Alpha 550 review is now on line

[vincenzo]

Oh no, not another sony/video question.... but with its swivel screen it looks like it'd be a great combo-cam!!
I'm getting requests from some clients for video while shooting stills so I'm looking for this capability in back-up body and don't want to have two different systems - my question is would Sony be able/willing to enable video through a firmware update or is that too complicated?

[mp-alpha]

my question is would Sony be able/willing to enable video through a firmware update or is that too complicated?

I guess it would be possible but the hardware probably isn't designed for video, I doubt it is optimised for processing a constant large stream of data etc.
But most importantly adding such a large new feature would be a strange thing for a business to do. They would have to redesign the cameras interface then rewrite manuals etc, Change their marketing, packaging etc (and what do about unsold cameras with the old firmware, How do you support users who don't know what a firmware is etc)
So they might as well introduce a whole new camera (and get people to upgrade) but I wouldn't expect them to do that soon unless they are not selling and the lack of video is the obvious reason.
On they other hand adding a menu option for mirror lock up wouldn't cause so many problems (unless there is some design reason it wouldn't work) even if it is a new feature. Except maybe someone could accidentally turn it on then blame the camera for being slow.

[vincenzo]

I guess it won't happen, but its a pity because i'd rather buy this than my 2nd choice - a panosonic gf1 or gh1. looks like it will be too long for me before sony enters the fray so two systems it shall have to be..
I'm not even considering Nikon or Canon. Owned D700 AND 5d MKII - Neither are a patch on a900 IMHO

[bfitzgerald]

If only the A900 sold for £499!

Different makers are stronger in various areas. I think Sony are strong for FF, but if your wallet says no...well I think some other brands have better options for APS-C users.
Sony just need to find that Minolta magic...and learn to give more, even for lower end users. Then all their problems will go away pretty quickly

[Greg Beetham]

Barry if you take stock you are already using a two tiered system, film and digital, so obviously the digitals you own aren't flexible enough to cover all the bases. Besides if you have a look at the high ISO bias overall of the A550 and it's IQ at normal picture taking and lack of various features, would you be happy buying one? It doesn't even have a proper functioning MLU....
Greg

ps. gotta go to work now, catchup later.

[bfitzgerald]

Yeah but I only really use film up to ISO 400, rarely over..that is where digital takes over for me (well most times) And a fine advantage digital has for low light work and high ISO. I just wonder if Sony overstretched on the ISO 12800 thing?
And my film bodies cost peanuts really..overall, one film 5 still sits in the box all brand new..all for £30 odd..and I have 2 more of those..cheap bodies, but not bad feature wise. The 7 is the workhorse for me..
And the 5d is for digital..A200 is shotgun I am afraid
I would not go near an A5xx model without a serious FW update and improvements.

Sure I am poking a bit of fun at Sony, but what can you say about a manufacturer who cannot even put a hot shoe cover or rear lens cap in a near £600 camera! Sorry, has to be said..Sony are playing super tight wad..and they are on features too.

[Greg Beetham]

Well Baz here's my take on the state of play FWIW. The important question to ask about any DSLR is, does it have ALL the features necessary for taking all facets of STILL photos....as any DSLR should, or is it some hybrid experimental attempt at incorporating features that have nothing to do with taking still photos and therefore full of compromises?
That's what I'm getting at, if Sony want to have/evolve an LV, EVF, Movie clip DVSLR...fine, I'm ok with that, just as long as they still continue to make and perfect an alternate normal DSLR (without any compromises), that is aimed at nothing more than taking great still photos.
And that's why I suspect the only way that that is going to be achieved is by making two types of DSLR and see which is the more popular. If the DVSLR eventually wins the climb to the top of the heap, so be it, I and many others I think, will probably just have to grin and bear it...and lament the loss of the true DSLR.
Greg

[bfitzgerald]

You are probably right Greg..
Thom Hogan thinks a Sony EVF Micro 4/3 competitor is on the way for next year. He might well be right.
But suddenly Oly and Pannies brain child, becomes rather crowded with competitors. I am not sure the EVF type camera is ready for the mass market, still not cheap enough for that. More a niche for some enthusiasts to experiment with.
Are we at the end of the DSLR, no..obviously not..
But I am well aware of this video stills merging..and I guess EVF makes sense for that.
Maybe the entry DSLR is dead..but I would hope not..better stock up on film bodies on ebay!

I don't hate EVF cameras, but simply wouldn't want one as a primary system..this is where some of the weak points come out. It's great making stuff small, but it kinda sucks when you start to use longer tele lenses..bit like the rangefinder design, a niche that fills a market gap.

