Preorders
A57 Body Only: Amazon (Click here), Adorama (Click here), SonyStoreUSA (Click here), BHphoto (Click here).
A57+18-55mm lens: Amazon (Click here), Adorama (Click here), SonyStoreUSA (Click here), BHphoto (Click here).
Main Features in short:
16.1MP, Translucent Mirror Technology™, up to 12 fps, Clear Image Zoom, Auto Portrait Framing, 1080/60p/24p Full AVCHD™ or 1080/30p MP4 movies, 3.0″ LCD TruBlack™ tilt/swivel screen, 18-55mm lens
Previews and Image samples
Dpreview
Imaging Resource
Main differences with A55 at ThePhoBlographer.
Press release
ePhotozine, Photographyblog, Dpreview, Whatdigitalcamera (with video), TheVerge, Focus Numerique (French), Photoscala (German), PCWorld, Engadget, Imaging Resource, Slashgear,
Video
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Poll
Please first read the reviews and watch the image samples. Take time before to answer this:
[poll id=”94″]
Full size images (Click on it to open the big image in a new tab)
145 Responses
it looks small but with a good grip. nice small dslr with great sensor. hope sony manages to sell this as they expect.
Sony SLT-A57
$699.99
http://store.sony.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?catalogId=10551&storeId=10151&langId=-1&productId=8198552921666434673
The model name is different from the one listed in the Redcoon online stores, no GPS.
Personally I won’t miss this feature, I would probably turn it off to save battery life. I would like to trade GPS, “Clear Image Zoom” & “Auto Portrait Framing” for tethering or the screen of the A77 🙁
seriously, this is very good slt for entry level. could say a65 is gg! wait for the test, no surprise if it beat a65 and a77 in high iso.
I wish sony can create Landscape+ mode or filter, allow user to shoot clean object from the shot. ie: no ppl walking in front your focus taking a building shot…
When looking through SonyStoreUSA’s spec sheets, A57’s video options were described as:
“Video Mode : AVCHD: 1920 x 1080/ 60i (59.94i Interlace recording, 29.97 progressive image sensor output) Approx. 17Mbps (Average bit-rate) MP4 HD: 1440 x 1080/ 30p (29.97 Progressive) Approx. 12Mbps (Average bit-rate) MP4 VGA: 640 x 480/ 30p (29.97 Progressive) Approx. 3Mbps (Average bit-rate)
Video Resolution : 1920×1080/60i (59.94i,)”
It contradicts with its feature page: “1080/60p/24p Full AVCHD™ or 1080/30p MP4 movies”. So I guess the 1920 x 1080/ 60i 17Mbps is wrong, maybe?
NICE catch Bill!!! They also fail to mention whether it has manual controls in video. Admin, do you know?
They didn’t say it but I think (and hope) the answer should be yes.
i was thinking of graduated ND filter mode… should be great for landscapes
Just picked up an A55 last week and am now having trouble deciding if I should move to A57. The new EVF looks compelling, however I don’t know about the bigger size.
New EVF is not that much different to the old a55 EVF. I never minded my a55 EVF, it was only the field sequential stuff that bothered me. Having had the a55 and a65, personally I don’t feel the a57 is a worthwhile upgrade, unless you dislike the size of the a55, which I know some did – I actually liked the smaller size. Sensor, EVF, Frame rate etc are all fairly similar to a55. If you like your a55 I’d keep it.
I wouldn’t be so sure about that.
From “Robbie A” who has tested the A57:
“The ‘tweaked’ EVF is worlds apart from the A55. It is so good that when switching between the A77 and A57, I saw virtually no difference. I first thought that it was the same EVF! ”
http://www.dyxum.com/DFORUM/sony-slta57_topic85292_page1.html
Where A99’s Prototype pic?
All we have is just Andrea’s word?
???????????? DId I say that we will see the A99 pics??? When?
No, you didn’t say that, BUT I hope hoping for some type of A99 news from Sony themselves.
“Andrea’s word” is referring to you saying that A99 is being tested now.
Sony like showing prototypes. I just thought we would see one today. 🙂
Of course it’s being tested now, but I don’t know if and when Sony will show a prototpye body.
