Sony Alpha DSLR SLT A57 Translucent Mirror Digital Camera with 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 SAM AF/DMF Zoom Lens

2013-06-10T21:00:00

Since I didn't have an A77 in hand to compare to I had to go off images from reviews. What I found was the A57 had better image quality than the newer A77. If I wanted to spend the extra I could have got the Canon T5i but even that one seemed to have about the same image quality even up at iso 3200 and 6400. I could have spent more yet and got the A99 which is a very nice camera with excellent images. In the end I landed on the Sony line because only Sony seems to have a full frame sensor camera, the A99, that has a swivel screen. At least I didn't see any in the Cannon or Nikon line up that did. So if I decided to upgrade I have a path to follow since the swivel screen is a requirement for me. I was truly amazed that the A57 performed(performs) so well.

Carl U.

2013-05-15T21:00:00

Extremely happy with the purchase. All my minolta bear works wonderfully. Amazing at a bargain price!

proudgeek

2013-05-15T21:00:00

After all of the research I put into finding the perfect camera in this price range,I could not be more happier with the performance of the A57 !!! You will not be disappointed with your purchase... I ordered on a Monday and got it on Thursday !!!! I will be going back for Lenses and accessories in the near future...

BamaNation

2013-05-15T21:00:00

The A57 is a great product at a very good price point. I ordered this on Monday and it was delivered on Thursday.I will be buying my lenses and accessories from Adorama!!!!! This was the Best online purchasing experience to date......

BamaNation

2013-05-07T21:00:00

great camera, great pictures, awesome video

wally

2013-05-07T21:00:00

I'm a beginner DSLR user. At this point, I primarily use the two "auto" modes. Keep this in mind. When buying this camera, it came down to the Sony A57 or the Nikon D5100. I like the camera, but I don't have much to compare it to, other than raw data. The price was good, and I like the speed component of the camera. I also wanted to be able to do solid HD video. I only have two real issues with the camera at this point. 1)The LCD swivels on the bottom. I thought I might not like it, but noone else mentioned it. I don't like it. I prefer the side swivel (I have used it before). 2)The microphone picks ups an lot of noise when the autofocus is functioning. I could use manual focus, and avoid this to some degree, but it's difficult and you end up making other noises as you handle the camera. I'm experimenting with external microphones, but the proprietary hot shoe is a headache. Also, I don't know how much of a difference it will make. There is a video review of this camera, which briefly addresses this issue. Check it out if you have time, and you will hear what I'm talking about. Other than that, I don't have any complaints. I wish it had come with a power cable, so I didn't have to run it off the battery during video playback. This isn't specific to this product, but I also wish I had bought the body only, and then bought a different lens. The stock lens only has 5x zoom, which isn't even enough to zoom across your back yard. I'd get a 18-200 or 18-300 if I could do it over. You can save $100 initially, and then spend $200 to get the other lens. In the end, I have a little buyers remorse with this purchase. I kindof wish I had gone with the Nikon, given the better photo quality and the little LCD swivel issue. I'd be willing to bet that you will get the same autofocus noise with the video mode, but I honestly don't know. It's probably six of one... half a dozen of the other. I'd trust what some of the more experienced reviewers have to say, if pro-quality photos are your only need. Hope this helps.

Nathan

2013-05-06T21:00:00

Easy to use and produces fast and beautiful images.

TURHAND A.

2013-05-06T21:00:00

This is my first SLR/SLT (non P&S) camera. I studied a lot of products and finally determined that this is the camera that gives best value for my money. Unique features that I like are: proximity sensing view finder, highly flexible LCD, auto-cropping, and light sensing LCD. I am very happy with my purchase.

Sudhi

2013-04-29T21:00:00

The Sony SLT a57 is an excellent entry or higher level camera. The kit lens is good for what it is, but should be the first item you find alternatives to. With higher quality lenses, the photos taken with this camera are up there with some of the "pro" models. I would recommend this camera to anyone who is interested in a DSLR.

Devilish54

2013-04-29T21:00:00

This camera is great for the novice, like me. There is some to learn with all the dials and buttons but is simple to use especially with auto mode. Pictures even with kit lense look fantastic. Highly recommend.

KJW

2013-04-29T21:00:00

I purchased last year's model because the reviews on the A58 weren't as great as I thought they would be. But the A57 is loaded with what I want and more than I need.

Enjin95

2013-02-05T19:00:00

good size, nice heft

Mr E.

2013-02-04T19:00:00

Simply put after a non stop heart wrenching 3 months of research, this was the best pick among the price and lot of camera in the APS-C range. It's speed, quality pictures, features/flexibility, video performance, accuracy, high ISO performance, lenses, battery life, focussing and stabilization makes it simply the best. It was a very close call between the SLT-A57 and Nikon D-5100 but the SLT won out in all respects (esp video performance/speed) where as the D-5100 edged out slight at ISO > 6100. But then again, how often do I use ISO > 6100. Haven't had a SINGLE compliant to date, dead easy for my wife to use (with the help menu build in). To put it outstanding camera. I feel the LCD and Electronic ViewFinder are also great, but if you want a bigger/richer LCD and some other minor features (GPS) you can move one level up otherwise it's identical. For sub 1K bundled with 2 lenses (50-300 and 18 to 135) this was a great deal. Both lenses are great, with the 18-135 being particularly outstanding. 18-135 being being made in Japan with the least amount distortion, vignetting and Chromatic Aberration based on my research. (look for SAL18135 reviews). Plus the motor is relatively silent, fast and allows for simultaneous manual and auto focus (which the DT50300 does not and a little slower).

RBoy

2013-02-04T19:00:00

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.

Yokaidangi

2013-01-28T19:00:00

Outstanding camera. Pictures come out great, even with the kit lens. Video is good as well. The only minor flaw is the positioning of the LCD screen's hinge on the bottom rather than at the side.

ERIC N.

2013-01-06T19:00:00

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.

ERIC G.