NYC at Night with Sony SLT-a77

Low light photos and video shot in NYC at night using the Sony SLT-a77 camera, by photo-videographer Michael J. McNamara. Demonstrates extraordinary low light sensitivity for both still photos (at ISO 1600) and Full HD movies, plus autofocusing capability during video recording, and quality of sound recorded using the camera's built in stereo microphone.
All shots and video were captured using the new Sony 16-50mm F/2.8 lens mounted on a pre-production camera. No tripod used, but Sony SteadyShot Image Stabilization was on for both stills and video.
There is no voiceover so you can hear the true stereo sound recorded by the camera. For more information on the SLT-a77, check out the First Look video at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W0M4Hz-cKiA or the Hurricane Irene flash floods at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8LkIiopzG1Q .
For more information on the author, visit http://www.mcnamarareport.com

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• Sony SLT-a77
• low light photography
• New York City at night
• 24.3MP sensor
• video quality
• flash mob
• Times Square
• Radio City
• nyc

[crbfast]

Can't understand your concern related to a 1080 posting. I mean: where's the problem if someone does a wrong comparison? I'm not skilled enough about U.S., but I can assure that, here in Europe, journalists and reporters wouldn't bother at all. Compressed or not.

[mcnamarareport]

@crbfast

If that is true, where are all the 1080p files being posted by European journalists? The reason you don't see these yet is that every journalist who gets their hands on a pre-production model promises not to post original or high res files till given the OK by the manufacturer (usually after a final firmware upgrade) or until they get a full production unit. It they disregard that promise, the next time around they won't be on the list for first look units.

[Megoodfilmguy]

Is it just me, or does this look really good?

The sound is another issue, it sounds like NY is being flooded. But maybe that's how any on-camera mic would deal with the rush of the Bappl. I think everyone'll still be using off-board with this.

Thanks for these videos, you're the only one posting this a77 stuff on YT.

Is there some reason you can't show at 1080? Like an NDA or something?

-Olaf

[mcnamarareport]

@Megoodfilmguy I'm not showing at Full HD 1080 because I am using a pre-production model. Unfortunately, some viewers might use the 1080 version to compare video quality between cameras (even though you and I know how much of a compression hit video takes just getting processed on YT.) Once I get a production version, I plan to post actual AVCHD 60p files for download so comparisons can be made.

[mazouna]

THE VIDEO IS ON 720p WHY???

[tvlam59]

New York time square is not low light.

[NickisZexuhJr]

i went to nyc last summer it was AWESOME but i like my home town las vegas better but nyc comes really close

[oceanistoosmall]

@all73n you are blind

[all73n]

No thanks Sony, I'll pass. Another P & S camera. the Nikon d5100 and Canon T3i produces more vivid and crisp video than this. And for a cheaper price.

Nikon & Canon are still the best..

[stewie7669]

Hi! Has your embargo over showing full-res stuff (maybe even a link for the .m2t files) been lifted?

[Blaise7275]

Brilliant shots by the way :))

I have a stupid question here; can you make another shot in some place where there is less artificial lights; in order to really demonstrate the low-light performance of this camera; it's a key aspect for me to decide whether or not to get this camera which seems to surpass the 5D Mark II in many points...

Many thanks!!

[crbfast]

@mcnamarareport - Reply you provided to 'Megoodfilmguy' appeared to be your personal concern, not agreement clauses with Sony, as well it was properly asked. That's why I couldn't understand your issue. However, there are a number of straight pics files archives (both jpg and raw, with full instructions to read raw) over the web. I have in mind a German example many days ago, but there are many others. Maybe pics files are different than vids files. I wrote about journalists o.c. because I am.