Hi, I'm new in this thread....

I intend to become an Alphanatic or Aplhanian whichever applicable lah...

I went to Sony Style at The Curve and testing out A580 & A55 last saturday and I'm undecided which model to go. Each has pros & cons...

A580
- Nice grip....felt comfortable & solid immediately but could be tiring after a while because it's heavier especially if I'm into traveling or wondering around for photos.
- Somehow I like the control better than A55, don't know why?
- comfortable OVF. A bit dim and only 95% coverage. Still ok to me but I need to go back to see if whether ISO info there or not..... Anyone?
- No AF in video but this is not a concern as I own a Full HD videocam also from Sony....
- 7 fps is good enough and I think I won't be using it that often....
- IQ is said to be better than A55 after 200% cropping!! Not an issue in real world.
- Marginally more expensive than A55...
- Better battery life!!

A55
- Grip Ok but not as comfortable as A580 but very nice to carry around.
- Nice EVF....brighter than A580 OVF!! 100% coverage!! Dark when ISO turn to i.e. ISO 100. When panning, can see some "rainbow" effect but this is not a problem for me lah.
- Efficient video AF although is all automatic. Nice thing to have lah....
- 10 fps is very good. Also nice thing to have lah....
- IQ is said to be lower than A580 after 200% cropping!! Also not an issue in real world.
- Marginally cheaper than A580...
- Extra batteries required!! (counter with extra batt about the same price as A580)
- Awkward when pair with external flash!! Big head small body!!!

As you can see, video & the burst rate are not the concerns here...I'm more into landscape, portrait & candid and will venture into Studio photography. I will take the kit lens 18-55mm SAM & 55-200mm SAM first and may get the 50mm 1.4 or 1.8 for portrait & 70-200(or G may be) later when budget permitted. As for landscape probably Tokina 11-16mm f2.8 fast lens.

My initial model was A55 and I read reviews that A55 has studio setup problems and need to work "around" to get the desire results. But I'm not sure about A580 studio setup but I think it's the same as A550. I read that A55 will not have a vertical grip. A55 also has compatibilities issue with Sigma lens and must make sure A33/55 sticker must be on the box before purchase (not an issue but need to be extra alert). Heat issues also another problem I read in forums for A55 in video and stills!!! But I have not experience it when I done the testing (20 minutes). Anyone of you ever experience the heat issue?

Due to the above, with all the pros & cons (both models are really good!!), I think I will likely to choose A580 over A55. I need a camera that can last me longer. I think I can work around with the available kit lens for better pictures and will budget for primes, telephotos and studio strobes later. I know investing in glass is better in a long run. But then again, reading forums make me intoxicated (too much poisons) and need a urge to find cure!! By the way, all my friends & enemies are into Canikon & some Olympus!! Their Sonys are all P&S type.

I still keep my SLR Yashica FX3 2000 & kits. Bought a Sony DSC V1 P&S & HD videocam few years back and now itching for my first DSLR!!! Now making my choice, Sony DSLR A580..... is this the camera for me or A55? With all the sifus & veterans here, what say you?

Thanks in advance!!!

Thanks hazril!!

Thanks zstan for the info. I think I can live without the ISO info. Just need to preset before taking pics. it's still suit my style (slow & may be steady stylelah). On the heat issue, I thought so....cause I've played for 20 minutes with no heat warning message...


Thanks albnok for the finer infos on the iso, video and mirror things.... To counter the mirror effect on sharpness of image, I guess I need to play around with the MLU or MPF with the timer for delicate photo. Or is there any other method to do this?

Thks for your view ieR....
- on the F setting, in most cases, at F8 image normally will be sharp but must be vary also on the lens limitation (on lens distraction)...at extreme low aperture image can become soft. <---- Read too many review already!!! Really poison!!
- According to Sigma, yes there will replace the chip for free but I do not know how to go about it in Malaysia..... otherwise they said look for the A33/A55 sticker. Well, I haven't done any shopping yet and not sure about this.

