A500 and A550?

[Javelin]

Funny how the Sony Canda site s becomig the source of some leaks.

From this Dyxum thread
http://www.dyxum.com/dforum/a500-a550_topic47003.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[KevinBarrett]

Thanks for the link, Javelin! This should please all those who sit on the very wide fence between the a380 and a700.

[Javelin]

well, it'll be interesting to see how these ones are featured out. wonder when the anouncemnt for these will be, last time it was about 2 weeks. does that even make sense? maybe this is why they held back the 30mm.. actually come to think of it we never saw the 55-200 yet either. the kit thats for sale now is just the 18-55

[KevinBarrett]

Actually the 55-200 is being sold in the "Y" kit versions of a230-380, which brings me to the next curiosity:

What is this new "S" designation present in "DSLRA500S" and "DSLRA550S?" Old and new kit designations are as follows:

H = 18-200
K = 18-70
L = 18-55
P = 16-105
W = 18-70 + 75-300
X = 18-70 + 55-200
Y = 18-55 + 55-200
Z = 16-80

So are we to believe that "S" is a designation for a new lens or a yet unseen combination of lenses? Since this is the only kit designation present, I have to believe that it is a new single kit lens. Perhaps it is the previewed 28-75/2.8 (SAM?), or to suit a video-capable DSLR, an 18-250 superzoom.

[bfitzgerald]

This is where the problems start!

Depending on who you talk to, they have different desires for a mid point camera. I would put myself firmly in the smaller (but not too small) version of the A700 with much of the features, aka MLU, 4fps would do, decent pentaprism VF, good quality plastic, decent no. of on body controls etc etc.

What I really really don't want, is a souped up A380 with naff OVF and live view. Now I could live with a swivel LCD and a decent VF. But I don't want a consumer pumped up model, just a solid real photographic tool. Now maybe there is some hope, aka if the info is correct..2 models..maybe one OVF one LV etc, On the other hand it could just be 2 LV models with this different sensor strategy..and that would, in a few months leave some users in a very awkward position. With a new A700 on the horizon, maybe a few months..we might be left in the cold, with a £1000 plus bill to get a real photographers camera, minus any tacked on gimmicks.

Then, we have this media change (not such a big deal, loads of SD cards around), but which battery will they use? The new worse one, thus rendering my A200 batteries of no use for it..new charger..cough, the list goes on! I have some hope, but with the recent "consumer ish" spin from Sony, not that much. We could simply end up with a model that isn't going to appeal to some users, and KM traditionalists.

It's the Nikon D90 v D5000 argument, I would take the D90 over the D5000 every single day!

[Dusty]

Speculation, again. But Sony is at fault here. They need to announce their camera lines strategy, so that people looking to upgrade or buy into a good system are not left out in the cold in another 6 months of a year.

Announce that in the future the 500 - 700 series are advanced amateur/semi-pro APS-C, and that the 800 series is a low - FF camera. All 900+ series are their pro FF models.

That leaves them the 200- 400 series to be P&S step-up models. Keep the new batteries and media in the new low-end models, and the big batteries and CF media in the upper models.

With a clear roadmap, no-one has to hold off buying a replacement or upgrade of their existing systems and get caught short with the new models coming out.

Dusty

[Javelin]

Except I think their product design freeze to release is pretty short. if they put out a roadmap then decide theey aren;lt in the end going to proceed with camera A B b and put out camera C instead then people would have a right to be upset with them. the way it is now nobody can justify a complaint

[Dusty]

Except I think their product design freeze to release is pretty short. if they put out a roadmap then decide theey aren;lt in the end going to proceed with camera A B b and put out camera C instead then people would have a right to be upset with them. the way it is now nobody can justify a complaint

They only have to put out a general road-map like I stated above. 200-400 series, new battery and media, 500-700, advanced APS-C, 800+ series, pro. They don't have to telegraph feature sets.

Dusty

[Javelin]

well in a way you are. look how upset people are that they didn't get an A700 replacement in this cycle when logically there would have been one in this time frame. If it had been on a road map for a while. then removed People would have been just as upset but earlier and would have been justified because at one point they were promissed an A700 replacement and those B'tards at Sony screwed them

[Dusty]

Javelin, you're still not getting it. A road map on what future series will have in general features is not a promise of any new models coming out at any particular time. It just says that this series will be designed for this market. I'm sure your company does the same (unless all those machines are complete customs units).

That's like Ford's trucks; The F150 is a HD 1/2 ton consumer model, the F350 is the 1 ton model. You don't buy an F150 for hauling the bulldozer on a trailer from site to site, you get the 350 or 450.

If Ford suddenly offered an F350 only with a 4 or 6 cylinder engine, people would be upset. Likewise, offering an F150 with a 600 HP engine would do no good, as it doesn't have the suspension to pull the heavier stuff.

Dusty

[Mike]

I agree with Dusty. I would like to upgrade from my a350 to FF but I scared to buy an a900 and have a new FF come out this summer at half the price. I would rather spend the extra money on glass.

Mike

[KevinBarrett]

Well, see, Sony is in the market to sell the cameras that they're making now. It does them no good to encourage you to wait on a purchase. However, if you assume that Sony is committed to building a world-class D-SLR system, then you can assume that they'll make a competitive camera that appeals to you very soon, and that you'll have to pay through the nose to get it.

[Greg Beetham]

I keep wondering what it is that's missing in the A700 that people want an upgrade for? surely not video, I'm sure there would be many that don't want a compromised 7 series just for some video gimmick...if it's not video what is it...LV? that also will very likely result in compromises too the OVF, and if it does it's a gimmick, IMHO.

It would be interesting too know from those who do do video...
Who do you show them too?
How often do you watch videos?
Also exactly how do you show them?
Greg

ps Not intended to be a great survey thingy, it's just to get an idea on the usefulness of video, from anyone that actually uses/takes video.

[Mike]

I keep wondering what it is that's missing in the A700 that people want an upgrade for?

Could I please have a FF version of the 700? "Live View" would be nice too.

Mike

[KevinBarrett]

I keep wondering what it is that's missing in the A700 that people want an upgrade for? surely not video, I'm sure there would be many that don't want a compromised 7 series just for some video gimmick...if it's not video what is it...LV? that also will very likely result in compromises too the OVF, and if it does it's a gimmick, IMHO.

Live view wouldn't have to compromise the OVF if it were done off the main sensor. Look at the D300; same sensor but with live view, plus an optical pentaprism that covers 100% and magnifies it more greatly than the a700. Yes, please!

Other upgrades I'd want over the a700: 14 bit A/D conversion, micro focus adjustment, and a faster frame rate. (All stuff that the D300 has )