Stay away from this' immature fruit! GPS accentuated

Preliminary and conditions of use
First I want to thank all the rapporteurs and discussants much for your information from my discovery phase after a GPS_Kamera with APS sensor. As announced at this location in my detailed explanation about GPS equipment wishes from 22.1.11, here's my review after more than half a year of hard use the A55 under normal and expedition conditions. They included in the environment of the tropical Andes inserts between bare fog desert beaches and mangrove, feuchtetriefendem tropical rainforest and scorching heat surviving cactus thorn savannah way up going blind to the eyes snowy Altiplanosalaren and glaciers of the tropical sun up to about 6000m rare extreme conditions. The Sony A55 has she, like all the other relied on supplementing cameras survived without serious snags. Equipped I have the camera with 3 Tamron lenses: a standard wide-angle zoom 18-50 mm and a macro prime lens 90mm good light intensity, which I already from my Kodak, Canon, - knew and Nikon equipment with very good price-performance ratio , Both lenses have proven again well and provide excellent results, which have a slightly better resolution than on the D 200, where the 16 MB of 55 A really her more transferred to the 12 MB of the D 200 on the object playback. Not the other hand also to the Nikon D 200 still acceptable telephoto zoom with 70-300mm. It loses the feinpixeligeren sensor A 55 continues to display quality. Finally, I was able to Metz flash equipment of the leaked unique piece of a universal use on all conventional cameras by mere adapter exchange on the 54 MZ-4i (s. Review under Metz flashes) and the already adaptable to Sony Macro flash 15 MS-1 digital with minimal investment of 30 , - fully satisfying further use in the form of good (of course apart from the annoying A55-related trip delays). It should here be emphasized also praised the excellent technical support of Metz, which had to be tried at the settings necessary in the Sony to bring everything fast to clean functioning. A specialized service, looking at the Japanese has no equal!
It should be emphasized here once again and has already been mentioned by some rapporteurs with substantial contributions that it is certainly very difficult to give a universally valid judgment for A-55 at the versatile user demands. Therefore I can only tell my impressions and experiences with the A 55 at individual interpretation from the overall context of my photographic work field and will try to express this in reduced complex science German with less ambiguity than on 22.1.11 generally understandable. Make up but also your own judgment based on the many other mostly very insightful previous reports and also continued leading discussions for A 55. I myself will put my focus back to the function of the integrated GPS, which was the main reason for the decision on this camera ,

Preventive measures
For this I would point out that I had to switch to a camera Make a new lens mount for me because of the tantalizing first integrated GPS in a SLR / SLT after extensive painstaking research. This has made me hesitate a long time, since this fact an investment of min. twice the value of the camera body for powerful new lenses could foresee. Finally, In addition to that came true in full after the first trials at home, the criticisms of the reviewers and discussion posts. So I had to travel 5 of the outrageously expensive special batteries and also added buy an equipped according to the state of today's technology GPS compact camera in order to make meaningful (recording direction indicating) and quickly and correctly geo-referenced photos for controlling the A55 Bildgeoreferenzierungen can! I chose this, the Casio EX H20G that therefore the K + R + B-GPS just to be desired with your so-called. Hybrid-GPS and enthusiastic in your class. At one stroke, I realized this is that a Sony A 55 only as 'chic' secondary, could act even better third camera!
To illustrate the absurdity should be noted that I 10 packages with fewer than 80 AA batteries latest design was able to acquire (low self-discharge) of 2300mAh in limited supply at ALDI randomly before the trip for the price of a Sony A 55-special batteries, the approximately 13x put in six-pack of the handle of my Nikon half times of energy of a Sony battery pack is available. Not the new Sony but my obsolete gewähnte D 200 was thus again without getting into difficulties in energy supply to First Lady of my Expedition Photo Travel suitcase, depending on long (14 days) breaks with civilization touch! Our professor of industrial psychology at the Technical University called something like an act of poetic justice and a blessing to the livestock! Days with the exhaustion of 3 Sony batteries on the A 55 were (also at home) familiar to me! For the same amount of 5-600 pictures with the D 200 I never have to use more than a handle battery to the Nikon 'added without registrations (often false) GPS geo-referencing and video recordings as the A55!

