Sony ALPHA SLT-A55V Pro Reviews

Sony's new SLT technology is highly impressive and offers a cost-effective way to achieve super-fast autofocus with an impressive burst rate. Indeed this could be the first stepping-stone to the end of traditional DSLRs as we know them. Although the electronic viewfinder may not be to everyone's tastes and isn't especially impressive in low light, these are relatively small hurdles when considering just what the A55 can do. 
In any case, we're sure future models 
will improve the EVF's performance in low-light. This is a very innovative camera and there is currently nothing else out there (save the Sony A33) that can compete 
on quite the same level. The autofocus 
in HD movie mode takes away many 
of the issues that DSLR cameras would otherwise suffer from, while general performance is impressive. Additional touches, such as the built-in GPS are 
a further nod towards just how technologically advanced the A55 is. Overall this is quite an achievement that gets a big thumbs up.

I was a little nervous when I chose the Sony Alpha A55 as our 2010 Camera Of The Year without actually having used it. But after using the A55 for a few months in all kinds of situations and with a wide variety of subjects, I feel I made the right decision. The Sony Alpha SLT-A55 is a great camera with an innovative design, great performance and excellent image quality. It’s not quite the sports camera I was hoping for but it’s a very capable all-round performer that most people will be very happy with – especially people who value video as much as still photos. I’d recommend the A55 over any digital SLR for regular folks looking for a full-featured camera to use for video and high-quality still photography. Travel photographers looking for something a little smaller with great image quality and performance – consider the A55 with the Sony DT 18-250mm f/3.5-6.3. That looks like a great do-it-all camera kit to me.

In all, the a55 begins to create a different photographic atmosphere. It’s a fascinating combination of tools and tricks, with the tricks increasingly becoming an inherent part of the tools.

Despite its cutting-edge internal design, the Sony A55 is a wisely more refined version of many other Alpha cameras in terms of handling, offering a tried and trusted approach with few real drawbacks that both new DSLR users and the more experienced will warm to. The Sony A55 is a great marriage of new and old, competitively priced to take on the best that mid-range DSLRs and Compact System Cameras can offer, and surpassing both in many ways. Highly Recommended.

The Sony A55 isn't a camera for everyone, though. Those looking for similar continuous shooting performance to the current crop of fast frame rate SLRs will be disappointed by the viewfinder blackout after shooting and the relatively small buffer. Fast memory cards are a must if this feature is to be an advantage, but even then those issues still remain.

Image quality in our tests was acceptable but nothing special. Raw photos exhibited a wide dynamic range but noise was higher than we'd have liked, and higher than similarly priced SLRs from Nikon and Canon. Aggressive noise reduction did its intended job but also took its toll on details in JPEGs. The kit lens is disappointing, too, with chromatic aberrations giving poor corner sharpness. None of these problems was fatal, though. We can well imagine the A55 with Sony 75-300mm telephoto lens being put to good use by wildlife enthusiasts or parents at sports field touchlines.

A camera with great potential, but a host of niggling irritations put paid to its chances.

There is no doubt that this is an enjoyable and versatile photographic tool, capable of very fine results. Access to the range of Sony/Carl Zeiss lenses has to be a major plus point, and at a reasonable cost too. The lack of mirror slap reduces potential vibration and also enables very high frame rates. In that middle battle ground the Sony Alpha A55 performs well and is good value for money.

The Sony Alpha SLT-A55 holds its own against its competition thanks to its nice feature set and very good image quality. What sets it apart is its small side, ability to continuously autofocus while shooting video, and fast continuous shooting mode. If portability, video capability and burst shooting are serious concerns for you, then you'll want to give this camera a very close look. If regular still images are your primary concern, then you'll need to pay close attention to the electronic viewfinder, and try to determine if you are comfortable with its limitations.

The A55 holds its own against its competition thanks to its nice feature set and very good image quality. What sets it apart is its small side, ability to continuously autofocus while shooting video, and fast continuous shooting mode. If portability, video capability and burst shooting are serious concerns for you, then you’ll want to give this camera a very close look. If regular still images are your primary concern, then you’ll need to pay close attention to the electronic viewfinder, and try to determine if you are comfortable with its limitations.

Part of a new generation of cameras, the SLT-A55 is truly innovative. The 10fps continuous shooting is incredibly good and far outclasses the next nearest DSLR in this department, not to mention significantly by price. Downsides are few and far between, and may be to a matter of taste rather than significant negatives: the main point is that the electronic viewfinder may not be for everyone, as it’s quite different to the feel of an optical version. However it does add some technological advances that will tick the box for a more tech-savvy audience. All in all the combination of fast shooting, GPS, impressive video autofocus (thanks to the phase detection AF during live view) and the general responsiveness in use make the A55 wildly impressive. There’s still some room for improvement, so we wait with baited breath as to just how good the next generation of cameras will be. But for now the A55 rules the roost and it really is the pinnacle of new age digital cameras.

What remains is a remarkably good performing camera, we cannot deny it. The Sony SLT-A55 uses an old technology to innovate and optimize, which has raised the camera to an outstanding level. It offers fine video quality, an excellent, fast AF, user-friendly control and ease, and not to mention outstanding image quality. After a weak 2009, Sony has managed to put itself on the map once again in 2010, and how. This may just be the start of an upward trend for the coming year. The Sony Alpha SLT-A55 is an excellent all-round camera that will give the competition something to go up against, it is definitely

The Sony Alpha55 (SLT-A55VL) offers faster-than-D-SLR focusing speeds along with D-SLR-quality images. The only thing you don't get is a true optical viewfinder.

There's not much to dislike about Sony's new Alpha a55. Good image quality and color rendition; a quick one-button video interface and 1080i resolution in AVCHD or MP4 formats; and pro-level continuous shooting (and the AF tracking skill to keep things in focus at those high shot rates) all seem like a bargain at the a55's $750 body-only sticker. There's a wide variety of lenses available and the camera body itself is compact and fairly light.

With the Alpha SLT A55 (and its near-relation the A33) Sony has thrown down the gauntlet to the other major manufacturers. These new cameras are both genuinely innovative, and very capable. Sony first introduced phase-detection AF in live view mode with the A350, but the A55 takes things to a completely different level, thanks to its fixed mirror design. Rather than being an optional mode with some disadvantages (less than 100% view, no magnification in Fast AF Live View mode) live view is absolutely integral to the A55's operation and works very well.

Sony’s Alpha A55V shoots ultra-fast stills and the best HD video we’ve ever seen from a DSLR.