Sony

Sony Alpha a550 DSLR

Sony will induct a new camera in the open houses that is named as Sony Alpha a550 DSLR that bundles along 14.3MP sensor with dimensions such as 137 x 104 x 84mm (5.5 x 4.2 x 3.9in), and weight 599g (1.5lb). This Alpha series a550 will be accompanied by its younger sister a500 that supports a 12.3MP sensor.

In these latest series, some of finer functionalities have been added in order to prove these cameras - powerful and sought after gizmos. Thus a 550 series is something exclusively reserved for those, who think a gadget entirely look chic than a conventional compact camera.

First of all the camera is intriguingly light weighted. In this new series, under the cover, it adds along a finer Bionz engine - that is helpful to reduce the picture noise.

Its sibling series a500 offers a shooting speed of 5fps, whilst you employ the optical viewfinder, swap on the LiveView although, and its speed becomes slower like 4fps.

Key Specs and Features

New 12.3/14.2 effective megapixel (A500/A550) CMOS sensor and new enhanced BIONZ processor for detail-packed, low-noise images with high sensitivity up to ISO 12800

High-speed continuous shooting up to 5fps (with optical viewfinder) and 7fps in Speed Priority mode (A550 only)

Enhanced Quick AF Live View captures fast-moving action, with Face Detection for beautiful portraits

180º tilt-angle 3? Xtra Fine LCD (A550) and intuitive new interface for clear, simple shooting

Manual Focus Check Live View mode for precise, convenient adjustment of focus and composition

Auto HDR mode for high dynamic range exposures

Class-leading shooting stamina (1,000 shots - A500)

HDMITM output and BRAVIATM Sync for control from TV remote

Sony DSLR-A550 & DSLR-A500 specifications

Sony DSLR-A550 Sony DSLR-A500

Body material Plastic exterior

Sensor • 23.4 x 15.6 mm APS-C Type CMOS Exmor Sensor

* RGB Color Filter Array

* Built-in fixed low-pass filter

* 14.6 million total pixels

* 14.2 million effective pixels 23.5 x 15.6 mm APS-C Type CMOS Exmor Sensor

* RGB Color Filter Array

* Built-in fixed low-pass filter

* 12.9 million total pixels

* 12.3 million effective pixels

Image sizes * 3:2

* 4592 x 3056 (L)

* 3344 x 2224 (M)

* 2288 x 1520 (S)

16:9

* 4592 x 2576 (L)

* 3344 x 1872 (M)

* 2288 x 1280 (S)

3:2

* 4272 x 2848 (L)

* 3104 x 2072 (M)

* 2128 x 1416 (S)

16:9

* 4272 x 2400 (L)

* 3104 x 1744 (M)

* 2188 x 1192 (S)

File qualities / formats • RAW (.ARW)

* RAW + JPEG Fine

* RAW + JPEG Standard

* JPEG Fine

* JPEG Standard

Dust reduction • Charge protection coating on low-pass filter

* Sensor-shift dust reduction mechanism

Lenses • Sony Alpha lenses

(also compatible with Minolta and Konica -Minolta AF lenses)

FOV crop 1.5x

SteadyShot INSIDE • CCD-Shift ‘SteadyShot Inside’ system

* Claimed equivalent to 2.5 - 3.5 steps in shutter speed

Auto Focus • TTL CCD line sensors (9-points,with center cross sensor)

* EV 0 to 18 (ISO 100) detection range

* Predictive focus, Focus Lock

AF area selection • Wide AF area

* Spot AF area (center)

* Focus area selection (any of 9)

Focus modes • Single-shot AF

* Continuous AF

* Automatic AF

* Manual focus

AF assist

illuminator

• Yes (using built in flash)

* Range approx 1m - 5m

Eye-start AF Yes, selectable from menu

Shooting modes • Programmed AE (Auto, Flash off, P)

* Aperture priority AE

* Shutter priority AE

* Manual

* Scene Selection

Scene modes • Portrait

* Landscape

* Macro

* Sports

* Sunset

* Night view/portrait

Sensitivity • Auto (ISO 200-1600)

* Manual ISO 200- ISO 12800 in 1 EV steps

Metering modes • Multi-segment (40 segment Honeycomb pattern)

* Center-weighted

* Spot

Metering range • TTL metering

* 40-segment honeycomb-pattern SPC

* EV 2 to 20 (Multi-segment / Center-weighted) *

* EV 4 to 20 (Spot metering) *

(at ISO 100 with F1.4 lens)

AE Lock • AEL button (customizable, hold or single-press)

* Half-press shutter release

AE Bracketing • Single or continuous bracketing

* 3 frames

* 0.3 or 0.7 EV steps

Exposure compen. • -2.0 to +2.0 EV

* 0.3 EV steps

Shutter Electronically-controlled, vertical-traverse, focal-plane Shutter

Shutter Speed • 30 to 1/4000 sec

* Bulb

Flash X-sync • 1/160 sec

Aperture values Depends on lens, 0.3 EV steps

DOF preview No

White balance • Auto

* Daylight

* Shade

* Cloudy

* Incandescent

* Fluorescent

* Flash

* Color temperature/filter (2500 - 9900 K)

