sonyalpharumors

If this is true … then is was a greatest news ever ….

Maybe they’ll add function button(instead of shooting tips button) for NEX!
I can’t wait to see what sony has prepared for photokina and nex users

Great news.

Thanks for manual control video!!

not sure what will be added but there are a few things that I would welcome.
*Function button or very least Custom button or ISO button.
*Remove limit from auto ISO 200-1600
*Remove all noise reduction option
*When shooting HDR give normal exposure as RAW
*Better bracketing options

not sure how sony can add a custom or function button. not as simple as changing the shooting tips button, as that button is a soft button and is used as the flexible focus point button, which is used far more often than an ISO button would be used.
one possible solution would have a double button push option for that button, but will never happen. another would be to have the flash button act as another button, but that will never happen either, so I wouldn’t hold your breath on having any of the buttons change their functions or the addition of some sort of direct access button, at least not active all the time, ie; while using Flexible Spot focus.

And where is the firmware update for the pro cam A900 (and 850)??????????????????????????????????????????

videomode: but what exactly can we hope for? we need manual aperature, iso, wb, shutter – and what about higher bitrate (24) and native 24,25p ??? still quite a way to go, but beeing able to use steadyshot for short shots with primelenses is nice :=)

c’mon sony make up your mind!

give us the 24p and manual controls now!!

don’t make me tempted to buy a 550D! -__-’

I’m from Germany and just read the article. It says that some of the new cameras (they are called photo/video models in the text) will receive a firmware update in three weeks (whene Photokina starts). Ichiro Takagi didn’t tell which models (NEX or the new A-series cameras) will receive the update; only that the new cameras with APS-C sensor and automatic video mode will get it (this could be the NEX or the new A-series cameras as speculated in the article).

As for the lack of focus lock during video recording…

It’s a big omission from the manufacturer, and it seems that if you can control the exposure is probably simple to implement this function – i mean ON/OFF AF function during one video scene.

It could be connected with main shutter button (or any other) which are useless during video recording.

Why? What for?
Because it happens very often that works in continuous AF becomes, a problem. How it could be?
For example, when an object crosses for a while this line between us to focus point a camera sharpening immediately tries to sharpen, losing correct character/object in the scene.

how does it compare to reality?
we’re shooting a child on a longer focal length and for a moment something cuts us – some staff located closer to the elements (branches, fencing) or someone / something (other person/car) crosses the scene –> focus’s moving back and again to sharpen crossing object and back to the right scene composition – this is really annoying and does not look good.

Another example – we are shooting some bird on a branch. Autotracking mode once focusing on the lovely bird, and once the little leaf literally steals the focus point, and again bird, little branch, bird… – you can go crazy!
Somebody may ask – So why don’t you use MF with that bird?
My answer- have you ever try to catch, a bird with lovely bokeh by MF? With AF locking control it could be really nice and easily to do!
One thing you need is AF lock function!

Another thing is that – the current situation practically requires continuous maintenance of the object in the focus point – it results in a continuous cropping on an item/person, most centrally (although we may change focus point location but it’s still continous operation).
so you can change the location of AF point but the operation is inadequate to the situation when cameraman wants to control the scene.

For example if you focus at the child’s face and wants to place it at the right edge of frame,
all that crazy tracking AF will immediately sharpen the background whenever I’ll try to shot like that.
Changing AF location is too time-consuming and inefficient in this sense.

If there will be control over AF lock I could use it by the one click and easily unlock it the same way when I decide that I want to make, a smooth transition with focus/scene layers.

Such a simple thing but very necessary

Possibility of those transitions in MF mode has nothing to do with the described functionality because it could be changed (AF/MF) before recording starts and permanently disables AF operation – and here I discuss the situation in which I wanna enjoy its benefits but under simple control (on/off AF) in one scene (without cuts).

If they are here some Sony employees, and certainly know where to give such suggestions to be taken seriously or at least have a chance, because normal user does not have access to such (internal) information channels, please help to realize this idea of AF LOCK FUNCTION (maybe with next firmware update).

And what simple user can do?

Believe that anything you can imagine, you can make real – it’s from sony.com

Here some user opinion from dpreview forum:

—————
I absolutely agree – there are TOO MANY cases when AF lock would be EXTREMELY useful!
Sony promotes A33/A55 video mode with continuous AF as a KEY feature. A breakthrough that distinguishes them form ANY OTHER dSLR on the market.
I personally bought A33 just for that. After two month of using it, I practically stopped using AF completely – due to the exact problems vista77 described. In other words, the KEY feature turned out to be quite useless.
If Sony cares about the feedback from customers, I agree this AF lock feature should be #1 in the firmware upgrade. I find it much more important than Aperture control in video mode (auto) – this one should be #2 on the list.
I suggest to list the ideas how this AF lock might be implemented:
1) DOF preview button – toggles between AF/MF
2) AE lock button is programmable via main menu – either it can be set to AE lock, or to AF lock (e.g. my compact Panasonic LX3 has just that)
3) Combination
a) quick pressing & releasing of button A toggles between AF/MF mode
b) while in MF mode, pressing button B activates AF mode, releasing button B returns back to MF mode. It would be very useful to achieve focus-shifting effects.
Please keep the AF lock ideas coming, as well as ideas how let Sony know about them.
—————

So please Sony – Just make.believe your users!