Sony Alpha SLT-A55 VL Digital SLR Camera Review

[BOYINGTON19909]

I got this camera with the standard lens and a 70 - 300 mm lens, but I'm going traveling and need one more like 18 - 200mm, but unsure what make to go for keeping in mind it will connect.

[goroomi]

@BOYINGTON19909 sigma makes a pretty good 18 - 200mm for the sony, and it is pretty cheap too

[BigAustCT]

The only thing wrong with the a33/a55 is that the battery life isn't that great.

[illestpunjabiny]

How does this compare to the Nikon D5100?

[goroomi]

@illestpunjabiny the nikon has better image quality. not a lot, it is very hard to notice; the a55 is packed with other features, like 10 frames per second burst and sweep panorama, for a begginer dslr i would reccomend the a55

[illestpunjabiny]

@goroomi Thanks... Would you recommend this over the T3i as well ?

[goroomi]

@illestpunjabiny the image quality and low light performance are extremly similar; the battery lasts about the same. in this price range, you can't really go wrong. the differences are that the canon feels a bit more well built, and there are much more accesories available for it. In my opinion, the sony is a lot more user friendly. You can learn the basics of photography and get more creative with it.

[lubbyh]

I'm just so excited to buy this camera, because i love Sony Cameras and have a DSLR/SLT (at the case) is just amazing! What attracted me the most was the gorgeous AF that this camera has. One of the best of the category! I'm just in love with this camera. I was thinking to buy a Canon T3i but i just love sony and it is so easy to beginners! Great review!

[WhiteKidNStuff]

Im hoping to be able to buy this in may time, thanks for the clarification that i need to buy this camera

[richieroche]

great review thanks.....

[stuwwy]

hi. do you know if this camera has a DC Input so you can charge the camera while taking videos? thanks!

[palefaced1]

I was going to ask the same question as the guy below.

[cubano19923]

should I get this instead of the canon t3i?

[MrAlexandruValeanu]

@cubano19923 yes

[Killzon3commander]

@cubano19923 I think yes.

Theres no category in which the t3i is better in my opinion except being 10$ cheaper in my country

[BramowitchIII]

@cubano19923 I think no. Unless you need the 10fps or shoot videos in high actions situations. Otherwise buying into the canon system is still superior.

[eman22001]

Great camera bought on evidence on this video. Thanks

[singhmaan98]

i did buy a sony system camera today :)

[TheCrazy88tony]

niceeee thank you soooo much!!  crazyyy hot

[thegarethify]

I know very little but would this be classified as a dslr? Or would I be safer with a Canon or Nikon?

[dreey3T]

@thegarethify I have a Sony a55 and it does the job. In fact, I really like my camera and I'm not disappointed. I think you should look at the features and choose a camera that suits you and your needs. Personnally, I classy my camera as a Reflex, but some people would say that it's not a real reflex... it depends on your opinion ;)

[TheExHustlerr]

@thegarethify LOL at gary

[TheExHustlerr]

@thegarethify dont get this camera tom simpson has it and that would copying

[rollerblade4life100]

just sold my sony a290, getting this before long. cant wait

[aavillanueva]

@rollerblade4life100 I'm selling my 380 for this one. Delivery on Monday yay!

[brianbesley]

Very comprehensive review, thanks Dave. Am buying it tomorrow.

[davomrmac]

@brianbesley Thanks for watching & your comment.

[Savleighm]

For how long can you record video? How long does does the battery last?

[Baalx3]

This camera is very poor shooting HD video, and Auto mode. the battery life is extremely poor and it overheats in HD video mode. buy a new battery for 70 and then it'll be ok. But it still is always overheating.

[dreey3T]

@Baalx3 Yeah, that is a really big problem. I shot for like 1 minute and I could feel the heat on my camera... it really sucks. But since video shooting isn't my priority, it's not a big problem for me.

