I was cooking some steaks the other night for Michele and I and took the opportunity to put the Sony a55 into a super High ISO test situation. The results speak for themselves at ISO 12800 with Extreme Dynamic Range. I was hand holding these with the Sony 70-200mm f/2.8 lens attached, and it was very dark out so the light source is pretty much flame and some ambient light.
Full Res – Sony a55, Sony 70-200mm f/2.8 @ 200mm, 1/30sec @ f/2.8, ISO 12800, Hand Held
Here’s a 100% crop and the noise is much more visible, although much better than I expected.
100% Crop – Sony a55, Sony 70-200mm f/2.8 @ 200mm, 1/30sec @ f/2.8, ISO 12800, Hand Held
I’m still working on the full review of the Sony a55, but below is the “Lab” High ISO 12800 tests I have done so far:
Sony a55, Sigma 30mm f/1.4, f/8, ISO 12800
100 % Crop – Sony a55, Sigma 30mm f/1.4, f/8, ISO 12800
Here’s another real world image of Layla shot at ISO 3200 with the Sony a55. Very impressive results imo 
High Res – Sony a55, Sony 70-200mm f/2.8 @ 200mm, 1/320sec @ f/4, ISO 3200, Hand Held
100% Crop – Sony a55, Sony 70-200mm f/2.8 @ 200mm, 1/320sec @ f/4, ISO 3200, Hand Held
For comparison purposes here is the link to the Canon Rebel T3i review, however I did not have the ISO expansion option enabled so the tests ony go to ISO 6400. The Canon Rebel T3i being pretty much the direct competition to the Sony Alpha 55, I figured the Canon review might be of interest to some
That Steak looks delicious Jay!!