A great job, as usual. Your review addressed all my main concerns. I'm looking for a camera for my daughter, and unfortunately the a550, although clearly better than the new 2XX/3XX alphas, appears to fall short on too many important features. I was hoping to stick with Sony so that I could give her some of my extra lenses, but now I'm leaning toward the Nikon D90. Darn!

Andy

P.S. I wrote my comment on Nov. 14 regardless of what's indicated above. Will have to check my settings.

Thank you.

Out of curiosity which features does the A550 fall short on for you?

C

We need and deserve to hear the facts and feelings from a long-time user. The interface probably would not harm a new user as much as one of us seeking to update our Alpha gear. Sony's philosophy 'feels' like it came out of closed-door marketing meetings rather than user feedback; I hope they take the old users (who took them to #3) into account, and soon. I cannot imagine stepping up from the A200 to another 230k screen like the 500, but I look forward to your thoughts on it. I'm glad that some A700 tech came to the 5-series, but at today's prices the 700 is clearly the more versatile and talented camera, at least for what I want in a camera. Keep up the fine work!

What features would the A550 be short of for a new user? unless you where wanting video on a dslr what other features are missing?
I also understand when looking for the most punch for the buck you have to set your limitations, As I read this review I felt the disappointment in Carl's writing. And must admit I am let down with the latest offering, Sony must do better for sure.
I am a die hard Sony user but they need to be more progressive. I think for long time users there is concern as to what replacements will look like..

PS.. Maybe find an A350 or A700 on the cheap... can't go wrong with the A700 for sure!!

See YA
Kevin

It is just the A700 throws a spanner in the works with it been the same price. The problem is that it seems IQ is better on the A550 to the A700. Image stabiliser is better on the A550 to older cameras and AF is comparable to the A700. The running round menus would probably not worry some people who will not have experienced the A700, they will find it easier.Maybe, maybe not. I think if Sony had brought out the Equivelant to the 7D before the A550 we would have had a lot of praising of this A550 for the upgraders from A350 group.
Thank You Carl for the Review.

When I see or hear people say the A550 has better Image Quality, the first thing I ask them or myself is "what does that mean?". In other words, by what comparison or in what category of IQ?

Here is how I have it:

Detail from ISO 200-6400= A700 Wins
Noise Levels ISO 3200-6400= A550 Wins
Dynamic Rage ISO 200-6400= Tie
Color for Jpegs=A550 Wins (barely)
ISO-200-800 Noise=A700 Wins (big time)
Gradation/Transitions=Tie

To me its about the A550's sensor being optimized for higher ISO and the A700's being a better all rounder, that holds more detail at higher ISO's in both Jpegs and especially raw.

To me, the A700 wins by a hair adding it all up.

Carl

I would say the A550 would do well for those that don't know the difference, and by class I mean entry to advanced user. I see the A700 in a more advanced system leaning toward pro. And apparently that is how Sony see's them. I think we can be assured the 5xx's are not a replacement to the A700..
This is not to say you cannot get outstanding photos with any one the 2xx and up cameras. As what has been said a thousand times is Glass plays a role here are well..

Thanks
Kevin

First of all, I really think the 550 is quite over-priced, especially given what it lacks. The auto HDR and to a lesser extent the facial detection are appealing, but they don't make up for all the senseless Sony "take aways." Unacceptable to me are the lack of MLU (my daughter is certain to do quite a bit of macro work), the inability to set a maximum range on auto ISO, the lack of ISO 100, the generally poorer low-ISO detail, and the lack of quick navi and redundancy.

My daughter has used my a700 some, and while she would probably like something a little smaller, I doubt that she would care for the a550's button layout and user interface. Like Carl, I am puzzled why Sony hasn't extended the a700's excellent layout and user interface to its newer cameras instead of making them less convenient and harder to use. Seems like they would want to standardize one of their true differentiating strengths.

So why don't I just give my daughter my a700? Well, I might if Sony ever gets around to introducing the a700's replacement (provided they don't screw up everything I like about the a700!). However, I had high hopes for the a550 because I'm sure my daughter would make much more use of live view than I would. I haven't really settled on the D90 yet, but Sony appears to be shooting itself in the foot a lot with its new APS-C cameras and, as Carl has suggested, its competitors are offering more features for similar or lower prices. While video does not interest me at all, my daughter would no doubt find it an attractive feature. (She's a graphic designer and has been creating videos since high school).

Andy

I did notice that DNA sold his A700 plus the 18-250 lens for 1,125.00 on e-bay that is a pretty good deal and I think there are others in that range..
I may be a loyal Sony user but that don't mean I like everything they produce, I think we where all expecting a little more from the last offering. They did indeed shot themselves in the foot.. They need to be more progressive to be competitive (imho)..

I don't want a cybershot with interchangeable lenses and I thought the 230-380 was not much more than that.

Maybe another choice would be the A100..

Anyway Hope you find what your looking for..

