Sometimes it’s hard to believe that it was just in 2006 that Sony entered into the DSLR manufacturing arena. Since then, their progress has spoken for itself with production of some of the world’s best compact camera. Sony is known for their cutting edge technology that is spelt in each and every of their products especially the cameras. It is their romancing with technology that gave rise to the Single-Lens Translucent (SLT) technology and Sony SLT A35 is one of the cameras that use that technology.

The ‘A’ in Sony SLT A35 stands for Alpha, a familiar name to many who use or know something about Sony digital cameras. Sony SLT A35 is a perfect entry level camera that is ideal for serious amateurs who want to try with professional functions in a relatively small camera. If you can master Sony SLT A35, you can surely be on your way to being a pro! Here is a quick take on Sony SLT A35.

Overview

Sony SLT A35 is not a DSLR as explained above, but a Single-Lens Translucent camera. What this means is that the camera incorporate a semi-transparent mirror that splits light between the CMOS sensor and the separate AF sensor. This mirror does not move during exposure as it the case with DSLR cameras but stays in position. As a matter of fact, SLT cameras are closer relative of mirrorless interchangeable-lens cameras (MILC) and not DSLR as many may think. One major advantage of SLT is that the camera will have faster shutter speed on low specifications since the mirror does not have to move during exposure.

Sony SLT A35 has an impressive 16.2 megapixel sensor and can record Full HD AVCHD video. It is equipped with 3D Sweep Panorama and can shoot 5.5fps continuous shooting, though this can go up to 7fps when the command dial is in the telezoom mode. The camera has an ultra wide 3.5 inch screen, though only about 3 inch screen is utilized for viewing pictures as the other portion is used to display menus.

Features

To start with, this camera is beautifully designed, a break from the original Minolta SLRs that gave way to the new Sony Alpha designs. The new Sony SLT A35 looks curvier and has many buttons on its body for various controls. Though the buttons are bit very cluttering, they make it easier for users to locate the functions rather than going into the menus.

And talking of menus, function menus options are constantly displayed on the black sides of the LCD making it easier for the users to know what settings they are on.  And across the top of the screen general information is displayed. The information includes shooting mode, file type, pictures left and battery power remaining.  In the bottom right corner of the screen are the picture styles where 6 options are displayed. The options are standard, vivid, portrait, landscape, sunset and black & white.

Sony SLT A35 has an electronic viewfinder (EVF) which means it does not come on by default unless activated. To activate it, there is a sensor at the bottom of the eye piece that detects when you move close to it and this triggers the EVF to come on and the LCD to go off. When you retract, the EVF goes off and screen comes on again.

In terms of picture quality, Sony SLT A35 gets full marks. It has an ISO range of 100-12800 and at low ISO settings, the pictures are free of any noise. The high ISO settings records a bit of noise so it is advisable to shoot at low ISO thought even ISO 6400 still gives good photos. The camera is very good with macro photography due to the fact that the mirror does not move during exposure, eliminating any chance of shake.

Final word

Sony SLT A35 has got it flaws as a SLT camera but overall this is a camera that will allow an amateur to shoot like a pro. Though a price tag of Rs. 35,000 seems like a lot for an entry level camera of this nature, the work one can do with it is not regrettable. This is one more gem you won’t ever regret flaunting.