The Alpha SLT-A77 II has a virtually identical appearance compared to the A77 of 2011. With its rubber armouring, the splash-proof housing is easy to handle and makes a very robust, high-quality impression – unlike the one or other smaller alpha.
Picture gallery
The operation is carried out next to the menu settings in the typical Sony style as before via buttons and dial wheels. Sony has stayed with the SLT concept with a semi-transparent mirror and an electronic OLED viewfinder.
Consistent picture quality
Thus, the live view image is not disturbed by the SLR typical blackout for autofocusing. The OLED viewfinder with 786 333 RGB pixels provides a sharp, slightly more contrasting image than the A77 and can be overlooked with a 0.71x magnification.
New AF function
The flexible 3-inch LCD monitor of the A77II comes with additional white pixels and 306,000 RGBW pixel resolution. It remains well recognizable in the bright, if not exactly reflections on the shining surface disturb. Switching between the viewfinder and the monitor is automatic as usual.
The best choice is
The most important innovations of the A77 II are sensor, image processor and autofocus. The sensor resolution remains unchanged at 24.3 megapixels, but new "on-chip lenses" promise improved light output and up to 20% more sensitivity.
The Sonic Bionz X image processor from the full-format A7 models is used for signal processing. The GPS function of the predecessor A77 (test), however, has unfortunately saved Sony with the A77 II.
The first JPEG photos taken with the A77 II still from the pre-production look good. Exposure is safe even in difficult situations, while the automatic dynamic range optimization (DRO) ensures a wide range of lights and shadows, but can also lead to higher noise.
Important: the automatic lens corrections must be activated in the menu. In the test camera, the distortion correction hidden under the second menu tab under point 6, line 3, sub-line 3 was deactivated, which was then the first zoom photos with the DT 2.8 / 16-50 mm SSM because of the corresponding motifs.
Overall, the A77-II images give the expected good image at lower sensitivities. For an exact evaluation, especially of the exciting higher sensitivities, we are waiting for a serial model with final firmware.
At the autofocus, the A77 II makes the most changes. It should work faster and bring a number of improved and new features. The difference in the fractional seconds at which the A77 II is now faster than the one with 0.29 s at 1000 Lux and with the Live-View already nimble A77 could not be ascertained in practical use
This will show as soon as possible the ColorFoto-Labortest. In any case, the pre-production A77 II-AF was able to work quickly and very accurately even under low light conditions. It is practical that the A77 II phase detection AF is now working with 79 AF points, 15 of which are equipped with cross sensors
It captured an almost twice as large area of the image field, an improved prerequisite for the AF tracking of moving motifs. In order to implement these in practice, however, you must first activate the A77 II.
The first step is to select between Single (AF-S), Continuous (AF-C) or Auto Focus (AF-A). Next, select one of the options "Wide", "Center", "Flexible Spot", "Extended Flexible Spot" -AF, or "Lock-on" -AF, combined with one of the previous options >
Also interesting is
The last two options promise better hit chances when tracking moving motifs. In the extended flexible spot AF, the photographer determines the spot of his choice, and the eight surrounding AF points keep the detail in mind: they take the focus when they leave the area of the selected point.
When photographing with Lock-on-AF, the A77 II-AF is designed for a subject detail that is not only intended to follow the direction near or far, but also along the path obliquely through the image field. The whole thing is as complicated as it sounds in practice - for lock-on AF, AF-C must be pre-selected.
Conclusion
This makes sense in terms of content, but here a reference in the Cameramenü would be helpful. In the case of two faces in the picture, you do not know beforehand which eye the eye detection / eye AF tracking will decide. So I quickly concentrated again on the "wide" -AF and was looking forward to its speedy function.
Lock-on-AF promises additional security, but is also no guarantee as two photos with slight defocusing in a seven-part swivel show. For some motifs, however, even the A77 II does not have an MF, like the "Selfie" in the dim mirror.
Small marginal note to conclude: the setting up of a Wi-Fi connection for the picture transmission from the Sony A77II to the Panasonic Viera TV succeeded in 12 minutes without Try & Error procedure.
Bottom line, the Sony A77 II is very mature, the missing GPS is a pity, but the improvements in the autofocus make sense and desire for more. Whether you prefer a thick SLT housing or a slim like that of the Sony A7 (test) is a matter of taste, in the end, the lenses determine the weight of the equipment. The introductory introductory price of 1,200 euros for the new Sony A77 II appears fair, the A77 cost at the time still 100 euro more
Note: Unfortunately, Sony has not yet released the practice photos created with the pre-production model of the A77II for online publishing.
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