I know I can sound like a broken record when I get all infatuated with a camera but today I'm reprising my assessments of the Sony a57 only to commemorate the day that DP Review finally got around to recognizing what a very good camera this one is for well under $800...with a lens.
DPreviews assessment of high ISO performance, handling and image quality is so close to what I wrote many months ago that they could have just directed their readers to the series of experiential reviews I wrote and saved themselves the time and money. :-)
In case you missed the Visual Science Lab rambling reviews of this camera you can find them at these links:
Verbose and in-depth. That's the way we do it here. But we also get to the really important cameras first... (tongue in cheek, implied).
So, skip Photokina and just pick up an a57....
14 comments:
At the risk of sounding obtuse, they need to add a little bit better credibility to the Sony line on their own paper. As you know it's usually been Canikon that gets all the extended ink there. Some live and die by DPR. I'm not that stupid - I already know it's a good camera ;-)
You may be a broken record, but you're OUR broken record. It's wonderful to see someone fall in love with equipment because it works well. Damn the pixels, full speed ahead!
Can anyone point out a really bad camera in the price range? Had a play with an A77 today. Very nice. But then I can say that about just about any camera with a price tag above $800. They all work.
But Steve, this one is well below $800.
OK, I was comparing the A77, but I really can't tell the IQ from any of the Sony sensor cameras apart, at least in RAW, nor do I think any would make my work any better or worse than the other (no reason to ditch a lens collection anyway).
They are all rediculously competent and would wipe the floor with most pro gear from a few years back, but the amount of practical differention is now so minimal it's hard for me to get excited about any SLR camera in particular, let alone brands. OVF/EVF? I can see the way the wind blows but right now it's a wash AFAIC.
Just getting old. I find it hard to get excited about most things these days ;)
Honestly, most of the stuff I shoot for the web could easily be done with my old Kodak DCS 760 from 2002.
Yeah, I've given up on dpreview years ago...
Maybe it's just me but when they take years to review anything that is not CaNikon, they can go and get stuffed!
Bought one after reading all the great stuff on your site. After about 1600 shots in a month it has lived up to and possibly exceeded all of my expectations. I got it with the 50mm f1.8 instead of the kit lens and am waiting for the holiday season for new lenses. Recently, I even bumped the ISO up to 3200 (something I have never done on my older cameras)and set it in 10fps burst most and a 1.7x clear view zoom (again something I would never have previously done)and used it for available light shots at a night time rodeo. Sure, I could have gotten better subject separation with a creamy out of focus background if I actually owned a longer lens but I was very satisfied with the results. The images even had low enough noise that I decided to add some back in Lightroom for those that I converted to black and white.
a57 rodeo photeo at http://500px.com/photo/13126519
Love the way it fits my hand, love the intuitive control layout, love the color rendering. Very satisfied. Great camera and great info on your site!
So true, "OUR broken record". Like it.
What I like about when Kirk recommends something it is usually from heart & mind. So many reviews on the interweb are just hype full stop. Off out soon to cover a food festival with one of his recent heartfelt and thoughtfully recommended cameras, the NEX-7. Thanks Kirk.
Heh, very true. The trouble with camera buying addiction is that we left "useful" behind years ago and replaced it with "lustful".
Happy with my Fuji Xpro1 though. It's something refreshingly different which, from my jaded perspective, also makes it "interesting". Not a camera I would recommend to all, but for those it's aimed at there is nothing else like it. It's killed any desire to invest in another SLR.
I get a laugh how it's always referred to as a "entry level/begginers camera". Maybe not the right choice for a pro but for most it's superb. Definitely a step up in build and feel over the A33/A55. In this price range Canikon should be having nightmares. Why settle for a dinky viewfinder, slow FPS and even slower live view when the A57 does it all?
Kirk, do you know if the A99 or any of the other Sony SLT cameras have the ability to shoot silently like the Nikon V1? I can't find this piece of info anywhere, but that is one thing that would really get me thinking seriously about moving from Nikon. The V1 allows for choice between Mechanical and Electronic shutter. Can these Sony bodies do that?
thanks.
John
None of them have silent shooting.
Mr. Kirk, great reviews and blog. I am thinking of buying A57 to start a small business as it is cheap. In your opinion should i give a try to the kit lens or i should buy the body with a better lens? My needs are covered by a normal lens around 17-55
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