Canon EOS T6 vs Sony SLT-A37: A Head-to-Head Look at Two Entry-Level DSLRs

When it comes to entry-level DSLRs, photographers often face a bewildering choice of feature sets and brand ecosystems. Canon’s EOS T6, also known as the Rebel 1300D, and Sony’s SLT-A37 both target the enthusiast dipping their toes into DSLR photography without breaking the bank. Having spent countless hours with both cameras under varied shooting scenarios, I’m here to offer a detailed technical and practical comparison that will help you decide which model suits your photographic ambitions best.

Let’s unpack these seemingly similar but distinctly different cameras in an apples-to-apples manner, investigating performance, handling, feature set, and their suitability across popular photography genres.

First Impressions: Size, Handling & Ergonomics

Before diving into pixels and processors, handling defines how comfortable you’ll be when chasing that perfect shot.

Physically, both the Canon T6 and Sony A37 are compact DSLRs aimed at portability without sacrificing grip. The Canon T6 measures 129mm wide, 101mm tall, and 78mm deep, weighing in at 485 grams. The Sony is slightly smaller overall at 124mm × 92mm × 85mm but marginally heavier at 506 grams.

Canon’s body feels a bit more sculpted with a deeper grip that fills my hand comfortably even during long shooting sessions. The Sony’s more streamlined design opts for a shallower grip, which may feel less secure for larger hands, especially with heavier lenses attached. However, its slightly smaller footprint benefits those prioritizing travel light.

Both use sturdy plastic composites - adequate for everyday handling but without weather sealing, so keep that in mind if you shoot in more adventurous conditions.

Control Layout and Viewfinder: A Tale of Two Interfaces

How cameras communicate with us through buttons, dials, and viewfinders can drastically affect the shooting experience.

The Canon T6 opts for a traditional DSLR control scheme: a mode dial with clear positions for Manual, Aperture Priority, Shutter Priority, and various scene modes, plus a dedicated exposure compensation button. The controls feel tactile with decent spacing, making them accessible even for smaller fingers wearing gloves.

Sony A37, meanwhile, retains an SLT heritage with an electronic viewfinder (EVF), contrasting Canon’s optical pentamirror finder. The Sony’s tilting 2.6” LCD screen offers more compositional flexibility compared to the fixed 3” screen on the Canon. However, the lower resolution (230k vs Canon’s 920k dots) on the Sony’s screen makes image review and menu navigation feel less crisp.

The A37 boasts more focus points (15 vs Canon’s 9), promising finer autofocus precision, but their placement and usability are slightly more complex in practice due to Sony’s less intuitive menu hierarchy.

Sensor and Image Quality: Pixel Power and Dynamic Range

At the heart of any camera lies the sensor, governing image quality, low-light performance, and resolution.

Canon EOS T6 sports an 18-megapixel APS-C CMOS sensor sized at 22.3 x 14.9 mm with a 1.6x crop factor. The sensor is paired with the older Digic 4+ processor. This combination yields images with solid color reproduction and decent dynamic range, with a measured DXOMark overall score of 66. The Canon hits a respectable 11.7 EV dynamic range and can push ISO up to 6400 natively (expandable to 12800) before noise becomes intrusive.

Sony A37 houses a slightly larger APS-C sensor at 23.5 x 15.6 mm, with 16 megapixels on tap and a 1.5x crop factor. The sensor gains an edge with a newer image processor (though not specifically named), offering better dynamic range (12.9 EV) and color depth (23.3 bits) according to DXOMark, scoring an overall 75 - clearly more capable in demanding lighting conditions. Native ISO pushes to 25600, offering cleaner results in low light compared to Canon.

From a practical standpoint, landscapes and night shooters benefit from Sony’s better shadow recovery and noise control, while Canon’s output is still more than sufficient for web and moderate print sizes.

Autofocus Systems Put to the Test

An effective autofocus (AF) system is the difference between capturing a decisive moment and a missed opportunity.

Canon T6's autofocus relies on a 9-point phase-detection module with center point cross-type sensitivity. It accomplished focus lock reliably under bright conditions and performed well with static portraits or landscapes. However, it shows limitations in tracking moving subjects, which sometimes resulted in focus hunting during quick wildlife or sports bursts.

Conversely, Sony A37 boasts 15 AF points (3 cross-type) and utilizes phase detection on a translucent mirror (SLT technology). This allows continuous phase-detection autofocus in live view and video modes. Though Sony lacks eye-detection AF, the tracking during continuous shooting at 6 fps was noticeably smoother than Canon’s 3 fps. Slight lag appeared with erratically moving subjects, but overall precision and speed were superior.

For wildlife and action photographers starting out, the Sony A37’s autofocus system is better equipped, especially paired with higher burst rates.

Burst Rates and Buffer: Catching the Critical Moment

Speaking of continuous shooting, frame rates dictate your ability to capture fleeting action.

Canon T6 peaks at 3 frames per second (fps) with limited buffer depth, suitable for casual sports or family snaps but not relentless sports scenarios.

Sony A37 doubles that speed to 6 fps, which, combined with superior AF tracking, lends itself better to sports and wildlife photography where raised frame rates can mean the difference between sharp sequences and missed opportunities.

Build Quality, Weather Resistance, and Durability

Neither camera boasts weather sealing or ruggedization found on higher-tier models, so both require cautious use in the rain or dusty conditions.

