The Sony Alpha SLT-A55V (α55) has already been announced. It is packed with Sony's luxury technologies and advanced features. All in all, it seems like the perfect advanced/amateur DSLR camera. With its semi-translucent mirror technology, 10fps continuous shooting, in-camera image stabilization and an articulating 3-inch TruBlack LCD screen, it is more than we could ask for. In this Sony Alpha SLT-A55 vs. Canon 550D (T2i) vs. Nikon D90, I want to compare all those DSLR against each other. Which on is the best for your needs?, Which one performs better and offers the best price/performance value?
Before Sony has released the Alpha SLT-A55V DSLR, the Canon Rebel T2i (550D) and Nikon's D90, seems like the best choice for enthusiast photographers. Nikon has recently announced the Nikon D3100 entry-level camera, and Canon has announced its new Canon 60D. Enthusiast photographers will probably have a hard time choosing between one of the three. I am sure that when the replacement of the Nikon D90 comes out, we will probably have a different debate here, but lets focus on the Sony SLT-A55 vs Canon T2i vs Nikon D90 for now. Of course you can take the Sony A33 (α33) into account, as its prices $100 lower than the A55V.
Basic Features Comparison (Sony SLT-A55 vs. Canon T2i vs. Nikon D90)
| Features | Sony Alpha SLT-A55V | Canon Rebel T2i (EOS 550D) | Nikon D90 |
| Camera Format | SLT (Single Lens Translucent) | SLR | SLR |
| Retail Price | $849.99* | $899.00* | $899.95* |
| Size | 124 x 92 x 85 mm (4.9 x 3.6 x 3.3 in) | 130 x 97 x 76 mm (5.1 x 3.8 x 3.0 in) | 132 x 103 x 747 mm (5.2 x 4.1 x 3 in) |
| LCD Resolution (pixels) | 921,600 | 1,040,000 | 920,000 |
| Max ISO | 12800 | 12800 | 6400 |
| Usable Memory Types | SD/MMC, SDHC, SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo | SD/MMC, SDHC, SDXC | SD/MMC, SDHC, SDXC |
| Movie File Format | AVCHD, MP4 | .MOV (H.264) | AVI (Motion JPEG) |
| HD Resolution | 1080p | 1080p | 720p |
| Battery CIPA Rating | 330 | 440 | 850 |
| In-camera Image Stabilization |  (Sensor-shift) |  | |
| Articulating LCD | | | |
| Sweep Panorama | | | |
| Full-time AF in Movies | | | |
| Continuous Mode Rat | 10 fps | 3.7 fps | 4.5 fps |
| Sesor Resolution (Effective) | 16.2 million | 18.0 million | 12.3 million |
| Pop-up Flash | | | |
| External Flash | | | |
| In-camera GPS Receiver for Geotagging Images | | | |
* visit Nikon, Canon and Sony official websites for updated prices.
The Nikon has been announced at October, 2008, so a placement should be reviled pretty soon. In terms of price, all those cameras can currently compete against each other. Both SLT-A55 (α55), Canon EOS 550D and Nikon D90, all are popular digital SLR cameras, that are intended for the enthusiast photographer's market. The Nikon D90 is one of the most successful digital SLR cameras of the bunch. Canon Rebel T2i (550D) keeps getting flattering reviews in all major photography lab testing' sites.
Full-Time AF & Phase Detection in Movies
When Sony has announced the Sony SLT-A55V (α55) at 24 August, 2010, I knew that the game is going to change. Sony SLT-A55 advantages: it has a full-time continuous focusing while shooting 1080p HD movies and still images, internal image stabilization (sensor-shift), compact body and 10fps burst, due to the translucent mirror implementation. Sony has developed the A55V from the ground up, to fit perfectly to the new digital SLR era & photographers demand.
If you are not familiar with Sony's Translucent Mirror Technology, watch this video from Sony LearnTV to find out:
Sony Innovates and Customer are Happy
In a competitive market, such as the DSLR market, a success of one company is directly related to competitor innovations. Time is also critical, and camera manufacturers like Sony, Nikon and Canon, all know the importance of releasing their cameras in the right moment.
