I just had to get an A55

[alphaomega]

I think that Barry Fitzgerald is now so set in his views on what Sony does or does not do with their DSLR division that it does not matter what David Kilpatrick explains about the usability of Sony's A580. He has bought into Pentax now and good luck to him on that. Meantime I will enjoy my A580 and I am grateful to David for sharing his experience of using this excellent camera with the rest of us.
I will also expand my NEX outfit and expect Sony to release shortly a quality compact 55-200 with inbuilt anti shake. Hopefully next year latest it will be followed by a qualitly W/A zoom say 12-24mm (18-36) or thereabouts and that will complete my lightweight setup. Whatever Barry says, I can only say that with the latest offerings Sony have put on the market a variety of good quality DSLR/SLT/NEX products that cover the requirements of a broad spectrum of users even if Barry is not satisfied. He never will be with Sony, and with Sony's current course there will never be "a meeting of minds". Barry can be lucky that Pentax have returned to using Sony sensors, so he gets the best of both worlds (from his point of view). Hopefully that makes him happy now.

[Greg Beetham]

Well I'm happy that you are happy with your A580 alphaomega; we otoh in Oz don't have the opportunity to own one, (purchased inside Australia that is), Sony seems to have decided that there isn't a market here for one; so we have the A55 or A33 and that's it for the latest offerings, take it or leave it.
Greg

[Scooterman]

Well I'm happy that you are happy with your A580 alphaomega; we otoh in Oz don't have the opportunity to own one, (purchased inside Australia that is), Sony seems to have decided that there isn't a market here for one; so we have the A55 or A33 and that's it for the latest offerings, take it or leave it.
Greg

That is a real shame for you Greg, My 550 is good but the 580 is far better and if you want a DSLR with a new Sony sensor you have two options, import one or buy a Pentax K5-Nikon 5000, I know what I would do and that is not the latter.
richard

[Greg Beetham]

Thanks Richard, really I'm still quite happy with the cameras I have; the KM5D is far out of date now but I still like it mainly because the battery in it lasts so much longer than the other two, the A100 has much the same features with extra resolution so I like it as well, and the A700 is still a very good quality camera even today and has a great OVF and lots of features so I like also. I got the A700 from B&H because of the vast price difference between there and here and I knew that it was virtually my last chance to own one....and I could do the same with the A580 I guess but that would mean I broke my embargo twice wouldn't it? I think I'll sit pat and watch how things transpire with the new 7.... in any case it's not that I'm short of photo taking machinery if I need it and I haven't had any video urges so I don't think I'm missing out on anything there.
Greg

[David Kilpatrick]

The flash units are made by a couple of manufacturers in Japan - there are probably many more now in China. Herbert Keppler visited Japan often, and reported on this (he was responsible, maybe a decade ago, for showing how Canon, Nikon, Minolta, Pentax etc bought their flash ranges from outside electronics contractors). I think the Minolta range was built by Matsushita (now Panasonic). Sony still appears to be making in Japan, the HVL-F58AM is sufficiently original to suggest they may be doing it themselves or using a small specialist factory. The older designs were phased out quickly, which in turn suggests they changed from the original supplier used by Minolta and Konica Minolta.

Electronic flash is a very specialised field and the components used tend to be more like 'old electronics' than any modern camera really likes. Physical stuff like capacitors, thyristors, flashtubes. It can not all be put on a chip or miniaturised. Safety is paramount.

The protocols used by all today's flashes are very similar indeed and that's how Sunpak, Metz and one or two others can either make flash units with interchangeable shoes/modules, or make flashes for different systems but only actually change a small assembly - or even just program the same circuit differently. Minolta was, of course, the first and all the other makers have adapted the Minolta wireless system; it is possible (I do not know) that this was in any case sold to Minolta by the third party maker, with a period of exclusivity, and then sold to the other makers.

David

[bfitzgerald]

I think that Barry Fitzgerald is now so set in his views on what Sony does or does not do with their DSLR division that it does not matter what David Kilpatrick explains about the usability of Sony's A580. He has bought into Pentax now and good luck to him on that. Meantime I will enjoy my A580 and I am grateful to David for sharing his experience of using

Whilst I respect DK and his knowledge his dismissal of the points raised fall firmly into the "making excuses" category. I've no problems if he feels the missing bits are not relevant to his needs but not everyone will share that view.

It's hard to argue for not having a full time ISO in the VF or the other points you could say well only minor niggles and all cameras have then. I was using a 500d for a while and pondered why they would put the bracketing in the main menu not the drive menu...no idea why they did that it's a quirk not a massive one but there. All makers have them it just seems Sony have a lot more of them at times.

And how can anyone argue Sony are clued into handling when they value a DR button on the top plate and no direct access to WB? Again minor but these things are pretty obvious.

[Scooterman]

I think that Barry Fitzgerald is now so set in his views on what Sony does or does not do with their DSLR division that it does not matter what David Kilpatrick explains about the usability of Sony's A580. He has bought into Pentax now and good luck to him on that. Meantime I will enjoy my A580 and I am grateful to David for sharing his experience of using

Whilst I respect DK and his knowledge his dismissal of the points raised fall firmly into the "making excuses" category. I've no problems if he feels the missing bits are not relevant to his needs but not everyone will share that view.

It's hard to argue for not having a full time ISO in the VF or the other points you could say well only minor niggles and all cameras have then. I was using a 500d for a while and pondered why they would put the bracketing in the main menu not the drive menu...no idea why they did that it's a quirk not a massive one but there. All makers have them it just seems Sony have a lot more of them at times.

And how can anyone argue Sony are clued into handling when they value a DR button on the top plate and no direct access to WB? Again minor but these things are pretty obvious.