[RedAndBlackPacman]

should i get this or nikon d5100? the only thing i dont like about a55 is that the screen cant flip out on the side like nikon does

[putty1574]

@RedAndBlackPacman Yes it can. I own this camera and the screen flips out on the side all directions. I would recommend this camera. I love it.

[dreey3T]

@putty1574 Same thing with me! I looove it as well.

[dreey3T]

@RedAndBlackPacman A55 shoots 10ips and it's amazing! I've used many times the mode and I can tell you that I got many nice pictures. d5100's ISO goes up to 25 000, but personnally I don't think that is that useful because your pictures might come up with a bad quality. A55 goes up to 12 800 which is actually good... but still too high for me.

[aftech100]

other than manual zoom on the lense -is there a button to zoom in and out? -

[madebarriere]

@aftech100 noup, i just got mine.. it is epic =)

[mohaalagi]

its s DSLR ?

[rminb010204]

@mohaalagi It is a DSLT. Nearly identical concept, difference in the internal mirror system.

[mwjk13]

You forgot to mention the fast auto focus in video

[calpitoc]

Have you used the NEX-5n? Any comparisons?

[angrygiraffes]

Is this LCD able to turn around so you can take pictures of yourself, or is it limited? Just wondering.

[fromaliceh]

@angrygiraffes

Yes you can take pictures of yourself with it haha :) it does go that far down

[TacticalHadoken]

Serious question from a noob... is this better than the NEX C3 or 5 or roughly the same. Thanks in advanced buddy.

[IBILacIKx]

Canon T2i, Nikon D5100 or Sony SLT-a55?

Anyone recommend me one? (Mainly looking for stills, not much into video)

[RetroPCDOS]

The problem with translucent mirror, you lose light as it has to pass thru the mirror unfortunately.

[eizlez]

does a55 good in low light?

[MrShooter1000]

@eizlez Yes, it is. Not just in photo mode, but in video mode, too. It has great quality even in night scenes.

[audreydaisyiris]

I have a canon T1i and got the a55 to try out. I am amature but would like the better camera anyway. Any thoughts or suggestions?

[charliezerosix]

hi there, am planing to buy one dslr....bt am confused.....slt 55 or canon 550 D.....?.....please suggest me good one

[raprapin]

@charliezerosix If you're buying just for leisure, go for a55. But if you're trying to be a professional photographer, canon definitely.

[charliezerosix]

@raprapin thanks .......i go for the slt 55

[danocean111213]

the GPS feature seems a little intrusive.but other then that,looks like a winner non-the-less.

[HARON08]

This one or the Nikon D3100?

[mismis888]

@HARON08 a55 by miles

[NegoFingerboards]

wich one should i get canon 60d (body only), canon t2i, canon t3i or this sony a55??

[RandomKiddStuff]

@NegoFingerboards If it's within your budget, go for the 60D. It delivers great quality along with the others, but also has way, way more features. Great, great camera.

[elias23998]

hey, my name is elias, please suggset me a good camera in the range of 1000 USD???

[Nierieka26]

@elias23998 this one.

[ironbesterer]

I'm looking at this camera, or the Canon 550D/ Rebel T2i EF-S. Which do you recommend?

[davomrmac]

@23CHRISAIR23 It does.

[TheKRNG]

How is the battery life?

[orika001]

which should I choose? a55 or 60d? I'm into video recording, and does the viewfinder work on just taking picture?? thanks

[AlChemicalLife]

im on a tight budjet of 500-1,500 what camera would u recemend for a person who loves to make videos and take picturs? i like HD so im looking for a HD camera

[UnhappyDreamer]

I'm a Ultra-Zoom Point & Shoot user planning to switch to DSLR, would you recommend this camera for a beginner?

[TheEsotericDesi]

Is there a Zoom in the lense?

[davomrmac]

@TheEsotericDesi yes.

[giancarlohidalgo]

hi! im planning to buy a dslr my choices are nikon d3100 and the Sony Alpha A33. which is the bteter camera?