Nikon D90 doen't have a 1080p Full HD recording, and its video image quality is behind the competition. If you compare the video output quality of the Nikon D90 vs Canon T2i vs Sony SLT-A55V, you can clearly see that there is a room for improvements. 1080p HD videos are a default feature in today's DSLR cameras. The reason that is high in demand, it's because both amateur and enthusiast photographer use it. If you have kids, you will probably know what I am talking about (no that I have). It is a blessed thing to have both a digital HD camcorder and digital SLR at the same package. You can easily say goodbye to your old & cheap camcorder, without regret.
In terms of stills' image quality, all cameras produce beautiful JPEG images out of the box. So the features that will decide which one is better, Nikon D90, Sony Alpha SLT-A55 or Canon T2i (550D), won't be directly related to image quality. Reliability, innovation, lens availability and ergonomics, all are very important. When done right, they will directly impact the buying decision in the consumer market.
Lens Availability, an Important Factor
In terms of lens availability,no doubt that Nikon and Canon lead the pack. Sony is not so far behind, introducing new Alpha lenses every year. Sony also has some excellent Carl Zeiss lenses, which have gotten excellent reviews throughout the web. Until now, I think that the body was an important part, but not the MOST important part for enthusiast photographers. Lenses have an important place in enthusiast photographers' buying decision. The reason for that, is that camera bodies come and go, and "Lenses are Forever". Lenses have a crucial part in the final image quality. It means, that, even if you have the best professional body DSLR camera, you will still need a very good glass in-front of the sensor.
 |
| Canon's new Telephoto Zoom lens EF 7-300mm F4-5.6L IS USM |
I think that when Canon has a released the EF 70-300mm F/4-5.6L IS USM lens, in some way, Canon buys itself more customers. Try to find an affordable high-grade 70-300mm IS USM-like lens in the competition. Of course we will still need to wait for the final lab tests for be sure. Many pro photographers will tell you to invest more money on high-quality lenses, then on the body itself. HOWEVER, what if the body has some really useful features, like an internal GPS receiver for automatically Geotag photos?
In-camera Geotagging Photos
Visit my complete guide for Geotagging photos, using GPS receiver & software. Maybe after you bought the Sony SLT-A55, you won't need it anymore.
In-camera Image Stabilization
Furthermore, the Sony Alpha SLT-A55V has an internal image stabilization (sensor shift). That means that every lens that you attach to the camera, is automatically becoming image-stabilized. Sony claims for up to 4 stops advantage. Furthermore, it means that you don't have to pay extra for high-cost optical stabilized lenses. The size of the telephoto lenses can also be reduced, due to the fact that no in-lens image stabilization mechanism is implemented. Overall, you will save money, and spend that extra money on other accessories whom you need.
Don't expect that Canon and Nikon will implement their own in-camera image stabilization, it won't happen. The reason why enthusiast photographers pay more for lenses, part of it is due to the lens image stabilization. Both Nikon and Canon work hard on improving this feature, and that's the reason why we see 4 stops advantage Hybrid image stabilization feature on Canon's new telephoto-zoom lenses (like in the Canon 70-200mm F4/L IS).
The World After Canon 60D Announcement
After Canon announced the 60D, it seems that it just bought itself new T2i (550D) customers. In terms of price/performance, I see no real reason why enthusiast and amateur photographers will choose the 60D over the T2i. Even so, and leaving the HD video aside for one moment, the Nikon D90 is a better overall performer. There are many Canon EOS 550D vs. Nikon D90 debates on the Internet. As far as the majority goes, Nikon has grabbed more votes overall. Nikon D90 built quality is one of the major factors why enthusiast photographers prefer the D90. I was always a fan of Nikon bodies, and the Nikon D90 is no exception.
Which one is better? - Nikon D90, Sony SLT-A55 or Canon T2i?
Well, if you want my own opinion, my first choice is the Sony SLT-A55. However, you should also take Sony's lens availability in your country. In many countries, some importers prefer holding Canon and Nikon lenses, and fewer Sony's ones. As Sony starts to become a more favorite choice among photographers worldwide, we will see the availability of the lenses rising. The Nikon D90 and Canon T2i are excellent cameras. It is all depend on your needs. The reason I prefer the Sony SLT-A55V, probably because of the internal image stabilization & GPS receiver, full-time Phase-detection while shooting images and videos, 10fps continuous shooting.
