Sony SLT-A58K Digital SLR Kit with 18-55mm Zoom Lens, 20.1MP SLR Camera with 3-Inch LCD Screen (Black)

In the past, I owned a Canon Rebel. Every single shot from the Canon was overexposed. In fact the whole entire Rebel line on that note, overexposes everything. Canons got it right on with color. They do outstanding job. But who cares about color if your sky is white? This is why when looking for a DSLR I took a look at Sonys lineup. From the sample photos, it did not disappoint. But for me you can look at all the sample photos in the world, but until you take the pictures yourself with the camera in hand, and have a chance to adjust the settings how you want them, in the mode that you want them (never leave a camera on default at least move into program mode), until this is done I remained unconvinced.It arrived with the kit lens, and I took it out for its first photo shoot. Ill put it this way: For the next good 10 years, I am set with a camera and other than looking for a point and shoot for circumstances where mobility is needed, this is going to remain my number one camera.The thing is, a lot of people who post photos online of cameras, are leaving everything at default settings. It does an injustice to both the software on the camera (seeing what its capable of), as well as the senor. For instance this camera like many today has an HDR mode. This mode brings out the shadows so that you can see more of what otherwise would have been more black. Do you know why people like Panasonic or some of the Samsung TVs so much? Because of the blacks! Because of the contrast. So that was the first default option that was clicked off. Then I set it to program mode. I also turned up the sharpness one. On a point and shoot, adjusting sharpness up is typically a no go. They oversharpen as is. With a larger sensor like this, having the in camera sharpness turned up just one notch IS completely acceptable.By searching Flickrs website search bar for: "Sony A58 Amazon Review" you will be able view images I took in the last day here with this camera. the V (down) arrow button on flicker will let you view full size. I would recommend viewing on a high resolution monitor. I'm using a Dell 2340MC on multimedia default setting with a good graphics card. Most modern laptops are good enough...there was a huge difference viewing these images on this very external monitor on my old PC and on my HP laptop.Night and day in terms of seeing image quality. It wasnt the monitor, it was a much better graphics card, but any laptop or PC now adays even with intel chips on board should do just fine. But with the settings I have the monitor calabrated to, I have compared these images with Canon and other cameras. Its has the best image quality I have used apart from the Mirrorless Gf6 which I loved just as much. Unfortunately that camera isnt working right so this was my replacement. And actually now that I have it, Im glad I went with the alphas series over a mirrorless camera. There are SO MANY lenses. SO MANY!! All the AF Minolta lenses..they are compatible with this! Tamron makes them for sony A mount, Sigma does as well. There are simply endless possibilities with lenses that wont cost you over 100,000,000 dollars.CONCLUSIONS: This camera is worth its value. It has a fast autofocus, unlike canon focuses on all spots instead of simply the one spot closest to you (thank you Sony), has an outstanding viewfinder (it gives you a really good idea of your shot before shooting, does a good job with exposure, has a screen that comes out and turns up or down for flexability, a flash shoe, many lenses as state, a good grip, has perfectly acceptable ISO images at 1600 (havent tried 3200 yet though 1600 looks great, is fast (5FPS...really with an entry level camera and many of the nikons and canons being at 3fps , I fail to see what people are complaining about), has a good battery life, has a built in flash as well, has the option of viewing your photo both through the digital viewfinder or digital display (and the digital viewfinder can be adjusted to suit your color warmth or brightness)...Bottom line is the pictures on flicker: "Amazon Sony A58 Review" speak for themselves. They are all unedited and strait from the camera. Some do have exposure turned down but you can click on the details in flicker and see which. All of them have sharpness set to hard, and by hard that means +1 out of 0, 1, 2, 3. Other than in camera sharpening those pictures viewed an a good monitor will give you an idea of what this camera is capable of. Shots that I normally have missed with other past cameras I have yet to miss on this. Its worth the price. I cant speak for the a57, but I have compared the two side by side and really cant see a difference. Ill take more megapixels for larger prints, because between the two Im just not seeing it in all the test photos. The A58 does a fantastic job and on a scale of 1-20, I would rate it at a solid 19/20. One point off for missing the greens that panasonic hits with their GF series.heading on over to image-resources and reading what they have to say, taking a look at photography blog, reading what they have to say and also taking a look at the samples. Very fast auto focus (and unlike Canon doesnt just focus on what is closest), really high ISO with outstanding results (though pershaps part of this is related to the fact that I come from point and shoots...but still its better than any of the rebel line ive used, great color saturation, just an all around great camera.

