brunerww
03-13-2012, 02:54 AM
Based on specs (http://store.sony.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?catalogId=10551&storeId=10151&langId=-1&productId=8198552921666434673#specifications) alone, it looks to be a decent video-capable hybrid camera: 1080/60p, focus peaking, full time AF in video mode, new Bionz processor (reduced moire?), 1.44M dot EVF (works in video mode, unlike Canon and Nikon DSLRs), articulated LCD, just $700 body-only.
But the downsides (for me) - it's bigger than the A55 (traditional DSLR size) because customers complained that the A55 grip was too small (see this (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xj7zeanvDNo) video), proprietary Alpha hot shoe (requires adapter for standard cold shoe mounted devices), no headphone jack in a post D800/5DMkIII world - and Sony continues their tradition of the tripod-unfriendly bottom-hinged LCD. C'mon, Sony, even the $625 body-only Canon T3i (http://www.amazon.com/Canon-T3i-Processor-Vari-Angle-Body/dp/B004M170YC?tag=battleforthew-20) and the $700 Nikon D5100 (http://www.amazon.com/Nikon-16-2MP-Digital-Vari-Angle-Monitor/dp/B004V4IWHY?tag=battleforthew-20) have figured this out.
49820
The jury is still out on overheating, maximum clip length, and manual audio gain control, but...
Sony has never released a camera in the DSLR form-factor with a clip length over 29 minutes - and they would probably have mentioned manual audio gain control in the specs, but marketers sometimes make mistakes on early spec sheets (e.g., the VG20), so we'll see.
The A65, A77 and NEX-7 have mic inputs and no manual audio gain control, so it's doubtful that a new entry-level Alpha cam will have it - but one can hope.
Overall, this is a very competitive still camera with class-leading features such as lightning fast 12fps continuous shooting - but as a video camera, even if it produces great images (as the A65 and A77 do), it appears to have some serious limitations.
The GH3 watch continues...
But the downsides (for me) - it's bigger than the A55 (traditional DSLR size) because customers complained that the A55 grip was too small (see this (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xj7zeanvDNo) video), proprietary Alpha hot shoe (requires adapter for standard cold shoe mounted devices), no headphone jack in a post D800/5DMkIII world - and Sony continues their tradition of the tripod-unfriendly bottom-hinged LCD. C'mon, Sony, even the $625 body-only Canon T3i (http://www.amazon.com/Canon-T3i-Processor-Vari-Angle-Body/dp/B004M170YC?tag=battleforthew-20) and the $700 Nikon D5100 (http://www.amazon.com/Nikon-16-2MP-Digital-Vari-Angle-Monitor/dp/B004V4IWHY?tag=battleforthew-20) have figured this out.
49820
The jury is still out on overheating, maximum clip length, and manual audio gain control, but...
Sony has never released a camera in the DSLR form-factor with a clip length over 29 minutes - and they would probably have mentioned manual audio gain control in the specs, but marketers sometimes make mistakes on early spec sheets (e.g., the VG20), so we'll see.
The A65, A77 and NEX-7 have mic inputs and no manual audio gain control, so it's doubtful that a new entry-level Alpha cam will have it - but one can hope.
Overall, this is a very competitive still camera with class-leading features such as lightning fast 12fps continuous shooting - but as a video camera, even if it produces great images (as the A65 and A77 do), it appears to have some serious limitations.
The GH3 watch continues...