Sony Alpha 57 - (SLT-A57) - Menus and Basic Set-up Explained

[@MckellenMallari]

Watching this in 2024

[@Jason_Hermann]

Awesome, I made this so long ago!! Still an amazing camera...

[@humanrightsuk]

who is watching in 2019 I absolutely love this vid and you are sooooooo good at cameras keep up the good work

[@Jason_Hermann]

You would be surprised ;) Thank you for the kind words!!

[@lucysanchez4343]

Meeeee :) Just one day after you LOL. I am from MX and this video its just GREAT!!! I am learning how to use better my Alpha 57 (Set Up). Thank you Jay for posting these type of videos :)

[@robbieirlam414]

First post of 2020. So stoked to have found this tutorial.

[@Freeflying_kiwi]

Even in 2020 still good video :)

[@MarkDee]

@@Jason_Hermann can this be used for streaming, is there clean HDMI and can you set it to not shut down during long streams?

[@Jason_Hermann]

Check out my website sonyalphalab, and then on the right hand side is a list of all the categories - Firmware is there with all the info and links!!

[@SonyAlphaLab]

Thanks for the comments Dawn!! Glad the video helped you out. Jay

[@AlexIzquierdoMkt]

I have just bought an A57, this is the first video I watch and It has already helped me a lot. Cheers from Spain!

[@Jason_Hermann]

Hello, You need enable the release without lens feature. It's in the camera settings and will allow for fully manual lenses to be attached and pics to be taken. One you enable that the camera will be able to take photos!! If your using a modern lens with electronics, you may need to clean the contacts or bring it back to Sony. Hope that helps, Jay

[@Jason_Hermann]

Yes it does Auto focus while recording video, and it works really good. It is limited to f/3.5 aperture though when using AF. In manual mode you can record at faster apertures.

[@srali7609]

Hi Jason I have come across your Channel and would like to thank you for this video you had made on the Sony A57 i know the camera is old but still very good for novices to use and learn with. One question I would like to ask and I hope you could answer it. How does one remove all displays from the screen. My issue is i want to remove the small square in the middle i know you can go onto AF area but that doesnt give you the option remove the squares altogether

[@kennynvake4hve584]

Im getting one of these this week...I know its old, but i like the way it works..

[@AlejandroGarcia-hi8wh]

I'm too Buying this camera

[@kennynvake4hve584]

Im just getting back into photography..and got this camera today(5.23.19)...it is older, but it is what I could get at this time...and I seen right away a difference compared to a panasonic...when in the menu system....and you make an adjustment...take a shot...and want to go back to change that setting you just set..you have go back thru all the menue's to get back where you was..while not a big deal breaker..I did like the menu to go back to where you were before you made the adjustment.

[@wynn3473]

Thank you for this. I am armature photographer and just needed this to shoot jewelry for my online store. Very helpful!

[@Jason_Hermann]

You prolly have to slow of a shutter speed when your hand holding and getting a lot of blurry pics. Upgrading the lens will certainly get you better quality, but may not solve the blurry issue if it's camera shake and or to slow of a shutter speed ect.. If your using Auto ISO, try raising the ISO manually and take the same shot again. Or switch to shutter priority mode and raise the shutter speed until you get a sharp shot. This should help!!

[@manowske73]

Just bought a Sony Alpha 57 last night. Thank you for this video, it helped me get the basic settings set up.

[@Jason_Hermann]

Hi George, The A58 is a combination of the a57 and a37, so it is a comprise in quality. I would look for a used SLT-A57 as it has a higher res rear LCD screen. Still, the image quality and video should be just as good on the A58, although I have not tested it yet myself.

[@goenfree]

This is by far the best video ever done to help newbies like myself ! Thank you very much!!

[@Jason_Hermann]

You are very welcome, and thanks for the comments! Jay

[@helpihavenoskin8939]

I agree, super helpful!

