Sony Alpha a550 review
Performance
The a550 sure has some clever ideas under its belt. The 1.4x or 2x Quick Tele button will crop into the frame, producing respectively less resolute files - but with a full 14.2MP to play with in the first instance, this is generally of little consequence to quality. However, it's not possible to shoot Raw in this mode and, obviously due to the viewfinder being optical, is only available when using in live view. Whilst this partly limits its appeal, it also tags yet another trophy to Sony's class-leading live view mode. Unlike most other contrast detect AF systems, the a550 makes benefit of an additional sensor located inside the viewfinder housing for super-quick live view AF that's certainly in another league. However, for those that will have less use for live view, this additional sensor is at the expense of the viewfinder - it feels a little dim and small and, as per pretty much all DSLRs in this class, only has a 95% field of view coverage.
The 9-point autofocus system is relatively nippy, though will struggle to quickly respond to extremely fast changes. For example, panning birds across the sky was relatively successful assuming little other objects came in to frame to interrupt, though shooting skiers launching from a big ramp was less successful - over-focusing would ultimately miss the moment, prompting for a manual focus on a fixed point to take over. There are three AF options - the usual AF-S for a single focus, AF-C for continuously adjusting focus when half-depressing the shutter and the AF-A option providing a combination of the two for initial single focus and re-focus only if your subject should move.
The bundled 18-55mm kit lens is standard at best. Not particularly sharp, the lens also isn't too well designed for manual focusing - with the focusing ring right up next to the front element, it's easy for fingers to get in the way, or grab too far forward and touch the front glass itself. For optimum results there are plenty of other (admittedly more expensive) Sony-compatible lenses out there. The real qualm with the lens above all else is how unusually loud and noisy it is when in auto focus. It whirrs with some volume, and this isn't an isolated occurrence with one lens - swapping over to yet another 18-55mm kit was equally as loud; only attaching a Zeiss 16-35mm f/2.8 brought elegant silence.
At the time of writing the A550's ARW Raw format isn't supported by Adobe - though this should change with a future release of Adobe Camera Raw. For the time being you'll have to make do with Sony's own Image Data Converter SR 3.1 which is actually a real good performer. It certainly plods along when processing when compared to Adobe's ACR, but it's the list of camera-specific inherent in the Sony software that make for quite the treat. From D-Range Optimiser post adjustment to a variety of complex curve adjustments, all the data is at your fingertips to successfully manipulate.
Another really useful feature - and something used much more than I'd expected to - is the in-camera HDR (High Dynamic Range). It's the only current system that can be used handheld (Pentax's K-7 offers a similar option, though exposures need to be produced with a camera on some form of fixed support, like a tripod) and yet still merges two quickly snapped frames into one single frame to expose for both highlights and shadows simultaneously. The results are subtle, far from the often over-worked results you may have seen from overzealous post-production bods. The only downside is its incompatibility with Raw files and that there are no detailed fine-tuning controls beyond the +0.5-3EV exposure differentiation. The HDR mode feels like the next logical phase on from the current Handheld Twilight mode found in Sony's TX1 and WX1 compact cameras, which can only be a good thing. Dynamic Range Optimiser (DRO or D-Range Optimiser) also gets an expansion from the previous +1-3 stops to a new top-end of up to +5. This amps up the shadow detail to match highlights, a little like HDR, albeit only using the information from a single frame, rather than the larger amount of information available from multiple exposures. It's a great rescue option for tricky shooting scenarios, and can be used when shooting Raw files too then later removed/adjusted if you feel the need (Jpegs are final though).
Somehow Sony's crammed a lot of juice into the battery too. You expect a DSLR battery to last a day's shooting, and the a550 had no qualms here. Shooting 500 frames with various amounts of playback and menu twiddling still had a battery with 12% left on the meter. This percentage display is also another subtle pleaser - much more accurate than some manufacturers ‘three bar' displays that fail to indicate quite when it's going to finally fully deplete.
There's still no movie mode to be found however. Sony claim that the company doesn't wish to release a sub-par video function, effectively suggesting current DSLRs out there aren't quite up to the high standard some may expect. But for it to not be present at all is a notable omission compared to competitors' DSLRs at a similar level.
Have your say!
Latest comments
December 24 13:20
bigdaveg40
Just got the latest edition of WDC, and tbh can't see why you bothered to do an A500 review, I've never read something so negative, even though "it's certainly a good bit of kit" ???. The average is £100 between the A500 & A550, I only paid £459 (body only), show me a similar camera capable of 5fps & on board IS etc for the same money. The A300 was better than the A350 (but strangely "never" got reviewed by wdc), The A330 is probably better than the A380 and I'd imagine that the A500 will sell quickly. Mainly because for those of us that do buy the camera, £100 is quite a difference and for me the wonderful extra's (as with the A350), ain't worth it; The A550's faster burst rate can only be used in one mode, the resolution is higher but where's the noise comparison that we saw in the A330/A380 review (where the A330 was better), the A500 battery life (only 520 images ??????) "is" better and as for being a compact camera lcd, it's definetly an improvement over the A300 and far better than my Samsung PL70 (which IMHO is far better than the WDC acclaimed Tz3), and the same resolution as the 87% rated Pentax K-X, as with the mega-pixel race is'nt quality more important than quantity ?. Bigger buffer yes, but bigger memory card for the increased file sizes ?. Alphamount world would seem to prefer the A500 and for some reason (probably as it is good bit of kit), several other reviewers have group tested it against the likes of the D90, D300, 7D & a 50D, all exceptional camera's, not bad for a WDC rated 82% camera ?. Any chance of an A550/A500 noise comparison test please?. I'd imagine the A700's replacement will be "beefed up", if it had live view would there be a need for it to be replaced or for that matter the D90, not bad for Sony's first true d-slr. Given that the A550 will be competing with the likes of the D5000 and 500d, will the A500 be competing with the D3000, or is that the A380's job ?.
January 21 20:06
Xiang
I believe there are other factors which to be considered when reading these kind of reviews. Reviewers want money from camera manufactures and they are not fool that they would review one's camera without getting anything from them. Think about it first. Almost all reviewers blamed Sony DSLR except Alpha users. I found they always come to the point of High ISO performance and hiding other great qualities which Alpha Offers. Why Canon and Nikon Bodies are highly priced than Sony/Olympus etc???? Where does those extra money goes? Remember every manufacturer almost spends same amount of money for same class products. You need very good marketing to sell your products. That means you have to spend money for marketing. You have to pay somebody to advertise your products. the more you spend, the better advertisement you would get. Thats it!!! I believe Sony must spend more money for its products for advertising, in different way. Because people buy products by looking at these reviews/ comments etc. Good Luck Sony!!!
April 07 18:50
Tom Hughes
i prefer the sony thn the canon, d500, if i want is lenses canon charge me for it,, i think canon overprice the lenses to begin with,,i had minolta rokkor lenses 20 years ago , they was more than a match for the big companies then,go sony
October 02 12:26
Lee
I use Sony myself. They really need to sort it out and stop concentrating on churning out model after model of sub £600 plastic crap-really!!!!! Buy a shit camera or buy an 850/900 or a discontinued 700. Not an ideal situation-or maybe that's all part of their plan?