Sony SLT-A65 review

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Sony SLT-A65 review

Sony SLT-A65 review

I'll start right off the bat - Sony SLT-A65 is excellent, even super great camera. As soon as you take the camera in your hands, the undeniable advantages are immediately evident: a large rotary display, 24MP, video with adequate autofocus and a shooting speed of 10 fps.

Sample photo on Sony SLT-A65

Sample photo on Sony SLT-A65

Sony SLT-A65 really can shoot with speed ten frames per second. This is simply an outrageous indicator for a cropped SLR camera. For example, I use Nikon and Canon SLR cameras, and if I want to get 10 frames per second, I will have to spend money on very expensive SLR monsters in the face Nikon D3, D3s, D4 or Canon EOS-1D X, 1D Mark III, 1D Mark IV.

To shoot with the Sony A65 at 10 fps, simply select the '10' icon on the control wheel. True, there are still limitations on these very 10 frames per second. When shooting in this mode, it is not always possible to control the aperture / shutter speed. The '10 fps' mode works in a similar way to the 'aperture priority' mode. If you set the focus mode to AF-S, you can control the aperture, and in the focus mode AF-C iris control unavailable, while shooting is always made at the maximum allowable aperture value. In fact, all these limitations are a trifle, 10 fps still fully works and at the same time shooting in RAW, ISO control, and a correction is available. exposure, and even auto focus during this 'machine gun firing'.

Sample photo on Sony SLT A65

Sample photo on Sony SLT A65

True, under such a high shooting speed you need a good frame buffer... The buffer is where pictures are placed before they are written to the memory card. The camera can shoot 13 frames in RAW and 17 frames in JPEG continuously. For example, when I was shooting RAW on a 32GB Team Class 10 SDHC card, the camera stopped after the first second of shooting at 10 fps. High shooting speed is important for dynamic scenes, for example, for shooting sports. The high speed is also very convenient for creating panoramas.

Sample photo on Sony SLT A65

Sample photo on Sony SLT A65

If there is no desire to shoot in a special mode at a speed of 10 fps, then you can use 8 frames per second in any other shooting mode. Sony A65 has these interesting featuresthat reveal the potential for huge rate of fire:

  1. Create panoramas. It is very convenient to draw a frame and get immediately ready panorama glued from a large number of frames. You can take a panorama with a size of 12416 by 1856 pixels and not spend a lot of time on taking pictures on a computer. This is a damn interesting and useful feature.
  2. Work in multi-frame noise reduction mode. In this mode, the camera takes 6 frames and, based on them, produces one noiseless picture. The mode works only in P, A, S, M and only with JPEG image quality. To start the mode, just go to one of the modes P, A, S, M, turn on the JPEG quality and select 'ISO multiple times. noise canceling '
  3. Continuous bracketing exposure. In this mode, the camera takes 3 pictures each. If you are very worried about the exposure, then you can take each individual picture in continuous mode bracketing. Step bracketing You can choose either 0.3ev or 0.7ev.
Sample photo on Sony SLT A65

Sample photo on Sony SLT A65

Also, Sony A65 uses 24MP sensor, you can take pictures of 6000 by 4000 pixels. That's a lot for a cropped camera. Megapixels are not always good, you can read in more detail in the section megapixel battle. The same (or modified) matrix is ​​used in cameras: Sony SLT-A77, Sony NEX-7.

Sony A65 allows you to work on ISO 100-16.000. In automatic ISO mode, the camera itself selects a value from the range 100-1600. By the way, on ISO 25.600., which is claimed to be the limit, can only be shot in multi-frame noise reduction mode. I won't say that the camera boasts good noise levels at high ISOs, but nothing too terrible happens at high ISOs, the range above 6400 is simply 'inflated' and I do not recommend using it.

