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Sony Alpha SLT-A57 DSLR Digital Camera with 18-135mm Lens

BH #SOSLTA57M
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Sony Alpha SLT-A57 DSLR Digital Camera with 18-135mm Lens
Key Features
  • 16.1 MP Exmor APS HD CMOS sensor
  • Translucent Mirror Technology
  • 12 fps with Continuous Autofocus
  • SteadyShot INSIDE Image Stabilization
The Alpha SLT-A57 DSLR Digital Camera with 18-135mm Lens from Sony combines the quality and control akin to a professional DSLR and pairs it with the convenience and efficiency of a point and shoot camera. This melding of technologies allows you to make outstanding imagery with a simplistic interface and functionality. Featuring a 16.1 MP Exmor APS HD CMOS sensor, this camera is able to capture high quality stills and video with excellent low-light sensitivity. It also features Translucent Mirror Technology for continuous AF monitoring, permitting you ensured sharpness when recording full HD 1080p video or photographing at up to 12 fps.

This quickened performance carries over into a number of features that are designed specifically for capturing the best images possible without you having to be concerned with over specific camera settings. Auto Portrait Framing is a unique mode that automatically recognizes portrait situations and creates balanced portraits based around the characteristics of your subject. It utilizes a number of other modes, including Face Detection, Smile Shutter, and Face Registration, and creates an appealing composition based on where your subject is located within the frame, where they are looking, and how they are being lit. Clear Image Zoom is also employed in Auto Portrait Framing, and is able to zoom the center of your image up to 2x with almost no noticeable image degradation.

Reviewing and monitoring your imagery is also simplified due to an enhanced Tru-Finder EVF and a high resolution tiltable LCD monitor. The Tru-Finder viewfinder provides a range of helpful information within the display as well as the ability to preview the effects of exposure control, white balance modifications, and other creative modes. The LCD monitor measures 3.0" and features 921,600-dots for crisp imagery during playback or in Live View. It can also be tilted up to 180° and rotated up to 270° for use in a variety of directions.

The SLT-A57 comes with the new Sony 18-135mm zoom lens which provides a very long focal range, covering the most frequently used focal lengths and offering coverage for almost all of your shooting needs. The lens is compact and easy to handle and having one lens cover such a range of focal lengths means safety: you won't drop a lens that you don't have to change and convenience: you won't miss a shot while changing lenses.

Sony's Direct Manual Focus (DMF) allows you to switch between AF and MF without removing your eyes from the viewfinder and Smooth Autofocus Motor (SAM) offers a quiet, gliding AF mechanism, which also improves AF response when shooting moving subjects. With a single ED glass lens element and two aspherical lens elements, quality images with little color aberration are assured in any setting.

Versatile and compact, the 18-135mm lens is the perfect complement to the high quality SLT-A57 and combined, they provide you with DSLR quality images from a manageable, easy to use and affordable camera system. 

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Sony SLT-A57 Overview

The Alpha SLT-A57 DSLR Digital Camera with 18-135mm Lens from Sony combines the quality and control akin to a professional DSLR and pairs it with the convenience and efficiency of a point and shoot camera. This melding of technologies allows you to make outstanding imagery with a simplistic interface and functionality. Featuring a 16.1 MP Exmor APS HD CMOS sensor, this camera is able to capture high quality stills and video with excellent low-light sensitivity. It also features Translucent Mirror Technology for continuous AF monitoring, permitting you ensured sharpness when recording full HD 1080p video or photographing at up to 12 fps.

This quickened performance carries over into a number of features that are designed specifically for capturing the best images possible without you having to be concerned with over specific camera settings. Auto Portrait Framing is a unique mode that automatically recognizes portrait situations and creates balanced portraits based around the characteristics of your subject. It utilizes a number of other modes, including Face Detection, Smile Shutter, and Face Registration, and creates an appealing composition based on where your subject is located within the frame, where they are looking, and how they are being lit. Clear Image Zoom is also employed in Auto Portrait Framing, and is able to zoom the center of your image up to 2x with almost no noticeable image degradation.

Reviewing and monitoring your imagery is also simplified due to an enhanced Tru-Finder EVF and a high resolution tiltable LCD monitor. The Tru-Finder viewfinder provides a range of helpful information within the display as well as the ability to preview the effects of exposure control, white balance modifications, and other creative modes. The LCD monitor measures 3.0" and features 921,600-dots for crisp imagery during playback or in Live View. It can also be tilted up to 180° and rotated up to 270° for use in a variety of directions.

