Sony SLT
A57
 vs
Sony Alpha
DSLR-A550

Updated (February, 2013): Compare the Sony SLT A58 vs Sony Alpha DSLR-A550

Sony SLT A57

70

  
Sony Alpha DSLR-A550

52

  
Winner

Sony SLT A57

Reasons to buy the Sony SLT A57

Movie format
 Full HD
1080p @ 60fps
Dynamic range
 Wide dynamic range
13 EV
Viewfinder size
 Large viewfinder
0.72x
Image stabilization
 Image stabilization
Sensor shift
Light sensitivity
 High ISO
16,000 ISO
Continuous shooting
 Rapid fire
12 fps
 

Reasons to buy the Sony Alpha DSLR-A550

Image stabilization
 Image stabilization
Sensor shift
Startup delay
 Almost no delay when powering up
500 ms startup delay
Viewfinder
 Great viewfinder
Pentamirror
HDR
 In-camera HDR
Combines multiple exposures
Battery life
 Great battery life
950 shots
Storage slots
 More storage slots
2
 

differences

Advantages of the Sony SLT A57
Movie format Shoots movies 1080p @ 60fps vs None
Help
 Shoots Full HD (1080p) video as well as still pictures
Autofocus Faster autofocus Phase detection vs Contrast detection
Help
 Catch candid moments easily
Viewfinder size Much larger viewfinder 0.72x vs 0.52x
Help
 More than 90% larger viewfinder
Overall image quality Better image quality 75.0 vs 66.0
Help
 More than 10% better image quality
Autofocus Video autofocus Phase detection vs None
Help
 Automatically focuses shooting video
Dynamic range More dynamic range 13 EV vs 11.8 EV
Help
 1.2 f-stops more dynamic range
Continuous shooting Shoots much faster 12 fps vs 7 fps
Help
 More than 70% faster continuous shooting
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 23.4 bits vs 21.9 bits
Help
 Distinguishes 1.5 more bits of color
Light sensitivity (boost) Has boost ISO 25,600 ISO vs None
Help
 Allows taking photos in darker situations, often at the cost of additional noise in the image
Viewfinder coverage Significantly better viewfinder coverage 100% vs 95%
Help
 Around 10% better viewfinder coverage
Size Significantly smaller 132x98x81 mm vs 137x104x84 mm
Help
 More than 10% smaller
Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity 16,000 ISO vs 12,800 ISO
Help
 The SLT A57's maximum light sensitivity is 0.3 f-stops better
True resolution Higher true resolution 16 MP vs 14 MP
Help
 Capture more than 10% more detail in your photos
Thickness Thinner 3.2" vs 3.3"
Help
 Almost the same
Weight Slightly lighter 618 g vs 632 g
Help
 Almost the same
Sony SLT A57 Learn more about
the Sony SLT A57

Advantages of the Sony DSLR-A550
Battery life Significantly longer battery life 950 shots vs 550 shots
Help
 More than 70% more shots per battery charge
Viewfinder Has an optical viewfinder Pentamirror vs Digital
Help
 Optical viewfinders save battery life and are more detailed
Storage slots Has more storage slots 2 vs 1
Help
 More slots allows storing more images without switching memory cards
Sony Alpha DSLR-A550 Learn more about
the Sony DSLR-A550
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent entry-level DSLRs, and ignoring price

Sony SLT A57 Sony SLT A57
70 vs 52
Explain scores
Sony Alpha DSLR-A550 Sony Alpha DSLR-A550
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Sony SLT A57.

similarities

Compared to recent entry-level DSLRs

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Image stabilization Good image stabilization Help
Sensor shift
Screen flips out Flip-out screens Help
Great for movies
Fastest shutter speed Slow max shutter speed Help
1/4000 of a second
Thickness Quite thick Help
SLT A57:3.2"
DSLR-A550:3.3"
Size Large Help
SLT A57:132x98x81 mm
DSLR-A550:137x104x84 mm
Lens availability Few lenses available Help
92 lenses
True resolution Capture low resolution images Help
SLT A57:16 MP
DSLR-A550:14 MP
Weather sealed Neither is weather sealed Help
Need to shelter it from weather
Low light performance Above average noise at high ISO Help
SLT A57:785 ISO
DSLR-A550:807 ISO

