SLT a55

[Dusty]

If Sony was smart (and they sometimes show themselves to be anything but) they would have introduced the 55 and 580 side by side. That way they could see how sales of each stacked up.

As it is, they introduced 2 SLT models and months later put out a single OFV model with less features (no GPS). If the 580 is even a decent seller, after the introduction of the 33/55, it will show that there's still a strong demand for OVF.

Introducing them together would have given given Sony a chance to see if the 700 replacement should be a 77, 770 or both.

Dusty

[edrice]

Can't comment much as I have not tried the A33/55 as of yet (I will shortly though) Sounds pretty much like the G1 EVF as in big but not so great DR wise. There is another side effect to these and EVF will kill your night vision as well (as it's illuminated) maybe not a big deal to some but it might be to others. Honestly I've just no interest in them as a clear view of your subject is far more important. You'll likely have a hard time matching the eye for DR as it can constantly (and seamlessly) adjust to lighting conditions giving a massive overall DR that no electronic panel can even think about let alone do.

My view is simple..why place another barrier to your eye? As we have live view on the LCD now (useful for WB exposure etc) I don't see the need for an electronic VF and LCD panel. Less choice is never a good thing.

Maybe kill night vision in only one eye but that's not a problem I've ever had and besides, night vision is less of an issue with a gained up VF.

I'm still not quite getting the point or else maybe there's a flawed premise being presented, but isn't Sony still coming out with OVF models? Didn't auto manufacturers continue to produce manual transmissions right alongside automatics? Are some people just so determined to not like something, no matter how good it gets, even before having experieced one? After all the hand-wringing and teeth-gnashing, could we ever hope to get an unbiased, nonprejudiced, honest and objective assessment? I'm just glad I had not read a review from such a mindset otherwise I might not have taken ownership and turned out so happy with it.

The EVF in no way destracts from the sparkle that the A55 produces in images and I'm am at a loss to undestand how an OVF can be more important than the results that the camera produces. If there are any drawbacks to the EVF, I guess I've already overcome them with little hardship because I now seem to be making better photo IQ than I've made with anything else.

Please keep trying to explain it to me but, please, hopefully without statements that have been repeated for the 4th or 5th time. Please offer me new insight as why I, a 4-decade OVF user, am wrong for liking this so much.

Ed

[mike2008]

The EVF in no way destracts from the sparkle that the A55 produces in images and I'm am at a loss to undestand how an OVF can be more important than the results that the camera produces. If there are any drawbacks to the EVF, I guess I've already overcome them with little hardship because I now seem to be making better photo IQ than I've made with anything else.

Please keep trying to explain it to me but, please, hopefully without statements that have been repeated for the 4th or 5th time. Please offer me new insight as why I, a 4-decade OVF user, am wrong for liking this so much.

Ed

Don't be silly, everyone knows that you simply cannot get good photos from a camera unless it has lots of customisable buttons, AEL spot toggle and iso shown in the view finder.

The moral of the story is: let the photos do the talking, and ignore people who speak about a camera that they have not used intensively for several days.

[UrsaMajor]

Please keep trying to explain it to me but, please, hopefully without statements that have been repeated for the 4th or 5th time. Please offer me new insight as why I, a 4-decade OVF user, am wrong for liking this so much.

Ed, the reason you don't understand is that you are not a "real" photographer!



With best wishes,
- Tom -

[Dusty]

Ed, you're not wrong in liking the EVF, but others are not wrong for liking OVF. There are also other drawbacks we see to the SLT system - loss of 1/3 stop, another glass element in the way of the light path, ghosting, another electrical drain on the battery, etc.

If Sony goes totally EVF, or even totally EVF for APS-C, they will lose legacy customers. If there is no future OFV path, I will be looking to switch gears before I invest any further in the alpha system. I'm one who believes in the KISS system -Keep It Simple, Stupid. The more you gunk up a camera with gizmos that give me no real additions to my photo recording ability, the less I like it. For one thing it's just another circuit to break, and or another feature that I have to turn off (if I even can) so that it doesn't get in the way of ME being the creator of that photo. (Smile shutter comes to mind).

Different strokes for different folks. Maybe a few of us will be relegated to antique equipment in a few years as the whole world goes for gizmo snappers as cameras, but I doubt that. Gizmo cameras will never be the choice of those who depend upon a photographic device to make their living, so someone will keep "real" cameras alive. (I know that's a loaded term, some would say digital isn't real! I mean be that OVF DSLRs without P&S add-ons).

That may mean we're scrounging for deals on used Medium Format DSLRs that Pros have cast off for newer models, or Leica S systems, but some will make the cost sacrifice to get the type of camera they want.

Dusty

[mike2008]

Ed, you're not wrong in liking the EVF, but others are not wrong for liking OVF. There are also other drawbacks we see to the SLT system - loss of 1/3 stop, another glass element in the way of the light path, ghosting, another electrical drain on the battery, etc.

If Sony goes totally EVF, or even totally EVF for APS-C, they will lose legacy customers. If there is no future OFV path, I will be looking to switch gears before I invest any further in the alpha system. I'm one who believes in the KISS system -Keep It Simple, Stupid. The more you gunk up a camera with gizmos that give me no real additions to my photo recording ability, the less I like it. For one thing it's just another circuit to break, and or another feature that I have to turn off (if I even can) so that it doesn't get in the way of ME being the creator of that photo. (Smile shutter comes to mind).

