Sony SLT Alpha 33

The Sony SLT Alpha 33 is a compact interchangeable-lens camera from 2010, built around Sony's Alpha DT mount. The body measures 124 x 92 x 85 mm and weighs about 500 g, so it travels easily and will not dominate a small bag.

Its APS-C sensor makes it a sensible fit for everyday stills, family photography and learning the craft. The Alpha DT mount ties it to that range of Sony lenses.

Being a 2010 model, it includes neither Wi-Fi nor Bluetooth, so wireless transfer and app control are not available and images travel on the memory card. Some photographers will enjoy that simple, self-contained way of working.

The Alpha 33 pairs a 14.2-megapixel APS-C CMOS sensor with Bionz processing. That resolution leaves room for prints and mild cropping without oversized files. Our Optics score of 51 is modest, and the camera sits around the middle of cameras in our database for Optics.

Stabilisation is built into the body, so every DT lens you attach gains steadier handheld shooting. It helps you keep shots sharp at slower shutter speeds when light drops, though it does nothing to freeze a moving subject.

Burst shooting reaches seven frames per second, enough to catch a fleeting expression. Fifteen autofocus points are available for placing focus. The maximum shutter speed is 1/4000s.

The electronic viewfinder shows 1.15 million dots, so the display is detailed, and because it is electronic it previews exposure and settings before you press the shutter. The ISO range runs from 100 to 12800.

The Alpha 33 records Full HD video, which remains perfectly usable for family clips, travel footage and casual projects. Our Video score of 56 is modest.

Recording uses MP4 or AVCHD, giving a choice of two file formats depending on how you plan to work and edit your footage.

The maximum video frame rate is 60 fps, a ceiling separate from the Full HD resolution limit. Footage captured at that rate keeps motion smooth, which helps with fast-moving subjects and panning shots.

There is no built-in timelapse function, so interval sequences mean firing frames by hand rather than setting an automatic timer. Anyone with time-based projects in mind should plan for that.

A 3-inch LCD with 921,000 dots gives a clear, detailed display for reviewing shots and using live view. The screen flips out, which makes waist-level and overhead framing much easier than a fixed screen would. There is no touch input, so settings are changed with the physical controls.

Both a built-in flash and support for an external flash are included. The internal unit covers snapshots and fill light, while the external option gives more power and control for portraits and events.

The Features score of 41 is modest, with lost points from absent Bluetooth, touch input and weather sealing. Wi-Fi and GPS are also absent, and with no wireless connection there is no way to send files or tag locations from the camera, and the body needs shelter from rain and dust.

The Alpha 33 takes SD, SDHC and SDXC cards, or Memory Stick Pro Duo and Pro-HG Duo. SDXC support means large-capacity cards work. There is a single slot, so carrying a spare card matters on long shoots.

The NP-FW50 battery is rated at 270 shots. That figure is not a promise for every shoot, but it is short enough that a spare battery belongs in the bag.

The battery does not charge over USB, so it cannot be topped up from a power bank or a laptop. Charging spares ahead of a shoot simply becomes routine.

The Storage & Battery score of 16 is limited, reflecting the single slot, the 270-shot rating and the absence of USB charging. None of this stops the camera working; it just asks for a little planning.