Sony Alpha DSLR-A550 14.2MP Digital SLR Camera (Body Only) Review

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(More customer reviews)This review was done before the new A55s and their cousins came out.They may change the game.Even if you didn't think you wanted to use your DSLR in movie mode, you may rethink it when you realize that the A55 can shoot 1080p high def (but read the spec carefully) with the flexibility of interchangeable lenses.I'm not going to rewrite this A550 review now, because I don't have time. Just take my superlatives with a grain of salt, because it is more than just possible that the A55 class a better choice for some serious non-pros.Note, however, that none of the translucent mirror technology reviews so far are making direct comparisons to the A500/550 class.There are compromises with a translucent mirror.The lens can only let in so much light, which is the reason for lens f numbers. (Higher number means less light gets in.)A mirror that flips up lets you have it both ways:all the light to the eye or all to the sensor.The A55's translucent mirror does not flip up: it divides the light up, with the end result that you do not see a true optical viewfinder, but an internal electronic viewfinder (EVF) when you look through the viewfinder window.(I've tried the A55's EVF and it is an excellent EVF.)In addition, according to Sony, 30 percent of the light to the main sensor is lost.That (in spite of the poor math of some reviewers) is one half stop (0.514, actually).One third of the front optic on your lens is effectively wasted, with its diameter effectively reduced by 16 percent.Stated one more way, it is equivalent to incresing your lens' f-number 20 percent.There is no general loss of contrast, but one reviewer reported measuring image ghosting in the A55.The ghosting was down 200x in intensity from the main image (meaning Sony has done a good job of coating the mirror glass.) Until we have a direct comparison of recorded images between the A55 class and the A500/550, this judge's jury is still out.All I can say is, I'm not selling my A550 to buy an A55 -- not now or in the future. But I MIGHT spring for an A55 as an add-on to my camera suite.At least you have zero mirror-induced vibration, quieter shooting (though you still have a mechanical shutter), a smaller and lighter body, and faster frame rates (which doesn't matter to me). Do note that with the introduction of the A55s, the price on the A550 has gone down very significantly.Now is a good time to get an A550.With that introduction, here's my earlier A550 review....I'll give you the summary first.This camera is ahead of every other camera on the planet (except the A500) in three areas that are critical to non-professionals:

1. low light performance - it is excellent out to ISO 6400 (Pros care about this too.)

2. fast-focusing live view with tilt screen, which is slightly better than two other Sony offerings (350 and 300) and beats all other brands like a drum;

3. high dynamic range (HDR) feature, which, for stationary subjects, will bring images out of the shadows with full detail, grain-free, like you won't believe.

There are some negatives, which will bother pros much more than non-pros:

1. no mirror lock-up, not even with the timer - a shortcoming partially mitigated by a very lightweight mirror that reduces vibration

2. no program shift, although there is a very useful manual-mode shift, which is often overlooked altogether by professional reviewers

3. no depth-of-field preview

The rest of this review will explain these features and their associated benefits and liabilities, point out some other key discriminators, provide recommendations for sources of additional information, and offer suggestions for accessory purchases.I'll note one other important item that the professional reviewers, to a man, got wrong.Finally, and you may want to skip ahead to this, I'll cover the differences between the A550 and the A500, from a real-world user's perspective.

There are three kinds of potential buyers for this camera:those who already own a Sony SLR or a Minolta SLR, those who own another brand of digital SLR, and those who would be newcomers to digital SLRs but typically already have compact digital cameras.Most of the first group is pretty much already in Sony's pocket, because they have sunk cost in lenses and accessories that they can use on the A550.The second group will be a very hard sell because they're fully vested in another brand.The third group is wide open, and the obvious opportunity for Sony's DSLR brand growth.This is exactly why Sony has put so much emphasis on the live view capability.Very few compact cameras now have optical viewfinders.These owners are accustomed to framing their shots in a video display on the backs of their cameras (which is what live-view means), and they are not likely to buy a big, clunky, expensive camera that won't do live view as well as what they already have.This group is also likely not to know that they should care about mirror lockup, program shift, or depth-of-field preview (even though those things do matter).