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| My first choice, Sony Alpah A55 |
It seems that Sony has just done everything right this time. Furthermore, as a photographer and a customer, I want to stick with the company that listens to its customers. How many times you have read people asking about in-camera GPS, faster burst rate & full-time AF on videos? - Well, MANY TIMES. When using new technologies, features which were only available on pro DSLRs, now available on less expensive digital SLR cameras.
You can see that Sony really listens to its customers, and you can clearly see this in their latest Sony A55 (α55) DSLR camera. I said "Bravo Sony" before, and I will say it again. The thing is that many frustrated photographers keep being loyal companies that keep disappointing them. Don't be fooled with people telling you "Buy only Nikon", or "Canon is the best DSLR on the planet"... bla bla bla. Listen to your needs and desires. Pick a camera that will make you work easier and more efficient. Do you really want to use an internal GPS receiver and a software to geotag your photos, where you have a built-in solution for that right now?
If you don't need all the new features that the Sony Alpha SLT-A55V has, my second best choice will be the Nikon D90. Hope this article has helped you making a decision. But again, this is only my opinion and recommendation. Everyone should list the features he must have and the ones that are less important. After that, make a smart buying decision, and be happy with it!
The official camera pages: Sony A55 | Canon T2i | Nikon D90
Update 8/28/2010: I recommend reading this post on EOSHD.com, regarding the video functionality.
Goold luck with your next purchase.
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So far this has been by far the best article I have read on the Sony a55. I have a a700 and will be upgradeing to the a55 as soon as its in the country (New Zealand) Excelllent article many thanks
ReplyDeleteRon Smith
First, many thanks for you kind comment.
ReplyDeleteUpgrading from A700 to A55?
I must admit that I am not surprised. By using a translucent mirror technology, Sony has actually has brought DSLR PRo feature, to the hand of amateur photographers, who want to buy a cheap DSLR camera, but rich in features. Furthermore, there are some features that do not exist, even on Pro-grade DSLR cameras. This is where innovation should go, directly in this path.
I have also read that Sony has patented this technology, so we will probably won't see Canon or Nikon, coming up with their own implementation of this technology. This is a milestone in digital photography, no doubt about it. It really shows that when technology is intelligently utilized, great things happen.
Unless Nikon will surprise us with a better camera, I will certainly grab the A55 without hesitating.
Idan.
SLT has been used since the 1960s. On paper it looks good, The fact you have a darker image in the viewfinder is poor consolation, professional photographer would not want something between the light and the sensor.
ReplyDeleteDoes the a55 have an external mic port? i'm trying to decide on either a 550d or the a55 for more the video abilities.
ReplyDeleteyes it has built in stereo mic and a mic port, though some have criticized the somewhat limited audio options in the camera menu
ReplyDeletei currently own a T2i with a very nice lens so when sony introduced the A55, and Nikon introduced the D7100, I started to wonder if I should sell my Canon kit and get in on one of these.
ReplyDeleteThere are some disadvantages to the A55 that I want to point out:
1. with steadyshot enabled ,you can only record 9 minutes. With steadyshot disabled, you can record for 20 minutes.
2. during continuous auto-focus, the apeture will always be at the maximum opening capable by the lens, even if you step down. So, if you wan to have a greater depth of field, you won't be able to.
3. You won't get manual exposure control (including setting the ISO) when shooting video.
I might as well get a point and shoot like the Sony H55 which does a max of 720p video and panarama.
Well well well, this is the first time I saw anyone telling openly Nikon and Canon are not the best and prefer Sony. I have a Sony A200 and used it as my first DSLR. I started looking for an upgrade and was vere interested in buying Nikon or Canon. With all the new models being released the past 4-5 weeks I was really confused. Now the A55 started drawing my attention and from what I saw and read it's wonderful news. At last there is a camera that some Nikon and Canon fans must admit is not as bad as they always think. Well I took my Sony with standard lens and a Nikon D5000 with it's standard lens and took some simular shots. I could definately see no reason why I should go for the Nikon. Now the search is on. The only thing that lets me hesitate is that the A55 is a new concept and most of the time other vendors just reply with a better version a little bit later. I think that translucent lenses will be well considered by all camera manufacturers in future. Wish I new what to do?
