Sony A58 vs A57 vs A65 vs.  Nikon3200 / 5200 vs.  Pentax K-30 vs Canon 700D - a small (subjective) Decision Support

Sony A58 vs A57 vs A65 vs. Nikon3200 / 5200 vs. Pentax K-30 vs Canon 700D - a small (subjective) Decision Support

Sony SLT-A58K SLR digital camera (20.1 megapixels, 6.7 cm (2.7 inch) LCD screen, APS HD CMOS sensor, HDMI, USB 2.0) incl. SAL 18-55mm lens (Electronics)

Customer Review

I faced a problem, certainly a lot of standing: Which camera? The choice was: The Nikon 3200 and 5200, the Pentax K-30, the new Canon 700D and Sony A57, A58 and A65.

It follows my (of course subjective) rating. To say it first:. In the end, just before the A58, the A57 is become Sony

1. Canon 700D

PRO CANON: The Canon 700D has appealed to me, because I always had Canon devices with compact cameras, because of the large selection of accessories and because Canon is currently the only provider a (also laterally swiveling) provides touchscreen.

NEUTRAL: The Canon has image stabilization in the lenses and a (rather small) optical viewfinder (OVF) with 95% image coverage. The sensor has a resolution of 18 MP.

CONTRA: Various tests (dpreview, DxOMark) for 650D report fairly high noise level (even higher than that by the SLT concept insofar something "gehandycapten" Sony's) of part (especially in LiveView (image control on the monitor) something slow autofocus ( AF), of relatively high battery consumption and slightly poorer image quality in relation to its competitors.

2. Nikon 3200/5200

PRO: The 3200 is an excellent camera that is (in part due to the swivel screen and the external micro-connector) even better (but more expensive) 5200. Nikon offers with Canon the best selection of accessories and in addition to Pentax the best picture quality. Anyway, tell the professional tests of dpreview and DxOMark). I had a look at the test images at DPReview compared to Sony and Pentax and me subjectively have the images of Pentax and Sony liked better. Pentax was breathtaking. Sony was also good. Nikon I found something "soft". Also CHIP found the picture quality of Sony's better.

In terms of picture quality you also have to remember that this is not primarily dependent on the camera body, but from the course objectives. Here Canon and Nikon offer the largest selection. As an amateur photographer I currently ranges next to the kit lens 18-135 a bright fixed focal length (35 mm / F 1.8). These are rather "cheap" lenses and I am aware that you must make certain that compromising on quality. But I do not good enough. Anyone who wants professional quality and want to buy lenses above the 500 or 1000, which I will never do, probably should grab more of a Nikon, because the selection of good lenses (sometimes even in the low range) is much greater than at Sony or Pentax.

NEUTRAL: The Nikon has, like the Canon, the image stabilizer in the lens and an optical viewfinder (OVF) with quite small screen and a 95% image coverage. The sensor offers 24 MP.

CONS: Not liked me - like Canon - even the very small and also only 95% of the later photos covering image of the optical viewfinder. In addition, the use of Nikon - at least for beginners - quite complex. The menus are mE not nearly as intuitive as with competitors.

3. Pentax K-30

PRO: The Pentax K-30 has a fantastic low-light capabilities and ME overall (after the tests and my subjective impression) best picture quality. In addition, the camera offers an extraordinary number of in-camera effects for image editing.

NEUTRAL: The viewfinder is optically, but compared to Canon or Nikon huge and covers different than this 100% of the image from. The image stabilizer is in the camera. The sensor offers 16 MP.

CONTRA: However Pentax cameras are not as common as Canon or Nikon. The video capabilities are rather weakly developed (also no connection for external micro). The LCD screen (like the Nikon 3200) not hinged and (minor matter) the case is in my opinion rather ugly. Overall, the Pentax lacks something of the sex appeal of the competitor.

4. Sony A57, A58 and A65

The A58 is - unlike the Amazon is - not the successor to the A57, but rather the A37. It is therefore (as the A37) slightly smaller than the A57, and there were (as with the A37) to save several features in comparison to the A57. But was not saved with the image quality that is better than the A57. The A65 is better equipped than the A57 (and even older). A57 and A65 are "Sales".