New SLT models
To save you and many other such 'calamities' a Sony A 55 photo life, I have to hurry to put this warning on the net today. These are also, because since over a month GPS Camera successor announced above all, with the A77 and A65 Sony models that will be for sale as early as October. Remarkably, again without identifying GPS characteristics in the data sheets! Not even the implemented GPS is mentioned until today it !!! Everything is but otherwise presented with bombastic improvements, it is believed the words! It would indeed sale damaging if you would eliminate the numerous criticized teething on the A 55! Accordingly, the update has improved because only trivialities to A 55 end of June, downright outrageous and incredible ignorance buyers over who clearly articulated the deficiencies. I want to stop myself more cynical comparisons with industrial decision-makers of recent Japanese history.
Even though I am still on my statement of Innovation Protzes of 2011 on DSLR / SLT cameras for the A 55, so I have to add to the practical experience gained with one another superlative this now; namely the most immature camera that I've ever had in his hands, so that one of 'diarrhea' overtaken anytime you want to enjoy! This is, after all, at a cost of twice, as my first camera Parade T 90 Canon eighties, which I still use for analog film use with pleasure. At the same time I am of the opinion that the SLT A55 V as was done at eliminating Branded here defects in a new edition, similar in A33 to A35 already after half a year, and supplemented by a AA-battery-enabled handle for improved ergonomics and energy supply could still be an attractive pearl of your camera segment for years to come. Small, light, handy, versatile, mature and with good price-performance ratio could be 35 rather than the A with a good K + R-GPS of the best sellers of the Sony SLT-range.

Handling
Let's start with the experienced annoyances on the A 55 with a handle, which for nearly 3 fingers accommodate even with small hands and with one-hand shots almost constantly totally unergonomic mounted wheel can be rotated unintentionally. Unfortunately, this most particularly tiring shots were verhunst with hanging parts or mountaineering by adjusting the times or diaphragms. Glove recordings are impossible and numb fingers in the cold should also have not possible in order to trigger undamaged photos. For me it was the most serious harassment of the camera, because we worked a lot in the mountains on the border of rock and ice 4500-5500 m and vegetation surveys. What helps a pleasingly lightweight camera, if you can only be used with such annoyances! So I myself have often resorted like an old old man to the almost twice as heavy D 200 back! It would make sense to a small cameras positioned upward adjustment wheel, as until now practiced 600D Canon EOS 300 D at, solve the problem immediately!

Video function
The failure of video recordings for sensor warming I see it as a stroke of genius and absolute bad design, the camera would have for the Sony must learn from the sale is to eliminate this lack. In the tropical heat of the lowlands it occurs even at less than 5 minutes of operation. In the high mountains it holds sometimes by up to 15 minutes. Even if a camera is not a camcorder and safely so some compromises have to be made to function skills (vlg. Div. Reviews on this issue), such dropouts when offered elements from the perspective of German engineering ethics are fundamentally unacceptable and indicative of the Southeast Asian profit maximization strategies. The legal acceptance of such defects is currently clarified!

Flash
The shutter lag when using the flash is probably also to be regarded as children's disease, because it is reported by other cameras at LifeView setting. The reported in other reviews circumnavigation of this phenomenon is not a real solution. The flash trigger delays make the camera taking pictures of animals, snapshots and other shots of moving objects with flash almost useless !!! You do with it destroyed the great benefits of SLT-typical high-speed characteristics of the camera! For cameras with movable mirror and connectable Life-View has even the possibility of remedy, but here the manufacturer's technicians are needed to eliminate this serious shortage. It is curious to see how the solution fails when the new A77 / 65. Moreover, it would be extremely interesting to know for a multicamera make players like me, but also safe for many other keen photographers, which has been your experience with LifeView and use of flash to the latest models of other brands! I beg your return statement possible with Fabrikats-, model and serial specification, thanks in advance.

