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Sony Alpha a55

Sony Alpha a55
Sony Alpha a55Sony Alpha a55Sony Alpha a55Sony Alpha a55Sony Alpha a55Sony Alpha a55
alaScore 91

746 reviews

Apr, 2024

alaTest has collected and analyzed 746 reviews of Sony Alpha a55. The average rating for this product is 4.4/5, compared to an average rating of 4.3/5 for other Digital Compact Cameras for all reviews. People really like the screen and image quality. The portability and usability are also mentioned favorably. There are some mixed comments about the shutter, and many are negative about the exposure and flash.

performance, usability, portability, image quality, screen

battery, durability, flash, exposure

We analyzed user and expert ratings, product age and more factors. Compared to other Digital Compact Cameras the Sony Alpha a55 is awarded an overall alaScore™ of 91/100 = Excellent quality.

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Review analysis

(Based on 746 reviews)

Expert Reviews  

User Reviews  

Review Ratings

  (47% of reviews)
Show all 5 star reviews   (42% of reviews)
Show all 4 star reviews   (6% of reviews)
Show all 3 star reviews   (3% of reviews)
Show all 2 star reviews   (1% of reviews)
Show all 1 star reviews

Features

performance
  Show positive (88%)Show negative (12%)(Show all)
usability
  Show positive (80%)Show negative (20%)(Show all)
portability
  Show positive (87%)Show negative (13%)(Show all)
image quality
  Show positive (82%)Show negative (18%)(Show all)
screen
  Show positive (76%)Show negative (24%)(Show all)
size
  Show positive (62%)Show negative (38%)(Show all)
video
  Show positive (69%)Show negative (31%)(Show all)
price
  Show positive (76%)Show negative (24%)(Show all)
battery
  Show positive (15%)Show negative (85%)(Show all)
focus
  Show positive (90%)Show negative (10%)(Show all)
lens
  Show positive (70%)Show negative (30%)(Show all)
viewfinder
  Show positive (63%)Show negative (37%)(Show all)
durability
  Show positive (42%)Show negative (58%)(Show all)
design
  Show positive (89%)Show negative (11%)(Show all)
color
  Show positive (82%)Show negative (18%)(Show all)
sensor
  Show positive (62%)Show negative (38%)(Show all)
reliability
  Show positive (83%)Show negative (17%)(Show all)
stabilizer
  Show positive (92%)Show negative (8%)(Show all)
low-light
  Show positive (83%)Show negative (17%)(Show all)
glare
  Show positive (100%)None yet(Show all)
zoom
  Show positive (75%)Show negative (25%)(Show all)
shutter
  Show positive (50%)Show negative (50%)(Show all)
flash
  Show positive (33%)Show negative (67%)(Show all)
exposure
  Show positive (33%)Show negative (67%)(Show all)
software
  Show positive (100%)None yet(Show all)
storage
  Show positive (100%)None yet(Show all)
memory
  Show positive (100%)None yet(Show all)
More features

Showing 484 review(s)

Expert Reviews User Reviews

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Showing 1 - 75 of 484 Show Reviews: in English | in other languages (261)

Consumer review (amazon.co.uk)

Amazon.co.uk review summary for Sony Alpha a55

 

alaTest has collected and analyzed 49 user reviews of Sony Alpha a55 from Amazon.co.uk. The average user rating for this product is 4.7/5, compared to an average user rating of 4.3/5 for other Digital Compact Cameras on Amazon.co.uk. Opinions about the price and image quality are overall positive. The usability and performance also get good views, but there are some less positive comments about the durability.

portability, performance, usability, image quality, price

durability

100% of the reviews on Amazon.co.uk give this product a positive rating.

Apr, 2024

Consumer review (amazon.com)

Amazon.com review summary for Sony Alpha a55

 

alaTest has collected and analyzed 16 user reviews of Sony Alpha a55 from Amazon.com. The average user rating for this product is 4.3/5, compared to an average user rating of 4.2/5 for other Digital Compact Cameras on Amazon.com. People are impressed by the portability. The performance is also appreciated, whereas the viewfinder and lens get less positive comments. There are some mixed opinions about the image quality.

price, performance, portability

usability, screen, lens, viewfinder

88% of the reviews on Amazon.com give this product a positive rating.

Apr, 2024

Expert review by : Ben Long (pcworld.com)

Sony Alpha SLT-A55

 

The first step in taking a photo is to point the camera in the right direction. But to know what that right direction is, you need a viewfinder. The problem with designing a viewfinder is that the lens on the camera is located in front of the image...

Can autofocus while shooting video ; Fast continuous shooting mode ; Very good image quality ; In-viewfinder level ; Multi-shot noise reduction

No program shift ; Electronic viewfinder only

Sony's first translucent-mirror camera offers impressive continuous-autofocus capabilities, an amazing burst mode, and excellent image quality to go with its smaller size. The major trade-off: no through-the-lens optical viewfinder.

