Sony Alpha SLT-A57 16.1 MP Exmor APS HD CMOS Sensor DSLR with Translucent Mirror Technology and 3D Sweep Panorama (Body Only) (OLD MODEL)

I have used a Sony SLT-a55 for the past year and a half and purchased a number of the Sony and Zeiss professional lens. This combination has produced very good output. Some of the finest pictures I have ever taken were with the a55. However I was annoyed that the camera was not as responsive as my a700 and the overheating problem during video recording. So I preordered the SLT-a57 March 18th and it arrived yesterday. I have only had the camera one day and I am very impressed and think the upgrade from the a55 is very good. I think the Sony SLT cameras offer an excellent feature set. I am a fan of the EVF technology. Much of my photography is done shooting stage events where the lights vary greatly across the stage. I love being able to see the adjustments of the camera setting in the EVF and shoot without needing to refer to the output on the LCD screen. What you see is what you get. I can concentrate on the subjects and wait for just the right moment in the action. I prefer to compose the scene through a VF anyway. I no longer take an OVF camera to stage events. Getting the right exposure is so easy with an SLT camera. The exposure on stage can easily vary from 1/30 to 1/640 sec at F4 depending upon the subject position relative to the lighting, especially spotlights. I no longer do any exposure bracketing. I also enjoyed the continuous focus during video recording (DLSR AF during zooming while video recording is poor), and in camera HDR feature that works very well. I do prefer an OVF camera for studio work with strobes. I have been very impressed with two other features of the SLT-a57 already. The first one is focus peaking during manually focusing. I have poor eyesight and could no longer manually focus a scene. But with the focus peaking feature my manual focusing that been restored. It is like a part of my vision has been restored. I now would buy a Sony SLT or NEX camera just for this feature alone. The other feature that appears very impressive is the clear zoom feature where the picture quality is processed and improved over what one usually gets from a digital zoom which degrades the IQ. You can zoom up to 2.8x on any lens attached to the camera. I have uploaded two pictures for you to see the magnification of my CZ 16-80 zoom lens at 80mm while lighting the subject with bounce flash (These are jpg pictures right out of the camera. Notice the knots on the beaded jug as a reference). I now will have a very nice combination with my a77 for event photography with some SSM lens. I want to thank the engineers at Sony for this feature set. In the past I felt that Sony offered some excellent lens but that each of their camera models was lacking an important feature. Now I feel that Sony has produced two excellent cameras in the SLT a77 (I bought it for its AF system (which is great) and the ability to micro adjust lens focus) and the SLT-57 model. They are very fun to use with a super feature set. They are fast, feel good in the the hand and produce very nice pictures indeed. I tested the clear zoom feature further tonight and I think that it works as advertised which is amazing. You can digitally magnify the image up to 2.8x more while still retaining very good image quality through Sony's image enhancement feature. I included some pictures taken with my telephoto lens on the Sony a57 product page here on Amazon shot at an 8 Mp resolution. Look for yourself. I made my 200mm telephoto lens a 400mm with the push a button. There is a picture taken with my 400mm lens for comparison. It doesn't look like a gimmick to me. 4-29-12 I uploaded more pictures to the Sony SLT-a57 product page after a trip out "birding" with an 400mm lens. I think people interested in photographing wildlife should consider this camera. Update: 5-23-12. Recently, I shot 3 stage events and I am satisfied that this camera's clear zoom feature works just as well indoors as outdoors. I was very impressed with the reach of this camera and the IQ of the images using it with a Tamron 70-200mm f 2.8 lens. I did not need to go above 1600 iso to get the shutter speeds I needed even with dancers and felt no need to do any noise removal in post proceeding. The feature set of this camera gives one so many options. Using the focus peaking feature with manual focusing more and more. Another problem that is resolved when using the SLT-a57 when shooting stage events (formal concerts like choir or orchestra) or weddings is how quiet the shutter is. It is almost silent. In the past using a OVF camera with a moving mirror I could not get the shots I wanted for fear of causing shutter noise at a time when everyone in the audience should be quiet like when a soft song was being played or sung or when the couple is exchanging vows during the wedding. I would have to wait until a rise in volume occurred so the shutter noise would not be noticed. Often during concerts I shoot video and take still