When will sony make another full frame camera?
When will Sony make a Medium Format camera? When will they make a Large Format camera? Come on Sony, I want a 70mm Sensor, with 800 fps, 1000fps 8k video, mirrorless, with super fast AF, OVF for under $8 – until then Sony are just going to be losing customers to Canon and Nikon.
OMGASH!! I sold my sony lenses and cameras, I am going to CANIKON!
goodbye SONY!!!!
booo hoo hoo!
boo hoo hoo!
bye.. don’t trip on your way out. lol.
*trips* *bumps head on 400 concrete steps on the way down to Canikon*
So those who say that this photo is photoshopped, what have you got to say now? 😀
Had the same thing in mind. There were a dozen people critizing SAR because of that picture. I hope they got the message now 😉
@ Admin
Well you kinda got people up in arms by giving life to your buddy Carl’s a600 rumor. This is part of the game, once an ounce of skepticism enters peoples minds, it is there….
Don’t take it personally.
Giving life? This is a rumor blog that reports rumors. And I expressely said that 1) it was not coming from my sources 2) I didn’t value the rumor with a high ranking (SR4 or SR5). And by the way Carl Garrard is not a NO name within the Sony world.
The problem is that people often cannot make a difference between low rated rumors (often from third party webistes) and my own rumors from trusted sources.
I don’t like Carl Garrard, and anything coming from him should have been 1 or 2, not 3 on ranking.
+1 Perfectly right,Andrea. Nevermind, some people don’t even read what you write. They barely look at pictures and maybe they read the title. Cheers!!
It is photoshopped.
Wow 1600 ISO is so clean and even better than A77. Damn.
That’s impressive, but the a580 already beat that two years ago.
That’s actually 16-0-0-0 ISO (3 zeros). BIIGGGG improvement!
@ Admin
IDK man. I personally recall about 4 posts about the mythical a600 in about a weeks time. Obviously you didn’t put a lot of weight in it as you say because you never labeled it anything above SR3 – BUT – it was posted numerous times and used in polls etc. Hindsight is perfect, but that was overblown. I understand this is a rumor site but you REALLY got the OVF crowd revved up there lol –
LIKE I SAID. Don’t take it personally. I don’t think anyone else did. We like what you’re doing here at SAR and that’s why it’s one of the most ‘trusted’ rumor sites (oxymoron?) out there.
It was Carl getting small updates about the A600 rumor that lead me to make multiple posts. And the POLL was just there to ask you if you think an OVF is still needed. I thought I would actually do a good job for you and Sony to ask you that 🙂
You expect a 24mp APS-C to have better out of camera high ISO than the 16mp?
What does this new video light look like? Specs, and will it take 500H battery?
Hey Andrea, is today’s press event only for the A57 announcement, or will more products be previewed / announced?
A57 only. More stuff is coming in April!
Sony will also be introducing a new battery-powered LED video light, model HVL-LE1, which broadens options for recording video indoors or in low light. This new accessory will be available this month for about $250.
from:
http://www.dpreview.com/news/2012/03/13/Sony-SLT-A57-HVL-LE1
Or, get one off eBay for a third of the cost! 😀
Super Camera A57 for a super Price !! Sony is really a cool brand ! Thanks to Sony 😉
Bad news for us. Only A57, but no a-mount lens
What lens are you waiting for?
Now that was just mean!
Shouldn’t he be allowed to do some pointless whining without reality bothering him ???
Haha my bad. I was bored 😀
This camera looks pretty good, but what about Full Frame? Don’t we need the Full Frame? I don’t think this compares with the D800 which is what my friends tell me I should get? I guess this is a Sony FAIL again!
boo hoo hoo!
Why Sony don’t make a57 Full Frame? Why only can see half frame? I want use Minolta 28-80, but don’t want to see just half the pichures!
You cry like big girl baby for your Sony not full pichures too?
I just bought a 135 STF lens, best lens I have ever used for portrait photography!
As for Full Frame… It’s overrated.
Go large format sensors, fork out the $$$!
