I am continually getting small details from many sources. Those are the latest few bits:
The EVF menu is customizable and is as bright as the optical viewfinder from the [shopcountry 3032]A900[/shoplink]!
Almost all operations can be done with the eye on the EVF
Smart teleconverter (1.2x and 2.0x digital magnification)
Has Picture effects, A-HDR, Creative style
50ms minimum release time lag
Very good audio noise reduction
A77 weights 680g and A65 weights 543g
I still didn’t get detailed info about the image quality (stills and videos). Many sources do say the quality is on very high level. I guess we will see the first image samples on Wednesday August 24. Be sure to be online at SAR to follow the Sony announcement!
P.S.: You can find SAR also on Google+, Facebook and Twitter!
117 Responses
just 100g less than the alpha 700, beautiful
Weight with or without battery?
A700 768g with battery and 690g without.
Hehe, now we’re just as smart as before. Both options sound plausible: If both weights are with battery, A65 is just 43g heavier than A55. If those weights are without battery, A77 is just 10g lighter than A700.
I think both could be the case, but looking at size comparisons, I rather think those weights are measured without battery… (sadly, since I would appreciate 78g less weight in my luggage)
Awsome, I got a feeling that A77 is not that big. At least smaller compare to A77.
The weight is very acceptable. Any thing under 700g is good for me.
Weight does not equal size. 😉
Yea I prefer bigger and lighter(that’s what she said)
a55 is far too small for me..
It’s pretty much confirmed that the A77 is about the same size as the A700.
Eye control EVF？
“Almost all operations can be done with the eye on the EVF”
A bit ambiguous … no it does not mean you can control the camera with your eye 😀
Might be a good idea though:
Eye wide open = zoom out
Eye almost close = zoom in
Blink = take picture
LOL！ And Eye ball movement tracking and focusing
What if you have a lazy eye?
“What if you have a lazy eye?”
You’ll get full-auto mode … blink to take picture, that’s all 😀
(1.2x and 2.0x digital magnification)
not 1.4x and 2.0 ?
Who cares, cropping is easier aftewards however!
For video maybe? That’d work.
This feature may prove quite useful if it works for video. If it can teleconvert and maintain the video resolution it could be a really competitive feature.
Useful for when peeking into the girls bedroom across the street…oh wait…did I just say that out loud???
“The EVF menu is customizable and is as bright as the optical viewfinder from the” – I hope that the brightness is adjustable (or at least can automatically lower brightness in dark environment), cause last thing I’d like to see is me getting blind thanks to someone’s great idea of making EVF as bright as possible…. ;]
Does anyone know if you will be able to shoot the a77 tethered to a computer?
Why are people asking about tethered in every new a77 rumor? Ran out of more creative q’s?
It is possible with the A700 so I doubt they will remove that feature in the A77.
My A700 can.
Control the EVF with the eye? may I ask how? :L
Maybe they mean that there is enough info on the EVF that you can control the camera while always looking through the EVF not that your eye actually controls it.
Almost all operations can be done with the eye on the EVF
It means that menus etc will be displayed in the EVF
So when you press the Fn button, ISO button etc, the menu options will be displayed in the EVF. So you don’t have to take your eye away from the viewfinder and look at the back LCD.
Basically it’s faster and more convenient to change settings. Pro cameras are built so that settings can be changed quickly. The a5xx series cameras and below all require going into proper menus to adjust settings. The 700/850 and 900 have more custom buttons. The a77 is taking it a step further with custom buttons AND no need to look at the LCD. It sounds great.
.
You need to go to your local Sony Center to get a special implant put into the center of your pupil. It acts as a ‘marker’ and then when your eye is pressed against the EVF, a little sensor scans your eyes and it can tell the location of where you are looking. So a tiny mouse arrow will appear and will travel around the screen to where ever you look. You simply blink twice rapidly to activate icons that can change different camera options (ISO,WB,AF etc.).
British scientists discover that mens usually looking at woman’s breasts.
They needed an experiment to know that??? They could have just asked any large breasted woman instead!
i think Andrea ment, that you can access and execute all the operations with fingers when u look through the evf. that means that you can set everything whitout moving a77 away from eyes when u want to change some settings…
but its not eye controled evf
Still no news on whether or not the a700 grip will fit? My gut say ‘no’ but my heart hopes ‘yes’…
definitly NOT. how could it there are billions of diferent hands out there. but some will be right.
There was news that grip will be new, and on SAR too. New part-number – so – no chance for old gear. But old grip could help to sell old 700 🙂
The picture of the A77 grip is identical in shape to the A700 grip apart from two buttons.
