Sony SLT-A57K Pro Reviews

The Sony Alpha SLT-A57Y is an interchangeable lens camera that's well worth considering. It's a camera that can capture wonderfully clear and vibrant images without you having to fiddle around with the settings too much. We think you can have a lot of fun with it, especially if you go for the twin lens kit that has the 55-200mm lens in it.

Sony's Alpha 57 digital SLR is capable of producing excellent images and video, but its EVF has some issues, and the camera is a little slow to start and shoot.

The new Sony A57 is a compelling intermediate SLT/DSLR camera that has a list of features and performance that few other rivals can match. The Sony A57 essentially offers the same excellent handling and features of the more expensive A65 model, but uses a more modest 16 megapixel sensor rather than the A65's 24 megapixels. It also doesn't have built-in GPS tracking, something that the A65 and the previous A55 both offer. Just like the rest of the SLT family, the Sony A57 turns conventional design on its head to provide what is in many ways a better user experience than traditional DSLRs can achieve, at a competitive price point that Canon and Nikon must surely be worried about. The A57's electronic viewfinder may not be as detailed as the one used by the A65 and A77 models, but it still has enough resolution to rival and even beat a more conventional optical viewfinder. The A57's translucent mirror and EVF open up a world of possibilities for Sony, with headline grabbing burst shooting speeds, fast auto-focus for both stills and video, and 100% scene coverage, all for the modest price of a mid-range DSLR.

Overall, we're pretty impressed with the Sony A57. It seems like an ideal camera for any kind of photography. I don't generally get jazzed about unusual modes like HDR, and I seldom go for resolution-enhancement technology, as is found in the Clear Image Zoom function, but I'll still give it a try. What's most impressive is having access to 12 or even 10 frames per second in a sub-$800 camera. Add full-time autofocus while you shoot movies or stills, and the Sony A57 has what it takes to run the other guys over. And while it seemed gimmicky a few years ago, I really enjoy sweeping out a panoramic image without much thought or effort, something the Sony A57 makes easy. We'll reserve final judgment for a production unit, but so far, this is Sony's most competent consumer camera offering ever, one that should give the big two camera makers chills.

Aside from its more enthusiast-focused design, the A57 can't be said to be a significant update over the A55 it replaces. True, this isn't entirely a bad thing, as it shares many of that camera's positive attributes, from its snappy focusing performance and reliable image and video quality, to the handful of features which make it as enjoyable to use as the camera is capable. Anyone looking for a camera which marries entry-level simplicity with enthusiast control should, without question, add it to their shortlist along with the similarly-priced Nikon D5100 and Canon EOS 600D. Nevertheless, while it's welcome to see improvements to the camera's burst shooting functionality and sensitivity span, it's disappointing that basic issues which impede operability continue to be ignored. Despite this, the A57 is still a capable and cheaper alternative to the A65, and one likely to appeal to those who'd take advantage of its slightly better noise performance. In its own right it earns itself a warm recommendation, although those interested in one are advised to look closely at the other too.

In spite of a few handling quirks and an ageing menu system that could do with ironing out, the Sony Alpha a57 delivers an overall very favourable impression. With a strong feature set and the ability to deliver high quality images, this camera can certainly hold its own when put up against its equivalent DSLR rivals. With unique features such as its 12fps burst mode and the new interpolation-based technologies, the Sony Alpha a57 has a number of interesting features that elevate it above rivals. There's also plenty of diverse exposure and scene modes, Picture Effects, 3D shooting capability and manual exposure control to be explored, meaning that beginners can start with the automatic functions and naturally progress into the more hands-on modes as their skills advance. This makes the Sony Alpha a57 into a longer-term investment that has the potential to grow with you as your confidence develops. There's a lot to like about this responsive camera. The Sony Alpha a57 boasts a robust body, an accessible control layout, versatile and high-resolution articulated LCD, plus a respectable range of automatic and manual exposure modes - including 3D and Sweep Panorama options. Throw in a fast, highly-accurate full-time Phase Detection AF system and great image quality, and it's not difficult to see why we have plenty of praise for Sony's latest innovation.

The Sony Alpha A57 is the latest DSLR / SLT from Sony, and is a cut down version of the Sony Alpha A65, with a 16.2 megapixel sensor, lower resolution EVF and cropped high speed shooting mode, it offers a more affordable entry into high speed photography, with extremely quick focus, shutter response and continuous shooting. However, as it's currently available for a very similar price to the A65 and is the same size, we would recommend you look at the higher specification A65 instead. Also, the A55 has the added benefit of being much smaller, cheaper, with 10fps continuous shooting at full resolution. The Sony A57 is an excellent camera, capable of taking great photos, with low noise and bright saturated colour, however it just seems that the camera it replaces (the A55) was just as good, if not better? Similarly, the next model up, is clearly of a higher specification, and is currently only a few pounds more.

Sony's original SLT models - the A55 and A33, showed the company was willing to try something different to compete with the well-entrenched SLR makers. With the SLT-A57, it looks like Sony is intent on competing more fiercely than ever. The specs may hint at a gentle update but, from what we've seen, it's an overall package that DSLR makers should take seriously.