Oh no! My Sony a57 is a 'lemon'!

Houston, we have a problem.

In my last post I gave a fairly positive review of the Sony a57 as a landscape photography camera. And I stick by that assessment 100%. On the whole it's well designed, has the right buttons in mostly the right places, and is packed with everything you need. But... there is a problem....

Rapahoe Beach, West Coast. Sony a57 with SAL18250. f/11 @ 4 secs, ISO 100

If you go back over my last few blogposts where I use the a57 as a landscape camera, the above image will be typical. A wide vista, shot at infinity, with a decently small aperture. Can't go wrong really. And the images, as you can see, look great.

But I haven't always loved the images I've been getting out of the a57. Case-in-point, my very first outing when I used the SAL75300 lens to photograph birds (read about that here). I shot about 100 photos that evening, and only came away with two that I thought were even approaching sharp. Not a great hit rate. And in the article, I put it down to the lens not being a stellar performer. 

I've tried a few more times since, photographing birds with the 75-300mm - I even shot using a tripod. And I still couldn't manage a sharp image. So I sold the Sony 75-300mm, thinking that it just wasn't a very sharp lens.

I decided last weekend that I needed to go out and have fun with the a57 - and play 'tourist' for the afternoon. Take a couple of decent lenses (Minolta 17-35mm f/3.5 G and Minolta 28-105mm f/3.5-4.5) and go out shooting hand-held. Surely with this glass, in decent light, the images would look fantastic?!

Lake Brunner, Moana. Sony a57 with Minolta 17-35mm G lens. f/8 @ 1/250th, ISO 200

I decided to go to one of my favourite places to test out new cameras - Lake Brunner at Moana. It's a beautiful location, at any time of the year, and it's hard to not come away with some 'nice' images. As can be seen from the photo above. I'm a sucker for a jetty, leading out to a lake, with a mountain in the distance (Mt. Te Kinga). Lovely image. Especially when viewed, as it is here, on a website.

But look a little closer - at 100% - at the area where the camera was focused, and the picture tells a different story. Because it's not sharp. At all.

The mountain, at infinity, is in focus - as you would expect it to be. But the jetty, in the place where I actually focused the camera (and received a green confirmation focus light in the viewfinder), isn't sharp. Not even close. And this is with a 'G' lens, at f/8. It should be tack - and I do mean 'tack' sharp! Damn! After studying this in Lightroom, and going over the other images I took that afternoon, the story was depressingly similar with all the shots. At infinity, not a problem. But where I actually focused the camera - not so sharp. Looks to me like my a57 has a sensor alignment issue!

Rapahoe Jetty Stumps. Sony a57 with SAL18250. f/8 @ 1/10th, ISO 100

Then, of course, I started going back over some of the other images I had taken with the a57, at other locations. And unfortunately, time and again, the same problem with missing-focus occurs.

Once more, in the example above, the camera's autofocus point was placed directly over the largest stump in the foreground. And again, the stump just isn't in focus. And this is with the camera locked down, on a windless evening, on a sturdy tripod. The 1/10th of a second exposure was simply not a factor. This isn't camera shake. It's just plain missed-focus.

I've got loads of other examples (unfortunately), and I won't bore you with them all. Because they all tell the same story. And it's a pretty depressing story, truth be told. 

Basically, I'm left with a camera that can only really work at infinity focus, since the sensor is out of alignment. I've done all this lens testing with it, especially with the SAL75300 and SAL18250 (see previous posts), concluding that these lenses weren't very good performers (i.e. not very sharp), when all along it was the camera body itself! This bums me out a little, considering I went and sold the 75-300mm because I thought it was a crap lens! Although having said that, I'm also glad that it perhaps isn't as bad as I thought it was, and the new owner might be getting some decent images out of it 😄

Be that as it may, it stills leaves me with a camera that isn't focusing properly 😞

I thought about my next course of action for a few days (I'm obviously not happy that I've got a 'lemon'), considering I've only had the camera for a couple of months. I thought about just selling it on-line, but I couldn't do that in good faith, knowing that it doesn't focus properly. So in the end, I did the only thing I could under the circumstances - I contacted the owner of the store I got the camera from and let him know what was going on.