See YA
Kevin

I'm a little confused about your assessment of low ISO noise. On the one hand you say:

'losing out at lower sensitivities with fine detail (but thats just pixel peeping and being picky here)'

and:

'If you are a picky pixel peeper, get the A350/380/700 if you want a bit cleaner low ISO images'

and:

'ISO-200-800 Noise=A700 Wins (big time)'

and:

'Low ISO image quality is so so'

On the other hand you say:

'Printed results looked really good for the A550 overall (I printed up to 13x19 images) with plenty of detail at ISO 200 to satisfy this very picky print observer.'

Am I correct in concluding that this is only an issue for people staring at 100% size images on screen? In real life, given your comments about prints holding detail, is this really an issue?

Thanks

Good review. Many will say there is too much opinion in it but I like how you compare it to the other Alphas since it makes it easier to understand your viewpoint.

I find myself disappointed in the A5XX series because I was hoping for a scaled down A7XX instead of a beefed up A3XX. I think KM did it right with the 5D where they repackaged the 7D along with some tweaks. For example I would like to have seen QuickNavi in the A5XX series.

Oh well a nice camera that could have been a lot nicer IMO.

It makes me wonder how many would have disliked the fact that I was opinionated if my opinion was a lot more positive in this case.... :)

Something to think about.

If reviews didn't have opinions, they would read like Spock reciting lab test results. Sorry, I'm human, and I'm a photographer.

Carl

If I didn't have to relearn button placement, wheel placement, and menu arrangement, I expect I'd find this to be a great camera. For young dogs that like new tricks, it's an updated set of internals for a200/300 users who want a few extra pixels and more FPS speed. As an old dog, I'm distressed by all the shifts Carl mentions in how work gets done, and my budget is A700-proof; so I will pass on this upgrade cycle and hope the next one serves me better. If the new models sell well and give Alpha a bigger following, I fear the next update will cater to them more than me though.. but I hope not.
Could be worse, if you've heard about the first batch of K-x Pentaxes that reject AA batteries unless you wait 5 minutes after putting them in.. wow.

1. a belief or judgment that rests on grounds insufficient to produce complete certainty.
2. a personal view, attitude, or appraisal.
3. the formal expression of a professional judgment: to ask for a second medical opinion.
4. Law. the formal statement by a judge or court of the reasoning and the principles of law used in reaching a decision of a case.
5. a judgment or estimate of a person or thing with respect to character, merit, etc.: to forfeit someone's good opinion.

Whether it is Good or Bad you reached a decision un biased those that would twist the evidence to meet their outcome or to assure a favorable outcome or opinion would only show ones poor judgment and lack of an honest character.

I Love using my Sony A700/A850, I think Sony make a great camera, But I don't have blinders on either I know there are some great tools to use, As I have stated for me I needed to get single mined about what I was using and do the best I can with it and Sony was my choice.
I was going to sell the A700 all my glass and go Nikon Man I am glad I did not.. And really this site helped me get focused on what I needed to do all the great open dialog and input.. So if I seem to be biased towards Sony ... Sorry I just believe in what I see!!!

And that's my Opinion !!

See YA,
Kevin

you liking your A850 so much Kevin.

Of late, many dslr's have crossed my path, from many different manufacturers (there is further reason for this I'll reveal at a later time), and I can truly say that the A900 (or 850) are really ultra-fine DSLRs.

They seem so "un-Sony" like when compared to Cybershot and all of the cameras introduced this year so far (less the A850 of course), and truly are a joy to shoot with.

There has to be two design teams working on Alpha products, at least it seems (writes himself a note to chat with Sony about next time he sees them).

No I didn't expect the A550 to be an A700 or 900, but I do expect more based on the price (and I'm not comparing today's A700 price to it either, because I still consider it to be the 1,500 dollar DSLR I originally purchased). I'm just looking at other brands at that price range and going.... "well? Why doesn't this make sense to me?".

Carl

is listening to what their user base is saying!!
It almost seems that we have reached a pinnacle of the APS sensor and now we are getting more gimmicks not real features that make for better handling and use. Granted the HDR is cool but I would prefer to do it myself, I had the Pentax that did it in camera and always ended up tweaking it anyway (plus it was just from a one shot process)..
Anyway Have a GREAT ONE!!!
Kevin

HDR on Pentax is slow and requires tripod. On A5xx, it's faster and can be done handheld.

Some thoughts on the review:

(1) Yes, the camera feels cheaply build -- probably due to plastic use.

(2) Yes, too expensive. The prices should have been $200 lower.

(3) Carl praises A200/A300 menu, but A550 menus can be made to look exactly same. Just turn off help.

(4) He posted no side by side images to support his assertions about low (or high) ISO compared to A350 and A700 (or A500).

(5) The review is just one man's opinion.

I will wait for more reviews on other sites (dpr, cameralab, image resources).

I praised HDR on the A550 as the best implementation of any make in the review, so yes I agree.

