Next full A77 review at Techradar. A65 review at Photographic Central.
Quick look at the Sony SLT A65 and SLT A77 by Mike Kobal
While we are all waiting to see if the A77 firmware update rumors coming from Asia are true you can enjoy the nest Sony A77 review from Techradar (Click here): “superb level of image quality when shooting in most conditions, great handling, good build quality, industry-leading EVF, quick full-time phase detection AF system and a comprehensive set of exposure modes, we have little trouble with recommending this excellent camera.”
And Photographic Central (Click here) posted the full A65 review: “Compared to the A55 and A33, the A65 is simply in another class in most respects- especially when it comes to the viewfinder and handling characteristics. While I prefer the A55′s image output overall to the A65′s it doesn’t have enough features otherwise that impress me. Therefore when I compare the A65 to every other SLT Sony has made, I conclude it to be the best value for the buck- and a camera that A-Mount shooters ought to really have a look at if they are considering an SLT model.”
More small A77/A65 news:
SonyAlphaLab (Click here) compared the High ISO results of the A77 with the Canon 5dMarkII and Sony A580.
There is also a new A65 review at DC.watch (japanese).
In Stock status:
Sony A77 Amazon, B&H, Adorama, J&R, eBay.
Sony A65 Amazon, B&H, Adorama, J&R, eBay.
KaiserX
2 years ago |Good review….until I fell asleep about 2 minutes into it! OMG I’ve never heard a German not be excited about anything they were talking about…until now! You’d have to drink a 5-hour energy drink just to make it through the whole review.
philfoto.ca
2 years ago |hahahaha so true !
tobiasNEX7n
2 years ago |agree, good review, very much to the point, disagree about the reviewer not being excited, I don’t think he is German, sounds Austrian, this is as excited as they get, unless they are at a Heurigen
Paul
2 years ago |I’m curious about the impact of a flash sync of 1/160 vs 1/250 and the lack of the micro focus adjustment. Do you feel that this is a big reason to choose one camera over another. I’m more critical of the slower flash sync, is this a bid deal for an advanced amateur?
Sergei
2 years ago |With ISO 50 available on both, 1/160 will be fast enough for flash work. I hated base iso 200 with that shutter speed limit but still was able to acieve terrific shots by choosing the best time of day. If absolutely have to work in the mid day sun a77′s ISO 50 at 1/250 is going to be a gem:)
Ken
2 years ago |I’m pretty sure the a65 doesn’t do ISO 50
SonyA77
2 years ago |I would miss 1/250, but I would also miss the sync socket too. The A65 has too much missing for me.
Jack Le Boul
2 years ago |I did find the Photographic Central review strange.
“While I prefer the A55′s image output overall to the A65′s it doesn’t have enough features….”
Since when are features more important than image output (quality).
It is interesting that since megapixel wars ended, camera makers are engaging in “how many features do you have” competition.
I always thought that image quality comes first- its handling second and features last when evaluating a camera.
Vlad
2 years ago |Depends on the features. If some missing feature can prevent you from taking the shot, then image quality is irrelevant.
Jack Le Boul
2 years ago |Vlad,
What features does the a65 have that a55 do not?
One may or may not like the a55, but I have not heard any features missing that would prevent you making your shot. (Compared to a 65)
MCP
2 years ago |Carl isn’t DPR, maybe that’s where you get the “standard” of image quality being more important than handling or features? I think he wrote a solid review and explained his position on it well.
I especially like how he gave the A65 more slack because of where the camera competes and its price, maybe that had something to do with it too.
Did you read the whole review? Reading his A33 review (same body) then the A65 I can understand why he likes the A65 more. Handling is apparently very important to him (can’t say I disagree with that personally either)….
end of line.
Jack Le Boul
2 years ago |MCP,
You are right Carl isn’t DPR and I did read the review but…
Handling is important, but his comments on JPEG IQ are interesting:
“As far as the Jpeg engine is concerned, I have many issues with it. First of all I feel way too much noise reduction is being done on the Jpegs at ALL ISO values, which robs detail in every 24mp file you save.”
