Canon EOS
60D
 vs
Sony
SLT-A55

Updated (March, 2013): Compare the Canon EOS 70D vs Sony SLT-A65

Canon EOS 60D

56

  
Sony SLT-A55

46

  
Winner

Canon EOS 60D

Reasons to buy the Canon EOS 60D

Weather sealed
 Weather sealed
Shoot in extreme weather
Screen flips out
 Flip-out screen
Great for movies
Battery life
 Great battery life
1100 shots
Badge
 Built-in focus motor
Autofocuses with more lenses
Fastest shutter speed
 Fast shutter speed
1/8000 of a second
 
Runner-up

Sony SLT-A55

Reasons to buy the Sony SLT-A55

Dynamic range
 Wide dynamic range
12.4 EV
Image stabilization
 Image stabilization
Sensor shift
Continuous shooting
 Rapid fire
10 fps
Screen flips out
 Flip-out screen
Great for movies
HDR
 In-camera HDR
Combines multiple exposures
Panorama
 In-camera panoramas
Stitches together multiple photos into a panorama
 

differences

Advantages of the Canon 60D
Supports 24p Supports 24p Yes vs No
Help
 Get that real film feel
Viewfinder Has an optical viewfinder Pentaprism vs Digital
Help
 Optical viewfinders save battery life and are more detailed
Weather sealed Weather sealed Yes vs No
Help
 Sealed to shoot in the rain
Lens availability Much more lenses available 162 lenses vs 92 lenses
Help
 Around 80% more lenses available
Battery life Significantly longer battery life 1100 shots vs 350 shots
Help
 More than 3x more shots per battery charge
Screen resolution Higher resolution screen 1,040k dots vs 921k dots
Help
 More than 10% higher resolution screen
Startup delay Less startup delay 400 ms vs 900 ms
Help
 2.2x less delay when turning on
Cross type focus points More cross-type focus points 9 vs 3
Help
 Grab focus in difficult situations
True resolution Higher true resolution 17.9 MP vs 16 MP
Help
 Capture more than 10% more detail in your photos
Thickness Significantly thinner 3.1" vs 3.3"
Help
 Around 10% thinner
Fastest shutter speed Much faster max shutter speed 1/8000s vs 1/4000s
Help
 2x faster max shutter speed
Lowest price Slightly cheaper $699.00 vs $1,098.34
Help
 The best price we've seen is $399 cheaper (around 40% less)
Canon EOS 60D Learn more about
the Canon 60D

Advantages of the Sony SLT-A55
Dynamic range More dynamic range 12.4 EV vs 11.5 EV
Help
 0.9 f-stops more dynamic range
Autofocus Video autofocus Phase detection vs None
Help
 Automatically focuses shooting video
Image stabilization Image stabilization Sensor shift vs None
Help
 Helps eliminate blur caused by small camera movements
Overall image quality Better image quality 73.0 vs 66.0
Help
 More than 10% better image quality
HDR Has in-camera HDR Yes vs No
Help
 Combines multiple exposures to capture high dynamic range
3D Takes 3D photos Yes vs No
Help
 Combines multiple photos into a 3D image
Panorama Can create panoramas in-camera Yes vs No
Help
 Stitches together multiple photos for a wide perspective
Color depth Better color depth 23 bits vs 22.2 bits
Help
 Distinguishes 0.8 more bits of color
Continuous shooting Shoots significantly faster 10 fps vs 5.3 fps
Help
 Around 90% faster continuous shooting
GPS Has a GPS Yes vs No
Help
 Automatically geotags your photos when traveling
Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity 12,800 ISO vs 6,400 ISO
Help
 The SLT-A55's maximum light sensitivity is 1 f-stop better
Shutter lag Less shutter lag 220 ms vs 253 ms
Help
 More than 10% less delay when taking photos
Size Smaller 124x92x85 mm vs 145x106x79 mm
Help
 More than 20% smaller
Focus points Slightly more focus points 15 vs 9
Help
 Set focus accurately within the frame
Weight Lighter 500 g vs 755 g
Help
 More than 30% lighter
Sensor size Slightly larger sensor APS-C 23.5x15.6mm vs APS-C 22.3x14.9mm
Help
 More than 10% larger sensor
Light sensitivity (boost) Better boost ISO 25,600 ISO vs 12,800 ISO
Help
 The SLT-A55's boost ISO is 1 f-stop better
Sony SLT-A55 Learn more about
the Sony SLT-A55
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent DSLRs, and ignoring price