[ytong31]

Thanks for the review!

I have been struggling between the A55 and canon 600D as it'll be my first. Hoping it'll last me 2years at least.

I'm a graphic design student, and mostly shoot objects that require close up and indoor/ natural lighting. Text, small objects, craft, posters etc also means that i seldom use flash due to the reflection. Is the lack of manual settings on the A55 a very crucial factor?

I am looking to get a 18-250mm lens.

Could you please give me some advice?

Thanks again!

[zer0hvk]

This review is really informative!

My girlfriend is planning on buying a camera, we're both photography enthusiasts but still kind of amateurs in the field.

We saw the A55 and were fascinated with its features, but are still wondering about getting a Canon or Nikon camera. If you were to choose between the A55 and a Canon or Nikon camera (we're not really informed on the models that are in some way similar to the A55), which would you recommend us (around the same budget) and why?

Thanks a lot!!

[blok1993]

hi davomrmac...

i am new to photography and would like to purchase a dslr soon...

could help me..

if u had to choose between : sony a55.. canon 550D or canon 600D or canon 60D..

which would you recommend me ?.. and i'de also like to get the flash (speedlite for canon) and a good lense for taking good photography...

please help.. my budjet for all these would be around 1800$ >.<

kind regards,

blok 93

[davomrmac]

@blok1993 For that sort of budget I would be looking at a 60D.

[seaboo143]

@davomrmac hi. i need your opinion. which should i get this one or the 1100D?

[davomrmac]

@seaboo143 For what type of photography and is video important too?

[seaboo143]

@davomrmac overall performance.

[davomrmac]

@seaboo143 Probably the Sony would get my money, but only just. Canon is easier to live with if you plan to add lenses in the future though.

[sr2Ronin]

@blok1993 A77 will be more good

[OneGoodCompany]

People, please stick with Nikons & Canons when you're planning on buying a DSLR. Ask any professional photographer and they won't even mention Sony. If you want common, abundance of lens and practicality, you have to stay with Nikons & Canons. Period...

[macapple812]

Come on, don't be blinded by brand names... I own Sony a 55, it's amazingly great...sharp pictures, fast focusing, 10 frames per sec. works great for my son's soccer games, great low light capabilities...For a beginner, this is a great camera, I never regret not buying Nikkon or Cannon which was certainly my first choice, but when put my hands on the Sony a 55, everything change....

[scrummymummy2]

Thanks for advice on the Nikon D5100. Now would you advise me on a good lens for action photography - mostly horses jumping. Sometimes would need it to be at a distance of approx 100-150m. Are they really expensive or can I get away with something that won't break the bank? Thanks. Ali

[davomrmac]

@scrummymummy2 That is a long long distance. A good starting point would be a 70-300mm lens, perhaps try and borrow one from a local shop. To get in close at that distance though you might need a 400mm or 500mm lens.

[scrummymummy2]

Thanks so much for your advice, much appreciated.

[scrummymummy2]

Hi, may I ask your advice. I am looking for my first dlsr. We have horses and kids so the majority of shots would be action. I am looking for great pics but they are for our memories rather than of a professional standard. The Sony Alpha A55 has been suggested due to its shutter speed. Would you recommend for me as a newcomer? Also what is the thing about the EVF - some people like and some not but I don't quite understand what it is!! Any help appreciated

[davomrmac]

@scrummymummy2 Either this is the Nikon D5100 would be great. Most DLSR have fast shutter speeds, but continuous shooting or frames per second is great on the Sony A55, but if the buffer on your memory card fills it slows down. My fave camera at the moment is the D5100 in terms of value for money and quality.

[ybsniewo]

Hello can anyone tell me which is better Canon 550D and Sony a55! thanks

[Kellos1980]

I recently bought my A55 as an upgrade to my old A200. Coupled with a Carl Zeiss SAL-1680Z lens = a very happy me. The image quality is very good, I've not used the movie mode too much as I tend to find that the mic will pick up the focus noise of the lens (might get an external mic I think). The EVF although not as nice as the A580 standard VF makes up for it with on-screen info such as a histogram or spirit level. One niggle, auto preview after taking a shot should not pop up on the EVF...

