Sony Alpha DSLT A77 raw files is quite… noisy. At least that’s my impression when I open up it up in Lightroom. I found the A700 is much more presentable. So the question is how can we get better image quality from a raw file? Let look at following example. The unprocessed Raw file on left show more details than the JPEG file on right.

As I mentioned earlier, there is not many software supported Raw file. When there is new camera release, the software usually require update before it can read the new camera raw files. Tedious. Also in later stage, the new raw processor might able to reprocess the raw file better. That’s the advantage to keep raw file by most professional photographer. Just like the film negative, a better technology able to revive it in future. Personally I like to use Lightroom and DXO Optics Pro for raw image processing. Lightroom version 3.5 is already compatible with A77 raw files even before the camera was release on sale. And recently DXO Optics Pro 7 has add A77 into their support list. So now we see head to head of Lightroom and DXO, see which give better image quality.

The objective is to compare Raw file converted into JPEG by using Lightroom and DXO. We will look and the fine details and noise. Because this two are essentials in a raw file. The ultimate would be retain fine details and same time eliminate image noise. But in actual both action are contradict each other.

Left : DXO Optics Pro V7.0, JPEG Quality 100
Right : Adobe Lightroom V3.5, JPEG Quality 100

Almost no different in full size viewing

In 100% view Lightroom has better details

Again, Lightroom wins this round

Second round, we will examine noise and details

Look at the purple, DXO has almost no noise. But the cloth looks grainy. LR is losing in detail and patchy noise.

Let's look at the hair. DXO blended it into watercolor while Lightroom is slightly better

How about the face? I like lightroom version, simply sharper and stand out

The DXO looks warmer and more natural. Lightroom has a pint tint on.

Yeah! Lightroom give a pink tint but this is not white balance battle. Image detail slightly pro towards Lightroom

Again, DXO less noise and less details. Lightroom just better in detail.

It would be a tough choice, either to retain detail or remove noise? Of course no one will blow up the picture at 100% and view it that way everyday. If these picture are make for Facebook sharing or even a 4R print will be no different at all. Camera and image software both are tool, I will make the right call at right time. Personally I like DXO because it is cheaper and done the something as Lightroom (don’t worry about those hair details). But Lightroom has better image management functions also faster processing speed. It is about 3 times faster than DXO. It is really a tough call to choose only one. Lucky I have both

The test is simple. I take a same shot with seven ISO speed, from 100 to 6400. Each shot is using aperture priority at F8 with exposure value (EV) set to -2. Later in Lightroom processing I will push the EV back to +3, means it become +1 EV overall. The objective is to examine how much details has been captured by each ISO and how good it can be restored. This is quite useful especially in certain condition our picture is underexpose and we can still recover it later in post processing. The question is how good it can be recovered without losing details.

Here is the original underexpose shot. It might be too dark.

Original Shots with EV -2

Let’s look at the EV +1. There are two objects behind the shadow. And the tiles surface is reflective. If higher EV been push will results overblown the highlight details.

Original Shots with EV +1

Let’s see how is JPEG comparison between A77 and A700 after the picture was post processed with EV +3.

Left to Right : A77 and A700
Top to Bottom : ISO 100,200,400,800,1600,3200,6400

SLT A77 vs SLR A700 (JPEG)

You will notice A77 pictures is slightly dimmer. Although both camera was set to same aperture and shutter speed. Let’s not worry about it, it could be the light lost in A77 due to the translucent mirror. My interest is to see how good A77 dynamic range compare with A77. A77 shows very good SR, up to ISO1600 it still maintain the highlight where A700 is losing the detail at reflective tiles. At ISO 6400, A700 produce a wash out picture where A77′s still usable in my sense. It is 1/8000, F8 at ISO 6400. I beg no one will shoot ISO 6400 in a sunny day. So I can conclude that A77′s ISO 6400 is about the same as A700′s ISO3200. It is about 1 stop light or DR level better.

Probably shooting in RAW can retain better DR value for post processing. Let’s see the same pictures which are convert from RAW to JPEG.

Left to Right : A77 and A700
Top to Bottom : ISO 100,200,400,800,1600,3200,6400

SLT A77 vs SLR A700 (JPEG

Looks like A77′s is underexposed while A700 is overexposed. There is how Lightroom process it when I set the EV to +3. Overall we still see A77 manage highlight better than A700 about 1 EV+. Let see whether there is more details captured by A77 under the shadow area.

Oh no! The A700 is a clear winner in details although it just have 12 megapixels. A77 shows very grainy noise and unnatural colours. I believe this is the the main problem lies in A77 image quality where the noise destroy the details. Noise reduction is no option to disable as well, only can set to weak. All A77 users are still eager waiting a good firmware update to resolve the issues.The version 1.04 is just for transition. Just like A700, it only produce real good image in its third firmware updates.

Conclusion, A77 has better dynamic range than A700. But in details it does not outperform A700. I will come up another details battle within this two camera soon.

In less than 6 hours, the firmware was taken down from Sony China website. Luckily some already back up a few copy and circulate it. I get it install and do a simple test, nothing much has change. Let me break down to a few.

1. The most noticeable is the ‘Unable to Magnify’ issue in review picture has gone. This is most annoying one. After taken a picture and magnify, it wouldn’t not allow to switch into previous picture.
2. Slightly improve of focus speed confirmation. Previously already quite fast to me. This is phase focusing detection!
3. Menu respond is slight faster. But still can’t beat my A700. But at least no feeling of delay this round.
4. EVF switch respond from LCD is faster. I think the eye sensor sensitivity has improved. Even the camera near my chest about 10cm it will switch to EVF. Why there is no hand grip sensor built-in like A700 in first place??
5. The most wishable change – Image quality. Okay. NONE! Yes, no change in my opinion. The high ISO images still noisy.

