Alpha 390

[David Kilpatrick]

Sony has an event in the UK on Thursday - 'Christmas in summer' - and it looks as if the Alpha 390 has surfaced in the USA, showing up for sale at B+H. It appears to be a very slightly revised 380 with some menu help extras and a minor body redesign, but absolutely no other improvement. My guess is that the 390 will also appear at the Sony press party, to which I am invited, but will not be going as I have other commitments.

David

[Greg Beetham]

I had a quick look over at dpr, http://a.img-dpreview.com/news/1006/sony/A290_5.jpgI couldn't see an AEL button anywhere, one of the most essential features of using a DSLR in my view. And Sony hasn't fixed the non informative/apparently conflicting shutter speed/f-stop scales, appearing to indicate that as the f-stop gets deeper the shutter speed gets faster.
Greg

[Winedarksea]

Sony has an event in the UK on Thursday - 'Christmas in summer' - and it looks as if the Alpha 390 has surfaced in the USA, showing up for sale at B+H. It appears to be a very slightly revised 380 with some menu help extras and a minor body redesign, but absolutely no other improvement. My guess is that the 390 will also appear at the Sony press party, to which I am invited, but will not be going as I have other commitments.

David

David, when is the event Thursday? I know my timing is not good--it's 11:30 pm here, so I assume it's 4:30 there--and you are getting some beauty rest, but I have been thinking about this event. It could be nothing--or it could be a bid deal. What I don't think it is about is the A290/390, at least not primarily. Perhaps it is about the new NEX HandyCam that was introduced today. Maybe something more . . .

Dulaney

[bfitzgerald]

Greg it's the same old design with a half decent grip and the over stock of 14mp CCD's in the warehouse meant they have to offload them somewhere. This to my view shows just how much Sony ignore the failure of the last one and put it purely down to the "bad grip"

It's insane (and embarrassing) to have such poorly designed models with no AEL being just one of the many flaws present.
Sony are the only company to make their entry range worse over time. Surely even they can see that with the decent 12mp CMOS making it to entry models these ones are onto a huge thumping. Absolutely no incentive for any buyers to look at these v any other camera.

[Contrast]

I saw the a390 at the Videopro store - Carindale, Australia yesterday. I have to admit to being somewhat surprised to see one so soon after hearing the model announced. The staff said it was because the were official Sony dealers. I was interested to check it out as a potential replacement to my a350 which is causing me some issues on my full time photo course. The one thing I really wanted from it was manual flash mode (which would put me on par with the Canon/Nikon users on the course and able to use the Bowen studio gear without extras). In actual fact, (and I had to check this out via the web at home later as the sales staff couldn't tell me) the 390 actually loses the menu option for TTL and ADI seen on the a350. I couldn't find what the only flash mode actually is, I'm guessing it is TTL. That coupled with the "dropped" AEL button makes this model a complete non starter for my course. Other things that bother me, no worthwhile additions, no pc sync, no cable release socket, IR receiver window forward facing only, etc etc. I'll probably "limp along" for the remainder of the course on the 350 and then go Canon once I have some money coming in. I don't hold out a lot of hope for Sony coming out with a mid range pro capable camera to seriously compete with the 550d, 7d, 50d etc.

I have to say the a390 looks and feels nice, the AV button is still badly positioned for manual use, but the price is great: -Twin lens kit ony $999 Australian, single lens kit at $799. I'm sure there will be a lot of beginners tempted by that, if only it was well represented out in the stores alongside the dominating Canon/Nikon.

[KevinBarrett]

Hello, Contrast, and welcome to the forum. No, I wouldn't recommend moving from the a350 to the a390 either, but perhaps to an a550? I still won't offer a PC sync, but there are shoe adapters out there, starting under $10 US, that provide this functionality and also let you mount anybody's flash gun on your a350. Look for a "Seagull SC-5" or "Seagull SC-6" to future-proof any lighting investments.

Also, manual flash control lies more with the flash gun than the camera body. Within the Alpha system, that means the F42, F56, and F58 flash guns are your first choices.

[Contrast]

Hello Kevin,
Thanks for your welcome and reply. Sorry all for getting off topic here, I have looked at the a550 too, I really don't thnk it is a significant enough of a step up from the a350 to warrant the change. Seems about the only worthwhile feature is the faster shot rate.

I have ordered two different hot shoe adapters with PC sync, and 2 wireless flash units also different in features, plus a pc sync cable. I am sure those will get me up and running but it is annoying I need to do that. Surely using Bowens is a standard for any photographer? I am concerned that taking up the sync socket on the Bowens will interfere with others in the class perhaps doing metering etc at same time. I know it sounds ridiculous sharing studio but somehow it all works, we have dedicated time too! I will need to buy a flash but funds this month are too scant. As I said I'm on a full time course with a commercial college. Fees need to be paid and I don't have money coming in.. I am concerned that even the flash won't do what I would like, unfortunately even the Sony outlets here (Redland Bay/Brisbane) don't have any stock, infact all stockists are pitiful generally. On my last visit to the Sony Centre in Brisbane city they only had a single DSLR on display/in stock, no lenses/flash etc and tried to get me to look at the NEX instead. I am unable to try a Sony flash out nor can I find anyone "in the know".

