lildaredevil906: LOL I just called Kul | Mo0 to rent him a portable photo printer for cheap!

http://b2b.sony.com/Solutions/product/SVM-F120P

I use this photo paper - it's good - keeps contrast and color pretty matching to the A700 screen. Doesn't smudge.

Yes it's Multi-Coated only, not a UV filter. Though digital sensors are not sensitive to UV at all so it does not need a UV filter, just a MC filter.

That certain haze is on film LOL. Unless of course, you can see it in real life on digital shots...

My filters are all different sizes - Carl Zeiss T* MC filter, 49mm for Minolta 50mm F1.4. Easily cleaned. Surface area much smaller, does not tend to get smudged.

Brass B+W 010 Clear MRC filter, 77mm for Carl Zeiss 135mm F1.8. Very easily cleaned but due to large surface area it tends to get smudged a bit more.

Kenko UV MC filter, 82mm for Sigma 17-35mm F2.8-4 EX. Smudges quickly due to large surface area and my tendency to touch the filter when mounting/dismounting the lens.

Hoya Pro1D UV filter, 55mm for Minolta 70-210mm F4 beercan. Doesn't smudge much but then it's probably due to large gripping area of beercan and small filter size.

Hoya Pro1D UV filter, 62mm for Minolta 24-105mm F3.5-4.5(D). Same as beercan, not much smudging happens due to smaller size of filter.

I had the pleasure of meeting the hotter sister of the Sony Alpha 5x0 series - the 14.2 megapixel, 3" 640x480 swivel screen 7 FPS-toting Sony Alpha 550!


Left: Sony Alpha 550 with Sony 30mm F2.8 DT Macro SAM lens; right: Sony Alpha 230 with Sony 50mm F1.8 DT SAM lens. Note the radically different handgrip on the A230/A330/A380 is not shared with the A500/A550, which gets the fuller grip.


Guess what, the Sony VG-B50AM battery grip can fit on the Sony Alpha 200! However, there was a nub on the battery grip that prevented fully snug fitting. However, it would still work fully if I loaded 1 battery in Slot 1 and left Slot 2 empty.

Someone will definitely figure out how to disassemble the battery grip and remove the side pin and cut off the nub for sure. The VG-B50AM battery grip definitely felt better (to memory... didn't have a VG-B30AM to compare with.) I could foresee people buying the VG-B50AM grip for their A200/A300/A350 bodies...


Left shows the A550 has a hole for a nub on the VG-B50AM (pictured is the VG-B30AM which does not have a protuding nub.)

Right shows the A550 doesn't curve while the VG-B30AM does, so it does not fit perfectly.


And so, the A550 does not match the VG-B30AM exactly, but with one battery loaded, and at the right distance, it can operate.


Other features:
Top-left: The wired shutter release port makes a return (after disappearing from the A230/A330/A380.) Also the common mini-B USB port is used! I presume this will work like a fast card reader, like the A100/A700/A850/A900, because scrolling through pictures is a lot faster than with the A200-A380 bodies.
Top-right: The pop-up flash has some sturdy-looking metal inside.
Bottom-right: When viewing a picture and zooming in, the magnification multiplier no longer shows in the top-left corner (even if you press Disp repeatedly.) While it was a confusing number, I don't think they should've removed it. Pressing AEL/Zoom In when viewing pictures automatically takes you to a 100% pixel-per-pixel view.
Bottom-left: The new 3" 640x480 screen is superb - it can fold down 90 degrees, never possible with the A300/A350!

Also, there is a metal strap lug on the VG-B50AM battery grip's left side which was not there on the VG-B30AM.

One feature that seems to be missing is ISO in viewfinder - when you press the ISO button, it usually shows in the viewfinder, but here it was blank. Very, very weird.

Other changes in behavior are the AF/MF switch on the body - if you switch to MF and mount a screw-drive lens, it will not reset the lens to infinity!

Oddly, however, when you put a SAM lens in AF mode while the body is in MF, you can still auto-focus by half-pressing the shutter! This does not happen on the A200 or A900.


One of the new features was MF Check LV (Manual Focus Check Live View) - meaning you can use the main sensor in Live View, to manually focus. The secondary Live View sensor and low-resolution 2.7" 320x240 pixel screen wasn't up to the task on the A300/A330/A350/A380!

Thanks Huei for taking this shot of me operating MF Check LV.

