Updated (February, 2013): Compare the Sony SLT A58 vs Sony SLT A57

Sony SLT A57
Winner
Sony SLT A57

68

vs
Sony SLT-A55

62

Sony SLT-A55
Runner-up
 
 
 
 

Reasons to buy the Sony SLT A57

Viewfinder size
 Large viewfinder
0.72x
Image stabilization
 Image stabilization
Sensor shift
Continuous shooting
 Rapid fire
12 fps
Sensor size
 Large sensor
APS-C 23.5x15.6mm
 

Reasons to buy the Sony SLT-A55

Image stabilization
 Image stabilization
Sensor shift
Continuous shooting
 Rapid fire
10 fps
Sensor size
 Large sensor
APS-C 23.5x15.6mm
HDR
 In-camera HDR
Combines multiple exposures
 
Differences | Recommendations | Similarities | Competitors | Appearance | Discussion

differences

Advantages of the Sony SLT A57
Supports 24p Supports 24p Yes vs No
Help
 Get that real film feel
Battery life Longer battery life 550 shots vs 330 shots
Help
 Around 70% more shots per battery charge
Continuous shooting Shoots faster 12 fps vs 10 fps
Help
 20% faster continuous shooting
Overall image quality Slightly better image quality 75.0 vs 73.0
Help
 Almost the same
Dynamic range More dynamic range 13 EV vs 12.4 EV
Help
 0.6 f-stops more dynamic range
Color depth Better color depth 23.4 bits vs 23 bits
Help
 Distinguishes 0.4 more bits of color
Lowest price Much cheaper $548.00 vs $1,098.34
Help
 The best price we've seen is $550 cheaper (2x less)
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
Thickness Thinner 3.2" vs 3.3"
Help
 Almost the same
Sony SLT A57 Learn more about
the Sony SLT A57

Advantages of the Sony SLT-A55
GPS Has a GPS Yes vs No
Help
 Automatically geotags your photos when traveling
Low light performance Slightly lower noise at high ISO 816 ISO vs 785 ISO
Help
 The SLT-A55 has a slight edge (0.1 f-stops) in low noise, high ISO performance
Size Smaller 124x92x85 mm vs 132x98x81 mm
Help
 Around 10% smaller
Weight Lighter 500 g vs 618 g
Help
 Around 20% lighter
Sony SLT-A55 Learn more about
the Sony SLT-A55
vs

recommendations

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

Sony SLT A57 Sony SLT A57
68 vs 62
Explain scores
Sony SLT-A55 Sony SLT-A55
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Sony SLT A57.

similarities

Compared to recent entry-level DSLRs

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Continuous shooting Very fast continuous shooting Help
SLT A57:12 fps
SLT-A55:10 fps
3D 3D photos Help
View photos in 3D on 3D televisions
Image stabilization Good image stabilization Help
Sensor shift
Panorama In-camera panoramas Help
Stitches together multiple photos into a panorama
Screen flips out Flip-out screens Help
Great for movies
Movie continuous focus Focus continuously recording movies Help
Makes it easy to get in-focus movies
Autofocus Both use faster phase detection autofocus Help
fast and accurate
Sensor size Large sensors Help
APS-C 23.5x15.6mm
Fastest shutter speed Slow max shutter speed Help
1/4000 of a second
Thickness Quite thick Help
SLT A57:3.2"
SLT-A55:3.3"
Viewfinder Both have digital viewfinders Help
Digital
Lens availability Few lenses available Help
92 lenses
True resolution Capture low resolution images Help
16 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
SLT-A55:816 ISO

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Sony SLT A58

Sony SLT A58

Entry-level DSLR

$548 - $598 with 18-55mm lens
True resolution Takes slightly higher resolution photos
Battery life Has a slightly longer battery life
3D Doesn't take 3D photos
Continuous shooting Doesn't shoot as fast continuously
Compare the SLT A58 vs the SLT A57
Compare the SLT A58 vs the SLT-A55
Nikon D5100

Nikon D5100

Entry-level DSLR

$497 body only

$585 - $805 with 18-55mm lens
Low light performance Is significantly less noisy at high ISO
Overall image quality Has slightly better image quality
Weight Is slightly heavier
Lens focus motor Doesn't have a built-in focus motor
Compare the D5100 vs the SLT A57
Compare the D5100 vs the SLT-A55
Sony SLT-A65

Sony SLT A65

Entry-level DSLR

$587 - $648 body only

$748 - $1,005 with 18-55mm lens
True resolution Takes much higher resolution photos
Shutter lag Has slightly less shutter lag
Weight Is slightly heavier
Size Is slightly larger
Compare the SLT A65 vs the SLT A57
Compare the SLT A65 vs the SLT-A55
Canon Rebel T3i

Canon Rebel T3i

Entry-level DSLR

$549 body only

$595 - $599 with 18-55mm lens
True resolution Takes slightly higher resolution photos
Viewfinder Has higher quality type of viewfinder
Weight Is slightly heavier
Light sensitivity (boost) Slightly lower boost light sensitivity
Compare the Rebel T3i vs the SLT A57
Compare the Rebel T3i vs the SLT-A55
Sony SLT-A37

Sony SLT-A37

Entry-level DSLR

$449 with 18-55mm lens
Light sensitivity Slightly higher maximum light sensitivity
Shutter lag Has significantly less shutter lag
Thickness Is thicker
Continuous shooting Doesn't shoot as fast continuously
Compare the SLT-A37 vs the SLT A57
Compare the SLT-A37 vs the SLT-A55
Nikon D5200

Nikon D5200

Entry-level DSLR

$697 body only

$797 with 18-55mm lens
Low light performance Is significantly less noisy at high ISO
Overall image quality Has slightly better image quality
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Weight Is slightly heavier
Compare the D5200 vs the SLT A57
Compare the D5200 vs the SLT-A55
Canon Rebel T4i

Canon Rebel T4i

Entry-level DSLR

$580 - $799 body only

$731 - $899 with 18-55mm lens
True resolution Takes slightly higher resolution photos
Touch screen Has a touch screen
Weight Is slightly heavier
Size Is slightly larger
Compare the Rebel T4i vs the SLT A57
Compare the Rebel T4i vs the SLT-A55

Sony SLT A57 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

No significant competitors found that are specific to the Sony SLT A57.

Sony SLT-A55 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

No significant competitors found that are specific to the Sony SLT-A55.

appearance

Sony SLT A57 Sony SLT-A55
Sony SLT A57 Sony SLT-A55
Sony SLT-A55

discussion

Showing 3 comments

Cheeyiejian (4:13 AM, March 18, 2012)
And 12 FPS burst rate at tele zoom mode
 
Avatar for Snapsort Snapsort (8:41 PM, March 14, 2012)
It will be fixed up soon. Thanks for letting us know. 
 
Guest (8:38 PM, March 14, 2012)
The a57 has Phase detection, you should correct it