ReplyDeleteWell,
ReplyDeleteI guess I am not the only confused one then!
I am also shopping around for a nice DSLR, and definitely a55 caught my attention. But I got really worried when I started reading more about the battery problem (in the video mode), with the steady feature turned on.
Does anyone know how Nikon (eg. D3100) does in the sense of battery life when it comes to video shooting?
The Nikon D3100 also has continuous AF but it's the older contrast autofocus vs. newer and better phase autofocus on the Sony a55 and on the soon to be released Nikon D7000. At the moment Canon doesn't have a continuous AF camera.
ReplyDeleteVery Nice Article.You helped me make up my mind to buy A55.Thanks a lot
ReplyDeletehow long does it took before the battery depletes continuous shooting for sony a55? thnx
ReplyDeleteYou neoted that you were happy that Canon released the 70-300 L as an affordable bit of high-end glass.
ReplyDeleteHave you tried the sony 70-300 G SSM? It's been out for WAY longer than the Canon version and is a very very nice lens. Quite affordable too.
I have a Tamaron 28-300mm AF Aspherical LD (IF) lens, which I bought years ago for a Minolta 35mm film camera. It cost over AUD$1,000 & was an exceptional flexible lens which I used for portraits or distant subjects alike without a problem.
ReplyDeleteI know the Sony a55 will take the lens, but am wondering if anyone can tell me whether it will produce the former outstanding results with the a55 being a digital camera.
The battery limitation for steady shot video is due to heat, not battery capacity. If you really need to shoot video for that long, perhaps a camcorder would be a good item to toss in your camera bag.
ReplyDeletesir can we adjust the auto blur background of this dslt?can we turn it on/off?hehehehe thx
ReplyDeleteTake this review as a grain of salt. While the article proudly boasts itself as being unbiased, I find it to have a strong bias towards the Sony product. Consider the fact that the reviewer not only touts himself as unbiased, but also the fact that the reviewer has *very little* to say bad about the a55. The fact that the author cannot give a fair assessment, and even goes as far as to highlight a55-specific features on the graphical chart are outraging to photographers everywhere.
ReplyDeleteYou can take the article for it's words, but I'd definitely take a look at more established sources of unbiased and professional information, such as Scott Borne.
"Give me a break" moments of this article:
"Many pro photographers will tell you to invest more money on high-quality lenses, then on the body itself. HOWEVER, what if the body has some really useful features, like an internal GPS receiver for automatically Geotag photos?"
-- right, so you buy a CAMERA not for the photographing features, but for the secondary features. Great.
"[from the header image]: Unbiased"
and from the article:
"But again, this is only my opinion and recommendation."
-- Opinions are biased. That's why they're opinions. You just called your opinion a fact by writing 'unbiased' in the article image.
Good game.
I removed the unbiased word from the banner. It seems that I used the word in misinterpreted way. Thanks for the kind visitor who notified me about that. I just want to add that I don't own any of those cameras.
ReplyDeletethe Sony a55 rocks. I've owned the Nikon D3100 and Canon XSI and 40D. They are all good, but the Sony has more features, killer video, GPS, mic input, you name it. It's a far better deal for the soccer mom/dad and travel bug.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.zephanos.com/2010/11/what-is-hottest-video-dslr-of-this-2010.html
Great comp. I was looking fo a /vs/vs/vs like this.
ReplyDeleteI think it's a done deal. I'm going to get the a55.
I have owned the A55 for 2.5 months now and its a brilliant camera.
ReplyDeletePros..Quality Images,Excellent AF (beats Cannon 550d), wide range of shooting options, 1080p videos, 10FPS is just awesome (beats the hell out of Nikon and Cannon DSLR in same price ratio)
Cons..Battery life and camera heats up during continuous video shooting mode (turning of steady shot will allow approx 20min for video capturing)
Hi, I am confused at this point though I purchased the camera and thinking to return it.
ReplyDeleteI had recently purchased Sony a55 and had played with it for 3 weeks now. No doubt after reading the articles on internet even I got impressed with the features loaded to this camera, which brought me to purchase it.