The SLT-A57 comes with the new Sony 18-135mm zoom lens which provides a very long focal range, covering the most frequently used focal lengths and offering coverage for almost all of your shooting needs. The lens is compact and easy to handle and having one lens cover such a range of focal lengths means safety: you won't drop a lens that you don't have to change and convenience: you won't miss a shot while changing lenses.

Sony's Direct Manual Focus (DMF) allows you to switch between AF and MF without removing your eyes from the viewfinder and Smooth Autofocus Motor (SAM) offers a quiet, gliding AF mechanism, which also improves AF response when shooting moving subjects. With a single ED glass lens element and two aspherical lens elements, quality images with little color aberration are assured in any setting.

Versatile and compact, the 18-135mm lens is the perfect complement to the high quality SLT-A57 and combined, they provide you with DSLR quality images from a manageable, easy to use and affordable camera system. 

Translucent Mirror Technology
With Translucent Mirror Technology, the SLT-A57 directs light to both the image sensor and the Phase Detection AF sensor simultaneously. This is the foundation for the camera's many high speed functions.
15-Point Continuous Auto Focus
Utilizing the Translucent Mirror Technology, the autofocus system is able to continuously monitor the image frame and alter the autofocus quickly and responsively. This continuous focusing is especially useful when critical focus is required during video recording or when shooting in continuous modes. It uses 15 points, including 3 cross sensors for accuracy and speed when determining focus points. This focusing efficiency is even highly capable under low-light situations and when used while tracking moving subjects.
12 Frames per Second Continuous Shooting
When using the Tele-zoom Continuous Advance Priority AE mode, up to 12fps can be recorded while magnifying the center of your image by 1.46x. This cropping limits your image resolution to 8MP and brings your subjects closer for tighter compositions. When photographing in full resolution, up to 10fps can be recorded.
16.1 MP Exmor APS HD CMOS Sensor
The 16.1MP APS Exmor HD CMOS sensor provides a high level of image quality and additional low-light sensitivity benefits. This sensor allows for an extended ISO range from 100 to 16000 while effectively reducing noise at higher sensitivities. This combination of sensitivity and reduced noise make this camera ideal for action photography, indoor use or at night.
BIONZ Image Processor
The enhanced BIONZ image processor utilizes complex algorithms to deliver fast speeds and performance, significantly reducing write times and generally quickening the entire process of using your camera. The increased power afforded by this processor also gives room to increased noise reduction and richly detailed gradations throughout the entire dynamic range.
18-135mm Zoom Lens Included
The Sony 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 AF zoom lens is included with this camera, providing you with a huge focal range for a wide variety of situations. It features Sony's smooth autofocus motor for quiet operation, which is especially useful when recording video. It is ultra compact too, for easy portability.
Full HD Video Recording
Full HD 1080p video recording is supported with this camera and also makes use of the high-speed Translucent Mirror Technology for continuous autofocus, even while using Live View to monitor your shooting. The AVCHD version 2.0 (Progressive) format allows recording of 60 frames per second for outstanding clarity and motion detail. Additionally, the 24p frame rate is supported allowing you to create movies with a more cinematic feel. This slower rate is the same that is used in movie theater playback and gives an inherently cinematic look and feel to your movies. For even greater control over video recording, fully manual shooting modes allow you control over your aperture and shutter speed.
Clear Image Zoom
The SLT-A57 is able to zoom the center of your image up to 2.0x with little to no perceivable image degradation. This complex system of algorithms virtually doubles your zooming range and provides a realistic opportunity to create compelling images from great distances
Tru-Finder Electronic Viewfinder
The Tru-Finder EVF is a high resolution finder featuring a 1,440K-dot resolution, a 100% field of view, and a wide 31.9° viewing angle. This finder displays pertinent image information regarding exposure settings and modes. Additionally, this finder has Shot Result Preview, giving you the ability to preview the effects of exposure control, white balance modifications, and other creative modes before making an exposure. It also features adjustable finder magnification giving you the choice between 1.04x and 0.97x, permitting you to see the entire frame while wearing glasses.
