Anybody have an a37 and a57?

[Pinksummer27]

I have a nex5 but the camera with lens kit just isn't fast enough to catch my son moving around. I don't want to buy new lenses for it as I'd like to get into dslr/t territory for the long run. I was pretty sold on the a57 but want the 18-135 lens and it was out of my price range so I'm wondering what differences or similarities are there between the a37 and a57? Maybe all I need is an a37 but would like to know what real users think. Thanks!

 

[Jeadm]

I would recommend, and Amazon has an excellent deal on the combo A57 w/18-135mm for $798, it's just $250 over the cost of the body alone ($548) and a much better buy than the standard kit 18-55 IMO.

The A37 is part of Sony's 'extra compact' SLR body form factor. Some people think it's too small. If you want something that's got a little more presence in your hand (similar to Nikon or Canon entry level stuff size wise) you probably want an A57. I have it, it feels comfortable in your hand.

The A57 also has a much more useful articulating LCD design than the A37.

I own the A57 with the 18-135, it's a great pair. I also have an A33, same size as the A37.

 

[Atgard]

I don't have an A57, but I can weigh in on the A37 side. I went with the A37 because I wanted a smaller/lighter package and a built-in flash, and it costs about $200 less than the A57.

On the down side, it has a lower-resolution LCD screen that flips but doesn't rotate, 30fps movies instead of 60fps, and 5.5-7 fps shooting instead of 8-10 or so.

Image quality, low-light performance, lens selection, AF speed, etc. are all identical.

I could live with the negatives (I use the EVF for shooting and my computer for reviewing photos, not the LCD screen; I prefer 30fps movies that look identical and take half the space; and 5.5fps is plenty fast for almost any application). And I wanted the smaller size and built-in flash. And of course the price savings.

One note on size: the A37 has a redesigned, deeper grip than the A33/A35/A55, and it's supposed to be more comfortable. I haven't used those other cameras, but I find the A37 comfortable to use.

I do think the 18-135mm lens for an extra $100 over the 18-55mm is a good deal. $600 for a solid multi-purpose lens and the same sensor, processor, and image quality of cameras costing 2x or 3x as much seems like a good deal to me.

Of course, I'm just starting out and everyone has different needs, but I'm glad I got the A37 over the A57. I hope that helps...

 

[Tucabert]

I would recommend, and Amazon has an excellent deal on the combo A57 w/18-135mm for $798, it's just $250 over the cost of the body alone ($548) and a much better buy than the standard kit 18-55 IMO.

The A37 is part of Sony's 'extra compact' SLR body form factor. Some people think it's too small. If you want something that's got a little more presence in your hand (similar to Nikon or Canon entry level stuff size wise) you probably want an A57. I have it, it feels comfortable in your hand.

The A57 also has a much more useful articulating LCD design than the A37.

I own the A57 with the 18-135, it's a great pair. I also have an A33, same size as the A37.

Actually I would like to point out that the a33 and a37 bodies are different. I'd say the only good thing about the a37 compared,to the others is the body and ergonomics.

 

[Tucabert]

I don't have an A57, but I can weigh in on the A37 side. I went with the A37 because I wanted a smaller/lighter package and a built-in flash, and it costs about $200 less than the A57.

On the down side, it has a lower-resolution LCD screen that flips but doesn't rotate, 30fps movies instead of 60fps, and 5.5-7 fps shooting instead of 8-10 or so.

Image quality, low-light performance, lens selection, AF speed, etc. are all identical.

I could live with the negatives (I use the EVF for shooting and my computer for reviewing photos, not the LCD screen; I prefer 30fps movies that look identical and take half the space; and 5.5fps is plenty fast for almost any application). And I wanted the smaller size and built-in flash. And of course the price savings.

One note on size: the A37 has a redesigned, deeper grip than the A33/A35/A55, and it's supposed to be more comfortable. I haven't used those other cameras, but I find the A37 comfortable to use.

I do think the 18-135mm lens for an extra $100 over the 18-55mm is a good deal. $600 for a solid multi-purpose lens and the same sensor, processor, and image quality of cameras costing 2x or 3x as much seems like a good deal to me.

Of course, I'm just starting out and everyone has different needs, but I'm glad I got the A37 over the A57. I hope that helps...

Since when does the a57 not have a built in flash?

 

[Atgard]

Sorry, my mistake. I must have read that wrong somewhere.