1. BUT I am not that much impressed with picture quality when I compared with my friend Canon T1i.
2. More than that – the electronic view finder is killing me. You are NOT getting the clear view of what you have in front of you. Lot of noise when you are in low light area (even in house). My point is – when you can’t clearly see the object how can you get ready to shoot it? (Even I have observed the noise on LCD as compare with that Canon T1i).
Is it only me having this issue or someone else also experienced it?
3. One more important Q: AF feature is awesome in this camera but what I have noticed: After the shoot you want to hang that camera for short time on your neck and you don’t turn it off. Now that camera is hanging through your neck on your tummy pointing to random objects, which comes in front of it while you are moving. Though you are not shooting in that small break, because of continuous AF – I have observed camera lens keeps on Auto Focusing and rotating throughout (till you don’t switch off the camera OR put it on manual focus).
This keeps on annoying me (that lens noise) and I guess it is also consuming the battery (no wonder why we see lots of user complaining abt battery life).
Any simple solution or trick for this?
PLEASE reply and let me know either to keep it or return it?
Why not just turn off the camera when your not using it?!
ReplyDeleteWow, I must say that is the first time I have heard of someone who actually owns the A55 thinking of returning it due to so many issues with it. Are you sure your using it right?
ReplyDeleteNow while the A55 and A33 may have their faults, what camera doesnt? Cameras are built differently for a reason, because all of the users are different and want different things. And by the sounds of all of the camera reviews out there not one manufacturer has yet to create one that is perfect, probably due to the fact that they are man made and man is not perfect himself.
Now I must say that I am still awaiting my backordered A33 in Canada where the A55 is not currently being sold, but trust me I have done my fair share of reading and footwork to investigate the cameras pros and cons before purchase. The evidence for this camera being a really good choice for its price point is overwhelming. For most of the features it offers you would have to spend over $2500CAD on such a camera to achieve similar results (think fps). Its few minor faults are far outshadowed by its strong suits. I think the biggest question to ask yourself it seems is, how big are your hands? will you be comfortable holding the camera. Someone with monster man hands will probably find it annoying to say the least.
Again it all comes down to you. Everyone has an opinion based on their personal preferences. Those preferences may not be yours so don't take all opinions to heart. You have to decide what yours are. Even if your a first time DSLR(SLT) buyer find ways to find out what you like. Read a lot about the product, test it out, hold it in a store and ask a lot of questions from someone knowlegable. Find out who owns one and what they think. Thats what I've been doing for the last 2 months and I feel confident in my purchase every time I look around to see if there is anything I havent yet heard about it.
lol some of these comments crack me up about how the "a55 blows the nikon on of the water blah blah.." The a55 is an astounding camera, especially for the money. Yes the video aspect is better (if that actually matters to you)and it does have a faster frame rate. But its about the same, if not a little worse than the d90 as far as color depth and dynamic range. In fact, the d90 is signifcantly better for low light ISO. Its not all about megapixels people. The T2i, although a good camera, is not even in the same class as either of these so that is just an odd comparison. What makes the sony or Nikon better is simply preference- what feels more comfortable and what features suit your shooting style more
ReplyDeleteI have tried my bro's D90 and my bro-in-law's 550D, and i am really glad i bought the A55. If you are looking to buy your first DSLR, get the A55. It is so easy to use it will make your transition from PNS to DSLR more smooth sailing. One night, my bro-in-law was quite surprised a noob like me can take nicer pic than his 550D (my secret was the HDR function). My complaint about the D90 is that it is much bulkier and heavier than A55 but has less features?!
ReplyDeleteyes yes yes buy a55 i bought one can i love it to death i no camrea expert but its so easy to use so many webs sites to help you along the way this is my first dslr when i took it to a photo shoot with my new born baby the photographers where like wow is that the new sony a55 can we have a play they took the same picture with a55 and the 5dmk11 and you could not tell witch was witch and for the price wow beautiful peace of tech
ReplyDeletewow,thank you!i never expect sony alpha a55 would be a way better than other camera manufacturer!thanks! you all enlightened me !
ReplyDeleteHad an a350 and enjoyed it but the kit lense was poor and the sensor very noisy, even at lowish ISO's.
ReplyDeleteI've researched A33 & Canon 550D before finally settling on the Canon.
