Successful facelift! 1

I had complained at the A55, see review, good stuff. During follow-up model A57, Sony has taken the criticism of numerous users to heart.

1) The housing is not unnecessarily small. Great hands do now easier; heavier "standard" objective now harmonize better with the camera. Who would rather want a small enclosure, may have recourse to the new A37.

2) Due to the large new housing is a larger battery possible (runtime 590 vs. 380 images CIPA loud digitalkamera.de). That's enough for me for a photo day, the obligatory required at the A55 second battery I can save me now. Supplement 1.7.12: Yesterday at a village festival of 5 hours shot 1450 pictures and 20 minutes. filmed. Rest Battery 7%. High number of images came about, because I - I / tested 12 images sec when water slides my kids in extenso (been amazed: hardly a blurred image here!) - Allegedly.

3) The new battery can be inserted only in the correct way in the tray, no more twisted than ever at the A55.

4) The annoying shutter lag when using the flash is history!

5) defective fully automatic at the A55> at least indoors with family are now no longer recognized as a "night scene". I hardly use the fully automatic now. Unless there has been tested but not incorrect exposures, even with flash pictures indoors.

6) The electronic viewfinder (now 1.44 million pixels) has been significantly improved.

7) The image stabilizer when filming is now electronically, ie the sensor is no longer moved. This eliminates the known from the A55 (annoying!) Stabi-sound in the movie (though costs a little angle).

8) The shutter sound is opposite the A55 is shorter and a little quieter (probably to do with the electronic 1st-curtain).

9) Now is also a lens correction for selected Sony lenses on board. I do not want to miss right now! (The original photograph and the corrected image are in the control in rapid succession to see.)

10) The shutter speed / aperture specifications of automatic "P" I can now through the front control still change (this program shift I know from earlier EOS models). One can thus, for example. Also in "P" times dim a single image or a bit better indemnify. Practical!

Negatives:
1) The new "Clear-Zoom" can that also I see as a layman immediately, not replace an optical zoom. I shot corresponding reference images and the differences already on the monitor can detect at low magnification (images are less sharp, grieselig). Ultimately, it remains, in spite of new software routine, a digital zoom, here one should not expect miracles. Physics are physics. As a conclusion could hold you that the quality, but certainly is well over that of a pure digital zoom with the optical zoom a.

2) An AF-assist illuminator (instead Bolt Volley) would be nice.

3) I miss the ability to create custom settings (eg. As C1 = Ebay, ...)

Conclusion:
Very fast camera, because SLT principle consistent Live View photography possible without sacrificing speed, very good image quality (now confirmed by several photography magazines), some excellent effects and HDR, which is possible without a tripod, video in Full HD - now without stability noise, improved electronic viewfinder (unlike an optical viewfinder I can see even in the dark the subject and get a lot of additional information), the list of positives is long ...

The A57 is with us, as already the A55, as all-round family camera. Another advantage is in my view particularly the enormous snapshot capability (whether snapped through the viewfinder or via monitor); moving children and activities for all kinds of events, sports, etc. is the camera - now with flash - reliable sharply. Meanwhile, we also filmed it.

As objective we use the 16-80 of Sony / Zeiss, which has already proven its optical qualities in various tests to prove. Unfortunately, it is closely focusing on too loud that you could recommend it for filming without restriction. Who would like to shoot, should consider this aspect when purchasing lens, possibly rely on the new Sony 16-50 with SSM or another lens in a low drive technology.