Camera Labs

Brilliant, when do these puppies come out in NZ? Gordon do you know a date from Sony?

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Aidan Hill. com
Nikon D7000 | Nikon 70-200MM f/2.8G VR II | Sigma 17-50mm F2.8 EX DC OS HSM | Tokina 11-16mm F2.8| iMac 27" | MacBook Pro 13" | Crumpler 6 Million Dollar Bag |

Sony NZ seems to operate on a completely different timescale to everyone else, so I wouldn't be surprised if I don't see them for a while yet. They've not even officially 'announced' them yet.

I see Sony NZ now have them on their website, so should be coming out shortly I would imagine...

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Aidan Hill. com
Nikon D7000 | Nikon 70-200MM f/2.8G VR II | Sigma 17-50mm F2.8 EX DC OS HSM | Tokina 11-16mm F2.8| iMac 27" | MacBook Pro 13" | Crumpler 6 Million Dollar Bag |

The time when a company starts selling a product and when it makes them available for review are sadly two different things. Often in smaller markets like NZ, the priority is for sales first, so review models often come much later, or in the case of Pentax these days, never at all. Sony loan stock will come, but it's been quite slow of date.

Gordon, why not open up a “satellite” office in London so you can get product ASAP.

Since no one has mentioned it here yet, mirror ghosting - deal breaker or non-issue?

It's mentioned on other review sites with samples. The mirror, with its two surfaces, can result in an offset secondary ghost image superimposed on top of the main image. This is particularly visible in night shots where there are bright small sources. I counted the offset to be about 12 pixels. Assuming the mirror is 30% and 1% reflective on its two surfaces would mean the ghost would be a bit more than 7EV down from the original, but might be better depending on the quality of the anti-reflection coating. Another site estimates it at 8EV in practice. It isn't limited to night shots though, and can appear anywhere you have a very dark area next to a very bright area.

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Canon DSLRs: 7D, 5D2, 1D, 600D, 450D full spectrum, 300D IR mod
Lenses: EF 35/2, 50/1.8, 85/1.8, 135/2+SF, 28-80 V, 70-300L, 100-400L, TS-E 24/3.5L, MP-E 65, EF-S 15-85 IS
3rd party: Zeiss 2/50 makro, Samyang 8mm fisheye, Sigma 150 macro, 120-300 f/2.8 OS, Celestron 1325/13
Tinies: Sony HX9V.

Bottom line for me: it is obviously a very capable camera, but I'd still pick a conventional DSLR anytime...

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Sony α77V/VG-C77AM/α350/18-70/70-400 G SSM/NEX-5/18-55 OSS/Lowepro Pro Trekker 600 AW/CompuTrekker AW/Nova 140 AW/Street & Field gear/Toploader Pro 75 AW. And a huge wishlist...

My photos on Flickr...

Another minor hurdle for potential Axx owners: Sigma lenses may have an aperture issue with these bodies, but Sigma will update them for free .

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Canon DSLRs: 7D, 5D2, 1D, 600D, 450D full spectrum, 300D IR mod
Lenses: EF 35/2, 50/1.8, 85/1.8, 135/2+SF, 28-80 V, 70-300L, 100-400L, TS-E 24/3.5L, MP-E 65, EF-S 15-85 IS
3rd party: Zeiss 2/50 makro, Samyang 8mm fisheye, Sigma 150 macro, 120-300 f/2.8 OS, Celestron 1325/13
Tinies: Sony HX9V.

Thanks for posting that Popo, that pretty much has me looking for another backup...

"For lenses discontinued several years ago, a modification may not be available."

I'm still more tempted by the far slower A580 (5 fps) than the A55 (10 fps). Slightly larger buffer (22 RAW images versus 19-20 on the A55), no ghosting issues, same AF-system, nice OVF...but I guess I'd better wait for the A700's successor and see which suits my needs and budget.

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Sony α77V/VG-C77AM/α350/18-70/70-400 G SSM/NEX-5/18-55 OSS/Lowepro Pro Trekker 600 AW/CompuTrekker AW/Nova 140 AW/Street & Field gear/Toploader Pro 75 AW. And a huge wishlist...

My photos on Flickr...

I’m also leaning toward the 560/580 as a second body now. The use of the same battery as the 700 is a bonus as well.

I gather there is still a brief image blackout when a pic is taken (on the A55V), but that it might be very quick, enough to be a selling point.

But I couldn't find a single YouTube video showing the back panel as a pic was taken.

Gordon if I can do anything to help for Sony to provide products to you I will.
You do excellent reviews (the reason why I bought the A350). Is it only Sony?

If you do make a review of the Sony Alpha SLT-A33 / A55V I might get it.

Thank you Gordon, and all the members.

I had written off the A55 because of the automated video but I read today on the internet that it has been announced that Sony is going to be introducing a firmware update at Photokina that will provide manual controls over video. I'll wait to see what exactly the firmware update does but I'm excited.

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Aidan Hill. com
Nikon D7000 | Nikon 70-200MM f/2.8G VR II | Sigma 17-50mm F2.8 EX DC OS HSM | Tokina 11-16mm F2.8| iMac 27" | MacBook Pro 13" | Crumpler 6 Million Dollar Bag |

I have test the A33 and the statement that cannot be use 6 FPS and 10 FPS (7FPS on A33) on Live View is not true...

THEY WORK under both Live View and EVF respectively