Tilt/Swivel 3.0" LCD
The rear 3.0" LCD features Sony's TruBlack technology for increased clarity and resistance to reflections. It has a 921,600-dot resolution for sharp, vivid imagery when reviewing images or monitoring your recording while using Live View. The monitor also features Shot Result Preview, for previewing the effects of your camera's settings before the exposure is made. For even greater viewing possibilities while shooting, the screen is able to tilt up to 180° vertically and rotate up to 270° horizontally. The range of movements and reflection protection give you a wide variety of viewing and shooting angles in difficult lighting conditions.
SteadyShot INSIDE Image Stabilization
Sony's SteadyShot INSIDE technology for image stabilization within the camera reduces camera shake at the camera level not the lens. You can achieve shake compensation equal to 2.5-4.5 stops in shutter speed. This technology is compatible with any Sony Alpha lens.
Sweep Panorama
Panoramic images are simple to create with this mode; simply pan your camera across the scene and the camera will automatically stitch together several images into one seamless panoramic file. 3D Sweep Panorama is also supported, and functions with the same convenience, but automatically creates a stereoscopic image for 3D viewing on an HDMI-compliant 3D television.
Auto HDR
When this mode is selected, three separate bracketed exposures are made at a time and then automatically composited into a single file. This file combines the best highlight detail from one shot, the best mid-tones from a second and the best shadow detail from a third for one incredible shot. Unlike traditional high dynamic range capture, this mode does not require the use of a tripod and simplifies the entire process into a simple, in-camera function.
Multi Frame NR and Hand-Held Twilight
Similar in theory to an HDR image, Multi Frame NR and Hand-held Twilight feature a noise reduction technology that automatically composites 6 different images into one file for a reduction in noise up to 2 ISO stops. Once you have selected your desired settings, you can create extremely low light images with confidence. The camera combines these 6 exposures to provide a gain in brightness without the increased noise that is associated with higher sensitivity levels. Since the initial exposure length is also shorter, you can easily handhold for shots that are sharp regardless of the ambient lighting.
Superior Auto Mode, Scene Selection, and Exposure Mode
These modes all help to simplify the process of creating the best exposure possible, allowing you focus on composition and not camera settings. Superior Auto mode automatically detects the scene you are photographing and adjusts the camera settings to give ideal results. It also is capable of activating continuous shooting modes for moving subjects and Auto HDR mode if the dynamic range is beyond that of a single frame. Scene Selection affords you a bit more control and allows you to determine the type of scene you are photographing; the camera settings are then adjusted based on your decision. Exposure mode also allows you to select the type of image you are trying to create and then applies settings in-camera to compensate for the difficulties of that given situation.
Picture Effects
A variety of effects are supported for in-camera image-processing and creative applications. These effects include HDR Painting, Soft Focus, Miniature, Soft High-key, Pop Color, Partial Color (Red, Green, Blue, Yellow), Rich-tone Monochrome, Toy Camera, High Contrast Monochrome, Posterization (Color), Posterization (Black & White), and Retro Photo.
Built-In Flash
The built-in pop-up flash features a guide number of 32.8' / 10m at ISO 100 and covers the range of an 18mm wide angle lens.

Sony SLT-A57 Specs

Imaging
Sensor Resolution
Actual: 16.7 Megapixel
Effective: 16.1 Megapixel
Exposure Control
Metering Method
Center-Weighted Average, Multi-Zone, Spot
Aspect Ratio
3:2, 16:9
Coverage
100%
Magnification
Approx. 0.97x
Diopter Adjustment
-4 to +3
Focus
Focus Mode
Single-Servo AF, Continuous-Servo AF, Manual Focus
Autofocus Points
15
Flash
Flash Modes
Auto, Fill Flash, Flash On, Off, Red-Eye Reduction, Second-Curtain Sync, Slow Sync
External Flash Connection
Shoe Mount
Battery
1x NP-FM500H Rechargeable, 7.2 VDC, 1650 mAh
Kit Lens
Optical Design
14 Elements in 11 Groups
Aperture/Iris Blades
7
Dimensions
ø: 3 x L: 3.5" / ø: 7.62 x L: 8.89 cm
Packaging Info
Box Dimensions (LxWxH)
9.2 x 7.2 x 7.7"

Sony SLT-A57 Reviews

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