* Manual (Custom)

White balance fine tuning • Auto (none)

* Preset WB: -3 to +3

* Fluorescent WB: -1 to +2

* Color temperature WB: G9 to M9 (Magenta to Green)

White balance bracketing • 3 exposures

* Hi / Lo level selectable

Dynamic range optimizer • Off

* D-Range Optimizer (Auto, Lv 1-5)

* Auto HDR (Auto, Ajustable up to 3 EV betwwen 1.0-3.0 EV in 0.5 EV steps)

Color space • sRGB

* Adobe RGB

Color modes • Standard

* Vivid

* Portrait

* Landscape

* Sunset

* B&W

Image parameters • Contrast (-3 to +3)

* Sharpness (-3 to +3))

* Saturation (-3 to +3)

Noise reduction • Long exposure for exposures longer than 1 second

* High ISO NR at ISO 1600 or higher

* User controllable: On / Off

Viewfinder * • Eye-level fixed optical glass pentamirror

* Spherical Acute Matte focusing screen

* Magnification approx. 0.80x *

* 95% frame coverage

* Dioptric adjustment (-3.0 to +1.0)

* Eye-relief 19 mm from eyepiece, 15 mm from frame*

* Eyepiece cup removable

* Viewfinder info bar

Live view (Quick AF Live View) * • Dedicated live view sensor (pentamirror tilt system)

* 1200 zone evaluative metering

* Sensitivity 1-17 EV*

* 90% frame coverage

* Exposure and white balance simulation

* Face Detection and Smile Shutter*

* Smart Teleconverter (x1.4 / x2.0 slectable)*

* Display: Histogram, eal-time image adjustment display (White balance, Sunset/ B&W of Creative Style, Exposure Compensation)

Live view (MF Check Live View) * • Live View with CMOS sensor Exmor

* Metering varies according to shooting mode

* 100% frame coverage

* Display: Real-time image adjustment display (White balance, Sunset/ B&W of Creative Style, Exposure Compensation)

* Zoom (x7.0/x14.0), Grid line display

LCD monitor * • 3.0 TFT Xtra Fine LCD

* 921,600 dots

* Auto Brightness Control (auto setting in 2 steps)

* Manual settting in 5 steps 3.0 TFT Clear Photo LCD Plus

* 230,400 dots

* Auto Brightness Control (auto setting in 2 steps)

* Manual settting in 5 steps

Flash * • Built-in pop-up flash (manual release)

* Metering: ADI, Pre-flash TTL, Manual flash control

* Guide number 12 (ISO 100/m)

* Angle of coverage 18 mm (35 mm equiv.)*

* Flash sync 1/160 sec

Flash modes • Off

* Auto

* Fill Flash

* Rear Sync

* Slow sync

* Wireless/High Speed Sync.

Flash Bracketing 3 exposures in 0.3 and 0.7 EV steps

Flash compensation -2.0 to +2.0 EV in 0.3 EV steps

External flash (optional) • Sony HVL-F58AM

* Sony HVL-F56AM

* Sony HVL-F42AM

* Sony HVL-F36AM

Drive modes • Single-frame

* Continuous

* Speed-Priority*

* Self-timer (10 or 2 sec)

Continuous

shooting • Approx 5 fps max (4 fpsin Live view)

* Speed- Priority: 7 fps max

* RAW: Up to 14 frames

* RAW+JPEG: Up to 7 frames

* JPEG (Fine): 32 frames

* JPEG (Standard): 116 frames Approx 5 fps max (4 fps in Live view)

* RAW: Up to 6 frames

* RAW+JPEG: Up to 3 frames

* JPEG (Fine): 12 frames

* JPEG (Standard): 58 frames

Self-timer • 10 sec

* 2 sec

Orientation sensor Yes, for shooting, playback and control panel display

Connectivity • USB 2.0 Hi-Speed (mass storage, Multi-LUN or PTP)

* DC-IN

* Remote terminal

Remote control • Wired: with optional RM-S1AM or RM-L1AM

Video out • AV (Selectable NTSC or PAL)

* HDMI

* ‘PhotoTV’ HD settings applied with BRAVIA.

Storage • SD/ SDHC

* Memory Stick Pro Duo / Pro HG Duo

* Supports FAT12 / FAT16 / FAT32

Power • NP-FM500H Lithium-Ion rechargeable battery (1650 mAh)

* Battery charger included

* Optional AC adapter

* Batter life Approx 950 shots with viewfinder, 480 in Live view mode (CIPA standard) NP-FM500H Lithium-Ion rechargeable battery (1650 mAh)

* Battery charger included

* Optional AC adapter

* Batter life Approx 1000 shots with viewfinder, 520 in Live view mode (CIPA standard)

Vertical grip • Yes (model tbc)

Dimensions 137 x 104 x 84mm (5.5 x 4.2 x 3.9 in)

Weight (body) 599 g (1.5lb) 597g (1.5lb)