Different world of translucent mirror digital photo camera

...here is just feelings about Sony SLT-A77V camera use...

Translucent Mirror

Drive tests passed very good with filling I am a bit in a future. As A55, A77 is Translucent Miorror camera what is making photography a bit different. Process to catching even quite invisible tones became much easy, with no special lenses or/and filters.

High ISO

ISO800

I still feel that higher ISO is giving more noise on image, but 24.3MP are enough to "hide" it during post processing. the lowest ISO when noise already appeared on blacks 800. Built-in noise remover is not really blurring, and damaging image much more than can be possible to remove by Image Data Converter (in case you are shutting into RAW format). But even with high ISO some images coming very sharp with no compensation of post-processing re-size. 

Lo ISO

Ok. I was surprised about, but I feel comfortable when I have ISO50 and ISO80 in my camera. Image detail is much better with lower ISO, and amazing capture of light... this made me remember my old film camera and technical tricks I used when shut with ISO80 or 50. ...and for sure, no noise in image... 

ISO50

White Balance

Another not really good point, AWB (auto white balance). In complex (non-natural) light environment, this camera is driving very confused, and makes even much warmer colors with quite cold light existing. In this case, first in my practice, I started to use "grey cards". Not really grey, because Sony Cameras are supporting "point-to-white", so I purchased two side card (white and grey) to make pictures close to natural. Anywhere you can use any white object on a scene to set manual WB. Some basics information about white balance is here (not bad tutor by the way).

Lenses from old set

ISO200

So, I got A77V body, means no lenses. I used my Sony and Sigma lenses for tests, and was impressed by feeling that camera a bit faster than lens in auto-focus. I do not have G lenses yet, but tried once tested camera in shop. Looks like, A77 made for SSMs ;) New feature like a auto-focus and exposure track of moving subject is very impressive, but not working on simple SAL lenses well because lenses could not re-focus so fast... Time to think to upgrade my lenses set.

Art effects

Sony SLT-A77V manual art modes

Instead of automatic mode art effects with Firmware v2.0 on A55, A77 is able to process art renders during shuts. What is some times saving a lot of time, especially if you hate waste a time for post-processing. Ready to go black and white, sepia, soft light, or selected colors images can be produced in one click. the problem only in my head, I have to switch my mind to specified mode to see a scene like camera can do, before switch A77 to selected mode. 

Ergonomic

Smoking room

R1 style, good old R1. It is not only make look of A77 professional, but really intuitive and simple interface with fast access to everything. In compare with Nikon professional series, A77 gives ability to change aperture and speed on a fly, and shift both parameters increasing or decreasing aperture and shutter speed parameters together, what is making fast and easy for example background defocusing or infocusing effects to change, or decrease/increase star-effects of light sources, with no damaging of overall fixed scene exposition. (Finally) Top screen with parameters is appeared in A77, what is making easy parameters check, but really I am not "view-finder" photographer, and use it not so common.

Note

None of images here was post processed except re-sizing. 

All of sample images are made by myself here. if you need any details in "how-to", let me know.

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Taking Brilliant Photos. Defocusing background

Taking Brilliant Photos

Technical Tips for newbie light hunters

Tip 1: “Defocusing background”

About

Sharp object of image and blurred aka unfocused/defocused background – amazing photo effect to make maximum attention to subject   of shooting. This type of shooting is useful for “close up” portraits and romantic compositions, or any images when necessary to pay attention exactly for subject of shutting, but not to scene in general.

Task

Make narrowed depth of field to get only object focused

What you need

1. Camera with ability to switch to manual mode and lens exchange.
2. Bright lens like with maximum aperture F1.4, F2, F2.8 (if less, harder to rich effect discussed here)
3. Enough scene light at all, or higher subject light cover against background (in low light conditions)

Keys

1. Keep aperture opened to maximum, align exposition by shutter speed to catch enough amount of light, or make higher ISO if not enough light of scene.
2. Keep subject of shooting as far of background as possible to keep in focus only subject, or be close enough to subject, but keep in mind composition and natural means of light and subject position.
3. Pay attention to lens characteristics: most of success in this method are reached with lens focal lengths about 75mm and 100mm

What to do

1. Install lens selected.
2. Switch camera to manual mode.
3. Set auto focus mode to spot to avoid camera to capture unnecessary background elements.
4. Open aperture to maximum. If you cannot reach maximum aperture supported by lens, change ISO to higher.
5. Adjust shutter speed to make correct exposure of scene and object.
6. Focus on object, adjust distance between camera and object (zoom in, if lens supported, or just make few steps closer), and, if not damaging your composition, move your object closer to camera far of background.
7. Shoot.

Success scene conditions

1. For mid and high light conditions: Background is bright enough like shiny water, bright walls, etc.
2. For low light conditions: Background is dark enough, but focused object is in enough light

What to understand

Lager aperture produces narrower depth of field. Lenses of longer focal lengths a much more capable of producing narrowed depth of field. So, depth of field is golden key for this method, and aperture and focal length of lenses are major “instruments” to reach this effect.