A1 vs A2 (including price)

[forbytes]

Dear Minoltians,

Now is a bit early for respectable web sites to put up such a review. I would like to share with you my experience with both camera. I hope other people will also follow up this thread with pictures.

What's new in A2 compared to A1:
1) 8 MP (A2) compared to 5 MP (A1)
2) Ultra high continous shooting (7 fps at 640x480) (A1 has 2.8 fps at (2,560 x 1,920))
3) Higher resolution and faster response from EVF and LCD display
4) Higher resolution for video clip recording
5) Depth of view preview
6) ASA 64
7) Pictbridge compatible
8) 3:2 aspect ratio shooting (available only at 3264 x 2176)
9) USB 2.0
10) Ability to enlarge the display by 3.3x

Other issues:
1) A1 max shutter speed is 1/16,000 (hardly use) compared to A2 at 1/4,000
2) A/D conversion for A1 and A2 are 14 and 12 bit respectively


The currently price of A1 and A2 are approximately $1,420-$1,460 and $1,650-$1,750 respectively. The functions of both camera are both identical except the icon in A2 larger than A1. I am really pleased to see the responsiveness of A2 which is much faster than A1. Shutter lag has decreased. Have not timed the "time to next shot" of the continous burst.

I did consider of upgrading from A1 to A2, but decided not to, rather put the money in the upcoming DSLR might be a more sensible thing to do. Both A2 and Sony F828 uses the same sensor. However the CA (chromatic aberration) is quite bad in F828. I need to verify whether this occurs in A2 (CA can also be related to lens). Shots from forum of DPReview showed noise even at ASA64. A2 does addressed some issue of A1 but image quality seem to drop further.

What do you think?

Regards.

 

[Royce]

I had a bit of a play with the A2 on saturday. Some things that I noticed:

autofocus speed very fast.
colour reproduction very accurate.
average noise level - at 64 it's ok. higher than that, and it gets noisey.
CA was pretty good, in most of the shots it wasn't there. I did manage to bring it on with black next to white.
image stabilisation doesn't work when light was low. i was trying it out in the shop and under ambient light, stabilisation wasn't working (shooting at 64).

An issue that i could see is that you need to shoot at 64 to minimise noise, but at that speed, you need good lighting. Shooting in low light might be difficult (without noise).

I'm thinking of getting one as a 'take anywhere' alternative to my DSLR. But will be waiting for dpreview review first. There's a few 8mp cameras on the way.

 

[forbytes]

I will try to write to Minolta Marketing for a set for review, if possible. haahaa.

 

[roon2c]

I will try to write to Minolta Marketing for a set for review, if possible. haahaa.

UpZ for u!!!! Kekekkeke :thumbsup:

 

[deslim27]

Hi Forbytes,

How do you find the EVF? Major improvement? Thanks.

Cheers!
Des

 

[forbytes]

yoo Deslim27, the EVF is very responsive, there used to be a lag in what your EVF display when you shift the camera for A1. It is a little jerky. But for A2, the feeling is quite fluid and smooth. The lag between what the camera sees and display is shorten a lot. But does not affect image quality coz that is the "pre-taking" aspect of photo-taking.

 

[deslim27]

yoo Deslim27, the EVF is very responsive, there used to be a lag in what your EVF display when you shift the camera for A1. It is a little jerky. But for A2, the feeling is quite fluid and smooth. The lag between what the camera sees and display is shorten a lot. But does not affect image quality coz that is the "pre-taking" aspect of photo-taking.

Thanks forbytes! I remembered when I test A1 in CP, the EVF lag and refresh rate is not so impressive (ok.. I'm a SLR -> OVF user). In contrast, Z1 has a much better EVF that time, much smoother and less jerky..

Can comment on the shutter lag? I'm refering to half pressed (in focus) till the shot is taken here. Read from some users in dpreview, it insignificant?

Cheers!
Des

 

[forbytes]

Thanks forbytes! I remembered when I test A1 in CP, the EVF lag and refresh rate is not so impressive (ok.. I'm a SLR -> OVF user). In contrast, Z1 has a much better EVF that time, much smoother and less jerky..

Can comment on the shutter lag? I'm refering to half pressed (in focus) till the shot is taken here. Read from some users in dpreview, it insignificant?

