(SR2) Photographers are testing the A77/A800
I just received an anonymous message from a photographer. This is NOT one of our trusted sources but I thought to post it anyway because I (and maybe also you) do have some question for him and I can only made them through this article. Here is the text he sent to me:
“I am photographer working for Sony testing and I just received the pre launch version of the Sony A77/ A800 for bug fixing and stuff. Just want to announce, the camera is VERY close to being released now!”
The question to the source: I would love to hear some “general impressions” about the A77 after your testing. Is the image quality much better than on the A55? Are you satisfied with the video quality? Do you think it’s the best APS-C camera to date (compared to the Nikon D7000, and Pentax K-5)? I know it’s impossible but….is there some kind of hybrid technology a là Fuji X100 (Click here ot see that camera). Thanks!
For SonyAlphaRumors readers. If you have some questions comment this post. Don’t ask him specs as he will probably not share them…and we already know them or not? 
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Recent comments
Comment from Sky_walker: The rumor has been early 3rd quarter. Ap...- Comment from Sky_walker: Very doubtful. So far Sony hasn't shown ...
Comment from G: @ Daniel:
My thoughts exactly....
Comment from edpaul: :) i dont really care if its 35af point,...
erwinkfoto
2 years ago |You where right in your email last time if this is for real
ps: I sent you the infos.
MarvinCheung
2 years ago |How is the EVF looks like?
00aeiou00
2 years ago |my only question is this…is the camera worth the wait we´ve experienced over the years?
Cheers, J
calxn
2 years ago |Probably not. No camera is worth waiting years. I’m sure it’ll be a great camera. Hope they fixed the ghosting problem and add GPS internally. I had the a55 for a short time and loved it, but the ghosting problem was real enough for me to get rid of it.
Phlapp
2 years ago |I have some questions…
Max FPS?
Can you control apature during video?
Max ISO and general ISO performance?
EVF performance (is it better then a55)?
The list could go on for ages, but I wonder if the source can answer these?
Philip
2 years ago |How about size and weight? Anywhere comparable to the a55? Thx
mastroalex
2 years ago |Did Sony introduce Auto-ISO in manual mode?
Sky_walker
2 years ago |Or even better: Did Sony gave any control over Auto-ISO range?
AlphaG
2 years ago |Wouldn’t having Auto-ISO in ‘Manual’ mode kind of miss the point of it being ‘Manual’ mode?
Daniel
2 years ago |Why would you need AUTO ISO in manual mode!? You have it in auto, or P mode, or… If you need auto iso in manual mode save yourself the money and don’t buy a camera that would cost over $1000.
G
2 years ago |@ Daniel:
My thoughts exactly.
Rui Pereira
2 years ago |I would really like to know…
- High iso performance? maximum usable ISO?
- Photo FPS?
- Wich sensor does it use afterall?
Joel
2 years ago |LOL!!
A55user83
2 years ago |How good is the noise ratio when using high ISO, like ISO6400
pancanikonpus
2 years ago |rumor provider, does the over heating in filming resolve?
TomDJ
2 years ago |How is focussing-tracking compared to a700 or Nikon 300S?
pancanikonpus
2 years ago |i think this is fake. if not where are the photo
Stilly B.
2 years ago |ohh man, nobody belives the poster.
b shaw
2 years ago |Ask him to send a jpg image straight from the camera. If he refuses, he is lying and is not testing the camera. Then, you can rank him as completely untrustworthy.
However, if he does send one, please post the original, untouched on your website. Ensure you don’t modify the image in any way or re-save in photoshop or any other application. If the original is not doctored and it proves to be legitimate. Then you can rank him as a trustworthy source.
b shaw
2 years ago |oops meant to say, “… to be legitimate, then you can …”
Sky_walker
2 years ago |I don’t think Andrea will be able to post image untouched. Images have camera serial number saved in them, so if Sony spots that the guy has provided the image to public he… will have a very bad day to say at least – breaking NDA isn’t something big companies ignore.
b shaw
2 years ago |@Sky_walker,
That is exactly why I wanted to have him post it untouched. I wanted to be able to confirm the camera from the metadata and some other parameters. I’m under the impression that a professional photographer wouldn’t jeopardize his/her relationship with a paying client merely to entertain the audience of rumor website. So, I’m skeptical to the rumor provider’s authenticity.
