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Although some advanced point-and-shoots (such as the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-TX55) include digital zoom, as do all basic models, it's been unheard of on an advanced camera that accepts interchangeable lenses: namely, SLRs and SLR-like models. One reason: Manufacturers have assumed that consumers who buy advanced cameras are more critical when it comes to image and video quality, and those things degrade when you use digital zoom.
But the SLR-like model that Sony has announced today—the 16-megapixel Alpha a57—is the first I've heard of that includes digital-zoom capabilities. According to the company, the camera can expand the 18-55mm kit lens (roughly a 3x optical zoom) to 6x via its digital zoom, which Sony calls Clear Image Zoom. We'll have to see how effective this type of digital zoom is when we get the camera in our labs.
Sony is also using digital zoom on the Alpha a57 in a unique feature it calls Auto Portrait Framing, which uses smart technology, such as face detection, to crop and reframe a composition automatically.
In addition, the a57, which will cost $800 with the kit lens or $700 for the body only, will include a 3-inch swiveling display, a SVGA viewfinder, HD-resolution video, 15 autofocus points, and the ability to fire off 12 frames per second. Look for it in April.
—Terry Sullivan
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