Most digital cameras these days have the ability to digitally zoom by cropping the sensor - meaning a portion of the sensor is only used when utilizing this feature. I am a proponent of using your feet or lens to zoom and NEVER this feature...except when you have no choice or want to show others how good or bad it is.
Before I begin, I want to quickly describe crop factor. A full frame camera like the Sony Alpha a99 or the Canon 5D MarkIII will exhibit a 50mm frame of view when they slap on a 50mm lens. Because the a58 has a smaller sensor, it will have a different frame of view if we place that same lens on this camera. It is listed to have a 1.5 crop factor, so the 50mm will have an effective focal length of 75mm. When we digitally zoom the lens, we are effectively using a smaller portion of the sensor to get a longer reach. There is a dedicated zoom button next to the shutter release that allows you to "zoom" or crop your sensor by 1.1 to 2 times. So the same 50mm lens will effectively be a 150mm lens if you apply the 2 times zoom/crop. Please note that this can only be done in JPEG and not Raw. Below are some sample shots taken with the 50mm lens - all taken at Disneyland's Tomorrowland Terrance - 80z All Stars
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-ZjLM1BUGLwhJxL10hyphenhyphenACpzjxcspPW5LGC1vkYnOjmKtB8X2pCFTiifNhP4Kn-ZFjDUx6PZj5LzbSzHP3oWsqGQXor26pjN0xec_jgnIyPGgnsdV0fTZNYbQYzsmnOyqVhwzVulG_EZkF/s400/DSC00771.JPG) |
George as Devo |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid9JBo7B9zJGNxnmWZ42JNJDzZb0Mdh2B0iNElRzMTc9IEGIZIAT8C0xMcWSlVeC0PuS6nF4Uu-61rbLYQh8ukIHa7INthCzx0D6AghgkcQFZ2ZIu_RRt7jG6iJT7WEBTKKY5bvEF6hz5V/s400/DSC00918.JPG) |
Todd McCool as...well, I'm not really sure |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBb21EoTwATqho3JPSQkhZdjibOCIyBoJHEvBpFhRwUHnuLbAcOcQ1_FlhZliM5iqMqem4l9u4trhwC-2wj1R03HoQSg0ceXi4S2V8wg7byemsqnT_C7K1dsYkfQNvS-rRVph5e9DmyVXs/s400/DSC00774.JPG) |
Devo George -A personal favorite from the night |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxofL5p_CzVgx5mE6aBe21zDMKdKCCGy0boao26Xez5AUbVt6MxOp6UOWHT_nCqIovWfshqdJK7yNSuCrN_MUe314jw_S4_lD9dLluuUPLmPBZoq-2Yr6w4BY_2afAUTmcZQReGoM3VRp1/s400/DSC00831.JPG) |
Nigel - Lead Singer |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZKKU8eCHdXG47j1WNlM_eSeDRKIwC0Yp8C01E_fUh3Rm6lEgnZ7kgv_GiUyNRPjn8J1BaKG_BVZ0U4-lRatAAk-9gYXcHGYI4paJxrVyQ8Uia8ZWxZPXvZPHpgtTASIVSdSN_Qb7jQ2NE/s400/DSC00891.JPG) |
More Devo |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguuH9tbGRktN_LxqkahZAkMIxmcMfXzIHVIvlHHpf8SG6NjNfmm7pZtOVNRsDosHyvg7C65voG-l5Lkaaz1KyeGd7QNVU-pHUNspUsK3AyE5FoS53moxiK_r5eLA_Ga9KcyVstdrbvnQeB/s400/DSC00877.JPG) |
Nigel - It's nice having the option to digitally zoom when I can't physically move closer |
The above photos were all taken in JPEG with normal noise reduction. I personally think it is a bit over done, so I decided to set it to low. The following shots display JPEG files with low noise reduction
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyReVnPdkfkr_f-_SyXMeh-dVb-QDMXH6mtOSk5wtHkCgCGKvvddn3xF-xrx9lO64L8VaLgwpNnxH0HKte9gQR9qjhY61e-vKQ-i6uK0zc_ZWm26KUEQari7mCGRty8EKruj4AzPLaKeE5/s400/DSC01556.JPG) |
Nathan Shrake as the Mad Hatter |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3gbLU693Gto3H34CgVF7OPwsEOtIbRZFL1JLJ7ktgOdS3jjiTn5sVShH_FlqZelVOBD4LgPL_HvQifU0pb2ioxc5s6D454F432gN-W5VuMdMqsy7botRJie6_5iNePX1otzOFiczztLHF/s400/DSC01572.JPG) |
Nathan Shrake as the Mad Hatter |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3QIQZfBC5blqrNaipX1NGKS2AJklhoZSBB85z2Mo_5lVOmnRNoDbJX8WWS55K3iMuqjDzqXM267fD7DxI5HDEeYxTRYPQbdNMnV5Vf_9UeSm3NJFc4rGp2wJOdB9NJjGxNu-zhwmO7lzo/s400/DSC01611.JPG) |
Dan Franklin (Dormouse) and Jenny Kidd (Alice) getting close and personal |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEoaOzsKbzzICXj48luuIdZQIdTGbAI4jEs6xP4xyDnl-h0JqkxmkH0C_t5t50eXtSFrZTsPtVG0i4onrnZO5O-nUPDk0oxd7of6Yj1RF5qkmsiJxGhjjtDf98_0-YsWjfXaG1Mc9OLWbY/s400/DSC01765CROP.JPG) |
Tomasina |
The JPGs on the a58 aren't too bad, but given the option I would almost always shoot Raw. Having that ability to pull out details in shadows/highlights and tweaking white balance is really helpful. (see the following
POST regarding why I shoot raw) Well, I hope this helps. Please let me know if you have any questions. Thanks for stopping by.
So say we all,
Dino
Hi !
ReplyDeleteWith the experience that u have had with the A-58 what do u feel ....Is it a keeper ?:)
Thanks for stopping by. I think it is a keeper for what I had paid for. I was able to get the kit lens plus a 50mm f1.8 for about $600. When compared to my Olympus OMD, it falls a bit short. However, as a back up camera, I am completely happy and intend on investing in future Alpha gear/glass. I plan on posting a long term user review after I've had some extensive use with it.
DeleteThanks for stopping by. Glad the post was helpful.
ReplyDelete