Sample photo on Sony SLT A65

Sample photo on Sony SLT A65

Of course I missed an important point, Sony SLT-A65 - translucent mirror cameratherefore, when shooting, the mirror does not rise or fall. This allows you to just achieve a huge shooting speed and perform continuous tracking focus when taking photos and shooting videos. The camera does not have an optical viewfinder, but only an electronic one. IN electronic viewfinder you can see just a huge number of different information fields: from the virtual horizon to the battery level. The electronic viewfinder can be configured to work with an electronic magnifier and zoom in 11.7X over the selected part of the image, without having to take your eyes off the viewfinder. This is a very useful feature when working with manual focus lenses. By the way, the camera works wonderfully with unchipped lenses. It is worth getting used to the electronic viewfinder, during the writing of the review, I still could not make good friends with it.

Sample photo on Sony SLT A65

Sample photo on Sony SLT A65

A very important property of the Sony SLT-A65 is video recording Full HD 1920X1080 60p AVCHD or MP4 with 1440X1080 30p. Unlike amateur SLR cameras Nikon and Canon, the Sony SLT-A65 has adequate fast auto focus when shooting video. When shooting video, the camera focuses very quickly and does not tilt the lens back and forth, as conventional SLR cameras do. I was very pleasantly surprised by the Sony SLT-A65. Video can also be recorded through an electronic optical viewfinder, ordinary SLR cameras do not know how. During video recording, you can change the ISO and make adjustments exposure. True, the maximum ISO for video is only 1600, the rest cannot be selected. Another important note for video is the fact that if you want to control shutter speed and aperture manually when shooting a video, you will have to turn off auto focus, in any other way. With auto focus, video is recorded only with software control exposure.

The sensor is responsible for focusing on 15 focus points, 3 of which are cruciform. You can customize the focus system to your liking. Measurement exposure implemented by a 1200-zone sensor.

Sample photo on Sony SLT A65

Sample photo on Sony SLT A65

Some features:

  1. Automatic ISO is always available only in the range of 100-1600.
  2. The camera has a sensor cleaning system that can be 'heard' as it operates.
  3. Minimum excerpt is 1/4000 second
  4. Auto mode does not work in M ​​mode.
  5. To control aperture either shutter speed when shooting a video, you need to turn off the automatic focus on the lens
  6. The camera has a very good face detection sensor near the electronic viewfinder. The camera switches very well between the display and the viewfinder.
  7. When turned off, the camera 'thinks' a little, and then itself focuses the lens to infinity.
  8. The camera can automatically correct vignetting, chromatic aberrationdistortion. This is a very useful thing. You can configure fixes for each item individually. I recommend enabling all features.
  9. Two buttons can be programmed: the AEL button and the ISO button to the desired values.
  10. A bunch of other useful functions and subfunctions. I just physically cannot describe them all, if you know any more fineness when working with Sony SLT-A65, add them to comments to this review.

The Sony SLT-A65 camera is very easy to use, it is very pleasant to work with a rotary 3-inch display with 921,600 pixels. Of course, Sony SLT-A65 Made in Japan. Ergonomics on the level.

Sample photo on Sony SLT A65

Sample photo on Sony SLT A65

Personal impressions:

I liked the Sony SLT-A65 very much, but I can't get used to the electronic viewfinder, I like the good old optical viewfinder on my regular DSLR cameras much better. As the author of Radozhiva, a lot of questions come to me about choosing a camera for photo and video. Usually people ask for Nikon, Canon, Pentax SLR cameras, but all amateur and professional SLR cameras of these brands perform much worse with autofocus when shooting video. Also, they do not have a single amateur camera that can shoot 10 fps. Marketing dictates its own rules, and if it goes further, then Sony will go much further ahead than Nikon, Canon and Pentax. More examples of photos on Sony SLT-A65 can be found in Sony DT 3.5-5.6 / 18-55 SAM review и Minolta AF Macro Zoom 3x-1x 1: 1,7 (16) -2,8.

