After updating my NEX-5 to firmware v3, and my LA-EA1 A-mount to E-mount lens adapter to firmware v2, it could focus with SAM and SSM lenses, even when recording video!
Download the firmware update here:
NEX-5 Firmware v3 Windows Installer
http://www.sony-asia.com/support/download/422174/product/nex-5a
NEX-3 Firmware v3 Windows Installer
http://www.sony-asia.com/support/download/422175/product/nex-3a
LA-EA1 Firmware v2 Windows Installer
http://www.sony-asia.com/support/download/422480/product/la-ea1
USABILITY UPGRADE!
I have to say, there were many things people were all waiting for with the firmware update; the customizable keys were one such great improvement. Here is what is different:
1) you can customize Soft Key B (bottom button)
2) you can customize Soft Key C (middle button) with 3 slots; you choose between slots by pressing the left and right keys
3) when you move the MF Assist position, and you enter MF Assist mode again, it remembers the position
4) you can choose to jump to the last item you accessed in the menu
5) you can scroll through the front and back of the menu list
6) you can now autofocus SAM, SSM and other in-lens-motor lenses (Sigma HSM, Tamron USD for example.)
7) you can set the aperture before recording a video (with E-mount and A-mount lenses) though you cannot change aperture while recording video
There were limits though – some options can be in Soft Key B but don’t show up in Soft Key C and vice versa. I’d like to have ISO for Soft Key B and MF Assist for Soft Key C – MF Assist in Soft Key B cannot be used with E-mount lenses. However, the firmware came with the best options out of the box, exactly how I would have planned it:
Soft Key B = MF Assist
Soft Key C Slot 1 = ISO
Soft Key C Slot 1 = White Balance
Soft Key C Slot 1 = DRO/Auto HDR
How the NEX-3/NEX-5 autofocuses with A-mount SAM/SSM lenses
And so after updating the firmware, I brought my A55 to compare it will all the Sony SAM and SSM lenses available in Sony Style KLCC. Unfortunately the Sony 300mm F2.8G SSM is not on display, and the Sony Carl Zeiss Distagon T* 24mm F2.0 ZA SSM, Sony 35mm F1.8 DT SAM and Sony 85mm F2.8 SAM had not arrived in Malaysia as of time of recording this video.
NEX-5 v3 with LA-EA1 v2 with Sony SAM lenses
Contrast Detect Auto Focus test with the Sony Alpha NEX-5, firmware version 3, with the Sony LA-EA1 A-mount to E-mount lens adapter, firmware version 2, with Sony SAM lenses.
Tested with the following: Sony 18-55mm F3.5-5.6 DT SAM, Sony 28-75mm F2.8 SAM, Sony 30mm F2.8 DT SAM Macro, Sony 50mm F1.8 DT SAM, Sony 55-200mm F4-5.6 DT SAM (2).
NEX-5 v3 with LA-EA1 v2 with Sony SSM lenses
Contrast Detect Auto Focus test with the Sony Alpha NEX-5, firmware version 3, with the Sony LA-EA1 A-mount to E-mount lens adapter, firmware version 2, with Sony SSM lenses.
Tested with the following: Sony Carl Zeiss Vario-Sonnar T* 16-35mm F2.8 ZA SSM, Sony Carl Zeiss Vario-Sonnar T* 24-70mm F2.8 ZA SSM, Sony 70-200mm F2.8G SSM, Sony 70-300mm F4.5-5.6G SSM, Sony 70-400mm F4-5.6G SSM.
Sony SLT-A55 with Sony SAM lenses
Phase Detect Auto Focus test with the Sony Alpha SLT-A55, with Sony SAM lenses.
Tested with the following: Sony 18-55mm F3.5-5.6 DT SAM, Sony 28-75mm F2.8 SAM, Sony 30mm F2.8 DT SAM Macro, Sony 50mm F1.8 DT SAM, Sony 55-200mm F4-5.6 DT SAM (2).
Sony SLT-A55 autofocusing with Sony SSM lenses
Phase Detect Auto Focus test with the Sony Alpha SLT-A55, with Sony SSM lenses.
Tested with the following: Sony Carl Zeiss Vario-Sonnar T* 16-35mm F2.8 ZA SSM, Sony Carl Zeiss Vario-Sonnar T* 24-70mm F2.8 ZA SSM, Sony 70-200mm F2.8G SSM, Sony 70-300mm F4.5-5.6G SSM, Sony 70-400mm F4-5.6G SSM.
Sony SLT-A55 with ECM-CG50 shotgun mike comparison
Compared the Sony SLT-A55 with Minolta 24-50mm F4 (a screw-drive lens, sure to make a sound when focusing) and the ECM-CG50 shotgun mike in three situations;
1) using on-board mike
2) using ECM-CG50 shotgun mike
3) using ECM-CG50 shotgun mike with low cut filter on
The holder itself has rubber to form an isolation mount – this prevents vibrations from pressing the camera buttons, from reaching the mike. The iISO to ISO coldshoe adapter (it cannot work for flashes) is included in the package.
VERDICT?
We can observe certain things – for one, the average video length with the NEX-5/LA-EA1 combo with SAM lenses was 30 seconds (minus the introduction.)
The average video length with the NEX-5/LA-EA1 combo with SSM lenses was 20 seconds (minus the introduction.)
Meanwhile, the A55 videos clocked in at an average of 4 seconds (minus the introduction.)
These were all for 3 cycles, focusing close, then further, then close again. I had to adjust my shooting location to accomodate lenses that could not focus so close, like the telephoto lenses.
Contrast Detect AF, especially on the NEX-5/LA-EA1 with Sony 30mm F2.8 DT SAM Macro, was particularly loud! This was probably because the NEX-5/LA-EA1 decided to go all the way to minimum focus distance (MFD), then to infinity, then back, then to the focus point.
The camera tells the lens motor to go at full speed from MFD to infinity which causes that loud sound.
Compare this to Phase Detect AF, where the camera just tells the lens motor to go to the focus point (quite simply, because it only needs to look once to get it in approximate location.)
Contrast Detect AF also seems to be a lot faster with shorter focal lengths. The Sony Carl Zeiss Vario-Sonnar T* 24-70mm F2.8 ZA SSM in particular proved to be the fastest in both contrast detect and phase detect situations.
Contrast Detect AF also does much, much better with brighter lenses.
The NEX-3/NEX-5 has another handicap – you cannot set the AF point to be fixed on the center; it will always go into Wide Area AF whenever it records video. The A33/A55 lets you change AF points even when recording video!
My next mission – to find the Sony Alpha 580!