Canon EOS 60D Canon EOS 60D
56 vs 46
Explain scores
Sony SLT-A55 Sony SLT-A55
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Canon EOS 60D. This recommendation, however, should be taken with a grain of salt since it doesn't always make sense to compare a pro DSLR with a entry-level DSLR.

similarities

Compared to recent DSLRs

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Screen flips out Flip-out screens Help
Great for movies
Built-in flash Each has a built-in flash Help
External flash not needed
Storage slots Fewer storage slots Help
1
Focus points Few focus points Help
60D:9
SLT-A55:15
Sensor size Very small sensors Help
60D:APS-C 22.3x14.9mm
SLT-A55:APS-C 23.5x15.6mm
Low light performance Above average noise at high ISO Help
60D:813 ISO
SLT-A55:816 ISO
Overall image quality Low image quality Help
60D:66.0
SLT-A55:73.0

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Canon EOS 7D

Canon EOS 7D

Pro DSLR

$1,499 body only

$1,699 with 28-135mm lens
Shutter lag Has slightly less shutter lag
Cross type focus points Has slightly more cross-type focus points
Weight Is significantly heavier
Size Is slightly larger
Compare the EOS 7D vs the EOS 60D
Compare the EOS 7D vs the SLT-A55
Canon 650D / T4i

Canon Rebel T4i

Entry-level DSLR

$649 - $800 body only

$719 - $749 with 18-55mm lens
Touch screen Has a touch screen
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Shutter lag Has slightly more shutter lag
Compare the Rebel T4i vs the EOS 60D
Compare the Rebel T4i vs the SLT-A55
Canon Rebel T3i

Canon Rebel T3i

Entry-level DSLR

$549 body only

$599 - $649 with 18-55mm lens
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Shutter lag Has slightly more shutter lag
Compare the Rebel T3i vs the EOS 60D
Compare the Rebel T3i vs the SLT-A55
Nikon D7000

Nikon D7000

Entry-level DSLR

$897 body only

$997 with 18-105mm lens
Overall image quality Has slightly better image quality
Dynamic range Has slightly wider dynamic range
Weight Is slightly heavier
Screen flips out Doesn't have a screen which flips out
Compare the D7000 vs the EOS 60D
Compare the D7000 vs the SLT-A55
Nikon D5100

Nikon D5100

Entry-level DSLR

$497 body only

$597 - $805 with 18-55mm lens
Overall image quality Has slightly better image quality
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Lens focus motor Doesn't have a built-in focus motor
Compare the D5100 vs the EOS 60D
Compare the D5100 vs the SLT-A55
Nikon D5200

Nikon D5200

Entry-level DSLR

$697 body only

$797 with 18-55mm lens
Low light performance Is slightly less noisy at high ISO
Overall image quality Has slightly better image quality
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Lens focus motor Doesn't have a built-in focus motor
Compare the D5200 vs the EOS 60D
Compare the D5200 vs the SLT-A55
Nikon D90

Nikon D90

Entry-level DSLR

$675 - $899 body only

$799 - $1,099 with 18-105mm lens
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Weight Is slightly heavier
Compare the D90 vs the EOS 60D
Compare the D90 vs the SLT-A55

Canon EOS 60D Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Canon 700D/T5i

Canon Rebel T5i

Entry-level DSLR

$749 - $905 body only

$899 with 18-55mm lens
Autofocus Video autofocus
Touch screen Has a touch screen
Color depth Worse color depth
Weather sealed No weather sealing
Compare the Rebel T5i vs the EOS 60D

Sony SLT-A55 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Sony SLT A57

Sony SLT A57

Entry-level DSLR

$460 - $499 body only

$519 - $539 with 18-55mm lens
Supports 24p Supports 24p
Dynamic range More dynamic range
GPS No built-in GPS
Size Slightly larger
Compare the SLT A57 vs the SLT-A55
Sony SLT A58

Sony SLT A58

Entry-level DSLR

$588 - $598 with 18-55mm lens
Supports 24p Supports 24p
True resolution Higher true resolution
Screen resolution Significantly lower resolution screen
Screen size Significantly smaller screen
Compare the SLT A58 vs the SLT-A55

appearance

Canon EOS 60D Sony SLT-A55
Canon EOS 60D Sony SLT-A55
Canon EOS 60D Sony SLT-A55

discussion

Showing 15 comments

kenny (0:34 AM, December 22, 2011)
Okay! people The SLT A55v it's in a class of it's own... like the bugatti veyronIt does everything you can imagine and brings them to life 3D for real.....  The only problem is it's better them the others and there not happy... but I LMFAO For the people how doesn't like  what Sony's doing well this is what I say; YOU CAN'T STOP TECHNOLOGY IT'S GONNA  EVOLVE WITH OR WITHOUT YOU....And stop criticizing  what you don't understand.... we all have our own opinion on thing respect my opinion an I'll respect yours it's just that simple.ANYWAY'S THE A55 IT'S AMAZING  ALOT OF FUN, BE CAREFUL YOU CAN GET VERY VERY ATTACHED ..... AND THE CANON IT'S REALLY REALLY COOL I HAD THE CHANCE TO PLAY WITH IT...  BUT OVER ALL I LIKE SONY BEST  JUST MY OPINION!  
 