Sample photo on Sony SLT-A65

Sample photo on Sony SLT-A65

Prices for modern Sony cameras in popular stores can look at this link.

In comments Can I ask you a question on the topic and you will answer, and you can also express your opinion or describe your experience. Many little things for a photo can be found on AliExpress.


Conclusions:

Sony SLT-A65 - great amateur camera With good image and video quality, autofocus when shooting video works just fine. The camera can shoot at 10 frames per second, has a rotary 3-inch display and many nice and useful features. I’ll add from myself that the technology of the translucent mirror, which is used in the Sony SLT-A65, greatly outperforms its capabilities some features on ordinary SLR cameras.

Material prepared Arkady Shapoval. Training/Consultations | Youtube | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Telegram

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Comments: 197, on the topic: Sony SLT-A65 review

  • Anna Ogar

    Hello! please tell me, I got a choice between several Nikon D90 cameras (a bit old but the price suits) Nikon 300 and Sony Alpha SLT-A65X? I communicate with many photographers, each pulls in his own direction. (I tend to Sonya to shoot a video often)

  • Jury

    But how much does the mirror weaken the luminous flux?
    Sony previously had DSLRs (it seems a230-290-330) with fast live view (though without video) and a movable mirror. To do this, they added another small matrix next to the viewfinder and a mechanical switch of the direction of the light flux from the mirror.

  • Jury

    By the way, how to clean the matrix if the mirror is motionless?
    I have a pentax kx-perfect, except for focus live view ..

    • Eugene

      It is no longer relevant, but you never know who will look here. We remove the lens, clean the mirror itself, press the latch, the mirror leans back :)

  • Anatoly

    Dear Arkady, as always, everything is as simple and clear as possible, I am your regular reader, thank you for your work. A small mistake under the first photo, the "figure" instead of the face. Best regards, Anatoly.

  • anonym

    I switched from canon 50d to Sonya a65, I didn’t notice the weakening of the light flux due to a translucent mirror, although I very carefully compared it to Canon 50d. Sony is a fairy tale. After the canon peephole. And what colors.

  • Vladimir

    Tell me which camera is better to take:
    Sony SLT-A65 or Pentax K-30

  • Yaroslav

    Arkady and the Connoisseurs, hello. I want to purchase a second (after Nikon D40) camera. Purpose-amateur shooting and sometimes commercial photo shoots in nature. Also important is the video! Question: Nikon D7000 or still Sony A65? Many thanks to everyone who will respond!

  • Vasily

    Yaroslav, of course, Sony A65 autofocus is great for video, and the manual is not bad - Sony is new technology! And everything else is leftover film, try and understand in the store !!! !

  • Michael

    In 65 Sonya as well as 57-58, the camera width is reduced by 5 mm (compared to 450) as a result of which there is no convenient grip by hand. In the older model 77, the dimensions are quite normal

  • Sergei

    I left a somewhat negative impression on this camera. I had the opportunity to get to know her by taking it from a friend. First of all, the connector for connecting the flash is not standard. I paid attention to it when we removed the studio and decided to connect a synchronizer. It turned out that we needed an adapter. To get to the modes - switching the ISO, the method of metering, and so on - you need to climb into the menu as in all amateur cameras. I'm already used to the D7000 - most of the necessary parameters can be switched without a menu using a monochrome display. Nikin amateur camera level 5000x cameras. With a bias in the video, of course, this is a nice little bun, but I mostly use a DSLR as a camera, someone might need a video. The electronic viewfinder seems to be normal, I didn’t cause any inconvenience. I can tell you about the noise - the camera is noisy like a child. it has 24 megapixels, most likely it’s similar to the one on the D5200, but the translucent mirror in front of the matrix takes away a little light, therefore, all other things being equal, the noise is greater. Some write that due to this mirror it is possible to double the image in some conditions, for example if If you have street lights at night, then there may be not two of them in the picture, as there were four in the frame))) - but I didn’t take it under such conditions, I don’t know if this effect is possible or not. Again I read some kind of rumor that Sony wants to change to DSLR mount bayonet in 2015 - does anyone know what about this? - not only do flashes and synchronizers not fit (only through the adapter) and the lens fleet will not work. This wakes up a mega cool kid from SONY if the rumor turns out to be right.