 

[Jeadm]

Tucabert wrote:

I own the A57 with the 18-135, it's a great pair. I also have an A33, same size as the A37.

Actually I would like to point out that the a33 and a37 bodies are different. I'd say the only good thing about the a37 compared,to the others is the body and ergonomics.

I stand corrected. I actually thought there wasn't anything restyled other than the LCD. It's a shame they went backward on the LCD from the A33.

 

[falconsusi]

I have both the a37 and the a57. I love them both. The a57 has a much better LCD (bigger & better resolution), but the a37 is plenty acceptable is it is better than the P&S that I have. The a57 is larger and heavier, but not so much that it is uncomfortable. The a37 being smaller isn't as comfortable to hold, but as a woman I have smaller hands anyhow.

I have a tendency to use the a37 more unless it is for big lens birding. Then I like the weight of the a57 combined with the Tamron 200-500 that I have. I haven't actually paired the a37 with this lens, so I can't really compare them.

Of late I have been using the LCD almost all of the time and I am perfectly happy with the a37. I actually prefer the up/down articulation of the a37 over the a57. Maybe because I haven't done a lot of macro lately. And with the a57 I don't turn the LCD back into the camera for safe keeping. I have a screen shield on all of my cameras.

I believe the a57 is capable of more frames per second, but that doesn't really concern me. As well as the a57 is supposed to be better with movies. Eh, whatever.

If the a37 LCD were the same as the a57 I believe I'd have two a37s instead.

 

[Kings1]

Pinksummer27 wrote:

I have a nex5 but the camera with lens kit just isn't fast enough to catch my son moving around. I don't want to buy new lenses for it as I'd like to get into dslr/t territory for the long run. I was pretty sold on the a57 but want the 18-135 lens and it was out of my price range so I'm wondering what differences or similarities are there between the a37 and a57? Maybe all I need is an a37 but would like to know what real users think. Thanks!

I dislike being honest and please forgive my honesty, but sounds to me like you need to shoot in better light with a quick shutter with the 18-55 lens. You could also try different drive modes...I use my NEX 18-55 lens combo for shootng my fast action dogs in good light and I can get good pictures. These movng subjects like children, pets, and flying birds requires a real fast shutter for sure.

Even with the a57 and/or the a37 fast subjects need to have a faster shutter speed and other settings tweaked, so I'm not sure a new camera will help.

You could also try some of the pancake lenses for the NEX for lower light shots more open aperture with faster shutter speeds as well.

 

[goetz48]

None of the APS-C size Sony SLTs and SLRs has much better low light performance than the NEX-5N. Only a few Full format cameras are significantly better but also way (factor 10) more expensive than the entry class models (A37 / A57) from Sony and other manufacturers.

Sony A37 and A57 have about the same sensor as your NEX-5N, so they are basically the same.

Have a look at www.dxomark.com.

 

[Pinksummer27]

None of the APS-C size Sony SLTs and SLRs has much better low light performance than the NEX-5N. Only a few Full format cameras are significantly better but also way (factor 10) more expensive than the entry class models (A37 / A57) from Sony and other manufacturers.

Sony A37 and A57 have about the same sensor as your NEX-5N, so they are basically the same.

Have a look at www.dxomark.com.

I don't have a 5N. I just have the 5. I do know that I need faster shutter speeds and better light but I'm indoors at the moment as its -40C here. Lol. Awful. I shoot indoors a lot and want the 35mm 1.8. I just can't justify the price of a new nex lens and the adapter to use a mount lenses. My 5 isn't a horrible camera by any means, it's just not what I want. I really don't like that there is no viewfinder and the LCD screen is really hard to see outdoors (when doing landscape). Now my problem is that I can't find tr a37 with the 18-135 in canada! What a bummer! I can find the a37 with 18-55 for 485$ but I really want that extra reach.

 

[clockwork247]

Pinksummer27 wrote:

None of the APS-C size Sony SLTs and SLRs has much better low light performance than the NEX-5N. Only a few Full format cameras are significantly better but also way (factor 10) more expensive than the entry class models (A37 / A57) from Sony and other manufacturers.

Sony A37 and A57 have about the same sensor as your NEX-5N, so they are basically the same.

Have a look at www.dxomark.com.