GPS Classification and Function Assessment
About the GPS calamities I have already initially partially reported. Again, matured with the comparative use of various GPS cameras ideas and documentation, so I at this point, despite the scope of a well otherwise published summary of a systematic set of criteria for camera GPS, complemented by a close connection to the A 55 to want to give knowledge, as it can serve all tried to exact geographical orientation of its images photographers as pertinent guide for your camera purchases. These have regrettably been no camera manufacturer nor photojournalism provided. Critical comments for improvements of your experience are always welcome!
Photographer with ambitions for landscapes, travel and expedition photography, and any kind of position, space and other geographically oriented documentation are now trying to reach for a GPS camera. It is currently extremely important to learn about the specifications of this equipment, as manufacturers still offer a lot of immature device, which is far from an optimal function to virtually unusable. Internet information on the camera data sheets are to downright puny 'not only in the Sony SLT A55V first SLR / SLT camera market with integrated GPS!
Important aspects for camera GPS are fast response times for satellite reception, low energy consumption and tight coupling to the camera, either by constant positioning of the camera after mounting or integration in the camera so that the indispensable shooting direction specification work clean, with separate GPS receiver is practically impossible. Apart from special requirements therefore is a camera-integrated GPS system is preferable.

Everyone interested in clean georeferencing of images Photographer expected this above all information on the built-in GPS type as:

GPS with
1. synonymous coordinate sensor also horizontal and vertical sensor (short: K-GPS);
only allows the registration of horizontal and vertical coordinates and is therefore also called -Name: Rudimentär- or primitive-GPS and has called for images only incomplete orientation information!
Common among pioneer cameras kameraintegriertem GIS in use yesterday's technology and a makeshift and temporary solution for external GPS combination with cameras.
Only this primitive GPS with at that time delayed reception sensitivity for reasons of energy saving is in the use A55V

2. direction sensor and compass GPS or GPS vector (short R-GPS)
Provides the basic GPS for Kameraintegrierung is because it only displays the station coordinates and the direction of recording and thus allows complete image orientation. Thus, it should be the real must of each camera with integrated GPS equipment. Only with image capture makes the direction of taking with the lens focal length dependent aperture angle sense. In separate GPS devices is therefore not place them too. Therefore, the tightly integrated and positioned in the camera GPS is so important, what many have not yet grasped quite and still produce propagierend looking redundant external Navegations-GPS.
Name: Camera GPS (K + R-GPS) of the most common GPS-type cameras in
(There is still a lot of development to be expected: The already initiated combination with maps, satellite and aerial imagery, attractions and venues, Automation of degrees exact camera angle information as a function of sensor and lens focal length, Komplettnavegation with camera monitor, antenna optimization, adaptation to new satellitengeodätische developments' GPS -GLONASS-Galileo and, and, and.)
Missing all still in the A55V

3. Motion sensor (short: B-GPS)
offers the possibility even when shielded by 'hard matter' GPS satellite receiver to understand changes in position; ie, in buildings, caves and tunnels to function well in the dense forest. A date is still under development, immature technology that works surprisingly well in some positions with the Casio H20G and auto Navegationsgeräten z.Zt. their development experiences.
Name: Hybrid or indoor GPS, also Navegations-called GPS. The ideal camera-GPS of the future!
In the A55V unavailable

Furthermore:
4. Differential GPS (short: D-GPS)
A location determination, the only with min. 2 GPS devices for decimeter, centimeter and millimeter accuracy for measurements (with and without cameras) MUST BE APPLIED 'used for example in architecture, monuments, archeology, construction, and plant succession Gletscherkontur- surveys and previously on medium format cameras from Hasselblad, Leica, Rollei metric, Leaf and Phase One are limited and offers integrated for specific Nikon only for small format cameras interfaces.
Name: precision or double-GPS
The A55V can not be combined and useful even with cameras without sensor stabilization.

