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Archive 2012Sony A99
p.15 #1Sony A99
telyt wrote:
+1.
Two things- the cross-section diagram of the SLT makes it look like the mirror should be simple to remove (locking latch at the bottom, open hinges at the top).the locking latch allows it to swing up for sensor cleaning. not sure it those hinges are open. on the a55 the mirror and frame unlatched from the hinged secondary frame. this looks like a different design, but hopefully still easy to remove (i would imagine it must be just from the repair perspective).Yeah, looking more closely, I think you're right about the hinges, but I'm betting it won't be difficult.I've suddenly realized I'm interested. Since I don't care for AF I might forget to re-install the mirror 
Right there with you.
freaklikeme wrote
sebboh wrote
freaklikeme wrote
Jonas B wrote
Thank you zstan and joychris; Now I'm more interested than ever.Two things- the cross-section diagram of the SLT makes it look like the mirror should be simple to remove (locking latch at the bottom, open hinges at the top).
Right there with you.
Oct 15, 2012 at 07:15 PM
p.15 #2Sony A99
joychris wrote:
After tinkering with a A57 in the Sony store, steadyshot works with video. Its one of the big selling points for me - that and the fact that it works with chipped/adapted lenses as well. After using the EM5 I really prefer IBIS to lens stabilization for the simple fact that everything is stabilized rather than a select few lenses. When I had the 5d2 I was forced to pay more for IS (70-200), if its even offered at all. Like many I wanted the 24-70 to have IS for the extra stop over the 24-105, but I bought the...Show more →
Cool. Thanks, Chris. That should come in very handy.
freaklikeme wrote
In the video with the flowers, it looks like SS can be used on video as well. Is anyone else getting the same impression?Cool. Thanks, Chris. That should come in very handy.
Oct 15, 2012 at 07:23 PM
p.15 #3Sony A99
Huff says the RX1 shows better high ISO quality, down to the SLT he thinks, and that is the a77/NEX experience. Most reviews are kind of overwhelmed by the feature list of this quality body.
I started a list of 'pros' vis-a-vis the a900 and almost ran out of paper: weight, grip, mirror slap, MUP, weatherproof, DR, video, peaking, high ISO colour retention, noise ceiling, GPS, LCD, EVF with image display/review, real time histo with exp changes, and exposure change on stop down, dual cards, 200k shutter...and some of these are industry or class leading, all of a sudden.
I see it being a much 'faster' camera - quicker setup, more shots in a shorter time, with less review need, for both tripod and handheld work. Which translates into more 'photography' prep time - composition, scoping etc. I hope they kept the shutter soft and quiet-ish.
I am all MF now, so I will follow what people find re the mirror. Sony service could do the removal most likely, if it's hard. Are there any function loss gotchas to mirror removal, outside of losing AF?
Jae, the AA is considered by several reviewers to be of 'moderate' strength.
I started a list of 'pros' vis-a-vis the a900 and almost ran out of paper: weight, grip, mirror slap, MUP, weatherproof, DR, video, peaking, high ISO colour retention, noise ceiling, GPS, LCD, EVF with image display/review, real time histo with exp changes, and exposure change on stop down, dual cards, 200k shutter...and some of these are industry or class leading, all of a sudden.
I see it being a much 'faster' camera - quicker setup, more shots in a shorter time, with less review need, for both tripod and handheld work. Which translates into more 'photography' prep time - composition, scoping etc. I hope they kept the shutter soft and quiet-ish.
I am all MF now, so I will follow what people find re the mirror. Sony service could do the removal most likely, if it's hard. Are there any function loss gotchas to mirror removal, outside of losing AF?
Jae, the AA is considered by several reviewers to be of 'moderate' strength.
Oct 15, 2012 at 08:17 PM
p.15 #4Sony A99
Beside losing AF, there is no other disadvantage. I didn't plan to get this body initially so far there is no foreseeable FF NEX body and the A99 features seem to be very enticing (the NEX FF will be likely a crippled body as well in term of automation just like the NEX-7 vs. A77).
