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The Sony Alpha User List is managed by chiahau. Click here to jump to it!

>>>[Sony Alpha F.A.Q<<< courtesy of Ahmike

Common Kelvin White Balance Settings:


Wireless Flash Compatibility List:


Removing Pop-Up Flash Effect In Wireless Flash Mode:


Sony Alpha Lens Line-up: HERE courtesy of vcxv

Below are the official additional accessories* that comes with respective Sony Alpha camera:

Flash hotshoe cover (Sony FASHC1AM) - A100, A77 (soft version), A700, A900
Remote Commander clip - A100, A200, A300, A350, A700, A900
Eyepiece cover / flash hotshoe cover holder - A100, A200, A300, A350, A700
Cheap Sony neckstrap - A200, A300, A350
Good Sony neckstrap - A100, A77, A700, A900
Wireless Infrared Remote Control - A700, A900

* list provided by albnok

Sony Alpha Support Page and Alpha User Manuals: Sony Support Site A200 A300/A350 A700 A900

How to clean your Alpha sensor by albnok:



Some useful links:

Tamron/Sigma/Sony/Minolta 70-200mm F2.8 Shootout
http://www.glaringnotebook.com/default.asp?id=1243

Ultra Wide Comparison
http://www.glaringnotebook.com/default.asp?id=1324



Alpha street pricelist updated 26th October 2011:

Camera
---------
Sony A230 + 18-55mm F3.5-5.6 DT SAM = RM14xx
Sony A290 + 18-55mm F3.5-5.6 DT SAM = RM14xx
Sony A330 + 18-55mm F3.5-5.6 DT SAM = RM18xx
Sony A380 + 18-55mm F3.5-5.6 DT SAM = RM20xx
Sony A380 + 18-55mm F3.5-5.6 DT SAM + 55-200mm F4-5.6 DT SAM = RM24xx
Sony A390 + 18-55mm F3.5-5.6 DT SAM = RM17xx
Sony A33 + 18-55mm F3.5-5.6 DT SAM = RM21xx
Sony A33 + 18-55mm F3.5-5.6 DT SAM + 55-200mm F4-5.6 DT SAM = RM23xx
Sony A35 + 18-55mm F3.5-5.6 DT SAM = RM21xx
Sony A500 + 18-55mm F3.5-5.6 DT SAM + 55-200mm F4-5.6 DT SAM = RM31xx
Sony A550 body only = RM21xx
Sony A550 + 18-55mm F3.5-5.6 DT SAM = RM21xx
Sony A550 + 18-250mm F3.5-6.3 DT = RM40xx
Sony A580 body only = RM24xx
Sony A580 + 18-55mm F3.5-5.6 DT SAM = RM27xx
Sony A55 body only + 8GB MSPD HX = RM21xx
Sony A55 + 18-55mm F3.5-5.6 DT SAM = RM25xx
Sony A55 + 50mm F1.8 DT SAM = RM26xx (Studio Zaloon)
Sony A55 + 16-105mm F3.5-5.6 DT = RM37xx (Studio Zaloon)
Sony A65 body only = RM26xx
Sony A65 + 18-55mm F3.5-5.6 DT SAM = RM28xx
Sony A700 + 18-70mm F3.5-5.6 DT = RM33xx
Sony A77 body only = RM38xx
Sony A77 + 16-50mm F2.8 DT SSM = RM57xx
Sony A850 body only = RM61xx
Sony A900 body only = RM73xx (Studio Zaloon)
Sony NEX-3 + 16mm F2.8 = RM16xx
Sony NEX-3 + 18-55mm F3.5-5.6 OSS = RM18xx
Sony NEX-3 + 16mm F2.8 + 18-55mm F3.5-5.6 OSS = RM22xx
Sony NEX-C3 + 18-55mm F3.5-5.6 OSS = RM19xx
Sony NEX-5 + 16mm F2.8 = RM21xx
Sony NEX-5 + 18-55mm F3.5-5.6 OSS = RM22xx
Sony NEX-5 + 18-55mm F3.5-5.6 OSS + 4GB MSPD = RM23xx
Sony NEX-5 + 18-200mm F3.5-6.3 Active OSS + 8GB MSPD + LCD protector = RM32xx
Sony NEX-5N + 16mm F2.8 + 18-55mm F3.5-5.6 OSS + 8GB MSPD = RM26xx

The following suffixes identify what lens comes with the camera body:

G = Sony 18-200mm F3.5-6.3 DT
K = Sony 18-70mm F3.5-5.6 DT
L = Sony 18-55mm F3.5-5.6 DT SAM
P = Sony 16-105mm F3.5-5.6 DT
Q = Sony 28-75mm F2.8 SAM (or Sony 16-50mm F2.8 DT SSM with A77)
W = Sony 18-70mm F3.5-5.6 DT + Sony 75-300mm F4.5-5.6
X = Sony 18-70mm F3.5-5.6 DT + Sony 55-200mm F4-5.6 DT
Y = Sony 18-55mm F3.5-5.6 DT SAM + Sony 55-200mm F4-5.6 DT (2) SAM
Z = Sony Carl Zeiss Vario-Sonnar T* 16-80mm F3.5-4.5 DT ZA

For Sony NEX bodies:

A = Sony E 16mm F2.8 pancake
D = Sony E 16mm F2.8 pancake + Sony E 18-55mm F3.5-5.6 OSS
H = Sony E 18-200mm F3.5-6.3 Active OSS
K = Sony E 18-55mm F3.5-5.6 OSS

Battery Grip
---------------
Sony VG-B30AM for A200/A300/A350 = RM6xx
Sony VG-B50AM for A450/A500/A550/A560/A580 = RM6xx
Sony VG-C70AM for A700 = RM9xx
Sony VG-C90AM for A850/A900 = RM9xx
Battery
----------
Sony NP-FH50 battery for A230/A290/A330/A380/A390 = RM2xx
Sony NP-FW50 battery for NEX-C3/NEX-3/NEX-5/NEX-5N/A33/A55 = RM2xx
Sony NP-FM500H battery for A100/A200/A300/A350/A450/A500/A550/A560/A580/A700/A850/A900/A77 = RM2xx

Other Accessories
------------------
Sony FDA-EVS1 electronic viewfinder for NEX-5N = RM9xx

Flash
------
Sony HVL-F20S = RM3xx
Sony HVL-F20AM = RM4xx
Sony HVL-F42AM = RM7xx
Sony HVL-F43AM = RM7xx
Sony HVL-F58AM = RM11xx

Sony/Minolta Used Lenses
------------------------------
Minolta 28mm F2.8 = RM450-600
Minolta 35-70 F4 (mini beercan) = RM250-400
Minolta 50mm F1.4 = RM750-850
Minolta 50mm F1.7 = RM450-600
Sony 55-200mm F4-5.6 DT = RM450-550
Minolta 70-210mm F4 (beercan) = RM750-1100
Minolta 75-300mm F4.5-5.6 (big beercan) = RM1000-1500
Sony 75-300mm F4.5-5.6 = RM450-550

New APS-C / DT Crop Lenses
-------------------------------

Sony 11-18mm F4.5-5.6 DT = RM20xx
Sony Carl Zeiss Vario-Sonnar T* 16-80mm F3.5-4.5 DT ZA = RM25xx
Sony 16-105mm F3.5-5.6 DT = RM16xx
Sony 18-250mm F3.5-6.3 DT = RM16xx
Sony 30mm F2.8 DT SAM Macro = RM7xx
Sony 35mm F1.8 DT SAM = RM6xx
Sony 50mm F1.8 DT SAM = RM5xx
Sigma 50-150mm F2.8 EX DC HSM Macro = RM30xx
Sony E 18-200mm F3.5-6.3 Active OSS = RM21xx

New Full-Frame Lenses
---------------------------

Sony 16mm F2.8 Diagonal Fisheye = RM25xx
Sony 20mm F2.8 = RM19xx
Sony Carl Zeiss Vario-Sonnar T* 16-35mm F2.8 SSM ZA = RM54xx
Sony Carl Zeiss Vario-Sonnar T* 24-70mm F2.8 SSM ZA = RM54xx
Sony 24-105mm F3.5-4.5 = RM18xx
Sony Carl Zeiss Distagon T* 24mm F2.0 SSM ZA = RM38xx
Sony 28mm F2.8 = RM8xx
Sony 28-75mm F2.8 SAM = RM26xx
Sony 35mm F1.4G = RM45xx
Sony 50mm F1.4 = RM10xx
Sony 50mm F2.8 Macro = RM14xx
Sony 85mm F2.8 SAM = RM8xx
Tamron 70-200mm F2.8 Macro = RM30xx
Sigma 70-200mm F2.8 EX DG HSM Macro = RM38xx
Sony 70-200mm F2.8G SSM = RM54xx
Sony 70-300mm F4.5-5.6G SSM = RM25xx
Sony 70-400mm F4-5.6G SSM = RM54xx
Sony Carl Zeiss Planar T* 85mm F1.4 ZA = RM50xx
Sony 100mm F2.8 Macro = RM23xx
Sony Carl Zeiss Sonnar T* 135mm F1.8 ZA = RM48xx
Sony 135mm F2.8/T4.5 Smooth Transition Focus = RM36xx
Sony 500mm F8.0 AF Reflex = RM25xx
Sony 300mm F2.8G SSM = RM20xxx
Sony 1.4x Teleconverter = RM15xx
Sony 2.0x Teleconverter = RM15xx
Sony LA-EA1 lens adapter = RM5xx
Sony VCL-ECF1 fisheye adapter = RM3xx

This post has been edited by albnok: Oct 26 2011, 08:37 PM

Userbars!

