Photo sharing: Sony Alpha

[zackiedawg]

Yep...that's been the issue for me - I too was flipping between the A500 and A550 - the resolution was not an issue for me - I liked the higher res screen, but that alone wouldn't be enough reason to go with the pricier camera. But the high res screen AND the 7fps was enough of a temptation.

5fps is already quite good - and will usually suffice...you have the A700, right? So you know 5fps is good...but with certain subjects, sometimes you JUST miss that perfect moment, somewhere in between frame 3 and 4 - and if you just could have had one more frame in between, you might have gotten it. That's where the 7fps comes in handy. The high ISO is a pleasure for sure - whether you want the easy jpeg output with no editing needed, or really want to go for RAW and get the most from it. And the neat trick of using the in-camera HDR stacking at very high ISOs to reduce noise can make usable ISO12800 jpegs, right out of the camera!

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

Yep...that's been the issue for me - I too was flipping between the A500 and A550 - the resolution was not an issue for me - I liked the higher res screen, but that alone wouldn't be enough reason to go with the pricier camera. But the high res screen AND the 7fps was enough of a temptation.

5fps is already quite good - and will usually suffice...you have the A700, right? So you know 5fps is good...but with certain subjects, sometimes you JUST miss that perfect moment, somewhere in between frame 3 and 4 - and if you just could have had one more frame in between, you might have gotten it. That's where the 7fps comes in handy. The high ISO is a pleasure for sure - whether you want the easy jpeg output with no editing needed, or really want to go for RAW and get the most from it. And the neat trick of using the in-camera HDR stacking at very high ISOs to reduce noise can make usable ISO12800 jpegs, right out of the camera!

Thanks for all the input Justin. I think that the 7fps along with the view screen will also be just enough to make us choose the A550. It's been a lot of back and forth reasoning though. DH doesn't exactly have a need for the speed but as long as I can borrow it for my sporting events I think it makes enough sense. And in general I like the extra's the A5xx series adds with the HDR, the excellent high ISO since DH shoots in jpeg and the articulating screen. Should be fun to use when I get the chance!

 

[funkychunkymonkey]

Hey anyone with a a230 can you veiw your pictures on the lcd before you take them or no? the veiwfinder system is a bit annoying.

 

[disneyboy2003]

Well heres my first three jpegs. I cant figure out how to make raw files veiwable on my computer yet.

If you're using Windows, you'll need a Sony "codec" file. You can download it here: http://support.d-imaging.sony.co.jp/www/download/vista_raw/index.html

RAW files aren't normally recognized by Windows. As you probably already know, RAW files in general are proprietary formats by camera manufacturers, so Windows won't normally go out of its way to figure out how to read RAW files.

Hey anyone with a a230 can you veiw your pictures on the lcd before you take them or no? the veiwfinder system is a bit annoying.

It doesn't look like your Sony a230 has LiveView. However, starting with the next model up, the Sony a330 includes LiveView.

Looking through the viewfinder is pretty standard among all dSLRs. With proper camera-holding technique, looking through the viewfinder keeps your camera very steady compared to holding it out like a point-and-shoot camera (ie. using LiveView).

LiveView for dSLRs is actually a very new thing. Before about 2 years ago, all dSLR owners and all SLR owners (before the digital age) could only compose through the viewfinder.

 

[kathyell]

Got a few shots today at the zoo that I'm at least semi-happy with, using my A330. If anyone can tell me what I can do better next time I'd be happy to hear any advice.

f/4.5, 1/125 sec, ISO 800 (indoors, tried a few at ISO 400 with different A/S settings and they just didn't work out), focal length 90 mm

f/14, 1/60 sec, ISO 100, focal length 200 mm

I also got a couple of good shots of my kid, but I didn't want it to look like I was just trying to post pictures of my kid.

I'm really starting to enjoy my camera and I find myself coming up with excuses to go new places so I can try out some new things.

 

[DznyFan]

awesome, kathyell!

 

[Khokhonutt]

Just got back from our trip. I only have about half of our pictures quick processed and uploaded, but here are some of my favorites, so far:

Monorail from outside the Contemporary:

Obligatory self-portrait pic at EPCOT:

My daughter (who is also a percussionist) with some performers at EPCOT:

Got lucky and saw what is scheduled to be the last night shuttle launch:

Full set can be found here.