[ultimategeneral]

Great review!!!! Just got this... How come my 10 fps mode doesn't shoot really fast????? Is there some settings I have to tweak??

[Kellos1980]

@ultimategeneral That's the maximum it can shoot at. It will depend on how much light there is and therefore how fast the shutter speed can be set to without under-exposing everything.

[Kellos1980]

@ultimategeneral That's the maximum it can shoot at. It will depend on how much light there is and therefore how fast the shutter speed can be set to without under-exposing everything.

[d1drifter87]

@AustinsPhotography this! hurry. dont be polluted by canon bandwagon.

[d1drifter87]

@paulgrb the only two digital output options are: MP4: 1080 and 480, but the fastest fps can be acquired with 1080, that is 60fps.

[08SiMiS80]

i wouldn't have bought a380 if i knew that that this is being released in less than a month :(

[Robyno94]

How is it in low light?

[d1drifter87]

@Robyno94 it's fantastic. it has a feature where it takes 6 pictures and combines them to reduce noise at really high ISO's up to 25,600

[Robyno94]

@d1drifter87 Thank you :) I decided for a 60d

[Rufflesguy]

i dream with this camera!!!!

[iderren]

Hi Dave, you always seem to do a review of something i going to buy! Though i'm undecided wether to purchase Sony A55, Nikon D5100 or Canon D600 i looking for good photos but also to you for You Tube videos.......what's your opinion?? thanks!

[davomrmac]

@iderren For video I would choose the D5100 as it has continuous autofocus during video which can help a lot.

[Jospehporta]

@davomrmac Can you comment on the lag I've been reading about when using flash? Thanks,

[lipskaolecko]

Is that camera work with all Sony lenses from DSLR cameras? I would like to upgrade my A380 to A55 and I'm wondering that all my lenses will work with it?

[davomrmac]

@lipskaolecko Pretty sure A-Mount lenses work. Best check with Sony though if you are unsure.

[KristelPinx]

I want to buy a DSLR camera,,, but im thinking which is better,Sony, Canon or Nikon..

[AngryBirdSEASONS]

@KristelPinx

it doesnt matter which is better. All 3 are good, it actually depends on how to take pictures or the lenses.

[d1drifter87]

@KristelPinx what's ur budget? its all based on that. If you are into the entry level DSLR's definitely get this a55 no matter how many people say Canon is better... this a55's performance shuts up all Cannon T3i showoffs :)

[TheTraceurBoy]

so.....which camera is better? a33, a35, or a55? Help!

[davomrmac]

@TheTraceurBoy A55.

[d1drifter87]

@TheTraceurBoy a33 is the watered down version of the a55. so a55 is better, but also more expensive.

[MrDemarDerozan10]

i thinking of buying a camera this one or the canon eos rebel t31 please help thanks!

[d1drifter87]

@MrDemarDerozan10 the only reason why you should consider getting the t3i over this a55 is IF you are a cinematographer who is interested in having full control of the video during shooting. such as exposure control, iso, white balance, etc... otherwise, do get this a55. It simply outperforms the t3i. 

[BboyWildWind]

I have my eye on this camera for a long time .

[TheDerrenBrown]

Just so ppl know its about 330 shots per battery compared to 1000 with the a580. Id say only buy this if you extra money to burn. Only thing it has on the a580 is the 10fps and can adjust the focus better wit continous shooting down to the new transparent mirror which also makes camera smaller :)

[Namaztak]

@paulgrb 1080/60i or 1080/30p

[morava1]

one question... You said that the viewfinder is electronic. Is this good or bad???

[davomrmac]

@morava1 It is not bad, but not as good as an optical viewfinder.