It took him a couple of days to reply (he's a busy guy, in a busy store), but when he did he was totally understanding - didn't question my conclusions at all - and basically agreed that 'yes, I've got a lemon'. So now he is looking out for another Sony a-mount camera for me, in the a57 vein.

Trouble is, Sony didn't make a lot of SLT models, and it might not be as simple as just 'finding' another a57? Greg (the store manager) has come up with a couple of options already, but unfortunately they weren't SLT models. I've said I really want the SLT technology - for its DSLR handling and its EVF functionality. But I don't want to go backwards (with the 3 series of cameras), and I also don't want the a58 'upgrade', since Sony (in their infinite wisdom - or should that be stupidity!?) gave the a58 a plastic lens mount! Plastic! So that really only leaves another a57, or the a67 and a77 - both upgrades from what I've already got (the a77 is a considerable upgrade, the a65 not so much).

Maybe he will have some luck getting me another a57? Maybe he won't? I've already sowed another seed though - mentioning that my original contact was over the Fujifilm X-T200, and suggesting that I maybe should have gone with that in the first place? Don't know whether that will prompt a look in the Fuji direction as well or not? We'll see. 

Sony SLT a57 review

Despite what I have written recently about my desire to move to a full-frame sensor, my journey with the Sony APS-C a57 A-mount camera system continues.

Call it the ravings of a delusion mad-man (I have just recently had Covid) or the sad musings of a hopeless GAS (Gear Aquisition Syndrome) addict if you like. I don't mind. It's probably both.

Yet despite my recent obsession with full frame, I have also concurrently been growing and developing my skills (and accessories) with the a57 DSLT.

It has come with me on my last two landscape outings (I've made myself leave the a99 at home), and I have - for the most part - enjoyed using it as a landscape camera. The camera has a lot of things going for it that I like, and a few that I don't like.

I have owned, and used, probably hundreds of different cameras over the last 35+ years. So I don't need to spend months getting to 'know' a system before giving my thoughts on it. I know what I like, and don't like, about a camera after shooting with it a couple of times. So what follows is my review of the Sony a57 - from my perspective. What I mean by that is simple - but deserves to be stated. I'm not a fast action sports, wildlife, product or portrait photographer - I'm a landscape photographer (mainly). So that will be where I place all of the emphasis on my thoughts and opinions. I don't shoot video, so I'm not even going to mention its video capabilities. And I don't need 20fps. So if you want to know what the a57 is like for sports photography, you may need to look elsewhere. Nuff said.

Cobden Beach Sunset. Sony a57 with SAL18250mm. f/11 @ 1/8th sec, ISO 100

Having got that out of the way and off my chest, what do I think of the Sony a57 as a landscape camera? Well mostly, it's positive. Mostly the a57 and me get along just fine out in the field, and it is creating some very fine landscape images. So yes, generally, my experiences and feelings towards the camera have been good.

It is an all polycarbonate body, that isn't weather-sealed - so in one respect that's a tick against it for a landscape photographer. And if you are the kind of landscape photographer who loves to be out in howling gales, getting you and your gear completely battered by the elements, then no, the a57 probably isn't for you.

I'm not that guy. I don't actively look to shoot in bad weather. In fact I actively avoid it. You don't have to shoot in the pouring rain to get moody and atmospheric landscapes. So I don't. I have occasionally been caught in a downpour when out photographing, so I put my gear away. I'm pretty sure that the a57, even though not weather-sealed, could handle exposure to a quick downpour. So no, I'm not bothered by it's all polycarbonate non-weather sealed body. Your mileage may vary.