You can order 2 to get FF
But cost two times?
gotta pay to play
Which other manufacturer give us pro features on an entry level?
This is what technology should bring.
State of the art to the masses…not stunted crap and only the good stuff for the elites..
++1 😉
+1
So is the A37 the only camera with the small body?
yep
I think maybe that one for girls A/S/L?
i was hoping sony would place the AF button of a57 somewhere in the top side like seen in a77 ,which is more convinient rather downside.
I think I’m sold on this one… Seems like a great upgrade for my aging a100, and given that I do a lot of low light/high iso shooting, this seems to trump the a65/a77 and vies with the now-doomed a580 looking at the studio shots on DPReview. Pair this with the 16-50/2.8 and a couple primes and it looks like a great fit for me. Can’t wait for it to go on sale!
The A57 looks like a substantial improvement over the A55. It looks just like the A65. Sony did the right thing by focusing on only 1 release today. The SLT cameras are maturing and it is amazing to see Sony add features that can bring more people into Alpha.
My question for readers is – do you think the A57 will be better for IQ than the A65 due to the smaller resolution ? It was not clear if the same image sensor is used in both.
My biggest complaint on the A65 would be shooting video with common home indoor lighting being too dark. I didn’t hear mention of video updates, but Sony released an LED video light. Any info?
The a65 is ok foor indoor video just use a 1.8/2.8 lens, turn on your lights and use iso 800 or 1600
It seems to want to stay at f/3.5 and 1600 ISO even with the 16-50 f/2.8 lens. It’s much darker than the 60D/7D. I looked at the setting on the 60D under same conditions and it goes to ISO 3200 with much better video, but no continuous AF. The A65 has blazing fast video AF in daylight, but Sony needs to update the firmware for video. I don’t think it’s a sensor or lens issue.
I noticed the A57 will go to ISO 3200 in auto mode and wonder if the video will also.
The 1600 limit is to prevent the 24mp sensor drawing too much power and overheating.
Was there anything about the a57 having a vertical grip?
to be announced later I guess 🙁
P.S.: The A57 looks like a nice and well balanced camera. Like it!
how can it have a grip if it share the same body with the A65 wtf
Yeah, there won’t be a vertical grip for sure. No point in announcing an accessory for an entry level camera later.
Agreed, the VG would have been in the specs. I really doubted the VG rumour when the A65 doesn’t have it.
Hello,
So hurry up to get the old a55? :))
Nicos
There will be no Sony factory Vertical Grip! Fact!
One control whell….. not for me. But it looks like very good camera -a lot better than a55
The 5 series never had two controls and never will. The 7 series up is it.
I’m use to having 2 wheels on my Canons and was skeptical about only having one on the A65. Honestly, I haven’t missed the extra wheel or the top LCD panel on the A65 at all even in manual mode. The LCD/EVF display the relevant data in an easy way.
I actually preferred the A65 controls over the A77 because of that latter’s very loose joystick.
The A57 looks the same as the A65.
I pickled up the A65 just to test the EVF in a shop, I instantly missed the rear wheel as I was used to the A700.
I can understand Michal’s comment, it just feels “odd” without it.
The current low to mid-priced camera lineup from Sony I think is the best ever.
Is this it?
No other stuff?
To be fair, these second generation SLT cameras that are now shipping or soon to ship (a37, a55, a65, a77) should sell very well against the current offerings from Canon and Nikon and help make Sony a real player in the low to mid-priced market.
Of course the competition has a vote here too, and I’m sure will soon release new cameras of their own.
But, I had hopes that Sony would announce something on the 13th that would be of interest to the higher end user like a lens ,or a lens roadmap and prototype something.
pleaseeeeeee sonyy we need a new lens, zeiss n full frame camera!!! are that to much???
The IQ of a57 looks like better that D7000 and 60D – you can see comparison in dpreview.
http://www.dpreview.com/previews/sonyslta57/5
http://www.dpreview.com/galleries/reviewsamples/photos/1808015/dsc00075?inalbum=sony-slt-a57-preview-samples
Way to go SONY.