Also, if Andrea quoted him directly and if he wrote the email in English, (apparently, American English), I’d guess he is, at most, a freshman in an American college. Even if he were older, he needs to go back and get his GED. Also, it would be the first time, (that I’ve seen), Sony release test cameras to Sony-US employees. If he is a US tester, it may be the last time Sony provides test cameras to Sony-US employees.
From my limited understanding, at the end of the development lifecycle, Sony provides cameras to independent, select professional photographers with a NDA. At that point, they would not provide them to employees “working for Sony testing”.
If, in fact, there is an organization called “Sony testing” and if they employee American photographers, I doubt they would be involved at such a late time in the product development lifecycle as he/she claims, (note the phrase “camera is VERY close to being released now”). Internal product testing starts much earlier and they would have received earlier short-run production test samples. It would not signify “VERY close to being released”.
Even though I’m excited about the prospect of an A700 successor, for the aforementioned reasons and more, I doubt the authenticity of the claims made by the original rumor provider.
Dulaney Ward
2 years ago |I am reading the same quote & finding no reason to think it not legitimate. For one thing, I have read many email messages written by highly articulate and highly educated professionals who use the language even less effectively than is the case in the present instance. Secondly, he/she has made no dramatic claims, just thay the camera is VEY closeto being released now. We know that the camera will be released in the third quarter, and Andrea has said that he has unconfirmed indications that it will be released at the very beginning of the third quarter–which is just around the corner now. Thirdly, Andrea reported that the camera was going through its beta testing last fall, so this is testing that is past beta–immediate pre-production testing. As to the matter of his claimt to be working for “Sony testing,” I don’t think that he is saying that he works for the Sony testing department, but rather that he is “working for Sony testing cameras” [and perhaps lenses]. That is to say, his communication problem is one of ellipsis–he has left out a key word.
So I suspect that this is a legitimate source.
Meanwhile, my best source contacted me yesterday to tell me that his latest word from Sony was that the A77 will be introduced in June / July, and on the shelves a month later–ie, August–VERY soon. He went on to add: it uses a 24-mpx sensor, and is a “very great canera.”
Sky_walker
2 years ago |Yep. shaw – you know what was one of first things I learn while starting my english course years ago? That Americans speak english worse than average english teacher who never has been in US does.
Hehe
Though as for me – I’d say that guy might live in Japain, just learn to speak American english, nothing surprising in it and I’d also classify it as legitimate as long as he can provide some NEW details about camera which later on would be confirmed by other sources / Sony official releases.
So a lot depends on how he answers the questions asked
Dulaney – Good news about coming release, I was worried that they were going to delay it one more time… or at least: I wouldn’t be surprised if they would.
b shaw
2 years ago |@Sky_walker and Dulaney,
Both of you bring up a good point. I hadn’t considered that it was someone who learned American English as a second language v. someone who learnt British English.
A couple of decades ago, most of multilingual folk I knew studied British English.
Today, (I’ve been told), there are a couple of English-language schools in Japan that recruit from the US, but most recruit elsewhere or within Japan.
So, it would be interesting to know the nationality of the rumor provider. Perhaps, Andrea could provide some clues to the rumor provider’s nationality.
Sky_walker,
Here’s a joke for you.
What do you call someone who speaks two languages? Bilingual.
What do you call someone who speaks three languages? Trilingual.
What do you call someone who speaks merely one language? American.
shamb
2 years ago |Main question from me would be can you take images in single shot mode with the translucent mirror up?
I just want to take the best possible images that the sensor allows. Anything else is a bonus
Sky_walker
2 years ago |I’d ask about the viewfinder mostly – what kind of VF it is, how big, how it behaves in continuous shooting (does it freeze like A55?), do you notice any lag? Are there any calibration options to it other than diopter setting?
I’m also curios about thing shamb asked – whatever mirror can move up/down like in regular DSLR while single-shooting so that it wouldn’t reduce the picture quality.
northof60
2 years ago |Yes, the mirror has a light cost. But if the camera delivers great photos at the new high ISO and the mirror doesn’t move out of the way, I’m still happy. A simpler mechanical system (i.e. the mirror doesn’t move) seems like a valid design choice. What percentage of the photons do sensors capture these days? How much improvement is still possible in the sensors?
Mr M
2 years ago |Same my concern will be the EVF as well. Is it hybrid, fast and bright ?
Good enough to boldly announce the end of OVF for alpha line ?
pancanikonpus
2 years ago |if it is hybrid evf, i consider it as bonus. w/o no big deal
claudio
2 years ago |What about video, 24mbit? Full Manual control?
