Sony seems intent on establishing itself as a major DSLR innovator: think full frame sensor stabilization and its ingenious Live View mode for simplicity and efficiency. Now it comes to the fact that the company’s engineers have encroached on the titular detail DSLRs – the mirror itself.
Body, display, viewfinder
Outwardly, however, we’re faced with a typical DSLR, but noticeably smaller than others. the body is plastic so it’s light and well made, the right side of the body is rubber coated when in contact with the hand of the photographer so your grip is solid and comfortable. From other DSLRs from this manufacturer A55 immediately distinguishes the display: the first time “Alf” it is made rotating, and with much more degrees of freedom than the series NEX – it can be turned in any position convenient for both horizontal and vertical shooting. In the travel position, it can be turned with the metal “back” facing outwards to protect the screen . Display resolution is the highest to date – 921 600 dots, diagonal – 3 inches, TruBlack proprietary technology provides a bright, saturated colors.
The electronic viewfinder deserves a separate description. It is large and high quality, its resolution is almost one and a half megapixels however, only 1.152 million of them are used for the image output. dots . It is much larger than other optical viewfinders on the cropped size models and is very comfortable to use, particularly because the eyepiece protrudes backwards a bit more than on a regular SLR. Its electronic nature successfully duplicates the “controlling” functions of the LCD screen: By pressing the Fn button all the important functions are displayed on it and you can, without losing sight of the scene, quickly adjust the shooting parameters according to the situation. The camera assists the photographer by displaying prompts immediately on the viewfinder display or LCD screen when you change the value of any setting or move to the next parameter. You can switch between LCD and viewfinder screens manually with a dedicated button or automatically when you hold the camera up to your eye or close the LCD. It has diopter adjustment. Previewing the depth of field with this viewfinder as with the display is incomparably more efficient than with the optical viewfinder: the camera automatically brightens the image and the effect is much more obvious.
The picture you have just taken can be looked at immediately without taking your eyes off the eyepiece, and even zoomed in. As a result despite the advantages of a pivoting LCD screen an experienced photographer would probably prefer to shoot in the old fashioned way looking through the viewfinder. The only drawback is the power consumption: shooting with a viewfinder consumes the battery faster than with a display, which also has to be taken into account in your work.
As the display, and the viewfinder conceal another pleasant surprise: among the different modes of display of the shooting information, which switch the upper button joypad, now there is a virtual level, which shows the deviation of the camera on both axes.
The battery is the same as in the NEX mirrorless, which is a small. Given that he has to constantly spend money on sighting, you could use a larger battery, but it would negate one of the advantages of novelty – the compactness however, and a small battery lasts, according to the manufacturer, for 350-380 frames.
Memory card slot is placed, like compacts, under the battery cover. One card slot, but dual use: both SD/SDHC and the proprietary Memory Stick Pro Duo can be used.
Sensor and resolution
In the new camera Sony used the newest Exmor HD CMOS sensor, which is still the only one available A33 has the same sensor as both NEX series cameras . Resolution of the novelty – 16.2 megapixels effective , that is, in this parameter A55 surpasses all the still released cropped models Sony. The increase in resolution to a new level revives the old debate about how justified the infamous megapixel race. Opinions differ on this. From empirical observations, we can say that, with equal physical size, sensors of smaller resolution give slightly clearer and richer colors, and the cameras, more “megapixel”, the image appears more voluminous and, of course, detailed. Also keep in mind that progress is pacing, imaging technology is improving rapidly, in particular noise reduction, and the final image is more important to what generation the camera belongs to than the absolute numbers of resolution.
Managing
Controls are in the classic “Alf” style, but some changes are still there. The dial dial is located on the left of the viewfinder, and with it you can choose in addition to the four professional modes, two automatic in Auto the camera takes control completely and adjusts the frame shooting as usual, mode Auto + is much smarter and chooses the necessary advanced auto mode such as automatic optimization tonal range, etc. . d. . There are dial positions for panorama mode, as well as scene modes there are eight and high-speed shooting 10 fps .
Pressing the Fn button on the LCD monitor or viewfinder now you have to get used to their complete interchangeability brings up an impressive list of the most important shooting parameters, and the four most important ones: light sensitivity, white balance, shooting mode single-shot/series and switching between display and viewfinder are also placed on the joypad buttons for quick operation.
The main menu is organized standardly in several sections, navigation is not a problem.
For the first time on a Sony DSLR, there’s a dedicated button for capturing video. the lens is located to the right of the viewfinder and is slightly recessed in the body so it is not difficult to distinguish it by touch and the risk of accidental pressing is not great.