pictures (with two different cameras) at the same time. Then when I played the video back I could hear every shutter click when using the OVF camera like my a700 or a580. What a pain. Now I record video and shoot with the SLT-a57 at the same time and I do not hear the shutter in the video at all. Now I shoot whenever I want during the event. I love the freedom a quiet shutter mechanism gives me. The a77 also has a very quiet shutter as well. I am very happy with this purchase. Update 10/27/12. I have shot with this camera for another 6 months and my satisfaction has only grown. I love the focus peaking feature for manual focusing. It is the best focus assist system for manual focusing in the world. I have shifted over to become a full manual mode shooter. I now have raised my photography to another level. Another feature have works excellent as well is sweep panorama. My sunset pictures are even better. I do agree with other people that Sony needs to improve the jpg engine of all their cameras especially with shooting in the shade. Anyway this is a class leading camera. An excellent choice for someone starting photography. Update 11/30/13. I wanted to add a short update. I am still shooting with this camera. I cycle and hike a lot and even though I also own an RX100 I take the a57 with me most of the time. It is my outdoor activity camera and I have use the in camera HDR and panorama feature all the time with the focus peaking. That allows me to put the focus right where I want it in the scene. My preferred lens with this camera is the Sony 16-50mm f2.8 SSM. It takes sharp landscape pictures. I am also fond of a light weight and "poor man's" telephoto lens. The Tamron 200-400m f5.6. My copy is sharp at 400mm. The a57 camera and those two lenses stay in a backpack where I can just grab them and go. Sometimes I will include the Sigma 70mm macro for closeups. Also I have really enjoyed using the a57 with the Sony 15-50mmf2.8 SSM for video. This setup is silent and the camera does a very good job metering the stage productions I video. I can keep the exposure compensation and the clear zoom adjustments on the live view LCD and make silent and easy adjustments to the image. I just shot a high school play for the drama department and was very happy with the results. The AF with phase detection was very accurate and quick. I was very pleased that the camera never hunted once as it reestablished focus as I changed scenes. Canon is trying to make a big deal about their AF with video with the 70D. Now not is news of a new feature to me I have already been using AF during video for a year and a half. I think the negative press that the Sony SLT cameras have received are such non issues (like the 1/2 stop loose of light from the fixed mirror). Now this camera is an old model and can be bought at very good prices. I just have enjoyed this camera so much.

I have a pretty long history with Sony cameras. In addition to the "litter" of point and shoot models I've purchased from Sony and used in both Europe and the US, I've also long experience with the venerable DSC-R1, the SLT-a33, and the F707/F717/F828 series (which may or may not be described as "point and shoots," depending on your perspective). I would have to say that I very much enjoyed the a33, and under the right conditions, that camera (the a33) can knock out some truly terrific images. The a33/a55 had a few deficiencies, as all cameras do, but if you learned to work around them, it wasn't much of an issue. Now, if you are an owner of either an a33 or an a55, you are probably reading this review to help determine if the upgrade to the a57 is "worth" it. If you are new to the Sony line, you are probably comparing this model to some of the Nikons or Canons (I've some experience with these, as well, having owned the Nikon D7000 and the Nikon D5100). I can tell you that I would be able to recommend the Sony SLT-a57 for either category of users, and although what I write here has probably already been commented on by everyone else already, it still is helpful to hear another person's impressions of the camera. What is it that makes this SLT-a57 so nice? Here's some of my reasons: 1. Highly responsive - nearly instantaneous autofocus, quick power on, and no delays in the menu system 2. Lightweight - it's a tad heavier than the a33, but not much; this is still one of the lightest DSLR's you'll run across 3. Gorgeous flippable screen - high resolution, and can rotate through two axes of motion 4. Good image quality - it can hold its own against the other brands (there are some caveats, as always, and your lens model has a large impact on this) 5. Very comfortable grip - improved from the a33/a55 (which is on the small size) in both shape and the tactile surface 6. Loads of advanced features - multi-shot layering, HDR, special effects, and, of course, aperture mode, shutter mode, manual mode, etc., etc. 7. Extremely reasonable price - even when not on sale, it's a great price, particularly when you pick it up with the highly reviewed 18-135 lens as part