Rapahoe Beach, West Coast. Sony a57 with SAL18250. f/11 @ 1/3rd sec, ISO 100. Grad ND filter

What I do appreciate about the Sony a57's polycarbonate body is that it is relatively light (yet with a decent heft) and relatively small. In fact, it's something of a 'goldilocks' camera for me in terms of its weight and size. It's bigger than the a55 that preceded it, fits perfectly in my hand without the need for an extra grip, and has excellent fit and finish. Nothing creaks or flexes (that shouldn't creak or flex) and all the buttons are in logical places.

My one gripe, maybe, around button placement, is to do with the positioning of the exposure compensation and ISO buttons directly behind the shutter button. They can require a bit of finger-gymnastics to reach, especially if you keep the camera up to your eye and want to do it by 'feel'.

And yet I say 'maybe' because it's really only a gripe when using the camera hand-held. When the camera is on a tripod - which it will be for 90% of my landscape shooting - then the issue goes away. It's also not an issue when shooting in manual mode, which I am also doing 90% of the time now. In full manual I set the appropriate ISO and then leave it, and of course don't use the exposure compensation button at all. Exposure is controlled instead by varying the shutter speed from the excellently placed front dial.

Rapahoe Beach, low tide. Sony a57 with SAL18250. f/8 @ 2.5secs, ISO 100. Grad ND filter

So yes, I'm very happy with the overall handling of the Sony a57 when out in the field. Especially for a more 'enthusiast' mid-level camera.

Except... for the articulating LCD screen. At 920,000 dots it's clear enough, and seems reasonably colour accurate (enough for me anyways). And it is an articulated screen. But therein lies the 'slight' problem. Because it articulates downwards, and not sideways (see the image of the camera on my tripod above). Since the screen angles down, the tightening mechanism on the universal ball head I'm using gets in the way of the full articulation. I've got around this by reverse-mounting the camera to the ball head, so that I now tighten the mount from the front of the camera. This works, but it means I've had to re-learn which way around to use the ball head. A minor annoyance, but an annoyance nonetheless.

Also, a quick word on the 1.4million dot evf. No, it's not the most modern out there. And yes, it's an RGB sequential device and not OLED. Some people have complained of  'tearing' of the image as they look around the display. But I haven't noticed this at all. And I find the viewfinder big, bright and perfectly fine to use. So no, no issues there.

Golden Hour, Cobden Beach. Sony a57 with SAL18250mm. f/11 @ 1/100th, ISO 100

At the end of the day, what do we really care about though? That's right IQ (image quality). And really, the Sony a57 doesn't disappoint here either. Some will say that it's 'only' 16MP - and APS-C at that. But it's an excellent 16MP Sony sensor, with very good dynamic range, and the resulting RAW images have a decent latitude for post-processing. I'm very pleased that the native ISO is 100 (as opposed to 200 on my Olympus cameras) - it just feels right shooting at ISO 100. The files are clean (noise free) at base ISO, and 'useable' up to 3200 or even 6400. For what I do, which at the moment at least is 99% web-based, the 16MP sensor in the Sony a57 is MORE than enough.

I don't crop hard on the computer - preferring to do all my cropping in-camera (or at least as much as I can). So quite frankly, more than 16Mp is probably a waste. And yes, I do understand the irony of that statement given my last few posts.

Would I prefer it had the 24MP full-frame glorious sensor in the a99? Yes, of course I would. But do I need a 24Mp full frame sensor? No, I do not... 

Rapahoe inlet. Sony a57 with SAL18250. f/11 @ 30 seconds, ISO 100. Grad ND filter

As befits a 21st century camera, the a57 is packed with whiz-bang techno stuff that I will never ever use. Panoramic sweep mode (in 2D and 3D - whatever that means), auto portrait framing, clear image zoom (apparently), numerous creative colour modes (for jpeg-only), lens correction - the list goes on.

