Alpha SLT-A55

Released September 2010

A 16.2 MP APS-C A-mount camera with a fixed translucent mirror, electronic viewfinder and full-resolution 10 fps shooting.

Type: Translucent mirror
Sensor: APS-C
Megapixels: 16.2
Lens: Sony A-mount
Video: 1920 × 1080 at 29.97 fps
Body weight: 441 g

What reviewers say

Both reviews praised image quality, fast autofocus and the useful articulating screen, while noting restricted movie exposure control. PhotographyBlog criticised burst tracking through the viewfinder and JPEG detail loss from noise reduction. PhotoReview found the handling comfortable but needed maximum screen brightness; its image-quality findings came from a late pre-production camera.

From photographyblog.com and photoreview.com.au

Specifications

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Image and sensor

Camera type: Translucent mirror
Sensor format: APS-C
Sensor type: Exmor APS HD CMOS
Sensor dimensions: 23.5 × 15.6 mm
Effective resolution: 16.2 MP
Largest image: 4912 × 3264
RAW recording: Yes
Standard ISO range: 100–12800
Sensor detail: 16.7 million total photosites; fixed translucent mirror feeds a dedicated phase-detection AF sensor while the main sensor supplies live view
Image formats: JPEG, RAW (Sony ARW 2.2) and RAW+JPEG; 3:2 or 16:9 stills; Sweep Panorama and 3D MPO panorama recording
ISO detail: Auto ISO 100–1600; multi-frame noise reduction extends sensitivity to ISO 25600; movie Auto ISO 100–3200
Image processor: BIONZ

Lens and shooting

Lens mount: Sony A-mount
Stabilisation: Sensor shift
Maximum continuous burst: 10 fps
Lens detail: Compatible Sony, Minolta and Konica Minolta A-mount AF lenses; kit lenses are separate from body specifications
Autofocus: 15-point phase-detection AF with three cross sensors; EV −1–18 at ISO 100; single-shot, automatic and continuous AF, manual focus and Eye-Start AF
Shutter: 1/4000–30 seconds and Bulb; flash sync 1/160 second
Burst detail: Up to 10 fps in Continuous Advance Priority AE with AF-C focus and exposure adjustment according to the maker manual; AF-S fixes focus to the first frame. Ordinary continuous drive reaches 6 fps; its maker buffer figures are 35 Fine JPEG, 39 Standard JPEG, 20 RAW or 20 RAW+JPEG frames. PhotographyBlog’s exposure-lock description conflicts with the manual; PhotoReview tested a late pre-production unit.
Stabilisation detail: SteadyShot INSIDE sensor-shift system; maker claim approximately 2.5–4 stops depending on lens and conditions
Flash: Automatic pop-up flash, guide number 10 in metres at ISO 100; ADI and pre-flash TTL control; compatible external flash required for wireless flash and high-speed sync
Exposure controls: PASM, Auto, Auto+, scene, panorama and Continuous Advance Priority AE modes; 1200-zone main-sensor metering; ±2 EV compensation in 1/3 steps; D-Range Optimizer and three-frame Auto HDR

Video

Highest video resolution: 1920 × 1080 at 29.97 fps
Video detail: Japan/NTSC specification is 1920 × 1080 AVCHD at 59.94 interlaced fields/s from 29.97 sensor frames/s, approximately 17 Mbps; PAL bodies use 50i from 25 frames/s. MP4 supports 1440 × 1080 and VGA. At 20°C Sony claims approximately nine minutes of continuous recording with SteadyShot enabled or 29 minutes disabled; higher temperatures shorten this further.
Audio: Built-in stereo microphone, mono playback speaker and external microphone input

Screen and viewfinder

Viewfinder: Electronic
Screen size: 3″
Screen dots: 921,600
Tilting screen: Yes
Display detail: Xtra Fine TruBlack LCD; 180° tilt and 270° rotation on a bottom hinge; dots count colour subpixels
Viewfinder detail: Electronic finder with approximately 100% coverage, 1.10× magnification with a 50 mm lens, and 1,152,000 effective equivalent dots out of 1,440,000 total; electronic level and grid display

Connections and design

Battery life (maker's claim): 330 photographs
Body weight: 441 g
Release detail: Sony Japan specifies 10 September 2010 for SLT-A55V; the US announcement specifies October 2010. September is the earliest maker-stated retail month found.
Recording media: Single slot accepting SD, SDHC, SDXC, Memory Stick PRO Duo and PRO-HG Duo
Ports: USB 2.0 Hi-Speed, mini HDMI Type C, external microphone input and wired remote terminal; optional infrared remote and AC adaptor
Wireless connections: SLT-A55V includes GPS geotagging; SLT-A55 sold in some markets omits GPS. The Japanese specification and photo represent SLT-A55V.
Battery life detail: NP-FW50; CIPA maker claim approximately 330 photographs using the viewfinder or 380 using the LCD
Charging: Supplied BC-VW1 external battery charger
Dimensions: Approximately 124.4 × 92 × 84.7 mm (width × height × depth)
Weight detail: Approximately 441 g body only; 500 g including battery and Memory Stick PRO Duo
Colours: Black
In the box: NP-FW50 battery, BC-VW1 charger, USB cable, shoulder strap, caps and software CD; kit lenses depend on configuration

Pros and cons

Pros

Continuous phase-detection autofocus for stills and movies
Sensor-shift stabilisation and RAW recording
Articulating screen and electronic viewfinder

Cons

Limited movie exposure controls
Shorter continuous movie recording when stabilisation is enabled

Closest rivals

Model	Type	Sensor	Megapixels	Lens	Video	Body weight	Released
SonyAlpha SLT-A33	Translucent mirror	APS-C	14.2	Sony A-mount	1920 × 1080 at 29.97 fps	433 g	Sept 2010
SonyAlpha SLT-A35	Translucent mirror	APS-C	16.2	Sony A-mount	1920 × 1080 at 25 fps	415 g	Jul 2011
SonyAlpha SLT-A65	Translucent mirror	APS-C	24.3	Sony A-mount	1920 × 1080 at 60 fps	543 g	Sept 2011

Sources

Photo: sony.jp

Sony SLT-A55 front product view with DT 18-55mm kit lens.: sony.jp/products/picture/SLT-A55VL.jpg
Sony SLT-A55 rear view with DT 18-55mm kit lens.: sony.jp/products/picture/SLT-A55V_rear.jpg

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