You should also learn about each camera GPS if:
1. An indication of the position of the GPS antenna is made in the camera 'only with this knowledge, you can achieve optimal coordinate determination in relation to the subject. Some cameras bring the marking 'GPS' at the point where the antenna position. Conveniently, the position of the receiver at an upper corner of the camera; for right on the top left in the direction for landscape attitude. In the A55V unidentifiable!
2. The camera has a retractable or higher positionable (rod) antenna has' favorable reception to positions above one's own body to achieve (head), which acts also received disturbing. In the A55V unavailable!
3. Information on the frequency of the GPS in the camera messsungen be made 'permits estimating the waiting time until the signal availability. In the A55V with 15 Sec. given the place offered by GPS satellites 1 Sec. Sequence to take full advantage. For offers to Erstempfangsbeschleunigung Sony to cumbersome monthly almanac recording over Internet and PC. Yet very sluggish initialization compared to other GPS cameras!
4. In the Camera Menus ever satellite measurement data can be displayed with the number and position of satellites, which would be highly desirable for the expert, because it gives him instructions for the achievable accuracy of coordinate determination (but even in many car navigation systems is not possible). In the A55V unavailable
5. In the Camera Menus shooting directions (compass) would (zoom setting) are displayed perfectly with changeable leg openings of the angle depending on the focal length, which would be highly desirable for the Überlappungs¬abschätzung of panoramic shots. In the A55V unavailable
6. detailed and differentiated after received satellite number, intensity of the received signal, indicating the recording direction, the satellite information reported etc. in a camera window and in the EXIF ​​file or (in the A55V unavailable)
7. Only coordinates (horizontal with or without altitude data) and ev. Direction information is visible there 'This sheds light on the diversity of possibilities for further processing of data and images. The A55V registered only the x, y, and z coordinates in EXIF ​​image file supplied maps, which can be read and processed after shooting even with (free) foreign programs.
8. What formats on which card or georeferenced (provided with coordinate systems) Satellite templates (eg Google Earth KML and KMZ?) Projected may be (superimposed and displayed. These are just positions or direction angle thereby displayed? If at the positions on the position - distinguished and height coordinates' Allows conclusions concerning the degree of illustrative possibilities and various finishing options.
9. (. Different storage time intervals of the registration and which ev) can be set, in the camera data collection frequency. In the A55V impossible.
10. From the GPS sensor WAAS and EGNOS technology is controlled? (These are the Flugnavegationssteuerungssatelliten the US and Europe) 'increases the orientation accuracy considerably, so far, at best, to 3-5m horizontally). For the A55V unknown and Sony Europe not explorable!
11. already several satellite measurement systems, so in addition to GPS and GLONASS and Galileo, etc., they are used and if so, how they are displayed? For the A55V is unknown and unavailable.
12. Further details of information storage of the camera (attractions, travel information, etc.) should not be missed for Education hungry people. For more details should emerge at least from the user manual. In the A55V unavailable
13. There is information on the power consumption of the GPS. For the A55V not specified

(This list is not exhaustive and must be naturally supplemented with advancing technology!)
Theoretical foundations can be found among others in: Manfred Bauer; Surveying and positioning with satellites Wichmann Verlag, recently published in 6 editions in 2011. Consumer Camera specifications relating to GPS and GIS are not addressed therein.

In summary, I take the liberty, again very briefly summarize the defects of Sony A55V:
Pitfalls for Sony A55V - first sale in Oct. 2010. Firm Update June 2011:
- Deficiencies in the ergonomics (manageability)
o despite advantageous light weight, but that due to small size to smaller and stockier gripping bead
o poorly positioned wheel
- Failure of the full-HD movie recording by heating depending on the outside temperature to - significant shutter lag when lightning with internal and external flashes with other inconsistencies of flash functions
- 1/160 with a relatively low flash sync speed in relation to comparable models of competition
- Use of obsolete GPS technology
o no R-GPS (missing picture towards registration and 'ad
o no B-GPS (missing motion sensor function - so that no function indoors)
o very sluggish (slow) initialization (due to the system differently on the number and strength of the satellite signals)
o no adjustment of various recording modes
o absolutely moronic setting the registry the last position even when following shot without GPS reception leads to massive misstatements of positions of the images, although it is logical to have no better than a wrong georeferencing !!! Moreover, without the possibility of incorrect data in the camera quickly to delete! Turns it off entirely eliminate the defect, but the constant back and forth is not really a viable solution when traveling!
o no possibility of display on the monitor of:
- Satellite positioning
- Satellite Type
- Signal number
- Signal Strength
o no display capability on the monitor of registered coordinates
o lack of memory for orthophotos and maps around the receiving position and it follows:
o no indication possibility of attractions
o reduced reception power when using a Aufsteckblitzes

- Inadequate power supply of the camera by too small battery for many power-consuming instruments (Kameragrundbetrie, large monitor, sensor stabilization, video, GPS)
- Missing battery handle offer for retrofitting by accessories to improve the extremely poor energy supply and ergonomics
The bungling of the GPS equipment in the A55 is all the more incomprehensible as Sony proves to 2 much cheaper compact cameras, such as a GPS camera has to work !!!

