a550's Face Detection feature. Good idea?

[don1jam]

I have used face detection in a P&S and it was helpful in getting the faces in focus because, even if you were composing the scene by moving the camera as it maintains focus tracking on the persons face.

On a dSLR where I hope it will be helpful is event photography where you would be able to quickly take back to back photos without having to select focus points.

Also I am hoping that face detection will be good enough to focus in low light on faces without have to use the silly multi-flash focus method.

 

[Phixel]

When traveling, I sometimes have someone else use my camera so that I can get in the picture with my wife. With my Fujifilm f32fd (with face detection) our faces are always in focus. With the a700 in a novice's hand, we are OOF more times than we are in focus! For this reason alone, I think face detection is a great idea in any camera!
-Phil

 

[Zamac]

I have mixed feelings about face detection, and usually switch it off on my P&S. For one thing, it does not detect faces as such , but light coloured objects that are clearly delineated from a darker background. On a hike I once took a picture of a lake. I did not check the image immediately (perhaps a case for chimping), and when I transferred it to my computer I found I had sharp image of a light-coloured foreground reed on the extreme left and a very blurred lake.

 

[Gregg Helleren]

On that basis it might not be equally popular around the globe.

Perhaps Sony has done something remarkable and the A550 doesn't just detect light, oval-shaped objects.
--
Warning: Do not stare into laser with remaining eye!

 

[andy forey]

why does it matter what camera someone has...? The A200 is just as able to produce a great photo ....im really lost on why people keep getting personal with barry about his camera and supposed job.

In most cases i do not agree with barry , he anoys me with his constant moaning but i think his camera is irellevent....

 

[Barry Fitzgerald]

But is the A550 for the more experienced photographers? I don't think so! It is for the once that want to become a serious photographer but are yet a P&S user. I think that if it was Canon Or Nikon who put in this feature first, there where a lot of people who should say: Why not you Sony?"

Sure the new series of 5 cameras don't appear to be targeted to more experienced users. But I simply suggest face detection is not a killer consumer feature. I have no idea how well or in demand LV cameras are..hard to tell

But Face detection is about focusing on the face in the picture, the part most of us want to be sharp! So the camera is focussing automatical on the part you want to e sharp. It is the next step in AF!

Fair point, for newer users, but few will really need it. Nice to have, essential no.

You're rigt, but are thos features for thos who Sony aimes at with the A5x0 range? Or are those features for the new A7x0 buyers? Sony has to sell cameras to all kind of users. from new DSL users to Pros. It is impossible to help them all with one camera!

IMO that is the mistake Sony have made, we could easily have had 1 non LV model to cater for more traditional photographers.

Sony seem to think everyone is a new user or inexperienced, or not looking for mid level features at anything below the now discontinued A700 level

If you look at the current line up, it's 5 entry level models, then a big jump to FF ones.

I think it will be! Many people will love the way the part of the picture is automaticly sharp that they want to be sharp! It is AF to the next generation. All brands need this feature to sell cameras in my opinion! A camera without it will be more worthless then a camera without MLU or DOF buton!

And LV is now sensor based and Fast AF LV suited for all! So every body will be pleased with the choice they get.

But some won't be pleased they are losing a possible pentaprism VF for Sony's LV

 

[aarif]

good idea sure but does it really work in another matter, I want to see some reviewer test it first
--
I shoot with Canon Nikon and Sony so rest assured I'm no fanboy
http://www.pbase.com/aarif

 

[beakydave]

I see you're off on one again.

For those that know how to use the DOF preview it is anything but a gimmick.

On the other hand, I have been taking photographs for long enough now to know how to recognise a human face.

If you want to specialise in areas of photography that require a tilting screen and/or LV why not simply get the right accessory for your camera?

And MLU has been proved, in appropriate conditions, to reduce mirror shake. It's only a gimmick, therefore, if you never shoot at the relevant shutter speeds.

At the end of the day something that you never use will always be a gimmick - to you it is DOF and MLU, to others it is LV, Video, Face Detection etc.

And, yes, there are occasions when MF is better than AF - but I would not expect you to understand that.

