Sony DSLR-A550 14.2 MP Digital SLR Camera

Comments about Sony DSLR-A550 14.2 MP Digital SLR Camera:

I had old Minolta lenses from my Minolta camera so the choice was taken from there - and I don't regret it a second. Great pictures, easy to use. Only flaw is the close distance between the on/off switch and the shutter speed/aperture selection button. It has happened a few times I shut the camera off instead changing setting.

Comments about Sony DSLR-A550 14.2 MP Digital SLR Camera:

I bought the Alpha 550 for 2 years after using the Alpha 350, today I decided to work with professional photography and am enjoying it a lot of features, ease and speed of the Sony Alpha 550 really that surprising. It has a good grip, is larger than the Canon 550 D, faster and live view with mobile display is great for photographing children and objects that are closer to the ground.

Comments about Sony DSLR-A550 14.2 MP Digital SLR Camera:

I purchased the a550 as an upgrade from the a100 after doing research to find the highest model I could get without going full frame and having to invest in new lenses.

I primarily use the camera for 2 different types of photographer - live performance and architectural still photography. The a550 has exceeded my expectations in both instances.

For the performance photography, my main objectives with the camera are speed and being able to use the camera hand-held in low light situations. The a550 works extremely well in low light and allows me to work as low as ISO 800 using aperture priority and still get a steady shot. I don't use the LCD for this type of photography. I was looking forward to the high ISO noise reduction that SONY advertised but was disappointed to see that it only applies to JPGs, something I never shoot.

For architectural photography, my main objectives with the camera are steady shots, low ISO and high f-stop for sharp photos. With a good tripod, and using the LCD and Manual Focus Check LV function, I can now get the sharpest and best focus photos ever.

The body is still nice and light, making my camera pack easy to carry, but SONY made one big mistake with this model. They moved the selector dial right in front of the On/Off dial at the top of the camera. Many times when I have gone to change the shutter speed on my shot I have accidentally shut my camera off. I do hope they've changed this in future models. Also annoying was having them change the battery design and go from Compact Flash to SDHC memory cards - so all my investment in the a100 accessories such as extra battery and 8 memory cards was not useful and I had to start over.

I still recommend the investment to upgrade to this camera if you're using the a100, a350, or a500.

Comments about Sony DSLR-A550 14.2 MP Digital SLR Camera:

I have enjoyed using this camera, and there are many features that I like about it. Such as being able to fold the LCD panel on the back of the body up or down for viewing at difficult angles. I also like the way the controls are laid out and the size of the LCD panel. Another likeable feature is the High Dymanic Range adjustment.
Sony did not include a PC connection, or a standard hot shoe on the body. Sony has their own hot shoe fitting. The camera starts at ISO 200, instead of 100. The one thing that I like least about the body is the placement of the control dial.Which is too close to the on and off switch. Which has presented problems, because instead of reaching for the control dial, I cut the camera off. Over all, the camera is user friendly and is really great for low light shooting, because it is designed for obtaining good picture quality at high ISO settings.

Comments about Sony DSLR-A550 14.2 MP Digital SLR Camera:

I am an amature that loves wildlife photography. I take lots of macro shots. This camera focuses very quickly. It keeps in focus as I chase dragonflies around the air. I am using the same lenses I used with my A100 so I'm comparing apples to apples. 7 fps is great! Liveview works great for low shots that used to put me flat of my belly on the ground. Don't mind getting on the ground but don't miss muddy shirts! Still adjusting to finding buttons that I used to use without looking but that's just a matter of time until I get them down. Built in stabilization is a good Sony standard!

Comments about Sony DSLR-A550 14.2 MP Digital SLR Camera:

Very Easy To Use, Fast Shutter Speed, Good Image Quality, Good Image Stabilization, Large Clear LCD

Comments about Sony DSLR-A550 14.2 MP Digital SLR Camera:

For the photographer, like myself, with a variety of Minolta and other brands of minolta mount, full fame and digital smaller sensor there is no better solution. The camera handles great, provides most of the needed functions readily available, and its real view beats the competition.
I will for sure keep it when i move up to the a750?

Comments about Sony DSLR-A550 14.2 MP Digital SLR Camera:

I bought this camera as an upgrade from my Sony a300. I needed better ISO performance in low light for sports like baseball, softball, football, and basketball. I've gained at least 3 stops of light with the improved ISO. I firmly believe Sony is on the right track as far as low noise images and this camera proves it. Before I had to time my shots for the action and missed out on a lot of important moments but now with the 7fps I can make sure I get the right shot and deliver better photos for the newspaper I work for.

Comments about Sony DSLR-A550 14.2 MP Digital SLR Camera:

I brought this baby to upgrade my a300 and is AMAZING!. LCD is very sharp and accurate, great speed, great new function and features. Awesome long exposure bulb mode. With two Live View modes and quick continuous shooting at up to 7fps. The best of the Best on mid-range Sony alpha series DSLRs. This baby don't have video mode, but come on a DSLR was made for top range photography. If you want take video as well just by a ponit and shoot camera with video capable.

