Rating: Summary: Outstanding Performance Review: Sony has significantly upped the ante with the new F828. Not only has the CCD been upsized from 5 to 8 MB, but the lens zoom range has been increased from 5 to 7X. The wide angle end is now equivalent to 28 mm on the 35mm camera scale, which will be a significant advantage to people taking landscape shots or group pictures indoors. Test bench, indoor flash and non-flash outdoor images showed that the optics and CCD changes have resulted in improved image quality compared to all 5 MB models we've had in-house.The F828 is roughly the same size as the F717, so this isn't going to fit inside a small purse or shirt pocket. This is more like the size of a typical 35 mm zoom and is intended as a camera for those interested in high quality image capture. I'll be trying to find a buyer for my F717...
Rating: Summary: This is one of the best non-PRO cameras! Review: The Sony F828 is an outstanding product for its price/quality/capability relationship. I have used all kinds of professional and semi-professional digital cameras over the years. Go ahead and compare it to a product 5 times its price and it will obviously come short. It does not replace a professional product, but for an ambitious amateur photographer and computer expert like me, who knows how to deal with the intricacies of a digital image, this is as good as it gets. The camera is solid, easy to use, identical in operation to all Sonys and works like an normal SLR. The image quality is outstanding, when you know how to use it and where the limits of CCD capturing are. If you have to work a lot in very low light conditions there is no substitute for highly sensitive film material. I flash everything and while the in-built flash is good, I would recommend to buy the HVL-F32X which is an excellent product and add-on. Learn to use the flash in every situation, even in bright sunlight to add clarity and to brighten the foreground against the background glare. I have used the flash for macro-photography and being able to shot with a hundred different camera and flash settings and then immediately check the outcome on my notebook is just incredible. I have used the ability to shoot a series of 7 images and it is simply stunning. This is the first time I have seen this work really well in a digital non-pro camera. I series-shoot everything now, then just delete the rubbish. With the CF and Sony slot you can have up to 2GB of images, in highest resolution this is 500 pictures! You do need 50 shots for ONE great photo. The zoom lens is excellent too and the camera is very pleasant and professional to hold. It has a great balance. The digital viewfinder as well as the LCD work perfectly. Color quality is typical Sony high-end quality and the color-tone is easily adjusted to your preference. One of the best features is the battery stamina (also typical Sony). With the standard battery I get 3 hours of continous use even when I use the flash. Overall, this is the first camera that truly substitues my previous high-end SLR set.
Rating: Summary: the next evolution in sony, pretty nice Review: With the admission that I'm biased to Sony because I hate the color calibration in most other digitcal cameras (which tend to be cooler in color, than the Sony-- which has been known to be a bit 'technicolor')-- its true that I would look forward to this camera simply because its got a bigger digital image and the color I like. After getting one-- its better than just that. The camera is truly a compilation of all the technology that Sony has developed to date as well as an advancement. Its fast, has more responsive autofocus and exposure than previous models (I've owned both the V1 and the S85). The color of the new 4 color CCD is impressive-- and it generally makes things look great. As for overall image quality-- so far so good. I've had good luck with both natural light and using the flash. The only time you'll probably really notice that you're using a digital camera is in the dark-- when the image can get a bit powdery... like digital grain. Then again-- there are so many tools present in the camera you can use to make your dark lighting situations brighter-- that you may never have the opportunity to experiment without those in low light like I like to.
Rating: Summary: Love the F828 Review: I just received the F828 from Amazon the day before Christmas. What a wonderful surprise gift when I didn't expect it for another month. The camera I own I would compare this to is the Coolpix 5700 and there truly is no comparison. Virtually no shutter lag with the F828. Can't believe how quickly it writes to my old CF card. Love the fact I didn't have to buy a memory stick. First Sony that will record on a microdrive or a cf card. Color is awesome. Even when shooting some Christmas photos and probably needed a flash or tripod sense some of the photos were blurry being hand held at a slow shutter speed, the color was absolutely awesome just set on auto white balance. The camera feels wonderful in my hands. Bigger than my 5700 but feels more stable and not too heavy. Love the mechanical zoom. I love the 100 degree rotating body. Haven't even had a chance to take bigger than a 5 megapixel photo yet but so far I love this camera. I just played around with night framing and shot outside in the dark and the photo looked like daylight. My Coolpix 5700 is going up for sale.