Conclusion and recommendation process for purchases
Because of these many also through the update did not eliminate flaws of Sony A55 that indicate Kundenignoranz and lack of quality control by the manufacturer and probably let the customer aware of lower lucre do with semi-finished products for guinea pigs, in view of the new announcements of A 65 and A 77 I would recommend it to await their appearance. Then you should check with the compiled here list of deficiencies in the hand the new products through its paces and for the GPS control definitely open terrain with various constellations (kuppiges terrain at various positions, forests with and without foliage, terrain and urban canyons, water margins etc visit.). Avoid store purchase without right of return and try to agree on reasonable deadlines. Especially in winter, 4 weeks desirable and attainable in many places. Also participating in workshops with the envisaged cameras is highly recommended. Great photo houses offer frequently at Amazon I have not yet discovered. Considering the many now even experienced and practiced teething that would eliminate most of readily through firmware updates, but among customers disregard previously were not, the A 55 can be rated at the current state of affairs only with 2 stars. One should leave the moment the fingers of the camera, unless the housing price drops significantly below 500, - and can get over those pesky annoyances by cost compensation.
By no means should the good features of the camera are ignored, but I'd like to leave a tabular summary of those on their elimination in predominantly positive light to see this camera despite unadjusted beta type defects and no view. How important is the control of this camera good achievements, the comparison of A 33 and A 35 their successors, where apparently some advantageous features of the previous version have been removed in order to serve strategic sale manipulations in favor of other models. As Recognizes Anomalies buyer you need to decide if we want to promote such tactical maneuvers with our investment! Without a doubt, trust good, but far better control to unmask hollow words of advertising and terror not to be duped. After all, who really likes annoyed afterwards about the stupidity of his own purchase decision? For that you also then have to find clever reasons for his camera acquisition, to retain the oh so coveted good cards at the weaknesses of our social life!
In this sense I wish you successful purchases and the commitment to preserve critical product by assessing best efforts also others from bad buys and thus counteract unscrupulous business practices by responsible employees. Everyone should and must earn, but please 'decent', whatever they want to understand it and live!

Considerations finding phase Ruée a SLR / SLT-GPS camera in January 2011,
Love Photo and Camera friends, since I do not the Minolta / Sony Fanklan belong, but me as 'old grandpa' to the unfaithful - expressed on neudeutsch - must include global players, which of the Agfa-click to the metric cameras, ie A took up Zeiss almost all brands and camera categories to the newest craze stabilized, IMU-georeferenced image shots to the chest, I had once read smart to back traction for such an excellent conceptually 'miniature camera' like the Sony SLT A to get 55. And I am thrilled to see that it is precisely the Fusionist and camera newcomer Sony, the hot potato of the implementation of new or - takes up innovative modified technologies that highly placed from professionals in several camera market leaders for over 10 years continuously to develop his heart - perhaps more precisely and realistically were.
Likewise, I am surprised to have found the highest level of information with my now 3 week long intensive research among Amazon reviews! This was partly higher than in many ransacked photo journals, although I would not miss the valuable measuring lab results, without this, however, be paid in faith and lose the complexity of the matter out of sight. The quality spreads the series at the mass production can degrade this anyway just to benchmarks. The GPS cameras this picture experienced professionals keeping however the ball very flat and just the cheapest and most recent photo magazine photo hits (H.12, 2010 p.16 / 17) brings the best article on this topic. Unfortunately, but not for Sony Alpha SLT A55, but the Casio EX-H20G compact camera, for which you again very little place at the reviews from Amazon. Everything testifies apparently little experience with the matter.
The worst thing for SLT A55 I found incidentally in camera review of the PC world H2, 2011 p.120 / 123 what a hat and go up themselves can burst a non-Sony fan! When there 'test editor' exists, the built-in GPS of the A55 not (please A55 owners with access to this Zs there and gladly also here for an opinion). This in a prestigious German PC magazine! Such a thing can amateurish both professional journals and on so-called. Tests course doubt arg and one turns to the circles who purchase with mind and heart such a camera and then amiably with desire and frustration, or even love and anger from their practical experience of describe up to a high level and 'dissect'.
So I am, therefore, end up in the Amazon and now hope for my sometimes provocative way to the point to somewhat stimulate and attract especially more information for my purchase projects.

