Sony SLT A37k Sony DT 18 55mm F3 5 5 6 SAM Review | 108 Data compared

The ePHOTOzine review highlights the Sony Alpha A37 as a capable, budget-friendly SLT camera offering excellent image quality with low noise, vibrant colors, and 16.1-megapixel resolution. Key advantages include built-in SteadyShot stabilization, a tilting rear screen, and high-speed shooting, all housed in a compact, lightweight, and user-friendly body. Conversely, the review notes a significant limitation where high-speed shooting reduces image resolution to 8.4 megapixels, rather than the full sensor size. Despite this, the camera is lauded for its quick focusing, superior value, and versatile video features.

The Sony Alpha SLT-A37 is an entry-level, SLR-like camera built on Single-Lens Translucent (SLT) technology, which utilises a fixed semi-transparent mirror rather than a traditional moving DSLR mirror. According to the Expert Reviews analysis, this architecture provides major performance advantages for its price bracket, notably a fast 5.5fps continuous burst rate (which can jump to 7fps if cropped to 8.4 megapixels) and 1080p video recording with full-time continuous autofocus. Image and video outputs are highly praised, delivering punchy, detailed JPEGs from its 16-megapixel sensor and showing lower noise levels than competing budget DSLRs. The layout of controls is user-friendly for both beginners and advanced users, featuring plenty of dedicated physical buttons, helpful context-sensitive advice, an improved battery life of 450 shots, and advanced options like focus peaking. However, the review highlights notable cutbacks implemented to meet its aggressive budget. The most immediate drawback is the downgraded 2.6-inch rear LCD screen, which dropped significantly in size and resolution (to just 240,300 dots) compared to its predecessor, suffering from washed-out colours when not viewed directly head-on. Additionally, making the most of the...

However, the reviewer points out several notable drawbacks that hold the camera back. The primary issue stems from the fixed semi-transparent mirror design, which causes an estimated half-stop light loss and results in a murky, imprecise electronic eye-level viewfinder. Additionally, the rear 6.7cm (2.7-inch) vari-angle LCD screen is criticized for being smaller than average and suffering from poor display quality, making precise photo framing demanding. Ergonomic frustrations also include a poorly positioned memory card slot that loads through the camera's base rather than the side, as well as the inability to capture still photos while simultaneously recording high-definition video.

However, the camera has notable limitations regarding its hardware design and image processing. The 2.6-inch tilting LCD screen is considered small by modern standards, and the electronic viewfinder is noticeably dim, even when shooting in well-lit environments. While the continuous shooting rate is rated at 5.5 frames per second, lab testing revealed that performance slows down significantly to an average of 4 frames per second after a 10-shot burst. Furthermore, the autofocus tracking frequently lags behind moving subjects, and the Clear Image Zoom interpolation feature artificially bloats cropped photos back to 16 megapixels, which oversharpens images and exaggerates noise artifacts at higher ISO sensitivities.

The Sony DT 3.5-5.6 / 18-55 SAM is a lightweight, budget-friendly kit lens designed for APS-C sensors, featuring a versatile 3x zoom range, fast autofocus via the SAM motor, and decent macro capabilities with a 25cm minimum focusing distance. It boasts solid contrast and good resistance to glare, with on-sensor stabilization compensating for the lack of optical stabilization. However, the lens suffers from low-quality plastic construction, including a weak mount, alongside a rotating front element that complicates filter use and a narrow, hard-to-use focus ring. Performance issues include significant vignetting and barrel distortion at 18mm, coupled with a noisy focusing motor that is suboptimal for video recording.

The Sony SLT-A37 is a 16.1-megapixel entry-level camera featuring a fixed, semi-transparent mirror that enables full-time, phase-detection autofocus during live view and video. Notable pros include advanced video tools like focus peaking, a 1.44-million-dot electronic viewfinder (EVF) for real-time exposure simulation, and user-friendly features like "Clear Image Zoom". However, the review notes compromises, such as the lack of 1080/60p video, restricting users to 60i or 24p, and a maximum 7fps burst rate that requires reducing resolution to 8.4 megapixels. Additional cons include the use of a small 230k-dot rear LCD screen and a lower-capacity NP-FW50 battery, which is designed to differentiate it from higher-tier models. YouTube ·

The Sony Alpha SLT-A37 is an affordable, entry-level camera that bridges the gap between digital SLRs and compact systems by utilizing Single Lens Translucent (SLT) technology. Its fixed, translucent internal mirror eliminates the standard DSLR pause when shifting to video mode, resulting in exceptionally responsive performance and lightning-fast autofocusing during both stills and Full HD video recording. Outfitted with a 16.1-megapixel APS-C sensor, a 12-option shooting mode dial, and a high-resolution 1.44 million-dot electronic viewfinder (EVF) offering a 100% field of view, the camera stands out for its extreme ease of use and ability to capture sharp, colourful images straight out of the box using the bundled 18-55mm kit lens. Despite its strong performance, the camera has a few notable limitations, most significantly its small 2.7-inch LCD screen which lacks flexibility because it only tilts up or down and cannot flip out fully or rotate to face the subject. Furthermore, the screen features a modest 230,400-dot resolution, and users may occasionally notice pixel fringing where dark objects meet bright backgrounds. The 15-point autofocus system can also struggle to track fast-moving...

The Sony Alpha SLT-A37 is an entry-level DSLR camera designed with a highly user-friendly interface that acts as an in-camera guide, eliminating the need for a physical manual for beginners. Built with a sturdy matte plastic body and an improved grip, it features an intelligent auto mode and automated portrait creation using face detection. Its core strength lies in its Translucent Mirror technology and BIONZ image processor, which enable ultra-fast burst shooting up to 7 frames per second and low-noise imaging even at high ISO levels like 16,000. Additionally, its zippy 15-point array phase-detection autofocus system with 3 cross sensors excels at continuous tracking, particularly during video recording in live view mode. Despite its strong performance features, the camera has notable limitations regarding its display hardware and low-light functionality. The vertically tilting 2.7-inch LCD screen suffers from low resolution and can quickly become loose with frequent use. While the 1.4 million-dot electronic viewfinder (EVF) provides accurate framing, it suffers from severe image stuttering while panning due to refresh rate limitations. Furthermore, the A37 lacks an autofocus-assist lamp, forcing it to...

The Amateur Photographer review of the Sony Alpha 37 highlights a light, compact body with a solid build quality, featuring a pronounced handgrip and large, well-spread controls that improve handling and efficiency. Despite these ergonomic improvements, the camera suffers from an awkward exposure-compensation button angle, and its advertised 7fps shooting speed is limited to an 8.4-megapixel crop mode, dropping to 5.5fps for full-resolution images. Amateur Photographer