CNET US (Click here) tested the A77 camera: “The Sony Alpha SLT-A77V is an excellent, well-designed camera for deep-pocketed amateurs; it nevertheless has a few limitations that may make it impractical for professionals.“. The camera got the “Excellent” value.
Also Flutterphotography (Click here) tested it: “These cameras have shown the potential that with a better sensor and some improvements in the processor, there could be a very different way of taking pictures in the near future as indicated by the packages like the RED Scarlett camera.”
Thoughts on the A77 video quality by Iriger.net (Click here): “As expected the video quality of the A77 is in general comparable to the NEX-5n. But the handling isn’t. The NEX is a bit fiddly with only the one control dial for aperture, shutter speed, ISO, etc. but when you get used to it, it’s no big problem. The A77 has direct dials for shutter speed and aperture + dedicated buttons for ISO and other stuff, but there is one big deal: You have to go to video mode on the program dial to shoot video with manual controlled apterture and shutter speed.”
For the first time after three months the A77+16-50mm kit is in Stock and sold by Amazon itself (Click here). BHphoto (Click here) has it in Stock for a few days now. Also the A65 is back in Stock at Amazon (Click here). In Europe I found it in Stock at Amazon Germany (Click here).
40 Responses
Is there hint yet of a firmware v2 for the a77? Or even a hint that they might be working on an update at all?
All these reviews seem to generally like the a77 but keep mentioning the same old quirks/omissions. Surely Sony has noticed and is working to fix those problems can be solved in firmware….
Firmware updates are up for the A65 and A77, links are here: http://flutterphotography.wordpress.com/2012/01/10/firmware-updates-for-a65-and-a77-slt-cameras/
I found both updates made significant differences in the response of the cameras.
Notice how this review was much more professional then those dirt bags reviews?
A fair’ish review, but I was puzzled about the A77 not being the fastest comment left hanging there, at what?
It’s funny how the video auto-focus mode gets criticised, well after using the so-called auto-focus on the D7000, the A77 knocks the crap out of the D7000! You can always switch to manual.
One thing that bugs me about reviewers is their insistence on talking about ergonomics. Other than size and weight, the shutter button and main controls tend to be in sensible places on all dSLRs. If you don’t like a button in a particular place then that is YOUR PROBLEM. It should never be used to criticise a camera.
I know that the A77 autofocus is much better than everything else out there in video (that I know). But it isn’t really usable if it’s better. Focus is a critical part when filming with the aperture as open as 3.5 what I think was the apterture the automatic set while some tests. So even if it’s better than the competitors it’s not really useful. If you want to know anything special so write me your questions here or in my blogpost.
I don’t criticize button position or something like that cause for filming handling of DSLRs always isn’t quite ideal. Did I? I only criticize I you have to switch through different modes to get basic functions.
Not useful to you perhaps, but who does AF better on a dSLR? Nobody! That’s the point.
AF in video is still a function for “soccer moms”. Honestly that should be one of the more least important functions of a video DSLR. You need that manul control for really shallow depths of field.
I know and I expected the A77 to fail. But Sony advertises it, so I had to test it. For video with a small depth of field I’d not trust any automatic for now.
Somebody else telling people what they need from a dSLR, how about you use it the way YOU want to?
for you a 77 is the best camera out but if you look is better an iphone than an a77 .. a 77 is good only for make coffee
You mean it’s someone’s personal opinion. The problem happens if it becomes the personal opinion of many.
People should handle cameras before purchase, it’s all subjective that’s the point.
That’s a suprisingly good review from Lori Grunin. She usually dislikes the Sonys, and typically awards them an implicit second place to competing Canon/Nikons.
She also limits her comparison to *competing* cameras, a trap that even some of the resident Sony fanboys cannot help themselves with when they go fullframe all over the A77 🙂
I always thought she was a “Debbie Downer”. :p
Some of these reviews can be rather short sighted.
Flutterphoto uses this shot comparison to claim the a77 can’t capture detail in the same big clean way as a900.
http://flutterphotography.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/100-crop.jpg
But you can “clearly” see the a77 shot is backfocused. Reviewer should check left area where hair is ultra sharp on a77. Instead they call a77 “essentially a 12 mp camera” and will create problems “with discerning clients”.
What a laugh. No more Flutter reviews for me.
