The real A550

[bossel]

I think Sony will surprise us. There is an obvious gap between A550 and A850 and the A700 is getting old (though I love mine). For starters, I'd say the A550 looks great so lets see what comes next!

[RubberDials]

RubberDials, is your current Sony/Minolta system (including available independent lenses and accessories) meeting your photographic requirements? If not, there is a simple answer, switch system. Every time I see a new release from competition I conclude that I do not require any of it. My requirements are fulfilled by Sony and independents. I don't even bother with competitive reviews now as I have no requirement to switch. It is really a question of "horses for courses".

I chose to stay with A mount. I'm in bed with Sony. But I think none of us is certain that Sony will deliver a full and usable system any more. We need a little bit of re-assurance. Good reviews can offer that.

As to your question, the answer has to be no. My Sony?Minolta system isn't meeting my requirements. The AF on both of my Sony cameras isn't good enough and has cost me a lot of shots. The solution is that Sony improves it, not that I switch to another system.

That's why I'm interested to hear what David has to say about the a550 - to bring this post back on topic.

[David Kilpatrick]

No need to say how frustrated I have been by Sony's lack of interest in getting equipment reviewed swiftly. I finally got an email for their PR dept saying the Alpha 500 was now ready to be sent out for review, did I want one? I told them I already had the 550 purchased and delivered... but yes thanks, I did want one, so I can compare the performance with both the A550 and the A700.

David

[Dr. Harout]

No need to say how frustrated I have been by Sony's lack of interest in getting equipment reviewed swiftly. I finally got an email for their PR dept saying the Alpha 500 was now ready to be sent out for review, did I want one? I told them I already had the 550 purchased and delivered... but yes thanks, I did want one, so I can compare the performance with both the A550 and the A700.

David

Hmmm, I think a nice review is getting prepared.

[rush2112]

No need to say how frustrated I have been by Sony's lack of interest in getting equipment reviewed swiftly. I finally got an email for their PR dept saying the Alpha 500 was now ready to be sent out for review, did I want one? I told them I already had the 550 purchased and delivered... but yes thanks, I did want one, so I can compare the performance with both the A550 and the A700.

David

I think Sony was rather swift (at least in the U.S, can't speak for other nations) at getting the A550 out to reviewers. I don't think that is the main issue.

I think there are two contributing factors to the lack of reviews on the net concerning the A550.

1. The rush of equipment to review during peak seasons is getting to be too much for reviewers to bear.
2. Reviewers who have the A550 aren't really all that motivated to post a review about this camera, for several reasons.

Cheers,

Carl

[Javelin]

what would those reason be Carl? in your #2 point?

[David Kilpatrick]

I think I know where Carl is coming from. I wait to receive the A500 as well before making any final recommendation, the A550 CMOS is definitely quite unlike the A350/380 CCD.

Here's a snap from tonight sized for the forum only - SS working hard as ever, ISO 1600, 1/6th at f/6.3 80mm on the 16-80:

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This aspect of the camera is working well. But what has been really annoying is the amount of dirt delivered on the sensor ex-factory. I've given it a clean with the usual air blow method but this dirt looks quite fine, not big dust bunnies or fibres, and has a sharpness which says 'stuck to the sensor cover' to me. Did not really want to have to wet clean a brand new sensor.

David

[Javelin]

I wonder if this fine dust comes from the mirror, dry lube maybe ?. My A700 had that too. I cleaned with a blower like you did but it was all back after a dozen more frames.. cleaned again and it hasn't been back since. actually i've only had to clean the sensor 3 times since then and always for one spec of regular dust.

[KevinBarrett]

Could it be little shavings of plastic eroded from the camera's mount by a premium lens's metallic mount?

[stevecim]

Could it be little shavings of plastic eroded from the camera's mount by a premium lens's metallic mount?

After closer inspection (on my A350 , A500 looks the same), there is thin metal disc under the plastic, so the lens mount never comes in contact with the plastic

[rush2112]

what would those reason be Carl? in your #2 point?

The a230/330/380 did not draw many reviews at all, they were obviously backwards movements to what Minoltan's and Alpha shooters have become accustomed too, in most respects. You could even say that they were backwards to what most DSLR users expect (forward progress???). Handling and features wise, they disappointed many reviewers.

I think many reviewers wanted the A500/550 to be saving graces for those obviously overall bad design decisions. I think many reviewers will agree that the A500/550 do take great images but lack some of the great features that have always made Minolta and even most Sony Alphas stand out for the better.

I definitely see Cybershot (way too much of it) in the lower end Alphas. Its as if the upper end and lower end Alphas are designed by two different companies. One side of the fence is the A700-900, and the other well we know what that is.

The new cameras don't handle well, the user interfaces are harder to use than the upper end, and they lack features they should have at the price point they come in at.

I think many Alpha shooters who pay attention to any of the good forums are thinking this as well and starting to wonder where Sony is going to go in the future.

Carl

[David Kilpatrick]

A couple of in-camera A550 HDR double images - it is possible even with moving vehicles, if the speed and the angle of movement is right:





David

[bfitzgerald]

Not convinced it's a good business plan, Sony already have 3 models covering basic entry users (and that's a mistake IMO. 1 would do)
I do not believe they do know their customers needs better than some forum users, sorry to say that, but it's what I feel. Sony's mistakes in this area are very obvious and clear to some of us. You cannot apply cybershot strategies to the DSLR business, it's entirely different.
People should care, simply because not everyone wants to outlay A700+ (£1000 odd) cash on a DSLR. If Sony fail to meet a need for lower to mid range shooters, and offer something suitable, aka serious in this segment. Users will simply find a maker that does.

Frankly for £600 odd, neither A5xx models offers what I want, not anywhere near it, bar the nice high ISO, even the FPS is not on my must have list. I don't believe I am alone in that thinking either.
I'll give sony a bit of time to get back on track, but if the next round of cameras has not corrected some of these areas (aka poor spec), then it's time to move over to another maker who can offer a good spec DSLR for a reasonable outlay, aka D90 etc.

I don't think you should have to spend semi pro prices just to get a few basic features such as MLU etc.

[Alpha1000]

Simple advice. Sell your Sony stuff and get the "better" system, if you'll be able to find it. Sony is not stupid as some people are continuously trying to say. On the contrary. They understand marketing. The cry babies certainly don't. No, Sony will not make cameras to Barry's wishes, no matter how hard he tries, cries, or threatens to leave Sony for greener pastures. The cry babies are just a small sub segment of a segment that Sony can care less about. The forum whiners are not people, for whom they make cameras. Get life, Barry! Be a man! Don't complain like a baby on every forum!

[stevecim]

I agree with some of what Barry says, not everyone that wants advanced/enthusiast features wants to pay for a mag-alloy body, They need more over lap in their product range, they need a A550 priced model that's geared more towards advanced/enthusiast market.

What if they did something like this,

A555: dropped, face detect, smile shutter, scene modes and added MLU, program shift , custom settings and allowed user to change the Zoom button to DoF preview. Would not be expensive for Sony to do this, change the top dial and some changes to FW

Or they should have just updated the A700 a little, added Manual focus check, updated the menus maybe add burst mode , Fine AF adjust, a bigger/brighter OVF and maybe the A550 sensor (if it's any better than the A700 sensor) sold it has a A720 priced a little above the A550.

either option would not cost a lot in terms of RD.

Some people want face detect, smile shutter, scene modes other want more control, why not keep both market segments happy?