Technology at its best - almost perfect

The Alpha 55 is my third Sony after elderly APS camera DSC-R1 and the bridge camera DSC-HX1. Because the A55 has a fixed mirror, I was expecting a whisper-quiet trigger as with the other two sets. But in the camera it clacks quite audibly, in series like a sewing machine. For concert and theater of the apparatus is therefore unsuitable, in my eyes the only shortcoming.

Meanwhile 72 Lenze old and not a bit wiser, I nevertheless reached into their pockets to replace the technically obsolete, but visually exquisite R1. I bought the camera again Zeiss Vario Sonnar 16-80 (3.5-4.5 F). Both the Sonnar and the kit lens 18-55 (first try) provide good images. The expensive Sonnar vignetting at maximum aperture by 1 1/2 steps from wide angle (lt. [...] But lt. Photozone the higher resolution optics. What he really bothers 18-55-in which is the rotating front lens. Its plus is the low price. Measurement data of both lenses can be found in photo zone (also the view to the A33!) a camera test [...] and [...]

Although I have big hands, I came up with the small housing cope immediately. The histogram can be considered even before the recording, which helps to avoid incorrect exposures. The same applies to the white balance. The object will be displayed as it really comes down to the sensor. Snaps to the Universal switch up the data, the histogram or an electronic scale for the orientation of the camera appear. All this is convincing devised and implemented. The other settings can be seen only on the edge of the monitor. They disappear when the scale or the histogram can be set.

The APS chip has 16 million pixels, a "hammer". As a further benefit of the high noise performance is mentioned. There is no reason to always use the Auto ISO setting (100 to ISO 1600, a fixed value). The high resolution is sufficient for prints of A3 +.

Viewfinder (great!) And Monitor are high resolution and bright. Glasses as I have a little trouble with the deep Durchsichtssucherokular. The monitor is collapsible, rotating. Because not well succeed the bending or lying down as he is a real help for me. Yes, I mean, it's on the display much easier to make a picture. One has incidentally not switch between viewfinder and monitor back and forth, which is handled by a sensor on the eyepiece. The R1 had this switch also, but he spoke too soon. The subject acquisition is lt. Sony 100%. The depth of field can be at your fingertips (under the lens, a bit fiddly) judge, without being dark in the viewfinder, an innovative solution. In darkness, the image is automatically brightened.

The translucent mirror to swallow 30% of light. Dust on the low-pass filter can be jarring; for manual cleaning of the mirror is flipped up. The automatic white balance provides natural color reproduction.

A useful feature is the multi-frame noise reduction ("Hand-held Twilight"). Six shots are quickly shot sequentially and noise added together. The result is a clean, sharp cracking JPEG image. I made those recordings in Altenberger Dom out of his hand and could not believe that we have photographed so no noise in darker areas at 1250 and 1600 ISO later. Neither flash nor a tripod interferes with other visitors, just the clicking. The camera is aimed at the edges of the images (like HDR, below). Of course, nothing should move quickly in the story. What help, is the now common vibration suppression. It is located in the camera and works in my experience good. Sony indicates a gain of 2.5 to 5 light values. Remeasuring I could not, of course. It all depends on the subject's movement.
To compress high brightness differences, I spent already been to the HDR process (High Dynamic-Reduction). However rare, for which it took a tripod with remote control. The A55 makes when there is sufficient light from the hand (not in RAW format). There are lightning quick succession fired three shots, the difference is +/- one to six exposure levels. HDR of the hand is really a good thing and bans amongst others glare of the sky. Even the rising sun ordered this technique (never were three stages). I should like to do without.

Sony touts the rapid image sequence and speed when focusing. This is also in RAW format, with 10 B / S. Presumably, that will be a reason for some to buy the camera. Think of children's or sports photography. It is also slower to six or three frames per second. A little tip: shooting always set to "low" and either press the shutter button briefly for inclusion or longer for a series - is always ready!

I almost forgot it, the panorama function. It works without the need to make improvements in a program afterwards. An arrow and a "career" set the tone; in width you can select between two formats. I got horizontal images with 8,192 x 1,856 px. (About 15 million Px.) And 12416 x 1856 px. (About 23 million Px). If I accept a resolution of 200 dpi for normal photos printed, the latter results in an image format of 23 x 158 cm. There is also a 3-D panorama (not tested). The speed of uniform pan you have to try. When I swung too slow, scolded the Kamrera with me ...

For focus tracking, there are three settings: static, always tracking or tracking only when movement of the object.

Unlike my Nikon is the letter of the files can not be changed. Always loud "DSC". There may be duplicate names when more cameras are used. Therefore I name the images when imported into Adobe Lightroom and point the camera name forward, eg "A55-0170".

What the camera everything else can (eg recording automatics, scene setting - eg for sports photography, movies, GPS), can be read on the internet or - as I - download before purchasing the instructions at [...] and study. Automatics I do not need other than the multi-frame story.

From my perspective, I can not detect any serious disadvantages, except maybe that I would have liked HDR, panorama and multi-frame shots in RAW format and a low shutter sound. The names of the image files should be able to change in the camera. But that is bleating at a high level.

For serious photographers are the strengths of the camera in high resolution, also in constant "Live View", the histogram and the visible white balance coloring before shooting, the rapid series of multiple images with Focus Tracking, the Multi-Frame Noise Reduction, the HDR function, the light to-use Panorama facility and, last but not least, the foldable and rotating display. It should be remembered the light loss of half a visor because of the semitransparent mirror. However, the input dynamic range with almost 9 stops achieves very good values. Only at ISO 6400 it drops to 8 stops ([...] Who provides images for commercial printing, will be pleased with the high resolution. Uncut to get at 300 dpi without cheating on 276 x 415 mm.

I noticed still that the accessory shoe for flash units etc. constructed differently than usual.

You should check before buying whether there is the need for interchangeable lenses Alpha and good for something this. A test list I found in the color photo Issue 12/2010. Extensive tests are also published at Photo Zone. In Sony forum was complained that the camera is too warm when shooting movies and be sidelined. I can not say anything because I do not movies. But I know one thing: The Alpha is my new lightweight camera on the go. Thus the captured photos are useful even with cutouts for printed materials such as books or calendars.