Comments about Sony DSLR-A550 14.2 MP Digital SLR Camera:

I am just someone who enjoys taking photos of outdoor scenes and wildlife. Enjoy taking pics of old buildings, lighthouses, and ghost towns. The camera is very responsive and not at all hard to use. Manual is fairly easy to understand and I also purchased the Sony a550 Magic Latern Guides for additional help if needed.I purchased the Sony SAL18250 lens so I can use it for every thing and not have to change lenses back and forth. Haven't found anything that I don't like yet.

Comments about Sony DSLR-A550 14.2 MP Digital SLR Camera:

I bought this as an upgrade from an A200. I have had it a few weeks and am up and running with it already. I got some great shots of a heron and turtles at a local lake. I like the setup better than the 200. I'm glad I bought it.

Comments about Sony DSLR-A550 14.2 MP Digital SLR Camera:

So far, I've only experimented in my backyard garden (with wildlife)to test drive the features on this camera. The settings are fairly easy--important functions like ISO are directly available. The steady shot function is amazingly good, as are the readouts. Fast shutter response (important with wildlife). My major concern is the speed with which the battery is drawn down.

Comments about Sony DSLR-A550 14.2 MP Digital SLR Camera:

I've had 6 Minolta lenses sitting in my closet for 15-20 years.I believe Minolta never came out with a dslr. Sony dslr's accept all my Minolta lenses. They not only autofocus well, they are also image stabilized as this camera has image stabilization built into the camera. I'm extremely happy with this new found "old" system. If anybody has these lenses hanging around like i do, you should give it a try. My wide angles, macros, portrait and 500 mirror lenses are all sharp with image stabilization.

Comments about Sony DSLR-A550 14.2 MP Digital SLR Camera:

Portrate
lanscape
fashion photography
easy to learn and use
uses all my Minolta Maxxum 9 lens

Comments about Sony DSLR-A550 14.2 MP Digital SLR Camera:

I bought this camera as a second smaller back up camera to my retiring Maxxum 7D which i still use. Side by side with some minor tweaking they give beautiful results. I reach for A550 when i need to work fast and it delivers. Shooting Raw is definitely a step up in quality in A550.
So far shot 2 wedding, 4 portrait session and used it more than 6 full days in studio work over the month I had it.
- Battery is really hard to kill, barely used 25% for some 600 shots in studio
and it took a full day of wedding shooting to get it to 15% with roughly 900 frames in RAW
- AF is great, especially in live view where it recognizes faces
- The LIVE View on this camera is something that I use quite often for those funny angles and really amazing composition possibilities (major factor for choosing this camera) AF, exposure and fast operation work excellent in live view.
- Color and detail - rich and easy to work with to get excellent results in PS
Highly Recommended as a smaller, lighter but very fast second body, travel and FUN.
Very fast response to the shutter button - Action Camera for sure!!!

Comments about Sony DSLR-A550 14.2 MP Digital SLR Camera:

Highlights:
- It's quiet, well laid out and easy to use.
- Photo quality is excellent.
- It's not heavy
- Love the DRO and the HDR in the camera
- b/w mode is great
- 7 frames / second!

Thoughts for improvement:
- I wish the LCD swiveled as well as tilted.
- The zoom in LCD review mode could be easier to access.
- I'd like them to have a version that incorporated the vertical grip.

I'm very pleased with this camera!

Comments about Sony DSLR-A550 14.2 MP Digital SLR Camera:

the Sony A550 DSLR is my 6th DSLR. I purchased it two weeks ago and so far shot 4 basketball playoff games, 2 softball games , 1 men's Lacrosse match and 1 women's Lacrosse match. So far I am very pleased with it, Basketball shot at 3200 ISO Lacrosse & softball 400 ISO and very pleased with the results, thinking of selling a couple other DSLR's and getting another A550

Comments about Sony DSLR-A550 14.2 MP Digital SLR Camera:

I am still learning its features but I am so glad I bought it as soon as I got back from Japan....I fell in love with this "gem" at the SONY Show room in Tokyo last month. They had this camera there on display snapping pictures every few seconds as people were passing by smiling, kids jumping, moving their hands and faces in front of it...and on a giant screen near by you could see the pictures taken, in low light and with crazy moves, none of them was blurry; I could not believe that such camera exists!

Comments about Sony DSLR-A550 14.2 MP Digital SLR Camera:

cool product

Comments about Sony DSLR-A550 14.2 MP Digital SLR Camera:

Fast Live View is amazing. Don't be fooled by other manufacturer's implementation which is SLOW, just remember older Point & Shoot's slow shutter release and you get the idea. With the A550's super hi-res articulated LCD screen this is the absolute ONLY 'shoot high', 'shoot low', 'shoot from the waist' camera on the market today. There is no #2.

The image quality is fantastic, particularly at high ISO, and even there the A550's noise pattern is ideal for noise reduction software. It cleans up nice. Perhaps one or two other dSLRs on the market test out at slightly better image quality under lab testing. But, I find that the A550's fast focus and accurate exposure metering results in a much higher percentage of 'keepers' at the end of the day than any other camera so in practical use the A550 image quality is the equal of all.

The camera does not do Video so if that is an important feature to you this is not your camera. But if video is not why you are purchasing a dSLR, then with in-body image stabilization, in-camera multi-shot High Dynamic Range, manual focus check live view, 7 frames per second speed, face detection and a host of other features this camera is UNBEATABLE! And, it is just plain fun to use.