Housing and operating elements have remained exactly the same, even the existing vertical grip fits, thus, for me, the II still camera with the best feel. Fortunately Sony resists steadfastly tempted to obstruct a beknacktes touch panel. Has changed a bit apparently the pressure point of the joystick, at least I Vertue me (yet?) Often what does not happen to me when I. The menu has also changed slightly, but is still, Sony typical, self-explanatory and intuitive to operate. It seems to me as though the viewfinder and display still gained something of brilliance.
Like the I reacted the II extraordinarily quickly, press release and absorption take place without any noticeable delay. So jagged makes except 77-I and 77-II only my Nikon D3. This speed and the focal length by the half-frame sensor is the main reason why one or two now A77 necessarily belong in my equipment for me. Series images are of course, as with the I, fired rapidly, personally I need but very rarely. As with all SLTs the shutter sound is very quiet, but still sounds noble.
Would not written anywhere about and laments, my lack of GPS would have not noticed. When I I had it the first few days of curiosity, after that it's made since then, as it is not irrelevant eats battery. I for one know myself where I photographed :)
Much hope I had put in the announced improvement of auto focus, because this has the I but slight weaknesses. In certain situations such as low light, or "bad" light (incomplete color spectrum in fluorescent lights, or worse HQI lamps in sports / Stables), the Committee was still significantly higher than for example with the A99, or D3. Especially with motifs that move approximately transversely to the line of sight quickly (ie where the distance changes only slightly), the focus was often wrong. Also "focus wanderings" (back and forth race the AF without subject acquisition) I had in low light quite often, especially (unfortunately!) In conjunction with the Sony 2.8 / 70-200 G SSM (I). With the Tamron 2.8 / 70-200 USD that I focused much more quickly and accurately.
In short: the II, it may be even better. Tracking ("Lock on AF") and "Extended Flexible Spot" Although in my view still only partially suitable for everyday use. In the former, the AF "bites" are still happy times at a high-contrast detail in the background permanently, instead of obediently to follow the motif, the "thinking" me the camera too much "adult Flexible Spot." - During the first attempts jumped me the selected focus point on its nose because this was always the eye of the animal closer to the camera. But with "Spot" (AF point in the center, the surrounding sensors support) and "Flexible Spot" (AF point can be selected, the surrounding sensors support), in conjunction with AF-C, I personally have exactly the settings that I need. Unspectacular, quickly and accurately. As soon as one subject in the viewfinder's it sharp, you get the whole Mega power behind it, nothing with. As with a Nikon D700 or D3. Sightings, footprints, sharply. It focuses on its image, the camera does the rest. In this important respect, the II has fulfilled my wishes.
In terms of image quality, I'm not going to leave here so, as there is enough Testers and tests, as well as I can so far only open the RAWs in Lightroom / Adobe Camera Raw when I change the type designation in the Exifs on the 77-I. For JPGs, the image processor uses now a more than previously lived with Sony. To succeed at higher ISOs fairly low noise and respectable images, which you can already see in the 100% view that fine details were ironed out and the image then sharpened again. JPGs from the camera are high contrast and saturated colors have than in the I, I think they already appealing and useful. They are, at the same WB setting, somehow cooler than in the previous Sony DSLRs. The A58 from last year already took a step in this direction the JPG processing, as I said, good for me's. The few RAWs that I have examined more closely using the "Exif forgery", are very promising: Virtually no color noise even at> 2000 ISO, the luminance noise all fine and "undigital" I think there can be a lot of it make.
Conclusion: My recommendation for anyone looking for a quick, suitable Wildlife- or sports and robust camera that put especially emphasis on professional equipment to control elements and those of the half-frame sensor accommodates for example because of the focal length.
In the first two weeks I have used with the following lenses:
Sigma APO 4.5 / 500mm: Just like the A77-I there with this combination no intoxicating results, unfortunately, because that would have been my secret dream. I must resign myself well that the ancient part not sufficiently high resolution brings 24 megapixels on a half-format sensor. On the other hand A99 performs the old monster really good.
Sony 2.8 / 300 G SSM (I): Here's a pleasant surprise, this fantastic lens has a fast, but a bit "panicky" AF who tames 77-II the same excellent and brings out the best in performance. Also with matching teleconverters (1.4x and 2x) folds still pretty good! Who is annoyed over muddy images When using the converter, the following could try: For me it is anyway so that the 2.8 / 300 G solo a -2 in the AF fine adjustment needs, with TC but + 3 / + 4!
Tamron SP 2.8 / 70-200 USD: My favorite in the 70-200 class works as expected flawlessly at the 77-II.