    • Oleg

      delirium

    • Andrnetz

      Some kind of fool wrote. Iso is regulated from above, the first fact that the camera was not held in hands. The second fact is that a large loss of iso due to the translucent mirror.

  • Vika

    <>.
    Bullshit! Justify, no time! :)

  • Sergei

    No time or no argument? - that’s the question. And nonsense in what part? - then, what shortcomings did I find in the A65 or nonsense about a possible change of the mount? So I immediately said that it was a rumor, and asked if anyone had heard about it. Or is it nonsense that there is no standard hot shoe, and the flash can only be native or can be fastened through an adapter?

    • Archie

      Hello, Sergey. I am writing to you from the distant 2019. Despite all the shortcomings, I bought this camera yesterday. One of the reasons is the fastening of the shoe, because it is on such a shoe that the native sonin of the flash are placed, and some are excellent and they are not cheap.
      And once again I was amazed at how perfect the camera was invented in 2011 by Sony. It is not obsolete even now, and in 2011 it was just a spaceship compared to cameras from its neighbors. The other day, I compared this camera with a Nikon 5100 camera, the model of the same year, and the difference is like two different generations: grandfather and grandson.)
      But the noise, yes. This is a big drawback. Even the youngest camera from Fuji (X-A1) copes well up to ISO 3200, and at ISO 6400, with the correct exposure, you can get an excellent shot, then on Sonya our Sonya working ISO is up to 800, no more. And on all Sonya A37, A58, A65, A77 ... On the second stamp from 77 I don’t know, I didn’t use it. They say one stop better

  • Alexander Beermaker

    Thanks to the author for the review, since after reading the review) I chose this camera.

    I’ve been using the Sony A65 for a year now and can share my personal experience of using this miracle.

    This is my first DSLR, and before that I had Canon A3000 soap and Canon SX240 HS ultrazoom. After purchasing the Sony A65, I was amazed at what colors this camera can produce. Even with a whale lens (18-55mm SAM II) I managed to take fabulous pictures. I liked the video very much - 1080p @ 50k \ s with autofocus made the process of video shooting simple, and the quality of video clips was at the level of the best camcorders. A motor built into the camera opens access to a chic park of Konika Minolta AF optics, which made it possible to buy very good old lenses (Minolta AF 50mm 1.7, 35-70 F4, 70-210 F4 Beercan) for ridiculous money (native Sony Alpha optics are expensive). The camera is very fast, very fast. I read on the forums that the A65 has a weak battery, but in fact it was enough for me for everything “for my eyes”. The camera has very good possibilities for working with manual optics due to the contrasting illumination of objects. From what I didn't like: not a very convenient menu, few programmable buttons, high cost of branded accessories.

    • Alexander Beermaker

      I almost forgot. We should also mention the “Auto +” mode. This is a fabulous gift from Sonya to my wife, because she does not like to play with apertures and shutter speeds, and so on. The camera guesses the situation by itself and selects the scene (portrait, landscape, macro ...). The mode is extremely correct and useful for those who just want to take pictures without delving into the settings.

    • SERGEI

      GOOD DAY Alexander !!! A WEEK DEALING WITH SONKA -65 - LOVE FLOWERS - I CAN'T GET A LARGE ZOOM - IN MACRO MODE - THROUGH THE SIGMA LENS Sony AF 70-300 MM F / 4-5.6 APO DG MACRO MAXIMUM INCREASE - 4 HOURS - HELP PLEASE - MAYBE WHAT I DO WRONG - MY - SOAP - NIKON S - 3500 GIVES ALMOST THE SAME INCREASE - IN MACRO MODE - THANKS IN ADVANCE - I CANNOT FIND A FULL REVIEW - A - 65 - WHAT NEEDS

      • Alexander

        If you need macro magnification, then use a macro lens or extension tubes. Arkady described everything in detail.

