We go hands on with the new 20.1 megapixel Sony Alpha A58, a new Digital SLT designed to replace the A37 and A57.
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Features
Handling
Specification
The new Sony Alpha A58 is Sony's latest mid-entry level Digital SLR offering with Sony's Translucent Mirror Technology, and a new 20.1 megapixel APS-C sensor, it is designed to replace the Sony Alpha A57, as well as the Sony Alpha A37 which will be discontinued in April. It features a new OLED TruFinder electronic viewfinder, lock on AF tracking, and auto-object framing. It will be available for £450 with the new 18-55mm SAM II kit lens from April.
The camera features a new OLED TruFinder electronic viewfinder, an improvement over the LCD viewfinder in the A57, although the resolution is the same with both cameras featuring the same 1.44 million dot resolution.
Auto object framing, will automatically frame portraits, macros or AF Tracking subjects, and crop accordingly while also retaining the original image. This feature is an update to auto-portrait framing on previous models, and can be switched off if unneeded.
Lock on AF is another new feature that will automatically detect the subject size and track the movement accordingly. The new 20.1 megapixel sensor offers ISO100 to ISO16000, with area based noise reduction for improved low light performance.
The Sony Alpha A58 has a plastic front lens mount, however, on closer inspection of this camera and the A57, the next ring in is also plastic, followed by a silver metal ring on both. Sony assured us that this shouldn't cause any issues in use.
The rear has a 460k dot screen, and an OLED Trufinder electronic viewfinder with 1.44million dots - and it appeared to look better than the A57 in comparison with a more life-like view. The remote socket has gone from the A57, and instead a new RM-VPR1 wired remote commander accessory is offered.
On top you'll notice that the A58 has followed other recent Sony Alpha and NEX cameras and features a more ISO standard flash hot-shoe, with the Multi Terminal Ni accessory port. The camera offers a battery life rating of 690 to 700 shots depending on where you use the EVF or LCD display, with the LCD offering slightly better battery life.
The OLED TruFinder has eye-detection and will automatically switch to the electronic viewfinder when you hold the camera up to your eye, or alternatively you can use the button on the top to manually choose. We will be putting the Sony Alpha A58 through our full review when available.
Read the Sony Alpha A58 Announcement.
Handling
Specification
The new Sony Alpha A58 is Sony's latest mid-entry level Digital SLR offering with Sony's Translucent Mirror Technology, and a new 20.1 megapixel APS-C sensor, it is designed to replace the Sony Alpha A57, as well as the Sony Alpha A37 which will be discontinued in April. It features a new OLED TruFinder electronic viewfinder, lock on AF tracking, and auto-object framing. It will be available for £450 with the new 18-55mm SAM II kit lens from April.
Sony Alpha A58 Features
The camera features a new OLED TruFinder electronic viewfinder, an improvement over the LCD viewfinder in the A57, although the resolution is the same with both cameras featuring the same 1.44 million dot resolution.
Auto object framing, will automatically frame portraits, macros or AF Tracking subjects, and crop accordingly while also retaining the original image. This feature is an update to auto-portrait framing on previous models, and can be switched off if unneeded.
Lock on AF is another new feature that will automatically detect the subject size and track the movement accordingly. The new 20.1 megapixel sensor offers ISO100 to ISO16000, with area based noise reduction for improved low light performance.
Key Features
- 20.1 megapixel APS-C sensor
- OLED TruFinder, 1.44m dots
- Lock on AF object tracking
- Auto object framing
- 2.7inch screen, 460k dots
- 15 point AF, with 3 cross type
- Full HD video with stereo sound
- 8fps continuous AF shooting (tele-zoom)
- 5fps continuous shooting at full resolution
- New ISO standard hot-shoe with Multi Terminal (Ni) accessory port
- ISO100 - ISO16000 (ISO25600 with Multi-frame NR)
- New area-based Noise Reduction
- Improved BOINZ image processing engine
- Steadyshot inside image stabilisation
Sony Alpha A58 Handling
The Sony Alpha A58 has a plastic front lens mount, however, on closer inspection of this camera and the A57, the next ring in is also plastic, followed by a silver metal ring on both. Sony assured us that this shouldn't cause any issues in use.
The rear has a 460k dot screen, and an OLED Trufinder electronic viewfinder with 1.44million dots - and it appeared to look better than the A57 in comparison with a more life-like view. The remote socket has gone from the A57, and instead a new RM-VPR1 wired remote commander accessory is offered.
On top you'll notice that the A58 has followed other recent Sony Alpha and NEX cameras and features a more ISO standard flash hot-shoe, with the Multi Terminal Ni accessory port. The camera offers a battery life rating of 690 to 700 shots depending on where you use the EVF or LCD display, with the LCD offering slightly better battery life.