The A77 Fn button is where the C button is on the A700 grip.
The Smart-teleconverter button is where the Fn button is on the A700 grip.
It would be really nice if the A700 grip and A77 are physically and electrically the same and that you only have to re-label the two buttons, Fn to Smart-teleconverter and C button to Fn.
They are using the same battery, so it is just possible that they have used the same grip with two re-labelled buttons.
Just exactly what I’m hoping! I don’t really care about what the buttons and labels look like but if the VG fits and has the same electrical contacts, maybe, just maybe it will work!
It would be great for us, but bad for Sony as they wouldn’t be able to sell us a $300 grip.
Knowing Sony, they will purposely make it incompatible so you’ll be forced into buying the new grip.
@Anonymous, would not surprise me at all 🙁
@terryfried grip = vertical grip, not the grip on the camera 😀
Any idea if there will be micro adjustment for lenses?
On the A77 the rumour is “yes” and around 30 memories.
To anyone who own more than 30 lenses … Shush!
I wonder if you can have several per lens?
For example. If using a 16-50mm zoom, can you calibrate it at 16mm, 24mm, 35mm and 50mm. Thereby using 4 of the 30 memories.
Is there a need? AF for the same lens should work in the same way, regardless of focal length, isn’t it?
@Jennzhen
It is suggested that you set the lens to the maximum focal length, but I doubt that will calibrate the lens for all focal lengths correctly.
If you have more than 30 lenses, you’ll probably have more than one camera.
And yet still want each camera to support all 30 lenses :p
Andrea thanks again for news. There is two HUGH questions –
1) file naming – is it 4 digits or finally 5 or even 6 digits counter?
2) ISO setting for different PASM mode – one for all – or it may be remembered each for every mode? If not may be not too late to ask peoples testing camera make request for such option in menu. That different PASM mode will be fully independent from each other and all customization will made for each mode separately.
any chance of 1.2x and 2.0x smart teleconverters for nex?
Any word on bracketing? Full steps, more than three exposures?
I’d love to see Nikon level bracketing control for HDR…
@MattB: the A700 already has 5 exposures with .7 steps …so…i guess yah. I know that full steps is down to 3 exposures…but….this is just a matter of firmware if you ask me….so Sony would be foolish to limit this too heavily. Especially in a 12 fps cam with huge HDR capabilities
My only concern is whether Sony has resolved the issue of flash shutter lag (0.5s) that affects the current A33/55/560/580/35. Heard its due to the way the new ttl metering works. Its really annoying as you can really feel the delay after pressing the shutter release (with built in or external flash).
Since as what Sony claims its hardware related and cant be fixed with firmware, i hope the hardware is now fixed for this bath of new cams.
Should have been fixed in the A35 if it was a hardware issue. Perhaps Sony don’t feel it worth the work on a “consumer” camera.
My only concern is whether Sony has resolved the issue of flash shutter lag (0.5s) that affects the current A33/55/560/580/35. Heard its due to the way the new ttl metering works. Its really annoying as you can really feel the delay after pressing the shutter release (with built in or external flash).
Since as what Sony claims its hardware related and cant be fixed with firmware, i hope the hardware is now fixed for this batch of new cams.
Has Picture effects, A-HDR, Creative style…?
sweep panorama? peaking? etc
‘peaking’ in the evf would be great. I already rather like the a55 in-evf zoom for manual focusing.
REALLY hoping for being able to write to both cards at the same time. That will go a long ways towards improving shot-to-shot speeds.
A “brighter” EVF isn’t necessarily better. A clearer and more responsive EVF with a suitable/adjustable level of brightness would be better. Especially when shooting in a low light environment, last thing you want is to be blinded by the EVF.
I totally agree with you. 🙂
Responsiveness is more important than brightness.
My concern is the shutter lag and blind evf in manual setting. Do you know the shutter lag when using flash? My A55 is very slow, most of the time I MISSED the moment while using my f-58am. Will the evf be dark like the A55 when the speed and diafrg not in the center?
Ahhh, I am exited about this camera, not that I will buy it, but what it can bring for the A900 update! Can’t wait for that.
The weight of the A77 is disappointing but at least it is not heavier than the A700..
The A65 weight is on par with the A100.
Come on, make it smaller and lighter. 680g is about the same weight as D90/A700.
Some like me don’t want it smaller and lighter. The size and weight of the A700 is just fine for me and that includes a vertical grip. The A77 is aimed at the A700 user, not the A55 user.
they did they made a nex 7 for you 😛
Lighter and smaller doesn’t mean better.