1 glad you agree
2 glad you agree
3 no the menus aren't the same I'm afraid, the A550 has more complication to certain menu items the A200/300/350 did not exhibit
4 no I didnt thought I kinda explained why :) check David K's open notes he said the same thing so far
5 I think we all know this because I have nobody else on our payroll (grin)

For some who follow me here more often, they know that I've used and continually use all Sony DSLRS so comparing side by side images like the review factories etc... isnt what I do here. Most know that I have some semblance of truth behind my comments when cross comparing the cameras. Of course I don't expect you to take my word for it though.

Carl

I don't mind a reviewers opinions but really don't pay much attention to them because the reviewer isn't me. I prefer facts and will always make up my own mind and rely on my own 40+ years photographic experience..

Hi, good job Carl...

One question, when will you do the Sony Macro 30mm review??

Still don't have one to review, but I haven't pursued it yet.

If its anything like the 18-55mm kit in terms of impressive optical quality, I'd be willing to bet its a great little deal.

We'll see though.

Appreciate the inquiry.

C

When I sold my a700 to buy an a900 one of my reasons was that I expect Sony to release a revised 700 version next year. I think what Sony did when releasing the 1st Alpha series CMOS sensor was to test the sensor on 700 and enlarge it for 900 with no really major technology upgrades. This time I think they decided to go through a more elaborate process. I think the decision to release the 850 was to ensure continuos sales in the top range while buying another year. Then 500-550 is meant to offer an intermediate option for buyers close to the price for existing 700 but also to test a new sensor and new processing capabilities on the market before the release of the next 700+. Then, Sony will have real feedback and experience gained before they release a new 900+ sensor. Looking forward to what next year will bring. My guess is to expect a 700+ before mid year and a 900+ before the end of the next year.

I can see that as pic quality goes, its very personal. I was just getting some shots developed at Costco today just before closing, and I was kinda surprised that my noisy shots looked good, and the shots I thought were great on screen looked a little dark and shadowee.

My question is simple, what was the reason for dropping CF? I just bought an UDMA CF for my A300 about a month ago, because I truly believed all higher end DSLR's were in agreement on this format? What's up!

Daniel

Yep prints looked fine on the A550, thats why in the IQ portion of the review I stated that my opinion on IQ was for nit picky pixel peeping, I myself don't really judge IQ on a screen alone (although it does have some merit of course).

On the CF, I think there are more users of Sandisk's than CF cards out there in the world in general (that means compact users and dslr users combined .. .and compact users out number DSLR users by a wide margin), so Sony wanted to use a format that was a bit more familiar with, giving the A500/550 another reason to buy the camera (oh cool, I already have a sandisk SD card.... thats a bonus!).

Or something like that. Its meant to be a selling point to the new cameras, is my thought.

Carl

either second Carl's findings or are absolutely in love with their cam or .... ?

Oh well that's gone and killed all the rumours Carl was getting his house mortgage paid for by Sony ;-)
And free holidays, and Carl Zeiss lenses...
Guess you'll have to send the stretch limo and helicopter back as well lol

Oh very quick question, do you get a hot shoe cover with the camera?? (deadly serious now!)

nupe.

Maybe ill save up enough $ to get that accessory item later on, one can only hope! :)

Well it's not biggie, didn't get one on the A200 either (ebay clones solved that problem)
I was just wondering if Sony were on a cash saving mission..obviously they appear to be, either that or a hot shoe cover is now a "pro" feature on alpha models ;-)

Thanks again for your evaluation Carl - very interesting!
From a "objective" point of view this sounds pretty impressive. The a700 has been praised for its IQ (low iso, that is, of course) - and if the a550 is close to that, that should be good - right?
Noise is not as good at 200-800 in the a550 - how bad is that actually, what is "so-so"?
Pixel peeping is one thing visible loss in detail and bad noise in low iso another.
Me, I do some (no-pro) wedding photgraphy with my a300 - and I would like to be able to do crisp detailed images in daylight, and also make usable pictures during the party at night time. So I guess what I'm asking is whether the a550 will be a significant (a700-like) improvement in terms of IQ at e.g. iso200. I understand It will probably solve a lot of my low light problems.
(I did handle the a550 in a shop recently and did not dislike the design and menus that much - and I do not miss the MLU of DofPW - I can make test shots an check them on the screen - rarely in that much of a hurry.)
/Martinus

Carl
How would you say the two cameras compare IQ wise at various ISO levels if you just look at straight out of camera JPEGS? Do you have any of those to look at versus the A700? It occurs to me that Sony may think that most people in the Sub $1000 camera market shoot mainly JPEGS. I know over on DK's site he posted some photos with pretty bad blue sky noise at low ISO from the A550. Thing is, most if not all of what he posted was from RAW conversions. I wonder if that noise would be there at all if shot in JPEG with the lowest NR camera setting possible. I confess (hangs head in shame) that I probably shoot 80% with JPEG. I just don't always have the time or inclination to want to deal with RAW files. I know there are programs that automate the process somewhat, but still, I don't feel like dealing with
it most of the time.