Sony A580 review by Cgarrard (part two)


Cgarrard from Alphamountworld published the second part of the Sony A580 review: “Sony’s A580 is the most fun to use DSLR that Sony has produced to date. I’ve used every Sony DSLR they have manufactured, owned most of them, but this one has yet to leave my side.” And how does the A580 compare with the Translucent A55? “In comparison to the SLT series I believe that less video and a couple other mentionables, the A580 is a superior value to an Alpha photographer.”

As you know Cgarrard lately critized Sony products strategy. So the fact he likes the A580 a lot is good news for us and for Sony ;)

And the good news is that unlike the A55 the A580 is in Stock almost everywhere:
Amazon, BHphoto, Adorama, Amazon DE, Amazon FR, Pixmania DE, Pixmania BE, Pixmania AT, Pixmania UK, Pixmania NL, Pixmania PL, Pixmania IT.


Sony 70-300mm and Zeiss 24mm tested by Photozone!

Image courtesy: Photozone

Today I read the article where Ken Rockwell criticizes the Sony lenses. But maybe he should took a look at the following two tested by Photozone! Both lenses do deliver a very good and in case of the Zeiss an impressive image quality!

Zeiss ZA Distagon T* 24mm f/2 SSM

The Zeiss Distagon T* 24mm f/2 SSM may not be as fast as its Canon and Nikon counterparts but it’s capable of delivering a better image quality at comparable aperture settings. Click here to read the review at Photozone. And don’t forget that there is a $100.00 Instant Savings at Amazon, Adorama and BHphoto!!!

Sony 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 SSM G

The Sony 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 SSM G impressed during our APS-C format test and it is capable of delivering high quality results within the full format scope as well. The build quality of the lens is very good and a step above than the mainstream. Click hee to read the review at Photozone. And also in that case you have a $50.00 Instant Savings at Adorama and BHphoto!

And visit our full US Instante Rebates page (Click here)!!!

Ken Rockwell doesn’t like the Sony A55

That review will start a huge discussion on SonyAlphaRumors and elsewhere. After getting tons of positive reviews the Sony A55 camera gets completely “blamed” by the “famous” blogger Ken Rockwell (he usually tests Leica-Nikon-Cony stuff only). He analyzed the pure “photographic” aspects of the camera and came to the conclusion that “I wouldn’t buy one of these, but that’s just me. If you want something similar to a DSLR, but with better video, 10 frames per second and great GPS tagging, check this out. I’m all about photography, not gimmicks like crummy video or GPS.”

And:”Image quality is poor, because the A55 lacks some very important image adjustments.” and “Sony could have been brilliant, and made this camera silent. Nope, even without a flipping mirror, the Sony A55 is at least as noisy, and has at least as much sharpness-robbing mechanical vibration as a conventional SLR.”…”Steady Shot doesn’t work as well as VR or IS.”

What’s good? Exposure, AF is good, Ergonomics.

Read his review because he added tons of arguments against the camera. read carefully and please argument why you do or do not agree with his review!

Sony TidBits (A55, A580, NEX)


Sony A55 AF test with 3rd party AF, body AF, SAM & SSM

ePhotozine reviewed the [shoplink 3617]Sony A55[/shoplink]: “There is no doubt that this is an enjoyable and versatile photographic tool, capable of very fine results. Access to the range of Sony/Carl Zeiss lenses has to be a major plus point, and at a reasonable cost too. The lack of mirror slap reduces potential vibration and also enables very high frame rates.”

Cgarrard posted the first part of his [shoplink 4617]Sony A580[/shoplink] review, And the first part consists of 7 page long detailed tests! “Since the A580 is a relatively lightweight medium sized DSLR, that makes it a contender for backpacking duty. Given the pretty good feature set of the A580 compared to the competition, and there isn’t much it won’t be able to handle for the outdoor enthusiast- that is unless you shoot quite a bit already in inclimate weather.”

DxO Optics Pro Adds Support for Sony NEX-5 and NEX-3 (Photographybay). And Alpha Numerique tested the new DxO Optics software on Sony NEX cameras!

The UK camera industry fears compact system cameras (CSC) will kill off sales in the rest of the photographic market, according to research by industry analysts. (Amateur Photographer)

New Sony reviews (A580, A55, NEX-5, 85mm f/2.8 lens)


SAMSUNG NX100 vs SONY NEX5 from hyunmi kang on Vimeo. (UPDATE: The video is made by a Samsung fan! Keep that in mind when you view it.)

PhotoclubAlpha wrote a 7 page long, very detailed and honest new [shoplink 3617]Sony A55[/shoplink] review (Compliments!): “The Alpha 55 actually replaces something which overlapped with my film cameras – the Dimage 7/A series – and also the various video cameras I owned five, ten or more years ago. The video function is also there in the NEX and the 580, but the A55 would be my first choice. It genuinely can track focus during video even with fast-moving subjects or changes of distance, and do so with all the lenses I can fit to it. It removes any need to own a further compact digital.”

Sony A55 vs Nikon D90 in RAW (Fotoactualidad)
PCworld tested the [shoplink 4617]Sony A580 eBay[/shoplink]: “The Alpha 580 is a very impressive camera that’s comfortable to shoot with, and well-designed. Supported by a robust collection of high-quality lenses, the camera is capable of delivering excellent image quality. What’s more, Sony is doing a good job of automating post-production processes like HDR and panoramic stitching directly in camera, turning these “high-end” features into usable, everyday consumer techniques.”

The bulgarian website photo-forum.net tested the new Sony 85mm f/2.8 lens.

First Micro Four Thirds lens tested on the Sony NEX-5

[shoplink 4840][/shoplink]

What happens if you put the [shoplink 4867]Voigtländer Nokton 25mm f/0.95 Micro Four Thirds lens[/shoplink] on a [shoplink 3003]Sony NEX-5[/shoplink]? That’s exactly what Woodent (a dpreview forum user) made in his latest test! He used the new [shoplink 4840]Micro Four Thirds to NEX adapter [/shoplink] and shared his pictures on Flickr (Click here to see the images). As you can see there is a lot of vignetting when shooting wide open (at f/0.95). Stopped down images are sharp and vignetting almost disappears. Anyway, I would prefer if Voigtländer would produce specific E-mount lenses. As you know they are working very close with Zeiss so this is not an impossible “dream”.

on eBay: [shoplink 4840]Click here to see the current Micro Four Thirds to NEX adapter auctions[/shoplink].

New A55/A33 camera reviews (UsaToday, Photographyblog, Digicam)

Jefferson Graham from the magazine USAtoday have been asked: “I want to buy a digital SLR: which one should I get?” The answer he gave is: “Well folks, this year, I have a new answer –the [shoplink 3617]Sony A55[/shoplink]” :)

Photographyblog posted the Sony A33 review. The camera gets a “Highly Recommended”: “The [shoplink 3617]Sony A33[/shoplink] turns conventional design on its head to provide what is in many ways a better user experience than traditional DSLRs can achieve, at a price point that Canon and Nikon must be worried about. If you can overcome your reservations about electronic viewfinders, the Sony A33 is a great choice for both beginners and more cautious enthusiasts alike.

The german Magazine Digicam-beratung.de also tested the Sony A55: ” Sony did almost everything right with the A55!” (Click here to read the google english translation)