Camera Labs

If your A77 is acting like it's possessed ... it is.
There is a firmware coming up as apparently there was a screwup at production. Should be available soon.

"C. Garrarad had a small talk with Sony and wrote on Alphamountworld: “it is confirmed that they are working on a new firmware update for the new cameras announced with the 24mp sensor. We didn’t get into specifics but there will DEFINITELY be a new firmware version for them to address issues.“.

And if we are really “lucky” than the new firmware (version 1.03) should be out…TOMORROW! This according to a source of mobile01.

The new firmware will hopefully fix all issues we talked about in these days. As you know the problems was that the 1.02 firmware wasn’t updated for the new BIONZ processor which is used for the production camera. The pre production camera had a slightly different processor

So that might fix for instance the delay you see when using the scroll wheel on the back to change the aperture quickly (see DigitalRev's video on the A77) ?

_________________
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...

"So that might fix for instance the delay you see when using the scroll wheel on the back to change the aperture quickly (see DigitalRev's video on the A77) ?"

He's pretty funny.
I assume it's whatever needs fixing, and the more serious reviewers are holding off until everything right.

Off-topic but oh, well...Personally, I don't like DigitalRev's videos at all. I watched their video about the A77, just because the A77 is interesting to me.

_________________
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 am not that fond of their reviews either,I just amuse myself of their dry & humourless humour. But facts are facts,what you see is what you get.
I don't know if the Bionz processors are the problem,but the fact remains that the Sony A77 is the only camera on the market that can shoot 12 FPS. (with effective AF,even in movie mode)

I wonder if it would be possible to implement an electronic shutter in DSLRs without sacrificing the amount of light & the effective aperture.

_________________
Gear: Nikon D80, 18-105mm, 35mm F/1.8, 85mm F/1.8, SB-600
Visit my work here

According to SAR there has been a problem with the firmware and the processor, something of a wrong firmware <-> processor combination springs to mind.

http://www.sonyalpharumors.com/sony-tai ... d-october/

_________________
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...

DigitalRev also has a more serious review ...

http://www.digitalrev.com/en/sony-alpha ... ticle.html

First thorough review from an accredited source

http://www.whatdigitalcamera.com/equipm ... eview.html

The latest word for the delay is that there is a flood in Thailand and the workers have been unable to make it to the Sony Factory.

dpreview has completed their review of the SLT-A77:

http://www.dpreview.com/news/1110/11102 ... review.asp

_________________
Sony DSLT-α77V | Sony STP-GB1AM strap | Sony SAL50F14 | Sony SAL75300 | Sony SAL1680Z Carl Zeiss

"αlpha male. Sony fanboy. Like. no. other."

flickr

A chap over at Dyxum has done a "quick and dirty" test of the A77's buffer with the latest SanDisk Extreme Pro UHS-I 95/90 MB (read/write speed, per second).

http://www.dyxum.com/dforum/extreme-pro ... 81928.html

_________________
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...

new firmware update
SLT-A77 Firmware Ver.1.04 update
http://www.sony.co.uk/support/en/produc ... 7_V104_WIN

_________________
Sony A77, Sony A580, Sony18-55,Minolta AF28-85,Minolta AF 75-300,Minolta AF 50mm f2.8 Macro,Minolta MD 50mm f1.7,Minolta MD 135mm f2.8,Image MD 28mm f2.8,Minolta MD 50mm1.2
http://s1131.photobucket.com/home/bundy58/index
http://www.flickr.com/photos/67754225@N05/

I wonder if Gordon's been given an A77 (for reviewing purposes) yet ? If so, I hope it has got 1.04.

_________________
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 got hold of the SanDisk Extreme Pro UHS-I 95/90 MB and it does cut the buffer time down to 7 seconds, that new EVF is good, this morning I went out, switched it on just getting light and it was brighter than what you were seeing with the naked eye. But left the battery on and it took 5 hrs to drain it, good job I bought a spare!

_________________
Sony A77, Sony A580, Sony18-55,Minolta AF28-85,Minolta AF 75-300,Minolta AF 50mm f2.8 Macro,Minolta MD 50mm f1.7,Minolta MD 135mm f2.8,Image MD 28mm f2.8,Minolta MD 50mm1.2
http://s1131.photobucket.com/home/bundy58/index
http://www.flickr.com/photos/67754225@N05/

When I review the A77 I will be using the latest firmware, but to do so, Sony New Zealand needs to actually send me one first. Their priority is sales. They're turning into Pentax down here in terms of press relations which doesn't bode well.

Gordon, I have been waiting since September to read your review of this camera. Hopefully, Sony will get one in your hands soon.

I have a suggestion; I am absolutely certain that I am not the only a700 shooter that is looking at the new a77. Do you think you can get your hands on an a700 (with firmware v4) for a side by side? I'll bet a lot of people would like to see such a comparison. I know you could just compare the original test images you did from the a700 to the a77, but those were done early on with firmware v1, correct?

Anyway, as odd as it may sound, I am holding off on buying the a77 until you review it. I have come to rely on your testing of the cameras, as I think your methods are the most "real world".

I know you aren't a big Sony fan, but coming from a Minolta Maxxum 7, the a700 just feels right and uses my Minolta glass.

Although, depending on your tests with the a77, I fear that I may be jumping ship and going to either Canon or Nikon. The early reviews on it confirm my fears...that translucent mirror and high pixel density make for a noisy sensor. I shoot weddings (among other things), and the a700 really isn't very happy above 1600 iso. I need clean images at 3200 at the minimum (as you know).

I find it odd that Sony seemed to be righting their proverbial iso ship with the a580, yet the a77 is a step backwards in the noise department.

Frustrating.