you have finished at this very uneasy time with real resentment connected to Sony cameras producion. It seems to be Sony jumps easily over NEX and A33/55 - 2 jumps in 2010 without deep preparation. It is really very sad. Hopefully "A77" will be much better prepared for serious use. But how long to hope about?

I appreciate the time and money you put into doing this review as with your others in the past.
I think you are right, for the average person thats just getting started this will seem like a great little camera.
But i too hope Sony doesn't implement this new technology in higherend cameras until they can meet the demands
of the veteran shooters.
Thanks again for all your time and honesty put into this review.

But also a little disappointing. I had high hopes for the AXX series. Perhaps we should see the camera for what it is - an SLT extension of their mediocre "user-friendly" midrange series of DSLR's.

Hi Carl. I'm a bit surprised no reviewer mentioned that this is probably the best camera for macro work your money can buy. It works in A mode with adapted lenses (it means you can use a wide variety of M42 accessories including bellows) and its EVF/screen provides enough gain for composing your shots even with long bellows (an optical viewfinder is next to useless in such situations).

I find A33's AF very fast and precise, especially when using one of the 3 cross points. Also its buffer clearing time can be improved significantly by using Class 10 SDHC cards - I know they're kind of expensive, but I have bought one and the camera is much more responsive now.

Thanks for the review.

The big question in most peoples minds is the impact of the DSLT design compared with DSLR. You seem to be saying that there is no effective difference in IQ and that the EVF has several advantages over the 5-level OVF, larger, better at low light. Sounds like a big thumbs up for the cheaper dslt compared with DSLR. Your negative comments are pretty much true for all 5 series cameras and are not specific to SLT.

Therefore it seems you are implicitly recommending the A33/A55 in a straight up comparison with the equivelent DSLR's. Or am I missing something?

PS. Low features for the dollar seems a little bizarre, downright contrary to what I see. Oh well. Panoramic shots seem to be loved my most new users so I don't get yyour critique of that either. Never mind.

Thanks for the review.

>> My pleasure.

The big question in most peoples minds is the impact of the DSLT design compared with DSLR. You seem to be saying that there is no effective difference in IQ and that the EVF has several advantages over the 5-level OVF, larger, better at low light. Sounds like a big thumbs up for the cheaper dslt compared with DSLR. Your negative comments are pretty much true for all 5 series cameras and are not specific to SLT.

>> No real difference in IQ compared to recent Sony DSLRS, is what I said basically. The EVF will always have advantages, as does the OVF over an EVF. You could look at it that way you are entitled of course, will you be buying an SLT Mike? Don't know about you, but I expect progress in development, not stalling (in regards to your comment about the 5 series cameras).

Therefore it seems you are implicitly recommending the A33/A55 in a straight up comparison with the equivalent DSLR's. Or am I missing something?

>> No, not at all, in fact I state very clearly that I do not recommend this camera to new buyers. I have a hard time believing you really missed that part in the conclusion, try reading it again, that might help- or it might not.

PS. Low features for the dollar seems a little bizarre, downright contrary to what I see. Oh well. Panoramic shots seem to be loved my most new users so I don't get yyour critique of that either. Never mind.

>> You are of course entitled to your opinion, as am I. I find it just as bizarre to think that you think this camera is loaded with features especially since you don't own one or have never used one practically. Spec sheets only tell a small part of the story. I went in good detail about why the Panorama feature isn't the bee's knees, how you can come away thinking otherwise is beyond me.

C

With any new tech, the first model has issues to be addressed, and clearly the SLT concept isn't fully fleshed out to Carl's (or my) satisfaction. Overall my reading is that they got several things right the first time, but an A77 that moves up the learning curve is vital. New AF method, more control of features.. and the ever-present jpg/NR issue that Sony hears pretty regularly. Many people will buy this despite Carl's comments, since some of the areas of concern won't concern them; nothing wrong with each of us marching to different drummers & all that.

So I'll mark it up as another non-perfect camera; at least it has company! I am glad that Sony is hard at work again, even if not for me. A camera this small and battery life so weak (relative to SLRs) aren't for me in any case. Thanks for the good work Carl!

It seems you are forgetting a few additional advances made possible only by the SLT design in your criticism of the AF system:
- The camera is smaller and I guess also lighter than a comparable DSLRs.
- 10 fps high speed shooting (on the A55) is, in this price range, only possible with the SLT.
- A big viewfinder is, in this price range, only possible with the EVF and the SLT.