The technology that I will use comes in the form of in-body image stabilisation (Sony call it 'Steady Shot') and full-time phase detection AF (due to the translucent mirror technology). Most of the time, if I'm using a tripod, the Steady Shot will be (should be) turned off. You don't need to stabilise a camera on a tripod. But I like the fact that image stabilisation is built into the body itself. This means that every lens you attach - even old Minolta lenses - are image stabilised.

The phase detect AF seems reliable and quick - certainly quick enough for landscapes. I'm also sure that it's quick enough for most other forms of photography too - with the exception of motorsport? The only other complaint I have with the a57 (although 'complaint' might be too strong a word - maybe 'niggle' is better) is with the AF points. There are 15 of them, in the same pattern as in the a99, which doesn't offer a very wide coverage. It's certainly not edge-to-edge like I'm used to with the Olympus system. There's no 'touch' to focus (it's not a touchscreen at all), and so AF is somewhat limited to the central portion of the image. Having said that, the same is true of the a99 as well, so it's not just an a57 issue. And again, manual focusing will get around this issue, especially for landscape work.

Rapahoe bonfire. Sony a57 with SAL18250.  f/11 @ 4 secs, ISO 100

Fortunately, manual focusing implementation is very good on the a57, as it is now with most modern digital cameras. The a57 has image magnification and focus peaking to aid in manual focusing, so nailing focus over the entire image area couldn't be easier.

Really, what's not to like? Battery life is very good (around 550 shots per charge using the lcd screen), the menu system makes sense and is easy to navigate, handling is (mostly) excellent, and IQ is stellar for a 16MP camera.

Overall, the Sony a57 makes for an excellent landscape photography camera and is a joy to use. I also get the feeling that I have yet to see it reach its full potential. My first few weeks with the camera have seen me use it exclusively with the SAL75300 and SAL18250 lenses - both of which aren't stellar performers. The 18-250 is ok, especially at the wide end for landscapes. But I have yet to try it with the Minolta 17-35mm f3.5 G lens that I've had paired with the a99. I may find that using this lens on the a57 bumps the IQ up a notch or two? It will be interesting to see...

Time to rethink things a little...

Ok, so I got Covid...

Millie. Sony a57 with SAL18250

I'm just coming out of the worst of it now, and feel sufficiently 'human' enough to be able to sit down and write this. But it's taken over a week.

I won't say it's the worst I've ever felt in my life - I've been worse. And I guess being triple-vaccinated against it helped (at least I hope it did). But still, it wasn't great.

How did I get it? Well, the adorable little bundle of fluff pictured opposite had 'something' to do with it. And BTW - she might look adorable, but don't let that fool you. My wife and I are deciding whether she is the devil's spawn or not at the moment!

Anyway, since we do now have her, we had to fence our back section so she could roam around. A builder friend (hi Ian) said he would come over last weekend and give me a hand building one - and long story-short, Ian had Covid. And passed it on to me...

So while I was convalescing and feeling sorry for myself, it gave me time to mull over my last few posts. It also gave me time to rethink my current kit - in light of those posts - and the possible ramifications going forwards. Whatever that means...?

I'm rambling. I'm delirious. I'm recovering from Covid. Let me see if I can make something coherent out of all this head-space mess - shall we?

First - my continuing thoughts around full frame. I had assumed, now that I am using (and enjoying) the Sony system, that I would 'upgrade' to a full frame Sony mirrorless. Something like the a7ii. These can be found fairly regularly now for around $1400NZ on the second hand market. Sony are the king of full-frame mirrorless and dominate that space with the a7 line, so it was a natural decision to make. Well done me 😄

And then I tried one. And I wasn't blown-away using one. In fact, just the opposite really. Enter the first roadblock. Yet, undeterred, the 'research' continued.

Then I realised that, for not much more $$, I might even be able to get a brand new mirrorless full-frame camera! Something like the Canon EOS RP that retails for $1985.00NZ body-only. Even these are beginning to appear on the used market, which means even more savings can be had. 

