Best Sony A-Mount Cameras in 2020
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04/10/2021
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Sony's interchangeable lens cameras come in two types, A-mount and E-mount. The genesis of A-mount cameras dates back to 2006, when Sony acquired the Konica Minolta photography business. At the time, Sony's DSLRs weren't perceived to be as good as those from the mighty Canon and Nikon. This resulted in the acquisition of Minolta and the birth of Sony A-mount cameras. A-mount simply refers to the type of lens mounting system on the camera body.
Today, Sony produces cameras with two lens mounting systems. The A-mount system is standard on a Sony Translucent Mirror camera body. E-mount system is common in new models
without mirror
. A-mount camera bodies benefit from full-time phase-detection autofocus. The A-mount camera uses either full-frame sensors or cropped-frame APS-C sensors.
Sony A-mount cameras have model numbers in the form ILCA-xx, DSLR-Axx and SLT-Axx. Currently there are three A-mount camera bodies - the Sony Alpha 68, Sony Alpha 77 and Sony Alpha 99. The Sony Alpha 68 and Sony Alpha 77 are both APS
VS
crop sensor cameras while the Sony Alpha 99 is the only full-frame A-mount camera body.
Sony Alpha 68
Sony Alpha 77 p>
Sony Alpha 99
Model number
ILCA-68
ILCA-77M2
ILCA-99M2
Sensor
23.5mm X 15.6mm APS-C Exmor CMOS Sensor
23.5mm X 15.6mm APS-C Exmor CMOS Sensor
Full frame 35.9 mm x 24.0 mm Exmor R CMOS sensor
Dimensions
5.61 inches X 4.10 inches X 3.26 inches
5.61 inches X 4.10 inches X 3.19 inches
< p>5.62 inches X 4.12 inches X 3 inchesWeight
675 grams
725 grams
849 grams
< p>Megapixels24.2
24.3
42.4
2.7 inch TFT LCD display (partially tiltable)< /p>
3-inch TFT LCD (3-way tilt)
2.95 inch wide type TFT
ISO range
100-25600 (still images and videos) expandable to 50 - 102400
50-25600
100 – 25600 (still images)100 – 12800 (movies)
Autofocus system
79 points (15 in cross)
79 stitches (15 cross type)
399 (79 cross type)
Highest video resolution
1920X1080 (60/50 /30/25/24)
1920X1080 (60/24)
3840X2160 (30/25/24)
Image Stabilization p>
No
Improved image stabilization
5-axis image stabilization
Connectivity
USB2.0
USB 2.0, Wi-Fi, NFC
USB 2.0, WiFi, NFC, Bluetooth
Battery life
580 shots
480 shots
490 shots (LCD monitor), 390 shots (viewfinder)
Price
$599
$1199
3199$
Sensor
There are two main sensors used in DSLR cameras: the APS-C crop sensor and the 35mm full-frame sensor. The sensor is one of the most vital components of a camera and it greatly affects image quality. Light from a lens passes through and hits the sensor, at which point the camera captures the frame that is visible.
The larger sensor can capture a wider frame. Thus, more of the scene is captured on the image. A crop sensor captures a narrower frame. However, just to be clear, a crop sensor is not a bad thing. Different photography situations call for different approaches. A crop sensor can give a more accurate photo.
The main advantage of working with a full-frame sensor is that you have a wide enough frame that can give you more freedom in post-production. You can just cut out the parts you don't need. This is one of the reasons why professional and advanced users like to use cameras with a full frame sensor.
The Sony Alpha 68 and Sony Alpha 77 both feature an APS-C crop sensor measuring 23.5mm X 15.6mm. The Sony Alpha 99 is the only Sony A camera body currently in production that has a 35.9mm x 24.0mm full frame sensor.
+1 for the Sony Alpha 99
Dimensions and weight
It seems we humans are obsessed with making things smaller and lighter - and with good reason too. Who wants to lug a bulky camera around all day? A compact camera is not only easy to handle, but also easy to store and transport. A lightweight camera body is easier on the arms, especially if one has to work with the camera for long hours.