[@Jason_Hermann]

It does not have AF points in the corner, only in the center area diamond shape grid. As you said yourself, manual focus and focus peaking will make it very easy to do and that is how I would go about it. Or you can focus and re-compose the scene, but the depth of field may change depending on how close you are ect..

[@Jason_Hermann]

Awesome, thanks for the comments!!

[@feelthefears]

Moving on from canon, i wish i found this video a month ago. But it still clarified alot of things for me. Thanks so much!!

[@Jason_Hermann]

i don't have a specific guide for Night photos, but it's very easy to do. You will need a tri-pod and a long exposure most likely, but the Auto Modes should work fine for this. Time lapse is a lot of fun and you will need a timed remote trigger for that type of stuff ;) Hope that helps! Jay

[@ValterKabas]

Thank you very much, Jay, and sorry for the repeated question on the lab forum.

[@Jason_Hermann]

Hello, sorry to hear that. what lens are you using? pehaps the focus is in the wrong mode or not working? perhaps the shutter speed is to slow and the images are blurry? Perhaps the ISO is set really high for some reason? Try full Auto outside and see how that works for you??

[@Jason_Hermann]

Thanks for all the comments and thumbs up everybody ;)

[@dankristensen2332]

Jay SonyAlphaLab

[@TheGutlessjester]

I got this camera yesterday and i absolutely love it!!! Image Quality is great, could have a longer exposure time but its great!

[@jscat11]

Thanks for the video. I just purchased the a57 and this video definitely helped me prepare for its arrival.

[@maryclairmont2013]

Just the type of help I need! Some the same, but my camera is SLT-A33. Thanks, great job!

[@Jason_Hermann]

You need to go into the functions menu and then select the creative styles mode. Once in there look for the Black and white feature. You will need to be in Jpeg quality for this to work!!

[@Sonnar100]

I really enjoy your wideo and comments, thank you, you are great!!!!!!

[@Jason_Hermann]

I used the 24-70mm zeiss lens mostly for this review!!

[@RohanGillett]

Thanks for the reply Jay. I actually asked at several websites and eventually found out that Sony doesn't provide English language versions for its products in Japan. There are only a few shops which have, "overseas", versions available which I didn't know when I purchased it. Not a major problem for me, but would have preferred it in English.

[@Jason_Hermann]

It's in the image quality area of the menu. look for video!

[@Jason_Hermann]

Thank you for the comments!!!

[@passioncrew5136]

God bless you sir Love from nepal

[@SonyAlphaLab]

Awesome!! Thanks for the comments ;)

[@TheGutlessjester]

Yup i got an external shutter acouple days ago and it works

[@DannysHauntedJourney]

My only question that is most important to me is this. While live recording a movie, is there an option to have the camera auto focus?

[@Jason_Hermann]

You have to change the screen display mode from auto, to off!! This will make the screen behave more like a optical viewfinder ;)

[@skkms910]

Can you explain what it means to shoot "RAW" like the settings had? I'm not sure if I understand the difference between it and the others.

[@Jason_Hermann]

Raw refers to the image file type. When shooting RAW, that means the image file that the camera creates is not processed or compressed into the jpeg format. The jpeg format has more sharpening, color enhancements, and is compressed in size to save file space and time in post processing. Jpegs are also easily sharable on the web and in email for example. Raw files require some processing on the computer, but offer more information which can allow for better processing than the camera would have done if shooting jpeg. For example, you can pull out more highlight and shadow detail with a raw file when compared to a jpeg. Raw files are also not share friendly like jpeg files, so you ultimately need to export the raw file from your editing program into a jpeg so you can share it on facebook for example. I shoot raw, because I like developing my photos in Lightroom and I actually have several tutorials that will show you how if you are interested here: kzbin.infosearch?query=raw+file

[@Jason_Hermann]

The European version of the camera has different frame rates than the US model. 24p and 60p for example.