Well, whatever it is, next month sure will be the "ikat perut" month, savings go to A580!!! Thanks again..

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Added on October 25, 2010, 5:26 pmAiyoo, this one is a dangerous poison will give me unstoppable bleed!!! Luckily immune system for this one still "STRONG", for how long don't know........

This post has been edited by joejoe2004: Oct 25 2010, 05:26 PM

Agree, no perfert lens indeed but I have some ideas what I need but my vitamin M is low.

Wahhh..this is good. But i still have to wait until next month!!! Errr...24 months don't have ah? Thanks!!

Spoiler here...read at your own discretion.
I went to KLPF at Mid Valley today....there's one and only double storey Sony booth after the Fuji booth in front, but I don't think they are selling anything. Based on my observation, i think Sony is only promoting their products. May be I'm wrong lah because I never asked. Opposite is Nikon booth. One fact is, Nikon & Canon booths always crowded. Don't know why...

Btw, at the Sony Booth, I could not find A580 but only A560 (which is quite similar). Both A55 & A33 also available there. Tested on the 70-200mm G & 70-300mm G lenses on A560. The 70-200mm G is very impressive!!!

During my visit there, I saw only two guys with Sony DSLR, about 1/2 a dozen NEXes....the rest Canikon. Unfortunately, I think no vendor selling Sony there. Went also to Tamron & Sigma booth and notice that there are selling more expensive than online Shasinki & YL!! Hmmm.... The rest, gears, bags, studio sets, galleries, etc and you have to see it yourself.

The best thing is the presentation of some of the best photographers sharing their experiences & tips to the public. For me, this should not be missed.

I'm going again tomorrow afternoon.

Cheers!!!!

Affirmative!!! Unless something wrong with my eyes lah....

On the ground got A33 & A55 where they put the toy train for the burst testing.....on top section also got A390 & A290, if I'm not mistaken...

Probably not in KLPF but in Mid Valley itself lah...Sony Style, Key Color, Fotokem to name a few........ I'll be buying my set with Studio Zaloon at Pudu Plaza next week but not A55 but A580...

Just would like to share link taken from a forum.....

http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/readflat...thread=36800935

Btw, getting my A580 this Saturday & hopefully lens stock available by then...

101% agree....nubie with Master Class title behind

Welcome!!!

There goes the teaser ........

Perhaps you can upload and show to us.....many sifus here on stand-by to help.....

Cannot shy-shy one lah...... we all learn from mistake what?

I would like to ask your personal experience in usage of filters like skyline, UVA/B, etc, etc. Forget about special effect filters like ND, Grey, polarizing, diffuser, etc, etc.

My question is ...

a. Apart from protecting the lens, UV cut, what else it can do?

b. Is there any significant diff between "cheap" & "expensive" filter? (other than the price lah... )

c. Why some pros decided to do away with such filter... (I don't want to ask them, ask u guys better...hahaha)

d. Some says using flash without filter is better to avoid flare....true ah?


Thanks in advance....

This post has been edited by joejoe2004: Nov 4 2010, 11:48 AM

For what I know, using EVF drain battery faster than Liveview (LCD)...well EVF is technically considered as LV as well.

Well, it is otherwise as mentioned by DPreview

The specification says..
• EVF: 330 images
• LCD: 380 images
Which means EVF uses more energy that LCD.

No idea lah bro...that's why one of the reason I'm getting A580 because I'll have best of both world, an OVF & a LV. As for A55 & A33, what you see in EVF will be the same as in LCD and Sony gives no option to have individual view/setting.

Don't worry lah, just buy an extra battery and enjoy yr shoots.....

Individual setting means for example in EVF, lets say I don't want the histogram but in LCD I want. At the moment, unfortunately no such options.
EVF is good but I'm not comfortable with the grip & the size of A55/A33.

Alamak...you didn't get my question correctly. However, nevermind lah....

I'm officially an alphanatic today. Just got my A580 with pair of torched hand and holes in my pocket at Studio Zaloon....