Sony Alpha DSLR-A550L with 18-55mm lens Reviews: Digital SLR Camera

Photo of Sony Alpha DSLR-A550L With 18-55MM Lens Digital Camera

Score 9.0/10 Read 75
customer reviews Ask an owner about this product

This digital camera is a good all rounder.

£609 at 1 retailer out of 400 retailers checked

Sony Alpha DSLR-A550L with 18-55mm lens: See full product description

Ease of use	8.8
Image quality	9.2
Features	8.9
Build Quality	8.8
Value for money	8.9
Overall rating	9.0

Some customer reviews of Sony Alpha DSLR-A550L with 18-55mm lens

Most helpful reviews

Fred, Normanton West Yorkshire Experienced amateur

Score 8.0/10

Good points:: Great improvement on previous Sony DSLR's
Bad points:: Reviewer left no comment

Ease of use	8.0
Image quality	8.0
Features	8.0
Build Quality	7.0
Value for money	7.0
Overall rating	8.0

Was this review helpful?

Confirmed purchase: 29 Oct 2010

Craig, Burnley Keen amateur

Score 8.0/10

Good points:: Reviewer left no comment
Bad points:: Would love more control over ISO settings instead of just 200,400,800,1600 etc . Other than that i can't fault it

Ease of use	8.0
Image quality	9.0
Features	7.0
Build Quality	8.0
Value for money	8.0
Overall rating	8.0

Was this review helpful?

Confirmed purchase: 25 Oct 2010

EFTAL, Cumbria Experienced amateur

Score 10.0/10

Good points:: I have had this camera for over a year now,this was an upgrade for me from sony a330,and i have to say i love it.The camera is very easy to use,the menu has a very nice lay out,easy to understand and control.There are dedicated buttons for different controls and it makes adjusting stuff very easy.The battery life is superb as well,you will go for hours even with the liveview on.It also has a very nice grip to it,i have got big hands but it still fits my hand perfectly.The picture quality is just amazing,there is no video on it but why would i want the video function on my slr anyway.If you are in doubt to get this camera,dont be,and just buy it,you will love it.
Bad points:: The kit lens could be a bit better,but still it does the job and produces outstanding pictures.

Ease of use	10.0
Image quality	10.0
Features	10.0
Build Quality	10.0
Value for money	10.0
Overall rating	10.0

Was this review helpful?

Confirmed purchase: 25 Jul 2011

Confirmed purchaser Experienced amateur

Score 9.0/10

Good points:: Live view manual focus check and rear lcd screen quality.
Bad points:: No DOF preview button.

Ease of use	8.0
Image quality	9.0
Features	8.0
Build Quality	7.0
Value for money	9.0
Overall rating	9.0

Was this review helpful?

Confirmed purchase: 22 Nov 2010

Confirmed purchaser Keen amateur

Score 9.0/10

Good points:: It's easy to use the basic functions but I've got some learning to do.
Bad points:: I think the colour is a bit towards to red end of the spectrum which meant that the colour wasn't always true to real life and I'm not sure how to correct that. Otherwise, quite happy

Ease of use	9.0
Image quality	9.0
Features	9.0
Build Quality	9.0
Value for money	9.0
Overall rating	9.0

Was this review helpful?

Confirmed purchase: 19 Jul 2010

Karl, Coleraine Keen amateur

Score 9.0/10

Good points:: As a first time user of a DSLR I was very impressed by how straight forward everything was to use and find. After learning the basic terms and how they are suppose to be used, I found the camera helped me understand them more. Great features for the price when comparing to other cameras at this price level.

A really good purchase.
Bad points:: You need to flip a switch to change between memory card storage. Not a big issue depending on card size or photo quantity. Possible a slight nag to some people.

Ease of use	9.0
Image quality	9.0
Features	9.0
Build Quality	9.0
Value for money	9.0
Overall rating	9.0

Was this review helpful?

Confirmed purchase: 09 Aug 2010

Mark, Hereford Keen amateur

Score 10.0/10

Good points:: I was a little unsure whether I would get to grips with the Alpha550, being a novice to DSLR. My worries were unfounded. This is a very intuitive camera. It has more features than I will possibly ever need, but therefore it also gives me the capacity to improve. It's fast speed gives it the edge over similar models when it comes to sports or wildlife. The tilting screen is fantastic and extremely sharp. There are a large amount of 'old', reasonably priced Minolta lenses out there if you're on a budget which work well due to the cameras built in 'steady shot'.
I have had it for a couple of months. Already I am getting some very decent results. I don't think I will ever (or at least the foreseeable future) grow out of this camera. A great purchase and a great investment. The kit lens that came with it (SAL 18-55mm) is also very good. Scores highly against the opposition kit lenses. I have also purchased a Tamron 90mm macro, the results are amazing.
I can't really say enough good things about the Alpha550. It really gives the similar spec canons and Nikons a run for their money.
If you can afford it, buy it! No regrets!
Bad points:: As yet....none.
Ok, to be a bit picky...the instruction book is not great (but managable). There is a dedicated book available by david busch...a must for the novice.