The optics are
The camera has a standard Sony SLR mount A and is compatible with the entire line of brand optics, as well as Minolta lenses. Given that almost all the proposals in domestic stores – it is a kit kit lens, it makes sense to briefly describe it and. The 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 SAM is a classic “kit” and quite in line with expectations: lightweight, compact and cheap. It focuses quickly enough, the range of focal lengths approximately 27-82 mm in 35 mm equivalent is minimally sufficient for everyday use, but of course, optically it does not represent anything outstanding. The colors are gray in the frames taken with it, the picture is flat.
On the other hand, this lens can be indispensable, for example, in a campaign where to take serious optics somehow afraid or hard . In general, its more than modest price it fully justifies, but it is worth reminding that the line of Sony has absolutely wonderful lenses, such as series G who shot a TV 70-200/2.8, he knows what the optics can be or the legendary brand Carl Zeiss. We wouldn’t want a beginner to think that the “kit” glass is the benchmark for quality especially since a high resolution of 16 MP requires the appropriate optics . Anyway, if the beauty of the picture means something to you, try something else, preferably of a different class.
Shooting
All classes of cameras, old and new, are built to take pictures. A55 in the picture is very decent, especially when you consider that the camera is the first representative of a new species and its innovations have not yet been tested in practice. Exposure, one could say, is flawless. However, this is to be expected if you remember that Minolta was once the leading manufacturer of professional exposure meters, and all its legacy went to Sony. Exposure metering reads 1,200 sensors per frame, breaking even Nikon’s long-standing record. Exposure metering can easily cope with bright highlights in the frame, though, if most of the image field is occupied by snow, you still have to introduce exposure compensation and really, how the camera knows whether you’re shooting snow or black earth .
Focus when shooting single shots for a non-professional camera is very good! It should be noted that Sony has worked thoroughly on the autofocus system of the newcomers: it has 15 focus points, of which 3 cross-type. The autofocus works fine for burst shots, even at the maximum speed of 10 fps, although it is better not to put it to too big a test: the light exposure and changing focus range for high speed shooting is better to keep it within reasonable limits.
the burst length for high speed shooting is between 15 and 30 frames depending on various factors, particularly the speed of the memory card used after that the shooting speed slows down because the camera needs time to record the information.
White balance is excellent in natural light and a little worse in artificial light as in all SLRs without exception . In complicated cases the Kelvin scale can help: indoors, under normal household incandescent light, you can set it to about 2800 K, and the result will surely be better than on the automatic.
Like all Sony SLRs, the A55 has an image stabilizer based on the movement of the sensor. As with any stabilizer, its effectiveness depends on the skill and diligence of the photographer when holding the camera. From the subjective point of view, we can talk about a gain of about 2-3 steps, which is quite a lot.
Image quality
Looking at the images taken during the test, we can say: Sony engineers did not sit idly by over the past couple of years. Image quality is very good, both in sharpness with a good lens, such as the 50/1.4 and – especially – in low noise at high sensitivity. Noise remains perfectly acceptable up to ISO 800, and even higher values produce an image that can be printed without difficulty on a not-too-small scale. The quality drops noticeably only at the lower limit of ISO 12,800, and even then for a 10×15 cm print and a web gallery it is just enough. In general the noise reduction has finally become a thing of the past: it works imperceptibly and is not conspicuous. Of course, details inevitably get washed out at high sensitivities, but the process doesn’t go beyond the limits of propriety, and the picture stays clean.
By default, colors are natural and moderately saturated, but this is easy to adjust: by pressing the Fn button you can enter the “Creative Style” settings, which offers a choice of “standard”, “bright”, “portrait”, “landscape”, etc. d., And within each style you can adjust the contrast, saturation and sharpness.
Special Features
The advances are most noticeable in the camera’s special functions, especially those that were unimaginable a few years ago. For example, the signature panorama “on the fly”. The A55 does it very well: you have a special position on the mode dial and you can set the parameters in the menu. Panorama photography itself is very simple: you have to roughly determine the borders of the future frame, point the camera at one of its edges left by default and gently move the camera to the right. It takes a burst shot, and then there is automatic stitching. It takes two or three tries to get an acceptable result, but the process is fun and exciting.
To the right of where the pentaprism used to be, there is a D-Range button. It activates the tonal range processing modes: HDR and DRO automatic optimization . In the first, the camera shoots several frames in quick series with different exposures and takes shadows from one and lights from the other in the second, it processes one frame like the Shadow/Highlights command in “Photoshop”. Both functions have both automatic mode and manual adjustment and are an interesting creative tool worth mastering.
