α560/α580 are coming

[Lonnie Utah]

I decided that I wanted OVF for landscape photography.

After playing with the A55 in the local camera shop the other day, I had the distinct feeling that the EVF would actually be very good for doing landscapes. The built in horizon line is genius. The internal "live view" that one gets also really useful in getting a feel for how a final scene will look. I determined that at this time the A55 isn't the camera for me (I'm waiting on big brother), I was duly impressed with what this little gem could do (VERY impressed with the lack of high ISO noise). I'd like to handle one with the battery grip attached to see if the ergonomics are improved....

[Scooterman]

I decided that I wanted OVF for landscape photography.

After playing with the A55 in the local camera shop the other day, I had the distinct feeling that the EVF would actually be very good for doing landscapes. The built in horizon line is genius. The internal "live view" that one gets also really useful in getting a feel for how a final scene will look. I determined that at this time the A55 isn't the camera for me (I'm waiting on big brother), I was duly impressed with what this little gem could do (VERY impressed with the lack of high ISO noise). I'd like to handle one with the battery grip attached to see if the ergonomics are improved....

I handled the A-55 also trying it but I rather think looking at it no way can a battery grip be used with it, a shame really.

[Lonnie Utah]

I handled the A-55 also trying it but I rather think looking at it no way can a battery grip be used with it, a shame really.

...and I rather think no battery grip will fit, also my A-550 grip fits the A-580....

And it should fit the A55 as well. Google it....
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/6 ... p_for.html

Humm, maybe not! (Got fooled by the 550 getting cut off on the google link...

[bfitzgerald]

It might be soap opera drama but I too feel ...

More drama: do you really think Sony will care about the feelings of someone that only got an A200 and kit lens? I do totally understand the concern of someone as Walt, who have invest a lot on Minolta/Sony equipment, but the fact that you are sort of 'celebrity" on the Sony-related forums doesn't make you a good Sony customer -and I do expect Sony to make his good customers happy.

We knew your advice before the SLT system showed up...

I'm not sure why you feel the need to mock anyone owning an A200, as I said before it was a gift and I did not purchase it. I also off loaded the 2 poor copies of the 18-70mm DT Sony lens. I kept the one I got with the Km5d. If you're suggesting I purely own a kit lens then you're way off base.

Granted I don't own anything exotic lens wise, but I've a good few lens for A mount some of them are rather good as it happens albeit Minolta stable.

Did it not occur to you that I have not bought anything A mount (bar a Sony flashgun) because I didn't like what they were offering? The A200 made an ok backup for the Km5d..after that I was looking for a mid level body similar to the 5d. But all we got were the A5xx models with a whole host of stuff ripped out that I frequently use, no shocks I didn't rush out and get one. As for the A580 it's too little too late for me I'm afraid, though I can see it's a good thing with some improvements.

Not sure why you feel the need to belittle anyone for what they own. If the value of photography were purely in looking good with premium bodies and lenses then we'd all be in trouble. I think I can hold my own using what I do, I don't envy those who have top notch stuff I only envy good photographs (people make their own buying choices). It's entirely inappropriate to make comments suggesting my remarks hold little value because I'm not Sony's best customer. I can see good design and direction, and I can see the obvious mistakes the company has made. By all means express your own view but without any of the looking down the nose stuff.

[Scooterman]

I did have a very close look at the A-55 to see if a grip could be fitted and if I remember right there is a door in the base that would get in the way and why I went for the A-580, and I’m pleased I did handles very much like the 550 with even more features, the sweep panorama feature is excellent to play with although even on an A3 print it will be narrow, the amount of detail captured is astounding.
Video is not for me but may have to use it for grand children etc, what I really like is the new AF system very quick, also the metering is very hard to fool.
I have only managed one “shoot” with it as yet and only in Jpeg, normally I only use raw, when we get the next bit of less inclement weather I will give it a good outing.

[Scooterman]

I had a good giggle to myself while out I met a guy who was using a Canon 1D mk3 800mm L series lens mounted on a gimbal and a carbon fibre tripod, maybe to save weight? Well he was “machine gunning” it and kept it up for about 10minutes, he did say he should get a good shot out of that lot?

[pakodominguez]

It might be soap opera drama but I too feel ...

More drama: do you really think Sony will care about the feelings of someone that only got an A200 and kit lens? I do totally understand the concern of someone as Walt, who have invest a lot on Minolta/Sony equipment, but the fact that you are sort of 'celebrity" on the Sony-related forums doesn't make you a good Sony customer -and I do expect Sony to make his good customers happy.

We knew your advice before the SLT system showed up...

I'm not sure why you feel the need to mock anyone owning an A200, as I said before it was a gift and I did not purchase it. I also off loaded the 2 poor copies of the 18-70mm DT Sony lens. I kept the one I got with the Km5d. If you're suggesting I purely own a kit lens then you're way off base.

Barry, I don't mock you or, in any case, I don't mock you because the gear you own. If I mock you is because the moral authority you pretend in any single one of your criticism to the Sony Alpha system. You were defending the "Minolta way" against the Sony way without knowing how or when or why Konika and Minolta merged (I know where I came from, and you told me you come from your mom). The truth is that the Minolta way felt long time ago and Sony is doing much better. Old Minolta users have a "future" because that.

Granted I don't own anything exotic lens wise, but I've a good few lens for A mount some of them are rather good as it happens albeit Minolta stable.

So, why are you expecting been treated as a "Premium Client"?

Did it not occur to you that I have not bought anything A mount (bar a Sony flashgun) because I didn't like what they were offering? The A200 made an ok backup for the Km5d..after that I was looking for a mid level body similar to the 5d. But all we got were the A5xx models with a whole host of stuff ripped out that I frequently use, no shocks I didn't rush out and get one. As for the A580 it's too little too late for me I'm afraid, though I can see it's a good thing with some improvements.