Oct 15, 2012 at 08:21 PM
p.15 #5Sony A99
philip_pj wrote:
I hope they kept the shutter soft and quiet-ish.
If you track back to the Korean review, there's a video where you get to hear the shutter repeatedly. It's not exactly quiet but it's no where near the cha-chung-thwack of the a900's mirror slap.
I hope they kept the shutter soft and quiet-ish.
If you track back to the Korean review, there's a video where you get to hear the shutter repeatedly. It's not exactly quiet but it's no where near the cha-chung-thwack of the a900's mirror slap.
Oct 15, 2012 at 10:51 PM
p.15 #6Sony A99
I've read that about the AA also, I think the term I've seen used a couple of times is 'medium strength'.
Thinking back pre-launch, wasn't Sony bragging about something they came up with to better preserve fine detail? Some sort of high pass filter maybe? I can't recall, would have to dig through the specs/features.
Thinking back pre-launch, wasn't Sony bragging about something they came up with to better preserve fine detail? Some sort of high pass filter maybe? I can't recall, would have to dig through the specs/features.
Oct 16, 2012 at 07:28 AM
p.15 #7Sony A99
Apologies if this link has been posted.
Nice review from a 5D3 guy. Good low light samples, too.
http://www.frankdoorhof.com/site/2012/10/sony-alpha99-preview/
Nice review from a 5D3 guy. Good low light samples, too.
http://www.frankdoorhof.com/site/2012/10/sony-alpha99-preview/
Oct 16, 2012 at 09:57 AM
p.15 #8Sony A99
freaklikeme wrote:
If you track back to the Korean review, there's a video where you get to hear the shutter repeatedly. It's not exactly quiet but it's no where near the cha-chung-thwack of the a900's mirror slap.
It's pretty quiet in person, only a bit noisier than the NEX-7 or A77. Nothing like the A900, which was almost medium-format loud.
philip_pj wrote
I hope they kept the shutter soft and quiet-ish.It's pretty quiet in person, only a bit noisier than the NEX-7 or A77. Nothing like the A900, which was almost medium-format loud.
Oct 16, 2012 at 06:33 PM
p.15 #9Sony A99
Jacob D wrote:
I've read that about the AA also, I think the term I've seen used a couple of times is 'medium strength'.
Thinking back pre-launch, wasn't Sony bragging about something they came up with to better preserve fine detail? Some sort of high pass filter maybe? I can't recall, would have to dig through the specs/features.
It's a multi-segment AA filter, supposedly preserves fine detail better for a given amount of aliasing (for you engineering types, I suspect they've come up with a higher order filter to allow a higher cutoff frequency for a given resistance to moire)
I've read that about the AA also, I think the term I've seen used a couple of times is 'medium strength'.
Thinking back pre-launch, wasn't Sony bragging about something they came up with to better preserve fine detail? Some sort of high pass filter maybe? I can't recall, would have to dig through the specs/features.
It's a multi-segment AA filter, supposedly preserves fine detail better for a given amount of aliasing (for you engineering types, I suspect they've come up with a higher order filter to allow a higher cutoff frequency for a given resistance to moire)
Oct 16, 2012 at 06:34 PM
p.15 #10Sony A99
'cha-chung-thwack' - I have a theory that a quiet smooth shutter is easier to handhold as you don't unconsciously anticipate the action so much and kind of flinch, and anything like the a77 will do very nicely, IMO.
I hope for a side-by-side comparo with an A900 at say ISO 100-1600, done from RAW.
I hope for a side-by-side comparo with an A900 at say ISO 100-1600, done from RAW.
Oct 16, 2012 at 07:03 PM
p.15 #11Sony A99
a99 manual available for download:
http://www.sony.co.uk/support/en/product/SLT-A99/manuals
prob elsewhere too.
http://www.sony.co.uk/support/en/product/SLT-A99/manuals
prob elsewhere too.
