Sony SLT-A55 HD video

[1yehiafahim]

1.what kind of lens are you using?

2.Can you control the focus manually in movie mode?

3.Does it have built in flash?

4.Is it really worth buying?

5.Great video! ;)

[FTWandstuff]

@1yehiafahim

1. Carl Zeiss 16-80mm lens

2. Yes, you can control the focus manually, but it is the only DSLR to be able to have AF while shooting a video, especially one in HD.

3. The camera has built in flash, yes.

4. It is all dependent on what you are looking to do. It is a phenomenal camera built for someone looking to do a little bit of everything. However, it's not the BEST in anything in-particular besides auto-focusing while shooting full HD 1080i movies.

5. I agree =]

[Buzzer365]

Can the focus be locked to prevent those people walking in front of the subject stealing the shot?

[BlackSupraC2]

@Buzzer365 lol..he can turn off the autofocus.

[FTWandstuff]

@Buzzer365 yes.

[autogear]

The AF speed is amazing!

[NivekSurfer]

Why argue about the auto focus if it can manual focus too?

[FTWandstuff]

@NivekSurfer most people dont realize that this is the only DSLR in the world that can shoot full HD video and auto-focus at the same time.

[Legen007]

i like how quick it tries focus, now i hate that i bought a Nikon D5000, but i did buy my camera before this one was even announced, im now looking to sell it and get a a55, sony seems to be doing everything right and now i cant find one reason not to buy this camera.

the only thing that held me back before was the memory stick, now i can use SDHC cards, i cant wait for tax refund this year.

[LooperNor]

When people walk past in front of the subject you really see why manual focus is superior to autofocus.

[JediFarce]

@LooperNor If you're filming people that are moving towards you or away quickly, manual focus is going to be very difficult.

[LooperNor]

@JediFarce Sure, but if you take the time to learn how to use manual focus in these situations, you're gonna get a much better result with manual focus, because you never know how the autofocus might decide to fuck up.

[JediFarce]

@LooperNor In the situation of the video, autofocus is a bad thing because the camera can't tell the difference when something suddenly appears closer than what you're shooting in the background. But if you shoot footage of ice skaters that move in fast without planning a shot, manual is next to impossible. However, as much as I like the A55 autofocus feature, I'm still going to buy the Canon 7D because of the superior video quality.

[LooperNor]

@JediFarce I suppose you're right, in certain places autofocus is definitely better, but in those cases I think it's pointless to get a DSLR either way.

If you're getting a DSLR for movie functions, it should be because you are gonna use it for pro/semi-pro uses, and for anything else you can get a camcorder.

And there's more things about the 7D which are way superior:

Lets in 30% more light.

Not an electronic viewfinder.

Bigger, no cramped buttons.

And more.

[JediFarce]

@LooperNor I have a JVC GY hm100, but it's too heavy and most of the videos I shoot are anywhere from 20 seconds to 3 minutes at a time of people skating so the DSLR might be the way to go. Also I'm impressed with the video quality of the everybody using the Canon 7D on youtube so I thought I'd go with the flow. I've got a glidecam -minus the harness and arm- so the light weight of a 7D might be perfect.

[tbcass]

I disagree. For the average user like myself autofocus in a DSLR is a great feature. Getting both a DSLR and Camcorder would be much more expensive and and much less convenient.

The Electronic viewfinder has both advantages and disadvantages. It is brighter in poor light, allows magnification up to 15x for precise focusing, allows real time feedback of any adjustments you make such as exposure compensation and white balance and most parameters are visible in the viewfinder if you want.

[LooperNor]

@tbcass Autofocus is great, but I still stand by the point that as of now, DSLR video isn't really the best way to go. A dedicated camcorder will give you much more stable shots and in most cases better autofocus.

Yes, the electronic viewfinder is good in low light, and the 15x magnification is always useful, but regular viewfinders usually have a small LCD display below them which show both exposure compensation, white balance and most parameters you need, without going in way of the image.

