brow3904 Loc: Upstate South Carolina

Any Sony A65 users? I would like some feedback or if three's another Sony DSLR that I should consider. I've been using the A200 for about five years and want to upgrade. Would like to stay with Sony because of the lenses I have. Thanks

lovitlots Loc: Tottenham, Ontario, Canada

Hi. I use the sony a57 and it works well for me. I don't use the video stuff.. at least not yet. I may take an interest in it later. But as stills camera it has functioned well for me. I think now it's been upgraded to the a58. I'm not sure of the differences but there should be a lot of new a57's out there and maybe at a good price. If I do upgrade then it'll be the a77. They're on sale now because I think there's an upgrade in the works for it as well. Sony is going to a standard hotshoe mount now but with their own little twist in the connection department.

MyPharo Loc: New Jersey

I have the Sony A65 for about a year and I love it. Only because I got into shooting HDR and I am disappointed on one feature item. I can not set the bracket compensation range to what I want, you are limited to .3 or . 7 +/- . Other than that its a great camera . I do suggest a 2nd battery as back up as I shoot alot of photos and if you use the on-board flash eats up the battery life, no worse than any other camera though.

JR1 Loc: Tavistock, Devon, UK

Ask yourself one question. How many pros do you see using sonys

lovitlots Loc: Tottenham, Ontario, Canada

That's a lame question. It used to be all pros used Kodak and when I was in the business the Kodak name was so house hold that we could have sold empty Kodak film boxes in those days. But in the end Fuji won out simply because they competed and did make a better film. Canon and Nikon were the only manufactures that made professional equipment in the 35 format for the longest time and most pros had quite a selection of glass in these mounts. Naturally if you're buying an new camera you'll stick to your brand. It doesn't mean that they're so much better than the rest but you have to consider the investment in glass that you have when you buy. The new kids on the block are gaining market share but it doesn't happen overnight. Virtually all the major brands out there make great cameras but again not many make professional grade cameras as the market for them is small, mostly due the cost of buying one. Sony does make a professional model, two in fact and both are good cameras with excellent glass available for them. In time Sony's market share will grow and old and new photographers will buy them.
Now for the question the man asked. What do people on this site think about the Sony a65 or some of their other models. He asked this because he already has an investment in their glass. If you know something about these cameras then pass a long the info. Don't ask a lame question to make his life even more confusing.

JR1 Loc: Tavistock, Devon, UK

No in fact, it is not as lame as you may think, if you bother to think about it.

If you are upgrading then perhaps it may be a good time to think about what system you use also and part exchange the lenses you have or sell them here and put all the money towards a different system.

lovitlots Loc: Tottenham, Ontario, Canada

First he wasn't asking about a professional grade camera body. The price jump when you go to this level is significant. And again you know little about the brand he is using. You're advising him to spend a lot of extra money he may not have to. The Sony line of cameras are Minolta because Sony bought the company and when they did Minolta was gaining market share fast. The mistake Sony made at the time was to drop the Minolta name for their own and it set the gains Minolta had made back. Oh and one thing, you might be shooting yourself in the foot. If Sony gains more market share they present greater competition for Nikon and Cannon. The effect of that is better prices for us from all three manufactures. Something to consider.

brow3904 Loc: Upstate South Carolina

(To lovitlots) Thanks for the info. Yeah, I saw a video on youtube about the hotshoe. The A65 has one. It will work with any standard flash that uses a standard hotshoe but it also has connections on one side that are for Sony specific items.

brow3904 Loc: Upstate South Carolina

Thanks for the info. As I said I have an A200 and I like it very much but I would like to upgrade and I would like to stay with Sony since I have three lenses.

brow3904 Loc: Upstate South Carolina

I don't know too many professionals but one of the best in the world, Trey Ratcliff, recently announced he has switched from Nikon to Sony. So if Sony is good enough for him, it certainly will continue to be OK for me as an amateur. I do appreciate your concern and your taking the time to remind me. I appreciate seeing your photographs and I've learned a lot from you. Keep posting.

cranstall Loc: Isle of Man

I can,t say anything about the a65 but i have just gone over to a Sony a77 and think it,s very good the af is very fast i have three lenses for it one Sony one Sigma and a first genaration Minolta macro all of which work very well with it.

lovitlots Loc: Tottenham, Ontario, Canada

Hi Brow
Like I also said you should take a look at the a77. It's still the old hot on it but the shoe does have it good points. Mostly strength. The price is coming down so there may not be to big a difference between the a65 and a77. And with the a77 you get a pro grade body and more megapixels. Something to consider.

drmeyers381

Sorry, I use a Sony a55 and I would not trade it for any Nikon. Don't get me wrong, Nikon is a good camera but the Sony has a much better picture and is very easy to use.

brian43053 Loc: Buffalo, NY

Excellent observation loveitlots. just because Nikon and cannon sell the most doesn't make them the best and here's a news flash for ya - sony makes the sensor for Nikon cameras!! but I digress - I own a sony A77 and absolutely love it. The color reproduction -imho - is awesome. the "kit" lens that you can get with it is a 16-50 with a 2.8 and it can shoot 12 fps!!

Uuglypher Loc: South Dakota (East River)

Having been in the Canonikon camps for over 40 years and having, after trying lotsa rentals-bodies and lenses, I settled on Sony. Started with the A350, then was won over by the translucent mirror technology of the A55 and now am delighted with IQ, live view, articulated screen, incredibly fast and accurate AF and high fps (for wildlife/ birds-in-flight), high stopslop for maximal RAW image data quality, and rationally consistent model-to-model interface with controls. Doubt I'll ever actually NEED more than 24 Mp, so my A77 and A99 are assured of productive homes-for-life! I'm now looking for IR conversion for my old A55. And I've had not even the slightest pangs of regret or longing for my old Nikanon days/ years! Objective arguments can be made for every brand; for this guy Sony most clearly rings every bell and blows every whistle that I need rung or blown! Life is good!