Sony Unveils Alpha A57 Camera, the Quick-Draw DSLR
March 13, 2012 by Peter Pachal On MashableIn the world of digital SLR cameras, Sony is typically a distant third place in market share behind Canon and Nikon. If it keeps making products like the Alpha A57, however, that might change.
The Sony Alpha A57, which replaces the previous A55, is a mid-range DSLR with plenty of bells and whistles. But the great thing about it is Sony didn’t try overkill the specs (with, say, tons of pointless megapixels) and instead focused on features that photographers might actually use and separate the camera from the pack.
For example, the A57 is a nimble machine, able to shoot 1080p video at 60 frames per second (fps). Most DSLRs can shoot 1080p video now, but very few do it at 60 fps, instead maxing out at 30 fps. Of course, the camera can do 24 fps, too, if you want the cinematic look of film. There are 60i and 25p options as well.
While you’re shooting your movie, the Sony has continuous autofocus to ensure your target stays in focus. While autofocus is never as good as manual focus for precision work (and it can be noisy), it’s nice to have the option for stuff shot on the fly. Nikon puts the feature on some of its mid-range DSLRs, but Canon has yet to implement it on any model.
As mentioned, the Alpha A57 doesn’t get lost in megapixels, but it still has a more than respectable 16 mp CMOS sensor. The speedy sensor and Bionz imaging engine help to bump continuous shooting to 12 stills per second (up from 10 in the A55). The ISO goes up to 16,000 for those extremely low-light shots.
If you’re relatively new to photography, you might find the camera’s Auto Portrait Framing useful. With the mode engaged, the A57 will use face detection to automatically compose and crop your photo for a “professional-looking” portrait whether you’re holding the camera horizontally or vertically. The original image is saved, too, so you don’t lose anything by using the feature, which Sony says is a world’s first.
And it seems someone finally told Sony about Instagram, since the A57 features 11 Picture Effects, which let you add an artistic touch to your pics right in the camera. Pop Color, HDR Painting and Miniature Mode are just a few. They’re available for stills as well as video, and you can preview the effects on the angle-adjustable 3-inch LCD.
You’ll be able to buy the Sony Alpha A57 in April for the tidy sum of $800 for a kit that includes an 18-55mm zoom lens, and $700 for the body only.
Does Sony’s new DSLR pack enough features to persuade you to give it a try over the latest Canons and Nikons? Let us know in the comments.
The Sony Alpha A57 brings some novel features into the DSLR arena, like 60fps shooting of 1080p video and Auto Portrait Framing.