The weight and dimensions of the camera body can be decisive for some users. For many others, these are important parameters to keep in mind when making a purchase decision. The Sony Alpha 68 measures 5.61 inches X 4.10 inches X 3.26 inches. The Sony Alpha 77 is almost identical with dimensions of 5.61 inches X 4.10 inches X 3.19 inches. The Sony Alpha 99 is surprisingly compact at 5.62 inches X 4.12 inches X 3 inches.
As for the weight, the Sony Alpha 68 weighs 675 grams. The Sony Alpha 77 weighs 725 grams, while the Sony Alpha 99 is the heaviest at 849 grams. Thus, the Sony Alpha 68 is the most portable A-mount camera.
+1 for the Sony Alpha 68
Megapixels
Megapixels are a metric that gets, perhaps, the most attention when we talk about camera specs. Whether we're talking about a camera phone or a DSLR, we want to know how many megapixels the camera has. Interestingly, the megapixel metric is not as important as claimed. The term megapixel simply refers to the pixels that make up the image. Each image has small pixel squares. There are millions of these pixels in every frame. The higher the number of pixels, the higher the level of detail.
If you plan to stretch your image and print a large poster, you don't really need a very high megapixel count. Other components like a good sensor and a good autofocus system are factors that play an equally important role in image quality.
The Sony Alpha 68 has 24.2 MP while the Sony Alpha 77 has a slightly higher number of 24.3 MP. The Sony Alpha 99 beats the competition with 42.4 MP.
+1 for the Sony Alpha 99
Screen
The camera screen is the visual interface between the user and the camera. It allows the user to adjust settings as well as display images. Another advantage of the camera screen is its role as a viewfinder when framing photos. Most digital cameras come with either a flexible (articulating) screen or a fixed screen. The flexible screen that can be rotated and tilted is obviously more preferable than a fixed screen. The flexible screen is especially essential if the camera is to be used for vlogging.
The Sony Alpha 68 has a 2.7-inch screen that can tilt 135 degrees up and 55 degrees down. The Sony Alpha 77 has a 3-inch screen that can tilt up, down, and sideways. It's perfect for vloggers who want to see their own image while filming. The Sony Alpha 98 also features a 3-axis tilting screen that can rotate 90 degrees counterclockwise, 180 degrees clockwise, 134 degrees up and 180 degrees down.
+1 for the Sony Alpha 77< /p>
ISO range
ISO is considered one of the three pillars of photography. This is a measure of the image sensor's sensitivity to light. More sensitivity results in an image captured with less light. This is important when a fast moving object needs to be photographed with a fast shutter speed or when shooting in low light conditions.
However, higher sensitivity may also result in more noise. A very high ISO setting can result in grainy images. Every DSLR has a certain ISO range that it offers. The wider the range, the more versatile the camera as it can be used in different operating environments.
The Sony Alpha 68 offers an ISO range of 100-25600. The Sony Alpha 77, on the other hand, offers a range of 50-25600. The Sony Alpha 99 has an ISO range of 100-25600 and can be extended to 50-102400.
+1 for the Sony Alpha 99
auto-focus
The autofocus system is an essential part of any camera. Blurry images are not good and it is essential that the camera focuses correctly on the subject. If the subject is moving quickly, it adds additional challenges. If you're shooting multiple subjects like at a wedding party, you want the camera to snap shots and refocus on the next subject in no time. Therefore, a powerful, fast and accurate autofocus system is required.
A camera's autofocus system consists of autofocus points. There are two types of autofocus points, vertical and cross-type. The more autofocus points, the more powerful the system. In autofocus points, cross-type points are more desirable because they are two-dimensional. Vertical autofocus points are unidirectional. The camera with more cross-type autofocus points is considered to have a better autofocus system.
The Soy Alpha 68 and Sony Alpha 77 have 79 autofocus points including 15 cross-type points. The Sony Alpha 99 is ahead with 399 autofocus points including 79 cross-type points.
