It’s Sunday and time to see some more “relaxing” reviews. Let’s see how good the brand new A57 is! The camera itself is already in Stock at Amazon (Click here), BHphoto (Click here) and in Europa at Amazon UK (Click here), Amazon Germany (Click here) and Amazon France (Click here).
On top of this post you will find the latest review from that crazy horse of Kai. Kai is known to not really like the current electronic viewfinder technology but at the end he damn likes the new A57!
And below you will find one more A57 video review by our reader John Sison! Well done John!
56 Responses
In b4 complaints about DigitalRev 😛
Very nice camera the Sony A57 🙂
I wish digitalrev would objectively review Sony products, without the sarcasm and cynicism.
the problem is…it’s a show, not a serious review at all.
the problem is…it’s a show, not a funny one at all.
Don’t get me wrong, I like the non-seriousness and light-hearted feeling of the show. While it isn’t a ‘serious’ review, it is fundamentally still a review. Their reviews of Sony products should deserve the same respect as, for example, the Fuji competitors.
+1111
+1
I find Kai to be a pretty funny guy and is very entertaining on a amateurish level. His reviews are somewhat informative but there needs to be a handicap given to Sony reviews. The fact that he likes the 57 tells me that it is one great camera since it seems to him that the biggest negative with regards to the 57 is that it is not a canon or nikon. C’mon, review the camera not the name. If the Canon name was on it he probably would have slept with it. He probably hates himself because he liked the camera and is impressed with it. For a moment there I think he forgot he was holding a Sony camera. I never saw one of Kai’s reviews on Canon or Nikon but I imagine it starts something like “this is one great camera, it is what anyone would want in a camera and more, but since I never ever turned it on before lets see what this can do.”
If the 57 is this good, I have high hopes for the 99. I just want my 850 with improved focus and high iso performance. OK, throw in tethering. I have found like others that the EVF needs improved on very sunny days. I am wishing my summer away to get to this camera. I am looking forward to the early reports from photographers using the prototypes
+1
And even more, a +++1 to ” I have high hopes for the 99. I just want my 850 with improved focus and high iso performance. OK, throw in tethering.”
And new lenses that are the equal to Canon and Nikon’s best is performance and moisture protection because I see optics as important as the camera for many pros.
+1
It has to be damn nice for Kai to give it praise!
OK lenses too.
Part of Kai’s beef with Sony is that he prefers OVFs.
useless reviews.
Indeed. I watched the D800 “review” which was 10-15mins and got very little information from it. He was mostly cocking about as usual.
I make my living on my technical reviews and opinions. Kai reminds me that if people find your act repulsive (and he is acting) they cannot be objective about your point of view, even technical ones. I owe him this lesson.
Except he has had 66 million views of his videos.
I heart Kai.
I mean what review would you rather watch of the above
The second one, definitely the second one.
I think this may be the most positive review of any Sony camera by DigitalRev
John Sison is an AMAZING reviewer, one I have been waiting for, very informative, and he does Sony reviews (I don’t think there are any reviewers who just do Sony, they all do Canon or Nikon, this guy needs to be seen, he needs more videos too.
Kai calls the 50mm f1.4 a crapy lens 🙁
He calls most of the sony lens crappy… And most of the zeiss lens overpriced…
did any of you actually watch Kai’s review? He pretty much says its on par with the canikon equivalents, and excels above them in some areas. His closing comments are probably some of the most accurate points ever made on the Sony DSLRs.
the only thing he meant by “it’s not canikon” is that it doesn’t have the same market appeal, and if they had made this camera it would be extremely loved.
personally the viewfinder alone makes this a better choice, because APS-C viewfinders even at 100% coverage are small, and this one is 1.3x the size of a 100% finder. that’s a pretty big deal.
Kai actually likes a Sony product? THe A57 is a really good camera. Hard to quibble with the accolades its getting.
Can anyone tell me if the A57 does higher ISO than 1600 in video? I know the 16MP sensor has been used higher than 1600 in NEX-5n and a55 etc but am wondering if the A57 does also compared to the 1600 ISO limitation of the A65/77
Just tested it at BB. Yes it goes to ISO 3200 in Program mode for both stills and video.
