Photoclubalpha

I know I am not super positive about these new models, but I noticed a few other areas.
Reading the manual for the A550, I see no mention of P shift mode, nor any options to select the control dial (aka A/S) This not only means no program shift, but also no choice of it for M mode.

Priority setup is also missing, no option for AF or release in the menus, thus it would appear you have no way to set up the camera to fire if AF is not locked. Unless I missed something.

This is really taking things to simpleton levels IMO, do Sony really expect this to be the next level in photography? P shift is such a basic feature, and so is release priority. That's before I bring up the other missing stuff, and continued forcing into M mode, instead of allowing a shutter release lock option so users can use MF lenses, telescopes etc in other modes, not just manual.

Not good..not good at all. Obviously the next level to Sony is not always the next level for others! What's going on over there, have they failed to hire a photographer to beta test their stuff???

Hopefully I can get one by the weekend. There are several big holes in the article I have been writing which can't be filled until I try the camera.

I think that program shift will continue to work and has been omitted from the manual by oversight. They have included a manual EV-lock setting shift (AE-Lock plus control wheel - 30th at f/8 shifts to 60th at f/5.6 etc).

It looks as if the camera has a mirror lock-up mode, by using the Manual Focus Check live view - the mirror does not return before taking an exposure. Also, I can find no reference in the manual the Manual Focus Check LV having a time limit. It has been said that it can only be used for 15 seconds, which I do not think is enough for critical focusing and composition. For macro mode in manual mode (bellows etc) you can press the +/- button and force the Manual Focus Check view to show the actual exposure (no auto gain), which means this mode can also be used in a way for metering.

David

Well real world use beats reading a manual, so we shall await David's comments when he has one.
It's possible that Ps is there, but it seems a bit odd to miss it off the manual, bad as the A200 one was, it was there, and referenced in the index. Also if there is no control wheel setting, and I cannot see one in the dp preview menu screens, you'll be stuck with Ps and whatever they have defaulted it too.

MLU cannot comment on, again dp review folks have suggested it does re-cycle (the mirror), again though..it will be interesting to hear from someone with a camera on this. A time limit on MF LV seems odd and self defeating..

I would like to know why there is a delay in getting a camera into David's hands? it seems DPR had no trouble getting their mits on one...err what gives?
Greg

And DPR hasn't even switched theirs on yet. Expect their review after they've praised the 7D to the Horsehead Nebula and beyond.

So David, got an a5xx series cam yet?
I'm really impatient to know what you think as I am looking for an a700 backup and eyeing up an a500, in the possibly daft hope that it has even less noise than the a550...

David Kilpatrick wrote:Hopefully I can get one by the weekend. There are several big holes in the article I have been writing which can't be filled until I try the camera.

I think that program shift will continue to work and has been omitted from the manual by oversight. They have included a manual EV-lock setting shift (AE-Lock plus control wheel - 30th at f/8 shifts to 60th at f/5.6 etc).

It looks as if the camera has a mirror lock-up mode, by using the Manual Focus Check live view - the mirror does not return before taking an exposure. Also, I can find no reference in the manual the Manual Focus Check LV having a time limit. It has been said that it can only be used for 15 seconds, which I do not think is enough for critical focusing and composition. For macro mode in manual mode (bellows etc) you can press the +/- button and force the Manual Focus Check view to show the actual exposure (no auto gain), which means this mode can also be used in a way for metering.

David

A550 arrives tomorrow. While looking for one I found a brand new Nikon 18-105mm (seems that people buy the lens in kits and immediately swap it for an 18-200mm) for £160 which is actually £70 less than buying the lens in a kit with a D5000, so I ordered that to replace the 18-55mm on my D5000 which is a bit limiting.

Just an A550 body. I've got my 18-55mm SAL for sale with the A380 in the local photo shop, a fair deal for someone, hardly used and fully boxed kit for £450. After the A550 arrives it will get the CZ 16-80. When I got the A350, I also got the 16-105mm so my test on the A350 was done with that lens not the CZ. Recently I put the 16-80 CZ on the A350 and realised there's more difference than I thought. The 14.2 megapixel rez plus the Zeiss glass works well and I am hoping the A550 will prove even better.

David

David Kilpatrick wrote:A550 arrives tomorrow. While looking for one I found a brand new Nikon 18-105mm (seems that people buy the lens in kits and immediately swap it for an 18-200mm) for £160 which is actually £70 less than buying the lens in a kit with a D5000, so I ordered that to replace the 18-55mm on my D5000 which is a bit limiting.

Extrange: the 18-105 is a new lens and probably better than the 18-200...

David Kilpatrick wrote: Just an A550 body. I've got my 18-55mm SAL for sale with the A380 in the local photo shop, a fair deal for someone, hardly used and fully boxed kit for £450.

Are you testing the 18-55mm before you sell it? that little guy has a impressive close focus and probably handled better CA than the 18-70...

Regards

Already tested. The 18-55mm is OK at 18mm, but not especially good at the edges (better than the 18-70mm). My sample got noticeably worse at 24mm, to the point where even f/8 was not good enough corner to corner. From 30mm to 55mm is can only be considered as one of the best such lenses around. I nearly decided to get another but thought it better just to get the body.

David

David Kilpatrick wrote above

Recently I put the 16-80 CZ on the A350 and realised there's more difference than I thought. The 14.2 megapixel rez plus the Zeiss glass works well and I am hoping the A550 will prove even better.

I totally agree. I keep the CZ 16-80 on my A350 (when not used by my wife with Tamron 18-200) and the RAW results are excellent. Just a bit of levels, slight shadow adjustment and a little contrast and the images are just fine. The definition at 100% as often as not is like looking at normal size with older equipment. I very much look forward to reading David's verdict on the A550 when tested with his CZ 16-80.