Sony SLT-A57 SLR Digital Camera (Body Only)

With its 18-55mm kit lens the A57 is currently priced at just under £700, and around £80 less for just the body. With the outgoing A55 being less available, the closest model for comparison would be the A65 which is only around £70 dearer.

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  Focusing performance, electronic level indicators, class-leading burst rate

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  Handful of operational grievances, dated menu system, occasional underexposure

The A57 combines a high-quality 16 MP sensor, easy access to shooting parameters, and class-leading video performance. And does this while providing an equivalent shooting experience, whether composing images via the EVF or rear LCD.

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  Very good Raw file output up through ISO 6400, Dynamic range at the top of its class, High magnification EVF with comprehensive information display, Manual focus 'Peaking' option for both stills and video modes, 10fps shooting in full resolution mode, Class-leading 1080/60p video resolution with...

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  Mediocre JPEG processing with mushy detail and visible artifacts, LCD viewfinder (vs OLED panel in other Sony models), AF not compatible with manual exposure control in video mode, No live view in 8 or 10 fps continuous shooting modes makes accurate panning very difficult, Counter-intuitive setting...

The low price-point of SLT-A57 places it on the entry level category of DLSRs. It’s a great starter camera before moving up to full-featured professional cameras like EOS 5D Mark III . People learning photography will appreciate the simplicity of this camera’s features.

Having grabbed our attention with the original mould-breaking Single Lens Translucent cameras ( SLT s) the Sony Alpha a55 and Sony Alpha a33, Sony has gone on to produce further high-performance models that are proving to be increasingly capable of taking on the mighty DSLR.

The Sony Alpha SLT-A57Y is an interchangeable lens camera that's well worth considering. It's a camera that can capture wonderfully clear and vibrant images without you having to fiddle around with the settings too much.

Positioned one step above the recently-announced entry-level SLT-A37, Sony's new SLT-A57 replaces the popular SLT-A55 model, offering some worthwhile new features without changing effective sensor resolution.

The new Sony A57 is a compelling intermediate SLT/DSLR camera that has a list of features and performance that few other rivals can match. The Sony A57 essentially offers the same excellent handling and features of the more expensive A65 model, but uses a more modest 16 megapixel sensor rather than...

During the launch presentation for the Alpha 57, Sony revealed it is unlikely to release another DSLR and will instead focus on its single lens translucent (SLT) cameras for the enthusiast market.

, with a 16.2 megapixel sensor, lower resolution EVF and cropped high speed shooting mode, it offers a more affordable entry into high speed photography, with extremely quick focus, shutter response and continuous shooting. However, as it's currently available for just £50 less the instead.

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  Bright saturated colours, Good battery life, 12fps shooting (at reduced resolution), High speed focus and continuous shooting, Info-lithium battery lets you know remaining battery life, Electronic level

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  Introduction price near to higher specified A65, EVF seems small / worse view than LCD screen, Non-standard flash hot-shoe

So liking the a57. I read reviews at length, for weeks, before settling on this model and I am so glad both to have made an informed choice and to have that choice proven in reality now that I've had the camera in hand and used it.