hkhk: Some lenses change focus distance when you change focal length - they are called vari-focal lenses. However I find the Sony 18-70mm F3.5-5.6 DT to maintain focus - in fact, if you zoomed to 70mm and focused, then turned to 18mm, the focus would just be much, much sharper.

SpOOkY: You can't tell unless there is a review that says so.

freddy manson: 18-125mm?

hkhk: No, it's because your camera has a focusing error with shorter focal lengths (often with 16mm or wider.) If when zooming in, focusing and zooming out, you get a sharp image, that means your 16-80mm is parfocal.

x_far_x: Yes, the A500 and A380 are out in Malaysia. Gotta go around to ask about the price, though...

MechaHerc: Make sure you're not using AF-C when you're doing this - keep your shutter half-pressed to hold focus.

Focus lock happens when you're in AF-S or AF-A if you keep the shutter half-pressed while zooming out. You don't need to flip the AF/MF switch or tap the AF/MF button.

Uzumaki NaruTo: You've got AF mode confused with Drive mode!

AF-A/AF-S/AF-C/MF/DMF can be used together with Burst Drive mode.

lwliam: You can, to get 3-4 shots, where one will have less blinks than the other. A photographer friend of mine sets his A900 to Burst Low (3 FPS) as the time between 2 shots is just right to reduce blinks and allow the flash to recharge (compared to 5 FPS).

One way to totally avoid 'lazy eyes' is to use manual flash power - the pre-flash is what causes people to close their eyes.

This post has been edited by albnok: Dec 17 2009, 03:47 PM

amadeo: Don't recompose!

http://www.mhohner.de/recompose.php

fansoption: Yes the A200 can be sold unless you intend to do event coverage photography.

lwliam, achew, neo_lam, Braynumb: Thanks!

Hmmm last year I got myself a Zeiss 135mm F1.8. Believe it or not, that was my last lens purchase! Wonder what I shall get this year!

braindead_fr3ak, cjlai, eddybeh, augustinestyle, jimlim007, amadeo, readone_sapi, suchap69, SHOfrE3zE, Uzumaki NaruTo, gizmo_pony, wingster, wha7ever, Banzai_san:

Thanks!

achew: Glad you enjoy it! It really becomes a different lens without the hood, and with the hood!

augustinestyle: Nice mood captured!

bysquashy: Man, that is depressing... fortunately I have managed to stay strong. I know I want some things but the problem is, I need a few things and it's hard to choose which I should get first.

gizmo_pony: The A700 at least can be in Antartica. There was a Antartica photographer who uses that, but makes sure to keep the batteries warm in his jacket pocket when not in use.

Kul | Mo0: Maybe, or not at all. Many things to consider, budget and priority being two of them!

likito: Don't be afraid to let the whites be almost white! The original is quite safe.

achew: Yes, the look of the lens - the hood attracts too much attention; without the hood people say "eh, same lens?" Since the hood looks like a part of the lens. Anyway the Zeiss doesn't need a hood.

mcline_007: Thanks!

wingster: Let's see pictures of it! The black A500 looks really good; the black A550 must, too!

ieR: Nicely done!

This post has been edited by albnok: Dec 21 2009, 02:43 AM

MemorableStudios: A 2470Z will not replace my Sigma 17-35mm F2.8-4 EX LOL.

gizmo_pony: If you were to follow public perception, the A550; otherwise, DxOMark tells us that it is the A900/A850 (because you get better color and dynamic range.)

sonyx: I have no idea, but I guess you'll be the first to find out. Do let us know how much it costs! Flash bulbs should last very long, really, way past the warranty period... hopefully yours will be under warranty.

Seng_Kiat: Vivid 0 +1 +3 -2 -1.

sonyx: You just missed the Sony Style The Curve repair week thing! Free labour and discount on spare parts until the 20th of December 2009. Oh well, send it in and let us know how it goes!

finejava: Enter your Creative Styles, then press down until the custom 1/2/3 slots appear. Go right, then choose Vivid, then you can set Contrast = 0, Saturation = +1, Sharpness = +3, Brightness = -2 and Zone Matching = -1.

You must use the custom 1/2/3 slots for the A700 as the normal ones won't let you tweak the last 2 (Brightness/Zone Matching). These allow for longer exposures to bring out the shadows and thus reduce noise.

