Sony SLT A33

APS-C, 14 MP, 3"
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        Summary Sony SLT A33

        Prices Price
        Body only
        Unknown
        Kit
        Unknown
        Score Snapsort rank
        Among similar cameras
        #n/a of 6
        Specifications Key specs
        Sensor size
        Help APS-C 23.5x15.6mm
        Screen resolution
        Help 921k dots
        Megapixels
        Help 14 MP
        Movie format
        Help 1080p @ 30fps
        Screen size
        Help 3"
        Light sensitivity
        Help 12,800 ISO
        see all specifications
        Lenses Lenses
        Browse Sony SLT-A33 lenses at LensHero
        Sony SLT-A33Sony SLT-A33

        Replacement

        Sony has replaced the SLT A33 with the A35.

        Sony SLT A35
        Sony SLT A35 announced June 2011
        Low light performance Lower noise at high ISO
        Overall image quality Better image quality
        Color depth Better color depth

        Compare the new Sony SLT A35 vs the SLT A33

        reviewsWhat are people saying about the A33

        "Its a squeeze to fit three fingers around and makes it tricky to hold the camera completely steady for shooting handheld."
        photographyblog.com | talking about the camera's feel
        "Headline grabbing burst shooting speeds, fast auto-focus for both stills and video."
        photographyblog.com | talking about the camera's auto-focus
        "The Sony A33 is a great marriage of new and old, competitively priced to take on the best that mid-range DSLRs and Compact System Cameras can offer."
        photographyblog.com | talking about the camera's overall-performance

        gallery

        Explore our gallery of 50 sample photos taken by the Sony SLT-A33.

        Videos

        Sony SLT-A33 Hands on Review

        Sony SLT-A33 Hands on Review
        • Review
        • Pro
        • Ergonomics

        SONY SLT-A33 test video AVCHD ...

        SONY SLT-A33 test video AVCHD 1080i
        • Tutorial
        • Shooting video

        Sony SLT-A33 Review

        Sony SLT-A33 Review
        • Review
        • Amateur
        • Ergonomics
        • Image quality

        Pros

        Report a correction

        The Sony SLT A33 vs other recent entry-level DSLRs

        Continuous shooting Rapid fire Help
        7 fps
        3D Takes 3D photos Help
        View photos in 3D on 3D televisions
        External mic jack External mic jack Help
        Record higher quality audio with a microphone
        Panorama In-camera panoramas Help
        Stitches together multiple photos into a panorama
        Screen flips out Flip-out screen Help
        Great for movies
        Autofocus Autofocuses shooting video Help
        Phase detection
        Movie continuous focus Movie continuous focus Help
        Makes it easy to get in-focus movies
        Weight Light Help
        500 g

        Cons

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        The Sony SLT A33 vs other recent entry-level DSLRs

        Low light performance Very noisy at high ISO Help
        591 ISO
        Color depth Less color depth Help
        22.8 bits
        Screen resolution Low resolution screen Help
        921k dots
        Startup delay Longer startup delay Help
        800 ms startup delay
        Touch screen No touch screen Help
        More buttons
        Weather sealed No weather sealing Help
        Need to shelter it from weather
        Cross type focus points Fewer cross-type focus points Help
        3
        Lens availability Slightly fewer lenses available Help
        126 lenses
        Viewfinder Uses battery, see less detail Help
        Digital
        GPS No GPS Help
        Missing geo-tagging
        Built-in focus motor No focus motor Help
        Won't autofocus with all lenses
        Fastest shutter speed Slow shutter speed Help
        1/4000 of a second
        Overall image quality Low overall image quality Help
        70.0
        Movie format Full HD Help
        1080p @ 30fps
        Screen size Below average sized screen Help
        3"
        Supports 24p No 24p movies Help
        Missing that film look
        True resolution Lower true resolution Help
        14 MP
        Battery life Shorter battery life Help
        270 shots
        Focus points Fewer focus points Help
        15
        Shutter lag Longer shutter lag Help
        215 ms shutter lag
        Announced Old Help
        August 2010
        Light sensitivity (boost) Very low boost light sensitivity Help
        25,600 ISO
        Thickness Thick Help
        3.3"
        Popularity Not so popular Help
        Among snapsort users

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        front photo of the Sony SLT-A33back photo of the Sony SLT-A33angle photo of the Sony SLT-A33

        Discussion

        Sony SLT-A33
        SLT A33
        Sony

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        Showing 25 comments

        Avatar for Bryan Buenaventura Bryan Buenaventura (3:06 AM, February 11, 2014)
        Hi.. I have a doubt to switch to sony a33 or sony a55. Can you help me which is much better,? Because i have canon 500d and i want to change it to sony do you think sony a33 is better than canon 500d.? Thanks
         
        Aurora6119 (9:15 AM, April 05, 2012)
        i have an a33, i think it's a great camera for migrating from a DC to a DSLR, everything is easy to use and the fact that there's a panorama mode is a great advantage, the model itself is very very light compared to the other DSLRs, although i have to admit it is quite expensive for what you get...
         
        Ray (8:11 AM, November 21, 2011)
        I also bought the a33 and it does have some impressive features, panoramic, low light, HD video etc but the real killer is the poor over exposed shots you get from using the non-optical veiw finder which is the result of the the inovative SLT over SLR. 

        After a couple of months and a few holidays im looking at the D7000 or the EOS 60D. 
        If yhe Sony had a real optical veiw finder it would definitly be a winner. The LCD display is great but in direct sunlight gives very little impression of how the photo will actualy come out. 

        I did manage to get some decent shots out of the a33 after learning how to compensate for the poor SLT view finder but the standard lens is alo junk and has poor action for zooming expecialy while video recording. 

        If you cant afford the next level of Pro products then buy the body and get a real minolta lens 
        should make a world of difference. Overall i would give the a33 6.75 out of 10. Could have been a real winner if not for SLT.

        Thanks for the excellent site and great work.
         
        Kishu27 (6:16 PM, November 15, 2011)
        Hi Kartik, I am in similar dillema, let me know where are you picking your A33 from as my dealer is asking for 30k
         
        karthik (4:34 PM, October 02, 2011)
        hi snapsort ,
        I am stuck in between sony slt a33 and nikon d3100...tell me which is better??? i am getting very gud discount on sony slt a33..after discount it will cost 24.5k...which would u choose ? 
         
        Anesa (2:36 AM, September 05, 2011)
        I was thinking about the nikon D3100 too! but i'm in love with my Sony a33 :)  the panoramic photos are a great plus.
         
        Anesa (2:34 AM, September 05, 2011)
        When i wanted a camera i was thinking about a canon or a nikon.... I search for a loooot of reviews of similar cameras but in the end i bought a Sony a33. My friends have canon within this range of price and my sony a33 is muuuuch better than theirs. You can take panoramic photos, change colors, and so many things. I couldn't be happier with my sony. If you have a bit more money you should look for the sony a55, although it doesn't have  importante differences (gps, more mp and takes faster photos).
        The only bad thing i find is the battery life... but with a replacement battery you'll be fine.
         
        TA (11:13 PM, August 26, 2011)
        Technically, it's not a mirrorless camera (like all Sony's SLT) !
         
        Avatar for Snapsort Snapsort (1:14 PM, April 28, 2011)
        The a33 has a very high ISO so yes should be able to take night photos. A while back Snapsort put together a infographic on low light photography which is worth taking a look at.
         
        Avatar for Jerome Aaron Mejia Jerome Aaron Mejia (6:52 AM, April 28, 2011)
        hi please reply, does the a33 produce excellent night time pictures like capturing city skyline and nightlights
         
        Avatar for Za1n Za1n (3:15 AM, April 27, 2011)
        i am getting a very decent discount for this camera
        now i am confused between nikon d3100, sony nex3 , sony a55
        and sony a 33
        please help me with selection
         
        Avatar for thing fishs thing fishs (0:47 PM, April 21, 2011)
        Ah, LensHero - Thanks!
         
        Avatar for Snapsort Snapsort (0:44 PM, April 19, 2011)
        Glad you found Snapsort helpful. The site you are looking for is our sister site LensHero.
         
        Avatar for thing fishs thing fishs (4:19 AM, April 19, 2011)
        Thanks very much for this info Joyce!
         
        Avatar for thing fishs thing fishs (4:18 AM, April 19, 2011)
        Hi Snapsort,

        thanks heaps for this site. It made the months long, arduous task of camera choice SO much easier - well in a way it made it possible... With a regular flawed human brain, trying to keep in mind the multitude of variables, especially across different classes of camera, is nigh on impossible without such a resource. Ultimately, as someone equally interested in video and stills, it came down to the GH2 or the A33/55. All good, but from a bang for buck POV the A33 was a clear winner (I purchased with the standard 18-55mm lens for $780 AUD). I have been very pleased with the resulting technology - my only issue (rather a significant one), was filming my mate's wedding and the camera overheated and stopped filming 10 seconds before "I now pronounce you..."!! :-( THEN, I found out that I could've filmed for half an hour if I hadn't had the steadyshot on - ah well, live and learn. ;-)

        FWIW is a minor error in it's specs - it only has one storage slot. Also I have come across what appears to be a sister site of this, dealing with lens rather than cameras - except I can't find it again. What is this site?
         
        Avatar for Snapsort Snapsort (5:27 PM, April 18, 2011)
        Ha ha, we are glad you like your camera
         
        Jakeymarmot (5:13 PM, April 18, 2011)
        This is amazing. When its next to me, or when im holding it
        I subconsciously stoke it
        its as close to true love as a person can get to a camera
         
        Amir (10:31 PM, April 02, 2011)
        I love my a33 it is better than canon t3i any way I love Sony product , I have 65 inch sony lcd tv , I am really happy with Sony. I love Sony products.
         
        Jen (6:14 PM, March 24, 2011)
        I am impressed with my new a33! I am still getting to know how to use a non point and shoot camera so I can not really compare it to other SLRs. I can tell you I have not experienced it heating up (some blogs mentioned this as a con). After handling the d3100 and the sony a33, I chose the a33 because of its amazing auto focusing video mode – much faster than the d3100.
         
        pal (0:53 PM, February 28, 2011)
        Operating Mode/Number of Shots

        Electronic Viewfinder(CIPA standard)/270

        Live View LCD(CIPA standard)/340
         
        Avatar for annysucks annysucks (8:29 AM, February 28, 2011)
        what about battery life?
        how many shots can i take and compared with others camera's battery ??
         
        Joyce-gene (6:42 PM, February 23, 2011)
        You can buy new replacement batteries for the a33 & a55 on ebay. They heve twice the Mah capacity of the oem battery.
        2200 v 1080
         
        Avatar for Snapsort Snapsort (2:32 PM, February 16, 2011)
        We are glad we could help you. If you are thinking of buying online Snapsort has a best prices section.
        We hope you enjoy your camera.
         
        pal (2:16 PM, February 16, 2011)
        thnx Snapsort ... i m leaning towards Sony SLT A33 cause of its flip out screen and amazing AF during live mode and plus on ur views 8-) ... love ur site keep it up and i wud recommend every 1 to have a look at ur site before buying a camera...
         
        Avatar for Snapsort Snapsort (1:53 PM, February 16, 2011)
        If you have not had the opportunity to read our comparison of the Sony A33 vs Nikon d3100 then feel free to take a look. They are both great cameras, if you are willing to spend the extra money then the SLR-A33 appears to be the better camera. The SLT-A33 has a built-in focus motor which means it should be able to autofocuses with all lenses, with the D3100 you will need to buy a lens with a focus motor built into it (which can be more expensive). I do not think you will be disappointed with the D3100 either, its a solid camera.