A versatile DSLR camera from Sony.    I’m Fred Fishkin with technology BootCamp, a report on gadgets and gear.     If you’re upgrading from a point and shoot to a DLSR camera with interchangeable lenses,  there are plenty of choices from well known makers like Nikon, Canon, Olympus and Pentax.   But when it comes to unique features at a consumer price, it’s hard to top what Sony has done with the a55.  By using a translucent mirror instead of a moving mirror…the camera can focus while taking video or stills at the same time.  And, says Sony senior technical manager Mark Weir…

“As a result, the camera can keep focus locked on fast moving objects.  It can focus continuously while shooting HD video, which has been a real challenge for SLRs.  And it can also shoot very, very fast.  It can shoot at up to ten frames per second.”

   Those and other features helped Sony capture Popular Photography’s camera of the year for the a55.     You can find us at BootCamp.com.   I’m Fred Fishkin.