Sony SLT-A35 Review

[CCJ]

The Sony SLT-A35 initiates the second generation of Sony's unorthodox SLT-(single-lens translucent) based cameras. Losing only the articulated screen of the A55, the A35 incorporates most features found in the original A33 and A55 on top of an improved 16MP sensor and additional image processing options. All-in-all, the A35 looks to be a contender in the entry-level DSLR/SLT market.

Specifications

Specification	Sony SLT-A35	Sony SLT-A33
Sensor	23.4 x 15.6mm Exmor APS HD CMOS Sensor 16.2 million effective pixels	23.4 x 15.6mm Exmor APS HD CMOS Sensor 14.2 million effective pixels
Image Sizes	3:2 - 16MP - 4912 x 3264 - 8.4MP - 3568 x 2368 - 4MP - 2448 x 1624 16:9 - 12MP - 4912 x 2760 - 7.1MP - 3568 x 2000 - 3.4MP - 2448 x 1376	3:2 - 14MP - 4592 x 3056 - 7.4MP - 3344 x 2224 - 3.5MP - 2288 x 1520 16:9 - 14MP - 4912 x 2760 - 7.1MP - 3568 x 2000 - 3.4MP - 2448 x 1376
Image Sizes (Panorama)	Sweep Panorama - 8192 x 1856 - 2160 x 3872 - 12416 x 1856 - 2160 x 5536 3D Sweep Panorama - 4912 x 1080 - 7152 x 1080 - 1920 x 1080	Sweep Panorama - 8192 x 1856 - 2160 x 3872 - 12416 x 1856 - 2160 x 5536 3D Sweep Panorama - 4912 x 1080 - 7152 x 1080 - 1920 x 1080
Image Sizes (Video)	AVHCD - 1920 x 1080, 59.94i MP4 - 1440 x 1080, 29.97p or 25p - 640 x 480, 29.94fps	AVHCD - 1920 x 1080, 59.94i MP4 - 1440 x 1080, 29.97p or 25p - 640 x 480, 29.94fps
Aspect Ratios	3:2 16:9 Variable (Sweep Panorama)	3:2 16:9 Variable (Sweep Panorama)
File Formats (Stills)	RAW JPEG (Fine, Standard) RAW + JPEG	RAW JPEG (Fine, Standard) RAW + JPEG
File Formats (Video)	AVHCD Ver. 1.0 compliant video MPEG-4 AVC/H.264	AVHCD Ver. 1.0 compliant video MPEG-4 AVC/H.264
Lenses	Sony A-mount Konica-Minolta AF mount	Sony A-mount Konica-Minolta AF mount
Focus Modes	Auto Focus (15-point phase-detection AF system) Manual focus Face detection AF Tracking	Auto Focus (15-point phase-detection AF system) Manual focus Face detection AF Tracking
AF Assist Lamp	Yes, dedicated lamp	Yes, dedicated lamp
Image Stabilisation	Yes, Super SteadyShot INSIDE	Yes, Super SteadyShot INSIDE
Exposure Modes	Programe AE Aperture Priority AE Shutter Priority AE Manual Auto Auto+ High-speed Mode (10fps) Sweep Panorama (2D/3D) SCN (see below) Flash Off	Programe AE Aperture Priority AE Shutter Priority AE Continuous Advance Priority AE Manual Auto Auto+ Sweep Panorama (2D/3D) SCN (see below) Flash Off
Scene Modes (Stills)	8	7
Scene Modes (Video)	8	7
Picture Effects	7	N/A
Sensitivity	Auto ISO100-6400 Expandable to ISO12800 ISO25600 in multi-shot NR mode (JPEG-only)	Auto ISO100-6400 Expandable to ISO12800
ISO Steps	1/3 or 1.0 EV steps	1.0 EV steps
Metering Range	-2 to 17 EV	-2 to 17 EV
Metering Modes	1200-zone multi-segment Center-weighted Spot	1200-zone multi-segment Center-weighted Spot
AE Lock	Yes	Yes
Exposure Compensation	-2 to + 2 EV 1/3 EV steps	-2 to +2 EV 1/3 EV steps
Shutter Speed	60 - 1/4000s Bulb Flash X-sync 1/160s	30 - 1/4000s Bulb Flash X-sync 1/160s
White Balance	Auto Daylight Shade Cloudy Incandescent Flourescent Flash Kelvin temp (2500-9900K)	Auto Daylight Shade Cloudy Incandescent Flourescent Flash Kelvin temp (2500-9900K)
Colour Space	sRGB Adobe RGB	sRGB Adobe RGB
Drive Modes	Single Continuous Hi (5.5fps) Continuous Lo (3fps) 7fps via high-speed mode	Single Continuous 6fps 7fps in Continuous Advance Priority AE mode
Self-timer	2 sec 10 sec	2 sec 10 sec
Flash	Manual pop-up TTL auto/manual Guide No. 10 (ISO100) Sync modes: Auto, Fill Flash, Slow Sync, Rear-Curtain Sync, Red-Eye Reduction On/Off, Wireless Flash exposure compensation: Up to +/- 2 EV in 1/3 EV steps	Built-in auto pop-up TTL Guide No. 10 (ISO100) Sync modes: Auto, Fill Flash, Red-Eye Reduction On/Off, Wireless Flash exposure compensation: Up to +/- 2 EV in 1/3 steps
Flash X-sync Speed	1/160s	1/160s
External Flash	Hot shoe	Hot shoe
Viewfinder	Electronic viewfinder Magnification approx 1.1x 100% field of view	Electronic viewfinder Magnification approx 1.1x 100% field of view
Live View	Yes	Yes
LCD Monitor	3.0" XtraFine TruBlack LCD 921,600 pixels Approx 100% frame coverage	3.0" XtraFine TruBlack LCD 921,600 pixels Approx 100% frame coverage
Connectivity	USB 2.0 HDMI Type C External microphone	USB 2.0
Print Compliance	Exif Print Print Image Matching III DPOF Setting	Exif Print Print Image Matching III DPOF Setting
Storage	SD/SDHC/SDXC Cards MemoryStick Pro Duo	SD/SDHC/SDXC Cards MemoryStick Pro Duo
Dimensions	124 x 92 x 85mm	124.4 x 92 x 84.7mm
Weight	415g (body only)	433g (body only)