A100: image url: http://img409.imageshack.us/img409/2687/alpha100cb9.png

A200: image url: http://img268.imageshack.us/img268/1922/a200.png

A230:
image url: http://img193.imageshack.us/img193/8318/a230.png

A300:
image url: http://img214.imageshack.us/img214/2802/a300.png

A330:
image url: http://img193.imageshack.us/img193/4850/a330.png

A350:
image url: http://img8.imageshack.us/img8/3761/a350.png

A380:
image url: http://img193.imageshack.us/img193/4733/a380.png

A390:
image url: http://img146.imageshack.us/img146/5741/a390.png

A550:
image url: http://img261.imageshack.us/img261/2650/a550.png

A700:
image url: http://img714.imageshack.us/img714/7245/a700.png

A850:
image url: http://img261.imageshack.us/img261/8928/a850.png

A900:
image url: http://img93.imageshack.us/img93/5185/alpha900wp4.png

Ksano: Even the A55 can change focus point when recording video.

chiahau: Linked to your post!

d4rkholeang3l: Nice!

zstan: Yum! Nothing extraordinary but it looks real.

ieR: Nice background!

lwliam: Nice clean waterfall shot for #1!

shukrie: Long time no see. I wonder how it would look a few steps to the left where the branch appears to be a hand, plucking the sun out.

jimlim007: That 8GB Memory Stick Pro-HG Duo HX has 200x or 30MB/s read, 100x or 15MB/s write card. Coincidentally, I just bought a 16GB Sandisk Extreme Pro SDHC UHS-I rated at 300x 45MB/s read and write speeds for RM250 at Low Yat Plaza.

http://www.dpreview.com/news/1005/10051303...tickhx30mbs.asp

Hmmm good question! What if the A77 was in Video mode and we pressed the remote shutter?

NutZ748: Nice #2 and #3!

Codyx: Could be better lit on the left.

uzary: Canon and Nikon do not use moving sensors. Olympus and Pentax also have in-body stabilization so they may be susceptible to the same problems.

porkchop: You mean add RM1000.

jimlim007: LOL I meant to use the remote to start and stop recording. I don't know if they added a feature to take a picture when recording video. As far as I know when you press the shutter while recording, you trigger AF again.

chiahau: The blinking hand sign means the shutter speed is slow for your focal length.

shukrie: Gold! Probably would've preferred slightly less gold using auto-levels.

Codyx: Nice triangular formation in #1!

I tried an A77 again, this time bringing the F20AM, F43AM and F58AM flashes.

The A77 can use wireless ratio control on the F43AM and F58AM.

Amazingly, the A77 can also use wireless control on the F20AM! This was reserved for bodies without pop-up flashes, originally. In fact this is out of Sony's character to do so!

Note that the A77 was on "not final but nearly final" firmware and the menu said Version 1.0.

Now as I type this I regret not testing to see if the A77 can use CTRL2 mode on the F43AM/F58AM to trigger an off-camera F36AM/F56AM...

zstan: LOL like kena blackout. Would be nice to have flash on it so you can see the colorful candles.

mastering89: Y U NO MEOW?

zstan: It's not black but it's obviously in shadow. I guess I'd prefer colorful candles.

ahpingko:

On the A100, A33, A35, A55, A560, A580, A77, A700, A850, A900, there is an option called "Release shutter without lens". When you set that to ON then you can use an unchipped lens in PASM modes.

On the A200, A230, A290, A300, A330, A350, A380, A290, A450, A500, A550 you need to change to M mode to shoot. There is no option in the menu.

The A850/A900 firmware version 2.0 adds support for "Release shutter without lens" - before this, you'd have to use it in M mode too.

chiahau: Not as far as I know - when recording, pressing the shutter just re-focuses.

The A700 came out at a retail price of RM5499. So as far as it is, it seems the A77 is far cheaper.

67zai: If not for the post-processing in #2 it wouldn't be special.

shukrie: Could have eye contact? Picture lacks intensity.

Codyx: Could get a less chaotic background.

ahpingko: Try Leos Com Trading, 1st floor, Ampang Park, next to the escalator.