Let's put it like this, I have 10 A mount lenses..if I have a smaller EVF body DSLR type camera..what do I gain from having my normal lenses on it? Not a lot..bar no cost for extra optics..but it's not given me any advantage..probably made handling worse. If we have a new mini mount, and new lenses..how many A mount users would be willing to build a system from the ground up, with all the costs that are associated with that?? Most folks I know don't even mention OVF or EVF..simply does not appear to be the deal winner, the size might be for some.

[bakubo]

Maybe the entry DSLR is dead..but I would hope not..better stock up on film bodies on ebay!

And film. And developing chemicals.

[alphaomega]

I had enough of EVF from using my R1. They need to be a lot better. I would see Micro 4/3 as a second string such as the way I currently use my Panasonic LX2/3. I carry them when I cannot bring along my A700 and/or A350. As a second string they would be no use with current size FF & APS-C lenses. What's the point? Almost as bulky as a DSLR and less image quality from a smaller sensor. As for the Oly Pen idea without OVF - forget it. You cannot see the image in sunshine.
To get back to the thread header, I repeat that the A550 could become a usable camera if Sony introduced a firmware upgrade adding in intermediate ISO settings, Program shift and resolved the intermittent ISO200 quality issues that David Kilpatrick identified. If they could also add MLU through firmware, so much the better. If they did that and the price crept down to say £500 the A550 could be an interesting package for me as a back-up to my A700. Without acceptable and consistent low ISO performance I cannot see the A550 taking over from my A350. For Alamy I currently have my CZ16-80 on the A350 set at ISO200 and either the Tamron 10-24 or 70-300 on my A700 depending on requirements. That gives me flexibility with the A700 handling higher ISOs when required for tele work. Both cameras do well in their designated roles and my Panasonic LX2/3 combo set at ISO100 & RAW produce images passing Alamy QC without problems. So Sony need to step up to the mark and improve on the A550 to make me interested.

[Greg Beetham]

I just had a time out from all things forum, my new A700 arrived (yes I weakened).....I think I'm in love. Wow! that shutter button is really something, and an OVF to die for...wowzer!

Now I'm struggling to concentrate on things concerning the A550....but if you were to take the lack of the aforementioned functional MLU as a case in point.
Why does it not work as it should in taking a telephoto or high magnification Macro shot? Probably not because of the LV feature itself, (they could have fixed it if they wanted to, most likely), I think they just don't care, their full attention was on providing some LV frivolous gimmick/feature first and foremost and that's all that mattered. Why do I call a potentially usefull macro feature (LV) frivolous? Because it has interfered with an essential feature for serious Hi-magnification shooters, it's as simple as that. And I'm worried that Sony just don't seem to understand.....
Greg

[David Kilpatrick]

my question is would Sony be able/willing to enable video through a firmware update or is that too complicated?

I guess it would be possible but the hardware probably isn't designed for video, I doubt it is optimised for processing a constant large stream of data etc.

Try plugging an A550 into an HD TV as I pointed out in the review. Use MF LV mode. You get a superb video picture and you can have it for 30 minutes if you like. If it did not have a label saying 'MF Check LV' at the bottom of the frame, you could record the video via the HDMI output and it would be a fair match for any 720p v-DSLR.

The A550 already has perfect streaming live video. It simply lacks any means to record this.

If anyone can tell me how to capture the output of an HDMI HDTV image source as a .mov file, using HDMI connections, I will try to make a video using the A550. Maybe my new iMac will do this. It has DVI input to the screen, perhaps it is possible to route the video source as the DVI interface.

David

[alphaomega]

David Kilpatrick wrote

Try plugging an A550 into an HD TV as I pointed out in the review. Use MF LV mode. You get a superb video picture and you can have it for 30 minutes if you like. If it did not have a label saying 'MF Check LV' at the bottom of the frame, you could record the video via the HDMI output and it would be a fair match for any 720p v-DSLR.

That is interesting. Excuse me if this is daft, as I am certainly not a video expert, but could this video be recorded on to a Sky box with a hard disk? Would it also be possible to link up the A550 with a suitable laptop and record the video image straight to the laptop HDD? Sony must be pretty close to being able to release a DSLR with a video function - not that I am all that interested in using such a facility as I would be happier with P shift, intermediate ISO settings and a stable ISO200 quality reproduction.

[Greg Beetham]

How many frames per second do you think it has David? Does it smudge or displace at all when you PAN?
Greg

[David Kilpatrick]

I would say 24-30fps. It stays pretty sharp. No ghosting or trailing lag.

David