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DPChallenge Forums >> Hardware and Software >> Sony 828 - is it worth it?
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 09/17/2004 12:07:08 PM · #26
I've played with an 828, when it first appeared, own and continue to rely on my trusty F717 for about 30-50% of all shots I take. Without the Sony, I would have missed quite a few shots, my DSLR would have either been to slow (to ready and set up), too intimidating to candid subjects, too professional in appearance to get it past a vigilant posse or too silky (image quality) for a particularly gritty look I may have had in my mind or stumbled upon.

Since I cannot afford a Leica as a walk-around cam, I married the Sony. Too me, too much attention is paid to a camera's spectrum of specs and features, not enough to its aptness to purpose.


09/17/2004 03:30:35 PM · #27
<---- n00b

Maybe some day I can be cool like you :)

Originally posted by a1leyez0nm3:
get the D70. all prosumer digicams are for n00bs.



09/17/2004 03:43:58 PM · #28
Originally posted by louddog:
<---- n00b

Maybe some day I can be cool like you :)


...hey, I just want to be cool like YOU someday!

edit: because I think your photos are awesome... didn't mean to sound like a smarta$$ there.

Message edited by author 2004-09-17 15:44:42.
 09/17/2004 04:10:18 PM · #29
Here's a question I haven't yet read on DPC or seen the answer to, and it's very important from my perspective. And that is, do the Sony serious F717 and F828 use the LCD for taking photos or the view finder? And are the photos instant like on a DSLR or are they delayed like a point and shoot?

09/17/2004 04:10:19 PM · #30
I haven't had my 828 for that long, but so far I am impressed with it. Like any camera, you have to know it's limitations and work around them. I haven't had any problems with noise or purple fringing so far. My two favorite options of the 828 is the swivel body and the ability to use Memory Sticks of CF Cards.

Dan
 09/17/2004 04:38:04 PM · #31
Originally posted by GoldBerry:
Here's a question I haven't yet read on DPC or seen the answer to, and it's very important from my perspective. And that is, do the Sony serious F717 and F828 use the LCD for taking photos or the view finder? And are the photos instant like on a DSLR or are they delayed like a point and shoot?


On the F717 and F828 you can select either LCD or viewfinder. The viewfinder has a very decent resolution for previewing your shot. As you know, with a DSLR you cannot preview the exposure effects, you have to playback and reshoot.
 09/17/2004 04:47:50 PM · #32
Originally posted by dipaulk:
I'm also looking into some of those Raynox conversion lens for the Sony, but don't know if it's worth the expense. Anybody have any opinions on them?


I have a 1.8x Raynox teleconverter and it has been useful in some situations. There is a fair amount of blurriness at the edges and a lot of color fringing, especially at wider apertures. I now rarely use it and wish that I had purchased a teleconverter from Sony. They are more expensive but the quality should be better. However, the quality still may not be great because you are amplifying any lens abberations that you may already have with your lens and adding some more to it. I also have the wide angle converter from Sony and I get a lot more use out of that lens. It's also not perfect but it was been great in many situations. The conversion lenses definitely get a lot of attention and strange looks because of their size. They are worth having handy in your camera bag.

T
 09/17/2004 04:52:10 PM · #33
Originally posted by GoldBerry:
Here's a question I haven't yet read on DPC or seen the answer to, and it's very important from my perspective. And that is, do the Sony serious F717 and F828 use the LCD for taking photos or the view finder? And are the photos instant like on a DSLR or are they delayed like a point and shoot?


I use the swivel and the view finder to take pics quite often. If I'm shooting something low, it's easier to swivel and view, then to get on the ground.
 09/17/2004 05:14:29 PM · #34
Originally posted by GoldBerry:
Here's a question I haven't yet read on DPC or seen the answer to, and it's very important from my perspective. And that is, do the Sony serious F717 and F828 use the LCD for taking photos or the view finder? And are the photos instant like on a DSLR or are they delayed like a point and shoot?


I have the 717. I use both the lcd and the viewfinder. Probably, I use the viewfinder more often. The lcd is handy for shots where I hold the camera up higher (like over a crowd)...and with the swivel body, I can still get a pretty good idea of composition in that position. I also use the lcd when taking more candid camera type shots, where the camera may be sitting lower in my lap or something. I find with people shots at family gatherings and such, it's much easier to get natural expressions when they don't notice someone holding up a camera.