55 to the point to Sony A:
The camera is in my eyes the innovation swank at SLR of last year on the world market!
Here are 3 key features highlight (in the wake of your innovation degree):

1) The only integrated in a SLR / SLT camera GPS system (unfortunately factory "catastrophically bad" documents) of the total world market!
2) The semi-transparent fixed mirror (probably the only minor teething - though not originally from Sony comes)!
3) One of the best on the market video systems in SLR / SLT cameras (Sony proven tradition which, although not full sensor for but in all aspects of speed presented).
That image quality stamps and other photographically relevant Nobel features expected from such a camera, is self-evident and will you indeed confirmed by the trade press (except PC world) and in most discussion papers with little ifs and buts. While the core innovations 2 + 3 and in particular the video feature for a camera in the reviews almost unreasonably overstated in some cases up to the finest details yes 'atoms' discussed are (sometimes said to be in camcorder reviews), occurs in-camera GPS features in the background and will suffer in the attention to my amazement, almost a wallflower! Einige wollen sie zwar nicht missen, gehen aber nicht auf technische Einzelheiten ein.
Ich dachte für einen Landschafts-, Natur-, schlechthin Reise- aber auch Architektur- und Kulturfotografen eröffnet das eingebaute GPS Sternstunden der Orientierung ' seiner Fotos zumal im Googlezeitalter der detailliertesten Weltkarten am PC im eigenen Hause, wo man seine Allerwelts-Unternehmungen vor- und nachbereitet?
Ist die Funktion des GPS der A55 so perfekt, dass da gar keine Zweifel oder Fragen dazu aufkommen? Für mich wäre eine halbwegs akzeptable GPS Funktion für 5-10 m genaue Bildorientierung mit Richtungsangabe der geschossenen Fotos der Grund nochmals in ein Neues Objektivbajonettsystem zu investieren und meine immer noch prächtige Bilder produzierende, augenblickliche Leib- und Magenkamera Nikon D 200 gegen eine Sony einzutauschen; denn Nikon ist zwar der Pionier und absolute Spitzenreiter für externe GPS-Anschlüsse bis hin zur Submetergenauigkeit bei Verwendung von DGPS- und doppelfrequenzfähigen Empfangsgeräten, aber das Geklötere mit Kabeln, Antennen und Geräten bei diesen Aufnahmen und die spätere Nachbearbeitungsnotwendigkeit verdirbt einem den Spaß am Fotografieren!
Doch leider stagniert Nikon im gut ausgewogenen Kosten-Leistungsniveau mit seinem neuesten Modell D 7000 sowohl bei GPS als auch Bildqualität (mutig, aber treffend von K. Stechl in Colorfoto H.1 2011, S. 16 ff. dargelegt!) und wegen eines der Konkurrenz unterlegenen, wenn auch nützlich angenehmen 'Videoabfallproduktes' als zusätzliche Fähigkeit in der Fotokamera und anderer Schickimickies in der SLR-Kameraproduktion allein, lohnt für mich nicht der Umstieg von einer noch gut funktionierenden Kamera mit viel beschafftem Zubehör und antrainierter Bedienerkenntnis, nur um mit einem 'Neuen Modell' vorm Bauch protzen zu können?
Schön wäre es, wenn die og GPS-Positivattribute mit dem internen Sony A55 GPS verwirklicht wären! Wer von den Besitzern der Kamera kann darüber Auskünfte erteilen und hat sich schon so in die neue