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Sony SLT A58

Sony SLT A58

Entry-level DSLR

$588 - $598 with 18-55mm lens
Color depth Has much more color depth
True resolution Takes slightly higher resolution photos
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Continuous shooting Doesn't shoot as fast continuously
Compare the SLT A58 vs the SLT A57
Compare the SLT A58 vs the Alpha DSLR-A550
Nikon D5100

Nikon D5100

Entry-level DSLR

$497 body only

$597 - $805 with 18-55mm lens
Low light performance Is significantly less noisy at high ISO
Overall image quality Has slightly better image quality
Lens focus motor Doesn't have a built-in focus motor
Light sensitivity Slightly lower maximum light sensitivity
Compare the D5100 vs the SLT A57
Compare the D5100 vs the Alpha DSLR-A550
Sony SLT-A65

Sony SLT A65

Entry-level DSLR

$587 - $698 body only

$798 - $1,005 with 18-55mm lens
True resolution Takes much higher resolution photos
GPS Has a built-in GPS
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Startup delay Has much more startup delay
Compare the SLT A65 vs the SLT A57
Compare the SLT A65 vs the Alpha DSLR-A550
Canon Rebel T3i

Canon Rebel T3i

Entry-level DSLR

$549 body only

$599 - $649 with 18-55mm lens
True resolution Takes slightly higher resolution photos
Lens availability Significantly more lenses available
Sensor size Has a significantly smaller sensor
HDR Lacks a built in HDR feature
Compare the Rebel T3i vs the SLT A57
Compare the Rebel T3i vs the Alpha DSLR-A550
Nikon D3200

Nikon D3200

Entry-level DSLR

$547 with 18-55mm lens
Low light performance Is significantly less noisy at high ISO
Overall image quality Has slightly better image quality
Lens focus motor Doesn't have a built-in focus motor
HDR Lacks a built in HDR feature
Compare the D3200 vs the SLT A57
Compare the D3200 vs the Alpha DSLR-A550
Sony SLT-A77

Sony SLT A77

Pro DSLR

$998 - $1,000 body only

$1,598 - $1,930 with 16-50mm lens
True resolution Takes much higher resolution photos
Weather sealed Has a weather sealed body
Lowest price Is much more expensive
Weight Is slightly heavier
Compare the SLT A77 vs the SLT A57
Compare the SLT A77 vs the Alpha DSLR-A550
Canon EOS 60D

Canon EOS 60D

Pro DSLR

$699 - $899 body only

$999 - $1,279 with 18-135mm lens
True resolution Takes slightly higher resolution photos
Weather sealed Has a weather sealed body
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Weight Is significantly heavier
Compare the EOS 60D vs the SLT A57
Compare the EOS 60D vs the Alpha DSLR-A550

Sony SLT A57 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Canon EOS 650D

Canon EOS 650D

Entry-level DSLR

$580 - $797 body only

$639 - $1,144 with 18-55mm lens
Touch screen Has a touch screen
Lens availability Significantly more lenses available
Overall image quality Significantly worse image quality
Dynamic range Less dynamic range
Compare the EOS 650D vs the SLT A57

Sony Alpha DSLR-A550 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Sony Alpha DSLR-A500

Sony Alpha DSLR-A500

Entry-level DSLR
Battery life Slightly longer battery life
Screen resolution Much lower resolution screen
Dynamic range Less dynamic range
Compare the Alpha DSLR-A500 vs the Alpha DSLR-A550

appearance

Sony SLT A57 Sony Alpha DSLR-A550
Sony SLT A57 Sony Alpha DSLR-A550
Sony Alpha DSLR-A550

discussion

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