If you want small, you should get the Nex7 or A55. 😛
Or A35 😉
Picture effects are inevitable – to satisfy the well off P&S types. “Look at my camera! It can do automatic colour popping!”
I just hope that if Sony can be bothered to implement relatively complex in-cam jpg processing, they can also be bothered to implement relatively simple in-cam EV bracketing options…
Hope A65 is smaller…
And more close to the A55 (490g) in size…
for a change read the original post.
A65 weights 543g
The weight difference between A77 and A65 could be down to the construction of the camera, not a physical difference in size.
I agree…
It can be slightly lighter than a77 but with similar size
But also:
It can be slightly heavier than a55 but with similar size
any comment of the operation in darkness of EVF? will the EVF go dark as well when shoot in dark environment?
I think we will have to wait for reviews and user comments before getting an answer to that.
What’s A-HDR? Advanced? I hope this doesn’t mean that HDR will be a separate function and they disable proper bracketing like they did for the a55.
Automatic HDR?
Asymmetric HDR? 😀
Awesome HDR?
Thanks for the awesome updates, Andrea.
Do you know if A77 has focus peaking like NEX?
I guess the peaking can be done only with a cdaf camera
Peaking can be done without any AF mechanism at all. Some add-on LCD monitors even have it.
A 50ms shutter release time is at odds with the post on the 17th August which quoted 20ms. A figure of 50ms is only typical of a prosumer DSLR.
until we know what they are actuly meening we dont know but it would be silly to claim anything if its not good. Shutter lag is the time to releas shuter after AF but shutter release times could refere to total lag ie shuter to shot without prefocus (or shot to shot in multe shot modes)
Canon 1D IV is 40-55ms with 80ms viewfinder blackout
Nikon D3 is 41ms with 74ms viewfinder blackout.
I think the A77 at 50ms will do just fine…
I am still sharing all your informations about A77 at my blog.
Thank you
Only 690G? I hope with the battery grip it can adds up to 1000G so I can work out my muscles while filming, excellent! Heavier the camera, more manly it is!
What about attaching a couple of bricks?
4 more days … woohooo
The A65 is definately much different than the A77. The a65 is almost 140grams lighter than the a77. The a65 is also different than an a55 replacement, as the a55(441grams) weighs 100grams less than the a65(543grams). So I think the a65 is going to be something different than the usual a500/550 duo. And the a560/580 duo. I believe the a65 is going to be its own distinct camera, just going by weights. Does magnesium alloy make that much weight difference?
yes it does add weight.
the A65 will be made out of fancy plastic which is pretty light.
Can’t wait to hold them!
“50ms minimum release time lag” Otherwise known as shutter release time. Or the time between when you have pushed the shutter and actual exposure begins.
Now what is the minimum time between the light from a subject entering the lens and the image of that light being displayed on the EVF? That’s the EVF lag we need to know, a separate thing from shutter release lag. And very critical to being able to frame, track and shoot moving subjects.
If the folks giving the info don’t know that, are they actually using the camera or just quoting written specs from somewhere? Much rather hear from real action photographers testing the camera if you have any of those in your “sources”
Maybe we need to know the difference between light entering a lens and reaching viewfinder on A900. All life is full of small delays including your own optic nerve. With the delays on computer input devices and output. it was originally stated by many that computer games on TFTs would be unplayable because of the time difference between moving control and the result on screen. but we still manage to play computer games catch balls in street etc. get real it’s just how good it is to use that counts there is no need for evf to be worse than OVF but there are a lot of advantages so just see how things go and give it a chance.
ps the delay on the sunset is far longer than the exposer time but I still manage to get it in time.
You will never convince Walt regarding the EVF, so don’t bother trying.
I somehow don’t think anyone testing the camera at this point is going to go through the effort to measure something like that Walt. Probably will have to wait for accurate figures.
Actually, testers COULD at least give impressions of EVF vs OVF for sports/action shooting.
This performance does make a difference, especially on a camera that clicks off 12fps. If action shooters can’t track their moving subjects because of EVF delay, then what good is the 12fps? This small aspect of the camera can mean the a77 is a step backwards from the a700 for action photography in spite of the higher burst rate.
I’ve been shooting an a700 for a couple years now, and the last thing I want is a replacement that performs WORSE than my current camera.
The jury is still out on the a77’s EVF. If it isn’t better than the a35’s EVF, then you can count out a lot of current Sony shooters.