Based on the results of the test, we can say that the automatic mode in both functions leaves a good impression: it works very accurately, the result of processing the frame is not striking. I liked the DRO on auto more in the case of the reflective foil.
There is one scene mode that might interest a professional as well: “Twilight Handheld”. In it the camera shoots a quick series of static scene and then combines all the resulting underexposed frames into one with normal exposure, but with noticeably less noise. A tripod will of course provide better quality but not everyone has one with him.
The DSLR comes with GPS positioning as standard for the first time. This function is turned on through the menu, and when it is active, the EXIF-data of the frame is written its “birthplace” in the form of geographic coordinates they appear on the screen when you view the shot .
Video
A55 is the first Sony DSLR with video recording function. The camera records in several formats: in today’s most advanced AVCHD, which delivers superb HD quality and doesn’t take up much storage space, and in the more traditional MPEG. There’s also the ability to record small-definition clips. Maximum recording time in AVCHD is 29 min when the AVCHD stabilizer is turned off, and 9 min when the AVCHD is turned off. with it. The design of the camera with a fixed mirror contributes to high-quality video recording, and for the first time allows for continuous autofocus when shooting. Can’t say autofocus is silent, but it doesn’t cause any noticeable problems. You can start recording at any time with the movie button on the top, and it can stop the recording.
The video image can be adjusted in quite a wide range: enter the exposure correction, for example, and the setting of “creative style”, white balance, the type of light metering, etc. d. are derived from your current photo settings.
Result
The birth of a new class of photographic technique is an infrequent and unforgettable event. According to the results of our testing, we can assert that the A55 is a successful, well-balanced model with great features, as well as comfortable to work with.
We thank the Sony representative office in New York for the equipment provided for testing.
Picture tests
A cloudy day may not be the best time to check the dynamic range, but the trend is clear: camera capabilities in this respect are growing every year. Shadows at the base of the monument and the sky above the temple are perfectly detailed program exposure, 1/100 seconds, F9, ISO 400, lens 18-55/3.5-5.6 .
White balance in natural light is determined by the camera perfectly. The mood of the cloudy landscape is transmitted exactly as it was in reality. That Sony engineers would like to work on the BB in artificial light program exposure, 1/200 sec, F10, ISO 400, the lens 18-55/3,5-5,6 .
Whale lens 18-55/3.5-5.6 is not the gem of Sony’s optical lineup, but it does pay its paltry price many times over. This is a full frame and its center part. Each twig is visible under magnification, but the image is neither rich nor painterly aperture priority, 1/160 s, F5.6, ISO 100, 18-55/3.5-5.6 lens .
The A55’s exposure metering works exceptionally reliably, relying on readings from 1,200 sensors in the frame. She was not misled by the bright glare on the wall – the image has a light tone that conveys the mood of counter light program exposure, 1/400 s, F5,6, ISO 100, lens 18-55/3,5-5,6 .
For walks in the city A55 is suitable perhaps better than any other camera: first, lightweight, secondly, low noise, thirdly, has excellent sighting options, the fourth, there is a level. Is it worth buying a spare battery program exposure, 1/125 sec, F11, ISO 400, lens 18-55/3.5-5.6 .
I’ve never seen a Noise Reduction system that worked so flawlessly on the factory setting without any tricks. This is ISO 12800, and I hardly need any other commentary on this shot aperture priority, 1/100 sec, F8, ISO 12800, 50/1.4 lens .
In the new generation of cameras ISO 800 is already the standard value, safe for the image. Noise is minimal, and even black areas are perfectly clear aperture priority, 1/13 s, F5.6, ISO 800, 50/1.4 lens .
Recreating the texture of metal surfaces is a challenge for both camera and lens. Here the camera handled the task better than the optics: tonality is accurately reproduced, but contrast and fine details lack realistic reproduction program exposure, 1/160 s, F8, ISO 400, lens 18-55/3.5-5.6 .
One of the most useful scene modes – “twilight handheld”. If you see an interesting scene, there is not enough light and you have left your tripod at home alas, most of the time this is the case , it can save the situation. This photo was taken after midnight program exposure, 1/8 second, F3.5, ISO 6400, lens 18-55/3.5-5.6 .
Other manufacturers’ camera tests:
Nikon D3100 SLR test: a pass to the SLR world
Canon EOS 1D Mark IV professional DSLR test: speed shooting for speedy release
How reliable is the SLR Sony SLT-A55? Is it worth investing in?
Hi, I’ve come across this text about the Sony SLT-A55 camera and I’m interested in buying it. Can someone who has used this camera before provide any feedback on its performance, image quality, and overall user experience? I want to make sure it’s a good investment before making the purchase. Thank you!