The right direction ...

Meanwhile, I was able to shoot thousands of images with the A55 and would like to share my experiences (Lenses for borrowed T.: Sony 18-55 kit lens, Sony Zeiss 16-80, 17-70 Sigma, Sony 70-300 G; no rating. Video function, as not used by me).

(1) Battery life - The A55 reminds me of a thoroughbred sports car, the driving is quite fun, but constantly need to pump. The second and possibly third battery is mandatory. But is this battery nothing, or the camera is a very special energy guzzlers? Or both? The battery charging time is disappointing 4 hours. Am speechless in 2011!

(2) Battery Design - You can also charge the battery upside down insert (rotated about the longitudinal axis). That one is wrong, you realize if it does not click. Unfavorable in dark surroundings and a deplorable example of little thoughtful design (Design = form and function). How many cameras should bring a producer on the market in order to learn from past mistakes?

(3) Lightning problem, Part 1 - The built-in flash pops up not far enough up (eg in direct comparison to my old EOS 350D.), The results are much more red eyes. Thus, unfortunately, the next example of bad design on the A55 (or was due to the delicate case no other solution is possible?). Unfortunately, a problem that will resolve no firmware update this world.

(4) lightning problem, Part 2 - The A55 is a fast, snapshot camera suitable in principle. In daylight, at least. Flashes one but (built-in or plugged), the camera is braked down to the level of a (good) compact camera. Discussions on this issue (probably occurs at A33, A55 and A580 on) fills the meantime tens of pages in the entspechenden user forums of the Internet, eg. As in DSLR forum. This camera is not compatible with flash snapshot, which I with z. B. children unfortunately have to confirm from dozens pictures. One can only hope that Sony can eliminate this shortcoming by firmware update.

(5) "Green" Automatic - The mode "automatic" or "Automatic +" is largely useless in the current version. By a software error agree flash sync speed and shutter opening time, in many cases, mainly in dark places, do not match, because the camera software often erroneously switches to slow sync. The result is blurred images. Committee (only with "green" automatic flashed) with my New Year's party about 30%. The problem is known at Sony, so the next job site for firmware update ... Who photographed exclusively with 'green' Automatic want (or can not otherwise) should stay away from the A55 to correct this problem. In the mode "P", there is the problem not, unfortunately we have here but still with no flaw. (4) to fight.

(6) housing quality - The camera creaks when you pivots the swivel monitor, they creak when squeezing the handle something fixed (for example, if a heavier lens than the kit lens on it.). This raises the legitimate question of quality and durability of the housing (can probably only be assessed in the further course of time).

(7) Shell Size - The housing is unnecessarily small. Already with the slightly heavier 17-70 from Sigma, commonly still referred to as "standard lens" created significant imbalances in the weight balancing. If you stay at lightweight kit lens, you have a smart, lightweight camera-lens combination in hand, choose a heavier lens, you have the (creaky ...) sometimes pack quite handle. A matter of taste, previously please try the merchants. This excellent, but expensive 16-80 of Sony / Zeiss fits the weight but still quite good for easy A55. The heavier of Sigma 17-70 against acts already like a foreign body.

(8) But now gemosert enough there are also many positive things to the camera to say: speed (no flash), in particular tracking AF with moving objects of all kinds, image quality, ease of use, the electronic viewfinder (which I ultimately more provides information, as an optical viewfinder), the everyday use HDR function (for which you need a tripod) and Creative Filters (especially B / W picture with great effect). Even the much maligned Setobjektiv 18-55 I would like to praise here. It is better than its reputation. The visual image impression is not bad, for snapshots with the family, this lens is quite enough! GPS is also great if you need it for.

--- Preliminary Conclusions ---

In principle, the A55 is a camera that is fast, very good image quality and can offer a lot of fun in general. The SLT-principle (no to moving mirror) convinces and offers many advantages. Photographing through the display rather than through the viewfinder has changed my way of photographing.

Because of the main criticisms
1 - Short battery life, long loading times
4 - shutter lag when flashing (no snapshots available)
5 - Useless "green" automatic (high rejection rate in flash pictures)
can I use the A55 at present however not fully recommend. Let's hope that at least the points 4 and 5 can be solved by a firmware update soon.

Mission Statement: The "perfect" camera does not exist. I have the A55 over the competition preferred because I can take pictures via Live View / LCD display with fast phase AF here, which is a unique feature of the A33 or A55 (the models of other companies have this on the slow contrast AF recourse or rattle with the mirror). Everyone has the pros and cons for a personal need to weigh, and this ability of the A55 was for me just crucial.