Sony Alpha SLT-A33 Digital Camera with Translucent Mirror Technology and 3D Sweep Panorama (Camera Body only) (Black)

I've only owned this camera for a few days and I can't say enough good things about it. My lens is the Tamron AF 18-200mm f/3.5-6.3 XR Di II LD Aspherical (IF) Macro Zoom Lens for Konica Minolta and Sony Digital SLR Cameras . I also own Pentax K7, Pentax Kx and Panasonic G1. I'm an enthusiast and not even a semi-pro. But this camera performs well beyond my expectation and the features are incredible. I don't shoot video so this review does not cover any of the video attributes of the camera. The electronic view finder is the best I've seen. The panorama feature is amazing and the HDR images are magical even hand held. I've compared similar photos under same conditions with the Pentax and the Panasonic and the Sony photos as good if not better than the other cameras. They are sharp, noise free and show virtually no fringing even under the worst conditions (black tree branches under a bright sky). The tilt-out LCD is real plus. There have been a lot of comments about short battery life. That may be true but I've found that one battery carries me for a full day of shooting and with a spare in my pocket, I have no fear of runnning out of juice. Perhaps the short battery life reputation is only a myth since this is the first camera I've owned that continuously displays a numerical percentage of battery power left. I definitely rate this with 5 stars with no reservations.

Although I like the Sony brand, this camera didn't stand to the company's reputation for quality and reliability. Soon after I purchased this camera I went on a cruise in the Caribbean and while on vacation the camera started shutting off for no reason. When I tried to take a video, it shuts down because the camera will over heat after about 7 minutes of filming. Upon my return I quickly put it back into the box, and request a refund, which, Amazon was happy to do. But I didn't let that experience damper my enthusiasm about Sony products because once my refund was complete I turned around and bought the Sony A65 which I am still using today. Would I recommend this camera to a friend. No. No. No. And if you really want to buy this camera, just Google first it and see what comes up.

I upgraded from a Sony R-1 because I wanted a faster camera with an equivalent lens (Carl Zeiss zoom lens, note review of same). The camera is fast indeed. Coupled with facial recognition, photographing active people is a whole new exerience. The auto + setting recognizes back lit scenes, hand held twilight and other modes automatically and correctly. After a couple of tries I was able to take a perfect panorama photo with all the stiching done by the camera software, without using a tripod. The hand held twilight setting takes multiple photos and combines them for the best shot (great shot of the neighbor's eleaborate Christmas lights). The auto + recognition of back light scenes worked extremely well. In short the camera allows the photographer to focus on the subject and composition, and pretty much takes care of anything else. The sensor works extremely well in low light, I initially believed the built in fash was not working before I realized the camera had much better low light sensitivity than did th R-1. As a result I purchased the lowest powered Sony stroble for bounce flash, saving considerable weight as well as cost. As the R-1 had a fixed Carl Zeiss lens, my comments on backwards compatibility do not apply to lenses. However, the A-33 uses a different battery and a different hot shoe for the strobe. The strobe uses Triple A batteries instead of AA battereis as well requiring a new battery charger (which Sony does not market). I did not buy the camera for its movie making ability, but the feature works extremely well, with continuing autofocus and live view. I will now be exploring this capability, which will require a whole new skill set. The built in mike does pick up on the noise generated when the camera refocuses, so a separate (and stereo) mike is a future accessory if I get serious about movies. I opted for the A-33 vs. the A-55 because I wanted fewer megapixels on the larger sensor, and did not want a GPS unit constantly searching for satellites (as the power saving feature and infrequent shooting makes it operation intermittent at best). The A-33 also clears its buffer faster, and allows longer movie shooting before overheating. I expect a little bit better battery life. Battery life is one of the few things that the R-1 did better, and I have ordered a second battery to have on hand. I have not mastered the menu system (which is also changed from the R-1). The viewing mode and movies recording mode are both external buttons, a plus. Given its versatility in Auto + it will be awhile before I gain this proficiency. Both the electronic view finder and live view are much improved from the R-1. The LCD screen is sharp and vivid although I have not tested it in bright sunlight (I live in Ohio and bought the camera this November). The view finder provides 100% of what the camera sees, and has plenty of room for data. I do like the "level" feature available in both views, and the indicators telling me where the camera is measuring light. No doubt some of my enthusiam reflects the general advances in digital camera over the last 4 years. But I am really happy with this camera. I look forward to photographing cycling events this summer and playing with the continous shooting mode. The capabilities of this camera, both known and as yet unexplored, has stimulated my life long interest in photography. The camera is small, but I have large hands and no difficulty with it although it took some getting used to.I use a Carl Zeiss 16-80 zoom, making this a two handed operation.

Camera stopped working while at SeaWorld, the main board was fried. I took it to a local shop since I bought it 15 months ago and they told me it would be over 400 dollars to fix, took it to another shop for a second opinion with the same results. , I can get a new camera for a little more. After a quick internet search it seems that this is a common issue in this camera. I took great care of the camera and loved it when it was working but will not by another Sony DSLR, I have friends with Cannons and Nikons that put their cameras trough torture and they are still working after 3 years. The only good news is that I had the camera insured so I am not out of pocket!