“The artifacts showing mainly in shadow detail are some of the weirdest I’ve ever seen. No, this is not a good thing. More so when you turn on vignetting correction in camera. When the A77 is bringing up shadowed areas to a brighter scale, the artifacts really start to show. And besides the artifacts, detail is mushed over because of noise reduction even at ISO 100.”
…but it handles great…..
David
2 years ago |Features are often important in getting the shot.
Medium format is amazing quality, but a pain in the ass to use, you can’t do 12fps burst shooting, or focus tracking like the a77.
Jack Le Boul
2 years ago |David,
with all due respect…..
The reviewer completely trashed the JPEG IQ and confesses that the previous version (a55) model, selling half the price of the a65 have better IQ but still like it because it handles better…no, It was a poor and inconsistent review.
MCP
2 years ago |It’s only poor and inconsistent to you because you place such a high value on IQ and expect the reviewer to do the same thing. I love how people trash others because their expectations aren’t met- talk about narcissism at it’s finest.
The review was fair overall he explained that on the whole he liked the camera more. I think working photographers appreciate a more well laid out camera and better handling camera even if there’s a drop in image quality- if it can’t do what you want it to do no amount of IQ will help that.
Why is that so hard for you to understand. Yeah it’s a lousy and inconsistent review because it doesn’t say what you want it to say.
end of line.
Jack Le Boul
2 years ago |MCP,
narcissism at it’s finest…..really?
Read the review again.
We are not talking about “slightly” less IQ than other Sony cams.
That I could understand.
The guy trashed the IQ:
- “As far as the Jpeg engine is concerned, I have many issues with it.”
- First of all I feel way too much noise reduction is being done on the Jpegs at ALL ISO values, which robs detail in every 24mp file you save.
- Secondly, the way the images are processed are unlike anything I’ve seen in past Sony Jpeg. (not in a good way)
- detail is mushed over because of noise reduction even at ISO 100
- As far as raw image quality is concerned, there is a huge improvement. But for the A65 I do think Jpegs are even more important for the target audience. I don’t know many people that buy $500-$900 DSLRS that tend to shoot in Raw only.
- Had it more user customization options, a better Jpeg engine, and better overall high sensitivity image quality, the A65 would probably be the leader of its peers. – REALLY ?
- He has not said ONE good thing about JPEG IQ –
I have never seen a review that said, the pics are junk, but it camera fits great in my hand !
ShamB
2 years ago |Interesting. The a77 beats the Canon 7D at almost everything up to ISO1600.
By the graphs on http://www.techradar.com/reviews/cameras-and-camcorders/cameras/digital-slrs-hybrids/sony-alpha-a77-1040798/review?artc_pg=5, this implies that *the A77 is better than the Canon 7D in normal use (i.e. up to ISO1600)*. This includes a RAW dynamic range that is up to +2EV better (the Canon only starts getting better in dynamic range at ISO3200)!
You can reduce noise in a single shot in post processing, but you can never increase dynamic range!
Jack Le Boul
2 years ago |-
ShamB
2 years ago |Sorry, *beats or equals*. The only thing the A77 seems to be worse on is JPEG s/n, but as the same doesnt occur in RAW, I expect this is fixable in firmware.
Also notable that the thing Canon users have been bashing the a77 on has been JPEG noise, as thats probably the only thing the A77 is worse than the 7D on. It’s also the *only* thing the Nikon D300 is *any good at* according to the graphs…
Ollder
2 years ago |These results are very hard to believe after all the moaning about terrible noise and unuseable IQ. Most of other tests and reviews don’t support these results, neither. But makes me happy if this is even partially true, as I have now ordered the A77 (knowing all what’s told about it’s weaknesses
).
By the way, I don’t know Nikon’s selection so good, but isn’t the D300 quite old model, or am I totally wrong? Meaning, is it fair to compare…
Jay - SonyAlpahLab
2 years ago |The Dynamic range is better on the a77 than my 5D mark II, but the noise and color shifting is terrible. The blacks turn purple at 6400 and up. 3200 and below are all usable though in my opinion and the image quality is excellent up to ISO 1600. For the features/cost, the a77 is great buy!! The a65, not so much imo.
Best,
Jay
Meaty
2 years ago |OMG!! That review was horrible, it was like he was trying to bore you to death.
Steve A
4 months ago |How long has Arnold Schwarzenegger been reviewing cameras…?