Jan, 2011
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Expert review by : Lori Grunin (cnet.com)

Sony SLT-A55V review: Sony SLT-A55V

 

Sony SLT-A55V

Fast, especially for burst shooting; articulating display; relatively straightforward, streamlined interface; really nice virtual-level implementation.

Poor battery life; limited manual video-capture controls.

Expensive and probably a bit large for the typical point-and-shoot upgrader, the Sony Alpha SLT-A55V nevertheless delivers the performance and photo quality boost those shooters are expecting.

Nov, 2010
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Expert review by : PJ Jacobowitz (pcmag.com)

Sony Alpha 55 (SLT-A55VL)

 

The Sony Alpha 55 (SLT-A55VL) offers faster-than-D-SLR focusing speeds along with D-SLR-quality images. The only thing you don't get is a true optical viewfinder.

Excellent image quality. Extremely fast autofocusing in any mode. Continuous autofocus when recording video. Easy-to-use interface. High-quality LCD. GPS. HD video capture at 1080i60 in AVCHD (17Mbps). Choice of HD video codecs.

No optical viewfinder. Single-focus autofocus not available while recording video. No control over aperture and shutter speed while recording video. Audible lens noise in video capture.

Video-Capture Performance and Conclusions Video recording on the Alpha 55 is another big selling point; it's simple to operate and the results are excellent. The Editors' Choice Canon T2i takes a few seconds to autofocus during video recording, whereas...

Oct, 2010
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Expert review by : Barney Britton , Lars Rehm (dpreview.com)

Sony SLT Alpha A55 In-depth Review

 

Sony's latest interchangeable lens cameras, the SLT Alpha A33 and A55 represent a significant technological milestone - not just for Sony but for the enthusiast camera market as a whole.

Reliably good image quality at lower sensitivities High ISO JPEG output usable up to ISO 12800 for smaller prints Excellent LCD and good EVF, with efficient automatic switch. Versatile and capable (for its class) 15-point AF system Accurate metering...

Limited control in 10fps and movie modes AF system not quite up to capturing fast action No live view in 10fps/6fps shooting makes panning almost impossible Slow (50 seconds) buffer clear time (RAW-mode) Little control over high ISO noise reduction in...

Arguably, the age of the consumer-level DSLR dawned in 2000 with the Canon EOS D30, and although a lot has happened in the intervening decade - higher and higher pixel counts, huge improvements in low-light image quality, speed and usability - much has...

Aug, 2010
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Expert review by (pcmag.com)

Sony Alpha55 (SLT-A55VL)

 

Excellent image quality. Extremely fast autofocusing in any mode. Continuous autofocus when recording video. Easy-to-use interface. High-quality LCD. GPS. HD video capture at 1080i60 in AVCHD (17Mbps). Choice of HD video codecs

No optical viewfinder. Single-focus autofocus not available while recording video. No control over aperture and shutter speed while recording video. Audible lens noise in video capture

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Expert review by : Mike Flacy (steves-digicams.com)

Sony SLT-A55V Preview

 

Pairing a new technology with two new SLR announcements today, Sony is rolling out Translucent Mirror Technology in the α55 (SLT-A55V) and α33 (SLT-A33) digital cameras. TMT increases the speed of continuous shooting to an impressive 10fps, and allows...

Aug, 2010
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Expert review by (letsgodigital.org)

Sony Alpha 55 review

 

Sony's presence on the digital SLR market is remarkable. It is remarkable because of its stormy conquest of market shares with a small assortment of DSLR cameras and just as much of a loss of market shares due to the lack of a true evolution in the...

The Sony Alpha SLT-A55 is a remarkable camera. Not only due to its compact dimensions, as there are even smaller cameras available, but more because of its design. The current series of digital SLR cameras on the market is based on an ‘old’ technology...

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Expert review by : Jeremy Stamas (camcorderinfo.com)

Sony Alpha SLT-A55V DSLR Camera Review

 

The SLT-A55V ($749 without lens) is a new video-capable DSLR from Sony that features Full HD recording and Sony's new Translucent Mirror Technology. The camera did well in our video testing, but its lack of manual controls in video mode is a...

Oct, 2010
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Expert review by : Mark Goldstein (photographyblog.com)

Sony A55 Review

 

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...

The Sony A55 turns conventional design on its head to provide what is in many ways a better user experience than traditional DSLRs can achieve, at a price point that Canon and Nikon must be worried about. If you can overcome your reservations about...

Feb, 2011
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Expert review by (itp.net)

Sony Alpha SLT-A55VL

 

Sony refers to the Alpha SLT-A55VL as a single lens translucent (SLT) device rather than a single lens reflex device

An innovative camera packing serious autofocus punch. It also offers decent image quality, a usable interface and great ergonomics.

Jun, 2011
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