The Sony's offer after the tests and my subjective impression a very good (subjectively by Pentax even the best) image quality with image quality and noise are particularly well on poor at best and at the A58 (most expensive, but the oldest) A65. The A57 offers 16 MP, the MP A58 20 and A65 24 MP resolution. => WINNER A58

TIP: In a review of the A58 to read, the color fidelity is poor. Blue'll purple reproduced. That's not true. While it may be that the reviewer has caught a defective camera or a defective lens, much more likely, however, that his monitor depicting the colors plain wrong. My old PC monitor turned blue tones in photos from digital cameras (Sony, like Canon) sometimes purple. When I look at the same pictures on the built-in screen of the camera, slide the SD card in my Panasonic TV or images prints, blues are blue but just like in real life. Even on my new Dell 2412M monitor that is the case.

"My" other reasons for Sony:
- Large electronic viewfinder with 100% coverage
- Folding screen
- Image stabilization in the housing
- Superior video properties
- Many other nice gimmicks (eg Panoramic Photos and A57 / A65 3D Panorama).

The viewfinder is electronic (EVF). That was one reason per Sony for me. This can of course look different. Professionals and traditionalists probably prefer an optical viewfinder (OVF), which I also found impressive at Pentax, Nikon and Canon my viewfinder was too puny; it is effective only half as large as that of the A57 and covers only 95% from.

For amateurs like me is an EVF is a real advantage because it will not only all kinds of useful additional information is displayed (eg also edge sharpness as an aid to focus manually), but it is "what you see is what you get": The picture is much the same way shows how the finished photo will be (color, brightness, white balance, etc.). One sees immediately, rather than during the follow-up, if something is wrong. In addition, the camera is always in the "Live View" mode and the autofocus is very fast. Finally, one can (helpful in bright sun) also look at video recordings through the viewfinder. This is by design of the competitors do not see that on this, the mirror is folded away in the video recording and the viewfinder dark. Having worked for some time with the EVF, I would not want him back against a trade OVF.

When comparing the SONY has respect. Of the seeker the A57 made the race for me. The viewfinder images in all three cameras compared to Canon or Nikon large (A57 and A65 huge, A58 significantly smaller), and cover 100% of the image from. The technology is LCD in A57 and A65 and A58 in OLED. In all tests, we read that OLED is better. I have taken the trouble to test all three cameras and live - to my surprise - found that the best way to find the LCD screen of the A57. OLED is high contrast and "colorful" than LCD. That to me is more of a disadvantage, because while the colors (even if the image was a little pale) were of course displayed in the A57, A58 and A65 when they were "more beautiful than the reality" (unnaturally colorful). Außerden Grieseln all electronic viewfinder in bad light. That too was at the A57 significantly less (due to the lower contrast). On the other hand, that's probably all matter of habit and if you are not a direct comparison, the seeker of A65 and A58 are great.

All three Sony a folding screen (at A57 and A65 also rotate and rotate to protect the screen to the camera back, with A 58 only upwards and tilts down), at A57 and A65 is the size of 3 inches, at A58 only 2.7 inch with about half as high resolution as with the sisters. The folding screen is a real advantage over Nikon 3200 and Pentax K-30th I do not want to miss the (in particular to accommodate sometimes out of hand photos or videos). Folding displays the Nikon 5200 and the Canon 700D are even better because they can get out to the side flaps (good for self-portraits and a tripod), during the joint sitting at Sony nonsensically below. A57 and A65 land here in earnings before the A58

The image stabilizer (Steady Shot) is in the housing. This offers the advantage that even shots with lenses without stabilizer (eg older Minolta lenses) are verwackelungssicher and is also advantageous in video recordings. A distinction is made between photo and video: For photos there is a mechanical stabilization in videos it is electronic. Because video is a part of the sensors is used for stabilization, is the framing of small (less wide-angle)). In photos it is only at the reception and not already stabilized during the preview. This is the same for all Sony.

The video features Sony stands out for AVCHD and MP4 formats and the already described the advantages in the viewfinder LiveView focusing. The In-Camera Image Stabilizer stabilized here also in unregulated lenses. Competitors usually draw on still outdated and little compressed AVI format. All Sony cameras offer "Full HD". The A57 and A65 in "50P" (50 frames), while the A58 only in "50i" (50 fields) creates, but what is likely to be of little relevance in practice. I film voluntarily with the A57 in 50i.