of the bundle 8. Long battery life - the battery type, though still in the "M" series, has more charge capability than the older "M" batteries used in the a33/a55 9. Excellent video capability - can take video in high resolution in both "i" and "p" modes, as well as either AVCHD or MP4 formats 10. Built-in help system if you are new to DSLRs, and want some advice for shooting with certain modes/conditions 11. Generally good physical layout of buttons 12. Super high burst rate of 12 frames per second (faster than most any camera in this class, and perhaps equalled only by some extremely expensive models 13. Electronic "spirit" level can be displayed on screen to verify horizon (every DSLR should have this!) 14. A number of Zeiss lenses are available for the alpha mount (including Sony SAL-85F14Z 85mm f1.4 Carl Zeiss Planar T Coated Telephoto Lens for Sony Alpha Digital SLR Camera , Sony 24 -70mm f/2.8 Carl Zeiss Vario Sonnar T Zoom Lens for Sony Alpha Digital SLR Cameras , and Sony SAL-1680Z 16-80mm f/3.5-4.5 Carl Zeiss Vario-Sonnar T DT Zoom Lens for Sony Alpha Digital SLR Camera ) I have paired this camera with the very nice 16-80mm lens, but I have also been using the very inexpensive Sony 35mm F1.8 lens, and the images have been exceptionally good. Based on the reviews I've read, you should get very good results if you purchase this with the 18-135 lens, which is apparently made in Japan, and is being offered at a fantastic price when you purchase it with the a57. Overall image quality from the camera is therefore seen as very good (with the exception that the jpg rendering engine for the a57 is not as good as some other brands, sometimes resulting in minor image artifacts under some conditions), and images are generally sharp and contrasty (you'll need to post-process to maximize sharpness, but this is true of nearly every camera). The camera is exceptionally responsive. Due to the speed of the unit, you can focus on your photography, and not wait for the camera to catch up with you. If you prefer to use the viewfinder, the electronic viewfinder on this unit is improved from the a33/a55, and most people say that it is very adequate for a camera in this price range. I usually compose and shoot using the LCD display, and because there is no mirror to flip down and back, you get instantaneous focus and shooting. They say this is an entry-level DSLR, and I suppose it is, but that doesn't mean you can't take images like a pro with this camera. You just have to take time to learn how to use the various functions, and you can really knock off some terrific shots with this. Are there any shortcomings with the camera? Well, yes, but none of them seem to generally be deal breakers. Some of these might include: - Sony alpha lens lineup does not have the same range as, say, Nikon or Canon (however, there really are plenty of alpha lenses available from Sony, Sigma, and Tamron, and more to come from Sony in 2013, if the latest rumor is to believed) - Batteries are expensive (but they are for all cameras when you buy brand (which I recommend for this camera) - JPG rendering engine really could use some improvement (but if you are really concerned about this, you can shoot in RAW mode) - No "flash off" setting for P/A/S/M modes (flash will pop up, but if you push it down, it will stay down from this point...) - No custom leather case (yet) from Sony (but I suspect this may only be a matter of time) This really is a great deal all around, and as I write this in late 2012, there is a sale going on that has brought the price down quite substantially, making it even a better bargain. This is an easy five star recommendation, even when at retail price. Recommended Accessories: I very much like the Sony STP-GB1AM Genuine Leather Grip Belt -Black , and use it all the time A fantastic filter is the Sony Alpha VF67CPAM Circular Polarizing Filter (Black) , which is coated with the Zeiss T* coating A second (and possibly third) battery is always important. I recommend the authentic Sony battery Sony NPFM500H Li-Ion Rechargeable Battery Pack for Sony Alpha Digital SLR Cameras - Retail Packaging Lens 1: Sony SAL-1680Z 16-80mm f/3.5-4.5 Carl Zeiss Vario-Sonnar T DT Zoom Lens for Sony Alpha Digital SLR Camera - a great zoom lens that opens very wide Lens 2: Sony Alpha SAL35F18 A-mount Wide Angle Lens (Black) - amazing clarity for its price, and very lightweight, too Lens 3: Sony SAL30M28 30mm f/2.8 Lens for Alpha Digital SLR Cameras - a great starter lens if you want to experiment with macro photography