[d1drifter87]

@davomrmac it's better, it has 100% coverage, the only downside is that it reduces battery life.

[MrGreyhound61]

i've got a few questions..

First about the optic zoom ..what is the effect of this with a 200 mm lens .?

second: can i make panorama-pictures with this camera

and how about macro?

[TanPraj]

@AustinsPhotography not biased, 55 is not worth money, just its interesting machine gun burst. i used 550d n it has everything i need, very decent camera

[Riel2ReelFilms]

SOLD!!! 

[sherifkhattab95]

Hello,

thanks for the video, got a question here , will this be considered as an upgrade from sony a 200 ?, i mean is this an entry level slr (or slt) ?

[clanpsi]

I bought one over the Easter long weekend. It's an amazing camera, and highly recommended for everyone.

For anyone wondering about battery life, I've been using it everywhere since Easter (1 month) and havn't needed to charge it yet.

[davomrmac]

@clanpsi Thanks for watching and your comment.

[irulethe70s]

@clanpsi Dont use live view and the battery lasts a while

[AngryBirdSEASONS]

@clanpsi

Battery life is not that impressive but not that bad too. Impossible it would make a month...

[d1drifter87]

@AngryBirdSEASONS you can always get a back up battery for $10 or so. that's what Im about to do with mine :)

[AngryBirdSEASONS]

@d1drifter87

that would be great...its only a matter of actually finding it...cuz in my country the a55 isnt available at shops, i actually ordered it...

[rick67hou]

@clanpsi When I first got the camera, I left it on in power saver mode for an entire weekend and only did casual shooting. By monday it still had over 50% of the power. But on heavy usage, it'll go down quickly over a couple of days. I'm incredibly happy with this camera.

[TheKkd123]

u didn show where is battery and memory card located

[RedroomStudios]

@TheKkd123 yes he did, its on the bottom... it's at 5:55

[X3meShare]

watch?v=iRxqRWhqcO0 sony a55 beauty

[sendhelpbaylon]

this camera looks spectacular but only problem is the battery life. They should make battery grips for this.

[Lucasvilella2]

Your video was quite inspiring. really!!. But I'm between sony a580 and sony a55. Which one do you recomend? I mean, worth buying, which one of them have the best configuration, image quality??

[davomrmac]

@Lucasvilella2 A580 if photography is your priority, A55 if it is a bit of everything (video & photo) in a smaller package.

[Lucasvilella2]

@davomrmac Thanks mate. I have just one consideration to make. Look, I really liked sony's cameras, they are great, sony is doing some beating, but I'm in doubt about canon's as well. Canon seems to be more presencial, like lots of people have them, Canon seems to have more expirience in this kind of sector. Do you think canon's is better than sony's?

[davomrmac]

@Lucasvilella2 Neither is really better, it is the photographer that makes the photo. All I would say is Canon has a better range of lenses and accessories (as does Nikon).

[d1drifter87]

@Lucasvilella2 the image sensor is the main factor in image quality and both of them have the exact same sensor, so the image quality is the same.

[DJDOGSTYLE5]

can it shoot 1080p and 720p vids?

[psps3psn]

@DJDOGSTYLE5 watch the video ;)

[LifeSgreeaat]

@DJDOGSTYLE5 It does.. and the video on this baby is a dream!

[pepperdew72]

does this camera support canon and nikon lenses? or just the ones on the sony website?

[davomrmac]

@pepperdew72 No only Sony, unless you find some sort of adapter.

[bmwooden13]

There is an option for manual focus as well as auto focus during video recording, right?

[davomrmac]

@bmwooden13 yes.

[bmwooden13]

@davomrmac Thanks! Would you recommend this for someone who would be using it mostly for video? I'm a filmmaker and I need something better than a Handycam. People are saying that the video on the camera is fantastic. I'd also use the camera too. lol Great review by the way!

[davomrmac]

@bmwooden13 No, for mostly video I would get a camcorder.