ReplyDeleteA little background: I've bought a few Sony cameras in the past as well as Canon. I'm not brand-loyal nor am I anti-establishment. I buy what I think is the best for my personal needs period. I'm no expert by no means, that is why I researched the internet including those that give high marks to Sony A55 as well as Canon 550D to see the advantage vs disadvantage of each Camera.
Since this website does a great job of listing (almost hyping ;)) Sony's advantages, let me go straight to some of the disadvantages that made me pick 550D:
As Popular Photography points out about the 'new' revived Translucent Technology:
"Both (A33 & A55) cameras scored Extremely High in color accuracy, just below the threshold for an Excellent rating—a respectable result, but below the performance of the vast majority of today’s DSLRs."
http://www.popphoto.com/reviews/cameras/2010/10/lab-test-sony-alpha-33-and-55
This can be seen at DPreview when you compare A55 and 550D side by side:
http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/sonyslta55/page18.asp
550D is a slightly better than Sony in:
*Focus Accuracy
*Image quality (Raw & Jpeg)
To be fair, Sony is better in features, performances but we are talking about things are are secondary to my needs such as GPS-mapping, Panoramic View (Canon has a software version of this) - In the end Dpreview gave both Sony and Canon a Gold award scoring 550D (77%) vs A55 (76%).
Other factors: When recording video, Sony A55 has a nasty habit of overheating (with Image stabilization on), forcing the camera to shut itself off after 6 to 9 minutes of usage and if you try to record again soon after, it will shut off even faster at 2 minutes. This was not a problem with Image Stabilization off. Yes Sony has Auto-focus for its videos but it offers limited control and its Image Stabilization feature is almost unusable.
http://www.popphoto.com/video/2010/09/tested-sony-a33-and-a55-video-overheating-issue
550D may not have auto focus, something I wish Canon 550D had, but it gives much better manual control over the videos.
Here is another site that highlights the technology & gadgetry of Sony A55 vs what a photographer need:
http://kenrockwell.com/sony/a55.htm
Also, Canon 550D can take up to 600+ pictures (without live-view on), with some claiming to take up to 2000 pictures on a single factory battery. Sony, with only live-view, will last about 200 shots before you need to recharge that battery. For me this is a big deal, having constantly to charge/change battery is a hassle for someone that takes a lot of pictures.
Also, lens, lens, lens. Canon has tons of lens to choose from. Sony is behind in this department. Given Sony's reputation, they have dozens of infant - dead lines of products that they abandoned soon after introduction. That is, don't be surprised if they abandon their camera down the road for another 'revolutionary' technology. Then you are left with whatever lens you are stuck with. And Sony products are very expensive to repair.
The a350 allowed you to turn off continuous AF. The a55 should too. Could I suggest.. ahem... reading the manual?!
ReplyDeleteSimple reason I never bought a Nikon D90 but switched to Canon. The entry/mid range Nikons are too small to comfortably hold with a very tight grip made for small (asian?) hands.
ReplyDeleteBrasil, adorei, sem favoritismo, preto no branco!
ReplyDeletethe a55 overdid it. specially the hd 1080p video recording with AVCHD format. took a lot of size space but worth the view.
ReplyDeleteImage quality (IQ) is everything, if not, then why buy an expensive camera to begin with when a $450 prosumer Canon or Panasonic can give close quality to A33 or A55? Just research the internet, with all these newest technologies (4/3 mirrors, Translucent mirrors), the final verdict, in every single professional peer review, the IQ still can't compare to the latest Nikon & Canons DSRLs. I mean its one thing to say you can't tell the difference between Canon 550D and Nikon 90.... No, not even close. If you are serious about photography, DsRL are still the way to go. If you like to have 'fun', a DSRL-like camera with a Nintendo built in, yes do buy the Sonys. I don't doubt maybe in 5 - 10 years, they will refine this new technology to rival or even surpass current DsRL. But I'm sure Canon and Nikon will always be a step ahead of Sony in where in counts [IQ]. But right now, the best of Sony, DSRL, Translucent, 4/3 --- all of them are simply playing 2nd fiddle to the Canon and Nikon (and even Pentax) DSRLs. I've seen almost every photo review, side-by-side, comparing the final image quality of Sony A33 (A55) to Canon 550D and Nikon 90, there IS a difference. For those who like to equivocate and say that they are almost the same or that Sony is 'technically' superior, with all these useless gadgets, in the end, it takes a picture that is not better than my 10 meg DSRL 5 years ago. Then you would say that it has auto-focus for video - big deal - whole 9 minutes of it (if you are lucky) of which you can't control AV, or anything that a serious videographer needs. An experienced shooter can shoot excellent videos with Canon 550D with end result Sony can't touch. For those who are serious video professionals, given a choice, they would NOT pick neither Sony A33 or Canon 550D, but if forced to choose one, they would almost always choose 550D for the excellent manual control over the video they shoot. And what serious photographer buys a camera nowadays with 2 hrs of battery life? New technology is good, but it doesn't mean it is always the best.