A major inconvenience is that the A550 does not switch the lens to manual focus, even if it is screw-driven, when in MF Check LV mode. Instead I have to press it and then flick the switch. With SSM lenses (not SAM lenses) this would not be a problem.

This post has been edited by albnok: Oct 13 2009, 02:09 PM

Here, I used my Vivitar 24mm F2.0 DIY tilt-shift, and zoomed in 14x on the top-left and then took a picture.

To activate MF Check LV, first press the MF Check LV button (duh) and then press the AEL/Zoom In button (instead of the Smart Teleconverter button). This might not make sense at first, but it does - you can zoom in and magnify either 7x or 14x, and optionally you can use the Smart Teleconverter up to 2x.


Unfortunately, it seems that the main sensor does not use SteadyShot in MF Check LV. Or maybe I was giving it too much of a challenge at 14x magnification!

It was of course, much easier to use with wider focal lengths.


Another very cool feature - Face Detection. It finds the face and highlights it with a box. Here Smile Shutter is also on.

I love Smile Shutter - it's a fantastic party tool, and you can use it to take group pictures without using a remote control!

If you have a recent Sony Cybershot, you may already be familiar with the Smile bar on the left. Just tell the person to smile bigger and bigger until the bar reaches the arrow (on the left of the screen) and the camera will automatically take a picture.

You can set for Slight Smile to trigger it easily. However, Smile Shutter is disabled when using an unchipped lens - what a pity, as I would love to put my Peleng 8mm F3.5 circular fisheye (M42 mount) on the A550, and leave it on the table facing up (or down) while capturing any smiles around the table automatically!


Face Detection sets the (nearest) AF point to the detected face, and adjusts exposure and white balance accordingly. Top: Face Detection off; bottom: Face Detection on. Notice that while Face Detection did adjust exposure for the face, it did so conservatively in this case (2/3rds of a stop brighter.)


There is the fantastic Dynamic Range Optimizer (Advanced and up to Level 5) that comes with the A700, A850 and A900 - you can dial it up to DRO Level 5 like in this picture!

However, it does have its weaknesses, as it tends to lower contrast.


There is the new Auto HDR (up to 3 EV) mode. It takes two shots successively, aligns them in-camera, and blends them like you would with a real HDR program! The color is a lot better than anything you could ever get out of DRO Level 5 which shows its weaknesses in certain conditions.

The Pentax K-7 version I have to say is slightly smarter - it flips the mirror up and just triggers the shutter repeatedly. On the A550, the mirror goes up and down twice, causing unnecessary vibration. However, the K-7 doesn't automatically align the images, while the A550 does!

It might simply not be possible for the A550's mirror to stay up while the shutter opens and closes - that is the most mechanical part of a dSLR.


Here's one from Auto HDR at 300mm. Just don't use Auto HDR for everything. (Try loading this in Photoshop and pulling the Levels - you'll find it quite easy to make this look natural again.)


And, of course, because 2 exposures are made, one after the other, you should only use Auto HDR on subjects that are not moving!


What else is there, software-wise?
Top-left: Creative Styles do not include the Brightness or Zone Matching settings.
Top-right: High ISO NR has no Off setting (some might say it is a bad thing but I think they were trying to be honest that the CMOS does that on-chip anyway.)
Bottom-right: the lowest sensitivity is ISO200 instead of ISO100 as ISO200 is the base ISO for this 14.2 megapixel CMOS sensor, and they didn't resort to overexposing and bringing down the curves like how the A700/A850/A900 achieve ISO100 on a ISO200 base sensor.
Bottom-left: Auto HDR is disabled when shooting RAW or RAW+JPEG.

Wireless TTL flash is supported without ratio control, but it cannot use the Sony HVL-F58AM nor the Sony HVL-F20AM as a commander while attached to the A550. This was kinda expected of bodies lower than the A700, unfortunately.

This post has been edited by albnok: Oct 13 2009, 02:56 PM

Anyway, the pixel-peepers must've been waiting for this part - high ISO 100% crops!


ISO1600.


ISO3200.


ISO6400.


ISO12800.

It seems that they have aimed for Nikon-style noise reduction - more chroma NR than luminance NR.

Personally, I would not hesitate to use ISO3200 and ISO6400 on the A550! This is amazing progress from Sony. One can only wonder what future models will bring!

Next up: pictures from the A550 on the field!

AlphaBeta: I used the A550 for a whole day, entirely in Live View mode. It's just so much quicker to get the angles I want (plus popping into MF Check LV best done with the camera away from one's face.)