Good catch, thanks for brining it up. The crop shot when I re-examined it was back focused and had some flare in it. The crops were intended as an illustration of the grain, not a comparison of sharpness.
As for the 12 mp, that was a typo, earlier in the review I referred to my lenses being able to capture about 18 mp of detail out of the sensor. And in future cases I recommend that you quote and read the whole sentence as I never claimed a problem with discerning clients. After using these cameras for 3 months, I would not substitute the A65 or A77 for my A900 for commercial clients that need more flexibility in the file integrity and state that these cameras are not intended for that clientel in the review.
alpha 77 good idea, bad camera… ive sold mine after 3 imersions days in natural photography.. so ugly camera
hahaha!
I am glad you realized you aren’t worthy of the A77. Thank you for giving someone else the chance to use the great camera.
I hope you decide to paint your next camera pink, and dress it up to better suit your taste. I am sure you will take better pictures once the camera looks beautiful…..
LMFAO
lol prast, you do it right.. an alpha77 is good only for those need an evf for exposure… maybe for children… m6 is way more accurate and good, baybe a 5d too
I notice a correlation and a contradiction here…
Both you frenki and prast can’t spell for crap. You troll like a 8 year old kid and you have no idea whatsoever about cameras.
Obviously the A77 is not for kids, otherwise you would have liked it… Well if we are going by your logic.
Yeah of course you did!
the evf is so crappy you cant beat the light speed so an ovf is always better is average.. need to go with canon for my sport photography
Yes of course, whatever!
I did not watch the review for one huge reason: Lori and CNET conduct the POOREST “reviews” I have ever seen/heard consistently for the past several years. All her reviews are pathetic and always hung up on some petty detail which usually has NO bearing on real world use.
Lori, give it up and back to the barnyard for you, Cow.
That’s a bit harsh.
I have to strongly disagree with quote>>nevertheless has a few limitations that may make it impractical for professionals<<
I am a professional and every camera has a few limitations that make it impractical for certain tasks and it is up to the pro to pick the right tool for the job. there are quite a few jobs I would reach for A77.
Mike, Love your work!
Thanks A77!
maybe an alpha 77 is good to hold my door.. poor my alpha 900 so good and so forgot. Hopefully i have a 1d Iv for my services
reviews are not equal… the last sonys dslr are way way worse(not nex) i used to shoot from ’59 and never seen a buggy camera like an a77 i hope the a99 will be way better, but with an … ehm… evf?? what crap is it? oh its an eletronic viewfinder, ho! that crap i just try and swith off… i can only pray
Is English a second language here? I cannot understand anything half you guys are trying to write.
Amazingly many are native English speakers. I hope their photographic skills are better than their ability to write in their native English language.
The funniest part of the review is: “As for features – Sony doesn’t provide lots of bells and whistles.”
Huh? What on earth is she talking about? Even DPREVIEW said the A77 had ‘an exceptionally deep feature set.”
Lol yeah. The a77 is probably the most feature loaded camera out there!
I can’t understand why people say its a bad camera blah blah blah.
BUT wait why are you still lurking it?! Move on, if you don’t like it then GO! There’s a lot of option out in the market.
We don’t need you opinion. 😀
+1
It’s called envy.
I do feel sorry for them… Sorry I lied, I wouldn’t piss on them even if they caught on fire with all the rage.
Too bad, so sad…
This futterphoto review is rather unprofessional.
Indeed a backfocus issue is mistaken with lower resolution.
What a joke!
If you want to see the comparison of A77 and A900 images in a pro website, you should check out imaging-resources.
Based on the correctly focused image there, you can see details comparable to A900 in my view…
http://www.imaging-resource.com/IMCOMP/COMPS01.HTM
It is a camera loaded with features a pro or anyone serious can customize to their own needs and likes, take custom buttons for example. I wanted to return mine because it acted different, but realized what an improved and accurate tool it is and kept it. I learned to expose and get wonderful results with it. I simply love it and want a Full Frame version of that with some bulk trimmed down for faster operation. Software is only catching up to it. LR 3.6 and 4 show quite an improved raw performance with it and a850 which now easily goes to 2500-4000 ISO (800 was where it used to tap out) I believe there will be a FW update once Sony gets every users’ vote based from 2-3 months use