A77

[Neonsquare]

would the photographer who would pay twice the price of the a55 to get them be satisfied with something interrupting the optical path of their lenses, stealing light and introducing aberrations?

Thats actually a trick question
Seriously: the photographer who would pay twice the price of the a55 will certainly be satisfied with something that offers the performance he seeks - regardless on how this is done. I cannot take someone for serious if he is driven by fears about "stealing light" or "aberrations" when all those things may only be their personal pet theories which have no visible consequence in reality. Short: I don't care about how Sony will create a fantastic A77 or A7x0 - the only thing that counts to me is that they do it. I'm a camera user and not a maker.

ciao,
Jochen

[bfitzgerald]

Let's put the translucent thing to one side. Personally I see a compromise in IQ even if you argue it's a small one (to others it's an unneeded one as well)

Maybe I'm alone but I'm taking out EVF and fps and I don't really see what's so special about the A33/55 models. They seem decent at high ISO (live everyone else), they still are not putting out jpegs I like personally..though they are better. They are fairly slim on customisations..not much going on there. I mean if you are going to make these models out as a "big deal" as the Americans say..where exactly is it?

If you don't really care a lot about video, or high FPS where is the pull here? They look like fairly ordinary cameras to me on the small side (a con or a pro depending on who you talk to) Are folks really seduced by the so called new technology (which is re-hashed Canon from decade ago) DPR were but then they always are with anything new..they raved about the G1 too..yawn!

[OneGuyKs]

if you are going to make these models out as a "big deal" as the Americans say..where exactly is it?

PDAF AF in video

Sony A55 vs Canon 550D Video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kHPaVD0pHpQ

Yes that's a big deal for most consumer level cameras.

10 fps with AF (no competition from anyone except 1DIV). And other goodies, sweep panorama, hand-held HDR, multi-shot NR, GPS (no other DSLR has that), no mirror related blur. And price: A33 $650, A55 $750

And a gold award from DPR review.

That says it all.

[Scooterman]

There are some moans about where Sony are going, Translucent, Optical etc etc. (No Names)
Replacements for the A-700 and full frame and so on, and them we have those who say why so many entry level bodies.
Fans of other make are moaning to not because of new innovations, they are about warmed over models Olympus E-5- Canon 60D etc
I had an A-700 very nice camera but a dated design, I have just traded it in for two reasons one being I have an eye problem, focus confirm points hard to see and my hearing at higher tones has gone, I only found that out with the A-700!
I had a look at the A-33 very nice, no A-55 in yet, but decided against it, I do wild life, heavy lens on the front, a no go for me, so I gave the A-580 a go, A-550 body but with all the insides changed well to say the least an amazing piece of kit, also the image quality is superb.
And they have got rid of that gun metal grey top, now black all over.
I know Nikon have the 7000D and Pentax have the K5 both with the same sensor Sony of course but look at the prices Nikon £1000+ also Pentax.
I paid under £600 for the A-580, am I pleased with it? You bet I am.
Regards
Richard

[KevinBarrett]

10 fps with AF (no competition from anyone except 1DIV). And other goodies, sweep panorama, hand-held HDR, multi-shot NR, GPS (no other DSLR has that), no mirror related blur. And price: A33 $650, A55 $750

Sure these are nice features, and on the face these specs look like real high-end stuff, but look at the camera's real speed. Sync speed is an industry low 1/160, as is the maximum shutter speed of 1/4000. The transparent mirror can't be doing nothing to IQ; at the very least it is decreasing contrast, and you can't argue that the camera's IQ wouldn't improve if the light didn't have to travel through that extra pane of glass. When you look at the range of possibilities for a single exposure, the current SLTs are some of the most limiting machines in the business.

[Neonsquare]

Let's put the translucent thing to one side...

Maybe I'm alone but I'm taking out EVF and fps and I don't really see what's so special about the A33/55 models.

Well... if you take out all special things it is no wonder. Take out sensor size and image quality (related) of an A900 will make you wonder too, what this camera actually has to offer over the good old A700.

The simple answer is that you personally seem to have a fixed dislike of EVFs and no need for fps. Any pros one could get from alone those two features are not counted as valid, because you pre-determined on them being a drawback. To put it bluntly: Those cameras simply are not the devices YOU seek and hope for.

They seem decent at high ISO (live everyone else), they still are not putting out jpegs I like personally..though they are better. They are fairly slim on customisations..not much going on there. I mean if you are going to make these models out as a "big deal" as the Americans say..where exactly is it?

I think 7er models like an A77 will certainly have more customizations over the current A33 or A55. We will see if it is enough. If you compare the A33 and A55 in their class - they are quite decent and to me really a big deal: They offer a big 100% VF which is to many people more useful than the alternative of a penta mirror VF. They offer autofocus performance which is undeniably better than all you could find up to its class in an alpha and perhaps even better than all you could find in their class at a whole. With the fixed mirror they also have all benefits one can get from an SVA - just always on. Granted: If you're willing to spend alot more bucks, then it may not be such a big deal though.

If you don't really care a lot about video, or high FPS where is the pull here? They look like fairly ordinary cameras to me on the small side (a con or a pro depending on who you talk to) Are folks really seduced by the so called new technology (which is re-hashed Canon from decade ago) DPR were but then they always are with anything new..they raved about the G1 too..yawn!

