Sony Alpha 560

The Alpha 560 is a Sony DSLR from 2010 built around an APS-C sensor and the Alpha DT lens mount. It weighs 599 grams and measures 137 x 104 x 84 mm.

Its defining traits are in-body stabilisation, a flip-out screen and live view. Together they let you shoot handheld with less shake and frame the shot from angles the optical viewfinder cannot reach.

This camera suits a buyer who wants the handling of a traditional DSLR with an optical viewfinder and DT-mount lenses. There is no built-in wireless, so moving photos off the camera means removing the card.

The 14.2 megapixel APS-C CMOS sensor and Bionz processor sit behind the Alpha DT mount. Our Optics score of 50 is modest, and the camera sits in the lower range of cameras in our database for Optics.

Stabilisation is built into the body, so every DT lens you attach benefits from it. That reduces camera shake when you shoot handheld in dim rooms, though it cannot freeze a moving subject.

Autofocus uses 15 points, and burst shooting tops out at 5fps, a maximum rate rather than a sustained promise. ISO runs from 100 to 12800, and the shutter reaches 1/4000 of a second.

Framing is through an optical pentamirror viewfinder, which gives you a direct, immediate view of the scene. For critical composition, the 921,600-dot rear screen with live view is the alternative.

The Alpha 560 records Full HD video, and its maximum video frame rate is 60fps. Those are separate limits, so check which recording modes combine them. Clips can be saved in AVCHD or MP4, giving a choice of recording format.

The flip-out screen earns its keep while filming. It lets you hold the camera low or high and still see the frame clearly, and live view means the rear screen shows exactly what the sensor records.

Our Video score of 56 is modest, and it reflects Full HD resolution, the 60fps frame-rate ceiling and the lack of a built-in timelapse function. Interval sequences mean firing the shutter by hand or finding another method.

The 3-inch LCD carries 921,600 dots, a detailed display for checking focus when you review shots. It flips out, and with live view you can compose at waist level or overhead instead of crouching behind the viewfinder.

A flash is built in, and the camera also accepts an external flash unit. You can start with the pop-up flash and move to a stronger light later without changing bodies.

Our Features score of 41 is modest, held back by the absent touchscreen and Bluetooth. Wi-Fi and GPS are also missing, so copying images means a card reader and geotagging is added afterwards.

The body is not weather sealed, so keep it protected from dust and rain rather than assuming it will shrug off a downpour.

Storage is flexible in one way: the single slot accepts SD, SDHC and SDXC cards as well as Memory Stick Pro Duo and Pro-HG Duo media. With one slot, a spare card in a pocket is wise on a long shoot.

The NP-FM500H battery is rated at 550 shots. That is a useful figure for planning a day out, though treat it as a rating rather than a guarantee for every shooting style.

Our Storage and Battery score of 29 is limited, and the practical effects are clear. The battery does not charge over USB, so a spare battery kept charged is the simplest way to avoid downtime.