The OLED TruFinder has eye-detection and will automatically switch to the electronic viewfinder when you hold the camera up to your eye, or alternatively you can use the button on the top to manually choose. We will be putting the Sony Alpha A58 through our full review when available.
Read the Sony Alpha A58 Announcement.
Sony Alpha A58 Hands-On Photos of Equipment
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Sony Alpha A58 Specifications
| Manufacturer | Sony | |
| Lens | ||
| Effective Magnification | 1.5x | |
| Image Sensor | ||
| Pixels | 20.1Mp (Megapixels) | |
| Pixels (W) | 5456 | |
| Pixels (H) | 3632 | |
| Sensor Type | Exmor CMOS | |
| Sensor Size | APS-C | |
| Sensor Size (width) | 23.5mm | |
| Sensor Size (height) | 15.6mm | |
| Aspect Ratio |
| |
| LCD Monitor | ||
| LCD Monitor | 2.7in | |
| Screen resolution | 460k | |
| Touch Screen | No | |
| Focusing | ||
| Focusing modes |
| |
| Exposure Control | ||
| Shutter speeds shortest | 1/4000sec | |
| Shutter speeds longest | 30sec | |
| Bulb mode | Yes | |
| Exp modes |
| |
| Metering |
| |
| ISO sensitivity | 100 - 16000 | |
| White balance |
| |
| Exposure Comp | +/-3 | |
| Viewfinder | ||
| Magnification | No Data | |
| Shooting Options | ||
| Continuous shooting | 5fps | |
| Video | ||
| Movie mode | Yes | |
| Video Resolution |
| |
| Video FPS | 50p, 50i, 25p | |
| Stereo Sound | Yes | |
| Optical Zoom with Video | Yes | |
| Other Features | ||
| Image Stabilisation | Yes | |
| Interface | ||
| HDMI | Yes | |
| USB | USB 2 | |
| Wi-Fi | No | |
| Storage | ||
| Card Type |
| |
| File Type |
| |
| Power Source | ||
| Battery Type | Infolithium NP-FM500H | |
| Battery Life (CIPA rating) | 690shots | |
| Box Contents | ||
| Box Contents | Lens cap, Micro USB cable, Body cap, SAL-18552, rechargeable battery, Eyepiece cup, battery charger, shoulder strap, power cable | |
| Dimensions | ||
| Weight | 492g | |
| Width | 128.6mm | |
| Height | 95.5mm | |
| Depth | 77.7mm | |
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Photographs taken using the Sony Alpha A58
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20 Feb 2013 1:47PM-
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20 Feb 2013 2:02PMAndy
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20 Feb 2013 2:43PMIn a way, the A58 is a backward step and to drop the A37 is crazy, people flocked to buy that because it was small and compact and got rave reviews.
I just don't get it with Sony.
I will wait a bit as A57's come on the used market as people change [I won't use the word upgrade] to the A58.
Pete
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20 Feb 2013 5:29PM-
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20 Feb 2013 6:51PM-
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20 Feb 2013 7:37PMThe plastic lens mount is worrying - but in truth, most of hte people who will buy this won't be hanging big lenses on it, or changing primes 20 times a day, like I do...
Moving to a standard hot shoe is sensible, so that ordinary accessories fit. If my 900 had one, I wouldn't need the silly adaptor for studio triggers... This is simply getting rid of an old Minolta eccentricity, which my still-lovely Dynax 9 shares.
Yes - Sony do odd stuff. The result of a big consumer electronics firm taking over a slightly eccentric camera firm. But... Even the ones I really haven't loved (such as the Alpha 100) do deliver the goods. So I'll probably recommend this to anyone who asks me, and wants this kind of camera.
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20 Feb 2013 7:40PM-
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21 Feb 2013 8:33AMPeter
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21 Feb 2013 10:29AMBecause it mimics the live view, I use it to change the camera settings and review my photos.
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25 Feb 2013 3:59AMI don't see how a plastic mount is an improvement though. It seems like Sony is being cheap. The image quality of the 18-135mm lens is an example. I know they wanted to make that lens cheap, but did they have to make it SO cheap? A $500 lens with that range and a better image quality, with weather seals, would have been really nice. They need a 10-18mm lens too, so they can compete against the Sigma 10-20mm and the Tamron 10-24mm.
This camera reminds me of the A99 and its slow shooting ability. It's as if they didn't want to compete against Nikon too hard, so Nikon could stay in the game. It's almost as if the big three camera makers are all in business together. In fact, I wouldn't be surprised. They ARE all Japanese companies, after-all. Maybe they don't want to hurt each other, as a matter of national pride.
Sony needs to make more weather sealed cameras and lenses. So does Nikon and Canon. I'd like to see more professional level cameras. If they can make little $250 cameras with weather seals that let them go 10 meters under water, they can make a DSLR for $600 that has weather seals.
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29 Sep 2013 4:19PM-
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30 Sep 2013 12:21PMYou must be a member to leave a comment.
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