It's easy to give this camera 5 stars, at UNDER $500, it's better than everything out there costing 3 times as much. First, it's NOT a DSLR. The sooner we quit using that term for every larger camera with interchangeable lenses, the sooner we can all start understanding photography. SLR is a dinosaur technology, and one that prevents the user from seeing the shot they're GOING to take, before they take it, and while they're making decisions, so they can make BETTER decisions and capture more accurate and ARTISTIC photographs. True Live View (meaning in the viewfinder, not the hobbled and half-a$$ed version Canon and Nikon peddle on the LCD) is night and day better for being an artistic photographer, so on that feature alone, the Alpha SLTs greatly exceed everything they immediately compete against. But add to that better image quality, stabilized body (saving you fortune on lenses) and faster shooter speeds, and this camera would easily be worth double the price. Color, sharpness, noise control.....the a57 has EXCELLENT image quality. It's also the single most usable, artistic camera I've shot, and I've shot them all. 8 or 10 bodies each from Canon and Nikon, Pentax, Olympus, Panasonic...... Put this camera on FULL MANUAL, because live view means you can SEE your exposure and white balance before you shoot...make your own decisions, and become an artist, not just a point-and-shooter. If you're going to let the camera decide, you can grab any entry level system camera and do fine...if you want to be an artist, right now, choose SONY. Don't mess around with kit lenses....be honest with yourself, if you aren't going to spend THOUSANDS on a system, you don't WANT a system, you want a camera with just one lens. Kit lenses are a CON...they're there to make you think you can have a pro camera for $599, but what you get is something straight south of a high end point and shoot. Get a Tamron 17-50f2.8 lens (about $400) and a Tamron 70-200f2.8 lens (about $800) and you now have an EXCELLENT system for $1700. (or go ahead, buy Canon or Nikon and spend a LOT more and get less) This is the PERFECT artist camera, today...and the perfect camera to learn to be an artist on. This is my second SLT. I put 1.92 million exposure on a Sony a33 (no, that's not a typo) and since October, I've put about 400,000 on this a57. Yes, in 5 months I've taken more pictures on this a57 than you can reasonably expect to put on a $3000 Canon or Nikon pro body. Highly Recommended. (Gold Award on DPReview)

This review may not end up being as extensive as some of the other excellent reviews that have been written, but I can confirm that this is a superb camera. It was amazing features that allow you to do some truly incredible things. First, what kind of consumer am I? I would consider myself an enthusiast photographer, I love having a DSLR (in this case a DSLT), composing my own photographs, but I am not about to start charging people for my services and unrefined skills. It is a great hobby of mine. I spent the equivalent of a few days (over several weeks) reading reviews, comparing, and learning about technologies before making my purchase. Sony really has been making leaps and strides in the their higher-end cameras, both the Alpha and the NEX lines. When considering cameras I was actually leaning towards the NEX-5N. I have had a Sony A100 since they were first released and, while I love it, I was very drawn to the small and sleek form factor of the NEX. It wasn't until I got a store and handled each of them and tested some of their abilities up-close that I (without any warning or looking back) chose the A57 over the NEX-5N. I am VERY satisfied with my choice. I have had the A57 for about a week now and have been blown away. The Multi-frame NR, Auto HDR, DRO, Panorama, and 12 FPS features of the camera are my favorites so far. They make taking photographs that you may not otherwise get, or have the time to properly compose/post produce SO easy! It is amazing how many useful features this camera has, ones that are far more refined than just a bunch of cheap point & shoot gimmicks for casual picture takers. The image quality of the camera is fantastic, colors are faithfully reproduced. The Auto WB may need a little tweaking now and again, but for the most part, that works great as well. The camera itself feels solid and of quality construction. Having a larger body, over the A55, is a very welcomed change. One thing that I am getting used to is having to frequently check to see if I have any of the many multi-frame functions turned on. The first couple days I kept forgetting that I had turned on the HDR or Multi-frame NR (through the ISO) for a previous shot and would end up finding out the camera again wanted to take six shots when I was only ready for and expecting a single shutter release. I have had to be constantly aware of the settings I am using; when I turn them on, and when i turn them off. Overall, I am extremely happy with this camera and with Sony. I plan to stick with them over Canon, Nikon, or Pentax for the next long while. Sony really has been raising the bar on what it means to be a truly DIGITAL-SLR and they are doing a fantastic job. I have and will continue to recommend this camera over its competitors, even those in the prosumer and semi-professional categories. UPDATE: Still love the camera! One thing Canon just added to the 7D as a firmware update was a user-limited Auto ISO. This adds a surprising amount of control and flexibility. I hope that Sony can see the value in such a function and do likewise.

