Comments on: Sony A550

By: JoAnn Null

JoAnn Null — Sun, 02 Jan 2011 12:22:37 +0000

Finally moved up to a DSLR after LOVING my Sony H-9. Chose the a300 a couple of years ago; with it I bought 2 lenses, and a Sony flash. This year, after reading about it, I purchased the a550 – I really love this camera! I have been using the MF Check LV feature, and I am getting really, really sharp pictures. Bought the H-9 for a concert because I could hold the camera over my head – worked great, and I wanted that feature again, thus the 550. Just purchased a very good camera for movies, so I was not interested in a DSLR that shoots video. Overall, VERY happy with this camera and would recommend it!

By: mark davies

mark davies — Mon, 02 Aug 2010 05:30:07 +0000

Hi Guys, I have just bought the hvl-f58am flash unit for my a550 and just have to say what a superb addition it is!! I tried cheaper generic brands and while they were ‘useable’ (just) they are not a patch on what this can do! I would strongly advise anyone in the market for a flash to go that little further and buy one of these it’s worth the investment!
I was going to put a couple of pictures on that I have been playing with but don’t seem to be able to, is there a way to do this?
cheers
Mark.

By: mark davies

mark davies — Sun, 01 Aug 2010 01:15:39 +0000

hi Elena,
I do a lot of sports stuff with my a550 and occasional work for the local rag,
at the swimming i use a Sigma DG 70-300mm f:4-5.6, this gets easily to lane 4 and useable shots from lane 8.
at the skate park i use a Sigma EX 10-20mm f:4-5.6 DC, this gives great coverage when the guys get close,
For the soccer i use a Sigma 500mm f/4.5 EX DG APO HSM (this was quite expensive but i needed the speed for the action!)
my generally most used lens is a Sony DT 4-5.6 55-200 SAM, I find this a great little lens and apart from close stuff it’s great for most sports and other stuff ( I was shooting a play for the local acting group with it last night, just had to vary shutter and apertures for various lighting but got some fantastic shots!)
I would suggest you set your picture mode to fine and or raw (if you can work with raw files ) and for sport stuff I work in the aperture priority mode and set it to the highest I can ie f:4 and a film speed of 400 – 1600 iso depending on the light ect and just have a play with it, You’l get to love it as much as I have! And because you’re recording at around 13.5 M you can really get in with the crops if you need to. just remember the higher you set your iso the more ‘noise’ you will get in the picture,but just play and enjoy there is so much more to this camera that you can use as you progress and get more familiar with it, the salesman did you a favour I recon.
Cheers
Mark.

By: Elena

Elena — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 01:49:25 +0000

am new to Dslr. A salesman convinced me to get ‘ the Sony 550 since I wanted a faster camera for kids’ sports and better indoor shots for new baby.The indoor shots are great, but the lens don’t give me as much zoom as my granddaughter’s Nikon Coolpix 5x zoom. What lens do you use for zooming in on soccer games or track and field from the stands, for example.

By: mark davies

mark davies — Mon, 26 Apr 2010 04:15:08 +0000

Hi grtz marc,

thanks for that you have solved the problem for me! Superb!

It would have taken me ages to see what that did!!
I am enjoying the camera even more now thats sorted.

While Im on can you recommend a reasonably priced flash? Mainly for portrait work.

Again , thanks

Mark

By: marc

marc — Sun, 25 Apr 2010 19:13:08 +0000

Hi Mark

Check the manual on page 71to deselect the eye start AF. When you are looking thruw the viewer the camera automatcally is focusing.

maybe it works grtz marc

By: marc

marc — Sun, 25 Apr 2010 19:08:54 +0000

Hi Mark

The camera has the function to automatic focusing when you are looking thruw the viewer. this is the fabric setting maybe thats wrong. see page 71 off the manual (eye start AF). try to selct the off setting and give it a try.

grtz marc

By: Dunderwood

Dunderwood — Mon, 05 Apr 2010 18:47:12 +0000

Yes as long as they are branded for Minolta/Sony AF and not for Nikon or Canon.

By: Emmanuel O

Emmanuel O — Mon, 05 Apr 2010 14:09:35 +0000

Am on my way to acquiring a Sony A550. I have in stock Tamron lenses like the Tamron AF28-300mm F/3.5-6.3, SP AF 10-24MM, etc. Can these lenses work with this camera?

By: mark davies

mark davies — Mon, 05 Apr 2010 00:15:33 +0000

The Sony A550 is my first DSLR and I love it! I have had several 35-mm SLRs and found the move across to digital easier than I expected. Thanks to the price of the A550 I was also able to buy a selection of lenses and really start playing with all the cameras features, I agree the screen needs cleaning frequently but as I only use this to view the shots it’s not a major problem as I find the screen is a little small to really see the photo anyway. I have also bought the twin battery carrier as I wanted the extra time for usage while I use it as I do a lot of sports photography, although the battery only actually ran flat on me once without me noticing the warning indicator and changing it in time.
My only critical comment would be the autofocus is a little jumpy for my liking in certain circumstances, it seems to refocus at the wrong point just as you shoot on occasions but I guess I will work around that or maybe it’s something I’m doing wrong!
In general this camera has given me so much pleasure over the past months I have regained my enthusiasm in photography as a whole and have just enrolled in a course of photo-imaging to broaden my knowledge and ability to use the camera more fully!
I would recommend this model to anyone entering or upgrading in the digital field