Found these from Dyxum:





Ahmike89: Nice! Love the light.

achew: Was just wondering when you'd debut it! I like #3 #4 #5 and #6.

Seng_Kiat: AWB will change to Flash WB when flash is attached. It is warm if your ambient light is warm or if you're bouncing off a wall that is not neutral (where will you find a truly neutral wall?)

wingster: You may want to adjust your WB to be cooler, and add some +EV to bring out the texture of the blacks.

shootkk: Saw you yesterday in Sony Style KLCC, called out but you didn't hear! Yeah it sounds out, Cheah can fix it. It's a simple mechanism for him as far as I know.

ieR: The silver-top one is nice. However, I didn't expect the black-top A500 to look even better!

Mikeshashimi: Yes it is a prime lens, and is one of the more famous and desired Zeiss lenses.

shootkk: It might be between your viewfinder and pentaprism. Lay your A850 on its back, lens mount facing up. Use a fingernail (screwdriver might scratch mirror if overshot) to lightly unlatch the viewfinder 'holder'. The holder and viewfinder screen will fold out, onto the mirror. Blow towards the pentaprism and on the back of the viewfinder.

To close it back, just tilt the camera so the viewfinder and 'holder' go back in place, then use your finger to lock it in.

This post has been edited by albnok: Dec 22 2009, 11:15 AM

gizmo_pony: No, try not do it.

Only the A850 and A900 have a single screen - every other Alpha has around 6 pieces (1 retainer 'holder', 1 viewfinder, 2 metal shims, 1 SI (AF point indicator screen) and 1 more metal shim.) It is very messy and they will all drop out at the same time. I speak from experience that you do not want to do it yourself, and if you try to clean it, you will only make it worse each time you try to put it in and take it out again.

Also, the A850/A900's retainer is attached to the body, while every other Alpha's retainer will just drop out. You may not be able to figure out which way the pieces are supposed to go in.

hkhk: I bought that kit for the A700 but the tweezers only helps to remove the retainer - I needed to turn the body on its back to dislodge the viewfinder and shims.

finejava: Good as a budget A850 companion but the SAM mechanism means your AF/MF and DMF functions are rendered useless. For that I'd rather buy the Konica Minolta/Tamron 28-75mm F2.8 with better close focus (33cm) instead of the SAM's 38cm.

achew: Eh what you talking about, the sun going down? The Zeiss, and your 50mm F1.4, are meant to continue shooting into the night!

porkchop: I would half-squat then. Yes it looks funny, but it's one way to do it. The other way is of course, Live View!

I agree with achew's cropping; either you crop tighter or don't crop. Since the building does not seem to have any relevance (since the shot is not wide enough for people to easily identify the building) it might as well be a half-body crop.

As for the wide option, go from way above; notice how the floor has tan-colored bricks? Those can be used as framing. Go high enough that you don't see the grass in the picture.

fansoption: wingster went to China to buy the full-black A550 LOL.

Hmmm, I can't find a picture of the full-black A550 also online... and I can't read Chinese so I can't navigate around Sony China's website.

Edit: I just spoke to the Alpha Product Manager of Malaysia - there is no full-black A550.

wingster, you sure it was a real Sony shop? LOL! Also, you sure it's an A550 and not an A500? Make sure it's 14 megapixels, does 7 FPS, and has a 640x480 3" LCD (it is very obviously different from the A350 screen resolution.) Also, go inside the menu and look for the firmware version - it should identify as an A550 version 1.

This post has been edited by albnok: Dec 22 2009, 03:18 PM

The easier way to do it is to buy an A500 and an A550, swap the top plates, and paint over the A550 and A500 on the front. The A500 masquerading as A550 would sell to the people who want the glamour of having the more expensive of the two.

Or just paint over an A500 as "A550" which is worse.

I do think the gunmetal grey top is quite nice. But if you've seen the full-black A500 it will catch your attention too.

hkhk: I'm referring to the same pieces in the URL - they remove the focusing screen and SI screen (if you want to be specific, to differentiate it from the pentaprism/pentamirror and the diopter adjustment lens which is nearest to the eye and can't be removed.)

Our eyes focus on the focusing screen which is made into a virtual image 1 meter away from our eyes.