But as I mentioned it will be a gimmick for experienced shooters, who want to

be incontrol. They will not give the control of a important issue as focussing to
an automatade feature as face detection.

If we follow that logic, then "experienced shooters" would rather prefer MF instead of AF to be in "control". Of course, a lot of these "experienced shooters" are full of sh*t who might call face detection and LV a "gimmick", but than whine about totally useless DOF button (or MLU which, unlike DOF, at least has some use).

Remember LV is a gimmick for the experienced DSL shooters

Total nonsense. LV is not a "gimmick" -- the "experienced shooters" who claim it is a "gimmick" are idiots, and we have a lot of them here, no doubt. With LV and tiltable screen you can shoot with various angles easily, something that's a million times more useful feature than the gimmick of DOF and MLU.

 

[DWEverett]

The concept is a very good idea. Essentially we're talking about improved AF & exposure when taking pictures of people. I don't think anyone here would question the value if Sony marketed it as increased AF points and better matrix metering. (I realize that it's not quite the same as extra AF points) The fact that it's "face detection" coming from the P&S world makes us leery.

I think the key to whether it's useful is how well it's implemented. If it works quickly and accurately it's a pretty big deal. Won't be for everyone but I think it fits with where this camera is marketed

 

[mike_2008]

Like all such features the proof is in the pudding. If you can use this to track the face of a cyclist going fast around a bend then it's pretty darn useful for sports shooters. How does it cope with different face angles? How quickly can it track in 3d? How does it work with different skin colours?

--
http://mike2008.smugmug.com

 

[realgeek]

When traveling, I sometimes have someone else use my camera so that I can get in the picture with my wife. With my Fujifilm f32fd (with face detection) our faces are always in focus. With the a700 in a novice's hand, we are OOF more times than we are in focus! For this reason alone, I think face detection is a great idea in any camera!
-Phil

That's a great point!

 

[don1jam]

When traveling, I sometimes have someone else use my camera so that I can get in the picture with my wife. With my Fujifilm f32fd (with face detection) our faces are always in focus. With the a700 in a novice's hand, we are OOF more times than we are in focus! For this reason alone, I think face detection is a great idea in any camera!
-Phil

That's a great point!

Yes this a good reason as well, when I give my camera to someone else to take my photo, I usually put in live view, because they are more familiar with frame shoots in this manner. Also, they know nothing about focus points, so face detection in this scenario is certainly a plus.

 

[Amirk]

beakydave, I see you are off-topic again

For those that know how to use the DOF preview it is anything but a gimmick.

For those who know how to press shutter button and look at LCD, it's a total gimmick.

On the other hand, I have been taking photographs for long enough now to
know how to recognise a human face.

I am sure you also know how to do manual focus, so how about you dump the AF system and move to MF?

I stand by everything I said in earlier post. Face Detection is not a gimmick. DOF is. And face detection is far more useful than MLU that most users of the camera will never use, unlike face detection.

 

[beakydave]

beakydave, I see you are off-topic again

I didn't raise the subject of DOF and MLU on a thread about face recognition

For those that know how to use the DOF preview it is anything but a gimmick.

For those who know how to press shutter button and look at LCD, it's a total gimmick.

If you prefer the method of shooting first, checking later, that's your choice and I'm not going to argue with your technique. There are others, though, that prefer the technique of getting it right before firing, and sometimes it is essential.

On the other hand, I have been taking photographs for long enough now to
know how to recognise a human face.

I am sure you also know how to do manual focus, so how about you dump the AF system and move to MF?

Yes I do, and use MF probably just under 50% of the time. The rest of the time I find AF invaluable. I don't expect you to understand but there are occasions when MF is more appropriate.

I stand by everything I said in earlier post. Face Detection is not a gimmick. DOF is. And face detection is far more useful than MLU that most users of the camera will never use, unlike face detection.

And I stand by what I said, one man's gimmick is another man's essential - I'm prepared to accept that, it is a shame that you are not. If you're a member of the P&S brigade than I agree that MLU and DOF are of little or no relevance. To others they most certainly are. It's clear which camp you belong in, which is just fine. Perhaps time to take the blinkers off, though.

