Sony Alpha SLT-A55V (Body Only) Reviews: Digital SLR Camera

Photo of Sony Alpha SLT-A55V (Body Only) Digital Camera

Score 9.0/10 Read 70
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This digital camera is a good all rounder.

£499 – £520 at 2 retailers out of 399 retailers checked

Sony Alpha SLT-A55V (Body Only): See full product description

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

Some customer reviews of Sony Alpha SLT-A55V (Body Only)

Most helpful reviews

Desmond, Bordon Experienced amateur

Score 9.0/10

Good points:: Excellent images. Lightweight. Easy to change lenses. Easy to set up for creative shots. Lots of goodies such as video rapid shoot and the latest idea of a quieter shutter. LCD swivel is excellent particularly for low down shots. Eye viewer is clear and there is enough info shown to be able to compose a scene.
Bad points:: Lenses move on focussing which is annoying when using ND or polariser filters. Would like to see some internal focussing lenses particularly on the mid range product where things begin to get serious.
Battery does not last as long as its competitors. You need to carry at least one extra battery if you are going to take loads of pictures.

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

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Confirmed purchase: 29 Mar 2012

Barrie, Lancaster Experienced amateur

Score 8.0/10

Good points:: Just about everything, love the handheld twilight mode, manual focus is excellent,
Bad points:: Just one serious one, the viewfinder surround comes off very easily, I have now lost mine and now have to use the camera without it as I have lost it.

Ease of use	10.0
Image quality	8.0
Features	10.0
Build Quality	8.0
Value for money	8.0
Overall rating	8.0

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Confirmed purchase: 27 Nov 2011

J, Keen amateur

Score 9.0/10

Good points:: Simple to use.
Easy to hold.
Light to hold.
Smaller than competitors.
Works quickly.
Folding screen great for using camera at different angles.
Basically everything!!!
Bad points:: Battery life is not the greatest.
A little loud.

Ease of use	8.0
Image quality	9.0
Features	10.0
Build Quality	8.0
Value for money	8.0
Overall rating	9.0

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Confirmed purchase: 25 Dec 2011

Ian, Portsmouth Keen amateur

Score 10.0/10

Good points:: I love:
The SCN option and the way I can focus on one colour with the rest in black and white.
The user friendly menu buttons.
The quality of images it creates.
The speed of the camera.
The number of A-Mount lenses.
The support and tutorials I receive from Sony.
The free firmware updates to improve the features of my camera.
EVERYTHING about my A55!!
Bad points:: There are no bad points about this camera, just the user! I gave a 9 for one of the questions above because I have not been able to use the manual features yet. Therefore, another positive is the camera is good enough for a novice/beginner or a more advanced photographer (so a pro at the camera shop told me).

Ease of use	9.0
Image quality	10.0
Overall rating	10.0

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Confirmed purchase: 19 Nov 2011

John, Whyteleafe Keen amateur

Score 9.0/10

Good points:: Full of features, with plenty of control over the camera if you want it.
Bad points:: A lot to learn, but it's part of the fun!

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

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Confirmed purchase: 15 Nov 2011

john, London Keen amateur

Score 9.0/10

Good points:: ease of use whilst learning about the finer points of the camera. To put it another way, you can start taking photographs srtaight away and then learn how to drive the camera without an autopilot!
Bad points:: Really, none

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

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Confirmed purchase: 13 Jan 2012

Michael, Leeds Keen amateur

Score 10.0/10

Good points:: Picture Level in viewfinder excellent addition
Bad points:: At times very complex programming does not leave time to fully utilise when need to taske pictures quite rapidly

Ease of use	9.0
Image quality	10.0
Features	10.0
Build Quality	10.0
Value for money	10.0
Overall rating	10.0

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Confirmed purchase: 07 Jan 2012

Read all 70 customer reviews

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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)	16.2

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.
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	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)
PictBridge	No
An industry standard allowing images to be printed from camera to printer, without needing a computer. CIPA PictBridge Standard Website
Weight (g)	441
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.
WiFi	No
Wifi allows you to connect your device to wireless routers or modems which allows you to connect to broadband internet.
Shortest shutter speed (Fractions of a second)	1/1
This is the fastest speed at which the camera can take a photo. Faster shutter speeds really freeze the action and are great for sports photography.
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.
RAW Format	Yes
Release date	2010-08-25
The date the product was originally made available for purchase.
Serial Shot Mode	Yes
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
Changeable Lens	Yes

Also known as: Sony DSLR-A55 Body Only, Sony Alpha SLT A55 Body Only

Digital Cameras Buyers' Guide

Product		Retailer	Price	Total price	Buy now
	Sony Alpha SLTA55V.CEH Digital SLR Camera (Body Only)	No retailer reviews yet	£499 free delivery	£499	Go In stock
Featured retailer “Free delivery on all orders at amazon.co.uk”	Sony Alpha SLTA55V.CEH Digital SLR Camera (Body Only)	10 reviews of Amazon	£520 free delivery	£520	Go In stock

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Here’s a list of the questions other shoppers have asked owners of the Sony Alpha SLT-A55V (Body Only)

Have you found any problems with the LCD screen being damaged by body grease or fingers

Brian asked on 13 Dec 2011
1. hi, no i have not, you can get a screen guard to put on if you are worried. i have one on my iphone and its great.
  i am an amatuer photographer, but if i were to use the settings a lot on the camera i would fit one. the cheapest way would be to buy say iphone 4 type and cut to fit. they just press on and come off easily.
  
  brian replied on 13 Dec 2011
2. No, never had an issue. Only issue was the little comfy bit on the view finder coming off.
  
  Patrick replied on 13 Dec 2011
3. Hello, Just purchase a screen protector which is made to size for the camera by Sony or you could look around on eBay for one there. I got one for my Sony STL A55 from www.potectionfilms24.com but what ever you decided on just be sure that, you take your time to fit it properly. I have fitted screens to three cameras over the last five years and never had a problem with them.
  
  Patricia replied on 14 Dec 2011
Hi, how do you connect to your pc? I've connected with the usb cord provided but it doesn't recognize it or ?? thanks

Gordon asked on 12 May 2012
1. If we assume that the camera port isn't faulty and the cable is undamaged I am at a loss to understand the problem, though I admit my pc is a bit slow to download the pics (sometimes I forget to turn the camera on!) the only other suggestion is to put the SD card in a reader and upload the photo's that way.
  
  Raymond replied on 13 May 2012
2. Sorry for the delay, just returned from Donana NP, Spain.
  Like Raymond, I had no problem in downloading with any USB cable connection.
  Usually, I remove the card from the camera, place it in the computer card reader and load & review via Lightroom
  
  gillian replied on 20 May 2012
3. I use the usb cord provided, have you gone through your menu until it reads 'usb connection Mass storage' if so I'm sorry i can't help, my PC is a bit on the slow side but have never experienced a problem where it won't download.
  
  Carole replied on 22 May 2012

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£499 – £520 at 2 retailers out of 399 retailers checked

Sony Alpha SLT-A55V (Body Only) Reviews: Digital SLR Camera

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