[quote name='boren' timestamp='1282892489' post='2244']
So if the 18/3.5 had AF would you buy it? You do realize its DOF is larger than the faster & longer 24/2.8 (which does AF)?
Ghosting is a non-issue. Someone at the dpreview.com forum tried to show it at 200% magnification (!), and gave examples from extreme situations that were supposed to demonstrate it. I looked for it really hard, and I'm still not sure I can see it. You don't need to look hard to see the 550D struggling to focus in LV or Movie mode ;-)
A huge issue. I have seen the effects at normal print sizes, and especially with low light photography with light sources or bright highlights the ghosting issue is VERY real and problematic.
A more complete list of the Sony advantage would include these:
1. In-body IS that works with all lenses, including the short primes the OP is interested in (no equivalent in Canon)
2. Articulated LCD screen
Not an advantage, as the hinge is at the brain dead bottom position, like the Nikon D5000. Awfully stupid.
3. 10 fps (vs 3.7)
No, 3fps. its 6fps and 10fps modes are nearly unusable due to their implementation. And the AF system is too slow to really track subjects.
4. Real AF in movie mode (much faster, no constant hunting, reasonable tracking of moving subjects)
Real AF in movie mode is silly on DSLRs, for they have shallow DOF. It may work for home video small sensor camcorders. Not in DSLR video. And the aperture needs to be open for this! brr.
5. 100% Viewfinder
y
es, but a viewfinder of worse quality. I know which I would prefer (not the EVF from the A55). So, the 100% is nice, the quality is not.
6. Easy and accurate MF in the viewfinder (thanks to the LV magnification)
yes.
7. Fast AF in LV
yes. And the 550D has fast AF in OVF (EVF is always live view <img src='http://forum.photozone.de/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/wink.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='
' /> )
8. Sweep panorama
No. Silly P&S feature. If I want a DSLR for panoramas, I do want control over the process. Nice for P&S vacation shots, yes.
9. Usable ISO 25,000 thanks to multi-shot NR
10. Microphone port
same as the 550D.
11. $50 lower MSRP, $150 lower for the A33 (almost identical to the A55, except it's "only" 7 fps and 14 MP)
Sure.
I probably a missed a few others, but these would be enough for me to prefer the A55 (or go for the A33 and get a 35/1.8 for "free" ;-)).
Quite the opposite. Hinging the screen from the bottom is a better, more sensible design, it doesn't suffer from the two major problems of the side-hinge design:
1. The screen is not in-line with the lens. In fact, it's way out to the side - unlike any OVF (including reflex), EVF or regular non-articulated LCD. I find it very annoying to have to peek to the side of the camera instead of straight ahead.
Can't put the camera down on a surface. Can't put the camera on a tripod. Can't support the lens/camera in a normal way with the LCD out. Stupid position also with self portraits. It is STUPID.
2. The side-hinge screen prevents the left hand from getting a firm grip on the left side of the camera (like [url="http://img164.imageshack.us/img164/3572/cameralcdangledgb9.jpg"]this[/url]). It keeps getting in the way compared to top- or bottom-hinge screens which always remain on the back of the camera, where the left hand doesn't reach.
It is crazy to want to hold the camera on the left! You hold a camera on the right to operate the camera, and UNDER the lens to support the lens and camera and operate the lens.
The only advantage of the side hinge is in shooting self portraits when the camera is on a tripod. I'm not interested in that, but I maybe the OP does.
In what way? I think that PD-AF makes the A55 movie mode better for for most people.
Yes, it makes it better for HOME VIDEO where one does not have any idea about how awful that focus searching is on the screen.
But for that group, DSLR video with its shallow DOF is not a good choice in the first place.
EVF's have many useful advantages over OVF's. 100% accuracy and MF magnification are my favorite advantages, but there are plenty of others.
Like the obliteration of any detail in bright areas? Or the bad quality in low light? Or the problem of tracking at its higher FPS (6 and 10 fps modes)?
Maybe this was an issue in older pellicle SLR's, but it's a non-issue in the A55.
That is not true, it is a BIG problem for the A55/A33. very big. And real.
There are small A-mount lenses in all of these focal lengths, and unlike in Canon they all offer IS (via the body).
I don't considers DPP to be a major selling point, but maybe it is for the OP who is already using Canon and may be used to this software.
I think 35mm is outside the focal length ranges that the OP is looking for.
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I put my responses in bold, as the forum makes it difficult to quote and reply otherwise and I didn't feel like cut/pasting a lot. Sorry for that.