[LooperNor]

@tbcass A pentaprism/mirror viewfinder has some other great advantages, like showing the scene exactly as it is right now without any delay, and it's much less stressful on your eyes. It also doesn't use power.

[tbcass]

@LooperNor I'd rather see the image in the viewfinder as what the picture will look like. Knowing what it looks like in reality is of little or no use in judging the final photo. I can do that with my unaided eye. I find that the EVF of my A55 is not stressful on my eyes at all and for normal photography there is no delay, only in 10fps mode where there is a 1/10 sec delay. That's no big deal since no other under $2000 camera comes close and can AF. Yes the EVF does use more power that is true.

[tbcass]

@LooperNor Smaller size has both advantages and disadvantages so it's a wash.

I can buy 2 A55s for the price of one 7D.

FYI, I also own a DSLR and have used SLR cameras for 42 years.



[tbcass]

@LooperNor For most purposes however autofocus is superior if it's fast enough. I take it you own a DSLR without a decent AF or are a Canon or Nikon fanboy who feels threatened by this camera.

[1409striker12]

this one or canon 50d?thanks

[usporedi]

@1409striker12

wierd qstn.!

if you prefer image quality and have some knowledge on D-SLR devices, buy 50D

but, as you ask this qstn, you don't:p

so buy SLT, cause i'ts great for the price and features

[1409striker12]

@usporedi thanks.

[tbcass]

@usporedi Actually the A55 IQ is every bit as good as the 50D.

[amelune]

After seeing this, I can see that AF can be a hindrance as well as a saint . . .

[gjustin79]

What lens was used in this? the one that came with it?

[Fa9ooly323]

This one or Canon 550d/T2i ?

[TheLastWitnessTv]

@Fa9ooly323 sony for sports and movie, canon for image but sony have DRO and HDR wich is a great deal!

[sOuLjAvIcK]

@Fa9ooly323 thats what the fuck i want to know.. 

[sOuLjAvIcK]

@Fa9ooly323  i think i have to say the t2i because it has more of a cinema look to its videos..the sony is just pure hd with no kind of cinema zest to its quality

[Fa9ooly323]

@sOuLjAvIcK True. but the Sony got auto-focus inside the camera, which can save you a lot of money, also panorama & HDR in photo mode!

I'm really confused

[amelune]

@Fa9ooly323 a580 ^_~

[invisibleTricker]

@Fa9ooly323 Canon 550D/ T2i. Check this video /watch?v=IhdCehGM02E

[Fa9ooly323]

@invisibleTricker Thanks for the advice :)

after a lot of thinking and saving money i bought the 60d two months ago :)

it's really a good camera especially the swivel screen.

[invisibleTricker]

@Fa9ooly323 Yes, I like this camera too :)

[a1mint]

@Fa9ooly323 This one! Equal image quality, more features, faster, lighter, Minolta lenses, auto focus video. Not perfect, but better than T2i IMO.

But... there will also be an angry Canon fanboy around wanting to kill me for what I just said.

[ramdawgy]

planning on getting this but the microphone seems weak? btw i mainly use photography but nice to have vid camera

[mYOzZyKaT]

@ramdawgy Generally the microphones on every DSLR are absolutely crap. Fortunately theres an external mic input on most of them including the a55.

The quality from the a55 is actually in the top end of the scale and is ok for home use.

You can get a fairly descent shotgun mic for around 150$ and a brilliant Røde for 250 and you never need another mic.

[FoVITIS]

You should turn OFF the AF ! :D

[cambiker011]

Great vid quality!

[andreaiscoolerthanyo]

how much money will that set you back?

[Norwayfoeshoe]

How did you get that camera so fast???

I guess it is possible to switch to MF if you would like to do that.

[JogBird]

cant you lock focus?

[r1dePrkCty]

@JogBird sure can. you have the option to do manual live view if Im not mistaken

[FoVITIS]

@JogBird just set it to MF on the lift side of the body near the Lens ;)

[cantabr0]

Its amazing how fast it focuses on the passing people!

[ficofico01]

Good but, too many people!!!

what the lens?