Lori Grunin from CNET reviewed the Sony A55: “Expensive and probably a bit large for the typical point-and-shoot upgrader, the Sony Alpha SLT-A55V nevertheless delivers the performance and photo quality boost those shooters are expecting.”
There is also a very long and detailled review at Letsgodigital: “What remains is a remarkably good performing camera, we cannot deny it. The Sony SLT-A55 uses an old technology to innovate and optimize, which has raised the camera to an outstanding level.”
For our japanese readers: Itmedia and Journal.mycom also posted a new A55 review.
Les G. sent us the following text: “There is a full review of the [shoplink 3617]Sony A55[/shoplink] in this week’s “Amateur Photographer” magazine in the UK, in the issue dated Sat 20th Nov 2010. The tone of the review is mostly very positive and enthusiastic. (NB – The AP never prints any review without including at least a few ifs & buts! The AP always awards marks out of 100. The reviewer has awarded 84% (ie 84/100) to the Sony A55. This compares very well to their rave review of the Nikon D7000
Feel free to use those direct product links to check the A55 price and availability:
Amazon
16 Responses
I returned the A55. The autofocus for video is a nightmare, not usable. And fotolia rejected all A55 footage while they accept my Canon 5D II to 99%. Enough said.
Burnardo, what was the reason for rejection?
*scoff* SONY?!?
NVM. lol.
So how much are you going to sell it for?
How can the autofocus in video be a nightmare when it is the very same phase detection used for photographs?
Don’t know why your images were rejected, probably that fotolia has as most others a pre-defined set of allowed cameras and the a55 is not on that yet.
The 5d mk2 is by the way a full frame camera about 2-3 times the price of the a55. So hardly anything to compare it against.
Why is it not usable, burn? I thought it was what they are proud of.
@burnardo
Did they give any reasons why the rejected your A55 footage? Because of the AF?
they don’t give detailed reasons, just “quality! The footage was very “videoish” especially in highlights. Could not compete with 5D II at all. I had the impression that the greens were flat and muddy too. The electronic viewfinder is an advantage over the 5D though.
I’m going to try the Nikon D7000 now, I expect a “focus assist” feature which the Canons don’t have.. but continuous (full auto) focussing will not be good as well there. I’m doing a lot of run and gun stuff but I still need superior image quality over the EVIL cameras out there. (GH1 A55 etc.)
http://pixinfo.com/cikkek/sony_alpha_slt-a55
This is the only negative review of the a55 I’ve seen, have Sony pulled some ad-dollars from cnet or something that pissed them off? Not enough dynamic range to play with? dxomarks rate it among the very best in that remark. Oh well. They have all the right to have their opinions.
The A55 Autofocus is working quite well for me. You have to adjust the settings and there are several. Also the camera doesnt overheat in video mode if you take the stabilization off. The Video quality does look “videoish”in a sense but you can alter that in the settings as well as in post editing. I love this camera, its my choice as a carry around.
I’m still on the fence with the A55, I just can’t make up my mind.
It’ll be the 1st dslr I’ve bought, I’ve read so much for and against it my head is spinning lol
I just sold a Rebel XS to buy this camera. Best move I’ve made since accidentally leaving all my 401k in money market funds a couple years ago, then being able to put them back into stocks when the market was near its lowest. (LUCKY!!!!)
Anyhow, this a55 is awesome. And with the SSI system, I could buy a couple really nice f2.8 lenses to go with it, without selling the house. (I haven’t even put the kit lens on yet)
The only real letdown so far is the small size, and probable lack of any battery grip becoming available.
I still have to check out a55 myself, but
1) OVF-fanatic detected;
2) This is not a review. Just an unsubstantiated opinion.
And they have their right to that, but showing the camera in your hands and telling how its photos “don’t wow” doesn’t count as a review in my book.
That CNET b**ch reviewer tried hard to find all the “ifs” that this camera has. The photos don’t wow me? What a stupid opinion. Slightly expensive? WTF….