The 550 is dead?

[jbtaylor]

Barry,
I have read you posts for a few years now. You are a smart man.
What kind of camera do you want?
Who makes such a camera?
I just purchased a replacement a700. Should I be dissatisfied?
I respect your opinion but I wrestle with the idea that you can't find what you want and that makes me wonder what a good camera is.
I saw a few of your shots and thought they were really good. Please post more and tell us why they cannot be taken with any Sony camera.
Regards,
JT

[bakubo]

I'm also thinking there must be a reason Canikon have not gone down this road for DSLR's (pellicle) I'm having trouble assuming they've missed something and Sony has not, but I'll be prepared to keep a slightly open mind.

I don't mean to wade into the middle of this, but I thought I would just make a comment in this one case. Canikon also doesn't have IBIS and fast LV. There are probably some other examples. My point is that just because Canikon doesn't do something doesn't mean it can't be done or it isn't worthwhile to do.

[WaltKnapp]

Sounds like I should start looking for some more a700's. Not a good picture from Sony.

Walt

I'll be probably selling mine, when the A700 replacement arrives!

If it arrives!

Walt

[pakodominguez]

Sounds like I should start looking for some more a700's. Not a good picture from Sony.

Walt

I'll be probably selling mine, when the A700 replacement arrives!

If it arrives!

Walt

wanna bet?

[WaltKnapp]

I'm married to a photographer who fits Sony's criteria of selling to women. I certify she's a woman.

And niche for macro? That is probably her biggest category of shooting in her quest to photograph every living thing. Women do macro too, surprised!

So, Sony, where is the macro support for this woman? Ignore that man with her if you want as minor and unimportant, but here is a woman you are not supporting either. (think missing macro ringflash) And that woman has a large number of other women photographers she corresponds with who also make macro a big part of their shooting.

Sony is not meeting the needs of these women. Simple as that.

Walt

[Dr. Harout]

... So, Sony, where is the macro support for this woman? Ignore that man with her if you want as minor and unimportant, but here is a woman you are not supporting either. (think missing macro ringflash) And that woman has a large number of other women photographers she corresponds with who also make macro a big part of their shooting.

Sony is not meeting the needs of these women. Simple as that.

Walt

Walt, I was on a quest for a true ring flash till I purchased the twin flash macro. I still am doing "researches" on how to use it, even use it concomitantly with other flashes (I'm sure you're not surprised). I have promised in one of my earlier posts (http://www.photoclubalpha.com/forum/vie ... 75&start=0) that I'll keep "à jour" of all new "discoveries" (maybe sort of re-inventing the wheel).

[Dusty]

No matter what Sony produces for the masses and the women, if they really have their sights set on #2, they'll have to address the semi-pro/advanced amateur segment sooner or later. That means really more than just a single a700 replacement. They will have to have a range of cameras that aspiring photographers can 'step-up' to once their current model no longer meets their needs.

Missing features have to be available for photographers to have creative control over their pictures, dumbing down and auto-everything just wont hack it for the enthusiast.

I think we can all agree that Sony is not targeting this range of camera to our expectations.

On the other hand, we're seeing a lot of things that most of us have no need for, and don't want included at the expense of stills performance or added costs. Maybe Sony's target really wants these features, but I have no need of video in a stills camera, and no need of 15 FPS. I realize some do. Sonolta was always crying for more FPS - it looks like he'll soon have it.

I think Sony might be best off to look at modular construction of it's bodies. If they settled on a basic body (or several) and added features to them, not just swapped sensors, they could build a solid future. Why should I have to buy a new vertical grip with every camera I buy? A unified body structure would mean swap-ability for them as well as lenses and flashes. Also, building on a modular frame means that overall production costs are decreased.

It remains to bee seen how serious Sony is at being #2, but they will have to lock in the current advanced users as well as attract new ones if that's the case.

Dusty

[WaltKnapp]

Walt, I was on a quest for a true ring flash till I purchased the twin flash macro. I still am doing "researches" on how to use it, even use it concomitantly with other flashes (I'm sure you're not surprised). I have promised in one of my earlier posts (http://www.photoclubalpha.com/forum/vie ... 75&start=0) that I'll keep "à jour" of all new "discoveries" (maybe sort of re-inventing the wheel).

The twin macro has that effect. People going mad with all the ways they can arrange the two flashes. Just like one could do years and years ago when people had made brackets for two small standard flashes for their macro. Yep I've been through that too, it's almost a hobby into itself just arranging the apparatus.