As a working photographer, I need the best equipment my budget will allow for taking still photos. If Sony’s move to SLT for the sake of improved video performance is going to degrade the camera as an effective still photo tool, then another manufacturer will get my money this fall.
I’m not an indie film maker and could give a rat’s ass about video in my DSLR. The priority for DSLR(T)’s should be still photos, not video. I don’t care if the thing has video capability, just so long as that doesn’t take away from the camera functioning as the best still photo camera possible, without silly sacrifices being made for video.
Approximately 0.01 milliseconds
“That’s the EVF lag we need to know”
Surely you mean “… YOU need to know”. Since you’ve no interest whatsoever in EVF DSLRs, why are you at all interested in the lag? Give it up – the broken record is incredibly tiresome.
Well, may be it is a bit too late to ask… I would love to see the A77 or later models can be compatible with the built-in remote of the Sony Video tripods….
Ar… Am I asking too much?
The camcorder remote with Zoom In/Out, Start/Stop and Lock/Standby?
I don’t think so. DSLR/DSLT/NEX so far only support remote RMT-DSLR1, which allows basic camera operation: shutter & 2 sec delay.
know your sources if the mirror is made of glass or plastic?
It will be plastic like the A3x/5x
lets hope the a77 has focus peaking like the NEX series – fingers crossed. would be awesome for shooting video…
i am hoping for this to
I hope Sony uses standard mini-usb interface on the A77/A65 instead of their proprietry cable interface to USB found on the A700.
Losing such cable means no way to do tethered shooting or downloading images directly to laptop during travels if I never bring card reader.
Yes I agree, let’s use standard cables
I’ve been looking to get an extra one for my a850 but have not located a part number.
I just hope the full-frame replacement ships before I loose it 🙂
All the lateset bodies (NEX, A33/55, 560/580) use the standard mini USB connector. This is the same size that plugs into PS3 controllers or external USB hard drives.
Google is your friend
http://www.sparkfun.com/products/598
The picture show the Sony Alpha A65 ! Because size is smaller than A77.
The programm button dial is different either ! 😉
Ho Ho Ho… 😀
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……………………. days to go orange777 annoucement! Cheers~
I hate to admit it but I actually look forward to your countdown each day. 🙂
Yeah it’s one of those love to hate things.
How could the A77 be 1000$ SRP, since when is sony offering the lowest prices of all the companies ? The Canon 7D, Pentax K5, Olympus E5 are all, including strong discounts above or at around 1000$ right now, so what is the chance for the A77 to go cheaper from the start than all the older cameras form the competition? In my opinion 0%. And why would the nex7 has the same price (or even higher) than the A77, even though it is cheaper to produce (no sealings, no half transperent mirror, less overall material). So the prices seem to be messed up a little.
The Sony rep stated that the A77 STREET price will be a bit more than the 60D.
Street price? Who cares about the street price for a not yet launched product which will be stuck with the SRP for the first months. Of course the street price will go down to around 1000 $, but that is nothing somebody has to sell as news, it is just common sense. The Sony rep who said your mentioned info should be fired to bring the Canon 60D in connection with the A77, where he should have connected to the 7D and said the A77 will be cheaper. I am really curious about the real SRP now.
Easy to see we have a bunch of people who order their subjects to “hold it!” and expect them to freeze until they can shoot when they finally see them do that. People are sheep and will obey, but most everything else won’t. My subjects don’t obey my commands, I have to shoot them moving fast or not. As they are.
0.01 milliseconds! you are kidding! It will be much more than that. Try being realistic rather than childish, this is not a joking matter. At minimum assuming that the electronics is instant in it’s processing all your settings you still have the exposure time required for the sensor to gather photons, convert them to electrons and then read them out. The same time it takes to take the final shot. And before you get to see those electrons they have to be converted back to photons. Until all that process takes place you will have no idea what’s taking place with your subject. You will be shooting blind.
The a900 does not have to convert the photons to electrons and then process them to show you the real time view, so the light passes through the optical system (just a few inches) at the speed of light.
Folks can joke about it all they want, but the truth is that switching to EVF has a big down side for action and moving subjects in it’s delay time.
OVF has a big down time for action and moving objects to. you hit burst and it doesnt mater what delay is as you are not timing the individual shots. it only maters that your nikon D3x is down to just 5-7 fps insted of 12.
Let’s just wait and see.
You may be right, you may be wrong, but no use spreading bad rumours unless you have actually tried the camera.
Them electrons might be quicker then you think.
Perhaps in a couple of days we’ll know more.