SLT as opposed to SLR - Sony A33 (kinda urgent)

Azure · 24 Jan 2011

Hello All

Please can anyone help me or give me advice.

I've been out camera hunting and found a camera that fitted very nicely in my hands - the Sony A33 SLT. I have problems with my hands (arms and shoulders too) and these big heavy cameras are a bit too much when I shoot for quite a few hours at a time.

I had a lot of plays with quite a few different cameras, makes and models today - of course, fell in love with the Nikon D90... but 'heh... :nono: on the money side... and maaaan, it was heavy!

so, I already have a Sony A200 + the 75-300 lens and a Sony trigger and I'm very used to the controls, which the A33 SLT pretty much mirrors - whereas all the other cameras I tried...well, that would be a whole new learning curve

So, does anyone know anything about the SLT as opposed to an SLR and do y'all have any advice for me please. I've briefly read up about it but... can someone explain it to me a little less technically please.

You can be brutal if you wish re opposition to SLT - I had never heard of an SLT before so it's all new to me.

The priorities for me are the weight, size (it matters ya know

) and live view with a rotating screen for when I do my bugs. The plan is to also get either the Tamron 90 or 105 too which I've been advised will be coco for macro.

Many thanks for any help...

<This is the one I'm looking at
http://www.sony.co.uk/product/dsi-body-and-2-lenses/slt-a33y>

wicker_man · 24 Jan 2011

The main issues I've heard about the SLT cameras are the fact that you lose 1/3 stop of light, and they have an EVF instead of a proper optical viewfinder. I can't really comment any further as I've never used one properly.

lexie · 24 Jan 2011

the a33 and a55 seemed to get pretty good reviews from what i've read. the burst rate is good at 7fps, it has autofocus hd video capability and is small and light. i looked at it in jessops when i was getting some photos printed and it seemed like a pretty clever piece of kit, but far too small for my hands. my a390 is small in my hands and the a33 felt a fair bit smaller than that again. if small is what you're after i don't think you'll get a more compact dslr. the size and lightness is down to the fact it has a semi-translucient mirror rather than a mirror-box like a dslr, this also lets it have a fast burst rate because of the lack of mirror to move.

some(possibly all) sigma lenses will need sent back to be rechipped to work with it from what i've heard, i'm not sure about the tamron lenses. the older minolta lenses are compatible so you so could pick up some bargains like the 50mm f1.7 prime if you haven't already got one.

it sounds like a step up from the a200 so i say go for it,

roseway · 24 Jan 2011

One big downer is that it eats batteries. If you were going out on a full day's shooting you would be well advised to take at least two fully charged spares.

suggs · 24 Jan 2011

did you have a look at the Sony NEX range, they would fit your bill i think or the Olympus Pen range or any of the other compact system cameras..

Best buy were doing the Sony NEX 5 for £350 a few weeks ago, think they deals still on until the end of the month..

lexie · 24 Jan 2011

suggs said:
did you have a look at the Sony NEX range, they would fit your bill i think or the Olympus Pen range or any of the other compact system cameras..

Best buy were doing the Sony NEX 5 for £350 a few weeks ago, think they deals still on until the end of the month..

you can get an alpha-mount adaptor as well so that's a good shout

smartidog · 24 Jan 2011

Hi Azure,
There is a review on dp review site on the A55 which scores 76% putting it in the good to excellent category, may be worth a read if you have not seen it already.

Jon

Azure · 24 Jan 2011

wicker_man said:
The main issues I've heard about the SLT cameras are the fact that you lose 1/3 stop of light, and they have an EVF instead of a proper optical viewfinder. I can't really comment any further as I've never used one properly.

Thank you - yep, have been reading up and am not sure how not having the optical viewfinder would affect me. Hmmmmm :thinking:

lexie said:
the a33 and a55 seemed to get pretty good reviews from what i've read. the burst rate is good at 7fps, it has autofocus hd video capability and is small and light. i looked at it in jessops when i was getting some photos printed and it seemed like a pretty clever piece of kit, but far too small for my hands. my a390 is small in my hands and the a33 felt a fair bit smaller than that again. if small is what you're after i don't think you'll get a more compact dslr. the size and lightness is down to the fact it has a semi-translucient mirror rather than a mirror-box like a dslr, this also lets it have a fast burst rate because of the lack of mirror to move.

some(possibly all) sigma lenses will need sent back to be rechipped to work with it from what i've heard, i'm not sure about the tamron lenses. the older minolta lenses are compatible so you so could pick up some bargains like the 50mm f1.7 prime if you haven't already got one.

it sounds like a step up from the a200 so i say go for it,

thank you - had a good play with the panoramic and super fast fps - it did feel good in my hands too which is what I need - they didn't have a 390 there to try (there was a 290 but that didn't have a live view so that's a no go) - but I'm still considering whether a 390 would be a wise choice. I didn't realise the tamron may not be compatible - I would need to find that out... where would I find that out - mebbe phone a Sony store????

roseway said:
One big downer is that it eats batteries. If you were going out on a full day's shooting you would be well advised to take at least two fully charged spares.