Ergonomics and Handling



Make no mistake; the SLT-A35 isn't a big camera. The positioning of the control wheel relative to the shutter button may make the A35 slightly uncomfortable for photographers with larger-than-average hands. That said, it's small size makes it a contender for travel photography.

The only physical difference between the A35 and Sony's previous-generation lineup is the lack of an articulated screen. While useful for video work, an articulated screen is considerably less useful when taking stills; some may consider it a shame that a swivel-screen was left out of the A35, your mileage may vary. The A35's ergonomics and handling are otherwise very similar to its predecessors.

When comparing the A35 to other entry-level enthusiast contenders though, the chief difference becomes the SLT-design's use of an electronic viewfinder instead of an optical one. Unlike optical viewfinders, electronic viewfinders allow users to see the effects of settings such as exposure compensation and white balance before taking a photo. Opinions vary as to which is a better solution, and your best bet is to try both at the shop and see which works for you.

Autofocus



One of the highlights of SLT technology is fast autofocus. As an SLT camera, the A35 achieves full-time phase-detection autofocus by having a portion of light being reflected (by means of a semi-translucent mirror) into its autofocus sensors. Because the mirror is semi-translucent, the mirror need not move out of the way to take a photo/video. Crucially, this enables continuous autofocus even during continuous high-speed shooting (important for sports photography) and video.

Image Processing, or 'Picture Effects'
The A35 offers 7 types of Picture Effects, the most recent addition being the ubiquitous Toy Camera effect. With the constant live-view capability of the camera, users are able to see the Picture Effects being applied real-time as they are shooting, allowing users to truly get into the mindset of shooting something for non-photorealistic purposes.


The Posterization effect creates a highly dramatised image, with reduced colours and extremely high contrast. It's available in Colour and Black & White modes.


The Pop Colour effect creates a photo with highly vivid colours.


The Retro effect gives photos a faded film look.



The Partial Colour effect creates photos that leave only a single colour in the scene. This Picture Effect is available in Red, Blue, Green, and Yellow modes. Notice how the live-view updates according to which colour mode is being selected.


The High Key effect creates bright, washed-out photos.


The High-Contrast Monochrome Picture Effect easily creates dramatic black and white shots.


And the newest addition to Sony's Picture Effect arsenal, the Toy Camera effect, exaggerates colours and applies some vignetting to photos.

The Picture Effects aren't without their caveats though. Users are unable to adjust any of the Effects' parameters, such as sensitivity/tolerance of colours in the Partial Colour Picture Effect. The result is a somewhat hit or miss implementation of some of the Picture Effects, but that doesn't discount the fact that Picture Effects are a popular feature and likely selling point of the A35.

Sample Gallery
With Picture Effects being a major feature in the A35, we made liberal use of them in our testing. The results are displayed below.


(55mm, f/7.1, 1/125s, ISO100, Posterisation Picture Effect)
Here we see the extreme contrast and dramatic effect that the Posterisation Picture Effect produces.


(35mm, f/9.0, 1/250s, ISO100, Toy Camera Picture Effect)
The ubiquitous Toy Camera effect, with heavy vignetting.


(35mm, f/8.0, 1/160s, ISO100, Retro Picture Effect)
The same scene taken with the Retro Picture Effect creates a photo reminiscent of faded film.

We also have some sample shots taken at the Singapore Dragon Boat Festival 2011.


(500mm, f/8.0, 1/800s, ISO400)
Taken with a Minolta 500mm f/8 RF.


(500mm, f/8.0, 1/800s, ISO400)
Taken with a Minolta 500mm f/8 RF.

Conclusion
With it's new 16MP sensor and it's Picture Effects in-camera image processing options, the A35 is a strong contender in the entry-level DSLR/SLT market. Coupling strong imaging capability with a wide variety of in-camera Picture Effects in a lightweight and relatively inexpensive camera body, the A35 strikes a fine balance of price and features. Continuous autofocus in high-speed shooting and video adds icing to the cake.