A77

[Greg Beetham]

Didn't get the K-7 Barry? have they fixed the focus speed generally yet? I heard it was a little on the slow side, nice cam everywhere else though, found any lenses? you'll probably need more than the kit.
Greg

[Scooterman]

Well to hear Barry talking, I thought he was getting the medium format camera, 645
Not the Kx.
I tried the K7 after having a K20 that was so noisy at higher ISO’s also the AF speed was slow.
But if he is happy with that Kx best of luck to him.

[bfitzgerald]

Well Greg I thought about it and the K-7 is a nice enough price for that type of body. Only the not so good low light sensor held me back..I'm sure the K-5 will be popular when the price drop down with the newer sensor it's fairly strong overall. I did think about the K-r just it's so new I like to bag a deal..and figured if I like the K-x I'll add a K-r next year and that's my 2 body set up..higher up is something for later on if needed.

So far at least I'd say that 12mp cmos is a winner, AF speed is good on the K-x even low light it's accuracy is better than I expected. I don't really have any AF concerns with that body not yet, bit early but overall I'd say it's a winner. If I can get along ok with their entry body..then I'll be happy to move up the line later on..add a few decent lenses and bits, and that essentially replaced my A mount for jobs etc. In the meantime I'll run both along side each other.

The K-x is a mid level body hidden in an entry one it's jam packed with useful bits and in most cases well thought out. You can set it up how you want and not much need for a menu dive, green button helps as well you can set that to what you want. What a refreshing change for me it's a camera to get stuck into..with Sony they are so basic you are left wanting in many areas. Pentax have thought a lot about their cameras, photographer copyright in jpeg exif, calibrate the back LCD. raw development, lots of stuff to tweak.

[Greg Beetham]

Sounds good Barry, a camera made by an actual camera co. that tries to do things photographers want; I'll be interested in how the flash system works, reviewers don't cover flash systems...usually.
Greg

[OneGuyKs]

Barry is now going to sing love songs of Kx now that he bought it. A camera with no AF confirmation in OVF, a crappy LCD that is difficult to see even in moderate light, much weaker inbody image stabilization system, useless AF in liveview mode, no video AF, reports of blurry images at some focal lengths/shutter speeds (even IR review noted that), no HDMI port, less than average battery life with rechargeable batteries for a DSLR (A500 has three times longer battery life), below average auto focusing system that struggles in low-light.

The camera is a joke next to A55 (more resolution, faster AF, more fps, larger viewfinder, more info in viewfinder, better LCD, GPS, sweep panorama, multi-shot NR, hand-held HDR, faster liveview system, better video, AF in video).

[KevinBarrett]

I suppose I'll come through here later and wipe the posts with personal attacks, insults, etc. If you care to clean up your comments before I do so, maybe your input in relevant discussion will remain.

[alphaomega]

I think it is important that Barry has found a camera that fits his requirements (specs/performance/cost profile) better than current Sony offerings and I am certain his photography will improve as a result. As I have stated before I acknowledge that Sony have moved up the ratings with NEXand AXX cameras and that is the way they will go now almost certainly. I for one will purchase the excellent A580 at £500 eventually and I will be most happy as it is a development of the A550, which I currently own and value as a good photographic tool (for my purposes).

[michaelg]

I really can't understand all the emotion involved.
Maybe I'm just insensitive but I just see it as a camera.
Pentax, Sony, nikon, Canon etc are all making good products. Some suit someones preferences some suit others. At the end of the day if you don't like something there is no need to call it trash because it just doesn't suit you.
I am personally impressed with what Sony is doing & am looking forward to what comes next. Very exciting times we live in.
Oh, one more thing. I am sick of hearing the term "real photographer". What the hell is a "real photographer" & why do they have to be snobs?
I always thought anyone who enjoys photography was a real photographer. Maybe I'm mistaken.

[Scooterman]

I think it is important that Barry has found a camera that fits his requirements (specs/performance/cost profile) better than current Sony offerings and I am certain his photography will improve as a result. As I have stated before I acknowledge that Sony have moved up the ratings with NEXand AXX cameras and that is the way they will go now almost certainly. I for one will purchase the excellent A580 at £500 eventually and I will be most happy as it is a development of the A550, which I currently own and value as a good photographic tool (for my purposes).

