SLT a55

[Javelin]

well it's better than not knowing anything at all. maybe this is the roadmap you all were complainging about not having a year ago. make your decisions accordingly

[Greg Beetham]

As always the market will determine what succeeds and what doesn't. I already have three excellent cameras that have all the features I need so I can sit and watch for a long time if need be.
The only one that looks tempting too me at the moment is the A580, but we'll see what the new 7's look like in due course...when and if Sony gets around to it.
If Sony doesn't ever get around to making a decent 7 by the time I need one, that's fine, there's other brands. Nikon would be my first port of call, they usually have a fair amount of common sense and know-how when it comes to making decent cameras.
Greg

[Dusty]

Can I just ask, do you really think a mechanical mirror flip mechanism is inherently more robust than electronics? Or that it doesn't create dust that falls onto the sensor? If you really believe in the KISS idea you'd better be getting a NEX.

Yes, I do. I have 40+ YO mechanical shutter cameras that are still working, and have seen more electronic problems than mechanical problems on newer models.

Dust is easily dealt with, and the shutter will probably create more than a mirror flip.

The NEX has no OVF, and no one makes a digital TLR that I'm aware of.

As to best sensor, it's the same one as in the 580. Let's see how it stacks up to it's self without a translucent mirror in the way!

Dusty

[Neonsquare]

Dusty: But it is not a mutual exclusive question. It is the question:

What is more robust:
1) Electronics + mechanical parts
2) Electronics

Or do you want Sony to develop a mechanical only film camera for you?

[Dusty]

Dusty: But it is not a mutual exclusive question. It is the question:

What is more robust:
1) Electronics + mechanical parts
2) Electronics

Or do you want Sony to develop a mechanical only film camera for you?

#1 is. MINIMAL electronics is what I want. I've serviced equipment built in the 196o's with TTL logic boards that are in heavy daily use, and the electronics still hold up. Modern electronics are more fragile. The boards are thinner, so they're more susceptible to shock, and the pathways are thinner. The chips themselves seem to be okay, but the more of them you put in, the greater the chance of problems.

I have Minolta mechanical cameras. I actually sought out a couple of old SRT's after having a battery die in my XG-M in the Amazon rain forest. Next time I was there, the old Wesson meter my Dad bought in Japan during the Korean War was also in the bag in case it's internal light meter (which uses a battery) went down.

I would love to have the NEX back end fitted to an SRT! I think Pako would join me in that desire.

Dusty

[bfitzgerald]

Some folks are looking for almost nothing mechanical on a camera. I'm not sure why that is myself..some want touch screen controls that handle like a dead cat. I'm not one of them..I'd run a mile from anything like that.

I like shutters, real switches and dials. And gasp those oldie mechanical cameras can take photos without batteries..beat that electronic super fans!

[Neonsquare]

Oh - thats easy Barry - we "electronic super fans" get new cameras and you stone carvers not.

[Javelin]

My SRt works fine without batteries.. but it would cost a fortune to make now. some of the parts are leather too which means it comes with cute little naked PETA protestors

[bfitzgerald]

I'm not suggesting we go back to mechanical cameras but hear this one out. Remember those fab (or not) days of power focus and power zoom? Were they better than mechanical? Nope..one example of where making everything electronic/electrical just fails and badly. All those 2 did was zap your batteries a lot faster. Complete waste of time.

Keep the good mechanical bits and let's forget about this "crusade" to change everything.

[bakubo]

I'm not suggesting we go back to mechanical cameras but hear this one out. Remember those fab (or not) days of power focus and power zoom? Were they better than mechanical? Nope..one example of where making everything electronic/electrical just fails and badly. All those 2 did was zap your batteries a lot faster. Complete waste of time.

Yeah, those xi lenses with power zoom were a great hit, weren't they? What was Minolta thinking? We may have a few of the former xi lens designers here on this forum.

[Dusty]

........ which means it comes with cute little naked PETA protestors

Great photo shooting! Let's bring back more leather!

Dusty

[bfitzgerald]

If I remember the film 7 came with a camera strap with "leather" bits or it looked like it did. I won't comment on my A200 camera strap only to say if it cost 10 pence to make that might be about what it's worth.

I bought some leather strap lug protectors for the film 7 too adds a bit of class no question.

[Greg Beetham]

It's because of 'electronics' that the shutter will probably last half as long as the one on a standard type DSLR. To take a single shot on an A33 or A55 (and the NEX) the shutter has to close first then do the open-close sequence and then finally open again so the operator can see where to aim the next shot; the EVF being fed by the main sensor, i.e. twice as many shutter activations as a standard DSLR.
Greg

[Dusty]

Is it main sensor in EVF mode? I though only in Live View mode. If so, another to not like it.

Dusty

[redsim74]

It's because of 'electronics' that the shutter will probably last half as long as the one on a standard type DSLR. To take a single shot on an A33 or A55 (and the NEX) the shutter has to close first then do the open-close sequence and then finally open again so the operator can see where to aim the next shot; the EVF being fed by the main sensor, i.e. twice as many shutter activations as a standard DSLR.
Greg

You don't think that the shutter assembly may have been made to higher tolerances, given that it's also expected to be driven at 10 fps?