ReplyDeleteI have a33 because I didn't need 10fps or GPS. And camera only cost me £470, plus a sigma lens 18-200 for 210, with filter. Currently I have 400d and I tried 550d to stay with Canon, but it did not tick all boxes. Sony has a rotatable screen, which is very useful for filming my daughter or my dog, because they are lower so you have to lower the camera, and the screen allows easy live view. The screen is actually excellent quality image, if a bit flimsy physically.
ReplyDeleteThere is a common misconception to think that it will do the maximum aperture in live focus. If you film in A mode, you can set you aperture, image brightness will be traded automatically.
I normally do manual focus when filming, but my wife cannot do that, so Sony ticked the box for being family friendly too...the 550D that we tried produced good image, but no one else in my family could use it.
So far I'm very happy with the a33, and will probably upgrade to a77 when that come out.
Like the article says, Sony have created what people (at least people like me - experienced amateur) want. I really wanted to stay with Canon, so the fact that I ended up with Sony says a lot.
A spare battery costs £13, no problem. Yes there are less filming functions on A33/a55, but that will get sorted in a77.
me again, (same person as the last post). I have just noticed that there are quite a lot of errors in the above reviews done by people that have accumulated information from other reviews. In fact its quite ignorant to post your review based on other internet reviews, on the page where people normally have more opportunity to hold the cameras and play with them, which would make their review more valid than your reference to what other people had said. I mean that in the nicest possible way, I'm not here to make enemies. I had both a33 as mentioned above and 550D.
ReplyDeleteProfessional choice (review on 2nd feb) - if you say a professional would not chose neither, 550d or a55, then your choice of 550D is nothing more than personal preference, and it doesn't mean that 550d is better, you purely have personal preferences. What Sony may have done, is use a bit of the same logic as you have (I will explore that simply because you touched on it) - a professional would not chose a DSLR for filming, so why don't we make it for amateur/experienced amateur, this is market targeting, and they did the right job. Why try make a DSLR for a professional when a professional will not buy it? Why not just put enough in there to make it the right choice for target market?
a33,a55 only has live view - there is a button on top to switch between live view on screen and view finder, so its not always live view. Like I said a spare battery costs £13. My Canon did take 600 shots easily, but I did not use the screen as much as I do on the Sony. Once again, fit the market. I went to Warwick races today, made a film, took some photos, still have 30% battery left. Why would I need 80% left if I can re charge it overnight. How often will you take 600 in one day?
Overheating - as mentioned above, not a problem without IS. Also, best films are made of short clips and edited.
Image quality - Nikon uses Sony sensors.
YES there are things that can be improved, by no means it perfect. I'm not here to say that its the best camera ever....but lets keep things objective shall we, and don't make statements based on Chinese whispers.
Comming from a nikon owner for years, Canon 550D 3.7 fps sony a55 10fps considering everything else above if you can not catch the moment who cares
ReplyDeleteAbout the quality of the photograph! There are so many times i have missed the moment. With a tight budget this is a serious contender for me. I cannot afford a pro camera with this feature. I guess the person above is shooting flowers all day!
thanks been torturing myself with which to buy,the more I`ve looked,the more attractive the a55 looks,cheers the a55 will be my next SLR....
ReplyDeleteI played with a55 for few weeks (looking for photo-video combo). Overall I like photo side of a55 but video seems not usable for me at all. 2 main problems - low frame rate (jittering 25 fps in Europe) and strong rolling shutter problem. I want to make a video of kids (fast and randomly moving objects) and those 2 problems are incompatible with this task. Also image stabilization of a55 is not very good for video. So in my opinion all 3 mentioned here cameras are not good for video.