Cheers!
Des

Shutter lag definitely has improved. Why do i say that? I brought my girl friend to an event that I was covering. I was using Dynax 7 and she was using my A1. I brought her next to Cathay and pick up A2 to handle. She say the shutter is faster. She is really new to photography. Of coz both lighting condition are different, but it should only affect the focusing part of the camera. Shutter lag is somehow mechanical and electrical. IMO, the best way to test this is via an audio test (looking at wave pattern) and find the time of shutter curtain open and close. Using a stop watch is somehow inaccurate as it is affected by the reviewer's response time. Now my problem is to get a sensitive mic to record the wave pattern and a loan set of A2 from Minolta. Will let everyone know of the outcome ASAP.

 

[deslim27]

Hi Guys,

Just read from dpreview forum. A2 has a DOF preview feature, its a breakthru for a prosumer camera in IMO. Probably it was implemented because of the improved EVF.

http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1024&message=7763309

p.s. wah.. I'm tempted too!

Cheers!
Des

 

[vader]

image stabilisation doesn't work when light was low. i was trying it out in the shop and under ambient light, stabilisation wasn't working (shooting at 64).

what's the shutter speed you shoot at?! pray tell us.

 

[vader]

Hi Guys,

Just read from dpreview forum. A2 has a DOF preview feature, its a breakthru for a prosumer camera in IMO. Probably it was implemented because of the improved EVF.

http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1024&message=7763309

p.s. wah.. I'm tempted too!

Cheers!
Des

Mai lah, tan the chin a lar...pau lu song Y Y.

 

[deslim27]

what's the shutter speed you shoot at?! pray tell us.

Peng Yu!

Where have you been?? Still trying to conquer the universe??

May be the AS wasn't on? I've seen shots slower than 1/10 with good results.

Cheers!

 

[deslim27]

Mai lah, tan the chin a lar...pau lu song Y Y.

KM bo kong ho say leh.. ko ai tan ku ku..

 

[Royce]

what's the shutter speed you shoot at?! pray tell us.

I think it was 1/8 or 1/15. The IS light was yellow, which according to the guy at the shop meant that there was insufficient light for it to work.

 

[forbytes]

I think it was 1/8 or 1/15. The IS light was yellow, which according to the guy at the shop meant that there was insufficient light for it to work.

if the hand is blue mean effective, if yellow then not confirm will work but will still try to compensate the movement. It does not deal with light directly but indirectly.

If there is sufficient light, than the shutter speed no need so low liao at 1/8 or 1/15. It should be something like 1/25 or 1/60. Within these 1/25 range, it is 3 stop away from 1/200. That is what AS promise that it will 80% work if light is 3 stop less than 1/focal length (at tele)

Constant aperture throughout.

 

[vader]

KM bo kong ho say leh.. ko ai tan ku ku..

Buay lah, ho a mee kia lor beh ka lai mah.mai kan cheong lah, ai lai liao lah.

 

[deslim27]

Buay lah, ho a mee kia lor beh ka lai mah.mai kan cheong lah, ai lai liao lah.

tan ah ni ku, Soni mah ai wu DSLR liao lah..

OT liao :embrass: ... kwa pm.

 

[deslim27]

I think it was 1/8 or 1/15. The IS light was yellow, which according to the guy at the shop meant that there was insufficient light for it to work.

Hi,

An example of A1 with AS. According to smatty, the photographer, AS actually compensated for FIVE BEERS!.. erh.. new anti-shake measurement unit.

Source from smatty (dpreview)..

 

[denizenx]

Hi Guys,

Just read from dpreview forum. A2 has a DOF preview feature, its a breakthru for a prosumer camera in IMO. Probably it was implemented because of the improved EVF.

http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1024&message=7763309

p.s. wah.. I'm tempted too!

Cheers!
Des

little-known fact but the old old olympus c2100uz had DOF preview when u half press the shutter button...

but A1/A2 the AS is lighting dependent?? then only useful for jitter and not slow-shutter shots?

 

[vader]

but A1/A2 the AS is lighting dependent?? then only useful for jitter and not slow-shutter shots?

How slow is your slow-shutter shots?