Banzai_san: Yes, it is expected being below the A700.

Poadster: The more the diopter rating of a closeup lens, the nearer the maximum focusing distance will be.

A +4 closeup, for example, makes a lens focused at infinity, focus at 1000mm/4 diopter or 250mm or 25cm close.

A +10 closeup, for example, makes a lens focused at infinity, focus at 1000mm/10 diopter or 100mm or 10cm close.

I don't know what the Raynox diopter ratings are.

Thus, a +10 will give better magnification since you can get closer to the subject... but you're limited in the sense that you cannot get further from the subject, either. I would suggest you use the 55-200mm focused at infinity since that will give you the most working distance to the subject.

ieR: Consider the price of a full-frame 50mm F2.8 Macro, then, which is pointless on APS-C because it doesn't give you a great angle nor a handy working distance.

Minimum Focus Distances
Sigma 105mm F2.8 Macro = 31cm
Minolta/Sony 100mm F2.8 Macro = 35cm
Tamron 90mm F2.8 Macro = 29cm
Sony 50mm F2.8 Macro = 20cm
Sony 30mm F2.8 DT Macro SAM = 13.9cm

Notice that the Sony 100mm macro is easier to use for insects due to its larger MFD - meaning you can get to 1:1 with more distance between you and insect.

The 30mm is better for APS-C because of the normal angle of view which lets you take food details easily. The 13.9cm MFD means you can almost touch the subject. It's a normal angle of view lens which also has no limits on how close you can focus. It does exactly what the 50mm macro on full-frame does.

Anyway, a shorter focal length macro is easier to use for closeups because:

1) you get a lot more of the background
2) you don't need to stop down the aperture so much
3) you may not need to use flash due to 2)
4) it is easier to use as a multi-purpose focal length prime (90mm becomes a telephoto/portrait only lens)

countdracula: Ah yes, someone who gets it! You will enjoy the 30mm macro I'm sure of it.

achew: A 50mm Macro (on the A850) would do better for your figurine closeups because you can include the background. Imagine you built a diorama but the background is all too magnified due to the 90mm's focal length!

SpOOkY: You get more apparent DOF due to lesser magnification of the background.

cjlai: Thanks! So it causes a maximum focus distance of 12.5cm.

What: TT for PJ people!

Featuring the Sony Cybershot WX-1 with Exmor-R backlit CMOS sensor (if you're interested in seeing how it performs). Hopefully we can get an A550 to make an appearance!

Also going to do backfocus testing for clivengu's Tamron 17-50mm F2.8 and A700 combo.

Where:
Lotus Five Star - State Cineplex PJ
Jalan Yong Shook Lin
Petaling Jaya, Selangor 46100, Malaysia
03-7960-7881
Link: http://maps.google.com/maps?geocode=CRcpqv...755220509173299

Parking should be easy there - it's next to a big parking lot. The mamak is one of the bigger, more spacious ones I've seen so far!

When: 8pm Thursday 15th October 2009

Who:

1) albnok
2) clivengu
3) eddyhan
4) tanjq87
5) kysham
6)
7)
8)
9)
10)

This post has been edited by albnok: Oct 14 2009, 02:59 PM

What: TT for PJ people!

Featuring the Sony Cybershot WX-1 with Exmor-R backlit CMOS sensor (if you're interested in seeing how it performs). Hopefully we can get an A550 to make an appearance!

Also going to do backfocus testing for clivengu's Tamron 17-50mm F2.8 and A700 combo.

Where:
Lotus Five Star - State Cineplex PJ
Jalan Yong Shook Lin
Petaling Jaya, Selangor 46100, Malaysia
03-7960-7881
Link: http://maps.google.com/maps?geocode=CRcpqv...755220509173299

Parking should be easy there - it's next to a big parking lot. The mamak is one of the bigger, more spacious ones I've seen so far!

When: 8pm Thursday 15th October 2009

Who:

1) albnok
2) clivengu
3) eddyhan
4) tanjq87
5) kysham
6) shootkk (tentative)
7) Kul | Mo0 (tentative)
8) strangex2
9) bryanlyt (tentative)
10) hOcmun
11) laslzo
12) Poadster
13) ahtsong
14) weixuan
15) hokc77
16) Veron_7
17)
18)
19)
20)



ieR: When I say:

Focus distance = distance from subject to sensor/film plane
Working distance = distance from subject to lens front element

Poadster: To reset to infinity, press the Lens Release button.