Now, please do us a77 owners a favour – give us firmware version 2.0 that we could have better noise free high ISO pics and be proud of. 🙂
Is there suppose to be a firmware update on March 29-30 ?
Anyone have info on what’s being updated?
I’m really happy with the A65 except with video being dark the only kink for now. Perhaps they could fix that in firmware.
It’s look like 600D on iso 800 more o less. Not A580 level.
So where is the vertical grip? lol
where is the point of this camera compared to the NEX line?
At least it’s not high ISO, even 6400 looks pretty bad compared to the 5N:
http://www.dpreview.com/galleries/3202320681/download/1807808
http://www.dpreview.com/galleries/3202320681/download/1807810
http://www.imaging-resource.com/PRODS/AA230/ZALLLENSES-LG.JPG
VS
http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SY9YAcWXX6Y/TVSRCAOxSuI/AAAAAAAABe8/okxq5OieJmc/s1600/sony-nex-emount-upcoming-lenses.jpg
Phase detect auto focus and compatibility with the huge range of existing and legacy alpha mount lenses.
NEX is also compatible with A mount lenses.
Only if you also buy an expensive adaptor. With the LA-EA2 adaptor you get full alpha mount compatibility and phase detect auto focus, but that’s $400. There is the LA-EA1 adaptor which enables you to use alpha mount lenses with the NEX’s contrast detect auto focus (which doesn’t in general work as well with alpha lenses as it does with NEX lenses), but that’s still $200.
curious thing about the exclusive from SGNL is the guy from the Sony Camera Team. He said “one of the complains that we got with the a55…” So they’re really hearing customers… (he was talking about the small size=less grip and smaller battery compared to others).
Interesting….
Wonder how good the EVF is with this one. Didn’t like the one on a55 but I can live with the one in a77. If the EVF is almost as good as the OLED one, I might just get this one instead of a77.
The market segmentation strategy Sony is using with these second generation SLTs (A57, A65, A77) really forces me to make some hard decisions. To replace my aging A100 what I really want is actually a combination of the features of these models. My ideal camera would combine:
1. The 16MP sensor from the A57.
2. The OLED EVF from the A65/A77.
3. The AF sensors from the A77
4. AF fine tune! All DSLRs (apart from very basic models that will probably never see a f/2.8 or faster lens) should have this, it’s a zero cost firmware feature.
I’m likely to end up settling for a A57, which is a shame. I would be prepared to pay extra for a better EVF and AF system, but the only way to get all that is to buy the A77 which costs twice as a much. I don’t need the extra ruggedness of the A77 body, and I’m still unconvinced that the 24MP sensor is better than the 16MP one. Look at DPReview’s A57 preview and use the studio scene comparison to compare the image quality of the A57, A65 and A77. The A65 and A77 images have more pixels but to my eye they don’t really contain much more detail even at base ISO, and at high ISOs the A57 seems the more detailed.
If you use an A65 or an A77 you would not say that the images don’t contain much more detail than A57 images. The sensor should be similiar to the one on the 5N. I notice a difference. The A55 viewfinder wasn’t bad. The A57 finder is supposedly better. For the money, it’s a pretty good camera (spec wise).
I was basing my comments on the studio scene comparison at DPReview, I was directly comparing real photos taken of the same scene with the A57, A65 and A77. At base ISO it looked to me that the A65/A77 did show more detail but it wasn’t a dramatic difference. As I ramped up the ISO the difference in visible detail reduced and in fact reversed, I’m sure I could see more detail in the A57 images at high ISO. I’m not saying the 24MP detector is bad (I certainly wouldn’t complain if someone gave me an A77!) just that the 16MP detector may be a better option for a lot of people. If you mostly shoot at low ISO and want to squeeze the maximum detail out of landscape/architecture/studio photos then those extra pixels are going to help, otherwise not so much.
The A57 does certainly look like good value for money. I’m looking forward to the full reviews.
If you actually use the A77/A65, you’ll appreciate what 24mp can do.
I’d like to try them all, but it will be a bit tricky. Sony Alpha cameras don’t seem to have been all that successful so far in Australia, it can be hard to find them in retail stores and the new models take a long time to show up.