If you're tired of trying to get great pics from a pocket-sized point and shoot cameras under $400 and ready to buy A DSLR with an automatic mode that will give you awesome pics suitable for enlargement, the new Sony SLT-A58K should be on your short list. Technically speaking, this is not a traditional DSLR built in the same way as a Canon T3 or Nikon D3100 because of the mirror set-up and presence of an electronic viewfinder vs a thru-the-lens viewfinder, but I won't bog you down with technical details since the Sony camera competes in that category and has interchangeable lenses like traditional DSLRs. In fact, this A mount offers owners of the old Minolta Maxxum film SLR cameras a digital body to use all those old lenses you have hanging around. I have some of those, but haven't tested them on the camera yet, so I will update this review when I do. But it is a reason that drew me to look at this camera closely, along with advertisement brochures boasting more great fast and fine autofocused pics and videos, which is what I wanted. Up to now, I have been ecstatic (and still am) with my entry-level Canon T3 that I paid under $400 for and have owned for about 3 years. I have done side by side shoot comparisons of this camera against it's more expensive brothers in the same line (Canon T3i, T4i, T5i) as well as Nikons like the D3100, D3200, D5100, and D5200. In each case, I preferred my T3 and the results over all these cameras. However, this new breed Sony with it's Intelligent Auto and IA+ modes finally gave me a reason to add another camera to my arsenal. The final pics downloaded to my PC were sharper, crisper, more detailed, and more accurately colored than those taken with my Canon T3. I was both amazed and impressed. The Sony A58 performed as advertised, and that's the outcome one should get today when comparing a 12 megapixel camera to a 20 megapixel camera with the latest large sensor. The videos were equally impressive with decent autofocus throughout my tests and good sound, too. I'm a bottom line guy, and the results are better so I'm keeping this camera and adding it to my shooting arsenal. Are there any cons? A few, mostly having to do with the camera's build. The Sony is bigger than both the Canon T3 or Nikon D3100, yet weights less as it is much more "plasticky" than either of those two. It doesn't have a real quality feel like it's competitors but does have a comfortable shape for even big hands to hold. Even the on/off thumb switch seems cheap, so I just pray it will hold up like Canons and Nikons do. The SD card department could use some redesign has big hands can't easily insert and remove the card. It's not awful, it just could be better. The Electronic View Finder (EVF) takes some getting use to, and the LCD screen could have more MPs, but since it's only for pic review it's not a real big deal. The LCD screen does tilt up and down a bit, but they should have made it fold out and swivel like many others as that capability helps a lot with videos and LCD protection during storage. Cost wise, you can now pick this up for around $450, so it's about $60 more than the current deal on a Canon T3 or Nikon D3100 but probably worth it. If it was still selling for its $600 MSRP, I would have skipped it, but I think $450 puts it in the right class now. One other noteworthy feature, like the Canon cameras, the manual zoom on the 18-55mm lens is very easy to manipulate whereas the Nikons take a big more muscle. That's my list of pros and cons after a week of ownership. I'll keep you updated as I use it more and learn more.3-1-14 Update: Finally got a chance to try out the old Minolta Maxxum autofocus lenses stored with that SLR film camera from the late 80s or early 90s. The prime 50mm F1.7 installed and worked perfectly with the new Sony A58 digital body and should make a great portrait lens. I was a little worried about the 28-85mm Maxxum zoom lens because it was made back in the good ol' days and weighs a ton, far more than the camera body or even the camera body with the 18-55mm kit lens on it. A lot of reviewer criticism about this model's plastic lens mount made me wonder if it would hold it or snap off. The zoom lens did install OK and seemed secure, but of course its front-heavy weight demands you hold onto it at all times whether shooting or waiting to shoot. The autofocus function also performed well on this old unit, but frankly, this Maxxum zoom lens will be only be used at when needed as it's much too long and heavy to carry with me all the time. The compact 50mm F1.7, however, will have a home in my carrying case. So, all in all, bringing these lenses out of storage and back to use has given me another reason to be happy with this camera's purchase.

While I am happy with my purchase, my only gripe is the eye cup was missing and I did not receive the strap for the camera which was listed with the item. Otherwise, totally great purchase.