The Tamron 18-200mm F3.5-6.3 DiII isn't as good as the Tamron 18-250mm F3.5-6.3 DiII. There are Sony versions of the 18-200mm F3.5-6.3 DT and 18-250mm F3.5-6.3 DT. The Sony 18-250mm F3.5-6.3 DT focuses faster with less turns for screw-drive.

67zai: Nolah not good, nothing special. As far as I know nobody selling second-hand F43. First-hand RM7xx.

lwliam: Congratulations!

ahpingko: Yeah say hi to Jeff and tell him Albert sent you!

Codyx: Nice!

fansoption: Tiny flower could be clearer.

ieR: Wishes may come true!

shootkk: Could have some localized brightening on Optimus.

popfish: Something about the lane at the bottom-right that isn't cropped right. Otherwise I like the relative straight-ness of the picture.

Newbieeeeee: Most shots could do with a better background.

Gouki: The Nexus series not supposed to have any skins what. So no Touchwiz - heck the Google Nexus S is pure Android.

Newbieeeeee: Don't forget composition, even when doing macro! I find that composition is often just thrown out the window when it comes to macro, which is a shame.

kysham: Tomato shot isn't quite appealing due to the white balance - plus the right side could be cropped out.

fansoption: From the shallow DOF of the WWII scene, we all know it's a macro shot - what if you used a deep DOF? You could make it look more realistic.

jimlim007: You can laugh at how the D7000 focuses in Live View, but you can't laugh at the A77 in Live View.

Also I have the NEX-5, LA-EA1 and Zeiss 24mm F2.0 SSM ZA and I can tell you that it is imbalanced.

I have also tried the NEX-5N with the E-mount Zeiss 24mm F1.8 and it is a heck lighter and smaller.

chiahau: Nolah 24mm F2.0 SSM is RM3xxx.

jimlim007: Of course you can hold the lens with your left hand to balance it. However, because I have tried the NEX-5N with E-mount 24mm F1.8, I would prefer it!

Yup the LA-EA2 has a translucent mirror, at the expense of 1/3rd stop of light.

I like my 24mm F2.0 for close portraits - you get a sense of location.


From the 24mm F2.0 on the A900.


No problems with people walking in front of you, because you are in front of everybody!


You'd know where I took this picture - at a fair.

yuhi: The LA-EA1 doesn't AF screw-driven lenses. The LA-EA2 does. The Zeiss 24mm F2.0 has very clean bokeh, much better than the Minolta/Sony 50mm F1.4.

fansoption: Wow, that is pretty close! +1 for wide-angle close-range lenses.

He does have a point. I don't think he is talking about you, but a lot of photographers!

Why do we take pictures of flowers and door padlocks? No purpose other than to look nice. You have the power to affect somebody and change the world with your picture. Like say you go to the Petknode shop and take pictures of the cats. Or you see a somebody taking a bribe. Or you see a foreigner with an IC.

Your picture can be proof. Your picture can promote. Your picture can cause somebody to be very happy or very sad. But are we doing that with our pictures? We can, if we want to.

This post has been edited by albnok: Sep 18 2011, 10:00 PM

EvanKeat: Eh? Only Sony Style outlets are bound to sell at the Recommended Retail Price. Unless something changed, or you don't get street price from Mr. Chin...

chiahau: There were quite a few Sigma 17-70mm F2.8-4.5 Macro owners - craziqbal being one. As for the newer Sigma 17-70mm F2.8-4.0 Macro HSM I don't remember who has it.

fansoption: Nice composition!

zstan: The Sony 50mm F1.8 DT SAM doesn't have brightline bokeh. It has cat's eye bokeh though.

zstan: NutZ748 was referring to the 50mm F1.8 DT SAM LOL.

EvanKeat: What nonsense lah, other dealers also go by street price!

zstan: Ah, but the 85mm ZA is a Planar.

jacky.kequn: When using the A55 with pop-up flash, wireless flash, external flash, external flash with manual power, there is always a lag between when you press the shutter and when the shot is actually taken.

The lag is gone when you don't use flash. Major annoyance of the A33/A55, and (somewhat) fixed in the A77. Or at least I feel it's a lot less, but we have to wait until the finalized firmware and final product comes to make sure if it's there or not.

This post has been edited by albnok: Sep 25 2011, 08:31 PM

soket: Sony is aware of this on the A33/A55 but is not able to make a fix (at the moment). We'll see how it is on the A77, as when I first tried it, it seemed to have been fixed, but the second time I tried it seemed there is still a bit of it. Will have to get my hands on a production unit to confirm whether it still happens and in what circumstances.

porkchop, nice!

Zicron: Awww man it's not here. Until then I have to live with my 45MB/s UHS-1 card.

67zai: Nice!