[@afnerhernandez]

Valter. I have the exact same gear as you described, get yourself a Minolta adapter for Sony Alpha, Minolta lenses are great. Specially the 50mm at 1.7. I also have the 50mm 1.8 and its a charm, but they are different lenses one from each other.

[@csuozzo23]

Can you make a video on shutter speed and aperture adjusting?

[@fofdeejay]

I just won a alpha 58 on ebay and csn use this vid very good , tnx

[@Jason_Hermann]

Awesome! It's a great camera and best of luck with it ;)

[@fofdeejay]

@@Jason_Hermann tnx 👌

[@shokeja]

Just got my sony, very helpful learning the basics!!!!

[@brown55061]

If you go into A-mode and set all this stuff up, will it keep all those settings for other modes, like M, P, S etc? Just wondered if you had to set all settings for each mode separately. Great info to give people though!

[@Jason_Hermann]

That is definitely the problem!! if you have 50i it's the European standard version of the camera.

[@alishalimbu4342]

Very helpful, thank you very much ❤

[@Jason_Hermann]

This is the first time I ever heard about the slt-a57 overheating? I know the Nex-7 suffered from this??

[@KaptainCanuck]

Camera sensors overhaeat (info comes by way of John Greengo) and that is why the longest shutter speed is 30 seconds (but BULB can override if using safely for under 5 minutes shots).

[@chrisparis8961]

Thanks, very informative and saved to my favorites....

[@froggersnail]

Hi, thanks for the review. I brought this for my fiance and he's a beginner. Is there any tutorials on the how the take pictures with different modes and settings? I would like to teach him but I'm not any smarter than him either so, if there is simple tutorials that can help, I'd love to have a peek on that. thanks.

[@ValterKabas]

Hi! What you think about old minolta lenses? Is there any difference in picture quality between the minolta and sony lenses? I have an old minolta 50mm 1.7. Is the sony 50mm 1.8 better than this? Do you recommend minolta lenses instead of sony( the same version)? I use sony alpha a57. Thanks and sorry for my english(I'm from Brazil).

[@kimpoy4589]

Thanks Jay, one more question, can i use sigma or tamron lenses on sony a57?

[@NickCasale]

Great vid man, just got my a57, very helpful

[@Jason_Hermann]

There is no slow motion feature. You have to record at the higher frame rate of 60 and then slow the video down to 30fps in post processing software to get slow motion video.

[@PetePanaia]

Hi Jay, nice video on the menu system. I was looking to figure out how to set up the A57 to do Time Lapse photography? Can you share any setting for this please?

[@KaptainCanuck]

Simply buy an intervolometer.

[@Corrieconnect]

should do an indept sony a57 tutorial. thank you @Jay SonyAlphaLab

[@bootersdad]

Thanks Jay! Great video explaining my new camera.

[@confine4969]

hello guys pls do same kind of video for a37 pls i cant find tutorial for it anywhere and u guys seem to be expert in alpha cameras so pls do complete video tutorial for sony slt a37

[@ragnar-andregrnbech609]

Tnx fore a great guide. great camera, but do u have a guide for night Pictures? im having trubble taking night photos. all of the Pictures turn out black. what do u think about timelapsing With this camera?

[@jebripahlavi8311]

Can you tell me, how change the aperture in manual mode ?

[@Jason_Hermann]

Yes, correct.

[@dandanu2526]

A 58 doesn"t have "Face priority tracking":...only "Face registration"...but i guess it's the same thing...Very helpful tutorial,Thank you!

[@TreyDubzz]

Thanks Jay! Have been using my Alpha 65 for about 9 months and enjoying the camera, but how do you shoot simple black and white?

[@ItsYourGirlTinu]

Can you use a tripod on it with swivel LCD screen down for videos

[@nicolaprojecteur6198]

Hi, great informative video, thanks for sharing. Do you know if there is a black and white feature on this camera, I've searched the setting and can't find one. It's the first camera I've owned without this. Thanks

[@Jason_Hermann]

Your going to have to figure how to get to the language and region settings area. I would bring it to somebody who can read Japanese to help you find it!!.

