When you view them, I didn't want to even rotate the originals so that they would be basically 100% untouched.

Carl

Carl,

Does something seem to have changed in their approach to NR? Seems to me like there is a bit less luminance reduction than previously. There is a good deal of detail in the ISO 1600 NR on image wih less of the smearing you see normaly out of the old cameras. It does seem like the sharpening is fairly high by default there though, fair few artifacts are visible particularly on the lettering.

It will be interesting to see the full results.

Josh

I'm going to do something different for a high ISO test for the final review, something I don't think has been done on one test before. If it goes as planned, it should be very interesting with revealing results. ;) Should add, that if it goes well on this review, I will probably implement this test procedure on further reviews.

Carl

Sounds like a new release from AMW now, this is quite a day for revelations! I'm intrigued to see wht you do, I lack creativity in the high ISO noise test sector so have no idea what you might be planning!

Josh

Oh yes indeed! The NR at ISO 1600 is excellent!!

I think the 1600 - nr off shot looks pretty good. Certainly much better than the A100 does at 800.

I don't know about the nr on shot. I feel that Sony's NR is still too aggressive for my tastes. I can see a loss of detail in the zoom rings and artifacts around the lettering on the lens body. I think Sony could do better.

Couple more with NR off, this time with some darker subjects.

Carl

Hi, thank you for the work that you are doing...

What about RAW files??
Does Sony continues applying NR on it RAW file??

I would like know how are the RAW file from this sensor, but with a firmware like a700 v4...

Thaak you.

As far as I am aware, Sony does not apply NR to raw files on the CCD cameras. I see no evidence to the contrary in the raw files themselves. Until I see sufficent evidence of this I will maintain my position on this issue. Otherwise, without evidence, NR processing in the raw files is just a rumor imvho.

Raw files will be available on the final review, off hand they look fantastic. The processing with NR off reminds me of v4 of the A700's processing. Grain looks better to me even in the jpegs, and the raws look even better than that. Just my opinion however.

Carl

Thank you, I hope to see this sensor on the a550... ; )

I don't know what kind of test you have in mind, but given that the target market for these cameras will probably be getting prints made at Costco, Walmart or Walgreens, maybe doing the same would constitute a good test? 1600-3200 shots printed at 8x10 with NR ON and NR OFF. If that's within your testing budget.

I don't see soccer moms/dads pixel peeping noise at 300% on the computer, which is probably a good thing. I do see them taking their memory cards to the store and getting 4x6 and 8x10 prints made. They probably will pixel peep the prints. A lot of the p&s users I know don't even know how to save their pictures on their computer. They just get prints made when the memory card is full.

Just an idea.

not the same ol same ol

Will do my usual free hand shots but if the new test idea comes through as hoped, it should help at least answer some forum members curiosities.

That said, I have to admit I am thinking of getting an A230 with that kit lens. The lens is excellent. Being as it weighs so little it just may be the image stabilized Oly e420 replacement I was seriously kicking around. In fact I think it will be just that.

C

Also I am think that, but to buy the a330 with the new OEM to my girl friend + 18-55 SAM kit lens.
I think that its size, weight and funtionality this camera will be perfect for her... and it is a Alpha... ; )

Anyone that has a girlfriend that is interested in photography is very lucky! Must be great to be able to share a common fab thing like photography. I gave up trying to get mine to show any interest.
Time for a new model maybe ;-) lol

Women actually make up the majority of buying descions on cameras including DSLRS. I would gues that is why the new styling on the entry level ALpha's. It is also probably why the d40/40x/60 have sold so well.

I have no market research on male to female ratio for SLR sales ;-)
I would imagine that the SLR segment is more men than women though..I think photography has been more a male activity. Not that women don't get into it, they sure do..just on pure numbers and encounters I think it's at least 2 to 1 male to female!

That women are in charge of male wallets and spending. :) Which, is true for a majority I would think.

C

HEHE....:)

I am man hear me roar If I want it I get it...... The if it meets her standard I get to keep it..lol

Happy Shooting Sony Freaks
Kevin

I buy what I want when I want too.... (beats chest).

C

hahaha! Maleness peeks out from behind their view finders! You guys are too funny!

How many users here are actually women...on this site? Just curious.
I'll start the count...1

Back on topic ;-)

Hard to make any concrete conclusions about the samples, would have been useful to compare directly to the older model.

I would like to add one point, that I have mentioned before. I know that some will argue the additional "chroma/colour" noise is a Sony thing and retains colours better for high ISO. However, I honestly feel, that the high ISO NR on/off option should be geared to attacking chroma noise, and that alone. Offering users a choice about things. Also, though maybe more use to higher end bodies, a choice of NR level, as present in Nikon cameras, off, low, med, high etc. To again, offer some control over the degree of luminance noise reduction going on. I believe this would be appealing to all users, and they will have some control over jpeg processing, currenly we have very little say in things. This way everyone would be happy. Choice is good..

The color noise seems to be still going almost 1:1 trough the NR. It's as if they have no clue what we're expecting. Nikon gets great results on this sensor by allowing some grain into the high iso images and by removing color noise. Overall color may suffer a bit, but it's tons better than this colorful noise we get on alphas. Instead they try to filter the chroma channel and end up smudging all the detail...

Also, user options for adjusting noise reduction would be fantastic. Just bury it in the menus if they feel it's going to intimidate "newbies"...

Does all this hullabaloo even matter if you shoot in raw? Even so I tend to keep most of my photos ISO 100 or 200. I use the A100 and A200, and used to have no problems shooting in ISO400, and now I cringe when I am forced to. It seems to me all the retailers exaggerate the cameras' ability to shoot in high ISO; this seems to be true for all makes and models (hmm I wonder why). Just like the megapixel count and the zoom range, it seems ISO is just used as another number to sell the camera.

Not everyone apriciate the time consuming process of raw conversion. Others need a finished product on the go.

I do agree high ISO being victim of marketising. There seems to be somesort of limit how good the current gen sensor can be, rest is just software gimicks. To a certain extent, it can help appearances, but it cant bring back the lost detail.

Looks much better than before. I'd dare to say that is very close/equal in performance to the A700 at ISO 1600.