ReplyDeleteI am testing now Panasonic GH2 and video in GH2 is really good for me, but of course GH2 has other problems - for example fast standard zoom lens (aperture 2.8) are simply not existing.
see on dpreview what says prophotographers about sony a55, canon and nikon. its simple, best combination is sony camcorder, canon photocopiers, nikon slr or dslr.
ReplyDeleteget a photoshop..u won't need a superpowerful dslr camera:)
ReplyDeleteWeel, based in part on this hypey review, i got an A33, its allright. but my A230 has superior image quality. tht A33 has extreme noise issues even at moderate iso's. bummer. be using it for video only.
ReplyDeleteI think i was overly harsh. I must add, while the camera is noticeably grainier, it handles low light conditions at similar settings with much less blur. even in semi dark rooms. its amazing you almost need to work/have someone move fast, to get blur. a fair trade. just use a bit of NR.
ReplyDelete"I guess the person above is shooting flowers all day!" you must not read the post above yours properly as it gives usage example.
ReplyDeleteAlso, by reading into your comment you must look down at taking photos of flowers, and probably feel that whatever you do with a camera is much more of a real usage for a camera...once again read the post properly, please.
Hi all, Yes I didn't know what to buy myself NikonD90 or Canon 550D and I ended up with Nikon D90 - big disappointing for me because doing some tests with my old D50 and the new camera D90 , the Nikon D90 was far worst ! Pictures quality and colors not so nice. I was thinking having bad luck with this camera, but when Nikon Tech support told me that his opinion is that the camera is OK , they left me without words. So I sent Nikon back to seller and ask refund and I 'm going to buy a canon camera definitely.
ReplyDeleteI own a A55 , I´m very very happy, I did greats photos during my Holidays, Tamrom lens is the best option if you can't afford sony`s ones.
ReplyDeleteThe battery works perfect I was shooting all day and during the night I charge it also I have 2 spares batteries ( 20$ ).
I leave the link of my first panoramic picture.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/62290967@N04/5669432726/lightbox/
I am an amateur photographer, used Canon digital semi- SLR before. Not into any SLR yet, please advise which one should I go for... Could be anything other than quoted pieces also.
ReplyDeleteYour adivse will really be appreciated...
Do we have a comparision between Nikon D5100 vs. Sony A55?
ReplyDeleteSony support website mentioned about over heat issue.
Thanks.
Mike
After reading almost every comment here I've got one thing to say: Get a camcorder if you wanna record your dog. I got a nice camcorder and my DSLR for pictures. Having the opportunity to shoot video is nice but I rarely use it.
ReplyDeleteAfter reading many vs. reviews on these cameras, I came to the conclusion once again that it's all just about priorities.
If you want secondary features, get the sony
If image quality is what you're after, go for the nikon or the canon.
nikon for example has a very good iso performance which is quite important to me. I can take photos at 800iso that are pretty much noise-free. Ever at 1600iso you get a relatively good result.
I also like the top screen, the secondary "wheel" on the front that makes my life easier, the wide selection of lenses etc etc
I surely would like an articulating screen and a 10fps shooting at that price range but I can't have it all.
I just baught a a55. I was originaly going to buy T2i but I had few friends recommend this. I also had older minolta lenses that would fit. I have tested it for a few weeks and overall I like results. IS T2i better, hm probably. But I dont have a lot of canon lenses. Also fact you can buy older minolta lenses cheaply is good thing.
ReplyDeletethat said I do have minor gribe, the hotshoe doesnt use standard flash mounts. As far as image quality, I am happy, in end it comes to lense, good glass is good glass, bad glass is bad. I have up till tomarrow to return camera. i have been debating it, but decided to keep it.
Michael
PS for people who wonder about these cameras for videa. I have been watching many profeshional documentary film makers use these cameras. Its amazing all the rigging they have for these.
I want to buy sony DSLR A55 only body and want to buy 75-300mm f/4.5-5.6 Zoom Lens separately . should is it good to buy bigger lenses then smaller lenses? or is it compulsory to buy regular lenses for routine photography.
ReplyDeleteBought!
ReplyDelete