isn't of much use to them would also be joining the queue to buy one if such a device were to become available.

In my case you'd guess wrong. I've had 3 cameras with GPS and never had much use for it.

--
Tom
Look at the picture, not the pixels
------------
Misuse of the ability to do 100% pixel peeping is the bane of digital photography.

Well you "were" not alone.

The point of this is, you don't know how important it (GPS) is unless you really use them and then you will even miss them more after that.

I had my first A55 years back and I did not "use" it at all instead I left on/off randomly .. until one day I browse my pictures and it displayed GPS info with a google-earth link ... I accidentally clicked then I am REALLY clicked into a new world literally. I saw other wonderful pictures at same spot took by other photographers plus all other great pictures from different time of the day and seasons, plus different angles or surrounded areas ... so much beyond a TRUE re-visit of the place. It turned immediately into a MUST for me and my friends who is a seasoned wedding photographer also does some landscape when he is paid to travel ...

After all, why would I buy a camera without it?

 

[tbcass]

I actually did use the GPS on my A55 and at first thought it was pretty cool but as I said, after a while when the novelty wore off I never used it again. When I catalog my photos if they are from someplace away from home I put them in a folder with the name of the location. I've been doing this since before there was GPS in cameras. I can imagine if I was traveling around the world I could use GPS but for my uses it's very low on the scale of importance.

Don't get me wrong. I can understand why some people find it useful but I don't understand why it's make or break for some people to the point where they'd settle for a lesser camera because it has GPS.

--
Tom
Look at the picture, not the pixels
------------
Misuse of the ability to do 100% pixel peeping is the bane of digital photography.

 

[sybersitizen]

... Don't get me wrong. I can understand why some people find it useful but I don't understand why it's make or break for some people to the point where they'd settle for a lesser camera because it has GPS.

Ultimately when there are minor things we cannot understand about other people, year after year, the best thing to do is just let them go.

 

[tbcass]

You are right but sometimes I think people use it as an excuse not to spend the money. I did that in my younger days but as I've gotten older I no longer deny myself. Life is too short.

--
Tom
Look at the picture, not the pixels
------------
Misuse of the ability to do 100% pixel peeping is the bane of digital photography.

 

[sybersitizen]

... Life is too short.

Yes, life is short ... so why spend any of it diverting what was intended as a celebratory thread and pushing it further and further into what you already know will be a fruitless discussion about GPS?

If you want to ponder something that's hard to understand, ponder why it's important for these people to know that you personally chose instead the A77II. They're already aware of what that camera has to offer, and could have chosen it if they wished.