Sony A77 SLT Camera Built to meet the creative demands of serious photo enthusiasts

24.3 megapixel Exmor™ APS HD CMOS, Full HD AVCHD, 25/50p, 12fps, 7.5cm 3-way LCD, GPS. With 16-50mm lens.

• Very high resolution 24.3 effective megapixels
• Ultra-high speed continuous shooting up to 12fps
• Responsive, high-performance 19-point AF system

24.3 megapixels | 3" screen | APS-C sensor

The A77 is the long-awaited replacement for the A700, and spec-wise it's impressive: the A77 features a new 24MP APS-C CMOS sensor, 12fps full-resolution shooting and the highest resolution EVF we've ever encountered (a 2.4M dot OLED finder). It also uses a new 19-point AF sensor, 11 points of which are cross-type (sensitive to detail in both the vertical and horizontal axis). Clever use of the main sensor's live view allows the A77 to track objects as they move across the frame, enabling the camera to have a better understanding of which AF point it should be using at any given time.
The A77 isn't perfect, but we're pretty confident though that whatever your level of expectations and expertise, its rugged and well thought-out ergonomics, innovative full-time live view and AF systems and exceptionally good EVF will keep you very happy indeed. However, the somewhat mushy JPEG image quality, high noise levels and slightly laggy operation stop the A77 from getting a gold award.

Technical specificationsSLT-A77

Sony A65 SLT Camera Don't miss the moment with superb image quality and ultra-fast responses

24.3 megapixel Exmor™ APS HD CMOS, Full HD AVCHD, 25/50p, 10fps, 7.5cm LCD. With 18-55mm lens.

• Very high resolution 24.3 effective megapixels
• High speed continuous shooting up to 10fps
• Full HD video with fast subject tracking AF

 

The Sony SLT-A65 was launched alongside the SLT-A77 - the long-awaited replacement for the DSLR-A700. Although somewhat overshadowed by its higher-end stablemate at the time of its launch, the cheaper SLT-A65 has more mass-market potential and we believe there's every chance it's the A65 that will have the greater long-term impact.

There can be no doubt on picking up the plastic-bodied A65 that it is a camera intended to compete in a slightly lower class than the A77. The A65 lacks the A77's magnesium alloy construction and new AF sensor (it uses the same 15-point AF sensor that we saw in the original SLT-A55). It also does without the A77's top-plate LCD, rear control dial and uses a simpler hinge mechanism for the rear display, but importantly, it is built around the same 24MP APS-C CMOS sensor and the same 2.4M dot OLED viewfinder.

There are two reasons we believe the A65 has the potential to be the more significant camera in the SLT line-up: firstly because it is aimed at a much more popular segment of the market - many more people buy consumer-level DSLRs than buy enthusiast ones. And secondly, because despite a few missing specifications, the A65 includes many of the A77's core second-generation SLT features but at a lower price point. Unless the current market leaders bring something revolutionary to the party fairly soon, the A65 could just be the stand-out product Sony needs to get a proper foot-hold in the consumer DSLR/ILC market - something that despite impressive ambitions, it has thus far failed to do.

Offering 24MP capture, a 10fps continuous shooting rate, full-time live view and phase-detection AF as well as a raft of other innovative features, the A65 is unique in its market segment. On paper, the A65 is a significantly more interesting camera in some respects than peers like the Canon EOS 600D / Rebel T3i and Nikon D5100.

Sony's SLT design, with its ability to offer DSLR-style autofocus in live view and video, impressed us when the company launched the A33 and A55. However, the A65 takes the technology considerably further, most crucially with the introduction of the high-resolution OLED viewfinder. The 'TruFinder' design offers a 64% increase in resolution and, more importantly, offers progressive screen updates rather than refreshing one color after another, which gives a much smoother, more life-like shooting experience. The viewfinders in the A33, 35 and 55 are excellent, but the new unit in the A65 and A77 is significantly better. Quite an achievement. Read on to find out how all the new features and improvements on the A65 translate into real-life performance. 

Technical specificationsSLT-A65

 

Sony A55 SLT Camera Pro-style shooting responses and Full HD movies with less to carry

16.2 megapixel Exmor™ APS HD CMOS, Live View, Full HD AVCHD, 10fps, 7.5cm LCD, GPS. With 1855mm SAM lens.

• Ultra-high speed continuous shooting up to 10fps
• Full HD video with quick, accurate autofocus
• Light, compact and easy to use

Incredible pro-style shooting responses

Never miss another moment, however fleeting. Discover a new world of lightning-quick shooting responses and smooth, accurate autofocus tracking - even with moving objects. Capture beautiful videos in detail-packed Full HD. All in a light, compact camera that's easy to carry.

It’s all in the detail

The high-resolution CMOS sensor assures detail-packed pictures with excellent contrast and gorgeous colours. Exmor technology cuts noise while signals are converted to digital form. The result? Flawlessly beautiful images.

Incredible shooting reactions

*Capture fast-moving action or the changing expression of a portrait subject with a continuous burst of images. Speed Priority mode shoots at a lightning-fast 7 frames per second.

Great pictures from any angle

The LCD screen tilts up or down for comfortable viewing in different shooting positions. It’s really useful if you’re not holding the camera close to your eye: for example of you’re shooting above a crowd or crouching down for an interesting viewpoint.

Learn more about tilt LCD screen

Technical specificationsSLT-A55VL

Sony A33 SLT Camera High-speed shooting responses and Full HD movies with less to carry

14.2 megapixel Exmor™ APS HD CMOS, Live View, Full HD AVCHD video, 7fps, 7.5cm LCD. Body only.

• High speed continuous shooting up to 7fps
• Full HD video with quick, accurate autofocus
• Light, compact and easy to use

Super-fast, responsive shooting

Never miss another moment, however fleeting. Discover a new world of high-speed shooting responses and smooth, accurate autofocus tracking - even with moving objects. Capture beautiful videos in detail-packed Full HD. All in a light, compact camera that's easy to carry.

It’s all in the detail

The high-resolution CMOS sensor assures detail-packed pictures with excellent contrast and gorgeous colours. Exmor technology cuts noise while signals are converted to digital form. The result? Flawlessly beautiful images.

Incredible shooting reactions

*Capture fast-moving action or the changing expression of a portrait subject with a continuous burst of images. Speed Priority mode shoots at a lightning-fast 7 frames per second.

Great pictures from any angle

The LCD screen tilts up or down for comfortable viewing in different shooting positions. It’s really useful if you’re not holding the camera close to your eye: for example of you’re shooting above a crowd or crouching down for an interesting viewpoint.

Learn more about tilt LCD screen

Technical specificationsSLT-A33