Lets face it Barry the Sony does not suit you, it does for many others or they would be out of the camera market.
Keep taking the anti depressants Barry they should help.
richard

[bfitzgerald]

Well you could make life easier by saying..
"Whilst I don't feel I miss the features you highlight I agree that it would make sense for Sony to address these points in future models"

Even DK could try that one I'm all eyes


It's a bit like the TV licensing adverts I've seen I've heard all the excuses before and none of them work
I've read hundreds of threads about how useless DOF preview is an outdated antique feature (an argument that falls apart when using live view) all the MLU don't need it stuff special super low vibration mirrors that don't exist etc etc. These bits are less serious than those, but still extremely valid to some shooters.

[pakodominguez]

The flash units are made by a couple of manufacturers in Japan - there are probably many more now in China. Herbert Keppler visited Japan often, and reported on this (he was responsible, maybe a decade ago, for showing how Canon, Nikon, Minolta, Pentax etc bought their flash ranges from outside electronics contractors). I think the Minolta range was built by Matsushita (now Panasonic). Sony still appears to be making in Japan, the HVL-F58AM is sufficiently original to suggest they may be doing it themselves or using a small specialist factory. The older designs were phased out quickly, which in turn suggests they changed from the original supplier used by Minolta and Konica Minolta.

I had the chance to go to the first training Sony gave in NYC when they introduced the A100. When Reps and Buyers (not just Adorama's or B&H's, but lots of internet companies from the tri-State area) were commenting about what was re-branded Minolta and what was new, they said that the HVL-56 was the same as the 5600HSD because, anyway, it was made by Sanyo.

[Birma]

It's a bit like the TV licensing adverts I've seen I've heard all the excuses before and none of them work

I don't see that anybody is making "excuses", they are just sharing their point of view on features that are important to them or not.

Anyway, have we got to the point in this regular discussion where you post a picture Barry, and cheer us all up? Then we can leave it until the next time someone says that they like something to do with a Sony camera and we kick-off again .

[Vaughan Brean]

Well I totally agree that Sony were/are wasting time and effort trying to compete with Canon/Nikon in the trad DSLR market, the market is skewed firmly in Canon/Nikons favour (just ask in most camera shops and you will be steered towards the Canon/Nikon cabinet)
I see the SLTs as a nice progression in the right direction, I actually really liked the A330, but it was a kind of half way house, the A55 takes the concept a big step furthur and because it is such a software/electronics dependant camera, Sony can really use their core skills to capitalise on their advantage. The A55 is very impressive, and if it is not wildly secsessful, I will eat my Lowpro camera bag
I feel that all of a sudden, Sony have taken a lead and left the others wondering how to respond, if I were a betting man, I would put money on the Sony SLTs being a big long term hit for Sony

[Vaughan Brean]

Redhair!
Nice portrait

>

GINGERS FOR JUSTICE !!, yes I love this shot @ ISO 1600 too !!, this was the (casual) shot that made me realise just how much potential the A55 has, this was one of the first shots I have taken with the A55, every ones a winner it seems.....brilliant camera

[David Kilpatrick]

Barry, all I'm saying is that not every camera has to have every feature. I would seriously miss certain functions on the Alpha 900 (having no full time mirror up function would be a serious issue with that camera and its likely uses). My uses of the Alpha 580 are not the same, I am not trying to make it replace every possible other camera I might own - same for the Alpha 55.

My only concern about the Alpha 580 is that it may be a dead end, the last such camera developed - future models will probably drop Quick Focus LV because it adds mechanical complexity and off-sensor LV will do the job. There may never be a 'better' Alpha made with all three methods for focusing and viewing, and all three different metering systems - after all, what a waste! The A580 has a honeycomb matrix sensor, the QV video sensor with exposure function, and the main sensor with the same.

You want to use cheap, amateur market cameras for apparently professional work - and ideally, for all of it. I am happy to use cheap amateur market cameras for some professional work, and expect to need to buy better specified cameras for other professional work. I do not expect an A55, or an A580, to be a universal can-opener.

David

[bfitzgerald]

The merits of a photographer are judged on their results not on their "kit bag"
Yes I am looking for bang per buck always have done nothing wrong with that in my view.

If you were doing photojournalism you'd be using a heavy beefy Canon most likely entirely unsuited to my type of photography (though you'd likely be supplied with the stuff to do that) I don't do stock work so have no minimum requirements to meet on that. I do portrait, occasional weddings and commercial assignments which appears to be the most successful of late for me.

Those 3 requirements are easily met with an "amateur" DSLR obviously you'd want a few things a fast lens that's good (I have that) a decent flash (I have 2) I've never been one for parading around with a big expensive camera or top flight lenses that on it's own does not guarantee good results.

In short what's the problem with that? I see none..yes a swiss army knife camera would be very useful so it's fortunate I found one. Nobody has ever asked me what I use they only care about the end product. I once did a commercial job and they specified a 10mp image resolution so I shot it on the A200 problemo solved! I've never really got on with Canon that well so I ruled them out (though I see why they are popular) Nikon's lower offerings are IMO not up to what I require..it left only one maker (Oly ruled out for obvious reasons) My ask list is actually pretty basic and easily done it's just Sony decided not to offer that in this model..so I didn't buy it, simple as that really.

[David Kilpatrick]

Photojournalism was and is my field. I dislike heavy Canons greatly (in fact, I've never liked anything Canon made apart from the EF). When I was doing my most profitable and high profile photojournalism I used a Minolta X700, which was considered a plastic joke by many at the time. The last thing I ever wanted in photojournalism was a large heavy camera!

David