Alpha 580
2 years ago |How many AF Points?
Almond
2 years ago |Stop wasting your time asking questions. The guy is not going to log on to this website and answer any of them..
Joel
2 years ago |How many AF Points?
Whats the sensor resolution?
Can the mirror flip up?
How many stills fps?
1080p video with how many fps?
Dual SD card slots?
Inbuilt GPS?
Hybrid EVF using OLED?
Expected price??
Ask some real hard questions as opposed to the airy fairy ‘is it better than the A55?’ please.
pancanikonpus
2 years ago |How many AF Points? 35AF Points
Whats the sensor resolution? 24MP
Can the mirror flip up? No Mirror indeed
How many stills fps? 10fps still in video mode; still is 15fps
1080p video with how many fps? Full control 720/1080p30/60-17-28Mbps, NO 24p
Dual SD card slots? Yes
Inbuilt GPS? Yes
Hybrid EVF using OLED? 1Million dots
Expected price?? 1099USD with Kitlens, 1299USD with DualKitlens
Other things, it is weather proof machine. come with few filters.
damiga
2 years ago |>>1299USD with Dual Kit lens
Do we know what both kit lenses will be and will the both be weather sealed?
Sky_walker
2 years ago |Very doubtful. So far Sony hasn’t shown much of interest in making totally water-sealed cameras nor lenses so… :/
SonyA77
2 years ago |I would ask if the A77 has the same issue as the A33/A55 in the studio where the EVF doesn’t gain up properly when using non sony flashes or studio lights.
Edgars
2 years ago |Overall it is naive to ask “is it better than a55?” Of course it is, it will cost almost twice as much. Did you expect advanced camera without proper studio flash control? As mentioned before it is a troll or Andrea just increasing popularity of SAR.
SonyA77
2 years ago |I’d expect the A33 and A55 to work in a studio, my old A200 certainly did, as does every other Sony dSLR. I wouldn’t be so sure that the A77 is not going to have glaring bugs in it like the A33/55. It is not a feature it is a bug due to shoddy or non-existent testing by these so called expert photographers.
kevin
2 years ago |My top priority is shutter and sync speed–the attention paid to these will indicate to me the level of quality attained in the rest of the design. Does it meet or beat the a700+ standard of 1/8000 shutter speed? Does it sync at 1/250th or above?
SonyA77
2 years ago |Fair points, something I’ll certainly watch for. In fact I’ll probably do on-paper comparison between my A700 and this.
Dulaney Ward
2 years ago |It surely will Kevin. I don’t think we’d be hearing the raves we’re hearing from Sony folks otherwise.
Panfruit
2 years ago |That’s a relief! I have long feared they’d use long-haul truckers to test the a77.
SonyA77
2 years ago |LOL!
alex
2 years ago |so, some anonimous dude sends a mail, claiming he is testing the a77/a800 and it becomes a sr2..?? man, next week, i will send a anonymous mail to SAR, saying, that i am testing the sony a99/a950.. LOL!
admin
2 years ago |Sorry my fault. I should have explained why it it SR2. I already know for CERTAIN that photographers are testing the cameras but I donpt know if that guy is really testing it. And usually I give SR1 when I am sure it’s a fake message
SonyA77
2 years ago |Are you? Can I send you some questions….
mafiosito
2 years ago |Getting real tired of these inconsistent rumors …
first packshots are ready then they are making the decision on how to name the camera. Reaally you make the shots images for marketing a product that hasn’t been made yet. So once you put the model tag on it you have to redo the very same packshots…
Isn’t it the same mysterious source that back in november/december were testing the camera out?
Give me some facts numbers definite specs they should be making the camera now for an August release this place should have more concrete info
its a serious amateur camera it will definitely be better than a55 and will have amazing picture quality or why else they are taking so fckng long to replace my aging a700. I’ll take a deep breath…
admin
2 years ago |I already published the specs don’t you rememer? Those are SR5. What i want to know from the testers is the REAL performance of the camera. For example how do 24 megapixe images look like? Noisy? Is the resolution here when using current Sony lenses?
Sky_walker
2 years ago |Mafiosito – it’s just a rumor site, not official Sony news channel
the nature of rumors is that tyou don’t know everything and… it’s good IMO – I like suprises 
pancanikonpus
2 years ago |guys, lets gather and do skype conference with Mr, Tiger having the discussion about A77
Farshid
2 years ago |Is sony going to announce the A77?