Notice, however, how the above price is for 'body-only'. Getting a decent lens for the Canon R system, even second hand, is not a cheap prospect. Even the 50mm f1.8 RF lens is over $400NZ new. So maybe 'new' isn't the way to go?

And maybe mirrorless isn't the way to go full-frame either?

Both Canon and Nikon have been producing full-frame DSLR's for over ten years now. Plenty of time for the second-hand market to see its fair share of full frame offerings. In Canon there is the famous 5D line of cameras, as well as the 6D (Mk 1 and II). 5D Mk 3's and 6D Mk1's can be found online for even less than a Sony a7ii body. They even often include a lens, a grip, and spare batteries! 

The same is true with Nikon - where D600s, D700s and D800s are regularly turning up on TradeMe. Especially now that their owners are switching to the new mirrorless systems.

So yes, there's a plethora of great full-frame DSLR's to choose from now. In fact you could argue that it's the perfect time to be 'getting into' a full frame system.

But then... THEN... maddeningly, annoyingly, frustratingly, there is a part of my brain that says "Why bother? Why go full frame at all? What's really so bad with APS-C?" (Or micro four thirds for that matter).

What's so bad, for example, with a Fujifilm XT-2, with grip, and Fujinon 18-55mm XF lens - available on auction here in New Zealand as I write this, for only $875.00! Yes please! I'll have some of that!

That would be an incredible mirrorless kit, at a fraction of the full frame price. And I have to say, I'm sorely tempted! Because lets face it, there's nothing bad with APS-C. Especially for what I do, what I need it to do, and what I might want it to do in the future. And the Fujifilm system is an amazing eco-system to get into. Much better, it could (easily) be argued, than the now defunct Sony A-mount system I find myself a part of. Why, oh why (part of my brain bemoans) am I still not shooting Fujifilm? The XT-2 with grip looks right up my alley!

And then... THEN... strangely, weirdly, uncontrollably, I go on to TradeMe (our internet auction site here in NZ) and add a Sony flash and leather grip to my existing a57 kit! At the same time that I have put the Sony SAL75300 and Sony SAL18250 lenses online to sell! 

Because there is another part of my brain (how many parts do I actually have!?) that keeps saying to me "Be content with what you have. There's nothing wrong with the images you're getting out of the a57. Use what you've got and stop looking elsewhere!"

And I would agree with that part of my brain. It is, after all, the same part that convinced me to get the a57 in the first place. And yes, on many levels, the a57 (or at least the Sony SLT system) is my 'ideal' system. I love the feeling of an SLR style body. It just feels so right in the hand. Tick for the a57. I also love an evf, and seeing all my information, histogram and changes through the viewfinder while I compose the image. Another tick for the a57. I love an articulating screen and a good live-view implementation when I'm shooting landscapes. Tick again. In fact, it's the only system that ticks all these boxes - apart, maybe, from the Panasonic micro four thirds cameras that are designed to feel like a DSLR.

Why, then, have I put two lenses up for sale? Well, it was an easy decision getting rid of the 75-300mm f/4.5-5.6 - it's just not a great lens. I got it for birding and extreme telephoto images, but based on my testing of this lens, it's not likely that I will ever use it. It's just never sharp enough (for me). Selling the 18-250mm was a tougher decision, since it's actually a decent performer up to 100mm, and a great travel lens. But I also have those focal lengths covered with other (better) lenses, so really I'm just giving up the convenience factor. And with the money I hope to get from selling them both, I might look at getting a Sony 70-300mm f/4-5.6 G SSM to replace the SAL75300? Should be a much better lens.

So no, I haven't given up on my a57, or the Sony SLT a-mount system  - just yet at least. And I may not give up on it at all? Full frame might remain just a philosophical thought - for the time being 😆 I really am going crazy....