I don't have a 5N. I just have the 5. I do know that I need faster shutter speeds and better light but I'm indoors at the moment as its -40C here. Lol. Awful. I shoot indoors a lot and want the 35mm 1.8. I just can't justify the price of a new nex lens and the adapter to use a mount lenses. My 5 isn't a horrible camera by any means, it's just not what I want. I really don't like that there is no viewfinder and the LCD screen is really hard to see outdoors (when doing landscape). Now my problem is that I can't find tr a37 with the 18-135 in canada! What a bummer! I can find the a37 with 18-55 for 485$ but I really want that extra reach.

I have the A37, also played with the A57, I picked the A37 because it's small. indoor shooting? you're better off with a flash, bounce it off something...

I also have the NEX 5, it's actually good enough in terms of AF, get a sigma 30 2.8 and it's alright, unfortunately you still need a flash... unfortunately 2X there's only 1 flash for that camera, the AM20S, that's gonna run you 100-120 bucks just to bounce off the ceiling (it's a small basic flash)...

I got my A37 + 18-135 new for 520... picked up the minolta 3600D flash for 70... so 600 total, not a bad combo IMO....

All the sony camera has bad high ISO dating back to the A100 when they're on CCD sensor... the only good one is the A580, but that's long gone... all the SLT are bad in terms of high ISO compare to their peers, but even so, all crop sensor camera isn't up to the point of shooting indoor without flash yet, the best one right now is good up to ISO 1600... the FF equivalent is around ISO 3000 (1 stop better)... which brings me back to the point, get a flash!!!!.

 

[billzilla2000]

clockwork247 wrote:.

All the sony camera has bad high ISO dating back to the A100 when they're on CCD sensor... the only good one is the A580, but that's long gone...

False.

all the SLT are bad in terms of high ISO compare to their peers, but even so, all crop sensor camera isn't up to the point of shooting indoor without flash yet

False.

 

[clockwork247]

sensibill wrote:

clockwork247 wrote:.

All the sony camera has bad high ISO dating back to the A100 when they're on CCD sensor... the only good one is the A580, but that's long gone...

False.

all the SLT are bad in terms of high ISO compare to their peers, but even so, all crop sensor camera isn't up to the point of shooting indoor without flash yet

False.

Please tell me which sony crop camera high ISO is better than the A580, please tell me the dxo number rated for the A100 high ISO. thanks.

Nikon always lay a wooping on sony when it comes to sensor, they must have signed a clause with Nikon that sony can't use it's own best sensor.




Canon on the other hand have always been able to pack more pixel onto it's sensor creating a smoother image to my eye (until recently that sony hatch out the 24MP on the A77 so that one get a pass from me even though it's high ISO rating isn't very high).




Pentax is just like nikon, for no apparent reason getting better performance out of sony's own sensor.




Who else am I missing?

 

[goetz48]

Sony (and manufacturers who use their sensors) make different mudels srom one sensor design. Usually there is little improvement within one if these sensors until they are replaced. When other manufacturers use them there is different post processing since they use different processors and firmware. So Nikon has a different JPEG engine and different noise handling.

So You will find the 16.1 Mp sensor without PDAF in A580, A55, A35, NEX-C3, NEX-5N, A57, NEX-F3 and A37. There is some difference since the SLT cameras have some light loss caused by the fixed mirror and therefore show a little more noise than the cameras shooting with the 'naked' sensor. But can you tell me why the A580 should be better than NEX-5N? Look a dxomark values. They differ by typical unit variations, and even the Nikon 7000D is not much different (same sensor).

 

[clockwork247]

goetz48 wrote:

Sony (and manufacturers who use their sensors) make different mudels srom one sensor design. Usually there is little improvement within one if these sensors until they are replaced. When other manufacturers use them there is different post processing since they use different processors and firmware. So Nikon has a different JPEG engine and different noise handling.

So You will find the 16.1 Mp sensor without PDAF in A580, A55, A35, NEX-C3, NEX-5N, A57, NEX-F3 and A37. There is some difference since the SLT cameras have some light loss caused by the fixed mirror and therefore show a little more noise than the cameras shooting with the 'naked' sensor. But can you tell me why the A580 should be better than NEX-5N? Look a dxomark values. They differ by typical unit variations, and even the Nikon 7000D is not much different (same sensor).

the OP has a 5 not a 5n, the 5 uses the A560 sensor. and that's what I was saying, unless he op for the A580, the rest is getting hit with the SLT mirrors, so the high ISO performance is just not good compare to it's peers (Pentax k-5, nikon D3200, 5200 ect...) and this is also why I suggest getting a flash, because at this point and time, thinking about getting an SLT isn't the real solution for him, the real solution is to get some sort of flash to assist him in low light, he can't be taking pictures at f/1.4 and f/1.8 all the time, it just doesn't work.

