Sony Alpha 57 (SLT-A57)

The Sony Alpha 57 is one of four APS-C D-SLR cameras in Sony's current lineup. It's one step up from the entry level Alpha 37, and like its siblings sports a fixed mirror design and an electronic viewfinder.

Its rear LCD is hinged so you can view it from the side, from the top, or slightly above your head. It is 3 inches in size and packs a sharp 921k-dot resolution.

The A57's LCD EVF is a bit lacking. Even though its 1.4-megapixel resolution sounds impressive, it's not nearly as sharp and lacks contrast when compared to the 2.5-megapixel OLED EVF found in other Sony cameras.

Sony clearly put some thought into the Alpha 57's control layout. The camera has a Mode dial on its top left side, a front Control dial, and Exposure Compensation and ISO buttons on the top of the grip, directly behind the shutter and On/Off switch.

Even if you've already bought into the Sony system, the Alpha 57 is a bit of a tough sell. It's more expensive than the entry-level Alpha 37, and aside from a few extra physical controls, is quite similar.

We shot our standard test scene using the SLT-A57 and the 18-135mm zoom lens.

This 100 percent crop, shot at 18mm f/3.5, shows you the level of detail that you can expect from the Alpha 57 and the 18-135mm lens.