I found this here:- http://www.photoclubalpha.com/2008/07/2 ... dio-solved
To Quote -

The bad news is that the new HVL-F42AM flash, despite having manual power settings, is programmed to lock these out when attached to the Alpha 350/300 in any mode other than M on the camera." Although I have not tested it, Sony inform us that the new HVL-F56AM and HVL-F58AM will all behave this way too. You can set them before attaching the flash but the moment it connects with a camera in any Auto mode, the flash reverts to Auto.

I will probably get the HVL-F58AM as it seems to offer the most options ongoing.

[Winedarksea]

Hello Kevin,
Thanks for your welcome and reply. Sorry all for getting off topic here, I have looked at the a550 too, I really don't thnk it is a significant enough of a step up from the a350 to warrant the change. Seems about the only worthwhile feature is the faster shot rate.

I have ordered two different hot shoe adapters with PC sync, and 2 wireless flash units also different in features, plus a pc sync cable. I am sure those will get me up and running but it is annoying I need to do that. Surely using Bowens is a standard for any photographer? I am concerned that taking up the sync socket on the Bowens will interfere with others in the class perhaps doing metering etc at same time. I know it sounds ridiculous sharing studio but somehow it all works, we have dedicated time too! I will need to buy a flash but funds this month are too scant. As I said I'm on a full time course with a commercial college. Fees need to be paid and I don't have money coming in.. I am concerned that even the flash won't do what I would like, unfortunately even the Sony outlets here (Redland Bay/Brisbane) don't have any stock, infact all stockists are pitiful generally. On my last visit to the Sony Centre in Brisbane city they only had a single DSLR on display/in stock, no lenses/flash etc and tried to get me to look at the NEX instead. I am unable to try a Sony flash out nor can I find anyone "in the know".

I found this here:- http://www.photoclubalpha.com/2008/07/2 ... dio-solved
To Quote -

The bad news is that the new HVL-F42AM flash, despite having manual power settings, is programmed to lock these out when attached to the Alpha 350/300 in any mode other than M on the camera." Although I have not tested it, Sony inform us that the new HVL-F56AM and HVL-F58AM will all behave this way too. You can set them before attaching the flash but the moment it connects with a camera in any Auto mode, the flash reverts to Auto.

I will probably get the HVL-F58AM as it seems to offer the most options ongoing.

If the A550 doesn't appeal to you, Contrast, then perhaps the A5xx will, when it comes out within another couple of months.

Dulaney

[Contrast]

If the A550 doesn't appeal to you, Contrast, then perhaps the A5xx will, when it comes out within another couple of months.

Dulaney

I'll need to wait and see what the features are, Unless it rivals the EOS 550d on price/spec/MP probably not. I suspect if there is another 5xx out of Sony there is a good chance the differences will be fairly cosmetic over the a550. It is a pity really, I have 7 lenses now for my a350 including the 100 2.8 macro.

[KevinBarrett]

Ever thought of hunting down an a700? It's a heck-of-a-lot cheaper (and better in many ways) than an a850.

[Contrast]

Ever thought of hunting down an a700? It's a heck-of-a-lot cheaper (and better in many ways) than an a850.

I'm sure there are many who would disagree, but I can't think of any good reason why I personally would. Quality image and features @12.3mp = Nikon with warranty.

[bfitzgerald]

Agree no point living in the past. I've often thought about picking up an A700 but what's the point if the newer offerings are not up to par? I suspect Sony will update the A5xx range soon with video, but I also am pretty sure they will add nothing new to this range features wise. Simply put Sony are uncompetitive in this price bracket and other makers are much more tempting.

I shouldn't even have to think twice about buying an A5xx model it should be perfect for me, yet it is so poorly features in many ways (to me that is v older models and very basic stuff as well most of it) it's far from a sure fire thing even at a blowout price (and it's not that cheap either)

Sony have shown with these entry models that they have the earplugs firmly in and simply don't take onboard what is going on in the real world. The idea is that you get previous entry users to upgrade and do so by offering compelling models that are "better" than the previous ones. It's really simple, yet nobody in the Alpha division seems to have worked it out yet..sigh..

[Contrast]

I really don't get the drive to have video capability in a still camera at all.. It is fine for the occasional photographer that takes the family to the theme park or whatever but I can't see why a Pro still photographer would need or even want that capability. It also seems to me we are getting it (like it or not) at the expense of other and potentially better still camera options. This appears to be a trend, like dumbing down the camera, that is designed to appeal to only the novice and (I guess therefore) mass consumer market. it is a pity that it isn't at the moment really balanced out by affordable models in the pro market. I have a DVD video camera that came free with the LCD TV well over two years ago, it is yet to come out of the box. I suspect any movie recording capability on any future still camera will do just the same for me.

[pakodominguez]

This appears to be a trend, like dumbing down the camera, that is designed to appeal to only the novice and (I guess therefore) mass consumer market. it is a pity that it isn't at the moment really balanced out by affordable models in the pro market.

I think the A850 for 2000 US$ affordable...

[bfitzgerald]

$2000 isn't really affordable not by a lot of people's definition of the term. I'll repeat it I think Sony badly need that A7xx replacement and they also need a really good not cut down mid range D90 ish body. Folks would flock to Sony if only they had the put more effort in.

Despite being old the D90 is a huge seller for Nikon I'm not sure why it's so hard to make something similar to this.