Now I wish Sony takes down the firmware update for good sake. Hope it is a incomplete and to be rework again. They forgotten to compile it with new image engine such as better JPEG quality, less noise, noise control off button and such yadayada….

ISO 6400 comparison in RAW (Left: 1.03 Right: 1.04) still very noisy and hard to clean up in Lightroom

Free entrance for all Maybankard cardholders (including ATM cardholders) and American Express cardholders.

Date : 12-13 November 2011
Venue : Matrade Exhibition & Convention Centre (near Jalan Duta or Sri Hartamas), Kuala Lumpur

The two day event is expected to continue to deliver an exciting weekend of high quality rugby.

Ticket is RM10 and RM20 only!

If you watch the Dead Note movie series I’m sure you remember the character Light Yagami. In fact I have yet watch the Kaiji 1 before I go down to Singapore. The event stage was setup at Nex Mall outdoor area. This is out of my expectation where I didn’t carry a camera flash light that day. I assume it is a indoor function since it is quite hot and humid out there. By the time 5pm there were fans camp for the best spot surrounding the stage. However the event only started at 7pm, and Fujiwara arrived by 8pm due to traffic jam. He played a few games on stage with fans, including throwing the giant dices. A English translator is with him and his Japanese fans are very happy with his appearance. Those fans are special fly to Singapore for him. The crowd are growing and more than 500 people congested the mall entrance. This make taking picture very difficult and I have no choice to boost the ISO6400 on my Sony Alpha A77. That’s the reason of grainy picture . I shot it in raw and hope someday can tune it to better picture when latest software is available. At 8.20pm Fujiwara is leaving Nex Mall (so fast) and me rush for the night bus back to Malaysia. Hope Kaiji2 movie will soon be in Malaysia.

Before I bought the A77 I am in dilemma. I have tried the A77 in Sony Center somehow it didn’t impress me much. I almost cancel my pre-order of A77. Then the turning points come to MotogP 2011 where I was using my brother’s A55, the first DSLT by Sony. Side by side is my trusted A700. Surprisingly the A55 outperforms A700 in focusing. I hit more usable shots with A55 than A700 in that afternoon. Although A55 have slow EVF refresh (electronic view finder) and unable to catch up with fast shuttering. I need to ‘guess’ and predict where the bike is going. But once the focus hit, it is twice sharper than A700 although A55 just an entry level model camera. Sony claims the EVF in A77 at least twice faster than A55. After the race I went to collect my A77.

First grab the A77 on hand and feel it is solid as A700 in built, I like the muscular feel. Some of the function buttons are kind of plastic feel, navigation stick is smaller too. The rubber grip is better than A700, soft and sticks to palm. The weight is about to A700, no diferent. Buttons layout looks alike and should be no problem to master it later. One big miss would be the absent of CF card support. I need to buy a new SD card. Power on the camera and look into the EVF, it just like DSLR pentaprism viewinder. The EVF brightness will self adjust to environment lighting like a compact camera but it is a lot faster and sharper. Half press the shutter and bingo it lock the subject instantly. Mount the lens back to A700 and there is focus hunting under dim shopping mall lobby. I’ve been long time waiting for a fast focus DSLR from Sony and now it has arrived (and it is DSLT).

I notice following advantages of A77 over A700 after few days trial

1. Focus is FAST and SHARP
2. Can do video recording and it is very smooth, Blu-ray quality
3. Can peek and check the picture from EVF
4. At dim situation the EVF see better than OVF
5. Can change shooting options in EVF without putting down the camera
6. The continuous shooting is more accurate focus

The advantages A700 still hold are

1. Quick-Navi menu system which allows see-and-change shooting options on the fly. A77 menu is more like a cycbershot or NEX now.
2. Better picture quality and noise. Although A77 produces very detail images up to 24 megapixel but the noise reduction has wipe it off in JPEG. Hope Sony very soon to release new firmware that can disable the noise reduction in JPEG.
3. Battery life. I was surprise that usage of A77’s EVF drain more juice than the LCD itself as documented in user manual. Luckily my third party battery is still works for A77. Phew!
4. Faster menu reqpond time. In A77 there is about 0.5s sluggish. Feel like running a Pentium in A77…

In the next couple of weeks I will do more documentation of this camera, including brings it to field shooting. There are many negative comments given to A77 till now. I agreed it is not a perfect release, and I am confidence most of the problems can be resolved in firmware upgrade especially the sluggish menu respond and noisy pictures beyond ISO1600. For me, A77 is fast and sharp, that’s is the concern for me to move forward from A700 else I will blame for the blur faces and misfocus.

The A77 and vertical grip.

White balance is alot better now. Bye bye yellowish tungsten.

Focus on the light and A77 did it at once without hunting. Piece of cake.

No problem with low angle shots any more. Thanks to 3-way-tilting LCD

I like the filter effects. DSLR should be fun as compact camera.

My friend bring A77 for celebrity hunting. It just operates like a compact camera.

Image shot at ISO3200.

At ISO3200 the noise reduction and sharpening just does not look natural. This is 200% enlarge crop.

See the shots to see that my shots had improved. Last year I talk
about wanting a 300mm lens, this year I’m using it!

Some of my pictures is submitted to a local car magazine and I will publish the remaining photos once magazine is out.

Race report from Sepang Circuit