+1 for the Sony Alpha 99
Video resolution
The videos are slowly taking pictures. With greater bandwidth capacity and internet speeds, the world seems to be heading towards video from 2-dimensional images. The rise of YouTube has also led to a boom in vlogging. Thus, video recording capacity is now an important metric for any camera.
1080p and 4K are two of the most desirable video resolutions today. 1920X1080 is considered Full HD, while 4K is still becoming more common. Besides video resolution, frame rates are also another important metric. Those who like to use slow motion video will want a high frame rate.
The Sony Alpha 68 can shoot 1920X1080 at 60/50/30/25/24 frame rates. The Sony Alpha 77 can shoot 1920X1080 at 60/24 frame rates. The Sony Alpha 99, meanwhile, can shoot 4K (3840 X 2160) video at 30/25/24 frame rates.
+1 for the Sony Alpha 99
+1 for the Sony Alpha 68
Image stabilization
It's really frustrating when your images are blurry. You know you've worked hard to get the setting just right, wait for the perfect lighting conditions, and get the angles right to get rid of all the hard work with a little jolt.
Image stabilization prevents distortion and shaky videos. Generally, the stabilization mechanism is digital and works on algorithms. Digital stabilization is very important if you plan to use your DSLR to shoot video.
The Sony Alpha 68 has no image stabilization. The Sony Alpha 77 has an enhanced image stabilization feature that works on a digital algorithm. The Sony Alpha 99 has the most powerful image stabilization function. Its 5-axis optical stabilization is advertised to have the same effect as a 4.5 times faster shutter speed.
+1 for the Sony Alpha 99
Connectivity
< p>The world is more connected today and so are the devices. Sharing images on social media, transferring them seamlessly from one device to another, and being able to connect wirelessly are essential features these days. Remote camera operation also requires connectivity.The Sony Alpha 68 is a disappointment when it comes to connectivity as it doesn't have Wi-Fi or Bluetooth capability. It just has a USB 2.0 port. The Sony Alpha 77 is a bit better with Wi-Fi and NFC connectivity. The Sony Alpha 99 is the best when it comes to wireless connectivity options. It is capable of Bluetooth, Wi-Fi and NFC.
+1 for the Sony Alpha 99
Battery life
Let's face it, we all want longer battery life. Whether it's our smartphone, smartwatch or laptop, we want the battery to last as long as possible. The camera battery is no exception either. Working with the camera for long photo sessions requires exceptional battery life. Traveling, an activity that involves going for long periods of time without access to a charging port, also requires long battery life.
One way to compensate for short battery life is to carry a spare battery. But, it is always desirable to have a long battery life instead of carrying more accessories. The Sony Alpha 68 has a battery life of 580 shots, by far the longest among A-mount camera models. The Sony Alpha 77 can shoot 480 shots on a single charge. The Sony Alpha 99 can take 490 photos with the LCD screen and 390 photos with the viewfinder.
+1 for the Sony Alpha 68
Price
One of the most important considerations in any camera purchase is price. Every user likes to have the best features possible. But not everyone is willing/able to pay full price for all these features. Most users probably have a budget they need to stay within. Besides, lenses and other accessories also cost money.
The goal then becomes finding the right balance between features and price. The Sony Alpha 68 is the cheapest A-mount model at the moment with a price tag of around $599. The Sony Alpha 77 costs $1199 while the Sony Alpha 99 costs $3199.
+1 for the Sony Alpha 68
Conclusion
Obviously, the Sony Alpha 99 has the best technical specifications. But, it also costs the most. So the Sony Alpha 99 is not necessarily the best A-mount camera model. The best model is the one that fits your lens. What are your priorities ? Do you have a strict $500-$600 budget? Are you someone who wants a full-frame camera and isn't limited by budget constraints? Will vlogging be your main activity?
When you answer such questions, you will know right away which camera model best suits your needs. We hope this guide will help you assess your needs with the features offered by each Sony A camera model. Good luck!