The Sony Alpha SLT-A57 SLR Digital Camera (Body Only) combines the quality and control reminiscent of 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 16.1MP APS-C Exmor 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 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.
Camera type | Interchangeable-lens digital camera with built-in flash |
Lens compatibility | Sony A-mount lenses, operation with Minolta/Konica Minolta lenses confirmed |
Image sensor Type | APS-C size (23.5 x 15.6 mm), Exmor APS HD CMOS sensor with primary color filters |
Number of pixels (effective) | Approx. 16.1 megapixels |
Number of pixels (total) | Approx. 16.7 megapixels |
Image sensor aspect ratio | '3:2 |
Anti-dust system | Charge protection coating on Low-Pass Filter and Image Sensor-Shift mechanism |
Recording format: Still | JPEG (DCF Ver. 2.0, Exif Ver. 2.3, MPF Baseline compliant), RAW (Sony ARW 2.3 format), 3D MPO (MPF Extended compliant) |
Image size: Still (3:2 aspect ratio) | L: 4912 x 3264 (16M), M: 3568 x 2368 (8.4M), S: 2448 x 1624 (4.0M) |
Image size: Still (16:9 aspect ratio) | L: 4912 x 2760 (14M), M: 3568 x 2000 (7.1M), S:2448 x 1376 (3.4M) |
Image size: Still (Sweep Panorama) | Wide: horizontal 12,416 x 1,856 (23M), vertical 5,536 x 2,160 (12M), Standard: horizontal 8,192 x 1,856 (15M), vertical 3,872 x 2,160 (8.4M) |
Image size: Still (3D Sweep Panorama) | Wide: 7152 x 1080 (7.7M), Standard: 4912 x 1080 (5.3M), 16:9: 1920 x 1080 (2.1M) |
Image quality modes | RAW, RAW & JPEG, JPEG Fine, JPEG Standard |
Picture Effect | 11 modes (15 effects): Posterization (Color, B/W), Pop Color, Retro Photo, Partial Color (R,G,B,Y), High Contrast Monochrome, Toy Camera, Soft High-key, Soft Focus, HDR Painting, Rich-tone Monochrome, Miniature |
Creative Style | Standard, Vivid, Portrait, Landscape, Sunset, B/W (Contrast -3 to +3 steps, Saturation -3 to +3 steps, Sharpness -3 to +3 steps) |
Dynamic range functions | Off, Dynamic Range Optimizer (Auto/Level), Auto High Dynamic Range: Off, Auto Exposure Difference, Exposure Difference Level (1-6 EV, 1.0 EV step) |
Color space | sRGB, Adobe RGB |
Recording format: Movie | AVCHD 2.0 (Progressive) / MP4 |
Video compression | MPEG-4 AVC (H.264) |
Audio recording format | Dolby Digital (AC-3) / MPEG-4 AAC-LC |
Image size (movie): NTSC | AVCHD: 1920 x 1080 (60p/28Mbps/PS, 60i/24Mbps/FX, 60i/17Mbps/FH, 24p/24Mbps/FX, 24p/17Mbps/FH) MP4: 1440 x 1080 (30fps/12Mbps), VGA: 640 x 480 (30fps/3Mbps) |
Image size (movie): PAL | AVCHD: 1920 x 1080 (50p/28Mbps/PS, 50i/24Mbps/FX, 50i/17Mbps/FH, 25p/24Mbps/FX, 25p/17Mbps/FH) MP4: 1440 x 1080 (25fps/12Mbps), VGA: 640 x 480 (25fps/3Mbps) |
Media | Memory Stick PRO Duo, Memory Stick PRO-HG Duo, SD memory card, SDHC memory card, SDXC memory card |
Slot | Memory Stick Duo/ SD memory card |
Noise reduction | "Long exposure NR: On/Off, available at shutter speeds longer than 1 sec. High ISO NR: High/Normal/Low |
Multi frame noise reduction | Auto/ISO 100 to 25600 |
White balance mode | Auto WB, Daylight, Shade, Cloudy, Incandescent, Fluorescent (Warm white/Cool white/Day white/Daylight), Flash, C. Temp 2500 to 9900K, C Filter G7 to M7, 15-step, Custom, AWB micro adjustment |
