Sony Alpha SLT-A77V Pro Reviews

Although on the expensive side, the Sony SLT-A77 is one of the best DSLRs we’ve reviewed in the past year or so. The combination of high-quality stills and excellent video – without focusing hassles – takes this camera to Editor’s Choice status. The camera’s not perfect, but you can tweak the results to your tastes as you master its many options. We recommend this camera with the DT 16-50mm lens to anyone willing to make a serious imaging investment.

The SLT-A77 builds on the foundations laid by the SLT-A33 and A55. If there were any doubts that a camera with a fixed semi translucent mirror and continuous live view could outperform traditional SLRs then Sony has laid them to rest with the A65 and A77. Some features are pivotal, not least of which is the ultra-high reolution OLED EVF. Sure footed and versatile AF, fast continuous shooting, reliable in-camera stabilisation and tough build quality, 5 frame AEB and a PC sync port for connecting to studio lighting all add to it's semi-pro credentials. On top of that, there are all the additional features that will appeal to those for whom photography isn't a living or even the main event; built-in GPS, 3D and Panorama modes and 1080p50/60 video with continuous AF.

Ever since I got my hands on Sony’s NEX-7, I’ve had high expectations for the company’s digital cameras. For the most part, the A77 lives up to them: it’s exceptionally fast, takes sharp, detailed pictures, and offers just about every feature I’d want from a mid-range DSLR. Its full-time Live View capabilities and phase-detect autofocus are superior to almost every mid-range DSLR I’ve used, and make the A77 a really great choice for a first-time DSLR buyer, since the camera can do so much of the work for you. But the A77 has its fair share of limitations, too: from the laggy menus to the slightly odd default button layout, not everything about the A77 feels properly thought out, and the lens ecosystem is a level below Nikon and Canon. It also shoots photos that are noticeably noisier than some of its competition. The A77 is an excellent camera that will serve most people very well, but it’s hard to recommend it over the Nikon D7000, the Canon EOS 60D, or even Sony’s own NEX-7, which takes equally fantastic pictures and videos in a body far smaller and at a price far lower.

The Sony Alpha 77 pumps out 24-megapixel stills at 10.3 frames per second and records 1080p60 video with continuous autofocus. Solid low-light performance, a sharp f/2.8 kit lens, a high-quality OLED EVF, and GPS capability round out the package.

The Sony Alpha A77 is an enjoyable camera to use that is capable of producing some excellent photos, with great colour, detail and extremely solid exposure performance. Reds are extremely vibrant and colourful and the camera produces excellent JPEG output straight from the camera, even on default settings. Noise control is very good with low noise right up to high ISO settings. The cameras also offer continuous focus when using the video mode. The camera is also extremely quick in use, with the camera simply not getting in the way of you achieving the shot. The A77 body only is £1099, this puts it in direct competition with the 18 megapixel Canon EOS 7D. The A65 body only is £699 making the A77 £400 more expensive than the A65. Both cameras have high speed shooting and focusing with a 24.3 megapixel sensor. They both feature a new OLED EVF that is excellent - although in extremely contrasty situations an optical viewfinder may be preferred. Looking at the recently introduced competition there are a few things missing from the A77 that you would see on a higher end camera, such as dual card slots, ethernet socket and Wi-Fi support, although this can be solved by using an Eye-Fi card and other cameras with these features tend to cost double the price (at least). However, considering the price and bucket full of other features such as GPS and high speed specifications built in to the camera, the Sony Alpha A77 represents excellent value for money.

It's got some annoying quirks and feature lapses, but the Sony Alpha SLT-A77V is a fast, fluid, fun-to-shoot camera that delivers excellent photos and better-than-competing-dSLR video.

The Sony A77 is a big leap forward for Sony's DSLR range, offering a feature-set, handling and performance that beats its main rivals. The new 24.3 megapixel sensor offers greatly increased resolution without impacting on low-light performance or operational speed, while the OLED viewfinder is simply the best EVF that we've ever had the pleasure of using. The inclusion of full 1080p movies, built-in GPS, 12fps burst shooting, dual control dials, top-panel LCD and an excellent 3-way rear screen make the A77 our new favourite prosumer DSLR. As it shares the same sensor with the A65, image quality is also excellent, with results from the 24.3 APS-C sensor easily rivalling the DSLR competition. Noise doesn't rear its ugly head until ISO 3200 for JPEGs and even the faster settings prove eminently usable, although the A77 does apply some pretty aggressive noise reduction to keep the files clean as shown by the much noisier RAW images. The myriad of creative effects such as HDR, Dynamic Range Optimisation, creative styles, picture effects and the innovative sweep panorama mode help to get the most out of the A77.

The Alpha A77 is a fantastic piece of kit that's dripping with a host of features to keep the serious photographer happy. The OLED EVF is the best example we've ever seen, allowing you to just get on and shoot and not be irritated by it. There'll be times when you'll miss an optical viewfinder, but this is only rarely and we'd urge you to try it out before making any negative assumptions. After extensive use with the A77's OLED EVF it'll become second nature, and only then going back to an optical viewfinder pronounces the difference. The image quality delivered by the A77's 24.3MP APS-C type CMOS sensor is excellent. It probably can't quite match the Nikon D7000 or Canon EOS 7D at the higher end of the ISO spectrum, but it's fairly close, and excels when it comes to detail and tonal range over its rivals. Sony's uncompromising approach to the Alpha A77 has produced a camera that not only matches some excellent competition, but beats them in a number of areas too.

Overall, there are only a few minor niggles to comment on with the Sony Alpha A77 - namely a bit of a sluggish start-up time, slight delay when switching between using the EVF and LCD for shooting and high ISO noise performance that, while still very good, doesn't quite match that of its major rivals. That said, when weighing these up against a superb level of image quality when shooting in most conditions, great handling, good build quality, industry-leading EVF, quick full-time phase detection AF system and a comprehensive set of exposure modes, we have little trouble with recommending this excellent camera.

A camera worth waiting for: the A77 certainly puts the SLT format on the map and is a worthy update of the A700. Its fast burst mode, continuous autofocus and solid 24MP image quality are all attractive qualities for an £1150 camera body. Then add weather-sealing for rugged use, the best electronic viewfinder we’ve yet seen in a camera and an awesome movie mode and the A77’s right to be causing a stir. Sure, the viewfinder situation still won’t meet all demands, battery life depletes fast and the high ISO image quality, while fine, isn’t a match for some other cameras out there.

We're pretty confident that whatever your level of expectations and expertise, the A77's 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.

With its shooting speeds and focus skills that put DSLRs to shame, the translucent-mirror-equipped Sony Alpha A77 is an exciting newcomer to the camera world.