Sony Alpha A57 DSLR Camera – Sony STL-A57K

Sony Alpha A57 STL-A57

Sony has announced the new Sony Alpha A57 DSLR Camera (Sony STL-A57) which falls in to the popular A-mount camera range. The new camera has a 16 megapixel sensor and is capable of shooting at 12 frames per second. Video can be captured with the camera at 1920 x 1080 pixels at 60p, 60i or 24p/25p. The camera is designed for those who want more control of their camera.

Sony had the following to say about it:

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Today, Sony Electronics announced the new A57 DSLR camera, the successor to the popular A55. The noticeably larger A57 includes a wider array of creative options than previous models in the A-mount line. Users can still enjoy features like up to 12 frames per second and full HD video at 60p, 60i or 24p frame rates but also variety of creative modes including Auto Portrait Framing, a world’s first technology.

The A57 includes technology from some of the other Alpha DSLRs. It has a 16.1 effective megapixel Exmor® APS HD CMOS sensor along with a latest-generation BIONZ® engine, which was developed for the A77 and A65 cameras, so you know that its processor is powerful and can handle a lot of image data. The BIONZ® engine also gives the A57 a sensitivity range of ISO 100-16,000, which means low light photos are a snap to capture (pun intended).

The A57 also shares the A65’s 15-point AF system with three cross sensors delivering fast, accurate TTL phase detection autofocus. The newly enhanced Object Tracking AF keeps your subject in sharp focus – even if something (or more likely, someone) crosses in front of it momentarily and blocks your shot.

Fan of photo apps like Instagram and Hipstamatic? The A57 has in-camera Picture Effect modes including Pop Color, HDR Painting, Miniature Mode and more.

But enough talk; want to see the A57 in action? SGNL by Sony got the inside scoop on the A57 from Sony Camera Team member Kenta:

The new A57 will be available this April with an 18-55mm kit zoom lens for $800. It will also be offered as body-only for about $700 (both prices exclude tax).”

Price wise, the camera will cost $800 in kit form which includes the regular 18-55mm lens. For those wanting to get a different lens the cost is $700 for the body only.

This time around, Sony’s bumped the ISO to 16000 and boosted the continuous shooting rate from 10 frames per second to 12. It’s also rolling out some improvements to the 15-point autofocus system, including enhanced object-tracking and quick AF in Full HD movie mode. Like the A55 before it, the A57 packs a 16-megapixel APS HD CMOS sensor, though this guy records 1920 x 1080 video at 60p, 60i and 24p/25p. It also packs the relatively new Bionz imaging engine introduced with Sony’s fall 2011 models. Also on board: effects like Auto Portrait Framing (it is what it sounds like) and Clear Image Zoom, which promises an effective two-fold increase in focal length. Design-wise, the A57 takes some cues from the A65, and sports a tilting, 921,600-dot LCD. It’ll start at $699 for the body only when it goes on sale next month, though it will also be offered as a $799 kit with an 18-55mm lens. Until then, we’ve got official press shots below and the PR just past the break.

Source: http://blog.sony.com/alphavideo