Two-axis fine adjustment | Available in all modes |
Bracketing | 3 frames, H/L selectable |
Focus Type | TTL phase-detection AF |
Focus sensor | CCD line sensors |
Focus point | 15 points (3 points cross type) |
Sensitivity range | EV -1 to 18 (at ISO100 equivalent with F2.8 lens attached) |
Focus mode | Autofocus, Manual Focus |
AF mode | Single-shot AF (AF-S), Continuous AF (AF-C), Automatic AF (AF-A) selectable |
Focus area | Wide (auto,15 points), Zone, Spot, Local |
Metering type | 1200-zone evaluative metering |
Metering sensor | Exmor APS HD CMOS sensor |
Metering sensitivity | EV -2 to EV 17 (at ISO 100 equivalent with F1.4 lens attached) |
Metering Modes | Multi segment, Center weighted, Spot |
Exposure modes | iAUTO, Flash Off, Superior Auto, Scene Selection, Sweep Panorama, 3D Sweep Panorama, Continuous Advance Priority AE, Movie, Programmed AE (P), Aperture priority (A), Shutter-speed priority (S), Manual (M) |
Scene Selection | Portrait, Landscape, Macro, Sports Action, Sunset, Night Portrait, Night View, Hand-held Twilight |
Exposure compensation | ±3.0 EV (1/3 EV steps) |
AE bracketing | Bracket: Cont., Bracket: Single, with 1/3 EV, 2/3 EV increments, 3 frames |
AE lock | Available with AE lock button. AE is also locked when focus is locked in multi-segment metering mode |
ISO sensitivity (Exposure Index) | ISO 100-16000 equivalent, AUTO (ISO 100-3200 ) |
Viewfinder Type | SVGA 1.2 cm (0.46 type) electronic viewfinder (color), Xtra Fine |
Viewfinder: Total number of dots | 1,440,000 dots equivalent |
Effective number of dots | Maximum: 1,440,000 dots equivalent, Standard: 1,253,280 dots equivalent |
Viewfinder: Brightness control | Auto / Manual (3 steps between -1 and +1) |
Viewfinder: Field coverage | 100% |
Magnification | Maximum: Approx. 1.04x, Standard: Approx. 0.97x |
Diopter adjustment | -4.0 to +3.0 m-1 |
Eye point | "Maximum: 23.1mm from the eyepiece, 18 mm from the eyepiece frame at -1 diopter (CIPA standard) Standard: 25.2 mm from the eyepiece, 20.1mm from the eyepiece frame at -1 diopter (CIPA standard) |
Viewfinder Display | Histogram Display, Graphic Display, Digital Level Gauge, Shooting Data Display, Simple Display, Grid Line |
Real-time image adjustment display | Exposure Comp, White Balance, Creative Style |
LCD Type | Xtra Fine, 7.5 cm (3.0 type) TFT drive with TruBlack technology |
LCD: Total number of dots | 921,600 dots |
LCD: Brightness control | Auto/Manual (5 steps between -2 and +2) |
LCD: Field coverage | 100% |
Adjustable angle | Tilt angle: Downward 180 degrees. Rotation angle: Leftward 270 degrees from the position in which the LCD monitor is facing forward |
Display Selector (finder/LCD) | Auto/Manual |
LCD Display | Histogram Display, Graphic Display, Digital Level Gauge, Shooting Data Display, Simple Display, Shooting Information For Viewfinder, Grid Line |
LCD: Real-time image adjustment display | Exposure Comp, White Balance, Creative Style |
Focus Magnifier | 4.8x, 9.5x |
Peaking MF | Yes (Level: High/Mid/Low/Off, Color: White/Red/Yellow) |
Zoom | Clear Image Zoom: Still images 2x Smart Zoom (still images) M: 1.4x, S: 2x Digital Zoom (still images) 4x Digital Zoom (movie) 4x |