Oct 17, 2012 at 09:25 PM
p.15 #12Sony A99
Another A99 review with a lot of low light shots.
http://www.frankdoorhof.com/site/2012/10/sony-alpha99-preview/
http://www.frankdoorhof.com/site/2012/10/sony-alpha99-preview/
Oct 18, 2012 at 10:53 AM
p.15 #13Sony A99
Imaging Resource has a studio comparison shot that shows some pretty impressive results up to 6400, IMHO the A99 looks phenomenal.
http://www.imaging-resource.com/IMCOMP/COMPS01.HTM
http://www.imaging-resource.com/IMCOMP/COMPS01.HTM
Oct 19, 2012 at 08:37 AM
p.15 #14Sony A99
AA filter looks just a tiny bit stronger than the NEX-7 in the comparison pics. Much weaker than the D600! Good news!
Oct 19, 2012 at 09:40 AM
p.15 #16Sony A99
Thus the excitement builds! I looked side by side with the 5D3 for comparison at ISO 6400... maybe slight edge to the 5D, definitely nothing worth worrying about. Outstanding results in my book.
I wonder what lens they used for this? The resolution is great for such a high iso image.
I wonder what lens they used for this? The resolution is great for such a high iso image.
Oct 19, 2012 at 03:22 PM
p.15 #17Sony A99
wow. 3200 looks excellent, really usable, with a touch of contrast and perhaps sat needed in post. Great colour retention and tonality with it.
I need to settle fast on a base ISO for detailed tripod work, and to my eyes 100 is a shade better than 50.
Thanks joychris for the link, I cannot wait.
I need to settle fast on a base ISO for detailed tripod work, and to my eyes 100 is a shade better than 50.
Thanks joychris for the link, I cannot wait.
Oct 19, 2012 at 04:03 PM
p.15 #18Sony A99
question: with the camera on Manual, shutter at 1/250, exposure at f8, iso at 100, my a57 has a black lcd, yet focuses, probably on nearest subject and I do have continous af on.
What does the a99 show under similar circumstances?
I ask because I shoot like the Strobist recommends - everything on manual, but with the SLT camera I have there is nothing visible, just wondering if the a99 is the same. I also use triggers, but the lcd is unaffected no matter if triggers are used.
Also, if I open the built in flash under these setting then the subject is visible in the lcd. I am sure that if I used a Sony flash the subject would also be visible.
Still, just wondering about the a99 with this issue
Thanks
firmware update v1.03 seems to have taken care of that issue, what a relief! It also af's quicker. Great job Sony!
Edited on Oct 20, 2012 at 12:38 PM · View previous versions
What does the a99 show under similar circumstances?
I ask because I shoot like the Strobist recommends - everything on manual, but with the SLT camera I have there is nothing visible, just wondering if the a99 is the same. I also use triggers, but the lcd is unaffected no matter if triggers are used.
Also, if I open the built in flash under these setting then the subject is visible in the lcd. I am sure that if I used a Sony flash the subject would also be visible.
Still, just wondering about the a99 with this issue
Thanks
firmware update v1.03 seems to have taken care of that issue, what a relief! It also af's quicker. Great job Sony!
Edited on Oct 20, 2012 at 12:38 PM · View previous versions
Oct 19, 2012 at 04:34 PM
p.15 #19Sony A99
just checked my seller, and alpha rumours was right about a w/sale price drop - price reduction of $200 retail here.
Oct 19, 2012 at 04:37 PM
p.15 #20Sony A99
You had me all excited, Philip, and then I remembered that your "here" is Australia. Maybe we'll see that in the US as well.
I'm amazed at the number of my Canikon-shooting buddies who have gotten interested in Sony after reading about the a99. I don't know that any of them are seriously thinking about switching, but just the fact that word of the camera got them to momentarily remove their brand blinders is impressive.
I'm amazed at the number of my Canikon-shooting buddies who have gotten interested in Sony after reading about the a99. I don't know that any of them are seriously thinking about switching, but just the fact that word of the camera got them to momentarily remove their brand blinders is impressive.
Oct 19, 2012 at 05:17 PM