I'm not sure what you mean about the delay. However, I would say there is a small delay between pressing the shutter button and capturing the pic. For instance, in my daughter's soccer games I have learned to anticipate where she's going to be and shoot ahead of her just a bit.

It's not slow enough to be an issue with me at all, though.

Hope this is helpful!

Judy

09/17/2004 05:16:16 PM · #35
Originally posted by zeuszen:
Originally posted by GoldBerry:
Here's a question I haven't yet read on DPC or seen the answer to, and it's very important from my perspective. And that is, do the Sony serious F717 and F828 use the LCD for taking photos or the view finder? And are the photos instant like on a DSLR or are they delayed like a point and shoot?


On the F717 and F828 you can select either LCD or viewfinder. The viewfinder has a very decent resolution for previewing your shot. As you know, with a DSLR you cannot preview the exposure effects, you have to playback and reshoot.


You answered one question, but I think I wasn't entirely clear on the second one. Which is, if you've ever used a digital point and shoot, there's that 3 or 4 second delay before the picture is actually captured. Just wondering if the Sony F series does that.
 09/17/2004 05:34:46 PM · #36
Originally posted by GoldBerry:
...if you've ever used a digital point and shoot, there's that 3 or 4 second delay before the picture is actually captured. Just wondering if the Sony F series does that.


I think your asking about write-speed... MemoryStick and MemoryStickPro (for the F717) record between 1.5 secs - 2.5 secs per image. The Pro sticks and larger CFs (for the F828) are faster. Other factors, like temp, size of file, etc. play a role as well. Overall, for all practical intent and purpose, I'd say both of these cams are relatively fast.

Shutter lag for the F717 is: Autofocus: 0.63-0.65; Manual Focus: 0.136; Prefocus: 0.120 (secs), which is also nothing to shake a stick at or hamper your photography.

Message edited by author 2004-09-17 17:36:35.
 09/17/2004 05:43:24 PM · #37
nuff said
 09/17/2004 05:58:09 PM · #38
Originally posted by faidoi:
nuff said


N.B. All the ribbon shots are with the Minolta DiImage F100.
 09/17/2004 06:00:49 PM · #39
Originally posted by cpanaioti:
Originally posted by faidoi:
nuff said


N.B. All the ribbon shots are with the Minolta DiImage F100.


but he could've upgraded to a dSLR but didn't.

Message edited by author 2004-09-17 18:03:09.
 09/17/2004 06:04:19 PM · #40
Originally posted by faidoi:
Originally posted by cpanaioti:
Originally posted by faidoi:
nuff said


N.B. All the ribbon shots are with the Minolta DiImage F100.


but he could've upgraded to a dSLR but didn't.


I'm sure any camera this photographer uses, even a toy camera, would produce fantastic images.
 09/17/2004 06:52:59 PM · #41
Originally posted by cpanaioti:
Originally posted by faidoi:
nuff said


N.B. All the ribbon shots are with the Minolta DiImage F100.


No they aren't - though it must be said that 'only' three are with the F300, and 'only' three with the 828.

Ed
 09/17/2004 07:00:17 PM · #42
Originally posted by e301:
Originally posted by cpanaioti:
Originally posted by faidoi:
nuff said


N.B. All the ribbon shots are with the Minolta DiImage F100.


No they aren't - though it must be said that 'only' three are with the F300, and 'only' three with the 828.

Ed


Like I said, I'm sure any camera this photographer uses, even a toy camera, would produce fantastic images.
 09/17/2004 07:45:07 PM · #43
Good topic, I have been wanting an 828 but also have questions.

I love my Sony 717 but I have never used any other. I almost never use the viewfinder unless there is sun glare on the LCD. The swivel action is an amazingly useful feature; im constantly using the swivel for different angles and views. I wonder how some people use a camera that does not swivel. So much missed shot potential. The video mode is also great although the quality is not.

However, the auto focus mode (which I pretty much use exclusively) does have a delay. From the second I press down on the button to the time the picture snaps can be from .5 seconds to 3 seconds. Meaning I miss alot of shots. I donĂ¢€™t think its a very good action shot camera. It also hates low light.

Originally posted by Zal:
I've had my 828 for several months, and I'm over 2,100 photos shot. To say that "I love the camera" would be an understatement. If my 828 were mangled in a horrible accident, I would buy another one in a heartbeat.