If you do not care about video or fps or high iso - why not just staying with an A700? Oh - they are not built any more - what a pity . I think the future of this class of camera lies within full frame sensors - particularily a full frame camera in a very similar price range like the A700.
Btw. Regardless of how often this is told - the SLT concept isn't really similar to the old Canon pellix mirror ideas. The whole reason to use this mirror technology in the SLTs is to enable PDAF - which was never the target on any other Canon model before. The often mentioned EOS RT models do not even have a fixed mirror - the small second mirror for the AF actually did flip and the AF was NOT active while the film was exposed. Saying that this is what Sony is doing now isn't even a stretch - its really just wrong.

Jochen

[OneGuyKs]

Sync speed is an industry low 1/160, as is the maximum shutter speed of 1/4000. .

1/4000 is same for Canon 550D which is a more expensive camera. The sync speed is 1/200 with external flash.

The transparent mirror can't be doing nothing to IQ; at the very least it is decreasing contrast .

The jpeg resolution matches that of 550D (DPRreview) and lowlight performance is better than 7D (IR images).

So in the end, can't agree. Add everything I mentioned above (video AF, GPS, 10 fps with AF, several multi-shot modes, no mirror slap), A55 is the best bang for the money right now.

[edrice]

I'm not sure I understand some of the sniffing going on here. If a Minolta Autocord does not meet one's existing needs, does it make sense to expend energy ripping the Autocord for what it's not rather than focusing on something else that does? Does proffering such condescending detail as to why it's personally an unattractive option say less about the camera and more about the ripper?

Ed

[bfitzgerald]

No sniffing around here but some head scratching. If phase detect AF in video and high fps is desired and important I'm sure you'd be delighted. For more photographic based folks I'm still waiting for them to convey the "must have" appeal of the A33/55 range.
They still look like entry models (in fact worse than rivals in many areas) dressed up as a 2 trick pony (video AF and fps)

[OneGuyKs]

No sniffing around here but some head scratching. If phase detect AF in video and high fps is desired and important I'm sure you'd be delighted. For more photographic based folks I'm still waiting for them to convey the "must have" appeal of the A33/55 range.
They still look like entry models (in fact worse than rivals in many areas) dressed up as a 2 trick pony (video AF and fps)

They are entry-level cameras. They will sell better than A700 and K-5. Why on earth are you still waiting? You have been threatning to switch for 2 years. Put up or shut up.

[edrice]

I've never really had any interest in video and/or fps either and normally wouldn't have given it a second thought, especially at the expense previously required. But suddenly here it all is in an "entry-evel" camera and I'm not so mindlocked that the experimenter won't come out and have fun playing around with these things. New horizons...

And what is it with all this entry-level drivel anyway? Is that Sony's term, or the sniffers at work again? I've been buying "entry-level" cameras for over 40 years and never felt my manhood threatened by them and in most cases found them preferable to some lumbering, buttonclad boat anchor that would never see the top of a mountain.

Ed

[bfitzgerald]

Waiting for what I've ordered a Pentax DSLR so if that responds to your question we'll see on that. Of course I am still an A mount user as I have not sold my equipment...no doubt I'll build up a Pentax system over time.

The A55 is priced mid level just in case you missed that. Now if Sony had bothered to release the A560 I might have thought about that for a short time at least. Unfortunately all the old bug bears from years past are still present, crippled firmware/customisation, still not very good jpegs, missing stuff that even old film bodies can manage. Maybe Sony users should be a bit more picky and demanding..after all we actually use cameras for taking pictures. Other companies can manage that... but evidently not the Alpha division!

Some folks are easily pleased..I'm not one of them, hence I run to a real camera maker who has been established for many decades. There are always compromises, just you get more with Sony. My finepix has more customisation than a Sony DSLR, if that doesn't say something then nothing will!

[Dusty]

Well, We again run into the various needs of different photographers. Barry (and I'm mostly with him on this) prefer a pure stills camera.

I wanted the 580 because pre-release rumors said it also had GPS. Now I look at it as just the replacement of my 350, not a big step up, but the evolution that a few more years of sensor tech adds. I don't care about it's video mode. If I want HD video I'll buy an HD vid-cam. Since my TV is still NTSC, I'll stick with my current vid-cam.

I can see an a55 for my wife, but I think the 580 will out-shine it for my uses.

For a 7xx series camera, I want the bells and whistles and MPs that it's cost will mandate. But by that I mean things like 1/3 stop ISO settings, customization of menu items, etc. Basically an a700 with the next gen sensor and GPS, expanded firmware, and stills-centric additions.

I think that many like the EVF and it's features, but honestly, how many times will you shoot at 10 FPS? How mush time will you spend in video vs. stills mode?

I guess what I want is a no-compromise semi-pro DSLR at a reasonable price. Others want a universal stills-video recorder that spits out finished shots/clips without using a computer.

The question is, which will send Sony to the top? The answer is probably both together.

Dusty

[Lonnie Utah]

All this, for a camera who's specs have just been speculated upon...

[mike2008]

No sniffing around here but some head scratching. If phase detect AF in video and high fps is desired and important I'm sure you'd be delighted. For more photographic based folks I'm still waiting for them to convey the "must have" appeal of the A33/55 range.
They still look like entry models (in fact worse than rivals in many areas) dressed up as a 2 trick pony (video AF and fps)

Top reviews from every source possible suggest quite strongly that your views are far away from the mainstream. Nothing new there, I suppose. Don't be shocked when they sell really well. Enjoy your pentax.