Reviews 51923 Published by

TechReviewSource.com posted a review on the Sony Alpha 57 (SLT-A57) D-SLR camera



The Sony Alpha 57 ($699.99 direct, body only) is one of four APS-C D-SLR cameras in Sony's current lineup. It's one step up from the entry-level Alpha 37, and like its siblings sports a fixed mirror design and an electronic viewfinder, a departure from classic SLR cameras that use a moving mirror and optical viewfinder for through-the-lens viewing. The 16-megapixel A57 is capable of producing some excellent images and delivers a superlative video recording experience, but its EVF is just not as good as the next model up in the Sony line, the Alpha 65, and the camera is a little slow to start and fire a shot. Nikon's more traditional D5100 remains our Editors' Choice for D-SLRs priced under $1,000.

Design and Features
At 3.9 by 5.25 by 3.25 inches and 1.4 pounds, the Alpha 57 is only slightly larger than the Nikon D3200, which measures 3.8 by 5 by 3.1 inches, but is lighter at one pound. Its sharp 3-inch 921k-dot rear LCD is hinged so you can view it from the side, the top, or slightly above your head. It's also possible to disable the screen by facing it toward the camera, which is handy if you prefer to use the eye-level finder. By default the camera automatically toggles between the EVF and the rear LCD as you place the camera to your eye or pull it away, but you can disable this functionality and opt to use the physical Finder/LCD button to switch between the two.

View Slideshow See all (7) slides
Sony Alpha 57 (SLT-A57) : Front
Sony Alpha 57 (SLT-A57) : Rear
Sony Alpha 57 (SLT-A57) : Angle
Sony Alpha 57 (SLT-A57) : Top
  Sony Alpha 57 (SLT-A57) Review