 

[JJ71]

I will try posting some recent photos from Washington, D.C. – once I hit 10 posts

 

[JJ71]

Here are some photos from our recent visit to Washington during the Cherry Blossom Festival. These were all taken with my A300 and cz 16-80 or sal 18-250.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/25360889@N07/sets/72157623877085558/

John

 

[vandort]

I've been enjoying all of your photos. Thank you all for sharing!

I took many pictures on my trip to Chicago, but I've had very little time to process them. Here are a couple of them:

 

[funkychunkymonkey]

I love my camera

 

[MICKEY88]

 

[DznyFan]

Heidi, you went to Shedd! Love Shedd - and the Sea Dragons are just beautiful. great shots!

Welcome, John - lovely DC series. LOVE 6 and 7.

 

[JJ71]

Welcome, John - lovely DC series. LOVE 6 and 7.

Thanks. About your A550, are you enjoying the camera? I have an A300 and am banned from any new body purchase until 2011 (my wife did allow me the tamon 17-50 and sony 18-250 earlier this year, however ). But I'm thinking about renting an A550 particularly for nighttime and low light shooting– main street electrical parade, fantasmic, haunted mansion, etc. Do you think it's worth it?

 

[zackiedawg]

Well I'm not DznyFan, but I'll say that I've absolutely loved my A550 since I picked it up when it debuted in Oct 09...it replaced my A300, and the low light/high ISO capability was the biggest reason for the upgrade, though the excellent LCD, expanded live view, 5fps burst with 7fps speed mode, and increased battery life were also big factors. If you can get it as a rental reasonably cheap, I would say it's worth it. Where the A300 can shoot ISO1600 with some noise, the A550 will shoot ISO6400...and the noise pattern of what is there is so much smaller, finer, more uniform, and without the chroma noise blotching the A300 is prone to.

 

[zackiedawg]

A few shots from last weekend at one of the very few older churches in our area - Bethesda by the Sea in Palm Beach, Florida...a beautiful old gothic style stone church.

DSLR-A550 & Tamron 10-24mm F3.5-4.5 UWA. Didn't have my tripod along so had to go handheld; saved by high ISO and steadyshot!:

iso1600, F3.5, 1/10:

iso320, F3.5, 1/30:

iso1600, F3.5, 1/15:

iso200, F5.6, 1/50:

iso200, F10, 1/80:

They also have a lovely garden out back...so I switched to my Tamron 90mm F2.8 macro and snapped a few of the blossoms -

Scarlet milkweed - iso1000, f11, 1/160:

Water lily - iso200, F7.1, 1/250:

White orchid - iso200, f11, 1/320:

Hibiscus - iso200, F11, 1/250:

 

[DznyFan]

Thanks. About your A550, are you enjoying the camera? I have an A300 and am banned from any new body purchase until 2011 (my wife did allow me the tamon 17-50 and sony 18-250 earlier this year, however ). But I'm thinking about renting an A550 particularly for nighttime and low light shooting– main street electrical parade, fantasmic, haunted mansion, etc. Do you think it's worth it?

You're banned from a new body purchase?? Not fair!!! Personally, I LOVE the A550. It was a nice compromise between consumer and pro. I upgraded from an A200. I haven't had a whole lot of an opportunity to use it in low light but when I have I've been relatively pleased. Noise was a huge issue for me so I'm very satisfied in that regard. The live view is nice, though I rarely use it - I'm a viewfinder kind of person - but I have used the articulating LV screen and it is a nice feature to have. If you're like me, you won't use it much, but when you want it you'll miss it if you don't have it. 7fps? cooooooool. I'm very happy.

 

[polkadotminnie]

I upgraded from the a300 to the a500. I love it!!!! Since I am shooting lots of indoor sports, the 5fps really sold me. What a difference that makes. I also love the high ISO.

 

[JJ71]

Thanks for the info on the A550, folks. Banned is too strong a word– but I want to wait for a video option (I know SLRs are not ideal for this, but I'd like to be able to take short videos of my kids– like at a school concert). I care much more about stills, so my plan is to wait for an A5xx or A7xx body with video option. And waiting until xmas or early '11 is probably best in the interests of marital harmony... I can be a frequent upgrader at times

 

[vandort]

I think that our thread needs a bit of a bump. I've been busy with softball (many, many pictures). Here is a shot that I took this week. It's far from perfect, but I liked the concept of having the ball in focus and my DD in motion.