samples images from Sony Alpha 550

[Rashkae]

I was thinking that Sony shouldn't leave iso100 out just because it wants to brag about how a550's iso200 is as good as iso100 or how Sony has improved on it's noise reduction technology.

Ok, I do believe you need to stop watching conspiracy theory TV shows. Your logic has no head no tail. Please, specifically post a link here where Sony has officially stated that they "are leaving ISO 100 out to brag about better high ISO performance". Seriously, your logic has so many flaws it's absolutely baffling.

FYI, the A550 is out in other countries as are the manuals. Have you tried reading the manual?

 

[TME]

What on EARTH makes you think they would exclude ISO up to 800? I'm sorry, but I suggest you get your head out of your conspiracy mode and have a dose of reality. Are you even aware of the effects of using expanded mode ISO?

To Yinfinity - ISO can be a very complex subject if you try to understand the fundamentals yet at the same time we really don't need to know all the fundamental stuff to take good pictures... it's really quite inconsequential if there is an ISO100 or not... I guess you're thinking of better IQ with lower ISO as in film, the grain is always finer with lower ISO. Unfortunately for digital, that isn't always the case. As Rashkae pointed out, the base ISO should always give the best IQ as it's not an extrapolated (or interpolated) sensitivity Whether or not an non-native ISO setting gives you good IQ or not, really depends on a whole host of factors since we're talking about the electronics and algorithms that go into extrapolating or interpolating all these non-base ISOs...

Also it's not so black and white that having a lower base ISO necessarily results in better IQ or gives you more latitude for your creative work as you seem to suggest since you seem quite sore that ISO 100 is not available for the A550? I have no idea why you think so cos base ISO is base ISO, doesn't really matter what number the manufacturers tag to it... a CMOS at ISO200 would produce its best IQ, a CCD at ISO100 would produce its best IQ - who's to say that IQ ISO100 for CCD is not equivalent to IQ at ISO200 for CMOS? This ISO business was used to refer to a certain sensitivity to light that a roll of film was made for and is used in the context of digital sensors only because of the general public's familiarity with the these numbers and what they mean. In addition, things like tone mapping and native noise reduction will also change the way the sensor responds to light at what is given as identical base ISOs from different manufacturers although there are standards that manufacturers adhere to. ISO 200 for Nikon, Sony, Canon, etc may actually have slightly different characteristics or response to light despite having the same number tagged to them.

 

[XkaOnslaught]

Ok, I do believe you need to stop watching conspiracy theory TV shows. Your logic has no head no tail. Please, specifically post a link here where Sony has officially stated that they "are leaving ISO 100 out to brag about better high ISO performance". Seriously, your logic has so many flaws it's absolutely baffling.

FYI, the A550 is out in other countries as are the manuals. Have you tried reading the manual?

haha bro, don't bother man, i am laughing my ass off at all these worst-case scenario style of situations.

 

[T.A.]

What on EARTH makes you think they would exclude ISO up to 800? I'm sorry, but I suggest you get your head out of your conspiracy mode and have a dose of reality. Are you even aware of the effects of using expanded mode ISO?

Yinfinity did mention it as an example and not a fact.

 

[Yinfinity]

Ok, I do believe you need to stop watching conspiracy theory TV shows. Your logic has no head no tail. Please, specifically post a link here where Sony has officially stated that they "are leaving ISO 100 out to brag about better high ISO performance". Seriously, your logic has so many flaws it's absolutely baffling.

FYI, the A550 is out in other countries as are the manuals. Have you tried reading the manual?

For one thing, I don't see any ISO100 photos in the sample images from the link posted by the tread starter. I have not read the manual because I don't have one yet. Perhaps you see what others don't.

Leaving out iso100 does attract people's attention to high ISOs because lower ISOs aren't there. There is no conspiracy here. I don't know why you would call such brilliant business strategy conspiracy. Am I the one said conspiracy first? I just said "I wonder if Sony left ISO100 out on purpose". The logic here is that if there is truly no ISO100 on A550 then they must have left it out on purpose, they couldn't have done that accidentally, right? And if there is ISO100, I just wondered... ok... and you can call that rubbish because that's what people do

 

[TME]

Yinfinity did mention it as an example and not a fact.