AFAIU the Quesabesde reviewers were not so disappointed in the AF performance. I certainly dislike the "big brother approach" of Sony in limiting the choices for users in this range of cameras ( also with regard to exposure bracketing).

Great photos...but why no Exif data? It's good to know the aperturer, shutter speed, ISO, etc. when determining the actual technical performance derived from the shot. Just a thought.

Does the camera come with an AC adapter? If it did, that would make the battery change with tripod issue less important, because you can just keep the camera plugged in and not worry about battery swapping. I often use my camera tethered to a wall outlet while it's mounted on a tripod for a long time.

An AC adapter is also important for other reasons, like keeping the camera powered up while transferring images to a computer, or preventing battery drain when using the camera as a camcorder (which I think many people will be tempted to do).

Thanks for your comments regarding the EVF. You didn't mention one of the things that I have not liked at all about the EVFs I have seen in the past. How is the dynamic range? One of the things I noticed in the past is that the EVF in contrasty light will often completely blow out areas that are bright so that you can't see anything or only very little. For example, the foreground is dark so the exposure system and EVF brighten up, but then the bright background or a light colored face in a sea of dark is blown out. Sometimes the problem is the opposite. The EVF will be darkened to show bright areas, but then dark areas go almost to black or black. It makes composition and choosing the decisive moment difficult or impossible. How is the A33?

you are also forgetting the advantage in auto focus tracking from an SLT when shooting a high fps. The camera has the ability to be continuously focusing while taking pictures. There is no black out of the auto focus when the mirror flaps up like in SLR's.
This is a big plus in my opinion (though one that also might not be taken full advantage of until a pro level camera uses SLT).

There may not be a blackout but you do not get to see what you're trying to track in real time either.

Nice job on it and you make some great points although some are of the 1/2 glass full/empty variety.

Agree totally with you that this camera is interesting but not quite there for the advanced enthusiast shooter with the lack of control with some functions.

The 1/2 full glass though is that this camera seems like it is very good for the non 'technician" beginner and the semi advanced shooter who really does not want to get into post production.

A couple of points I would make are that you do not seem interested much in some of the things that the camera does very well. Nothing wrong with that. Your review does not address the average DSLR owner/new buyer who will never get very technically proficient (because they are not interested in spending that amount of time or effort). This might be a great camera for them as some of these features while not as good as they could be still can not be done at all by any other cameras.

I think for your average reader this is an outstanding review of the camera but conversely for the average DSLR buyer who is not a camera nut (like me), and never will be, probably a little harsh.

For overlook of the camera from an enthusiast point of view I grade your review a 90% and you get my "gold award". :-) That would be a DPR record now days.

Like you, I think, if Sony does come out with an enthusiast model of this camera it might be quite the camera. I think they will but time will tell - and maybe soon.

Thanks, Carl, for the candid and I think rather well balanced review. I found it VERY informative and useful. Many thanks for your hard work and thought.

No Gold award on AMW for this puppy ;-)
Being honest I never had a lot of interest in the models. But it's frustrating to see some old issues still present. User lock outs/no adjustable settings in some modes (drives you up the wall), AEL spot toggle so very easy to do but mysteriously missing (as is P shift too), limited/basic customisation (still pretty much non existent across the Alpha range) Not all major deal breakers but I had expected Sony to iron out more areas.

Def has potential maybe round 2 will be better whenever that arrives.

Mirror blackout has rarely been a problem with SLR cameras in recent times. And DSLR's have had predictive AF for absolutely ages (way back to early Minolta days) of course some perform better than others.
Better cancel my A33 order now lol ;-)

"Here we have a collection of random images from the A33 shot at various ISO settings and f/stops on two different lenses. "

Frankly it would be a lot more meaningful if the images could be viewed with this info included...I've never seen a review site display random images with no info attached.

download the image and look at the exif ;).

But seriously now I'll update the images so when you roll over them the ISO value and f/stop are displayed, will that be fine for you?

Carl

Roll over the images for basic exif information (ISO and f/stop information), or download the image if you want the full information.

Hope this is helpful, thank you.

Carl

you mention other cameras that come to mind which are superior to sony's offering. i wonder if you could expand on that a bit. what cameras? and for what reasons?

Canon EOS 550D and Pentax Kx. Both are around the same price (a bit over or under $700.00). Even the Nikon D3100 could be thrown in the mix.

I believe they are better overall deals as a package for the price- considering folks who want a complete still imaging device with the most control over the photographic process, that still include the addition of video.