If you have any specific questions, I'll be happy to try and answer them for you.


I hope you can answer my questions Zal.
What im hoping for is that all the things I love about the 717 are there and better on the 828 plus fixes for my complaints.

In auto mode, what is the average time from where you press the button to when it captures the shot?

Does the auto mode better compensate for action shots?

How is the 640/480 30 FPS video mode?

What is the average MB per minute of video ratio at 640/480?

The controls appear to be more bulky from what ive seen. Would you consider them efficient and easy to use? Can you modify settings by feel once your used to it or are there so many controls that you have to actually 'look' when you make changes? (Example: I can switch to modes, change image size, preview, delete, etc. w/out looking at the buttons.)

How long does the battery last on average?

How is the overall speed of the camera? From turning it on to mode change to the focus, shutter, etc?

Are the memory cards and drives that are 1gig+ as fast or faster than a mem stick pro?

Any complaints at all?

Message edited by author 2004-09-17 19:52:04.
 09/17/2004 08:04:53 PM · #44
Originally posted by laurielblack:
Originally posted by louddog:
<---- n00b

Maybe some day I can be cool like you :)


...hey, I just want to be cool like YOU someday!

edit: because I think your photos are awesome... didn't mean to sound like a smarta$$ there.


Me, or the other guy?
 09/17/2004 08:12:12 PM · #45
Originally posted by louddog:
Me, or the other guy?


You, of course...dahling! ;o)
 09/17/2004 08:13:33 PM · #46
Originally posted by MadMordegon:
...the auto focus mode (which I pretty much use exclusively) does have a delay. From the second I press down on the button to the time the picture snaps can be from .5 seconds to 3 seconds. Meaning I miss alot of shots. I donĂ¢€™t think its a very good action shot camera. It also hates low light


I have no complaints about the autofocus speed with the 717. Sony has, however, cranked it with the 828.

What I cannot understand at all though, is your last comment (above): it hates low light. The 717 (and now the 828) have the fastest lens (that I'm aware of) of any compact, namely f/2.0-f/2.8. I imagine there are quite a few DSLR owners out there with lesser lenses.

Granted, it gets dark at night. ;-)
09/17/2004 08:15:23 PM · #47
Originally posted by laurielblack:
Originally posted by louddog:
Me, or the other guy?


You, of course...dahling! ;o)


Thanks!
 09/17/2004 08:56:01 PM · #48
The 828 is not perfect, and I intend to buy a DSLR in the near future, but I got more then what I expected for the money.
My ONLY complaint is that the hot shoe is on the lense, in front of the swivel. This is ok when on a tripod. However, when hand held, the added weight of the flash, can make the lense swivel too easily.
 09/17/2004 09:02:09 PM · #49
Originally posted by zeuszen:
Originally posted by MadMordegon:
...the auto focus mode (which I pretty much use exclusively) does have a delay. From the second I press down on the button to the time the picture snaps can be from .5 seconds to 3 seconds. Meaning I miss alot of shots. I donĂ¢€™t think its a very good action shot camera. It also hates low light


I have no complaints about the autofocus speed with the 717. Sony has, however, cranked it with the 828.

What I cannot understand at all though, is your last comment (above): it hates low light. The 717 (and now the 828) have the fastest lens (that I'm aware of) of any compact, namely f/2.0-f/2.8. I imagine there are quite a few DSLR owners out there with lesser lenses.

Granted, it gets dark at night. ;-)


I tend to have problems with noise and lack of focus when in dim light. Like some of the sexy shots on DPC like:







I never get the clarity of these shots in the same kind of light. I either get very little focus or heavy noise. Now, another factor might be the type of light. Are some of these done with a metal halide bulb? Where does the 'white light' come from?
 09/17/2004 09:03:17 PM · #50
I have an 828, and I am pretty happy with it. I know it is capable of much more than I've been able to coax out of it with my meager skills. Once I max out its potential, which I expect will take quite a while, I won't feel too badly about upgrading to a DSLR. Sure, I wish it allowed for swapping out lenses, but I knew what I was doing when I opted to put a cap on my spending. I'm confident I could have spent quite a bit more and still not be taking ribbon winning shots. The 828 is not for everyone, but IMO, it does a good job for the money.
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