Boncrek
Well-known member
Cool. Sony FTW lol
Sony A77 release very soon - is this the 5D/7D/GH2 killer?
- Thread starter shorty15
- Start date
Cool. Sony FTW lol
ryan brown
lOwEr CaSe Member
Huh... makes sense I guess. I stand corrected. That's just what I've been reading around various forums in my "no so intensive" research these past couple of weeks. Maybe I should heed my own advice and not spread news unless I know the facts
John Caballero
Veteran
It is ok Ryan. We were not paying much attention to Sony DSLRS until now. We are learning fast in the last few days.
Nektonic
Veteran
So somebody tell me what the big advantages are to this A77 versus the upcoming Sony VG-20. Besides weather sealing, wouldn't something a little more video/movie camera-esque be more desirable to most users?
Hopefully this isn't a dumb question. I am not all that familiar with the Sony DSLR line.
Hopefully this isn't a dumb question. I am not all that familiar with the Sony DSLR line.
Boncrek
Well-known member
I asked the same question eariler in the thread but in reverse. I dont see the benefit of the VG20 compared to the A77.
Sure the VG20 has a shorter flange distance and can use any old manual lens but thats about it when it comes ot benefits to me.
The A77 offers 24MP, weathersealing, In-Body Stabalization, Full Time PHASE Autofocus during Video, Still Camera form factor.
This would be the better run n gun camera it seems.
The VG20 doesn't have a stabalized standard zoom lens option as of yet. Unless you add the adapter then maybe...
It depends on your uses for the camera.
For me I plan to be doing ALOT of run n gun and a true stills camera is needed for me ALONG with full 1080 video with autofocus and stabalization.
The VG20 (and FS100 by extension) seem more cinema-camera based at the moment.
Nektonic
Veteran
Yeah, a big plus in my eyes for the VG-20 is the more pro-video camera form factor. Sure it is not as fancy looking as something like an AF100, FS100, Canon XLH1, but it looks pretty slick and pro to me. I actually like the form factor and that it is smaller. A smaller camera like that will fit both my run and gun needs as well as shoots that are planned out and using a dolly and jib and all that jazz. Depending on what lens is mounted, plus an eyecup and a chamois I think it would be just enough to pass off as a pro-video camera for some of my professional work (events, corp). That and being able to adapt more variety of lenses to it than the A77. I suppose we'll have to see how bad the jello is. Hopefully not too bad.
I do like what the A77 has to offer though. I already have a DSLR, so I am covered on the stills side of things. Although, I do recognize the value of basically getting two cameras out of one (stills and video). The VG-20 can do stills, but it would feel kinda weird trying to do any serious photography work with a camera with that type of form factor. I do have to say though, that while the weather sealing is not one of the main factors I am looking for, it is certainly appreciated. Also, the way the LCD screen pulls out and up from the back surface of the A77 kinda freaked me out a bit at first. I was hoping for something more like how the 60D and GH2 have flip out LCD's, but now that it has had some time to sink in, I kinda like what Sony did with the LCD screen on this model.
I was contemplating an AF100 or FS100, but then decided not to spend that much right now and was about to order a GH2 to add to my Canon DSLR and XH-A1. Then I started reading up on the VG-20 and A77 info. Now the more I think of it, if the VG-20 turns out to be really good, and the price on the A77 ends up not too high, maybe I'll just get rid of the XH-A1 and get both the A77 and VG-20. Then I'd technically have two stills cameras and two high-def video cameras with 35mm depth of field.
I guess I'll just have to sit and wait a bit to see how good these two Sony cameras end up being.
Worst cased scenario... I've always got the GH2 to fall back on.
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Boncrek
Well-known member
Nice points all around lol
Yeah getting the VG20 seems to make sense with the A77.
The cost of the VG20 is a deterrent for me as well as it would cost (body only) the same as the A77 with kit lens.
My one and only dissapointment with the GH2 was the lack of a stabalized fast constant aperture zoom lens that offers autofocus.
If it had that then I'd be happy to live with the lower build quality or lower stills capability.
Alas the A77 is really turnging out to be a true GH2/7D killer.
I wouldn't get you hopes up to high. Sony is not going to want to hurt FS-100 sales.
Pietro Impagliazzo
Well-known member
Spec-wise it's looking like it's gonna fall between 7D and 5D price, no?
I'm curious about the A65, it could compete head to head with the GH considering price and features.
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Stephen Mick
Totally Usable
I believe SonyAlphaRumors says the A77 will be around $1200, body-only.
I'm also particularly interested in their 16-50mm f2.8 SSM zoom lens for around $800.
I'm also particularly interested in their 16-50mm f2.8 SSM zoom lens for around $800.
ryan brown
lOwEr CaSe Member
Really? I haven't even checked price rumors. I just figured 2K or more. If it lands at $1200, I'd probably pick one up just to have around
ryan brown
lOwEr CaSe Member
Assuming I see positive unbiased reviews and the likes...
Stephen Mick
Totally Usable
They do say "give or take $200," so who knows what the final price will be. The A55 is priced around $700, so I'd assume the A77 should come in around where the rumor sites are saying.
John Caballero
Veteran
The A65 according to rumors will have the same video specs as the A77. Few minor differences on the focusing points and such on the stills side and plastic body and no weather proofing. If it is so and the price is much lower I will get that one.
Boncrek
Well-known member
For me one of the advantages of some DSLRs over a traditional videocamera is the weathersealed body.
Thats not something a traditional videocamera body offers at all so I'll spend the extra funds if that helps make my gear last a little bit longer lol
Wonder what the bit depth of the sensor will be. Canon and Nikon are 14, from what I've read over at dpreview, Sony doesn't publish the bit depth, only the color space (sRGB,AdobeRGB). Reminded why I didn't purchase Sony DSLRs in the past. I'm guessing 10bit at best. Does anyone have better info on this?
Boncrek
Well-known member
How does this affect image quality when the video output is compressed anyways?
Is there enough of a difference to make refusing all the other benefits this camera offers worthwhile?
Assuming it is even 10bit I mean.
Im just concerned with what this camera can actually do and not what all the numbers say about this or that camera.
squig
Veteran
If it does have uncompressed HDMI out it's unlikely it will exceed the FS100 8bit 4:2:2 spec. Internally though the codec is identical to the FS100 AVCHD 4:2:0 24Mbit/s 1080p 24p and 28Mbit/s 1080p 60p. It's all going to come down to how sensitive this new sensor is and how the new processor deals with aliasing, moire, and rolling shutter.
As for the VG20, if it was modular like the FS100 and I could remove the mic/evf then I would consider it. I record all my sound with a PCM-D50 and a juicedlink pre-amp. The DSLR, FS100, and EPIC modular form factors are what filmmakers want. I don't like to carry anything I don't need and I setup my camera for each shoot and each shot. I can go fast and stealthy or I can go full cine rig. The light weight and swivel LCD are big pluses for flying and shoulder mounting the A77.
As for the VG20, if it was modular like the FS100 and I could remove the mic/evf then I would consider it. I record all my sound with a PCM-D50 and a juicedlink pre-amp. The DSLR, FS100, and EPIC modular form factors are what filmmakers want. I don't like to carry anything I don't need and I setup my camera for each shoot and each shot. I can go fast and stealthy or I can go full cine rig. The light weight and swivel LCD are big pluses for flying and shoulder mounting the A77.
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I'm referring to still image quality. Raw specifically. Sony has historically come up short to Canon and Nikon in that area. (A77,not referring to VG20).