C

Edit: Even the Alpha A560 looked like a better camera till it was shoved back in priority on the production line. Same price too.

I got my A33 last Friday here in Cork, Ireland, and so far I like it. Have been using my A300 since June 2008, and have added to it some fine lenses, some of them after consulting your reviews (Sony 28mm f2.8 / Sony 50mm f1.4 / Sony 50mm Macro / Sony 70-300G SSM / Sony 11-18mm / Sony 16-105mm). With those lenses I would love to take some videos as well, before my now two months old son can walk. Seems like there is no "better overall deal" for me here. Thanks anyway for your candid review of the A33.

"Frankly it would be a lot more meaningful if the images could be viewed with this info included...I've never seen a review site display random images with no info attached."

Besides being able to download and look at the exif originally, I've added basic exif info when you mouse over. Is this sufficient to you now?

Carl

lol but could you add the scientific names of the plants and insects?
BTW, I found the review very informational. Things I would not have thought about.

The a33/a55 autofocus is real time, not predictive. I would like to be able to try one out first hand in order to get the hang of it. But the way that the a33/a55 seems to be implemented is a 'kablam!' approach. You see your subject once,press the shutter button, and then you're outta luck as far as being able to track it. Well, you just have to guesstimate where the bird or other critter is heading, kinda like shooting clay pigeons while going immediately blind after the initial trigger pull. I'mjust wondering,and guessing,but this seems to be my impression of the 10fps mode. If so, that's a darn shame. I mean, I'm sure you would get a lot of sharp pictures, but I don't know how enjoyable that would be to obtain pictures in that manner. I still have some researching to do on it.

Um, without a percentage score, how am I supposed to know what you thought of the camera without reading? I assume you would have given it a 72%.

Thanks for another great review, Carl. Your opinions on the camera are valuable because you spell out what the reasoning behind those opinions. Some of your complaints about the A33 are things that I know would drive me up a wall too (like the blocked options and low battery life). Other complaints of yours that I don't agree with are still helpful to me because your explanations make it clear where you're coming from and I know that I might be looking for something different in a camera than you are.

Your observations on the AF in low light are troublesome to me because that's one of the things that bothers me about my A200. With a fast lens and a fixed focus point, how does the A33 compare to the A200 or A700?

I'm still considering an SLT purchase because the advantages of the design seem to outweigh the cons that you mentioned. I'm looking forward to the small size (while retaining full A-mount compatibility), quiet shutter and big view that the SLT provides.

Thanks for taking the time to write this.

Compared to other EVF's (recent high end EVF's I've used) the DR seems to have a bit of an edge with the Sony over the others. The difference isn't major, but noticeable. The milkiness you experience when looking through it is due mainly to the internal reflections inside, if it weren't for those reflections it would be even better.

If you're looking for the equivalent of a top end LCD panel in terms of DR, then I'm afraid it won't please you. I would however give it go yourself and compare it like I have to say, the G1/G2 EVF or Samsung's mirrorless EVF, or even Ricoh's GXR EVF. I think you'll find that overall this is the best one.

Top of the EVF pile, at least for now. I didn't notice much blowing out of highlights, but that does exist.

Carl

you forgot to say that the camera doesn't need an MLU function, and therefore completely trashes adding vibration to tripod shots. It also fails to not have a dof preview and falls over badly when having problems metering with non a-mount lenses. It also makes a disappointingly small amount of shutter noise. Another con you missed is that cruelly not including a mirror lift mechanism the camera is lighter and more compact than any other DSLR-type camera, making it annoyingly portable - oh, sorry, you did get that one in the text, but then somehow put ergonomics as a pro - quite sloppy carl. In any case, the inclusion of a dof-preview button which actually works well due to gaining up the EVF is particularly irritating.

Uhm, why was my post stating that everyone states that AF RESULTS are great, and with a link to a YouTube video showing a55's AF (great AF in action) deleted along with the post I was relying to?

If it weren't for your habit of constantly harassing others to death on other websites I might actually take your sarcasm seriously enough to reply on the points you raised.

Being as the kind of person you are where you obviously don't agree with me (and you've made your point clear on this several times) yet, continually try to bash your point into oblivion, I think you just need a break for a while till either:

A. You can grow up.
B. Apologize

We don't do this kind of thing here on AMW. I don't see you making contributions to members on this site or in general on photography here at all, but come here when reviews are posted just to armchair quarterback them to death. Enough is enough, I think.

Cheers,

Carl