 

[Dutchpepper]

Pinksummer27 wrote:

I don't have a 5N. I just have the 5. I do know that I need faster shutter speeds and better light but I'm indoors at the moment as its -40C here. Lol. Awful. I shoot indoors a lot and want the 35mm 1.8. I just can't justify the price of a new nex lens and the adapter to use a mount lenses. My 5 isn't a horrible camera by any means, it's just not what I want. I really don't like that there is no viewfinder and the LCD screen is really hard to see outdoors (when doing landscape). Now my problem is that I can't find tr a37 with the 18-135 in canada! What a bummer! I can find the a37 with 18-55 for 485$ but I really want that extra reach.

I was in the same situation with a57 I really wanted it with the 18-135mm but was out of my reach so was looking at the a37 combo but as much as i liked the camera it just didn't feel as good as the a57 and I just couldn't see myself with the lesser LCD Screen, I really liked the 921k on the HX20v.

So I decided to get the a57 kit with cash back from Sony it ended up the best deal, a month later the price of the 18-135mm lens dropped! a lot of shops where selling bulk (white box version) and I ended up buying one for 225 euro

So what am I saying, As you said you can't get out that much so why not just go for the a57 kit and see if you can pick up the 18-135mm later in the spring when you will use it much more . See if they come down or there are some white box versions around. Also I got myself a second hand 50mm 1.8 great for in doors and the dull winter days here, so the 35mm should also be great!

Craig

Craig Martin

Explore Craig Martin’s 978 photos on Flickr!

www.flickr.com

 

[Tucabert]

goetz48 wrote:

Sony (and manufacturers who use their sensors) make different mudels srom one sensor design. Usually there is little improvement within one if these sensors until they are replaced. When other manufacturers use them there is different post processing since they use different processors and firmware. So Nikon has a different JPEG engine and different noise handling.

So You will find the 16.1 Mp sensor without PDAF in A580, A55, A35, NEX-C3, NEX-5N, A57, NEX-F3 and A37. There is some difference since the SLT cameras have some light loss caused by the fixed mirror and therefore show a little more noise than the cameras shooting with the 'naked' sensor. But can you tell me why the A580 should be better than NEX-5N? Look a dxomark values. They differ by typical unit variations, and even the Nikon 7000D is not much different (same sensor).

the OP has a 5 not a 5n, the 5 uses the A560 sensor. and that's what I was saying, unless he op for the A580, the rest is getting hit with the SLT mirrors, so the high ISO performance is just not good compare to it's peers (Pentax k-5, nikon D3200, 5200 ect...) and this is also why I suggest getting a flash, because at this point and time, thinking about getting an SLT isn't the real solution for him, the real solution is to get some sort of flash to assist him in low light, he can't be taking pictures at f/1.4 and f/1.8 all the time, it just doesn't work.

The k-5 is not a competitor to any of these cameras. I think you meant the k-r or the k-30, cause the k-5 is meant to compete with the 7d and the d300s.

 

[Dirk W]

The A37 uses the same kind of battery as your NEX5 so that might be an advantage for you, regarding charger etc. And with a little handiness you can adjust the autofocus on the A37 in case it is off. Both does not apply to the A57. The A37's LCD IQ is really poor on the other hand.

 

[Kim Flowers]

But the a57 is supposed to be much faster than the NEX cameras at autofocusing and tracking subjects while focusing. Read more on that from a question I raised yesterday on this forum entitled "Sony SLT or Sony mirrorless camera?" (or something like that - I'm not looking at it while typing this. You will see my name so you will know it's the one I'm referring to). It was very helpful for explaining why the SLT cameras can achieve faster focus, and thus, faster shooting for quick moving subjects. However, the other NEX user described some methods to approximate that shooting speed with the NEX cameras, so I'd try that first since you already own the NEX (although yours doesn't have an EVF which you said you'd also like and the add-on one is about $350). Good luck with your decision making; I'm trying to decide between the a37 or a57 myself since I'd also like the 18-135 lens.