Rating: Summary: Wow! 8 megapixels, great color and lens! Review: After a long wait, this camera finally shipped before Christmas. The color is great, a high quality lens, the camera is fast, and EIGHT megapixels, well that's just AWESOME! The 7x optical is also plus. I pondered purchasing a Canon 10d until I read about Sony's 8mp f828 due out in November. Despite the delay (and it's already on back order again) it was definitely worth the wait. At $999.00 it is an incredible value. At this time, you can't get close to 8 megapixels at this price. The body has a nice feel and is comfortable to hold. I planned on purchasing a digital SLR, but I did not want to get locked in to only 6mp just yet, when eight was around the "affordable" corner. I was using a nikon 5700, but returned it - focus was painfully slow and lens started to make a grinding noise when zoomed out. It also had way too much noise. The lens was qualtiy great along with the zoom, but it didn't make up for the negative aspects of this camera. The color on this camera is remarkable. As a graphic designer, I work with professional photos and Photoshop a great deal. We all know that Photoshop is a huge plus in the digital darkroom, but it DEFINITELY helps to start with sharp photos with a lot of pixels and great color. For the non-professional to consider: often digital photos have too much noise and not enough pixel information - something even Photoshop currently can't do miracles with. I often hear consumers comment they don't need five, six or more pixels, because they won't be making such large prints these cameras offer. However, after a photo is cropped of unnecessary background, your image needs still needs a lot of pixels to enlarge that portion. That is a problem with 4mp and below. Five is acceptable, six really good. Eight -awesome! In the next two years we'll all want 11mp or more, but you currently have to shell out $8,000 just for the camera body! There is also low noise with the f828, a problem with many other digital cameras. I absolutely love it! The color is so true to life. Beautiful! You can photograph fast-moving children and pets with wonderful results and get great indoor shots as well, an area the other cameras in this price range generally fall short. This camera truly sets a new standard, and considering it's very reasonable price tag, definitely worth it!!!
Rating: Summary: Don't be fooled by the pixel count Review: Apparently playing mega pixel gamea and putting flashy stickers on camera body is more important to Sony than image quality. Images from this camera show excessive purple fringing and noise. Don't get me wrong, I like some other aspects of the camera, such as solid built magnesium body, great zoom range (28mm-200mm in 35mm equivilant), dual storage support(CF and Sony priporitary Memeory Stick). However, it comes way short in the most important aspect of a digital camera, IMAGE QUALITY. I rather have clean, well defined 3-5mp images than fuzzy, noisy 8mp images. I don't want to waste my storage space on noises. Thanks and No Thanks to Sony.
Rating: Summary: Why are the PROS reviewing this Camera? Sony Beats Nikon Review: This Camera is NOT being marketed as a PRO Digital SLR, if your a pro, buy a Pro Camera!..For 95% of us this an Unbelievable tool for under a grand...Shop around for Memory and It will come in at under a thousand dollars! I own the Sony F717...The Nikon 8700, this Camera, and an old Fuji 2meg...This Sony is the best of the bunch. I got the Sony F717, and loved it, wanted more Pixels for larger prints so I bought the Nikon...mistake!...I am one of the few reviewers who owns both so let me tell you the Image quality/Fleshtone reproduction/Ease of use/and auto-mode...is MUCH better with the SONY. I gave my Nikon to my daughter. For a serious tool that you can set on AUTO, for most shots this camera is great. The F828 does a better job at focusing than the Nikon, I couldnt believe the shots I was missing with the Nikon, and the Nikon had a Blue cast to the portrait shots, and I still cant figure out why. If you are reading this and are not a pro but want excellent photos, especially of people, this camera is great!...review the Olympus 8meg...the Canon 8meg...or the Konica/Minolta 8meg...avoid the NIKON 8700, unless you just must have that name brand hanging from your neck...Digital SLR's are still stuck at 6megs which to me is an insult to the consumer, Most of us dont have the discipline to carry around all the lenses anyway, My film SLR with lenses has been in my closet for years since I bought my first Digital. Read the Digital Camera review sites, this camera is listed as one of the FASTEST and BEST cameras ever reviewed...BUY this with confidence...Hope this has been helpfull to most of the consumers, I was tired of the SONY bashing, when to me there is nothing better.
Rating: Summary: I love it =) Review: I was apprehensive about this camera due to the talk of purple and other 'problems'. I've been using this camera now (july) since May and I've not had any weirdness or problems. I was close to buying the Rebel-- but I went with the sony--- 1. I now use this camera for video & stills-- No juggling two camera-- which is impossible anyway being a mom with 2 kids! result is that I'm taking way more video and more pictures than previously 2. great quality. i do blow up pictures and I needed the 8mp-- I do use the 5mp setting mostly 3. the macro is just awesome. i've taken some great close up pictures with this camera 4. I love the way I can combine media and flip between compact flash and sony stick. soo-- no problems here =)
Rating: Summary: Great Camera Review: I got this camera in November 04, and have had lots of time to play with it. I have got some great shots with it. I am far from being a pro, but who knows! Maybe after I learn all of the settings and what they all do, I will look like a pro!
I recommend this product to anyone that is looking for a great camera with lots of features for taking some great photos.
Rating: Summary: Mixed Feelings Review: I have been using the F828 for about 2 months and have taken over 1,000 pictures. I do not use the auto mode, and take most pictures in program mode, but I use A,S, and M modes also. I definitely experience chromatic aberrations, usually purple fringe, but sometimes other bubbles and flashes of colored light. It's obvious to me, but people looking at 4X6 prints normally wouldn't notice it. On larger prints however, it would be obvious. It is fairly easily corrected using Adobe Photoshop. I've had maybe 6 shots where the aberration was so bad it was uncorrectable. Despite this problem, I enjoy using the camera. With a little practice, it's very easy to make adjustments; WB, flash, OEV, auto focus method, etc.
|