Sony releases new fixed-mirror models, SLT-A77 (α77) and SLT-A65 (α65)

ziggy53ziggy53 Super Moderators Posts: 24,129 moderator
edited October 16, 2011 in Cameras
Sony announces 2 new translucent mirror camera bodies, SLT-A77 (α77) and SLT-A65 (α65), one of which replaces the A700.

http://news.sel.sony.com/en/press_room/consumer/digital_imaging/digital_cameras/dslr/release/60625.html

From the release:

"The α77 and α65 both feature a newly developed Exmor™ APS HD CMOS sensor with 24.3 effective megapixel resolution, as well as the world’s first XGA OLED Tru-Finder™ viewfinder."
ziggy53
Moderator of the Cameras and Accessories forums

Comments

  • ziggy53ziggy53 Super Moderators Posts: 24,129 moderator
    edited August 24, 2011
    While these cameras are not yet in production, there are some "previews" on the a77 scattered about the Internet:

    http://www.imaging-resource.com/PRODS/AA77/AA77A.HTM

    http://www.dpreview.com/previews/sonyslta77/

    The Imaging Resource preview talks more about the responsiveness of the camera and I think yields a better feel for the camera's operational properties.
    ziggy53
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  • Mohamed.GhuloomMohamed.Ghuloom Registered Users Posts: 305 Major grins
    edited August 26, 2011
    I love this new camera of Sony and ready to exchange my Canon 7D with it :p
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  • HarrybHarryb Registered Users, Retired Mod Posts: 22,708 Major grins
    edited August 26, 2011
    Mohamed.Ghuloom wrote: »
    I love this new camera of Sony and ready to exchange my Canon 7D with it :p


    Its always best to sit back and wait for the final production camera to get released, get reviewed, and then look at some of the pics from the final product.
    Harry
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  • QarikQarik Registered Users Posts: 4,959 Major grins
    edited August 26, 2011
    the specs on the A77 are quite intriguing as well as the EVF.
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  • HarrybHarryb Registered Users, Retired Mod Posts: 22,708 Major grins
    edited August 26, 2011
    Qarik wrote: »
    the specs on the A77 are quite intriguing as well as the EVF.

    Great specs but the pre-production image samples are rather less intriguing. Hopefully the images from the finished product will be better.
    Harry
    http://behret.smugmug.com/ NANPA member
    How many photographers does it take to change a light bulb? 50. One to change the bulb, and forty-nine to say, "I could have done that better!"
  • borrowlenses.comborrowlenses.com Registered Users Posts: 441 Major grins
    edited September 2, 2011
    Cannot wait to get these in :)
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  • Ed911Ed911 Registered Users Posts: 1,306 Major grins
    edited September 7, 2011
    Expect similar from Nikon, Canon, and Pentax very soon. Well, hopefully soon. Laughing.gif...

    Impressive...for sure...
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  • InternautInternaut Registered Users Posts: 347 Major grins
    edited September 7, 2011
    The SLT technology is more or less proven, as is Sony's capability to engineer remarkable imaging sensors. That said, I find the NEX7 more interesting. Combine this with Olympus's state of the art CDAF AF and we're close to having a (APS-C) DSLR killer, I suspect......
  • HarrybHarryb Registered Users, Retired Mod Posts: 22,708 Major grins
    edited September 7, 2011
    Internaut wrote: »
    The SLT technology is more or less proven, as is Sony's capability to engineer remarkable imaging sensors. That said, I find the NEX7 more interesting. Combine this with Olympus's state of the art CDAF AF and we're close to having a (APS-C) DSLR killer, I suspect......

    Depends on the audience. For week-end shooters and folks wanting family pics the lighter cameras with evf's will be a more popular choice in the future.

    As a wildlife photographer I can't see myself sticking a 500mm lens on them and trying to get captures with an EVF.
    Harry
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    How many photographers does it take to change a light bulb? 50. One to change the bulb, and forty-nine to say, "I could have done that better!"
  • MalteMalte Registered Users Posts: 1,181 Major grins
    edited October 16, 2011
    Light lost
    In one of Ziggy's links it said 30% of the light is lost to the fixed mirror, and on DigitalRev they said it's a 1/3-1/2 F-stop hit on light to the sensor.

    What are you guys' thoughts on this? Is it worth it? I'm looking for the best stills/video hybrid and I have to say this looks promising. I'm using a 7D now and I was quite disappointed by it's focusing. Before I bought it I read in reviews that you'd just hit the AF button to refocus, but it didn't say that there would be 4-5 failed attempts over 2-3 seconds, all caught on video. rolleyes1.gif

    ear.gif

    Malte
  • MalteMalte Registered Users Posts: 1,181 Major grins
    edited October 16, 2011
    Ed911 wrote: »
    Expect similar from Nikon, Canon, and Pentax very soon. Well, hopefully soon. Laughing.gif...

    Impressive...for sure...

    Are you expecting the other guys to also offer fixed mirror options or do you think they'll compete in other ways?

    Malte
  • ziggy53ziggy53 Super Moderators Posts: 24,129 moderator
    edited October 16, 2011
    Malte wrote: »
    In one of Ziggy's links it said 30% of the light is lost to the fixed mirror, and on DigitalRev they said it's a 1/3-1/2 F-stop hit on light to the sensor.

    What are you guys' thoughts on this? Is it worth it? I'm looking for the best stills/video hybrid and I have to say this looks promising. I'm using a 7D now and I was quite disappointed by it's focusing. Before I bought it I read in reviews that you'd just hit the AF button to refocus, but it didn't say that there would be 4-5 failed attempts over 2-3 seconds, all caught on video. rolleyes1.gif

    ear.gif

    Malte

    The Sony SLT-A77 phase detect system, active for both still image and video acquisition, looks very promising.

    This video sample shows it's pretty capable. I do wish they shared lens information and scene EV values.

    http://youtu.be/e6jT82sCJuI

    My suggestion is to purchase from a supplier that allows returns, just in case there are other factors you discover after testing.

    The Canon 7D will probably beat the AF performance in good light for stills photography, but the Sony SLT-A77 might be a very nice compromise for both stills and video.
    ziggy53
    Moderator of the Cameras and Accessories forums
  • MalteMalte Registered Users Posts: 1,181 Major grins
    edited October 16, 2011
    ziggy53 wrote:
    This video sample shows it's pretty capable...

    In this one it's ridiculously fast:

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=08QOBoxQrig
    ziggy53 wrote:
    ...the Sony SLT-A77 might be a very nice compromise for both stills and video.

    It will be a tradeoff, I'm mainly worried about how much I'd miss the half stop.

    Malte
  • ThatCanonGuyThatCanonGuy Registered Users Posts: 1,778 Major grins
    edited October 16, 2011
    Sony's SLT DSLRs have their advantages, and I think other camera companies will come out with their own SLTs. Notice the 12fps frame rate - pretty fast for a DSLR of this price range. The new EOS 1-Series body on Tuesday is supposed to have 12fps - it should cost over $5000. If you put good AF in an SLT, it can really become a serious sports/action camera. Of course, you do lose some light, and you lose "true" image viewfinder representation (you can't see exactly what the lens is seeing). But as ISO performance gets better, and as live view technology gets more responsive (pretty good already), I do think that SLTs will become a big market. I just hope traditional DSLRs with mirrors continue to be made as well - then we can have the best of both worlds.
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