[@rishimaniaulakh]

hi jay first of all im amazed after seeing ur reply to people awesome man... great job man.... now my question plz answer me if you got some time to answer me .. well i got ...SLT A65v with 18 - 55mm basic lens i have took thousands of pics tried all mode but still blurry image when i zoom in even sometime it seems very low quality pic i dont know what to do ? should i change my lens or do somthing else cuz i wana get most out of my camera .. plz help me plzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

[@alponton]

I assume this camera uses the older A mount lens and the older Minolta lens also - please confirm - thanks

[@igoRajon]

Greate guide! Tell me please, how to activate histogram, like on sony a55?

[@pamelamosher5555]

HI, thanks for the video! I have a Sony A37, trying to figure out how to do time lapse video? Can you help?

[@toig15]

Just FYI the focus magnifier button is in between the lens and the grip, slightly under

[@muxa000]

Hi! I'm thinking about buying this camera, but I've heard that if I try to take a photo of a dark object with it (let's say, a person in black), it will try to make it (only the object!) more light. And that this might cause some issues like... don't know how to say... red cells on the photo or something. Have you ever come across this problem? Or maybe it was caused by wrong settings?

[@mcfunky69]

Thank you man that help me a lot to go through the setting but my only issue is the screen shows error I tried to clean the lens it’s the same thing and then i changed the lens and nothing happened thank U

[@DUFC0723]

Got the camera today and I LOVE it!. Thanks for the help!.

[@philipRCheli]

Does it have a burst mode? if yes, how fast?(FPS) Do you think it's a good camera for sports(video&photo) And in video mode,can you manualy focuc? ir does it only auto?(sorry if i misssed it in your video)

[@benneken1982]

I have a small question about the creative styles: does the vivid setting equals the standard setting with saturation +1, contrast + 1 and sharpness + 1 ? I have to say that the colors of the pictures of the a57 in standard mode are a bit flat. It is good that I can adjust it. For the rest it is a good camera

[@JazzTail19]

Hi! Thanks for this video. I have Sony SLT-A65V. I want to find the shutter speed setting, so that I can use the effect 'Light trail'. I have this camera for some months now, but I don't know how to use that particular effect. Thank you.

[@Jason_Hermann]

I agree

[@kenpo1]

Hi: Thanks for all your help, one question what lens are you using?

[@LanceOR2011]

In AVCHD mode, the camera can record very high quality 1920x1080/60p If you instead want to create lower quality video that creates smaller files that are easier to upload, then you can use the MP4 option at only 1440x1080 instead. The quality will not be as good, but files will be smaller.

[@jibinej]

hi,, the video is very helpful. i am a beginner just bought alpha 57 with tamron 18-200 mm lance. i have got a doubt how to change aperture in manual mode? i can change the shutter speed but not the aperture,, i hope u will help me ,, cheers,,, jibz

[@GreensEra]

Still learning in 202!

[@alekseydomino]

Hi, Jay. Tell me can I turn off the SteadyShot in a57 so it will not crop the image during videorecording? And how high in ISO range can I go in video mode?

[@marion1168]

Great video Jay. Thank you I learnt lots. My question is that I am trying to photograph jewelry. I have a white light box, lights and the camera is set to iso 100, F16 and custom white balance which I have done with the white card. Yet the photos are dark grey. What am I doing wrong.

[@MrMagrinhojunior]

fi you want to take a night picture, you have to reduce shutter speed, to 1s/2s, depending on what you want, and if it´s to dark trun off auto focus, for a night picture it´s always best to use a tripod, and a remote control, to avoid camera shake

[@gchamp727]

Hi Jay, Great video! I'm a A580 user for the past year and love that A580 but I like to use legacy lenses so I bought the A57 specifically for the focus peaking. I have figured it out and it does help me get a quick focus but seems a bit wanky. Can you explain exactly how it is triggered? I find that regardless of how I set it, sometimes it works very well but other times it refuses to trigger at all. I know it is based on contrast but it seems sensitive to light and distance .. any ideas?