If the A65 or the A57 had micro focus adjustment capability, they’d be even better cameras. The 5N, when used in conjunction with the LA-EA2 adapter, has microfocus adjust. So does the NEX-5 with the newest firmware. If Sony could just make that feature available on the A57/A65, then legacy lens use would really take off. You may want to pay for the better finder and 24mp of the A65 (and GPS). What’s great, though, is that with the A57 and A65, Sony gives you a choice and you can’t really go wrong with either one.
In theory Sony could easily add AF fine tune to the A57 and A65 with a firmware update, a feature that really should be in any mid range DSLR in my opinion. I doubt they will but the inclusion of the feature in the NEX cameras is slightly encouraging.
All the camera manufactures use artificial software limitations to increase the differentiation between models with very similar hardware. It’s commercially understandable but pretty frustrating for the consumers.
Hotdog, I’m assume they included AF fine tune in the NEX/LA-EA2 for the reason that calibration can’t be properly carried out with two different products manufactured seperately.
1. The 16MP sensor from the A57.
2. The OLED EVF from the A65/A77.
3. The AF sensors from the A77
4. AF fine tune! All DSLRs (apart from very basic models that will probably never see a f/2.8 or faster lens) should have this, it’s a zero cost firmware feature.
That’s the A75 I’ve been crying for…Dual dial (or Tri-Navi like NEX7) Weather-seal and Top LCD Please !
If the buffer can hold around 100 images, it is capable to compete with D4/1D4 but at a much affordable price !!!
The 16mp sensor is for pixel peepers. Nothing more.
I’d have the flexibility of the 24mp any day over the 16mp.
Thanks for assuming I’m a moron. I wasn’t looking at pixel level noise, I know that’s not important. I was looking at visible detail in the actual studio photos on DPReview. Yes, the 24MP detector shows more fine detail at low ISO. At higher ISOs though the detail is washed out by higher levels of noise, to the point that the 16MP images actually looked better at the top end of the ISO range. If you mostly shoot low ISO the 24MP is for you, if you mostly shoot high ISO the 16MP seems to be at least as good, if not better.
It wasn’t an assumption. It was based on your comment.
So anyone that even questions the benefit of a 24MP APS-C detector is automatically a moron? Sounds like a pretty big assumption to me. You don’t know anything about me. Maybe you’re just being rude because you’re fed up with all the people who have misinterpreted pixel level noise in 100% crops from the A77, but that’s not what I’m doing here so don’t take it out on me.
Zzzzzz
Heh, you really are an arsehole 🙂
Indeed. 😉
I’m glad we agree on something 😉
I know what *I* am. Others here are just delusional about what *they* are. 😀
Possibly, but not me.
See what I mean? 😉
@Hotdog Uhmm, as far as I see you assumed that he assumed that you are a moron, then called him an “arsehole”. Interesting.
You are contradicting yourself.
If you say that 24MP provides flexibility, you must be referring to the ability to crop.
But what’s the point of cropping, if the per-pixel quality of the 24MP sensor is worse than that of the 16MP sensor?
No, I am not.
Full manual exposure control in video mode?
Any extra crop factor in video mode?
Digital zoom in video mode?
Maximum ISO in video mode?
The size issue seems to be a real divider. Some prefer the small a55, some prefer the larger a57.
Why not a camera the size of a55 with an optional vertical grip? Then it would be possible to choose camera size for each session.
The VG doesn’t make the grip any better.
A vertical grip can make the grip higher. Now the little finger (or whatever it’s called in English) slips below the a55.
Or… why not two grips like the ones for Olympus OM-D E-M5:
http://photos.expertreviews.co.uk/images/front_picture_library_Expert_Reviews/dir_324/er_photo_162319_52.png
But it doesn’t make it “better”.
I could live with 1 control wheel but VG is deal breaker.
I just hope the problems of the A55 are fixed (like they did in A77), so:
– no more ghosting
– no more flash delay
– enable/disable exposure preview in viewfinder for manual flash
Hm…this is supposed to have a vertical grip right? So it should fit on the a65 also? Or there isn’t one?