This review is specific to the camera I purchased from Replay Tech in November 2017. Now, 4 months later and the camera has stopped functioning. It began sucking the battery dry while turned off, to the point the battery was dead if left in the camera overnight. Yes, it was used but was advertised as in 'excellent condition' with almost no signs of use or wear. Seems something that I paid $300 for would last more than 4 month. Last night, I tried taking photos but the menu and FN buttons were going haywire as was the center dial. Even the slightest touch and it would scroll madly through the selections and tabs and land randomly wherever...but never where I needed it. The flash would pop up unexpectedly and would not close until the camera was powered off. I requested a return/refund and was summarily denied. So, keep that in mind if you're thinking of buying anything from Replay Tech, especially if it is a Sony A57 in 'excellent' condition. I have been blocked from leaving seller feedback.

Please see updates below ------------------------ A couple of caveats before I get into the review: 1. I am not a professional photographer by any means, and 2. I've only had this camera for a few days and haven't shot across the range of features That said, I believe this is a wonderful camera for those that - like me - aren't in the top 20-25% as far as skills or demand levels go. And I say this more as a compliment - there's no reason why the remaining 80% of us will find this camera any bit unsatisfying. I owned an alpha 230 so naturally the video shooting features are a big plus. However, I still believe that video shooting should be left to specialized devices - this one does well but Sony itself warns that prolonged usage can heat the unit up. For short clips, like I need of my newborn cooing or flailing his arms or squirming around in his crib, the continuous autofocus is wonderful. The camera comes with a number of useful modes, such as the various options under SCN or the Inteligent Auto and Superior Auto. However, my absolute favorite is the Intelligent mode with flash off. Shooting portraits indoors benefits greatly when you can quickly dial into this mode. Of course, you can use a mounted flash to bounce light off or use a diffuser - I doubt that my newborn's going to hold his smile while papa behaves like a pro. Another favorite is the level guide on screen. Helps greatly as a first step to good composition - getting the image leveled! Speaking of composition, the Auto Portrait feature takes getting some used to and may not always produce the exact composition you were looking for. However, it's still a useful feature in that it helps the 80% population correct some composition mistakes. The sweep panorama mode is a welcome addition too. Be aware, though, that there's a setting that controls how wide the panorama should be and setting this to "wide" instead of "standard" often requires you to swoop the camera over 180 degrees, increasing chances of shake and misalignment (the camera almost always complained that I needed to hold steady). Canon fans often like to point out low light performance as a big plus over other makes. While I won't dispute performance over 3200 ISO, I found that shooting the moon over Manhattan on a clear night at 1600 ISO didn't result in a whole lot of noise (unless you were thinking of printing out a poster and examining at a pixel level). Plus, it's hard to beat value at this price. There are other fun features, such as in-camera effects, that might be useful at times. All said, I am quite happy with the indoor performance of the camera so far. The alpha 230 was pretty decent outdoors and I don't see why this one wouldn't be an improvement. Finally, here're a few reasons to not opt for an alpha 77: 1. I didn't know what I'd do with 24MP that I couldn't with 16 2. It's still Sony so any negatives as far as high ISO performance goes would be carried over 3. I don't care about GPS 4. I'd rather invest the remaining sum in a Tamron 70-200 f/2.8 or the SAL 16-105, both worthy utility lenses UPDATE 11/2/2012 ---------------- I've had this camera for a while now and I continue to be mighty impressed with it. As I've explored further, I've realized that this camera - and other alphas and SLTs - include in-camera correction for distortion and CA. I think that's a huge plus to not have to rely on something like Lightroom, especially since LR doesn't have profiles for a majority of Sony lenses (a shortcoming that I think Sony should address). High ISO NR and Long Exposure NR have both come in handly a number of times. Although High ISO NR tends to compromise contrast slightly, I think it still keeps the images very neat and correctly exposed. Plus, there is no perfect contrast point so you can look at how much noise is acceptable and adjust contrast during post processing. As mentioned in my original review, video capture capabilities seemed good then and have seemed even better after some use. I had an addition to my family during the past few months and video has come in very, very handy. If there's one slight negative, it is that the use of flash is controlled by what mode you're currently shooting in. It takes getting some used to and I found myself going to the Fn button often. However, once you use the camera enough, you know what's your best mode for shooting in specific circumstances.

