A500 & A550?

I finally got around to registering my A900 on Sonystyle.ca tonight and saw something interesting. When typing in the model number I started to enter DSLRA900 and after entering DSLR a number of choices became visible in a drop down menu:

...
DSLRA350KCF
DSLRA380L
DSLRA380S
DSLRA500
DSLRA500S
DSLRA550
DSLRA550S
DSLRA700
DSLRA700P
DSLRA900

Unless there's some other Sony product with these names I'd guess that another announcement is coming before long.

No... but it should be a dslr with HD video to fill in the missing gap :) Sony is doing well in this market :)

Yes I can confirm that the A500 and A550 are shown in the drop down list. Here is a screen shot:



EDIT: Had to re-upload as my free host only allows 1 gig transfer a month. :)

Had to do it a second time. It should stay now...

Edited by rockhound - 26 May 2009 at 21:09

OK, come to think of it, since this thread is new I think I will re-post my question from one of the A-230/A-3xx threads. I'm curious about the potential for using vertical grips as platforms to add extra features to cameras that have already been built to a certain price-point. Because I'm lazy, I'm copying and pasting relevant sections:


Sure VGs make it easier to shoot portraits and double battery life, but could they also be used as a platform to "up-content" features into a camera?

For example, the A-200 didn't have a depth of field preview (yeah, I know, it only technically replaced the A-100 and was truly a different beast altogether, but bear with me) and now the A-230 doesn't have AEL (I think I read that here someplace.) Accordingly, Sony seems to be de-contenting to make them more affordable to the introductory "Sammy/Suzzy Shutterbug" market (I may have just made that term up myself right now.)...

... But, what if these new users start getting more "serious" about photography and the capabilities of their cameras? Sure, the conventional wisdom is to steer them towards upgrading bodies, but could Sony use VGs as a cheaper platform to add, or "unlock" capabilities?

If Sony wants to further encourage an introductory DSLR shooter into getting "Gear Acquisition Syndrome" a VG that adds stuff that was originally de-contented, or perhaps more ambitious capabilities (who knows, maybe video or GPS someday?) might be an easier sell than a new body.   

I'm sure the set-up for the controls for such functions might pose issues (how would you place an AEL button on a VG so that it's always useable? etc.)

Regards

PS: I'm sorry if the questions I'm asking are stupid for some obvious technical reasons. I don't claim to really know anything about "tech stuff".

Yeah, I was thinking the same thing RE landscape orientation and an AEL button.

Maybe a VG that extends up and around the side? If the original camera has been scrunched somewhat, the space added might not be too unwieldy.

Yeah, suddenly the idea starts sounding more rickety doesn't it?

No luck on the US site for registration or support. Now I may have to wait before getting an IR conversion pending the new 5XX series! I imagine these are the true A100 replacements.

I hope you guys don't mind but I posted your find on a local photo board where I am the probably the only vocal Sony shooter, but I credited yu two who made and confirmed the find!

Edited by groovyone - 25 May 2009 at 03:28

Also, what do we think the difference will be between the 500 and 550? If the difference was live view, you might expect instead a 400 and a 500 (like the 200 and 300). So will they have different sensors like the 300 and 350? And if so, the lower range sensor would almost certainly be of a higher megapixel count than the 300 for purely marketing reasons. If the 500 uses the 12Mpx sensor from the A700 (as some have speculated), will the 550 use the 14px sensor from the 350? Or something larger? Or will the nomenclature be inconsistent and the 550 will be the live view version with the same sensor?