Sony Alpha SLT-A58 DSLR Camera Preview: A Smart Move or More Signs of Trouble at Sony?

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SLTA58K image As one of the largest and most recognized global electronics brand, Sony has been in the news recently because of its struggling financial condition. Not that the company is closing its doors, but it did sell its New York headquarters to generate some much-needed cash. The Sony A77, which was launched after A57, has got better features including the Translucent Mirror Technology.

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Now, the late-February 2013 announcement of the new Sony Alpha SLT-A58 DSLR camera has caused some industry experts and reviewers to scratch their heads. Reportedly, the new A-58 will replace the A-57 during April 2013, which is just a year old. Nothing particularly unusual about that; however, the A-58 is also replacing the A-37, Sony’s newest entry-level DSLR, released during May 2012. This means the A-58 would become Sony’s “entry-level” DSLR, but at the same price as the A-57, but with the addition of features it doesn’t have and the loss of some it does.

Sony A55 | Sony A57 | Sony A65 | Sony A77 | Sony A99

Of course, the primary technological feature of all Sony DSLR cameras that make them appealing to many photographers is Sony’s Translucent Mirror Technology, or fixed-mirror design. Unlike the “standard” DSLR, there is no moving mirror in the A58, so more of the light entering the lens is directed to the sensor. The advantage for the first-time DSLR buyer is that the camera is capable of focusing and continuing to shoot stills and movies without pausing for the mirror to return to its original position. Much more expensive DSLRs retain the mechanical mirror.

The advancements in the SLT-A58 are significant, however, including a new 20.1-MP APS-C sensor and improved BOINZ image processor. According to Sony’s initial press release, the image processor also has the capability to reduce digital noise in specific areas, which supposedly will improve dynamic range and, therefore, image quality. The SLT-A37 and A57 are built with 16.1-MP sensors.

The A58’s OLED TruFinder electronic viewfinder is also new, but the resolution of 1.44-million dots is the same as both the A57 and A58. The OLED TruFinder also automatically activates when it detects your eye coming to the viewfinder, plus there is a manual control to activate it.

Auto Portrait Framing was a function first found on the Sony NEX-F3. A new iteration of that capability has been added to the A58, which essentially identifies a two-person portrait.

For Sony’s new “entry-level” model, the A58 has a rather advanced feature known as Lock-on AF. It recognizes the primary subject in a scene and utilizes more autofocus points to establish a more complete AF lock compared to the “standard” AF system that only uses AF points directly related to the part of the subject in focus, such as the eyes.

Sony’s surprising move is to give the new A58 slower continuous shooting at 5 fps instead of the 5.5 fps on the A37 (although the difference is somewhat negligible). In addition, the A58’s LCD has more limited specs than the A57: it’s smaller, 2.7 inches from 3.0 inches; less resolution: 460,000 dots to 921,600 dots; and it only tilts while the A57’s LCD is fully articulated.

Other specs of the new A58 are unchanged from the both the A37 and A57. These include ISO range, AF sensitivity, shutter speed, metering, memory slots and wireless flash. The A58 does provide greater battery life, 690 shots versus 550 on the A57 and 450 on the A37.

What may be most significant for photographers in the market for the A58 is not how it compares to its fellow Sony DSLRs, but how well it compares to similarly priced DSLRs from Canon and Nikon that are generally older models.

The Canon EOS Rebel T3i and the Nikon D5100 have smaller sensors, 18-MP and 16.2-MP, respectively. They also have a narrower ISO range; slower continuous shooting; only a 9-point and 11-point AF system, respectively; and slightly heavier bodies.

Although the new Sony Alpha SLT-A58 DSLR was not yet listed on the Sony Website or Amazon at the time of this article, it will reportedly have a MSRP of $599.99 with a new version of Sony’s 18–55mm kit lens. The Canon EOS Rebel T3i with a similar lens is $699.99 and the Nikon D5100, $599.99.

Sony A55 | Sony A57 | Sony A65 | Sony A77 | Sony A99

Check Amazon between now and the April 2013 release date of the Sony A58 to pre-order this DSLR and probably at a lower price than its MSRP.

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