[clanpsi]

What languages do the camera support? Is it most international standards (French, Japanese, Chinese, Korean, etc) or only European standards?

[grrrmuffman]

I bought this camera with a 18-55mm and 55-200mm lens kit and it is a phenomenal camera!

[onlysirdave]

the memory card next to the battery is a negative if you want to use a battery grip you have to remove it to change out cards!!!! come on Sony ..Think!!!

[arrow1archer]

How does manual focus work on this

[jwweekly]

Alright, Can anyone give me a solid reson not to buy this camera for 850 dollars. The Lenes are cheaper to buy then the canon(which is my other choice T2i or T3i) I am a point and shoot upgrader looking for the most camera under $1000's. I am not a pro just for kids and vactions.

[Mkungaa]

What the different between A55V and A55VL ? Did they solve the problem with recording sound of autofocus in video? Still does it need external mic?

[davomrmac]

@Mkungaa VL is lens kit I think. no solution to sound.

[Tjechi]

@Mkungaa why the hell would you use autofocus you noob

[Mkungaa]

@Tjechi пошёл на хуй. if there is a possibility, then why not take advantage of this.

[Tjechi]

@Mkungaa because you will always get better footage with manual focusing

[Mkungaa]

@Tjechi yeah-yeah. let's use everywhere manual possibilities: manual transmission instead automatic(because acceleration is better and fuel consumption is lower), handwash instead using washing machine, kill cows and skin 'em by your own hands and make mince for your hamburger(all you eat is under your controll). Using automatic transmission and washing machines, having a dinner in Burger King is only for noobs, yeah? Be pro and make all by own hands!!!

[Tjechi]

@Mkungaa you are such an idiot, this shit has nothing to do with focusing you dumbass

[Mkungaa]

@Tjechi Also shit has nothing to use manual transmission. And what? Is it mean that automatic transmission is only for noobs? Holly shit, you're writing it in review low cost non-professional camera. Most user will use this fucking autofocus and for this camera it is important. Go to review of Hasselblad and tell your stories, leave cameras for amateur to amateur. I want to take it to hiking. And carrying 40-kg packsack, i'll not care about fucking manual focus.

[Tjechi]

@Mkungaa tl;dr I don't give a shit about what you think

[Mkungaa]

@Tjechi сосни хуйца голландская мудоёблина

[Mkungaa]

@Tjechi Krijg kanker en ga dood, hoer! Сдохни голландская мразь, так тебе будет понятнее, не?

[Tjechi]

@Mkungaa Zo dit vind jij echt leuk he? Mogool, wordt is toch volwassen

[Mkungaa]

@Tjechi Sosni huica, pidaras. Ot'ebis', ponimaew. Moya tvoya ne belmes, Tak chto pizdui otsudova i kuri svoju ganju.

[Tjechi]

@Mkungaa Ik weet ook echt niet waarom je dit doet, ik vertaal het toch niet... maar goed als jij dit leuk vindt dan moet je dat vooral doen, ik ga je kinderachtige gedrag niet bedwingen. Ik ga in ieder geval de grote volwassen spelen hier en ik stop hiermee want jij bent gewoon te zielig voor woorden.

[Mkungaa]

@Tjechi tl; dr this fucking language

[onlysirdave]

@Mkungaa Weeelll aren't you special!!!

[Mkungaa]

@Tjechi Пошёл на хуй, дебил. Иногда просто хочется поснимать пьяным не обращая на фокусировку и прочую мутотень, а утром смотреть видео с нормальным фокусом и звуком. Пиндос сранный. Заебало перед тобой распинаться. Понты свои засунь подальше. Ебанный в рот, надо понтануться в обзоре любительской камеры за 30000 рублей. Use dictionary/.

[Tjechi]

@Mkungaa Ja steek die translator maar in je kont ik hoef je servische shit niet te lezen

[Mkungaa]

@Tjechi ファックオフ、くそったれ