---
product_id: 1641986
title: "Sony Alpha SLT-A57K 16.1 MP Exmor APS HD CMOS Sensor DSLR with Translucent Mirror Technology, 3D Sweep Panorama and 18-55mm Zoom Lens"
brand: "sony"
price: "₱1921"
currency: PHP
in_stock: false
reviews_count: 4
url: https://www.desertcart.ph/products/1641986-sony-alpha-slt-a57k-16-1-mp-exmor-aps-hd
store_origin: PH
region: Philippines
---

# 12 FPS continuous shooting speed Full HD 1080p 60p movie recording 16.1MP Exmor APS HD CMOS sensor Sony Alpha SLT-A57K 16.1 MP Exmor APS HD CMOS Sensor DSLR with Translucent Mirror Technology, 3D Sweep Panorama and 18-55mm Zoom Lens

**Brand:** sony
**Price:** ₱1921
**Availability:** ❌ Out of Stock

## Summary

> 📷 Elevate your storytelling with speed, precision, and cinematic flair!

## Quick Answers

- **What is this?** Sony Alpha SLT-A57K 16.1 MP Exmor APS HD CMOS Sensor DSLR with Translucent Mirror Technology, 3D Sweep Panorama and 18-55mm Zoom Lens by sony
- **How much does it cost?** ₱1921 with free shipping
- **Is it available?** Currently out of stock
- **Where can I buy it?** [www.desertcart.ph](https://www.desertcart.ph/products/1641986-sony-alpha-slt-a57k-16-1-mp-exmor-aps-hd)

## Best For

- sony enthusiasts

## Why This Product

- Trusted sony brand quality
- Free international shipping included
- Worldwide delivery with tracking
- 15-day hassle-free returns

## Key Features

- • **Never Miss the Action:** Blazing-fast 12 frames per second continuous shooting ensures you seize every dynamic moment.
- • **Revolutionary Translucent Mirror Tech:** Experience lag-free, full-time phase-detection autofocus for sharp focus even during high-speed shooting and video.
- • **Capture Every Moment in Stunning Detail:** 16.1MP APS-C sensor delivers crisp, vibrant images with professional-grade clarity.
- • **Cinema-Quality Video at Your Fingertips:** Record smooth, full HD 1080p movies at 60 frames per second with full-time continuous autofocus.
- • **Creative Freedom with Auto Portrait Framing & Clear Image Zoom:** Automatically frame perfect portraits and zoom up to 2x digitally without losing resolution.

## Overview

The Sony Alpha SLT-A57K is a powerhouse DSLR featuring a 16.1MP Exmor APS HD CMOS sensor, 12 fps continuous shooting, and advanced Translucent Mirror Technology for uninterrupted autofocus. It offers Full HD 1080p video recording at 60p, a 3-inch articulated LCD with 921,000 dots, and innovative features like Auto Portrait Framing and Clear Image Zoom. Designed for professionals and enthusiasts alike, it combines high-speed performance, exceptional image quality, and creative versatility in a lightweight, compact form.

## Description

From the Manufacturer                   Sony Alpha SLT-A57K 16.1 MP Exmor APS HD CMOS Sensor DSLR with 18-55mm Zoom Lens, Translucent Mirror Technology and 3D Sweep Panorama (2012 Model)      Full-time Continuous AF enabled by Translucent Mirror Technology16.1 MP Exmor APS HD CMOS sensorBIONZ: Even more advanced image processorSteadyShot inside image stabilization High-speed 12 fps continuous shooting World's first Auto-Portrait FramingClear Image Zoom enables high-resolution digital zoom shooting 15-point AF system with 3 cross sensorsNew Tru-Finder Enhanced Tracking Focus  AVCHD Version 2.0 (Progressive) Full HD Movie at 60p (50p)Intelligent Auto and Superior Auto  Picture Effect Face Registration       Experience the Alpha SLT-A57, Sony's newest addition to their Alpha DSLR series. As the successor to the SLT-A55, the new SLT-A57 includes advanced features such as translucent mirror technology, a 16.1 MP resolution and BIONZ processor, 12 fps continuous shooting, Full HD movie at 60p (50p), and the world's first Auto Portrait Framing. Standard zoom lenses become like telephoto zoom lenses thanks to Clear Image Zoom, which realizes a high-resolution look even when shooting with digital zoom making it dramatically easier to get the best shot.  Key Features12 fps tele-zoom high-speed shootingEvery second, you can capture up to 12 dynamic close-ups of subjects in motion. Tele-zoom Continuous Advance Priority AE magnifies the center of the action 1.4x to bring subjects closer at a clear 8-megapixel resolution. You can also team Smart Zoom with 2x magnification for super zoomed shots (4MP, S size). The a57 also supports 10 fps continuous shooting at the camera’s highest resolution (16.1 megapixels).15-point AF system with 3 cross sensorThe renowned precision of Sony’s 15-point AF system, previously reserved for higher grade models, ensures fast and accurate TTL phasedetection autofocusing wherever and whenever you shoot. Even when capturing moving subjects in dim lighting, the three vertically aligned cross sensors deliver accurate and reliable tracking. You can choose any of four AF area modes (Wide, Zone, Spot or Local) depending on your needs.High sensitivity (ISO 100-16000) The large Exmor APS HD CMOS sensor provides an extremely wide sensitivity range of 7 1/3 steps. You can use AUTO ISO (100-3200) for outstanding results in most lighting conditions or manually raise sensitivity up to ISO 16000 when lighting is low. Even at high sensitivity settings, the a57 captures every detail with natural tonal gradations and extremely low noise. This makes the a57 perfect for shooting indoor athletes at high shutter speeds without a tripod or reproducing the mood of candlelit rooms without supplemental lighting. Full-time Continuous AF Even at maximum continuous shooting speed and during live-view movie shooting, accelerated full-time continuous phase-detection autofocusing keeps your subject in sharp focus without the slightest delay. This remarkable AF performance, made possible by Translucent Mirror Technology, lets you effortlessly capture dramatic moments and expressions in all types of situations with professional-looking results. Quick AF Full HD Movie Even when shooting movies at Full HD resolution, the a57 employs speedy full-time continuous phase-detection autofocusing. Most interchangeable lens cameras revert to contrast-detection AF that slowly hunts for the correct Full manual movie shooting focus when shooting movies. But the a57 delivers the same swift, accurate focusing as during still photography to capture even fast-moving subjects with clarity. You can even lock exposure, switch the focus point, enjoy digital zooming and more while shooting movies for expanded creative control. 16.1 MP resolution with Exmor APS HD CMOS sensor and BIONZ image processor Every detail of your scene is beautifully captured by Sony’s proprietary Exmor APS HD CMOS sensor. In addition to offering impressive 16.1-effective-megapixel resolution, the a57's extra-large dimensions deliver supreme sensitivity in low-light conditions and gorgeous background defocusing effects beyond the capabilities of conventional camcorders. Moreover, dual noise reduction and enhanced BIONZ image processing ensure smooth gradations with minimal noise in low-light conditions. This means you can add a cinematic sense of drama to virtually any scene. Release time lag When you press the shutter button, the a57 responds in 0.05 second — a blazing speed that rivals professional cameras. Made possible by an innovative electronic front curtain shutter, this accelerated response lets you capture decisive moments with utmost confidence. The electronic front curtain shutter also produces less shutter noise and vibration than a mechanical front curtain shutter (which can be activated if desired through the MENU). Enhanced Object Tracking Newly improved Object Tracking utilizes powerful predictive focusing algorithms, 15 AF points in a wide focus area, blazing-fast BIONZ image processing and Sony’s original subject recognition technologies to track subjects with speed and precision. When your subject is a person, it automatically switches between face detection tracking and object tracking, depending on whether your subject is facing the camera.   AVCHD Ver. 2.0 (Progressive) Full HD 60p (50p) movies Create movies of amazing clarity that play extra smoothly by recording them at Full HD resolution (1920 x 1080 pixels) in the AVCHD Ver. 2.0 (Progressive) format — at the extremely high frame rate of 60 (50) fps. You can easily download the movies to your computer for editing and recording to Blu-ray media, which is highly compatible with the AVCHD Ver. 2.0 (Progressive) codec. Sony’s lightning fast Exmor APS HD CMOS sensor and Full-time Continuous AF ensure flawless capture even at accelerated 60 (50) fp. Full manual movie shooting The a57 frees you to realize your creative moviemaking vision. P/A/S/M modes (Program, Aperture Priority, Shutter Priority and Manual) let you flexibly adjust aperture and shutter speed to modify the depth of field and achieve effects like defocused backgrounds when shooting movies in the manual focusing mode. On-screen prompts provide assistance to make full manual operation quick, easy and comfortable. Audio noise reduction Sound is captured clearly with minimal noise thanks to a high-performance stereo microphone on the mirror housing and advanced noise reduction that effectively suppresses AF lens drive noise via innovative NR algorithm. 24p (25p) cinema-like expression  Movies played at theaters are traditionally captured at 24 (25) fps, creating a subtle but unmistakable look that film lovers everywhere associate with the cinema. Simply by capturing your movies at the same frame rate, in the progressive format at 24p (25p), you can recreate this look and endow your movies with an added sense of quality and drama. This feature, together with interchangeable-lens flexibility, exceptional image quality and advanced a57 capabilities, makes it easy to achieve your moviemaking aspirations.  Interchangeable-lens freedom Like a movie director, you can use whatever lens most effectively brings out the moment. Whether fisheye, telephoto, macro, fixed focal length or zoom lens, the a57 lets you take advantage of almost any system A-mount lens. Moreover, all of these lenses are compatible with the highspeed phase-detection AF system in the a57, enabling clear results in the most challenging conditions. One-touch movie access With one press of the Movie button, the a57 is ready to roll. The camera immediately enters movie recording mode even if you were shooting photographs continuously or in single-frame mode. It’s the quick and easy way to capture every moviemaking opportunity.   Auto Portrait Framing  Simply photograph a person and new Auto Portrait Framing — the world’s first feature of its kind — will save an additional, optimally framed image in the vertical or horizontal orientation. The feature even recognizes the direction your subject is facing and captures more of the scene in that direction to create a more appealing balance. Auto Portrait Framing employs face detection technology and the “rule of thirds” principle to achieve this amazing feat. It also applies Sony’s proprietary By Pixel Super Resolution Technology to Clear Image Zoom to ensure trimmed images feature the same number of pixels as the original. Even close-ups provide great results thanks to highly dramatic trimming. Clear Image Zoom Dramatically enhanced Clear Image Zoom utilizes proprietary By Pixel Super Resolution Technology to zoom the center of your image up to 2x with nearly imperceptible degradation. It virtually doubles your zooming range to that of zoom lenses when using a standard lens or to that of super telephoto lenses when using a telephoto lens. So you can create dramatic “close-ups”, enjoy greater shooting flexibility and take more advantage of the brightness of compact single focus lenses.    Face Detection, Smile Shutter and Face Registration You can always capture faces at their best with the a57. Face Detection technology ensures that facial features are clearly focused and skin tones are accurately reproduced by fine-tuning parameters such as exposure, white balance, flash and D-Range Optimizer. Smile Shutter captures smiles at just the right moment by automatically releasing the shutter when smiles reach the desired level, while Face Registration lets you register up to eight people for the camera to prioritize when detecting faces in groups. Creative Style  Give your photos and movies a creative look with Creative Style settings. Depending on the scene and your creative intentions, simply select any of 6 customizable settings (Standard, Vivid, Portrait, Landscape, Sunset, or Black & White) and the camera will adjust color and other image parameters accordingly. You can also fine-tune contrast, saturation and sharpness to suit your personal preference and achieve just the right finishing touch.  Picture Effect Ordinary scenes become extraordinary photos and movies with Picture Effect. Choose from 11 customizable modes and 15 effects that significantly increase visual impact by adjusting camera parameters and applying advanced processing techniques. Settings include HDR Painting, Richtone Monochrome, Soft Focus and a Miniature mode that makes subjects look like miniature models. You can even monitor most effects in real time while shooting. Enhanced new Tru-Finder The Tru-finder electronic viewfinder delivers class-leading viewing ease thanks to sharp 1440k-dot (SVGA) resolution, a 23.1mm eye-point, and a notably wide 31.9-degree viewing angle that leaves competing optical viewfinders behind. A 100% field of view combines with faithful effects previews to ensure that what you see in the viewfinder is exactly what you see in your photos and movies. So you can fine-tune every aspect of your image with confidence and achieve desired results. On-screen displays keep you informed of current camera settings. Sweep Panorama / 3D Sweep Panorama Simply sweep the camera to capture breathtaking vistas. The 57 automatically records and seamlessly stitches a sequence of photos to create a spectacular image. 3D Sweep Panorama records separate right- and left-eye images to bring scenes alive when viewed on an HDMI-compliant 3D television. Auto HDR Capture more details in the shadows and highlights by activating Auto HDR. With one press, this instant High Dynamic Range mode takes three exposures at different settings and composites the best details from each — in the highlights, mid-tones and shadows — to create a single image with wider dynamic range than any single exposure could possibly capture. You can even shoot without using a tripod. The resulting HDR image is simply breathtaking in its detail, rich color and impact. Dynamic Range Optimizer (DRO) DRO uses proprietary Sony technology to bring out details in the highlights and shadows and deliver naturally bright images. It can be used during continuous shooting and provides five userselectable levels of compensation. Superior Auto mode Relax and enjoy the convenience of point-and-shoot operation. Superior Auto mode automatically detects and analyzes shooting conditions and adjusts camera settings accordingly to achieve optimal results. It also activates advanced functions like continuous shooting if subjects are moving fast and Auto HDR if details are getting lost in the shadows and highlights. Active settings and functions are displayed on screen for easy confirmation at a glance. Software and cloud service Powerful, intuitive bundled software and a cloud service help you make the most of your photos and movies. Enjoy editing, file management and more.   1. In Tele-zoom Continuous Advance Priority AE mode 2. NTSC (PAL) 3. As of Decemeber 2011. Among inter-changeable-lens digital cameras. 4. Continuous shooting speed may be slower depending on shooting conditions. In Continuous Priority AE and Tele-zoom Continuous Priority AE modes, the aperture is fixed at F3.5 or the maximum aperture of the lens, whichever is smaller. Continuous shooting speed (fps) lowers when high ISO NR function is on. 5. 1920 x 1080, 60p/24p/60i (NTSC) / 50p/50i/25p (PAL). 6. Not available when B/W mode is selected.

## Features

- 16MP APS-C CMOS sensor
- Up to 12 FPS continuous shooting
- ISO 100-16000 (Auto 100-3200)
- 1080 24p / 60p HD movies in AVCHD format
- 3" Articulated LCD with 921,000 dots
- Focus peaking manual focus aid
- Stereo microphones and mic input socket

## Technical Specifications

| Specification | Value |
|---------------|-------|
| Metering Methods | Multi, Center-weighted, Spot |
| Exposure Control | 3D Sweep Panorama, Aperture priority (A), Automatic, Continuous Advance Priority AE, Flash Off, Manual, Movie, Programmed AE (P), Scene Selection, Shutter-speed priority (S), Sweep Panorama |
| White Balance Settings | Auto |
| Screen Size | 3 Inches |
| Display Type | LCD |
| Dots Per Screen | 921,000 dots |
| Display Fixture Type | Articulating |
| Display Resolution Maximum | 921000 |
| Has Color Screen | Yes |
| Flash Memory Type | SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo |
| Memory Storage Capacity | 2 GB |
| Write Speed | High |
| Flash Memory Speed Class | C10 |
| Auto Focus Technology | Continuous, Face Detection, Live View, Multi-area, Phase Detection, Selective single-point, Single, Tracking |
| Focus Features | TTL 15-point Phase Detection |
| Autofocus Points | 15 |
| Focus Type | Manual Focus |
| Focus Mode | Manual Focus (MF) |
| Autofocus | Yes |
| Aspect Ratio | 16:9 |
| File Format | RAW, RAW + JPEG, JPEG Fine, JPEG Standard |
| Effective Still Resolution | 16.1 MP |
| JPEG Quality Level | Fine |
| Bit Depth | 12 Bit |
| Total Still Resolution | 16.1 MP |
| Maximum Focal Length | 55 Millimeters |
| Optical Zoom | 3 |
| Lens Type | Prime, Zoom |
| Zoom | Digital Zoom |
| Camera Lens | 18-55mm Zoom Lens |
| Minimum Focal Length | 2.5 Millimeters |
| Digital Zoom | 2 |
| Photo Filter Thread Size | 55 Millimeters |
| Photo Filter Size | 55 Millimeters |
| Connectivity Technology | HDMI, USB |
| Hardware Interface | AV Port |
| Wireless Technology | EyeFi |
| HDMI Type | Type C Mini HDMI |
| Video Output | HDMI |
| Total USB 2.0 Ports | 1 |
| Total USB Ports | 1 |
| Total Video Out Ports | 2 |
| Shooting Modes | Aperture Priority, Program, Shutter Priority |
| Digital Scene Transition | zoom |
| Digital-Still | Yes |
| Movie Mode | Yes |
| Image Capture Type | Stills & Video |
| Shooting Modes | Aperture Priority, Program, Shutter Priority |
| Compatible Mountings | Sony/Minolta Alpha, Sony/Minolta Alpha DT |
| Exposure Control | 3D Sweep Panorama, Aperture priority (A), Automatic, Continuous Advance Priority AE, Flash Off, Manual, Movie, Programmed AE (P), Scene Selection, Shutter-speed priority (S), Sweep Panorama |
| Sensor Type | CMOS |
| Image stabilization | Sensor-shift |
| Maximum Aperture | 3.5 f |
| Supported Media Type | ProductImage, EnhancedContent |
| Expanded ISO Minimum | 100 |
| Photo Sensor Resolution | 16.1 MP |
| Photo Sensor Size | APS-C (23.5 x 15.6 mm) |
| Maximum Shutter Speed | 1/4000 Seconds |
| File Format | RAW, RAW + JPEG, JPEG Fine, JPEG Standard |
| Screen Size | 3 Inches |
| Minimum Shutter Speed | 30 seconds |
| Form Factor | Compact SLR |
| Special Feature | Lightweight |
| Effective Still Resolution | 16.1 MP |
| Color | Black |
| Item Weight | 1.4 Pounds |
| Light Sensitivity | ISO 100-16000 |
| Video Resolution | 1920 x 1080 (60p, 24p), 1440 x 1080 (30p), 640 x 480 (30 fps) |
| Viewfinder | Electronic |
| ISO Range | Auto, 100, 200, 400, 800, 1600, 3200, 6400, 12800, 16000 (25600 with boost) |
| Flash Modes | Auto, On/Fill, Off |
| Camera Flash | Built-In |
| Skill Level | Professional |
| Has Self-Timer | Yes |
| Compatible Devices | computers, external storage devices, TVs, external microphones |
| Continuous Shooting | 12 |
| Aspect Ratio | 16:9 |

## Product Details

- **Compatible Mountings:** Sony/Minolta Alpha, Sony/Minolta Alpha DT
- **Aspect Ratio:** 16:9
- **Photo Sensor Technology:** CMOS
- **Supported File Format:** RAW, RAW + JPEG, JPEG Fine, JPEG Standard
- **Image Stabilization:** Sensor-shift
- **Maximum Focal Length:** 55 Millimeters
- **Optical Zoom:** 3
- **Maximum Aperture:** 3.5 f
- **Expanded ISO Minimum:** 100
- **Metering Description:** Multi, Center-weighted, Spot

## Images

![Sony Alpha SLT-A57K 16.1 MP Exmor APS HD CMOS Sensor DSLR with Translucent Mirror Technology, 3D Sweep Panorama and 18-55mm Zoom Lens - Image 1](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/61J0wd5kkjL.jpg)
![Sony Alpha SLT-A57K 16.1 MP Exmor APS HD CMOS Sensor DSLR with Translucent Mirror Technology, 3D Sweep Panorama and 18-55mm Zoom Lens - Image 2](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/61OTcwaOHzL.jpg)
![Sony Alpha SLT-A57K 16.1 MP Exmor APS HD CMOS Sensor DSLR with Translucent Mirror Technology, 3D Sweep Panorama and 18-55mm Zoom Lens - Image 3](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/61RpPTbFX5L.jpg)
![Sony Alpha SLT-A57K 16.1 MP Exmor APS HD CMOS Sensor DSLR with Translucent Mirror Technology, 3D Sweep Panorama and 18-55mm Zoom Lens - Image 4](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/61UuEpe9WRL.jpg)
![Sony Alpha SLT-A57K 16.1 MP Exmor APS HD CMOS Sensor DSLR with Translucent Mirror Technology, 3D Sweep Panorama and 18-55mm Zoom Lens - Image 5](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/61qsRkjyx+L.jpg)

## Available Options

This product comes in different **Style** options.

## Customer Reviews

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ a57 for video? You bet!
*by J***N on February 9, 2013*

So liking the a57. I read reviews at length, for weeks, before settling on this model and I am so glad both to have made an informed choice and to have that choice proven in reality now that I've had the camera in hand and used it. The a57 is more complicated than a DSLR, with dependent inter-relationships across both common and novel functions and priorities. The a57 is not point & shoot; it's more like a lump of clay, that sees you as a lump of clay as well. If you know what you want from both a visual and a technical perspective and have the right lens for it, the a57 will get you there. If you have blind spots now, but want to learn to be a competent all-around amateur DSLR photographer, then this is your gateway drug. The a57 doubles as an excellent digital photography tutor, and will help you build understanding and skills every step of the way. The Sony way, that is. If you just want a pro-looking DSLR with a big black lens that makes impressive clicky noises on the 50 yd line, but is otherwise a simple point-and-shoot, then look elsewhere. In its' various Auto modes the a57 can serve as the King Tiger tank of point-and-shoot; the issue is that a novice to the camera could select settings or lenses that counter this functionality and then become lost, with mixed end results. The user may not realize dependencies to a setting in some other menu area (where was that, the Menu menu or the Function menu, or wait was I in Movie Mode, or did I hold down the ISO button then roll the knob...?), and one could spend time puzzling over why it's not doing now what it did before, when you're in some manual mode rather than auto. If you haven't done the reading, which I will mention further on, you may find it hard to keep the dependencies straight. When in doubt, reinitialize! In the more manual modes, there are several of these newly arrived Sony tech settings that can throw you off and I'm not talking fstop vs shutter speed, the rabbit hole goes way deeper on this camera. Sony has introduced new concepts and approaches to a pro DSLR while also attempting to maintain "point & shoot ease" and though this camera succeeds at the former two it is initially at least, a fascinating & robust failure at the latter. Works fine though, if one devotes the head space to learning some new feature concepts. Do that, think through your shots and vids first, and this camera will reward you handsomely for the effort. Rolling the dice WITHOUT first reading the manual (THIS manual btw, thanks to TCav of Steve's Digicams forum for the link: [...oops please do a search]), will probably result in some mediocre shots at first.Note that the a57 can take (and I'm doing it) the quality Minolta a mount AF lenses that you can find cheap on Ebay. It amuses, considering that many reviews argue that there aren't sufficient lenses for this camera, when there dozens of pages full of reasonably priced Minoltas, Tamrons etc. that will work with this lens. I got myself a Tamron 90x300, a Minolta 50mm f1.7 prime and an Abeline 500mm for less than $230 including shipping! So if you like to play around and really test to see what works for you there is an abundance of lenses available, from fish-eye to macro to 4000mm tele zooms on Ebay. Keep in mind though, that there's an approximately 1.4X mag factor on these lenses which is going to change your field of view compared to what you might normally expect - a Minolta 50mm f1.7 lens perfect for tight interiors, is gonna be a 70mm lens and you may notice that difference. You also have to remember that the 300mm you are reading on the lens is actually 714mm, etc. A labelmaker would resolve that issue. I got my a57 with the 18x55mm kit lens and I have no complaints thus far. The kit lens is solid but not overly heavy. If it's plastic like the body is, as some reviews have written, then it is a metal-like plastic. It seems more like aluminum to me, but there is little relevance in plastic vs. metal at this level of product engineering. Consider that this is an SLT rather than a true DSLR, for instance. Since there is no mirror-flipping going on for every focus instance, that vibration common to DSLR's is not existent in this camera. This means that the camera does not have to wait around for itself until the mirror has stopped vibrating, before it can image again. And this means, faster finger press to shutter releases, and continuous photo bursts in shorter timeframes. So, even if metal were a more stable material for a body (which, at this level of engineering, I rather doubt), that is hardly helpful when you still have to wait around while your mirror vibrations dissipate through that metal body before you can image again. To say nothing of being able to autofocus real-time continuously while taking 1920X1080P 60P video!The 1.4 firmware update is out, you would want to snag that, just because.The camera has a cool target reticule, that indicates pitch and roll alignment of the camera body, like a built-in level. Since the display can be folded out and around, this does help to maintain a level shot in these awkward positions.One cool, new-to-me feature, is what Sony calls Peaking Level for manual focus. When set to manual focus and with 3 settings, low medium & high, the Live Display (which generally shows the final picture live all of the time, essential) shows a fine pixelated wash across the image, in a plane that IS the actual focal plane of the lens cutting through the 3-dimensional image space, so you move the focus out and this plane of (I choose white) pixelation occurs across the image telling you precisely where the focal plane is hitting! You don't even have to see the fine elements of what you are shooting. Fantastic! For instance, one of my cats is black, so he is a black blob in the viewfinder or display. But with Peaking Level, I can clearly see delineation as to where his nose is, then whiskers, then the surface of his eyeballs, as the Peaking Level effect illustrates the focal plane's position as it moves in - and I take the shot when the white noise is where I want the focus to be. You do need 2 hands, to use this feature. And to be clear, this is not one of the "3-D panorama" features of the camera. I have not used the 3-D panorama or panorama features as yet.The a57 feels solid and heavy, as one would expect. I picked up a Nikon D6 the other day and it felt like a toy in comparison to the a57. Even my Casio EX-FH20 Super Zoom felt more solid than the D6 actually, not that I have anything against Nikon. Just saying, build quality should matter. The image that you take is more important than the image that you want to project as a "serious photographer," ha ha...The a57 sports myriad display symbols within multiple configuration menus, all of which you will have to learn in order to interface with it. This camera takes on the bushel of both tool and tutor, and its' abundance of menus does reflect that. Now that the world has not ended, any familiarity with Mayan hieroglyphic script will find new application as one works through understanding the functionality of this camera. Hey I did it, and learned a lot in the process. The tutorial aspect of the camera is somewhat separated from the controls aspect, so you don't have to constantly work through menus full of advice to get where you need to be. It is there if and when you need it. I found it helpful mostly for understanding the new concepts and terminology that Sony labs have come up with, in advancing the field of digital photography. I wouldn't hold my breath waiting for other companies to figure it out, when many are after all, buying sensors made by Sony to use in their own "cutting edge" cameras.Take it slow with the a57; the amount of information needing assimilation, will overwhelm anyone so take it task by task, in stages. I find connecting the HDMI out to my flat screen TV, lessens the tedium of the small display. I learned the camera (and still do) in 'study sessions' on the big flat screen. You see the complete display on the flat screen monitor, in both movie and pic mode. I'm experiencing macular degeneration for the first time (joy) due to age, and have recently begun using readers, so I rely on the diopter-adjusted viewfinder when taking stills, but for me studying menu settings of a digital camera for long periods, through the viewfinder, is an added strain that I do not want. It certainly works, but learning on the flat screen is much easier. You can toggle back & forth between your camera's HDMI in to the TV, and the .pdf a57 manual on your computer's input to the TV for instance, for learning ease. You can even go picture-in-picture.The autofocus system is fast, and great for video, particularly when you learn all of the autofocus modes and settings and creatively apply that understanding to your project. You can deliberately pace & plan your pans, to take advantage of this amazingly snappy autofocus capability. You may have read reviews that complain of the a57's limited manual controls over video when in autofocus - there is a little switch on the lens that says AF MF. Just set it to MF and focus manually, if you find yourself trying to use AF in an MF environment. If you aren't good at manual focus for pictures, use the Peaking feature. You will get better.There is even an unlabeled 'mystery button' on the camera. Now, any cold-blooded, dyed-in-the-wool amateur photographer would have immediately asked what the little button on the bottom of the a57 is for. I did, and it is the Preview button. If you push this near-unnoticeable button while in Auto Aperture, it will display for you the full depth of field effect of the shot, with the blurred fore-and background to either side of the focal plane. I am still testing this, as I can already clearly see depth of field in the WYSIWYG display/viewfinder.There are lots of APS-C sensors out there. The a57's APS-C sensor has comparatively good sized individual sensors, which is just one small part of all of the tech working together in the a57 to result in great video and picture quality. I know of no camera that works harder to get at what you want, if you know what it is that you want to get to in the first place, that is...The a57 records in AVCHD 60P, and is about the only DSLR under a grand that can do that, apart from the other Sony's, like the a65, a77 & a99. And that is what I needed, and it works. I can rewrap and convert footage on my Macs w/no issue between Free MTS M2TS Converter, JES Deinterlacer & MPEG Streamclip, and get 50% frame rate reduction that way for good HD slow motion, though I can't watch the AVCHD natively on my Macs (no need to yet). I can watch a57 footage via VLC player, but with a stream rate of 26Mbps, my Macs are better at editing than AVCHD playback anyhow, and what I do is use Toast 11 with the Blu Ray plugin to burn to Blu Ray disc if I'm not going to a lesser stream rate. Toast 11 is stable and provides the option of crude Blu Ray menus if you need that for weddings and such, and it's not expensive. The a57 has a separate button for recording video, not the shutter button; it took me all of 2 tries to set that difference to memory. You can disable the button, if your fingers are in a constant and unknowledgeable flail. I've never had a problem with it and even if I did, I wouldn't call that a problem as I have actual real problems in life to deal with. As with any camera new to you, there will be subtle and not-so-much subtle differences.Low light performance is all there with the kit lens. I find that the kit lens has a little stiction in the zoom but there is an element of my own inexperience involved here; hand muscle memory for stylish manual video zooms is something that has to be worked at anyhow.The a57 is only dust sealed, not weather so one should have a rain sleeve in their bag just in case.Battery life is long with the camera. Though it doesn't have GPS, I happen to have a Pentax WG-2 GPS for that. The Sony a65 at about $200 more than the a57, has GPS that I believe tags every video key frame with GPS data, if you need that. Double-check first before picking one up, it's just what I read. If I thought the a65 were a better camera overall, I would have bought one of them, but 24mp is a lot of video color data and though I wasn't certain it would be a factor in post processing I'm happy to have avoided that possibility. The a77 though weather sealed, is a lot of money and some users have noted sloppy knobs after significant use cycles; I can't attest to that but since I can't afford an a77 anyhow, I am indifferent to the issue.I can't comment on the on-board stereo audio recording capability, haven't needed it yet - but there is a stereo mini plug jack to connect an external microphone. I haven't been paying ANY attention to sound yet and that bit me in the boo boo recently as I learned from a colleague that a slow motion test of mine had slowed audio, that then cut out halfway through the video leaving silence for the remainder! Of course I had expected the audio would be played back at 1/2 speed, but I did not anticipate the truncation. When I get to the point of working with on-board camera audio in a project, I hope to remember to post my impressions of it here.The a57 is dust sealed however the sensor cleaning is accomplished through vibration cycles. I find that a bit unnerving and so I try to carefully prep when swapping out lenses; if swapping where you can ground out static electricity with a wrist ground strap that might be worth the bother; setting down a lens on a surface with a pre-existing static charge and dust, could cause a static attraction with dust lifted to the lens that could then become pulled in to the camera sensor if the camera were differently charged than the lens, and we don't want that. The sensor can do 16X9 or 4X3; in 16X9 you are not using the whole sensor, but since full HD is only 2.1Mp or so anyhow the subset of this 16MP sensor is sufficient. I have been running in 16X9 but then I mostly shoot video with it. The low light capability, short focal length of the 18X55 lens, huge sensor (comparative to camcorder) and enormous fun of playing with depth of field in video, and smooth realtime video autofocus make the a57 just hugely fun to plan and shoot video with, and there is a uniqueness to DSLR video shot with this feature set. It's a frontier camera, but sans weather sealing, not perhaps a camera FOR the frontier.About the viewfinder, it is a full WYSIWYG so you don't have to push down the button halfway to know what you're dealing with, in most instances. And you don't have to look from the viewfinder to the display all of the time to change settings, it's all on whichever you want. It has diopter adjustment which is a big help for those of us who need it.The feature set is so rich with this camera and I haven't done it justice but you can read of the camera's excellence in other reviews. I will update this review occasionally, as I learn more about the a57. It is now my primary camera.Thanks for reading, hope this helps you to make an informed choice.

### ⭐ Bad Camera from a Bad Seller
*by D***R on March 25, 2018*

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.

### ⭐⭐ Two Stars
*by P***B on April 23, 2018*

Item was returned.

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