Sony A57 Camera

I am very impressed in the techology available in my new Sony camera. I have only had it a short time and I've already discovered some features which really excite me. One of my favorite features is the continuous shooting mode which allows you to take up to 12 frames per second. The camera is so quick that you are able to capture action and facial features with just a turn of the dial!

There also is a sweeping panorama mode which allows you to take in all of a great landscape by using this setting. There are many other fantastic features. I invite you to take a few minutes and take a look at all this camera has to offer, while viewing some of the first photos I have taken with the camera.

This camera has many automatic features, which are great for the beginning photographer. It also has the ability to use the manual settings for those that want more control over their images. I see this as the perfect camera for an intermediate photographer and a good one for the beginner who wants to expand their skills as they go.

Photo in this section is an Owl butterfly taken at The Butterfly House. All photos are by myself, mbgphoto.

My previous DSLR camera was a Sony A100 that I purchased about 6 years ago. It served me well and I wasn't really looking for a new camera, but I kept reading about all of the advances in camera technology so I stopped by our local camera shop to check out the newer models. Boy was I surprised at the difference in technology over the years. I could not believe all the great features and the speed with which the A57 could take photos.

Sony has really stepped up to the plate and is a top competitor with the popular camera brands.

The Sony Alpha A57 has many features that are great for both the beginning photographer and those who are more advanced. For the beginner it has a full range of automatic features so that they can take a great photo from day 1. For the more advanced photograher this camera has some outstanding features that will enable them to take stunning photographs.

Here are a few of the features that drew me to this camera.

• Great Focusing Performance
• 10 Frame per second continous shooting mode
• 16.1 MP Sensor
• ISO 100-16000
• Picture Effects Processing Options
• 1080p HD Videos

There are many picture effects available on the Sony A57. These effects process the photos right in your camera without having to go through a program such as PhotoShop.

The daisies on the printed canvas below were photographed using the HDR painting effect. This effect takes three consecutive photos and then uses a HDR technique to enhance the color and details.

Daisy Love Gallery Wrap Canvas by mbgphoto

Most people purchase a camera and never fully use or understand all of the features. When I bought my new Sony I decided I wanted to really understand my features and get the most out of my camera. I purchased this book for my Kindle and over the first month I read through the book with the camera in front of me. Sure I could have taken a class or read through the manual, but I feel this book has some great advantages over either of those methods.

For a class, I get so much knowledge pushed at me all at once that it is hard to digest it all. With this guide I can read a chapter (or a portion of a chapter) and then go and practice what I have learned on my camera. That way the lesson really sticks with me.

As far as the manual, it will tell you where everything is on the camera and a little of how to use them but never the why. With David Busch's guide he tells you everything that is in the manual and then tells you how and when to use each feature. I found it to be a wealth of useful information.

I knew I would enjoy the continuous shooting for sporting events, but I didn't realize what a great benefit it would be to catch just the right facial expressions.

It is so easy to use too! I just set the camera dial to the setting for continuous shooting mode, hold down the shutter, and it take 10 frames per second.

In the photo above I captured my granddaughter, Ella, sitting on a stone wall. I had the camera set on the continuous shooting mode to catch the perfect expression. I love the way Ella is in sharp focus and the background is blurred.

Here my granddaughter, Rachel, is trying out her "model" poses. She moved continously while I shot away in the continuous shooting mode. I love the way the camera catches the movement of her skirt and sweater.

Close up photos are easier than ever with a Sony A57. For beginners you can just set the scene for a close up shot and shoot away.

I prefer using the aperature mode. In this photo I set the dial to the A and then turned the wheel to a 4.5 F stop. By doing this I was able to get a sharp close up photo. The camera automatically set the ISO to160 and the speed to 1/125 sec.

I just got this lens and I love it already. With the 1.8 aperture you get a lot of light entering the camera and the possibility for great photos abounds.

I have two lenses that I use most frequently. Both are zoom lenses. One is a 18- 55 mmm that I use primarily for landscape and wide angle shots. The second lens is the one pictured here. I have found that it is great for close up shots and for action shots. This lens was used on all of the photos taken on this page with the exception of the Owl butterfly in the intro section where I used the 18-55mm lens.

I don't want to get caught without a charged battery so I always care a spare battery for my camera. This one is reasonably priced and works good for your spare.

I have purchased my last 2 cameras on eBay and have been very satisfied with the results.