Camera Review: Sony A55

Hi guys, thought it was about time I reviewed a camera. I've been playing with the idea of buying a Sony A55 camera so thought I would try it out before buying. Luckily I know a fantastic independant camera shop in West Yorkshire who offer a 'try before you buy' purchase option. How cool? Anyways, read on to see what I think of it.

Introduction

The Sony A55 is an interchangeable lens camera that uses Translucent Mirror Technology to offer high-speed shooting and a smaller body size. Compared to a conventional DSLR camera, Translucent Mirror Technology utilises a fixed, translucent mirror that splits the optical pathway between the main image sensor and a separate phase-detection autofocus sensor, and offers a simplified mechanical design that enables the camera to be smaller. The 16.2 megapixel A55 features up to 10fps burst shooting, built-in GPS tracking, 1080i HD Movies with continuous autofocus during shooting, 15-point phase-detection autofocus system, Quick AF Live View, a 3-inch free-angle LCD, a Tru-Finder (Electronic Viewfinder) with 100% coverage, 3D Sweep Panoramas, Auto HDR and Multi-frame Noise Reduction. The Sony A55 costs $749.99 in the US and £599.99 in the UK for the body only, and about $849.99 / £699.99 for the body and 18-55mm zoom lens.

Specification

Lens Mount

Sony α mount	YES
Compatibility with A-Mount bayonet lenses from Minolta and Konica Minolta	YES

Lens Compatibility

All types of Sony α lenses	YES
Minolta & Konica Minolta α/MAXXUM/DYNAX lenses	YES

Image Sensory

Image sensor type	CMOS Sensor
Image sensor colour filter	R, G, B, Primary color
Size (mm)	23.5 x 15.6 (APS-C size)

Camera

Total sensor Pixels (megapixels)	Approx. 16.7
Effective Pixels (megapixels)	Approx. 16.2
Automatic White Balance	YES
White balance: preset selection	Daylight, Shade, Cloudy, Incandescent, Fluorescent, Flash
White balance: custom setting	YES
White balance: types of color temperature	2500 - 9900 k with 19-step Magenta / Green compensation
White balance bracketing	3 frames, Selectable 2 steps
ISO Sensitivity Setting	ISO100 - 12800 equivalent

SteadyShot INSIDE

System: Sensor-shift mechanism	YES
SteadyShot INSIDE scale (in viewfinder)	YES
Camera-Shake warning (in viewfinder)	NO
SteadyShot INSIDE capability	Approx. 2.5 EV - 4 EV decrease in shutter speed (varies according to shooting conditions and lens used)
SteadyShot INSIDE compatibility	All Sony DSLR lenses and A-Mount bayonet lenses from Minolta and Konica Minolta
*SteadyShot INSIDE was previously known as Super SteadyShot

Summary 

The company has rejected the traditional DSLR design and instead created a hybrid that, like a compact camera, is from the ground up built around live view, but one that is also capable of offering full-time DSLR-style phase-detection autofocus. The combination means they can offer features such as phase-detection AF during movie recording and extremely fast continuous shooting rates (10 frames per second on the A55), previously unthinkable at this price.

Rating

Looks: 4/5
Performance: 5/5
Value: 4/5
Overall: 4.5/5