Actually I don't even understand why there is talk about exclusion of ISOs... leaving any ISO under ISO800 doesn't make sense if we were to continue to use the reference to sensitivity in the light of the film sensitivity. It's just absolutely, wildly illogical... what would you do if you were shooting on an extremely bright day and you maxed out your shutter speed? Why would anyone exclude the lower sensitivities?!?!

This is totally different from excluding ISO 100... this is a technological/business decision: it's not as if leaving out ISO100 would allow Sony to produce ISO3200 or 6400... it just doesn't work this way... or for that matter a better ISO6400... notice that Sony did not have ISO12800 on the A900, but the A550 does... does it necessarily mean that excluding ISO100 was the only means that you could have ISO12800? You'll notice that the Canon 7D does have ISO100 and ISO12800... and it's a recent phenomenon... that simply means that the sensor technology has recently evolved such that it is possible to have usable ISO100 up to ISO12800... the fact that the A550 does not have ISO100 may be a simple business decision since it's targeted at entry level... no need to spend too much money on making sure it has ISO100 since for most intents and purposes the IQ at ISO200 is superior and sufficient for all but the most demanding users (who probably won't be using an A550)...

 

[MontoyaSG]

If the sensor is designed with the specific base ISO value try to work within it. If you drop it down to ISO100 you're simply losing DR.

 

[Yinfinity]

If the sensor is designed with the specific base ISO value try to work within it. If you drop it down to ISO100 you're simply losing DR.

Yes, Dpreview has two posts on ISO which described this process in detail if anyone is interested. I believe that the difference in dynamic range between iso100 and base iso should be minimal or undetectable without fastidious pixel peeping.

 

[TME]

Yes, Dpreview has two posts on ISO which described this process in detail if anyone is interested. I believe that the difference in dynamic range between iso100 and base iso should be minimal or undetectable without fastidious pixel peeping.

Then why bemoan the loss of ISO100?

 

[nightpiper]

Hi guys, some ISO & sensitivity explanation on dpreview

Part 1:
http://blog.dpreview.com/editorial/2009/09/sense-and-sensitivity.html


Part 2:
http://blog.dpreview.com/editorial/2009/09/moving-the-goalposts.html

There are juz too many variables to determine ISO on camera, so every manufacturer do what they think is best for that line of cameras. Thats why u see some base ISO is 100 & some 200, some can expand to reach 100.

Such ratings is based solely on engineering decision during the research phase.

 

[Yinfinity]

Then why bemoan the loss of ISO100?

Because at lower ISO we can have longer exposure holding aperture constant and sometimes we want to do long exposure photography. ND Filters can affect image quality/effect and aperture has its limit too.

It is also because that ISO100 can be seen as a function or a feature. The fist thing I do when a new camera comes out is to compare the performance of its lowest iso and highest iso with other models to decided if there is any improvement on image quality. Of course I would take more time to look at other functions as well but low iso performance does affect my( or most others') first impression on a new dslr product. The exclusion of iso100 works both way. It shows Sony's confidence in the camera's image quality. Comparing a550's iso200 with other products' iso100 is kind of a pleasure. But I also know the necessity of low ISO for long exposures photography.

You also call the missing iso100 a loss because something used to be there is missing now. It's just simply because iso100 is not there.

 

[T.A.]

Actually I don't even understand why there is talk about exclusion of ISOs... leaving any ISO under ISO800 doesn't make sense if we were to continue to use the reference to sensitivity in the light of the film sensitivity. It's just absolutely, wildly illogical... what would you do if you were shooting on an extremely bright day and you maxed out your shutter speed? Why would anyone exclude the lower sensitivities?!?!

This is totally different from excluding ISO 100... this is a technological/business decision: it's not as if leaving out ISO100 would allow Sony to produce ISO3200 or 6400... it just doesn't work this way... or for that matter a better ISO6400... notice that Sony did not have ISO12800 on the A900, but the A550 does... does it necessarily mean that excluding ISO100 was the only means that you could have ISO12800? You'll notice that the Canon 7D does have ISO100 and ISO12800... and it's a recent phenomenon... that simply means that the sensor technology has recently evolved such that it is possible to have usable ISO100 up to ISO12800... the fact that the A550 does not have ISO100 may be a simple business decision since it's targeted at entry level... no need to spend too much money on making sure it has ISO100 since for most intents and purposes the IQ at ISO200 is superior and sufficient for all but the most demanding users (who probably won't be using an A550)...