 

[Amirk]

There are others, though, that prefer the technique of getting it right before
firing, and sometimes it is essential.

These are not film cameras where you need to get everything right before firing. It doesn't take any longer to see the result on LCD then pressing DOF button and looking at it in OVF. DOF might have some use in film cameras but they are useless redundancy on digital.

 

[Barry Fitzgerald]

There are others, though, that prefer the technique of getting it right before
firing, and sometimes it is essential.

These are not film cameras where you need to get everything right before firing. It doesn't take any longer to see the result on LCD then pressing DOF button and looking at it in OVF. DOF might have some use in film cameras but they are useless redundancy on digital.

This keeps coming up

DOF preview is not useless on digital.

And what happens if that magic moment has gone?? Re-take the shot won't cut it.

If it's so useless why do other models and makers include it? Find me a higher level camera without a DOF preview..

 

[gfrensen]

I see you're off on one again.

For those that know how to use the DOF preview it is anything but a gimmick.

But you could ask if DOF preview is usable with the small viewfinders many of the pentamirror camera's have. I think DOF preview can be worthwhile, I never said it isn't. I only mention that some features are "gimmicks" for experienced users, but they are very usefull for starters and vv.

I used the term experienced user with some sarcasm in my second post as I find some of the posters in this forum only bashing Sony camera's instead of using the cameras with the features they have and work around the features they don't. If you can't live without feature x or feature y then buy a camedra that has that feature.

On the other hand, I have been taking photographs for long enough now to know how to recognise a human face.

Yes, and we all do, but it is sometiomes easy when your camera is capable of focusing automatic on the faces in your picture.

If you want to specialise in areas of photography that require a tilting screen and/or LV why not simply get the right accessory for your camera?

Why not buy the camera that have the features you want, when it is LV and a tilting screen, go for that type of camera. If you want DOF, good VF, DMF, etc. Go for a camera with those features. There are many different kind of photographers and so there are may cameras!

And MLU has been proved, in appropriate conditions, to reduce mirror shake. It's only a gimmick, therefore, if you never shoot at the relevant shutter speeds.

Your right. MLU is a usefull feature for some, not all!

At the end of the day something that you never use will always be a gimmick - to you it is DOF and MLU, to others it is LV, Video, Face Detection etc.

Right!

And, yes, there are occasions when MF is better than AF - but I would not expect you to understand that.

Why bashing a fellow photographer/poster in this way. I started photography when AF was something in your dreams. Auto exposure was expensive. So I learned with a totaly hand opperated camera. It was fun to do. I use AF mostly and MF when I have to!

But as I mentioned it will be a gimmick for experienced shooters, who want to

be incontrol. They will not give the control of a important issue as focussing to
an automatade feature as face detection.

 

[beakydave]

. It doesn't take any longer to see the result on LCD then pressing DOF button and looking at it in OVF. DOF might have some use in film cameras but they are useless redundancy on digital.

If that's your experience then your technique is all wrong. And what happens when you check the result on th LCD, find it's not to your liking, and realise that you don't have a second chance for the shot? I accept that the DOF preview may be less easy to use on certain digital cameras but to generalise as being redundant on digital, period, is nonsense. But then we've come to expect that from you.

 

[beakydave]

Why not buy the camera that have the features you want, when it is LV and a tilting screen, go for that type of camera. If you want DOF, good VF, DMF, etc. Go for a camera with those features. There are many different kind of photographers and so there are may cameras!

Quite so - problem is that there is no camera in the Sony line-up that gives me all the features I want, so I have to prioritise.

Why bashing a fellow photographer/poster in this way.

I wasn't aware that I was bashing a fellow photographer

 

[Amirk]

And what happens

then you check the result on th LCD, find it's not to your liking, and realise that > you don't have a second chance for the shot?

That's a silly argument used by Barry earlier. What happens when you press the DOF button and while you are looking at DOF in OVF, you realize you have already missed the shot and don't have a second chance? Pressing the shutter button is just as quick, and in that case, at least you have some image, unlike playing with DOF button where you have nothing if you already missed the shot.

Stop trying to find excuses for gimmicks like DOF.