okay~ just let me summary a bit lar on a33/55 and a560/580~

generally speaking~ they should be using the same improved exmorHD sensor fron NEX3/5. So still pictures image quality should be not far different, even iso performance both are quite on par too, which is up to iso 12800 or 25600~ somewhere there~ so in low light condition and bumping up the iso is something u need to worry in the past for Sony Alpha bodies. In some cases, it beat the canon 550d iso performance hands on. Since Nikon is using Sony's sensor~ so iso performance shouldnt be a surprise too.

now the major difference in a33/55 and a560/580 is the body size~ a560/580 is ur average midrange entry level~ it will borrow over the design from a550~ so if u like the feel of the grip of a550 in ur hand~ u will like the a560/580 for sure~ for a33/55, they using the same body shell from entry a290/390 models, so there are smaller, hence the grip feel, ergonomics, comfort in ur palm and etc are very subjective here~ personal preference~
the a560/580 still using mirror slap for exposure like ur any dslr out there~ meaning its basically the a550 on steroids with HD video and many more new add on features~

the a33/55 is slightly new approach by sony to whack the mirrorless dslr segment like the lumix G2 and samsung NX10~
the a33/55 has a non moving translucent mirror instead the conventional moving mirror flip in normal dslr~
this translucent mirror will have 70% light transmission to the exmorHD sensor and another 30% reflected upwards to the EVF sensor~
meaning? a33/55 has no more conventional OVF (optical view finder) but it has EVF (electronic view finder) instead~ pros n cons here~ so its rather subjective~ old skool user will feel uncomfortable with this~ but with EVF, u can have more infos n display in the EVF~ real time DOF viewing when u go for larger aperture~ sony claimed it has larger view like the fullframe OVF~ so i have yet to try~ i cant comment much~
now since its mirrorless~ we have 1 less mirror flip mechanism~ hence the possibility of 10fps for still picture~ and the video recording for the 1st time has phase detect AF in the video mode~ its so fast and accurate that can put canon 550d to shame~ it does support alpha wireless flash system and other common features from past models in the a33/55. only downside~ the battery is the same low capacity battery from NEX3/5~ claimed to capture around 300~400 shots~

This post has been edited by Gouki: Sep 6 2010, 01:19 PM

its good~ my only complain~ battery life (which we have yet to try the actual batt life here)~ and body grip too small for me~ hehe~ so used to a700 body now even i feel small holding the a550~ and i still love the controls on my a700~ dual dials and quicknavi menu~ lol~
but for entry a55 is good lar~ i am impressed by its video af test sample in youtube~ damn accurate n fast~ but if i were u~ if i am more serious into still picture photography~ i would wait for a560/580 lor~

the thing is~ i dunno if sony will provide batt grip for a290/390/33/55 or not~

sign of an engineering graduate~ paiseh~
and i used to reply like that last time in overclocking and hardware section and FnF section too~

me no sifu~ still learning~ and i am getting lazy in my photography~ lol~ no new idea~ sien~

after watching "love in disguise", i kinda miss shanghai again~ lol~

yea lar~ shanghai the night scene is damn nice~

haiyo~ this movie in the MV lar~


i terus emo with this song last nite at neway after klang~

eh~ y lar greenbox~~~ >.<
go redbox plus lunch buffet in pavilion lar~ food n sound system nicer~

sony msia pricing always follow close to US pricing from past alpha launches~

u balik tidor~

eh~ i wanna go~ but this sat~ erm~

errr~~~~~~ coz i might need to work~ aih~ sien~

aih~ dunno lar~ see how~ but y dun u guys go redbox plus in pavilion~ 20++ oso~

no lar~ i cant afford bmw yet~

me tbc can?

wat?