Cute further SPIELEREIEN include
- The fast continuous shooting mode (A57 up to 12 fps, A65 to 10 fps, the A58 to 8 fps)
- The face and smile with automatic object tracking (something repaired in A58)
- The panorama function (vertical and horizontal panoramic images, which are automatically assembled, at A57 and A65 also in 3D)
- The tilt sensor / water balance (in A57 and A65, not with A58)
- The GPS module (only for A65, but I miss not very, because I know usually where I have the pictures taken)
- The infrared remote control capability (only for A57 and A65; indeed is optional (RMT-DSLR1), but Amazon is available for a few euros a fully compatible third-FB for release and playback control when connected to the TV).

Although these "gimmicks" are not really needed, give these and many more features the Sony cameras exactly the "sex appeal" and fun factor that has me in the superior in image quality Pentax particularly lacking (next to the folding screen and microphone connector).

Just a few differences:
- The bayonet is in A57 and A65 of metal, at A58 plastic (but certainly holds);
- The A58 has a new kit lens (only 18-55, advantage lt Sony "no ghosting and reflections more"; the kit lens 55-200 is the same for everybody.);
- The different resolution: Here ultimately wins the A58, which has a higher resolution than the A57 (20 MP instead of 16 MP) and still less noise returns as A57 and A65, while the A65, the higher resolution of 24 MP with (compared too expensive) must be paid to the two little sisters) significantly higher noise (Me. 16 MP means you can make loose A3 Vergößerungen. That to me is more than enough;
- The A58 is as the A99 an ISO flash shoe. The A57 and A65 have the old, the end of 2012 discontinued by Sony proprietary Sony / Minolta hot shoe. The thing with the ISO hot shoe has still light and shadow, because there are not so many Sony-compatible flashes with the new shoe, but that will come. There are already three: the small HVL-F20M (probably for NEX cameras), the brand new HVL-F43M (not AM!) And the HVL-F60M, the more expensive, however, than the camera itself from Metz and Nissin. for the smaller purses will definitely soon or can be connected with an adapter.

All in all, does not surprise me that the Sony cameras have long been confidently leading positions on the chip leaderboard lead (A57 just before A58 and A65 and the other compared here cameras). I know - professionals smile at the chip tester as amateurs - but I am also a photo-amateur and find probably exactly why that CHIP is right.

The bottom line is with me overlooking properties, features and image quality, the Sony A57 won. Since there is no longer the A57, A65 and A58 is currently the stay. Here wins the A58. While the A65 has a bit more features and a higher resolution, but has a poor image quality for higher price. And the price is really hot in the A58.

PS: A few tips accessories:

Medium bag (space for camera with lens, extra lens, external flash, charger, replacement battery and accessories) => I use for storage of all accessories and for family gatherings, where I need an external flash):
PSC = 1

Small bag (space for camera with lens, spare battery and possibly a few filters) => I bought in addition to medium-sized pocket on the go (outing, zoo etc.) if neither external flash nor interchangeable lenses are used and the other pocket to size is:
PSC = 1

Very good "Always top" -Universalzoom, see also my review of this lens (with comparison to the lenses SAL SAL 18-55 and 18-250). A kit with the 18-135 are available for the A58, unfortunately, unlike for the A57 (yet?)) => Worthwhile, although it is about as expensive as the camera itself:
; Ie = UTF8 & qid = 1372096495 & sr = 1-1 & keywords = sal + 18-135

Powerful fixed focal length (35 mm / 1.8) => for low-light or where the lightning interferes with (highly praised; I'm honestly not sure whether the purchase is for me has really paid off; lens is very good, but I almost never use it, because the 18-135 usually completely sufficient):
; Ie = UTF8 & qid = 1369221123 & sr = 1-1 & keywords = 35F18

Telephoto zoom (55-300 mm) => if you have the 55 non - 200mm kit lens or the 18 - has 135 mm; otherwise the focal profit is not worth mE more; but is grds. significantly better than the 55-200):
; Ie = UTF8 & qid = 1369221043 & sr = 1-5 & keywords = 55300

This review is often updated and improved by me. Thank you for appreciation, tips and criticism!

unsuitable as an inverter Rank: 1/5
August 25
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January 1
No extra 1 Rank: 2/5
March 6
Good product 1958 Rank: 5/5
December 31
Indispensable! 25 October 1401 Rank: 5/5
January 12

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