The Sony A33 (A55) Not is not exactly What I expected .... the good and not so good First of all this camera is a great movie camera with continuous auto focus and an good photo camera. The reason I say good and not great is because if you intend on shooting in any of the 3 auto modes you are not going to get great photos the same as you would get with a Canon T1I, T2i or canon G10. But the photos are more predictable in auto than with the Canon's The kit lens is good, does not have much range but works well even though its a cheap kit lens. Better than the t2i The body is plastic therefore light The fold down LCD is a winner although a little small. Viewfinder is a real treat giving you the same read out info as the LCD Switches automatically back and forth from LCD to viewfinder as you place your eye close or take it away from the viewfinder. Or you can easily switch between LCD screen and viewfinder by pushing the LCD/viewfinder button. If you have a big lens or a lens hood the flash may cast a shadow in your photo I have large hands but the body is very comfortable to hold Controls are easy to reach but again these cameras are are far to complicated than they need to be need, but that is where technology takes you. I did not see the battery life as being an issue - My G10 is much better. Charging takes 4 hours per battery so get yourself a another battery and maybe an extra charger. I specifically bought the a33 because I did not want the GPS sucking the life out of my battery as I learned on a Panasonic Z10. My travels do not take to normal tourist data base gps way points so I felt it was of no use to me. Another thing to break down Used Minolta AF lenses work great and are half the price as new Sony ones and are of equal or superior quality. Many of the Sony lenses on Amazon are just rebranded Minolta lenses. The a33 and a55 uses Steadytshot an in camera stabilization Lenses for this camera are not stabilized which is good and bad Good because the lenses are cheaper and lighter Bad because the stabilization in the camera is not as reliable as say Canon When you take a photo you cannot just press the shutter all the way down quickly. You have to press halfway wait for the steadyshot indicator to drop to one bar, wait for the focus beep and then press all the way Canon seems quicker? The A33 could be less noisier (photo wise not sound wise) than the a55 because it packs less pixels on the same size sensor An Azden SMX-10 mic $65 from Amazon is a great accessory. It takes the mic out of the body to minimize the focus noise of the lenses and adds stereo. Alert the hot shoe on this camera is a proprietary one meaning you need an adapter to hook on a regular shoal For $12 the Seagull SC-5 Hot Shoe Adapter to Standard Flash Shoe with PC Connection - for Konica Minolta Maxxum & Sony Alpha Digital SLR Cameras works from Amazon At about 10 minutes of using the video it shuts down from overheating and you cannot film until it cools and then it will only go for a few minutes and will shut down again. I luckily only shoot short clips so its not an issue but Sony made a statement below. Sony has issued a statement concerning an overheating issue with the new Sony A55 and A33 translucent mirror cameras. The problem arises from the CMOS sensor overheating in certain temperature ranges. Sony has put together a chart that provides an idea of max recording times under certain environmental conditions. You can check it out on the web. They have no solution only shoot less than 10 minutes with stabilization on. Image stabilization is a big problem for shooting long clips. 5D Mark II and 7D cameras shutdown from overheating also so it's nothing unique to Sony. This review could also be for the a55 since they are almost identical except for a55 -- * gives you faster continuous shooting, * GPS * higher megapixel. * price and a few other minor things I have come to admire this little piece of techno. I have so many Minolta lenses that I purchased from ebay that I have purchased a second a33 so I must give it a 5 although there is always room for improvement and nothing is perfect. On Ebay you can get a Minolta 50MM F/1.7 prime for circa $73 Minolta 100 mm f/2.8 Macro The sharpest lens Minolta has ever made for less than $300 Minolta 100-300 APO Zoom $220 Be careful of the new 8mm Fisheye from Korea that is marketed for Sony under different names for $230-$330 It is not compatible with a33 or a55

So I have a Sony A230 and started realizing I have an eye for this photography thing. I bought my a230 for my childs birth, but everyone kept saying you have "the eye" . So I started advertising and networking and people started asking me to take their pictures for money. I love my a230 but, 2.5 frames per second doesn't cut it. Enter the a33, I went back and forth between this and the a560 for weeks. Everything is esentially the same, minus the fact that this camera (a33) has no mirror. So after holding the a33 I was stuck even more, would people take me serious as a photographer with a camera that wasnt a "DSLR" in a traditional sense? You would never know that this camera, based purely on image quality, wasn't a $2500 upper class camera. The colors are stunning and the abulity to capture movement so effortlessly is astonishing. Most poeple question why would I need 7 frames a second? Have you ever tried capturing a child? Yes this camera will be bashed for being plastic, but an easy solution to that is, well use a neck strap and don't swing like a monkey and get a warranty, you will be fine. I could go on for hours about technical details of this beast of a camera, but I am sure I have bored most folks by now, so in closing, don't be a gear snob and opt for Canon or Nikon based on name, Sony is an electronics GIANT, and their dSLR and dSLT cameras are top notch, hey they (sony) even make and/or help produce Nikon's sensors but shhhh, if people knew that then sony would raise their prices due to a high demand for their awsome cameras. buy it EDIT: I gave user ease a lower rating due to needing to thumb through sub menus to get to certain things which are not used terribly often.

Well first is good to say is an old model and to ask to much from it is kind of stupid . I like it but my view finder on my model doesn’t work , and most I bought it for that viewfinder. Maybe I was just unlucky

My point-and-shoots continually frustrated me with low-light performance. Having decided to upgrade to a dslr-size sensor, I promised myself to learn the difference between aperture and ISO and I bought this camera. I am thrilled! The pictures without flash (including auto HDR and anti-shake) are beautiful. I'm barely scratching the surface of what this can do, I know, but right now everything is happy. Pros: lighter than comparable dSLRs, great thumb grip, sensor switches automatically between viewfinder and screen when you hold it up to your face. Cons: still heavy, 18-55 lens makes the camera too big for my purse, panorama mode requires steadier hands than I have.