Luminous Landscape Forum
Site & Board Matters => About This Site => Topic started by: douglasf13 on August 29, 2009, 01:55:28 pm
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While I understand that the A550 article is just a first-impressions review, I'm wondering how relative the camera is to its competition? Michael, have you handled the 500D or D5000 lately? The VF of the A550 is nearly identical to those cameras (the A550 has a bigger VF than the Sony A3xx series,) not to mention bigger than some Olympus cameras. Also, are you comparing fit and finish to the high end cameras you're used to, or the lower end competition?
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Since I haven't looked through every viewfinder on the market, I can't say. It may not in fact be the worst. But, it's hard to imagine that there's anything smaller and dimmer.
Also, I have never seen a lens with a completely plastic mount before. Again, maybe there are others, and if so it's a disturbing trend. And for someone that only changes lenses once a year it may not be an issue. But that doesn't mean that it's a a "good thing". Wuite the opposite.
The same with the cheap plastic parts painted to look like metal. I've seen and played with lots of low end cameras, but this seems to me to have reached a new level of mediocrity.
Michael
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I cannot really comment A500/A550 wise, I have not held the bodies.
But as a KM/Sony user, I can tell you the magnification is 0.80x, that is a bit lower than the 0.83 of the non LV entry level model (and previous ones A100/km5d etc)
Though the brightness might be different.
0.80x is similar to the D60, 450d etc etc, it's a small size for a VF (easily beaten with budget 35mm models!), though not uncommon lower end. I think the point here is, that what might cut it super budget end, probably does not at a more advanced amateur level.
Build wise again, cannot say..but this is something that has gone of for a while now..cheaper materials, less appealing finish. My Km5d is unique is some respects being a lower point camera, but very well built, and better than other equivalent bodies I have used, solid and well made. Things change over the years, more often than not for the worst.
One point I will pick out, these models are to me Sony's D5000 equivalent (minus video of course!) Consumer based, and not really shall we say D90 more enthusiast looking for something more camera, less fluff. A lot of us are a bit taken aback that Sony has left out Mirror lock up, DMF (MF after focus confirm, very handy), removed the spot metering indication in the viewfinder,no AF assist in body, still no ISO on permanent display in the VF. So they are not really that well featured either. The sensor is probably good, and faster FPS welcome, but traditional Minolta users won't be too impressed, that a 4 year old budget KM has in many ways better features than a brand new model in 2009.
Sony is IMO on a full frame crusade, APS is pretty weak, at the moment anyway.
I just want to add, I might disagree with Michael on a few things, but I read his mirror lock up article, and I 100% agree with it. It is one of the most useful practical features a camera can have, and I feel strongly every model should have it, from top to bottom, in some form or another, it's almost criminal to leave it out.
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I think one of the most interesting of Michael's observations was that it seems Sony's DSLRs may be designed by separate teams, one consumer and one more aimed at pros / prosumers.
If correct this would explain a lot. Generally, I have not been impressed by some of Sony's consumer stuff: not particularly user-friendly, and though sometimes innovative really not outstanding compared to the competition. Their pro video cameras on the other hand are outstanding and very centred on the user.
When they do put video on their high-end DSLRs I bet it's innovative and powerful.
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Ok, thanks Michael. Yeah, plastic mounts aren't exclusive to Sony, and the A550 VF (according to dpreview) is nearly identical to the latest Rebel, so it is a bit relative. I do agree with your overall sentiment, though. It's hard to pick up the cheaper cams after shooting my A900 for so long.
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It’s disappointing to hear that the camera feels like cheap plastic.
But then, even in (my) times of Leica R film cameras, the film was in a plastic cartridge.
Maybe we have to learn to see the camera as a plastic wrap around a decent sensor.
Not sure.
A good travel zoom seems to be available, i.e. the 16-80 mm Zeiss Vario-Sonnar.
Live View that works and a flash on board make the camera interesting for me and some of my purposes.
I’m undecided.
Peter
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Maybe we have to learn to see the camera as a plastic wrap around a decent sensor.
Not sure.
Or we can vote with our $ and buy equipment from companies making cameras that have a better user interface?
Cheers,
Bernard
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Or we can vote with our $ and buy equipment from companies making cameras that have a better user interface?
Cheers,
Bernard
I would say that most, if not all, cameras in this price range are pretty cheap feeling, at this point.
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I would say that most, if not all, cameras in this price range are pretty cheap feeling, at this point.
Many are. I would be a lot less concerned with the plastic feeling, and a lot more worried about not having a good viewfinder and MLU. Sony are on a mission to rip out stuff on non higher end cameras, you only have to look at the new "entry" models to see that. Do pick one up, you have to menu dive to change AF points! It's a deep concern when companies put consumer pandering and gimmicks before real useful features and good handling. Sony are in 2 camps, doing good things high end FF, and nasty things low end.
I also noticed this:
http://www.sonystyle.ca/commerce/servlet/P...th=32090n100559 (http://www.sonystyle.ca/commerce/servlet/ProductDetailDisplay?storeId=10001&langId=-1&catalogId=10001&productId=1006902&navigationPath=32090n100559)
Interesting!