Ease of use	10.0
Image quality	10.0
Features	10.0
Build Quality	10.0
Value for money	10.0
Overall rating	10.0

Was this review helpful?

Confirmed purchase: 01 Jan 2011

Read all 75 customer reviews

See lowest scores See highest scores

This Sony Alpha DSLR-A550L with 18-55mm lens is reviewed on Expert Reviews

Product Features

Camera Type	SLR
There are 2 main types of camera: The SLR and the Compact. SLR stands for Single Lens Reflex. SLR cameras use a prism to reflect the exact image as seen through the lens and so offers a more accurate viewfinder. SLR cameras have detachable lenses offering greater flexibility if you wish to take a variety of different photographs. Compact cameras have a built in lens and an ‘above lens’ viewfinder which is less accurate but they are often cheaper, more sleekly designed and easier to carry anywhere with you to capture that moment perfectly without having to fiddle with complex settings or a bag full of lenses.
Resolution (Megapixels)	14.2

Screen size (Inches)	3
Screen size is measured diagonally from corner to corner.
Type of image stabiliser	Optical Image Stabiliser
If a photo is taken at a slow shutter speed, or at a long focal length, the effects of ‘hand shake’ will be amplified. Some cameras come with built-in image stabilisation which is designed to act against this to produce sharper images. It’s great for low light shots without a tripod, like at a gig.
Colour	Black
The main colour of the product.
Media format	SD Card
This is the type of storage that your digital camera or camcorder uses to save images to. The main types of card media format: Compact Flash Micro SD MMC (Multi Media Card) SD Card (Secure Digital) SDHC (Secure Disk High Capacity)
Media format	SDHC Card
This is the type of storage that your digital camera or camcorder uses to save images to. The main types of card media format: Compact Flash Micro SD MMC (Multi Media Card) SD Card (Secure Digital) SDHC (Secure Disk High Capacity)
Media format	Memory Stick PRO-HG Duo
This is the type of storage that your digital camera or camcorder uses to save images to. The main types of card media format: Compact Flash Micro SD MMC (Multi Media Card) SD Card (Secure Digital) SDHC (Secure Disk High Capacity)
PictBridge	Yes
An industry standard allowing images to be printed from camera to printer, without needing a computer. CIPA PictBridge Standard Website
Video recorder	Yes
Video recording functionality allows the capture of videos in mpeg or avi format which is great if you want to capture a whole scene, not just one moment.
Manual Focus	Yes
Almost all modern cameras have autofocus. Manual focus allows you to override the autofocus and set the distance yourself. This is especially useful if your camera is struggling to focus in a low-light or confusing scene.
Timer	Yes

Weight (g)	599
The weight of the product in grams.
Flash	Yes
Whether or not your camera has an in-built flash. Flashes are essential for fully capturing a low light image.
Body Only	No
dSLR cameras have detachable lenses and are sold in a variety of combinations. This facet lets you know whether the package your are considering comes bundled with a lens or whether it is just the body of the camera.
WiFi	No
Wifi allows you to connect your device to wireless routers or modems which allows you to connect to broadband internet.
Longest shutter speed (Fractions of a second)	1/30
This is the longest exposure your camera will take. The longer you take a photo for, the more light is let in and the more motion is captured. Long shutter speeds can give fantastic, artistic results. Try photographing the night sky at 30s or longer to see how the rotation of the Earth causes the stars to curve through the scene.
Waterproof	No
If your camera is waterproof you will be able to film under water which is perfect for diving and snorkeling.
Viewfinder	Yes
USB port	Yes
Socket for connecting devices such as a computers and other components.
Dimensions (mm)	137x104x84
The size of the device in millimetres, in width x height x depth.
RAW Format	Yes
Release date	2009-09-17
The date the product was originally made available for purchase.
Height in mm	104

Width in mm	137

Depth in mm	84

Bluetooth	No
Bluetooth is a technology for the wireless transfer of data such as contacts, photos and music between mobile phones, computers and a host of other Bluetooth enabled devices. Read more about Bluetooth on Wikipedia
Autofocus	Yes