Want CNET to notify you of price drops and the latest stories?
X

Sony Alpha SLT-A35 (photos)

The A35 has a clunky look but, for the most part, a functional body design.

34830502_OVR.png
1 of 3 Sarah Tew/CNET

Big body

Like the other SLT model, the A35's body is extremely similar to a traditional dSLR: large, and somewhat clunky.
34830502_BK.JPG
2 of 3 Sarah Tew/CNET

Display and controls

For the most part, I consider the SLT series' control layout and design kind of ugly, but functional. It's got a typical layout, with direct-access buttons for drive mode, ISO sensitivity, white balance and display options, plus a function button to pull up access to frequently used settings like drive mode, flash, focus area and mode, metering, and ISO sensitivity. My biggest problem here is that there's no way to quickly change image quality; if you switch between burst JPEG shooting and single-shot raw+JPEG, that's essential. An even bigger problem is the placement of the movie record button, which is on the right shoulder of the camera next to the exposure compensation button (and farther left, the exposure lock button). I consistently hit the exposure compensation button and couldn't figure out why recording hadn't started.
34830502_TP.JPG
3 of 3 Sarah Tew/CNET

Top controls

Sony puts the mode dial on the left shoulder of the camera. It's a good location, since it frees up the right side for controls better operated by that hand. That said, I'm not sure the D-Range Optimizer button is the best choice for that spot, though you really couldn't put any button/dial combo button there as long as the dial needs to be operated by your forefinger.

In addition to the typical PASM modes and a couple of auto modes, the mode dial has a new Tele-Zoom high-speed shooting mode, which is just a digitally zoomed 8-megapixel 7fps burst mode; 3D and Sweep panoramas; and a handful of scene and special effects modes.

More Galleries

Yamaha motorcycle and instrument designers trade jobs (pictures)
yamaha01.jpg

Yamaha motorcycle and instrument designers trade jobs (pictures)

16 Photos
CNET's 'Day of the Dead Devices' altar (pictures)
dia-de-los-muertos-3318-001.jpg

CNET's 'Day of the Dead Devices' altar (pictures)

9 Photos
2007 Los Angeles Auto Show: concept cars
conceptss01_440.jpg

2007 Los Angeles Auto Show: concept cars

14 Photos
Best sound bars under $300
polk-magnifi-mini-15.jpg

Best sound bars under $300

18 Photos
2018 Ford F-150 Power Stroke reports for diesel duty
2018 Ford F-150 diesel

2018 Ford F-150 Power Stroke reports for diesel duty

22 Photos
Cosplay at Comic-Con 2016: From Stormtroopers to Sansa Stark
dsc0515.jpg

Cosplay at Comic-Con 2016: From Stormtroopers to Sansa Stark

34 Photos
Music-friendly cell phone accessories

Music-friendly cell phone accessories

11 Photos