I do understand and agreed with this point of view. 100%.

But it doesn't justify your constant criticism. You haven't REALLY try any of those models you expect will replace your mid-level DSRL. You start killing any single model right after reading the specs (some times uncompleted or just rumored specs) or just playing 15 minutes with them at your local dealer. I do respect the "this is not for me" point of view. But if these cameras sell, more or less successfully, you are the one that are mocking the buyers with your exacerbated criticism.

I understand you want to defend your point of view (you have the rhetoric skills for doing so) and some times "fanboys/girls" take on you because that. i guess defending your idea made you look somehow "radical". The only time I saw you stopping your criticism was after DK sent you a big print from an A900 file (criticism was about noise) and that some how proved that you can be coherent -I can not explain the rest...

Not sure why you feel the need to belittle anyone for what they own. If the value of photography were purely in looking good with premium bodies and lenses then we'd all be in trouble. I think I can hold my own using what I do, I don't envy those who have top notch stuff I only envy good photographs (people make their own buying choices).

One more time I do agree with you.

It's entirely inappropriate to make comments suggesting my remarks hold little value because I'm not Sony's best customer. I can see good design and direction, and I can see the obvious mistakes the company has made. By all means express your own view but without any of the looking down the nose stuff.

You can accuse Sony of using the "users base" as guinea pigs, trying different paths in order to find their way. I don't think they are the only one, but I won't defend them -I learn to defend myself against multinationals buying the best I can afford, the best way too keep safe. Living in the USA, were customer service allow you to try any product for a couple of weeks helps too. but Sony found a way, the NEX (cross platform photo/consumer video/ pro video) system and the SLT system have the best press they (or Minolta...) ever got. No "life jacket" will be necessary.

Regards

[bfitzgerald]

Barry, I don't mock you or, in any case, I don't mock you because the gear you own. If I mock you is because the moral authority you pretend in any single one of your criticism to the Sony Alpha system. You were defending the "Minolta way" against the Sony way without knowing how or when or why Konika and Minolta merged (I know where I came from, and you told me you come from your mom). The truth is that the Minolta way felt long time ago and Sony is doing much better. Old Minolta users have a "future" because that.

I think this is spilling over from DPR and the forums there. I never once pretended to be any authority or some kind of internet celebrity poster. I simply gave my view, granted fairly strongly at times, but that is all.

But you have to take what is said and decide if the points are valid or have reason. I don't have to be an Egyptian prince to know that Ramesses II made tactical errors at the battle of Kadesh (though he did well to pull things back) I merely "observe" and comment. You can decide for yourself if those remarks have substance. And I honestly believe part of the backlash from some posters is they took the line of defending the questionable areas to the max..dare any one challenge that and it was a full frontal assault.

So I'll ask you to discredit any remark or comment about Sony's strategy or specific points such as MLU etc. You cannot argue it's against the users interest to have stuff like this, nor can anyone seriously suggest Sony are doing better "for some users" than Minolta did overall. We can talk market share all day all I care about is xyz product that meets my needs.
Camera users are not baseball caps, one size does not fit all. And that is Sony's biggest mistake..this isn't a walkman or a TV the camera business is not all about mass market gimmicks..

Regardless of how well SLT does, the company does not IMO have the right attitude to secure enthusiast users.

[David Kilpatrick]

I've just placed my order for a £500 (approx, including VAT, £425 to me in real cost) A580. The overall success rate from the A550 was already higher than the A700 for Shirley's way of shooting, and this upgrade will replace both the A550 and her A700. The A900 can be used for anything where the A700 would have been the choice. Both the A700 and A550 will be sold.

I think Shirley's shot which sold this to her - given that the A580 sensor easily outperforms the A550 - was one image.

The images show the actual capture - grsabbed very fast, by the time this was noticed and I turned round the bird was gone - with Sigma 18-250mm at 250mm; the adjusted ISO 200 shot; and a 100% crop. With the A700, this would never have been in just accurate focus so quickly, or had the potential to pull the tones up without loss of quality.

[redsim74]

That's quite impressive.

[alphaomega]

David Kilpatrick wrote

The images show the actual capture - grsabbed very fast, by the time this was noticed and I turned round the bird was gone - with Sigma 18-250mm at 250mm; the adjusted ISO 200 shot; and a 100% crop. With the A700, this would never have been in just accurate focus so quickly, or had the potential to pull the tones up without loss of quality.

Was the original image a Jpeg or RAW? If RAW, how was it converted bearing in mind that the A580 is not recognised by Adobe as yet? I look forward to trying out my A580. I have set up to convert RAWs in IDC and transfer to LR as 16 bits TIFFs. I have only so far tried my A580 indoor because of weather. The AF is fast. The 18-55 moves in "clicks" It just jumps into focus. No overshooting. I look forward to trying my CZ 16-80 on this camera.

[redsim74]

The image above was with the A550, David is saying we can expect better from the A580's sensor. I might see if I can try one out this weekend...

[dynax800si]

I think that a580 makes the a560 pointless. The 16mp looks superior.

[mike2008]

By all means express your own view but without any of the looking down the nose stuff.

It is only me that finds this comment from a 'real photographer' deeply ironic?

[Greg Beetham]

I'm pretty sure mike_2008 you would understand the context in which it was meant, i.e. to differentiate between someone who normally does mostly happy snaps and one who expends a good deal of effort on composure, exposure and subject matter and strives towards excellence and attention to detail, I don't think for a moment it was meant otherwise, and I reckon you really don't either.
Greg