This is the difference from my A65.
The A77 is limited to 1600 as the 24mp sensor draws too much power.
Words cannot describe how disappointed I am that both reviewers praised the auto portrait mode. It is unfathomable to me that anyone should praise a feature which discourages new photographers from actually creating a good photograph all by themselves.
Here’s an idea… how about cutting out all the gimmicks Sony, and instead include a book like “The Art of Children’s Portrait Photography” by Tamara Lackey, or “The Art of Posing” by Lou Jacobs Jr. (both available on Amazon).
Both reviewers praised the feature (Sison said “It’s not a gimmick”), yet neither of them produced a worthwhile photograph by using it. I personally have no desire to allow the art that I love be reduced to an algorithm.
I didn’t watch the second video, but DRev seemed to give it a big thumbs down so I don’t know where you are getting that idea from? Yes it is a gimmick, one aimed at the type of demographic the A57is aimed at – this is not to say all those who will buy an A57, but merely SOME. For lots of enthusiasts who buy an A57 they will simply never use it, they will use their own skill and expertise.
I don’t understand why ‘Pro’s’ get so upset about features such as this being included in a moderately entry level camera. Not everyone wants this type of camera to create great and beautiful works of art – They want to take good quality photo’s of the things that are important to them… So get over it.
Some Pros are stepping-up to the a57, ’cause it has better high ISO performance than the a77.
Too bad they didn’t give the a57 an a77 EVF For Me, that would have been the perfect Sony SLT.
Back in the days of film, some Nikon shooters used the 105mm f/2.8 Micro Nikkor to get that close in-your-face portrait look.
While I agreed, those Pros can simply ignore that feature, it is there to make the camera appeal to another market, but not something Pros should be concerned about having in their camera.
From what I have seen in the Fn menu, auto portrait can be turned off easily.
Features like auto portrait are a lie. They mislead uneducated consumers into believing it will make them a better photographer. When in actuality, it makes them worse photographers.
You want to see a marketing hit? Take the R&D funds that went into this ridiculous technology and place a good “how to” book for beginners inside every box. Or better yet, cultivate a community of new tog enthusiasts with an online education system sponsored by Sony. That would build huge customer loyalty.
______
There was no shortage of curious new togs back in the all manual film days. They purchased brownies and TLR’s and rangefinders and K1000’s by the droves. They didn’t rely on gimmicks. They educated themselves by taking courses, studying books, joining photo clubs, researching the masters…
Look Matt… we’re both in the industry. Do you want to cheapen it, or refine it? Which path will evolve the art form better? Which path will cause the least painful “unlearning” for those who pursue the art form further?
I’m not concerned, I just find all the angst laughable.
BTW most Pros aren’t concerned,why should they be???
Don’t understand the big deal, there is an off setting. Some people would have said auto-focus and an exposure meter is dumbing down a camera, so do you shoot fully manual then?
+1000
Does anyone think the Sal 18-250 would be better than a 16-105?
Amazon seems to be offering a 100usd off when buying a body. Thinking getting A57.
Matt – “but DRev seemed to give it a big thumbs down so I don’t know where you are getting that idea from?”
at 5:37, DigRev says “This camera has an amazing feature called auto portrait framing…” Then he calls the crop weird… And then he defends it against his girlfriends rejection by calling it “an extreme portrait”.
he was just abit sarcastic 🙂
i dont really understand the discussion about it anyway… its a software function which no one needs to use.
so why is anyone complaining and ranting about it?
Agreed. He was being sarcastic and very tongue in cheek about it. Also the words he used were specific to the ‘Japanese TV’ style they were attempting/failing to recreate.
As for your other comments, do you actually feel somehow threatened by this kind of feature? As a professional I assume you want to be able to create better results than average Joe, so much so that average Joe will pay you money for your skills? Therefore do you really want Avg Joe to learn everything that you know so that you are no longer required?
I really don’t see how this will affect anything, other than giving ‘consumers’ a warm fuzzy feeling that their camera makes life that little bit easier for them (even if it doesn’t). If that sells more cameras… great!
Think about it… what would be better for new togs… and what would be better for Sony PR.