[@silentiumestaureum93]

I sat through that entire video and waited to see about the FPS feature. If it come with 12FPS can I change that to 8 or 7 or even 3 FPS??

[@proacepac99]

Hey, Jay. I will buy a DSLR Sony A65 in Japan at the end of April. However, it just has Japanese, no English. Can you tell me how I can change this camera's language into English? Thank you very much!

[@Jason_Hermann]

Thanks!

[@mazhar27]

hi jay its a wonderful video u ve posted..thanks a ton..really helpful2start using my a57 to its full potential..i ve a lil ques..can the AF area be adjusted before clicking the pic with out going into the function option & then choosing?it seems a lil time taking..

[@harisbasic837]

Hello Jay. Which is the fastest/largest supported Sdhc card? Does it for example support the Sandisk Extreme Pro 95mb/sec 32GB SDHC? Greetings from Sweden

[@kimflowers4746]

Hey, Jay, I just got my a57 and wanted to know how/where I do the firmware updates. Could you help point me in the right direction, please?

[@kennynvake4hve584]

Does anyone on here have a SLT-A57? If so..can you tell me if the shutter should stay OPEN, with the power off..and the battery out. It is the first time I have owned this line of cameras..they are old I know..but its a nice camera...and from what I hear, and from using it..it will hold it's own against the other top brands...thanks for anyone's help.

[@Jason_Hermann]

I don't have one handy, but I do believe the shutter stays open when off.

[@kennynvake4hve584]

@@Jason_Hermann That just seems so strange with all the talk about ..ohhhhhhhh keeping the sensor clean..And this camera leaves it the shutter open, so all that naughty dust can get in there...I might be mistaken here, but dont it have a filter, or a glass cover over the sensor..that like Olympus thats vibrates when you turn it off????

[@Jason_Hermann]

@@kennynvake4hve584Yes there is a glass in front of the sensor and you should always have a lens on the camera or a camera body lens mount cap = Sony ALC-B55 (bhpho.to/2MiGKzo) when no lens is attached. Never leave the camera lying around with no lens or cap attached.

[@ValterKabas]

Afner Hernández, thanks for the reply, it helped me a lot.

[@thomasmathewsjr.4671]

Good quick as nd well done.

[@j00r2]

What's the best video settings for cinematography

[@fujifu]

I have a question about this camera I'm looking to upgrade but I was wondering the auto portrait framing can that be turned off by chance in menu settings I want to know before I make a decision ?

[@Jason_Hermann]

Awesome!

[@d00dl3z_0]

Hi I have my a57 for 3 years an I am ready to upgrade what should I get next?

[@DerHossMeister]

Jay, what lens do you have on the A57?

[@gchamp727]

I just bought the A57 and I looked at the D5100 and D3200 .. if I was gonna go with Nikon I would either go with the d7000 or better .. (big bucks D700, D800) Personally, I like Sony's features .. I also have an A580. People whine about the fewer lens choices but who can afford to stockpile lenses anyway?

[@TheBlockTake]

Is there anyway to set the USB Connection to PC remote for webcam live streaming?

[@JustAnotherH0man]

Very helpful video, I've had my Sony Alpha a57 for a good two years and you pointed out some things I hadn't noticed. I do have a question for you, when I take a photo in the bulb setting if I hold it "to long" it stops and takes the picture. Is there any way to override this feature? It gets very annoying when I am trying to get star trails (flow of stars). Thank you very much

[@KaptainCanuck]

Don't let the camer shoot for too long as it will overheat This may be why is takes the shot.. For star trailes, use an untervolmeter and take may shorter shots and the combine in post.