Marco K.L.Choi (0:29 PM, July 16, 2011)
I think the Canon just won that is the popular brand only!
 
Avatar for Niall M Niall M (9:59 AM, July 01, 2011)
My wife has a 60D and I have the Sony SLT A55 - both are good but the Sony is better for video and the Canon has a slight edge in resolution. Sony is lighter and more compact. Canon is more chunky. Sony has a viewfinder image at all times, which is great for video in bright places where the Canon screen becomes unusable....and has faster frames per second and more efficient video compression... So a bit of six and a half dozen which is better... depends what you are doing with it.
 
Avatar for Niall M Niall M (9:54 AM, July 01, 2011)
How about selling your cameras and giving the money to a good cause instead of letting them collect dust? This posting is definitely the dumbest thing I have read on this site, and that's saying something, because MOST of the posts are unbelievably banal.
 
Lamboram (8:28 AM, May 10, 2011)
This is what i call Acceptance to change.. Sony has brought in a new technology challenging enough to overtake to accuracy and quality of market leaders. Now don't get me wrong, apart from still photos and videos[Which SLT-A55 does the best], it has many other things Panorama, 3D, light weight, still 92 different lenses to select from, HDR, better stabilization and more.. Now I agree Canon's are the kings of business for years, but people its time for the change. Wait for couple of more months, Sony is revealing the A77, the next generation SLTs.. Canon and Nikon should be ready to face that.. I have tried Nikon D7000, Canon 60D and SLT A55.. I m not saying Sony is the best, but its an overall Camera.. I m buying one, cuz its not compromising the image quality nor my budget !!!
 
Andrek60 (11:27 PM, April 26, 2011)
If you're relying on a piece of technology to get incentive to be creative, then you're a sad sad man. Incentive comes from within
 
Antoiuckristian (4:58 PM, April 13, 2011)
CANON IS THE BEST!!!! ALL THE WAY))
 
Antoiuckristian (4:57 PM, April 13, 2011)
I completly agree with you))) I have got Canon eos 60d It's Great Camera!!!
 
Avatar for Snapsort Snapsort (3:13 PM, March 19, 2011)
Hi Deo, thanks for checking out the site.

What happened here is we made categories for the cameras BEFORE Sony created this new line of SLT cameras, and we haven't yet made a category just for them, so we put them with the mirrorless cameras instead of the DSLR cameras, though I agree they are neither mirrorless nor DSLRs.
 
Deo (2:03 PM, March 19, 2011)
THIS IS BS, this review should not be taken with a grain of salt, the A55 is not a mirrorless camera, idiots....
 
Louis (6:44 PM, January 12, 2011)
I have minolta 7,sony a300,a500 which I hardly use,so still I'm hoping for a camera that will give me
the incetive to go out and shoot. Maybe the sony a55t will give me that goal. I am considering buying it and hoping it will not connect dust in my closit.
 
Tama (2:20 PM, January 02, 2011)
For those who thinks that the new Sony cameras comes from the scratch, just one thing, you are totally wrong. Sony bought years ago one of top Japan brand specialized in the camera market, which one? Konica Minolta. I'm a regular user of Konica minolta cameras and all my old lenses works with this new "non reflex" cameras, that have a new system of translucent mirror. So, finally, yes Canon is the new King but Sony made its own movements to reclaim its natural position on the market.
 
Skippdill (0:33 PM, December 26, 2010)
what a ridiculous argument to support canon.sony makes world class video cameras for years
 
Avatar for Mark Feeney Mark Feeney (2:14 PM, November 12, 2010)
Agreed that Canon is much better known for their cameras than Sony. However, to be fair, Canon also makes lots of stuff: printers, calculators, scanners, projectors, security systems, binoculars, etc.
 
The Don (10:21 AM, November 12, 2010)
canon 60D all the way... come on, its a canon, they specialise in cameras... sony makes everything... jack of all trades is master of none