Nope, the focus distance is always calculated from 1000mm/Diopter, not 500mm/Diopter. So it's 1000mm/8D = 125mm = 12.5cm.

jimlim007: You can hear it if you fire at 1/1 power - the flash will charge up loudly.

clivengu: The 70-200mm F2.8G SSM, with its 1.2 meters MFD, might be a bit awkward for food shooting. You'd have to get up from your seat and step back!

The Tamron 17-50mm F2.8 makes a good food lens already. If you want closer, the Sony 30mm F2.8 DT Macro SAM does better.

But yes, for portraits, the 70-200mm F2.8G SSM is superb.

By the way, the A700's sensor is also called Exmor... the A550 sensor is a new Exmor sensor, though.

What: TT for PJ people!

Featuring the Sony Cybershot WX-1 with Exmor-R backlit CMOS sensor (if you're interested in seeing how it performs). Hopefully we can get an A550 to make an appearance!

Also going to do backfocus testing for clivengu's Tamron 17-50mm F2.8 and A700 combo.

Where:
Lotus Five Star - State Cineplex PJ
Jalan Yong Shook Lin
Petaling Jaya, Selangor 46100, Malaysia
03-7960-7881
Link: http://maps.google.com/maps?geocode=CRcpqv...755220509173299

Parking should be easy there - it's next to a big parking lot. The mamak is one of the bigger, more spacious ones I've seen so far!

When: 8pm Thursday 15th October 2009

Who:

1) albnok
2) clivengu
3) eddyhan
4) tanjq87
5) kysham
6) shootkk (tentative)
7) Kul | Mo0 (tentative)
8) strangex2
9) bryanlyt (tentative)
10) hOcmun
11) laslzo
12) Poadster
13) ahtsong
14) weixuan
15) hokc77
16) Veron_7
17) wlsiew (tentative)
18) edmund
19) millenia3000
20)

Banzai_san: As per Minolta's naming scheme:

2/3 = beginner
4/5 = amateur
6/7 = advanced
8/9 = professional

They used to launch 3/5/7/9 series, then the next year, 2/4/6/8 series, and alternate between these two. So there is plenty of space for more names, even if the end of the SLR format as we know it is near. (Meaning a different lettering scheme?)

It might not even be A anymore... maybe AX?

Sooner or later, the SLR format will be outdated once somebody can figure out how to give ALL 3 simultaneously:
1) Fast focus in all operating modes (Live View, Optical Viewfinder, Video)
2) Optical viewfinder
3) Video mode

Nikon/Canon/Pentax have 2) and 3).

Sony has 1) and 2).

Panasonic has 1) and 3).

countdracula: Yes, the KM5D is amateur; the KM7D is advanced.

MechaHerc: Yes, your math is correct. A chipped teleconverter (the opposite being a pass-through teleconverter) will report the new focal length and aperture.

jimlim007: The only sound that should happen when half-pressing, is when the body transmits the focal length to the flash, and the flash adjusts the zoom head accordingly. Try zooming all the way in and half-pressing, then zooming all the way out and half-pressing.

realcheraz: I mean body grip not battery grip LOL. The A230/A330/A380 doesn't even support a battery grip!

Kul | Mo0: A friend of Edmund's - Zen I think.

Mikeshashimi: That is definitely dust on the sensor, of the hair type. Please follow the video at the front page. Yes it is that easy!

clivengu: Nice!

Eh that promoter was also with Digicolor once.

Don't know if you knew it but it has always been known that Samsung and Sony girls are the best.

jimlim007: Yes, flash EV compensation should affect flash power. Isn't that what people want it to do?

Yes flash EV compensation should be set to 0 unless you want it to have more or less power.

ahtsong: Nice #1 (though without the hands being cropped) and #3!

Mikeshashimi: Hmmm you may have to stick the blower in a bit deeper (but avoid touching it no matter what.) If still cannot... then send to Sony. However since your dust looks like hair, I presume it is dry dust and definitely can be removed by the blower.

Kul | Mo0: Hot dang, that is a newer messenger bag! Can't wait to see what the inside looks like.

SHOfrE3zE: Interesting angle on a makeup shot!

Poadster: Yes after all this talk let's see pictures!

ieR: Nice lighting and background, though the model is just a bit small in porportion to the frame.

tanjq87: Congratulations!

My recent haul: