Name: Sony Alpha DSLR SLT A57 Translucent Mirror Digital Camera, 16.1MP, 12 FPS Continuous Shooting
Brand: Sony
SKU: ISOSLTA57
Price: 549.00 USD
Availability: Discontinued
Rating: 4.81 (16 reviews)

Sony Alpha DSLR SLT A57 Translucent Mirror Digital Camera, 16.1MP, 12 FPS Continuous Shooting

Sony SLT-A57

Sony

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Sony Digital SLR Cameras

Sony SLT-A57 

Top Rated Gear: Sony Alpha DSLR SLT A57 Translucent Mirror Digital Camera, 16.1MP, 12 FPS Continuous Shooting Color: Black, Resolution: 16MP

lotsa good stuff

The biggest issue and complaint I have about the 57 is that Sony was in no way clear about computer and software system requirements.  To be successful using this camera with Adobe Lightroom you will need at Lightroom 4.x or better.  This also implies that if you are a Mac user, that you need a processor post Intel Core 2 Duo, as Lightroom 4 has specific processor requirements.  All of this is based upon that Sony has introduced a new .arw format, that Adobe will not include as a file conversion plug-in for Lightroom 3. Don't bother with the adobe arw to dng conversion utility either, as it is full of noise when the conversion is done.  It would have been nice to know what daisy chain of madness I was getting myself into with the new camera, especially with the 55 being fully compliant for Lightroom 3 and not requiring a new Imac, new Lightoom to be able to process .arw.  The camera physically though is chock full of amazing, and works beautifully with all my old lenses.

Sony SLT-A57 an exerience in amazing

I owned a couple of Minolta SLRs in the 80s and 90s. In fact, we've had our old Minolta AF camera locked away in a closet since we switched to digital in the late '90s. 

But now that my son is playing high school basketball, our very good point and shoot just isn't cutting it anymore. I agonized for weeks between this camera, the Nikon D3100, D3200, D5000 and the Canon T4i and T3i. There are a lot of review sites and comparisons and opinions on all sides. Although I had used Minolta in the past and still had a few lenses I could use, I really didn't have a dog in the fight, and would have gone with whatever seemed like the best choice.

It was a close choice between the Nikon D5000 (the cheapest option), Canon T4i, and this model. In the end, I was swayed by the passionate reviews of people WHO'VE ACTUALLY USED THIS CAMERA, the big, pixel-dense display, and my few minutes with it in my hands at a store. The fact that I could save some money in lenses by using my old Minolta AF lenses again was a nice side benefit, but wasn't the decisive factor. I would have made the switch if it's what I thought needed to happen.

Now three weeks into my decision, and I have to say I couldn't be happier with my choice. Instead of the stock 18-50 mm lens, I chose the 50 mm 1.8 fixed length lens, and I'm in love. The improvement in camera technology since my last use of an SLR body is stunning and the results we've achieved are fabulous--even though we're just re-familiarizing ourselves with this type of photography.

Obviously, I haven't used every digital SLR on the market. And I'm sure any of the models I considered would have been more than adequate for what we need. But to say we're happy with this camera is an understatement. We've found it very easy to use, and are gradually expanding our knowledge at each opportunity.

If you knew me, you'd know I'm not normally effusive. But I love this camera and the accessories we've purchased so far.