Shutter Type | Electronically controlled, vertical-traverse, focal-plane type |
Shutter speed | 1/4000 second to 30 seconds, Bulb |
Flash sync. speed | 1/160 second |
Electronic front curtain shutter | Yes, On/Off |
SteadyShot INSIDE: System | For still images: Image Sensor-Shift mechanism, For movies: Electronic |
SteadyShot capability | For still images: Approx. 2.5-4.5 EV decrease in shutter speed (varies according to shooting conditions and lens used) |
Flash Type | Auto popup, built-in |
Guide No. | 10 (in meters at ISO 100) |
Coverage | FOV coverage up to 18 mm (in the focal length) |
Control | ADI flash / Pre-flash TTL |
Compensation | ±2.0 EV (1/3 EV steps) |
Flash Bracketing | 1/3 EV, 2/3 EV steps, 3 frames |
Modes | Flash off, Autoflash, Fill-flash, Rear sync., Slow Sync., Red-eye reduction (On/Off) |
Recycling time | Approx. 3 sec |
External flash | Sony alpha System Flash compatible with Auto-lock accessory shoe |
Wireless control | Yes (wireless flash with lighting ratio control) |
Drive modes | Single Shot, Continuous (Hi/Lo), Self-timer (10/2 sec. delay), Bracketing (Cont., Single, White Balance), Remote Control (with optional RM-DSLR1) |
Continuous shooting speed | Hi: Maximum 8 frames per second, Lo: Maximum 3 frames per second Tele-zoom Continuous Advance Priority AE: Maximum 12 images per second Continuous Advance Priority AE: Maximum 10 images per second |
Max. continuous shots | Tele-zoom Continuous Advance priority AE: Fine: 23 images, Standard: 25 Continuous Advance Priority AE mode: Fine: 23 images, Standard: 27 images, RAW & JPEG: 18 images, RAW: 21 images Continuous shooting: Fine: 25 images, Standard: 29 images, RAW & JPEG: 19 images, RAW: 21 images |
Playback mode | Single (with or without shooting information), RGB histogram and highlight/shadow warning, 4/9-frame index view, Enlarged display mode (L: 13.6x, M: 9.9x, S: 6.8x), Auto Review (10/5/2 sec, Off), Image orientation (On/Off), Slideshow, Panorama scrolling, Folder selection (still), Forward/Rewind (movie), Delete, Protect |
PC interface | Hi-speed USB (USB 2.0): Mass-storage, MTP |
HD output | HDMI mini connector (Type-C), BRAVIA Sync (link menu), PhotoTV HD |
Other interface | Sync. Terminal, Auto-lock accessory shoe, Microphone jack, DC IN terminal, Remote terminal |
Compatible OS (USB connection) | Windows XP SP3, Windows Vista SP2, Windows 7 SP1, Mac OS X (10.3-10.6) |
Microphone | Built-in stereo microphone or ECM-ALST1 / ECM-CG50 (sold separately) |
Speaker | Built-in, monaural, volume settings in 8 steps |
Print Compatible standards | Exif Print, Print Image Matching III, DPOF setting |
Battery | Rechargeable battery pack NP-FM500H |
Still images | Approx. 550 shots with viewfinder and 590 shots with LCD monitor (CIPA standard) |
Movies | Approx. 180 min. with viewfinder and 180 min. with LCD monitor |
Operating temperature | 0deg.C to 40deg.C (32deg.F to 104deg.F) |
Dimensions | Approx. 132.1 x 97.5 x 80.7 mm (5-1/4 x 3-7/8 x 3-1/4 in.) |
Weight | With battery and Memory Stick PRO Duo: Approx. 618 g (1 lb 5.7 oz) Body only: Approx. 539 g (1 lb 2.9 oz) |
Reviews Sony Alpha SLT-A57 SLR Digital Camera with 18-55mm Lens (Sony Malaysia)