Think I’m gonna rather order the a77 today 🙂
So after the earlier hyped up rumours with people comparing it to the A77 it’s…..a minor A55 update… 😀
Sony’s lineup looks kinda better now.
Entry level DSLT with small size body A30-series
Mid level DSLT with medium size body A50-series & A60-series (minimal product differentiation)
Upper level DSLT with pro-level body A70-series
It’s much better, but they only need 3 models and they should all have the OLED EVF and LCD displays. After this, I don’t see a cheaper model helping the Sony SLT product perception. It’s better to fill in with NEX and a fixed lens APS-C camera.
Since the A57 body is the same as the A65, I wonder if they will continue the A65 (kind of doesn’t fit the 3,5,7 and x5 numeric scheme).
What is wireless EyeFi connectivity?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eye-Fi
The RAW noise is just as good as NEX-5N. Nearly no difference.
Same and more powerful accumulator as most of earlier Sony DSLR’s – is also an advantage.
60p FullHD video – is a plus.
Remaining is to get to know if manual controls are available at video mode.
OMG I hate the guy from “sgnl” som much!
Still no multi system (PAL/NTSC dual-boot) for video, and no 30p option for NTSC framerate.
Bad move. Shame on Sony.
was that the big announcement for today? no news about FW 2.0 for the a77?
The rumour was v1.05 at the end of March, the only place v2.00 exists is in your head. 😀
I understand. There are also no “new” new’s about a77. The announcement was “just” the a57…
doesn’t matter – next week I order my a77!
and so you should, get it done!
Nice product…
But still prefer my A55…
My opinion:
Nothing special in the A57 that would make me prefer the A57 over A65 or A55.
A55: for the size.
A65: for the EVF.
Agree. I don`t understand why they make this camera so big when they already got a bigger one in their portfolio – the SLT A65. For travel I like very much the small and light A55.
With an extra battery I also never had a limitation in taking as many pictures as I wanted!
I definitely see this a move back into the past where cameras used to be big and heavy. Somehow Sony squanders the advantage they gained through the new technology.
Many people complained about the small grip and small battery…and I do remember people asking for an A65 with 16MP sensor…so I guess they answered them with the A57 you see here. And If you check the video from SGNL, when they begin explaining the differences, he said something like…”One of the complains we received was this” so they’re hearing the complains from most people.
I’m sure the A37 will catch up to where the A55 was so if you still want the size, A35 and future A37 is the answer I think…
The complaint about size may have been a valid one as long as there was no A65 and no A77 on the market. But with these models customer have the choice to buy a bigger model. Why Sony removed the choice between smaller models will probably stay their secret.
A37? Great upgrade option from A55!
– Flip screen?
– 10fps?
– GPS?
Just agreeing with Cyrus that this “successor” of A55 is nothing special. Size and weight are certainly a step back.
confirmed vertical grip ?????
I would like to hear about VG too but I think it was just wishful thinking 🙁
I wonder if the buttons will be assignable, like the A77’s. If not, I might have to navigate more menus here than with my NEX-5N.
But I won’t complain too much. I was hoping for this camera for a while. I’ll compare it to the A65 when I can see the two side-by-side and take a few sample shots, then (finally) make a new SLR purchase (I refuse to call them SLT).
No micro-adjustment, no buy… simple as that.
this is the entry level camera to get. feature-wise, it’s the best bang for the back. but still, in terms of image quality, the canon t3i tops it all. forget about the nikon d5100…
From DPReview about VG:
“We’ve heard nothing about one. There are no connectors in the battery compartment for one, either.”
So that rumor was wrong 🙁
There it is, a clear divide between the A7x and lower series. Just like they did with the A700 vs. A5xx series.
It’s what I expected, it’s what they have always done except for the very early days where the A200 got a VG, I had it!
I wish there was an edit…A55 FFS.
hmm there was also a VG for the A350 … and the A550 (Sony VGB-50AM)
Warehouse Express have the A57 on pre order for £619. For another £30 you can get the A65 body. That (early) UK price certainly isn’t low enough for me to choose the A57 over the A65!
@Connie: And the a580.