CHOLLY Loc: THE FLORIDA PANHANDLE!

Focus peaking and focus magnification works EXTREMELY well on Sony cameras. And if you don't need AF, then using those old MF lenses on your new camera does give you creative options.

Quantus5

I do a lot of manual focusing, and "focus peaking" and "focus Magnification" are completely awesome to help you with manual focus!!! Both the Sony SLT (Single Lens Translucent) cameras and Sony mirrorless cameras have focus peaking and focus magnification.

Focus Peaking = The detection of edges of highest contrast in your scene (and therefore most in focus) and highlighting them in a bright color, usually of your choice.

Focus Magnification = Sometime focus peaking is not accurate enough. This is where Focus Magnification comes in. While focusing on the target, the camera magnifies on the pre-selected area to help you insure spot on autofocus.

These two features combined allow you to manually focus with extreme accuracy.

Note: You do not need an EVF to do focus peaking or focus magnification. Cameras that support both of these features can do it both in live view (the LCD screen) and in the EVF (electronic View Finder)

Quantus5

Some great responses on the whole SLT thing. Yes the A99, and other cameras like the A77 and A65 are DSLT (Digital Single-Lens Translucent) Camera. SLT cameras are definitely not DSLRs. The "R" Reflex in DSLRs means that the mirror moves out of the way to take the picture. DSLT cameras have a mirror, but the mirror doesn't move. Mirrorless cameras as the name implies, do not have mirrors.

Note: That there are even other types of cameras, that are very uncommon these days. Rangefinder cameras and TLR (Twin Lens Reflex).

From Wikipedia:

"Single-Lens Translucent (SLT) is a Sony proprietary designation for Sony Alpha cameras which employ a pellicle mirror, electronic viewfinder, and phase-detection autofocus system."

Note: The term "translucent" is a misnomer for the actual SLT design, which employs a pellicle mirror that is not translucent. Pellicle mirrors have been used in single-lens reflex cameras from at least the 1960s (see Canon Pellix)."

Explaning "pellicle" mirrors is complicated. I can, but better if you are interested look it up on the Internet. The basic idea of the Sony SLT cameras is that most of the light (like 90%) goes through the mirror to the sensor and some of the light gets bounced into the autofocus sensor system. It's an interesting concept. Very innovative.

Quantus5

I did find a good simple definition of a pellicle mirror.

From Wikipeda:

"A pellicle mirror (diminutive of pellis, a skin or film) is an ultra-thin, ultra-lightweight semi-transparent mirror employed in the light path of an optical instrument, splitting the light beam into two separate beams, both of reduced light intensity."

So basically a "semi-transparent" mirror.

Note: the word translucent is not used in the definition of a pellicle mirror. This is where it gets hazy in a sense because the definition of translucent is: "(of a substance) allowing light, but not detailed images, to pass through; semitransparent". So note the part of the definition of "translucent" that says "but not detailed images". That's why the Wikipedia article was saying "Translucent" was a misnomer, and the mirror is really a pellicle mirror.

Ok -- I probably beat this like a dead horse -- and bored most of you. :-)

And if you're not bored by now, great Wikipedia article that describes with very precise detail the terms: Transparency and Translucency. I can give you the quick summary: The correct term for the type of mirrors that the Sony SLT cameras have is "Semi Transparent" or "Pellicle" mirrors, not "Translucent" mirrors. Probably the Sony marketing team thought the use of the word "Translucent" was a little cooler. They just stretched the term a little bit. I probably would too. :-)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transparency_and_translucency

Peterff Loc: O'er The Hills and Far Away, in Themyscira.

I agree with the functionality arguments here, if not the capitalization (seems to be a shill thing), but these capabilities are extremely useful with older manual focus lenses. I have that capability on my Canon DSLR thanks to the added capabilities of Magic Lantern, so I get the best of both worlds.

These are are not capabilities exclusive to Sony cameras. Sony is making some excellent products now, but they shouldn't be over sold.

rehess Loc: South Bend, Indiana, USA

You should be able to use them in manual mode {with a lightmeter} or in aperture priority mode. That is what I do with my Pentax lenses that predate the KA-mount {which first allowed camera to control aperture}

dave.speeking Loc: Brooklyn OH

Was given a Sony a330. Bought two Minolta Maxxum lenses for it.
Work just fine. Lenses are not expensive. Check ebay.

Ltgk20 Loc: Salisbury, NC

I am not certain as I don't have any older MD mount lenses, but I believe the focus confirmation will work. However, as has been stated, with focus peaking and focus magnification, you can manual focus more accurately than the focus conformation. The older lenses can also be adapted to the A mount and I believe Minolta made their own adapter for the first few years. One thing to check out is if infinity focus is still available with the older, adapted lenses. If you really want to engage the experts, Dyxum.com is the repository for all things A mount.

CHOLLY Loc: THE FLORIDA PANHANDLE!

Troll.

Magic Lantern eh troll? Did that come with your canon out of the box?

Don't oversell the capabilities of a camera that you have to add features to in order to TRY to make it competitive with clearly SUPERIOR brands.

That's so SHILLish, troll.

CHOLLY Loc: THE FLORIDA PANHANDLE!

^^^Adapters are available with an additional element to allow for infinity focus with MC/MD lenses on A mount cameras.

Peterff Loc: O'er The Hills and Far Away, in Themyscira.

Cholly, you know what you can do with your opinions.

If that kind of response is all you can make you declare your own position.

I said positive things about Sony, this specific camera, and the virtues of electronic features such as focus peaking and so on when using older lenses.

You do behave like a shill for Sony, yet the vitriol that you deliver does neither you nor Sony any benefit.

Perhaps you are upset because I have unmasked you.

None of this helps the OP with the question raised. It appears that this camera is an excellent camera and may be a very good option to use with older lenses.

Is your ego that fragile Cholly?

CHOLLY Loc: THE FLORIDA PANHANDLE!

Wait... you call ME a shill, not only a FALSE accusation but worse, something that you KNOW I find insulting...
but then cry like a baby when that trollish behavior is unmasked?

HYPOCRITE.

Might I also add that You're a pretentious jerk pete.

Oh, and a troll.

chaman

So, you have an infatuation with the term "troll".....what are you twelve? You think you sound cool or add any more credibility to your "arguments" by throwing the troll term away? I asked you before and will ask you again.....where is your body of work to show all these greater advantages the Sony cameras have? Where is it? Or is that you feel ashamed of the mediocre images you produce and that certainly will never merit the use of newer technology? Perhaps in reality you shoot in AUTO and love to memorize all the SPECS of a camera just to sound knowledgeable? Just show your images, those remarkable images that reflect that new capabilities these cameras have. Who really is the pretentious one here? Oh and I think shill, describes you just fine....

CHOLLY Loc: THE FLORIDA PANHANDLE!

^^^This guy.... has SERIOUS issues.

Just check out ANY of his posts..... SERIOUSLY.

He is one of the worst offenders when it comes to trolling people here on UHH.

BHC Loc: Strawberry Valley, JF, USA

I'd easily rank you in the top five, maybe the top three. You join threads just to incite dissension.