I now have the A-580 also the A-550 Pt/exed my A-700 for health reasons. (high tone hearing loss and focus points on the periphery)
I must say it, the 580 is a brilliant camera and just that bit more of an improvement on the 550 and if you want it video.
Every thing just that bit better you will not be disappointed with it if you like what you get from your 550.
Regards
Richard

[Greg Beetham]

Actually so far I'm impressed with the IQ generally of the A55 despite myself. I am having a lot of trouble accepting a slopy thing fixed in front of a sensor in any camera of mine though, and I guess the A77 will be similar; but if the A55 is any guide to what the A580 will deliver it should be quite a desirable camera.
Greg

ps. goodness graciousment, I had too rush back and check all my posts to see if I had said that term anywhere...erm, you know, "r..l photographer," and found I didn't actually say it so I'm in the clear at least....phew. (I did say 'photographers' though...is that ok?)

pps. I caught your post scooterman, you have the A580, cool, when can we see some pix?

[bfitzgerald]

Barry is now going to sing love songs of Kx now that he bought it. A camera with no AF confirmation in OVF, a crappy LCD that is difficult to see even in moderate light, much weaker inbody image stabilization system, useless AF in liveview mode, no video AF, reports of blurry images at some focal lengths/shutter speeds (even IR review noted that), no HDMI port, less than average battery life with rechargeable batteries for a DSLR (A500 has three times longer battery life), below average auto focusing system that struggles in low-light.

The camera is a joke next to A55 (more resolution, faster AF, more fps, larger viewfinder, more info in viewfinder, better LCD, GPS, sweep panorama, multi-shot NR, hand-held HDR, faster liveview system, better video, AF in video).

There are no love songs..I just purchased something that I felt suited my needs.
I thought the AF lights or lack of in the VF would be a major downer, turns out it's not as bad as that and not a deal breaker. Would be better if the had it no question there.

Too soon to say on the in body AS seems to work pretty well. I don't connect cameras to HD tv's so that's no loss either.
AF looks anything but below average seems fast and performs well in low light too, guess you can't believe everything you read on DPR forums from Sony users LCD seems fine as well I can actually see it outside (unlike my A200)

To me the A55 is a joke (for my needs) also remind me of the price difference between the 2 models..they are not priced close at all. Don't need sweep panorama, don't need fast AF live view, video is not that important (looks perfectly ok on the K-x has to be said) The k-x has a ton of customisation that matters to me..that's lacking on the A55 model and for that price there is only one joke around here

All this proves is that different makers/models suit some users better or worse. What you like or need I might now..and others might not consider my important points relevant. Sony are offering nice stuff but lacking in areas that matter to me. Hence I didn't buy a Sony camera. And how can you knock the battery life on the K-x when the A55 isn't exactly class leading...odd most odd. K-x is not perfect it has niggles and stuff that could be better, but it's far more suited to my type of shooting than anything Sony have out there right now.

[Scooterman]

Actually so far I'm impressed with the IQ generally of the A55 despite myself. I am having a lot of trouble accepting a slopy thing fixed in front of a sensor in any camera of mine though, and I guess the A77 will be similar; but if the A55 is any guide to what the A580 will deliver it should be quite a desirable camera.
Greg

ps. goodness graciousment, I had too rush back and check all my posts to see if I had said that term anywhere...erm, you know, "r..l photographer," and found I didn't actually say it so I'm in the clear at least....phew. (I did say 'photographers' though...is that ok?)

pps. I caught your post scooterman, you have the A580, cool, when can we see some pix?

Hi Greg, when I can learn to post them on the gallery.
The weather is not that good at the moment but I have tried the Panorama mode and when you get the hang of it very impressive, not like so many manufacturers just crop the top and bottom it takes quite a few I can’t count them but at least 7-8 stitches them together in seconds, only thing some may want though is a RAW version but for me not being a landscape type it is fine and no need to buy an ultra wide lens.
The file size in Jpeg was over 16meg can you imagine the RAW size.
Regards
Richard

[David Kilpatrick]

It takes over 40... not seven or eight! That's why the panorama mode works so well.

David

[Scooterman]

It takes over 40... not seven or eight! That's why the panorama mode works so well.

David

Hi David, I was not counting, I just lost count at 7-8 (One seconds worth) but the result was terrific, metering fine AF good, and even better, it makes me look good.
Regards
Richard

[Greg Beetham]

You haven't posted any photos yet Richard? here I was thinking you had. Do you need to know the procedure or is it some glitch?
I use the [browse] button in the full editor which opens a search box on your own computer that you can use to navigate to where you store the web photos. Click on a file to add it to the 'open' line in the search box and then click 'open'. You also have to click [add the file] here in the editor. To be accepted the photo must not be any larger than 140Kb (I think) and no longer than 1000 pixels on the long side.
If you're adding more than one file you can use the [place inline] button each time, and a short description/title between each, that puts them in the order in which they were uploaded, otherwise it's hard to put descriptions/titles on the right photos etc. without it the order is reversed.
Greg