Different strokes for different folks. Maybe a few of us will be relegated to antique equipment in a few years as the whole world goes for gizmo snappers as cameras, but I doubt that. Gizmo cameras will never be the choice of those who depend upon a photographic device to make their living, so someone will keep "real" cameras alive. (I know that's a loaded term, some would say digital isn't real! I mean be that OVF DSLRs without P&S add-ons).

That may mean we're scrounging for deals on used Medium Format DSLRs that Pros have cast off for newer models, or Leica S systems, but some will make the cost sacrifice to get the type of camera they want.

Dusty

Can I just ask, do you really think a mechanical mirror flip mechanism is inherently more robust than electronics? Or that it doesn't create dust that falls onto the sensor? If you really believe in the KISS idea you'd better be getting a NEX.

What counts is ease of use and picture quality. The EVF of the A55 is superior in many ways to the OVF of the A550. The IQ is second to none for APS-C sensors (see recent dxomark evaluation... literally there is nothing better in aps-c format than the A55).

I agree that keeping A700 users requires doing a great job on the A77 and potentially also producing an ovf based 7 series camera. Both of these might happen, or one, or neither. We'll see in good time. Until then people who actually own an A55 will use it and get great photos from it, regardless of what the naysayers proclaim.

[Javelin]

FWIW the EVF is a Lot simpler system with fewer parts and probably less problematic short term than the OVF is. if your goal is the KISS principle then it's not here in this part of the device.

[Lonnie Utah]

So what's the difference between using a EVF and using liveview?

[bfitzgerald]

Please keep trying to explain it to me but, please, hopefully without statements that have been repeated for the 4th or 5th time. Please offer me new insight as why I, a 4-decade OVF user, am wrong for liking this so much.

Ed

Taste is a personal thing you can like what you want...and so can I.
I see the dig about real photographers above and I'll just say this..I know many who will not entertain an EVF at all, and some who will. All I'm saying is much as I dislike EVF's I'm not against Sony making models for such users..I'd like folks to have a choice though. And from Mark Weir's comments I'd say there is little chance of that.

Why does everything have to be all or nothing? Now that's a question that hits me often!

[bakubo]

I'm still not quite getting the point or else maybe there's a flawed premise being presented, but isn't Sony still coming out with OVF models?

If Sony was going to keep doing it then, I think, no one would care about this issue. Recently, Sony said essentially that they are switching to EVF and that the A580 is probably the last OVF model, I think.

[UrsaMajor]

I'm still not quite getting the point or else maybe there's a flawed premise being presented, but isn't Sony still coming out with OVF models?

If Sony was going to keep doing it then, I think, no one would care about this issue. Recently, Sony said essentially that they are switching to EVF and that the A580 is probably the last OVF model, I think.

Unless you are referring to some company statement that I have not seen, I don't think that Sony has said that.

If you are referring to the statement that I think you have in mind, I know that some people have interpreted it that way and have made a big fuss over it on the web. However, when I read the original statement by Sony I interpret it as saying that they plan to continue with OVF models for at least the near future, and possibly long term - depending upon sales volume.

It is quite possible that I am the one who is misinterpreting what Sony actually said in that statement. However, I do know that a number of very vocal people on the web have blown it well out of proportion, and have tended to obscure the actual statement with cries of outrage and speculation which others have then innocently repeated as fact.

With best wishes,
- Tom -

[bakubo]

Unless you are referring to some company statement that I have not seen, I don't think that Sony has said that.

If you are referring to the statement that I think you have in mind, I know that some people have interpreted it that way and have made a big fuss over it on the web. However, when I read the original statement by Sony I interpret it as saying that they plan to continue with OVF models for at least the near future, and possibly long term - depending upon sales volume.

It is quite possible that I am the one who is misinterpreting what Sony actually said in that statement. However, I do know that a number of very vocal people on the web have blown it well out of proportion, and have tended to obscure the actual statement with cries of outrage and speculation which others have then innocently repeated as fact.

Yes, awhile back there was a lot of talk about that and it started with something said by Sony. Then yesterday there was this too:

"At the PhotoPlus Expo this past weekend in NYC I spoke with Mark Weir of Sony a bit (he's the executive in charge in the US as I understand it, at least with respect to Alpha products). He basically said that Sony is going with SLT technology moving forward, and that if I (or anyone for that matter) is fundamentally opposed to the use of SLT/EVF cameras (without seeing what future technology may bring), then now is the time to switch systems."

See the beginning of the long subthread here:

http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read. ... e=36798575

[OneGuyKs]

I think he's right on that one. Now is a good time to switch if you like OVF's.
Really not a good message coming from Sony at all,

It's a great message coming from Sony. And why do I care? Stick to Pentax if that's what you want.

[bfitzgerald]

Just an off the cuff comment but I've noticed "on that forum" a small band of folks who are spending as much time possible "over hyping" the A33/55 models. If I didn't know any better I'd swear there was an organised campaign from a certain camera manufacturer. Really it reads that way to me..far more than new camera love.

If the comment from Mark Weir is accurate it's not a very good statement at all.

[Lonnie Utah]

and 6 months ago we were all in an uproar that sony was done producing FF lenses and cameras....