08-26-2011, 08:15 AM
IQ seems decent to say the least, especially knowing that Sony loves to mess up JPEG and RAW will give much better results. On par with the latest Nikon and Canon APS-C DSLRs, I think. So, nice.
My quibbles have to do with the SLT design, which only has been introduced for phase detect AF with live view/video. It introduces some drawbacks I am not too charmed about.
There is the EVF. Very nice EVF for an EVF, BUt I like an optical view finder which actually shows the scene and lighting, not adjusted for exposure and the camera's interpretation. Also an OVF has a more 3D feel, which I value.
There is the odd limitation of the aperture and/or exposure time settings one can do with the high FPS modes, which is done because closing the aperture for each shot would mess up the live view stream. So... do you have a nice 70-200mm f2.8 sports lens? Though, can't shoot it wide open. Camera sets it to f3.5. Or want to use that nice 85mm f1.8 for indoors sports? Tough! 85mm f3.5 is what you get. Want to shoot at f7.1 in sports mode? Can't be done. Camera will select aperture and exposure time for you. For me, it would not be a problem as I do not use/need a high FPS mode for my shooting at the moment. But when the need arises, no A77 for me, thanks.
Then there is the AF in video. I am of the opinion that AF for video with shallow DOF devices is crap and useless, but one is free to disagree there. There are however similar limitations to the settings (both aperture and exposure time). Same as with the high speed FPS, f3.5 is what you get with f3.5 or faster lenses. Want something else? Tough. Want to set f8? f11? f6.3? Tough.
And then there is the mirror which at least in the A55v and A33 introduces ghost lights in night photography with light sources in the scene. A77 is too new to have seen examples of that yet, but I am betting they still will show up. Maybe not, maybe Sony has some anti-reflective new trick up its sleeve with this new generation.
And the closed sensor compartment + SSS + live view gave the A55v and A33 more heat up problems than other DSLRs. Maybe the A77 has cooling measures which make that a problem of the past?
So, yes.. since I am a RAW shooter, I am pretty sure IQ will be fine. Just not a camera for me because of its SLT design. And its not my favorite lens lineup.
My quibbles have to do with the SLT design, which only has been introduced for phase detect AF with live view/video. It introduces some drawbacks I am not too charmed about.
There is the EVF. Very nice EVF for an EVF, BUt I like an optical view finder which actually shows the scene and lighting, not adjusted for exposure and the camera's interpretation. Also an OVF has a more 3D feel, which I value.
There is the odd limitation of the aperture and/or exposure time settings one can do with the high FPS modes, which is done because closing the aperture for each shot would mess up the live view stream. So... do you have a nice 70-200mm f2.8 sports lens? Though, can't shoot it wide open. Camera sets it to f3.5. Or want to use that nice 85mm f1.8 for indoors sports? Tough! 85mm f3.5 is what you get. Want to shoot at f7.1 in sports mode? Can't be done. Camera will select aperture and exposure time for you. For me, it would not be a problem as I do not use/need a high FPS mode for my shooting at the moment. But when the need arises, no A77 for me, thanks.
Then there is the AF in video. I am of the opinion that AF for video with shallow DOF devices is crap and useless, but one is free to disagree there. There are however similar limitations to the settings (both aperture and exposure time). Same as with the high speed FPS, f3.5 is what you get with f3.5 or faster lenses. Want something else? Tough. Want to set f8? f11? f6.3? Tough.
And then there is the mirror which at least in the A55v and A33 introduces ghost lights in night photography with light sources in the scene. A77 is too new to have seen examples of that yet, but I am betting they still will show up. Maybe not, maybe Sony has some anti-reflective new trick up its sleeve with this new generation.
And the closed sensor compartment + SSS + live view gave the A55v and A33 more heat up problems than other DSLRs. Maybe the A77 has cooling measures which make that a problem of the past?
So, yes.. since I am a RAW shooter, I am pretty sure IQ will be fine. Just not a camera for me because of its SLT design. And its not my favorite lens lineup.