Yes, I do agree with what you've said.
Yinfinity was worried that as sensor technologies improve, making the base ISO higher could be possible
and if Sony decides to exclude anything below the base ISO sensitivity of a particular sensor, it isn't sensible.
It's in agreement with your point that ISO 100 need not be left out. It's only a worry, it doesn't mean it will happen.

This is getting OT, let's drop this thing off.:bsmilie:

 

[T.A.]

Link to more links.

 

[newkidontheblk]

enjoy Sony....Make.Believe

 

[boombox]

The results looks promising.

 

[sulhan]

Might have a chance to shoot with this new one this evening. Will share my experience later.

 

[Exposure]

it is sooo GOOD !!! :thumbsup: > http://www.flickr.com/photos/raulalexandre/3993077747/sizes/o/

 

[sulhan]

Okay. Just got back from pitch side at Etihad Stadium, Melbourne. Australia vs Oman.
I had the chance to do a run with the A550. I do not have image off the card as the camera is not on my side. However, here are the inputs on the user experience.

Pros
1- Good Responsive AF (Super Responsive)
2- Light Weight.
3- Live View is good and focusing is well above expectation.
4- Memory Write is good and preview is fast.
5- Buttons are all in the good location - but too many same sized circle button in a row that probably need some more time t get used to. If you own the camera, no worries, surely you will know all within the day.

My Cons:
1- Maybe I'm not used to the rounded square AF points indicators that are LCD driven and LED illuminated. Kinda large though - felt like crowded.
2- Cant seem to get the delete confirmation toe be straight to delete when the "trash bin" button is pressed.
3- Wahahahhaa.....the On-Off button location is obviously different from the A900 that I'm really used to.

Otherwise, its a really really responsive camera that is worth an investment. Image quality is also very good.

 

[XkaOnslaught]

Okay. Just got back from pitch side at Etihad Stadium, Melbourne. Australia vs Oman.
I had the chance to do a run with the A550. I do not have image off the card as the camera is not on my side. However, here are the inputs on the user experience.

Pros
1- Good Responsive AF (Super Responsive)
2- Light Weight.
3- Live View is good and focusing is well above expectation.
4- Memory Write is good and preview is fast.
5- Buttons are all in the good location - but too many same sized circle button in a row that probably need some more time t get used to. If you own the camera, no worries, surely you will know all within the day.

My Cons:
1- Maybe I'm not used to the rounded square AF points indicators that are LCD driven and LED illuminated. Kinda large though - felt like crowded.
2- Cant seem to get the delete confirmation toe be straight to delete when the "trash bin" button is pressed.
3- Wahahahhaa.....the On-Off button location is obviously different from the A900 that I'm really used to.

Otherwise, its a really really responsive camera that is worth an investment. Image quality is also very good.

oh, so the a500/50s are following the nikon VF method of using LCD displays rather than a actual focus screen now?
with regards to the AF, is the AF tracking of subjects good?

 

[Ouverture]

Okay. Just got back from pitch side at Etihad Stadium, Melbourne. Australia vs Oman.
I had the chance to do a run with the A550. I do not have image off the card as the camera is not on my side. However, here are the inputs on the user experience.

Pros
1- Good Responsive AF (Super Responsive)
2- Light Weight.
3- Live View is good and focusing is well above expectation.
4- Memory Write is good and preview is fast.
5- Buttons are all in the good location - but too many same sized circle button in a row that probably need some more time t get used to. If you own the camera, no worries, surely you will know all within the day.

My Cons:
1- Maybe I'm not used to the rounded square AF points indicators that are LCD driven and LED illuminated. Kinda large though - felt like crowded.
2- Cant seem to get the delete confirmation toe be straight to delete when the "trash bin" button is pressed.
3- Wahahahhaa.....the On-Off button location is obviously different from the A900 that I'm really used to.

Otherwise, its a really really responsive camera that is worth an investment. Image quality is also very good.

Agreed with bro Sulhan.

I have tried the A500 today and it really feels very robust and definitely much better than my previous A300.

Heard A550 will be avail next week RRP Body$1299 and $1399kit, 20th Oct island-wide in Singapore.