I've said that Sony is targeting the DSLR newcomer here.Does that mean that this is an entry-level digital SLR?Absolutely not.This is a serious camera.And speaking as one who spent 30 years with Nikon-professional and Hasselblad film cameras, I have to say that the SLR snobs should wake up and smell the live-view coffee.There are many, many situations in which live view is a vastly superior way to set up a shot.I predict that in five to seven years, all DSLRs - even the pro models - will have live view capability like the A550.It is just ahead of its time.When that time comes, I'll be first in line to buy a pro model that won't be obsolete in five more years like today's pro offerings will.

So what's the significance of the three superlatives that I cited first?

The capability out to ISO 6400 means you can shoot in lower light.It affords a faster shutter speed that will facilitate the use of longer (i.e., telephoto) lenses without a tripod and deliver fast-action shots with less blurring.Alternatively, you can get greater depth of focus and/or get by with a smaller, lighter, and cheaper lens (i.e., with larger f-number).The terrific built-in stabilization, coupled with the low-light capability will allow you to sit in the den and shoot Fido without a flash.No more pet red-eye!It also means you can sit in your den with the manual (or better yet, with the books that I recommend here) and learn the camera pretty much inside-out, working in available light.

In addition to near instantaneous focusing (in decent light), the live view screen is bright and has extraordinarily high resolution.You can set up the shot better, you get a better review of what you've shot, and you have a better idea of whether you need to reshoot.The tilting screen allows you to shoot over crowds, shoot over fences, shoot from waist level, and shoot from floor/ground level without having to lay down to do it.It's extremely handy for macro work.You'll also find yourself using the tilting screen in ordinary circumstances.(Some have complained that this camera does not have an LCD readout on top.The flip-up screen does help compensate.)Other DSLR brands, with the exception of Olympus, have totally pathetic live-view focusing capability.That's an understatement.And even Olympus does not have the tilt screen.(Nikon actually has a better tilt screen, but they don't have the fast-focus live view.)BTW, any DSLR will focus fast and allow you to squeeze off a shot in a split second when you use the optical viewfinder.With this camera, the difference is that you can have it both ways, and both ways will yield way faster focusing than a compact point-and-shoot.These first two features alone, on an otherwise good camera, should be sufficient to persuade the DSLR newcomer to get onboard the A500/A550 bandwagon.But there's much, much more.

What about this HDR thing?When you turn on this mode, the camera shoots two frames in succession at differing exposure levels (you can set the difference).It then superimposes the pictures, replacing dark areas in the low exposure with corresponding areas from the higher exposure.This camera, like others, has a mode called dynamic range optimization (DRO) that selectively adjusts contrast to improve shadow detail.HDR beats DRO, producing shadow detail that is sharper with less grain than DRO.You might wonder if you would have a problem holding the camera steady enough to capture two frames for overlay.With the built in stabilization and the image correlation algorithm, the camera will take care of it.The only catch is that moving objects will produce a double image, so you will only turn on HDR when you are shooting near-static scenes.Also, since HDR lightens the dark areas of the photo, you won't want to use HDR on static scenes when you need strong contrast between light and dark areas.

What are some other significant features?

The A550 will take an SD card and a Memory Stick simultaneously.You have to throw a mechanical switch to go from one to another.SD cards will give you about the same speed and storage as memory sticks for about half the price, so having the SD option is valuable.I keep my A550 loaded with both.It just means I have a deeper built-in magazine and something to fall back on in case of a problem with one storage device.

The camera will shoot up to 7 frames per second, which is world class.It has a buffer that will allow you to shoot 15 or 20 shots at that rate before it slows down.(The A500 is slower and has a much smaller buffer.)As the A550 is firing and filling your buffer, it...Read more›

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Product Description:
Designed from the ground up to bring live view into the digital SLR mainstream, they set a dramatic standard in image quality, and can help you get shots you've never gotten before. Numerous technologies and image processing algorithms are employed in Sony DSLR-A550 to reduce noise and ensure rich, realistic color under the widest possible range of conditions. So you can take advantage of more shooting opportunities, and see your photos come alive with the vividness of precious memories. Speed and responsiveness are also much improved, and battery life has been extended to provide power for up to 950 shots.

KIT INCLUDES:
* 8GB SD MEMORY CARD.
* LENS PEN CLEANING TOOL.
* SUNPAK TRIPOD WITH CASE.
* MEMORY WALLET.
* PACKAGE OF LCD SCREEN PROTECTORS.
* CLEANING KIT.
* 25 FREE QUALITY PRINTS.

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