I do a awful lot of field macro, and a lot of that is done in the dark. For me the twin macro is too grabby of vegetation and too thin parts for such activity. And I have used it that way.

Farther, the other problem with the twin macro is it simply separates the two flash too far even at their closest setting for true macro use. More a design for closeup work with longer working distances.

I have both the 1200 macro ringflash and the 2400 twin macro, in fact more than one copy of each. I use both, each where appropriate. Set up the way Minolta did it both together are not that much bulk, only the one controller needed. Sony had it all and made a dumb move of trying to substitute a led light for a flash. The cheapest and easiest to make of the three parts is what they left out.

Walt

[bfitzgerald]

I'm with Dusty on this..
Sony are not acting as if they are serious about their DSLR range. The minor difference sensor change or a small spec difference is unconvincing.
In response to JT what I want is a camera that is like the A100/5d with "enhancements" I mentioned Auto ISO being able to set that and proper customisation. You have no custom options on the A5xx models almost nothing at all and what we did have on the older bodies has been ripped out much of it (AEL spot toggle, DOF preview, DMF etc) Really very basic requests indeed..add a choice of NR settings for jpeg and off we go.

Yes I am looking at Nikon and Pentax but I'm waiting to see what both come up with this year. I don't want "simple DSLR's" a £70 p&s yeah I expect simple but DSLR's are not meant for p&s users.

[Neonsquare]

You have no custom options on the A5xx models almost nothing at all and what we did have on the older bodies has been ripped out much of it (AEL spot toggle, DOF preview, DMF etc) Really very basic requests indeed..add a choice of NR settings for jpeg and off we go.

DOF preview is actually not really a convincing idea on APS-C DSLRs like this. You wouldn't nearly see the DOF effect which will be on the final image. Why not just take a picture and see the real thing? Its digital, it doesn't cost you anything.

DMF while being a nice idea - doesn't make any sense on SSM lenses and doesn't work with SAM lenses. I really hope they change SAM to allow in-lens DMF in future lenses.

The AEL spot toggle is somewhat nice, but I mostly configure metering modes to the Fn-Key and therefore switching to spot isn't a big issue for me.

ciao,
Jochen

[bfitzgerald]

You might not find DOF preview useful but I might
Thus if you don't use it don't press the button! (my point here is choice is a good thing) I'm aware of the limitations of DOF preview..I'm also aware all my bodies have it bar the A200 and I use it on the others.
DMF is actually pretty handy nice features not essential but useful at times.
AEL spot toggle is very very useful and this is simply a firmware cut out job from Sony..the button was there they just didn't take advantage of that.

There are many other smaller points too but I'd take up half the page with it. Not being able to set Auto ISO drives me nuts on the Km5d and A200..more so the A200 as it stops at a pathetic ISO 400 (my compact goes to ISO 1600! Bit of a joke) And yes I have made mistakes by shooting high ISO when I should not have. With no full time ISO display in the VF it's easy to do at times if you are in a hurry. Lack of ISO 100 is a problem for portraits at fast apertures..that's why I have no interest in the A5xx range..too simple lacking too much basic stuff.

[Winedarksea]

Sounds like I should start looking for some more a700's. Not a good picture from Sony.

Walt

I'll be probably selling mine, when the A700 replacement arrives!

If it arrives!

Walt

You KNOW if will arrive, Walt.

[pakodominguez]

I'm married to a photographer who fits Sony's criteria of selling to women. I certify she's a woman.

And niche for macro? That is probably her biggest category of shooting in her quest to photograph every living thing. Women do macro too, surprised!

Hello Walt,
If your wife is a Photographer, she's not the target for those entry level cameras...

Sony is not meeting the needs of these women. Simple as that.

I think that is your job...


Regards

[bfitzgerald]

It will arrive but will it have a lens release on/off option? If that's a no then I'd wager Walt will be less than happy..and others too.
This is actually a big issue for some users myself it's a problem with MF lenses I simply cannot be in M mode for some tasks. So simple for Sony to address this yet they have not even on the full frame bodies.

[Greg Beetham]

Why was the DOF button removed at all? I can't think of any valid reason too remove it. It's not exactly the same thing taking a photo and looking at the rear screen too see the depth of view as compared to looking through the OVF. When they make rear screens as good as an OVF I'll agree that the photo method might be ok. I know you can zoom in on the rear screen etc. but they still aren't high res enough and combat glare well enough for me to be convinced they can replace a DOF button in every situation.
Greg