Thank you - whenever I go I take hundreds of shots at a time, mostly bracketed right now, so yep, with the live view I would imagine it would eat batteries... hmmm... that's another thing to consider....

suggs said:
did you have a look at the Sony NEX range, they would fit your bill i think or the Olympus Pen range or any of the other compact system cameras..

Best buy were doing the Sony NEX 5 for £350 a few weeks ago, think they deals still on until the end of the month..

Yes - thankyou - I tried the Nex 5 - it was OK - it felt a bit strange holding it tho as I'm used to wrapping my hand around a camera and I've very gnarled hands so I don't know if I would find it comfortable for the amount I use a camera. I also struggled a bit with the menu system on it. However, I could see that it will prolly be a good seller as a quick compact camera for anyone not wanting an SLR. It did feel soooo different to holding my camera - I'm not sure I would be able to get used to it - but it was on sale around £370 if I remember correctly.

They didn't have a range of Olympus there - but ooooooooooh, they had a gorgeous Pentax.... but way too heavy. I think I need to find a store with the Olympus as I've been told about them.

Many thanks...

<very impulsive now I have played with some other models and desperate to get a new camera tonight.... and.I.know.I.must.not.do.that :nono: >

Azure · 24 Jan 2011

lexie said:
you can get an alpha-mount adaptor as well so that's a good shout

see this is where I don't know what I'm doing - I don't know what fits what or where or whatever....arrrrrrrrrrgh

smartidog said:
Hi Azure,
There is a review on dp review site on the A55 which scores 76% putting it in the good to excellent category, may be worth a read if you have not seen it already.

Jon

Hey Jon, didn't see the A55 - I think it is a slightly heavier one... going to go and have a read up on that one and do a compare... thank you

Azure · 24 Jan 2011

wow - www sites give differing info on the specs... I just read on one that the A55 had a max of 30s exp (which doesn't seem right at all) whereas another site says it does do bulb... :thinking:

suggs · 24 Jan 2011

The Panasonic DMC range is worth a look too..

Azure · 24 Jan 2011

I do love the Panasonic range. I have a P-Lumix DMC TZ3 compact that lives in my pocket (hence it's broke at the mo, exposure has bust) and it's prolly the best camera I've had (for years now) as a point and shoot and whilst paragliding and other such stuff - the perfect compact. I'm pretty loyal to Panasonic too.... but but but...

Have looked at the GH1 but it starts to increase in price and again, my other lens and trigger etc can't be used on another make... so, tho I'd very much love that, don't think I can do that too as well as getting a macro lens.

Decisions decisions

I know I will end up pushing a 'buy' button shortly - just don't want to make a mistake when this amount of dosh is involved.

BacktotheFuji · 24 Jan 2011

Looks like the A55 has better high ISO performance than the A33. Both with be far more familiar to you than a NEX or other viewfinderless camera IMO.

It would be worth spending a good period of time in a shop with one to be sure that an EVF (electronic viewfinder) is the right path for you. It looks a very interesting technology, with configurable on screen display items and a live zoom, but of course is different to an OVF (optical viewfinder) in resolution and doesn't handle panning quite so well (according to reviews).

The size of the body may be the biggest factor to sway you, as it's smaller than an a200.

suggs · 24 Jan 2011

Mate, sleep on it and order tomorrow otherwise you may just rush in to the wrong new toy

srichards · 24 Jan 2011

Check out the dyxum site for whether the lens you have is SLT compatible.

The panasonic bridge cameras are nice. FZ45 or FZ100. Both 300 ish or just under. Will be light and no beggaring about swapping lenses either

Azure · 24 Jan 2011

Ha - my mind is boggling!!!!!

I think I've kinda made my mind up that it will be the A33 or 55 - one thing I found with the A33 is that zooming in and out could be a little jerky - it's not smooth like mine - but... mebbe that's a getting used to thing. I think I'd have to go and try it again and see if they will let me take it outside to have a take some outoor shots.

The A55 sings and dances, but I don't know if I really need 10fps...and actually, having the GPS... that's maybe not such a cool idea for me - not sure if I want folk to know exactly where I am

- but that's a personal thing!

Oh, but I do want a new camera now - I gotta work the next 3 days so... Friday will be D-day - need as much advice as poss before that.

Would be good to know if anyone has actually used on here - I just read a review that a Nat Geo photographer (famous I think, but whaddoIknow) wrote and he was well impressed with the A55.

Also need to find out for sure whether the lens I already have will go on - they did assure me it would at the store... and then what tamron to get - either 90 or 105... 90 prolly.

Gosh, who knew I'd have so many questions!

Thanks to all who have responded. Any other thoughts, please do let me know.

Azure · 24 Jan 2011

srichards said:
Check out the dyxum site for whether the lens you have is SLT compatible.

The panasonic bridge cameras are nice. FZ45 or FZ100. Both 300 ish or just under. Will be light and no beggaring about swapping lenses either

Have been reading up on the dyxum site - there are just so many differing opinions - it's hard to make a judgement - I need to have another play I think.

Been very good - not pushed a 'buy' button yet