Sony SLT-A57 Review | 108 Data compared

The Digitalkamera.de review highlights the Sony SLT Alpha 57 as a capable mid-range camera, featuring unique translucent mirror technology that enables rapid burst speeds and precise autofocus. Key strengths include excellent video performance, a versatile tilting screen, low image noise, and solid battery life, along with a high-quality build. However, the review notes limitations such as an awkwardly positioned screen hinge that hinders tripod use and restricted Auto-ISO settings. Furthermore, the included 18-55mm kit lens is described as a weak point, failing to fully utilize the sensor's potential.

The Sony Alpha 57 (SLT-A57) is a highly capable mid-range camera that secures the top spot in the hobbyist DSLR ranking due to its outstanding balance of performance and price. Retaining a 16-megapixel APS-C sensor like its predecessor, it delivers notable engineering improvements that drastically increase image quality, outperforming rivals like the Canon EOS 600D and Nikon D5100 in rendering fine, low-contrast details. The camera manages visual noise exceptionally well, allowing clean DIN-A3 prints up to ISO 6,400. It features a sharp, dual-axis swivelling 3-inch display, a responsive electronic viewfinder with an automatic eye sensor, and rapid operational speeds. Thanks to its translucent mirror technology, its 15-point phase-detection autofocus remains incredibly fast, locking focus in 0.29 seconds in daylight and 0.42 seconds in low light. It also records sharp Full-HD videos at 50fps and boasts improved battery life capable of shooting roughly 1,000 frames per charge.

The Sony Alpha SLT-A57 is a highly competitive entry in the DSLR market that stands out for its unique Single Lens Translucent (SLT) technology, featuring a fixed, semi-transparent mirror instead of a traditional moving flip-up mirror. This design allows the camera to deliver an exceptionally fast continuous shooting speed of nearly eight frames per second at full 16-megapixel resolution, heavily outperforming its main rivals. Key advantages highlighted in the review include its first-class photo and video quality with minimal noise even at high ISO sensitivities, an intuitive layout suitable for beginners, and a highly efficient permanent autofocus system. The permanent autofocus proves particularly superior during Full HD video recording at up to 50p, tracking moving objects and camera pans much faster than competing models like the Canon 600D or Nikon D5100. However, the unconventional SLT design comes with a notable drawback, as the camera lacks a brilliant optical viewfinder, relying instead on an electronic viewfinder (EVF) that feels somewhat pixelated and lower in resolution compared to its higher-end sister model, the SLT-A77. On the downside, the camera also leaves out...

The Sony Alpha SLT-A57 is a fast digital camera that stands out because of its special translucent mirror design. This mirror stays still, allowing the camera to shoot at a super speedy 12 frames per second. It handles low light very well, keeping pictures clean up to ISO 6400. It also catches great detail in bright and dark areas at the same time. Other great perks include a sharp screen that twists around and a smooth Full HD video mode that shoots 50 frames per second. However, the camera does have a few downsides. The final resolution of the photos was only okay, measuring around 4.5 megapixels during testing because it dropped at longer zoom ranges. The camera also scored lower on its output dynamic range, which means it limits the steps of brightness between light and dark spots. Finally, the camera body is quite heavy to carry around, weighing in at 828 grams.

The Sony Alpha SLT-A57 is a 16.1-megapixel APS-C camera designed as an entry-level model in Sony's translucent mirror lineup, bridging the gap below the higher-resolution A65 and A77 models. It distinguishes itself from traditional DSLRs by using a fixed, semi-transparent mirror that continuously directs light to both the image sensor and the phase-detection autofocus modules. This design allows the camera to achieve impressive shooting speeds, handling up to 10 frames per second in its high-speed burst mode and capturing Full HD video at 50 continuous frames per second in the AVCHD format. Additionally, it features a 3-inch tilt-and-swivel LCD screen, a fast startup time of 0.8 seconds, and an upgraded electronic viewfinder with 100% field coverage that handles low-light noise effectively. The review highlights several clear advantages and disadvantages for potential buyers. On the positive side (pros), the SLT-A57 features a robust, ergonomic polycarbonate body that is notably light and compact at 539 grams, backed by a greatly improved battery life capable of delivering around 550 shots. It delivers solid image quality with dynamic range improvements at higher ISO sensitivities...

