The Sony Single Lens Translucent (SLT) A55 is not your typical DSLR camera. It offers Live View and full-time autofocus and phase detection. With this camera, you can use phase detection autofocus while shooting movies. It offers continuous shooting at 10 frames per second, an incredibly fast speed. This speed has not been offered in a camera of this class. This camera was voted one of the best digital cameras for beginners.
key features
- New 16.2MP ASP Exmore HD CMOS sensor, Sony’s highest resolution
- Face detection autofocus
- Capable of recording 1080p video files, with full and continuous autofocus
- 2x magnification mode in live view
- semi-translucent fixed mirror
- Maximum ISO 12,800 to ISO 25,600 in extended mode
- Sony Memory Stick media and an SD memory card
- 15-point phase detection AF array with 3 cross-type AF points
- Electronic viewfinder with 1.15 mp resolution
- Built-in GPS receiver allows you to geotag your photos
- Electronic level on EVF/LCD
- interchangeable lenses
- 10 frames per second continuous shooting
- 3″ 912k, TruBlack LCD, bright light easy viewing with 180 degree swivel capability
- External microphone input connector
This camera is small and light, yet strong with a secure grip. The large LCD screen opens from the rear of the camera and has a 180-degree range of motion. It is easy to see the image, even under bright sunlight. It is large and offers a sharp and clear image. The included electronic level shows a horizon line so we know if the camera is level.
translucent mirrors
The mirrors on this camera are translucent, allowing light to pass through to the sensor. In typical DLSRs, light bounces around mirrors that reflect light back into the viewfinder, and the mirror has to move into position when the shutter button is pressed. The mirrors on the A55 are fixed, allowing most of the light to hit the sensor and reflecting a small amount of light back into a phase detection autofocus array.
Compatible lenses and external flashes
This camera is compatible with Sony A lenses, Minolta lenses, and Konica Minolta autofocus lenses. It offers a pop-up flash and an ISO shoe mount for external flashes. The shoe works with external flashes from Sony and Minolta and Sony offers an adapter that allows us to use accessories from Nikon, Canon, Pentax or Olympus.
Continuous recording and video creation
The continuous shooting speed of 10 frames per second is possible because there is no moving mirror to slow it down. The camera is constantly in autofocus mode, so fast-moving subjects are captured in crisp, clear images. This camera speed offered in a camera in this price range is a real breakthrough. This speed is normally reserved for high-end professional cameras.
We no longer need to try to focus the camera while shooting movies. There was always that brief point in the image where you could see the camera stop to focus. The Sony SLT A55 offers continuous autofocus and phase detection during movies for crisp, clear images. The 16.2mp CMOS sensor combined with the BIONZ Image Processing Unit has upgraded the image and video quality of this camera to professional photography quality. This camera offers full 1080p AVCHD video. It will keep your image in focus even during camera shake. The A55’s video quality is some of the best for an interchangeable lens camera.
panoramic images
This speed allows the camera’s Sweep Panorama function to take stitched panoramic images simply by holding down the shutter button while sweeping the camera across a scene. Automatically captures overlapping images and stitches them together. The resulting image is spectacular.
noise reduction
This camera offers multi-frame noise reduction. If you are concerned about noise in your images due to low light or other effects, you can take a burst of images and the camera will combine them to create a low-noise image.
New 15-point autofocus matrix
This new autofocus sensor receives a small amount of light coming through the semi-transparent mirror. This array has 15 autofocus points and is the reason why Sony was able to hit 10 frames per second in continuous shooting. This makes this camera much more attractive than your average DSLR camera.
image stabilization
Super SteadyShot image stabilization adjusts for camera shake, giving us crisp, clear images as we shoot. We don’t need lenses that carry image stabilization for this camera.
GPS receiver on the camera
The GPS Receiver allows us to Geotag our photos. GPS receivers will record geographic location data, which can then be used with Google Earth and Google Maps. Some photographers have accomplished this by using an external GPS receiver or cell phone. With this receiver, Sony has allowed us to combine location data with images using software. This is an incredible asset.
The Sony SLT A55 offers fast shooting, fast focusing and the latest translucent mirror design. This mirror design allows some light to reach the autofocus sensors; this enables continuous autofocus in Live View mode. Typical DSLR cameras will stop to refocus, which can show up in video. This camera can be used as a point and shoot camera; but offers the superior image quality of an SLR.