I am going to purchase a semi-pro body, so does it worth to wait for A77 or I should go for Nikon d7000?
I heard that the translucent mirror will not be flipped up and only 70% of light can be received by the sensor! So can the camera work properly in very low light conditions?
please help me to go for the best semi-pro body.
Thanks
SonyA77
2 years ago |I would definitely wait for the A77. The D7000 has the same Sony sensor that is used in the A55 and A580, so I would imagine that the rumoured 24mpix A77 sensor would be at least as good as the D7000 in terms of ISO but far more mpix for cropping.
Can you wait what may be six months though? (I would).
Farshid
2 years ago |Thanks Sony A77,
but I heard that sony a77 announcement will be very soon? maybe late march or early April? am I right?
SonyA77
2 years ago |@Farshid
The rumour has been April and if that is the case then Sony usually have them in shops a month later. I just didn’t want to raise your hopes as it may be that they wait for the show in September to announce it.
Sky_walker
2 years ago |The rumor has been early 3rd quarter. April was… well, some guy spreading false on some forum
alex
2 years ago |if i would be a test-photographer for sony, i would keep my mouth shut, because i would not want to take the risk of getting pulled away from the ability of testing future new cameras with latest technologies on board..just my 0,02 cts..
pancanikonpus
2 years ago |i found very strong about the camera A77. as i seen those newly announce compact caemra, those spec insane so smart.
Myst
2 years ago |if i was sony i would tell my test photographers to tell people the a77 is close to being released so that they will wait for it O_o
Dulaney Ward
2 years ago |I agree.
SonyA77
2 years ago |The rumour has been April and if that is the case then Sony usually have them in shops a month later. I just didn’t want to raise your hopes as it may be that they wait for the show in September to announce it.
Walt
2 years ago |So when will they be testing the a750 pentaprism OVF DSLR? ie the real replacement for the a700.
Mark
2 years ago |They won’t?
Sky_walker
2 years ago |OR they are already.
hehehe
SonyA77
2 years ago |If the A77 sells well I doubt we’ll ever see an OVF version.
Maveric19
2 years ago |Glad to see someone is entertaining us with some SR2 stuff. Folks need to remember this is a rumor site as atated above. For the most part I take everything I read here like a grain of salt. I believe 1/2 of what I read here and only repeat 1/4 of that.
I believe we are all very ansious to get our hands on the real product. I don’t know about the rest of you but when this camera comes out regardless of what the experts say I will be purchasing it. It has to be better than what I now have (a100 and a700). The a700 will be my backup unless I need it to shoot photos while I film with the new toy.
I have waited since the day I bought the a700 for a replacement and unlike some of my friends who jumped ship a while ago, I stayed the course and I believe it will pay off in the end. At least I can say this is the cheaper way to go.
Like the old saying about marriage goes, “it is cheaper to keep ‘em”.
SonyA77
2 years ago |I will buy it after the reviews, by then it will have come down in price too.
The launch price is always stupidly high.
Mike T
2 years ago |The only thing I care to know about the A77 is if it will allow me to shoot HD video without everything set to auto. As soon as I got the A55 and started shooting with it I realized I had no control over anything, and that is simply asinine. Sony seems to get about 85% of the job done well, and they f**k the last 15% in such astronomic ways it is shocking.
I’m holding out for the A77 being made properly, but if it isn’t, I’m dumping all my Zeiss glass and Sony permanently.
Maveric19
2 years ago |Cool. Let me know 1st. I’ll buy most if not all at a discount…hahaha
edpaul
2 years ago |24mp sensor resolution is overkill. most ppl will end up shooting medium (12mp) anyway.
mirror flip up if for cleaning purpose. but dust never gets behind the lo-pass filter, why not just seal the front mirror so dust dont get in the first place. futher more, unlike old flipping mirror that creates air/vacum that blows free dust everywhere to the lo pass filter. as for the ghosting/flaring effect on non moving mirror, why not just take T* coating on it. problem solved. (i think they did)
built in commander Mode. this is what makes A77 stand up more then the EVF feature.
EVF. hope is a good one. or pray hard if they can come out with hybrid ones, with oled transparent display over the OVF (dreaming)
last question. will they improve the metering? the old 41segment suck big time. the 1200zone is not accurate on RGB (they should implement a proper RGB metering sensor, and develop ‘proper’ 3D tracking (alike) tracking system. the current they had is half done.