        Magnification cannot be changed by any camera settings - these are the physical capabilities of the lens. Soap boxes are easier with this - therefore, for macro photography, they are easier and cheaper to use.

  • Alina

    Arkady, tell me how to set up a slt-A65 camera to get a blurry background. Thanks in advance

  • Vladislav

    No one knows why the model was discontinued?

  • Alexander

    More than 3 years on the market - and so many. Since the main emphasis is on mirrorless cameras, and production capacities are limited, then it is time to discontinue production.

    It’s a pity I do not see steps in the further development of the SLT line. 77-2 released and stalled. And already a lot of fans of the series gathered.

    I was really looking forward to the 37 and 65 receivers. There were rumors about A88 and A99-2. But alas and ah. It's a pity…

    A65 worthy beast.

  • Maria

    Hello! Probably somewhere here already there is an answer to my question and I just missed it, sorry. The question is: is there a screwdriver in this cell or not?

    • BB

      Yes, you can see in the title photo))

      • Maria

        Thanks! I am not attentive(

  • BB

    How is 'Continuous Exposure Bracketing' different from conventional Exposure Bracketing?

  • Svetlana

    Can anyone tell me how to adjust the flash output of the A65? I have not climbed all over ...

    • BB

      Have you tried to read the instructions for the device?
      They say it helps ...

  • Ksenia

    What to choose Sony 65 or Nikon 5200? your arguments for and against?))

  • Novel

    Hello.
    Today, when changing the lens, I noticed that there is some sticky dirt and dirty stains on the translucent mirror that cannot be removed by air purging.
    Do I understand correctly that the image on the matrix gets through this translucent mirror? Could there be a decrease in image quality, such as sharpness, due to this sticky dirt on the mirror? Is it possible to somehow remove this dirt and how to do it without damaging this thin mirror made of film?

  • Ilya

    Hello! Please tell me how you can check the number of frames shot on Sony A65. If anyone has links to programs, please.

    Who can comment on Sony a3500?

    • KalekseyG

      regex.info/exif.cgi throw here any photo, everything will show

  • Victor

    Arkady! Please tell me where you can buy the adapter M42-Sony (A65). I used to see they seemed to give a link to a good manufacturer. Thanks a lot for your answer.

  • Andrei

    I had a chance to shoot with a Sony A58 camera and what unpleasantly surprised me was a very noticeable lag (about 0.5 seconds offhand) when shooting with a built-in flash. Could you say this is a feature of this family? Or do all DSLRs behave like that?

    • Denis

      did not notice. maybe she removes the effect of red eyes at this time?

      • Andrei

        I can't say, because the camera is not mine and is not in my hands. Shot in S mode, flash fired in fill mode. flash". And it seems to be in ADI mode.

    • Alexander

      Look in the menu if there is an electronic shutter function, slt 57 has it, turning it on reduces the shutter lag.

    • Denis

      this lag and the Nikon D5100 has

  • Alexey

    Good afternoon!
    Help with advice, I choose a camera, at first I looked towards the Sony A7 kit, I liked it very outwardly, and it’s functional for a beginner but an amateur. For all kinds of shooting, it’s more than a good option, even with a whale, but the price bites too much, but as an option, I started looking at the options below and also considered the Sony A68 kit 18-55 SLR, it’s sane, but it’s written that digital stabilization, I also saw A77 II with kit 18-135 and 18-50 the latter is more expensive for some reason, an order of magnitude what is the difference?
    That’s what you’ll advise, what analogs from the canon and Nikon manufacturers should you consider these options at all, or is it still worth looking at the sides of canon and Nikon?

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