The Sony Alpha 57 is an innovative, feature-rich hybrid camera that utilizes a fixed translucent mirror to direct light to a phase-detection autofocus sensor, allowing users to leverage high-speed autofocus during both sports photography and live-view video recording. Prominent strengths include its exceptional continuous shooting speed of 12 frames per second, a highly responsive autofocus mechanism, and the resolution of the overheating issues that plagued its predecessor, the Alpha 55. Furthermore, it features an articulating Full-HD display, built-in GPS, flawless AVCHD video integration with Mac software like iMovie, and an electronic viewfinder that displays a 100% field of view with real-time digital overlays. However, the camera has notable weaknesses, most significantly its poor battery life during heavy filming and an input dynamic range that is slightly worse than its predecessor. While image noise is aggressively suppressed up to ISO 800, this internal correction results in overly smoothed images that sacrifice fine details. The physical body remains somewhat uncomfortable for larger hands, and the standard 18-55mm kit lens delivers poor optical performance, dropping to just a 40% efficiency rating in the...

Review Overview The Sony Alpha 57 is a mid-range camera that succeeded the previous Alpha 55 model, managing to secure the number one spot on the DSLR leaderboard at its release. While it maintains a 16-megapixel resolution like its predecessor, it delivers a visible and noteworthy leap in overall image quality. Priced at approximately €750 for the camera body alone, it targets photographers looking for strong performance without jumping to a full-frame budget.

The Sony Alpha SLT-A57 stands out as a highly capable entry-level interchangeable-lens camera that leverages Sony's unique Translucent Mirror Technology to deliver exceptional speed. A major pro of this system is its blazing-fast performance, capturing 10 frames per second (fps) at full 16.1-megapixel resolution, or up to 12 fps in a cropped tele-zoom mode. This mirror setup allows for uninterrupted, continuous phase-detection autofocus during both high-speed bursts and Full HD 1080p video recording, making it ideal for tracking fast-moving subjects like sports or wildlife. Ergonomically, reviewers praise its comfortably deep handgrip, improved plastic-shell build over its predecessor, an intuitive button layout, a robust battery capacity, and a versatile articulating rear LCD screen that makes shooting from odd angles easy. YouTube · However, the camera has notable drawbacks that might deter some users. Because the translucent mirror is fixed, it inherently blocks about a third of a stop of light from reaching the sensor, causing a minor light loss. The camera lacks an optical viewfinder, instead relying on a 1.44-million-dot Electronic Viewfinder (EVF) which, while functional and informative, can become sluggish...

The Sony SLT Alpha 57 is a high-performance entry-to-mid-level camera featuring fast, translucent mirror technology that enables quick, precise autofocus and rapid 10-12 fps burst shooting. Key strengths include a highly functional tilt-and-swivel screen, low image noise, and extensive connectivity options, all housed in a durable, well-constructed chassis. Conversely, the review notes drawbacks such as a screen articulation hinge that is blocked by tripods, a lack of built-in GPS, and limited in-camera editing tools. Additionally, the kit lens offers mediocre performance, and the auto-ISO settings lack flexibility.

The review highlights the Sony Alpha SLT-A57 as a highly capable, entry-level to mid-range camera that utilizes Sony's unique Translucent Mirror Technology. Instead of a traditional flipping DSLR mirror, the camera features a fixed, light-translucent mirror that allows for continuous, fast phase-detection autofocus during both live view photography and HD video recording. Equipped with a 16.1-megapixel APS-C CMOS sensor paired with a fast BIONZ processor, the system produces punchy colours, good low-light performance with an ISO range of 100–16,000, and a generously sized image buffer. Ergonomically, the A57 adopts a larger body style than its predecessor, providing a deep, comfortable handgrip, an improved layout of intuitive direct-access buttons, a larger high-capacity lithium-ion battery, and a clear 3-inch tilt-and-swivel LCD screen. The review presents clear pros and cons regarding its overall utility: Pros: Key advantages include an incredibly fast burst shooting speed of 10 to 12 frames per second with full-time continuous autofocus, making it ideal for sports or action. The built-in sensor-based optical image stabilization minimizes blur across any attached lens, and the user interface remains structured and easy to...

On the downside, the unique mirror setup forces the Sony Alpha SLT-A57 to rely on an electronic viewfinder (EVF) instead of a brilliant optical viewfinder. The review notes that the resolution of this electronic display is somewhat pixelated and lower than that of its sister model, the SLT-A77. Furthermore, the camera completely lacks a built-in GPS module for geotagging, which is another premium feature reserved for the A77. Despite these minor limitations, the review concludes that the camera delivers exceptional value, earning a "very good" rating (1.33) and positioning itself firmly near the top of its class. If you plan on expanding your setup, I can provide more details regarding compatible A-mount lenses or suggest external system flashes that fit this specific model.