Sony alpha A55

[WaltKnapp]

I don't really have any ambition to get into the camera accessory business, one that's the responsibility of the camera manufacturer anyway, (Minolta had no trouble being able too design, make and sell it originally, so why was it so hard for Sony just too copy it ?), besides I'd have too compete against the Sony ringlight...hmmm that might not be a great problem, but I'd have nowhere too plug the ringflash head into, Sony blocked off the port that was in the twinflash/ringflash controller that it fitted into, (so they could sell their klutzy LED ringlight at twice the price of the ringflash head I expect). I'd have too build a new controller as well, just to fix a problem that Sony caused in the first place.
Nah, I think the problem belongs firmly at Sony, Sony caused the problem, trying to be a smart aleck, so Sony can fix it.
Greg

I have considered buying one of the Sony macro twinflashes. Then taking the controller apart and comparing it to the minolta macro flash controller. Either sorting out putting in the missing plug, or sorting out using the twinflash sockets to run a slightly modified 1200 macro ringflash head. I'm fairly sure that one or the other method would work, Sony is unlikely to have modified the controller much.

However that would involve buying one or more of the Sony macro twinflashes just to experiment on. Plus taking apart one of my Minolta macro flash controllers. I have two full sets of both types of Minolta macro flashes so can't at this point justify the expense just to help out others.

Walt

[WaltKnapp]

You can now contemplate the latest interview with the Sony product guy in Sweden. Sorry, denial is about as good as holding your finger in a dike to hold back the tide. It appears to be a done deal.
Walt

Well, It looks like I'll have to buy a 580 and keep an eye out for all that used stuff on e-bay as people exit Sony for PentCaNikon. I can probably last for 5 or 6 years with a new body and a few lenses. By that time I should know what will be remaining of the traditional (albeit digital) camera world.

Dusty

Except for buying an a580 (Sony has withdrawn the a560) that is approximately my plan. It's really foolish to think that one could, without sinking a lot of money in, switch a large DSLR system from one mount to a replacement large equal system in another mount. And that's not even counting the price differential in bodies and such from Nikon, which is where I'd go if I went.

Walt

[David Kilpatrick]

In the UK, it is rumoured that the A560 will only be sold through Jessop. This follows the same practice as Canon, who have also had exclusive models for Jessop (the largest retailer). It is possible that Sony internationally has taken a lead from the UK marketing model, and decided to make the A560 specific to some markets or some channels. Remember, they also did this with the A450, omitting the US as a market entirely at launch date. I have yet to see a photo taken with an A450 or learn of anyone using one.

David

[Wes Gibbon]

In the UK, it is rumoured that the A560 will only be sold through Jessop.

David

I received a junk email from Jessops saying precisely that, suggesting that it's more than a rumour. A bit surprising from my point of view - I usually delete Jessops emails before reading them!

[Greg Beetham]

Carl who runs Alphamountworld had an A560 on pre-order, they rang and told him the pre-orders were cancelled on the A560 until further notice. They said the camera will be delayed until after Christmas and won't be available until then, if at all, they wouldn't let the pre-order stand either. So it's beginning to look like the A560 might be on the endangered list.
Greg

[bfitzgerald]

Is there any difference between the A560 and the A580 aside from a few mega pixels? If not then why even bother with 2 models. Ditto on the EVF ones, why 2? One of each would be just fine.
Never been a fan of Sony's many models tiny differences between each one strategy, I think it only confuses buyers and makes the line up over complicated and less clear.

[David Kilpatrick]

Yes Barry - there's a big difference in speed. The A55 has a massive image buffer, 320MB or something like that, to enable long continuous bursts of 10 fps 16 megapixel raw frames. The A33 shoots slower and not so many, at only 14 megapixels.

The two differences combined are enough to differentiate within the marketplace, which is their intention.

David

[mike2008]

Will you be getting an A55 David? It would be interesting to see a repeat of the NEX AF test with the A55, as well as your thoughts after direct handling of the EVF, 'ghosting' etc.

[Greg Beetham]

One would think even the smaller camera isn't going to take long too burn that buffer up at 140Megapixels throughput per second.
Even more importantly DK there has been a report of overheating (yellow warning light-overheating) in a short time (forget if he said 1/2 hour or 1 hour or what, but was not what you would call long), walking about taking pix with the camera left turned on (main sensor turned on, no choice? has to be on too feed the EVF+LCD?). Just wondering if this an endemic problem with large sensors with an EVF + rear screen LV or was that maybe just a glitch with that particular camera?
Greg

[David Kilpatrick]

I have become used to turning off the NEX when not in use; not because of overheating, but because the battery life is not wonderful. For the same reason I also used to turn off the Sony R-1 and the KM A2.

I think this is more a case of someone not being used to the idea of live view from the main sensor. Try doing live view continuously for an hour on any DSLR - most will automatically shut down after a period (such as 15 minutes, or much less for Canon - I think Canon live view switches off after a very short time).

To expect a live view DSLR (large sensor) camera to be left on for 1-1.5 hours is expecting too much of any make. I even think the Olympus EP-1 I tried had a limit on how long I could use the LCD for without shooting, before it did an auto shut off.

David

[Greg Beetham]

Um ok I guess that guy was walking stopping shooting more or less continuously for a while, maybe an hour or such so the camera must have been active and/or re-activated semi continuously the whole time, that would explaint it then...The Sony DSLR forum 'dpr' more or less advised him to send it in to Sony too have it checked for the overheating problem, when it actually is behaving 'normally' anyway so it seems.
Greg

[mike2008]

Um ok I guess that guy was walking stopping shooting more or less continuously for a while, maybe an hour or such so the camera must have been active and/or re-activated semi continuously the whole time, that would explaint it then...The Sony DSLR forum 'dpr' more or less advised him to send it in to Sony too have it checked for the overheating problem, when it actually is behaving 'normally' anyway so it seems.
Greg

He contacted sony and they said it shouldn't overheat:

http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/readf ... d=36239853

"yes it was on for the hole time using live view mostly,and the a33 does get hot but like i said it was only 75 to 79 out today,the evf is pretty good a lot better then a camcorder, i called sony and he said it should be sent back under normal use it should not overheat"

[David Kilpatrick]

Sony said it should not overheat? It does have eye-sensors to turn on the finder/s. That might be one problem (faulty sensor or wrong setting). And it has an overheat warning and information about overheating in the manual. Why include those, if you do not expect the camera to overheat?

David

[mike2008]

Sony said it should not overheat? It does have eye-sensors to turn on the finder/s. That might be one problem (faulty sensor or wrong setting). And it has an overheat warning and information about overheating in the manual. Why include those, if you do not expect the camera to overheat?

David

"i called sony and he said it should be sent back under normal use it should not overheat "

I guess it all depends on the definition of normal use...


PS. A plane has pressure sensors and oxygen masks, but you wouldn't really expect to have to use them too often...

[tom power 53]

You know I read that post and believe the guy said he left it running continously with either the LCD or EVF on for about 2 hours intermittantly taking shots and video.

I am surprised the battery lasted that long. It is a device that you need to think about what you are doing. That big bright screen has to burn a lot of electricity.