Imagine these same exact reviews with one change… Instead of touting a feature that will teach you to be a bad photographer… instead of that, replace those spots in the review videos with this:
“This camera comes with an amazing new feature… Those who order will be automatically enrolled in the new online Sony Photography University. Participants will have access to the full library of Sony instructional videos on many types of photography from landscapes to portraits.”
Now we both know any of that can be had on forums and Youtube right now. But anyone who sways their decision to buy the a57 based upon “auto portrait mode” or “smile detection” is probably unaware that such instructional videos exist anywhere. If Sony “really” wants to help togs take better photos, then they should consider taking advantage of modern marketing technologies and endear the new user to them at a level that flashy gimmicks never will.
They’d cultivate new users by the droves… enticing them to purchase new lenses shown off in the instructional vids. Award certificates of accomplishment and feed the consumer photo beast with substantial nourishment that only leads to wanting more.
And the best part, the best part is that the photography as a whole will be better. It’s a win win for everyone.
Clyde, features sell Sony cameras. We all win as a result. A camera that doesn’t have features is not going to sell, we all lose.
I agree. I just draw a clear distinction between “features” that lead to becoming a better photographer, and “gimmicks” that lead to becoming a worse photographer.
Personally, I think the best thing Sony could do is to become more exclusive, almost snooty, like Leica. Nothing could distinguish them from competitors more than that. That doesn’t mean they don’t have lower tier cameras. Just take the R&D funds for gimmicks, and redirect them to meaningful feature sets… like remote video control, tethering, a proper flash system, open firmware platform (app store), manual audio, voice annotation, gps, af micro adjust on all bodies, smart tc in raw, rc remote, larger sweep panorama files (in raw), diagonal review scrolling for NEX… etc…etc…etc…
I’d bet the R&D funds for these gimmicks could have easily addressed all the flash issues with EVF cameras.
Sell the smile detection and auto portrait tech to camera phone players.
Hey nice shot!
Why thank you. I used “Auto Portrait Mode”.
Oh. Um… cool.
Most of the time when see who these “reviewers” are….. I sai WTFK!
I cannot believe people get upset or overly excited by opinions expressed by such experts…..
The camera was in stock already last week at Sony shop in shop at COIN department store in Milan.
At least they had one in display that if I had time I could have played with a little.
BTW they have a very nice food department at that store!!!
BTW Why would anybody bothers with what 3 dorks sitting in an housing project in HK have to say about anything?
DigitalRev is fun to watch..
I prefer watching paint dry. 😉
There is a bit of brand bias from Kai, but I think Sony may have done it to themselves in the past over review models. They tend to screw up a lot. He does say it just works and gets people shooting. It’s positive exposure for SLT line and the fact it’s available everywhere.
Sony needs to really market SLTs real-time live view better to get new users. They need to emphasize the liberation from the viewfinder. I had to ask BB to pull A57 out to see it even though they had several in stock. The sales guy had no clue.
Most people don’t understand difference between SLT and SLR, but they do notice that I’m not shooting with a view finder and at all different heights. One guy at my kids school thought I was shooting blind before realizing I was using the A65’s LCD to frame shots at hip level. I’ve used the new 5d3 and not even that fine beast can do that in live view.
Right AG! A series of educational videos (produced by Sony) showing how to shoot (in ways on Sony can) would pave a golden road to consumer gratitude and loyalty. Educate consumers how “TO” shoot, rather than how a Sony cam will fix a poorly composed shot…
+1
Sony liveview autofocus speed (PDAF) is unmatched by the canon nor nikon liveview… They should emphasize on this. A lot of my frds always though they are same, very slow thus don’t giv a damn to SLT.
Kai’s an arrogant sonofab*** who only really likes unaffordable Leica cameras. You should have seen him trash Pentax DSLRs… I think he’s getting soft, calling the A57 good.
Gosh darn that sisson guy is boooooooooooooooring. Waste of time! He should go back to the packing assembly line and leave the www alone. What a ‘me-too’ bore!
Kai’s reviews, on the other hand are fun to watch just as a means of passing the time! Keep the fun up!
Related to “facts”, a spec spredsheed is more useful than both these reviews put together, but that is not the reason one should watch a video review of something.