I've been using this camera for a few weeks now, and I'm very happy with it. I'm an enthusiastic yet relatively inexperienced photographer, and I had previously owned the Sony HX200V. While it was a great improvement from my small point-and-shoot, I started to realize that there was a limit to the quality of the images I could get due to the smaller image sensor. I chose the Sony over a handful of different Canon and Nikon cameras based on very favorable reviews, the in-body auto-focus motor, plus I already owned two Minolta lenses that were compatible with the alpha mount featured on this model. I am very impressed with the image quality, and I've been diving deeper into manual settings to improve the quality of my photography. I'd say this is a fantastic camera, both for the value and the compatibility with a number of different lenses (some new, some old). One feature that I'm in love with is the focus magnifier - it allows you to use the preview button that is conveniently in reach when you're holding the camera for a shot. When enabled in the settings, it enlarges an area of your image so that you can more precisely adjust your focus, and you can change the area that is zoomed in case you wish to have your focal point stray from the center of the frame. This button can also be changed to preview your selected aperture, etc. In any case, the auto and scene modes on the camera are great too. If you are a newcomer and want a camera that will be easy to use that will also grow along with you at a good cost, I'd say you should go for this one! I think more experienced photographers are also likely to find this camera satisfying. Also, shortly after buying I realized I wanted to expand my lens collection, as the lens is just as important for image quality as the camera body is. Here are some lenses I ended up buying or considering heavily (be sure to compare prices on ebay vs. amazon, it's a coin toss as to where you'll fetch the better price and this can change daily). For a great zoom lens: (I found it muuuuch cheaper on Ebay - fast and quiet autofocus with good image quality) http://www.amazon.com/Sony-SAL18135-18-135mm-3-5-5-6-Zoom/dp/B00836H3Z8/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1368729442&sr=8-1&keywords=sony+18-135 Portrait lens: (Also found much cheaper on Ebay, and this lens is unbelievably sharp and fantastic for low-light non-flash photography. This lens is great for portraits, walk-around shots, and macro-esque shots (not true macro, but the sharpness and the small minimum focal distance can have surprising results)) http://www.amazon.com/Sony-Alpha-SAL35F18-A-mount-Angle/dp/B0042GHI8U/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1368729369&sr=8-1&keywords=sony+35+1.8 Macro: (Look for the Minolta (first link) on ebay and snatch it up if you find a good cost (under 180 is very reasonable), and check out some of the shots on the image gallery that is linked on the review page - mind blowing. The Sony (second link) is a close second for me to the Minolta. It's very sharp, has a smaller focal length which results in a wider field of view, and a shorter minimum focal distance so you can get incredibly close to your subject) [...] http://www.amazon.com/Sony-Alpha-SAL35F18-A-mount-Angle/dp/B0042GHI8U/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1368729369&sr=8-1&keywords=sony+35+1.8 Also, be sure to take a look at reviews on [...] for any lenses that you're considering - they have photo galleries and many very helpful reviews. Happy shooting!

Well the electronic viewfinder and fast shooting are great options to have. I have Nikon D700 and was looking for something with solid video. Video is really excellent (issues with focusing noises if you do not have the expensive Sony lenses - can be solved by cheap external mic - not comfortable though) but the image quality (I know I am probably spoiled by FX sensor) is nothing special and the RAW handling software from Sony is disaster.