Canon’s build feels sturdier in hand and slightly more robust around buttons. Sony’s A37’s more modern electronic viewfinder adds internal moving parts that theoretically increase points of failure but during my testing remained reliable. Given their shared entry-level status and plastic chassis, buyers should expect fairly equivalent durability.

LCD Screens and Viewfinders: Viewing Your World

The T6’s 3-inch, 920k dot fixed LCD provides a crisp and bright display for image review and menu navigation, a clear advantage compared to the A37’s 2.6-inch 230k dot tilting screen. The fixed screen limits creative framing angles somewhat, making it less ideal for awkward positions or macro work.

Sony’s electronic viewfinder provides 100% coverage at 1440 dots with a magnification of 0.73x - significantly better than the Canon’s pentamirror optical viewfinder offering roughly 95% coverage at 0.5x magnification. While some photographers prefer optical viewfinders for their true-to-life clarity and lag-free composition, the EVF adds benefits like live exposure previews and playback overlays unavailable on the Canon.

Lens Ecosystem and Compatibility

Canon holds a clear advantage here with an extensive lens catalog boasting over 300 EF and EF-S optimized lenses covering everything from ultra-wide landscapes to super telephoto wildlife optics.

Sony’s Alpha mount ecosystem comprises roughly 143 native lenses, including legacy Minolta options and a narrower but growing selection of Sony and third-party glass. Its 1.5x crop factor slightly widens effective focal lengths but with fewer native lenses, lens choice can be more restrictive.

In practical terms, Canon’s dominance in lens variety and availability translates to better adaptability across genres and budgets.

Battery Life and Storage Flexibility

Battery life for both cameras hovers around 500 shots per charge, respectable but not exceptional.

Canon uses the LP-E10 battery pack, and Sony relies on the NP-FW50. Both offer standard lithium-ion longevity but you’ll want spares for extended trips.

Sony supports additional storage formats including Memory Stick Pro Duo/Pro HG Duo along with SD cards, whereas Canon sticks strictly to SD/SDHC/SDXC. Both feature a single card slot, limiting backup options but simplifying workflow for novices.

Wireless Connectivity and Ports

Wireless and connectivity options increasingly influence workflow efficiency.

Canon T6 boasts built-in Wi-Fi and NFC for rapid pairing and image transfer to smartphones and compatible devices. This modern feature vastly simplifies social media sharing and remote control using Canon’s app.

Sony’s A37 offers Eye-Fi card connectivity, requiring compatible SD cards for wireless transfer but lacks NFC or Bluetooth, limiting convenience.

The A37 wins with a microphone input jack, critical for videographers demanding higher audio quality. Neither camera offers headphone jacks for audio monitoring.

Both cameras provide HDMI outputs and USB 2.0 ports for tethering but Canon’s USB is standard 2.0 without faster transfer modes.

Video Capabilities: Moving Pictures Analysis

Both shooters deliver 1080p Full HD video, but the implementation differs.

Canon T6 records 1080p at 30 and 24 fps, using H.264 compression with MPEG-4 wrappers. Video autofocus is contrast-detection based, slower and prone to hunting during continuous focus. No microphone input restricts sound upgrading, limiting it to the built-in stereo mic.

Sony A37 impresses with 1080p at 60 and 30 fps, supporting AVCHD and MPEG-4 formats, and seamless phase-detection autofocus during video, offering smoother focus transitions. The presence of a microphone input allows users to attach external audio devices, making it a better choice for vloggers or amateur filmmakers.

None support 4K nor advanced video features like zebras or log profiles, unsurprising given their age and market segment.

How They Handle Across Photography Disciplines

To provide a rounded perspective, here’s how the cameras ranked across popular genres.

Canon T6 screen back Sony A37 front Sony A37 screen back

Portraits

Canon’s warmer color palette coupled with smooth skin tone rendition renders pleasing portraits straight out of camera. Its 9-point AF and face detection software satisfactorily lock focus on eyes in most situations. The Sony’s additional AF points and EVF's preview help gauge bokeh and exposure more accurately, but slightly cooler color tones may require post-processing tweaks.

Landscape

Sony’s superior dynamic range shines in high-contrast landscapes, retaining detail in shadows and highlights that are more compressed on the Canon T6. However, Canon’s broader lens options allow for ultra-wide primes that Sony users might miss. Both lack weather sealing, meaning careful care in rain.

Wildlife

With its 6 fps burst and better tracking autofocus, Sony is the clear winner for amateur wildlife shooters. Canon’s slower 3 fps and less sophisticated AF make capturing fast-moving animals more challenging.

Sports

Sony again leads with higher burst rates and more advanced AF, although neither camera can rival modern sports-centric bodies. Canon users might find tracking fast athletes frustrating.

Street

Canon’s traditional optical viewfinder and larger grip favor handheld discretion and longer handling comfort for street photographers. Sony’s EVF and smaller body suit those wanting lighter gear and flexible LCD tilt but may attract more attention in candid scenarios.

Macro

Tighter control over focus with Sony’s 15 points benefits macro detailing but Canon’s robust lens lineup includes several macro specialists, tipping the scales. Neither has focus stacking modes, limiting macro experimentation.

Astrophotography

Sony’s higher ISO reach and better noise handling gives it a clear edge for night sky shots. Canon’s maximum 6400 ISO is workable but noisier at extreme settings.

Video

Sony’s 1080p 60 fps, smooth AF, and mic port make it the preferred budget video offering. Canon is adequate for casual video but less professional-friendly.

Travel

The compact Sony body with tilting screen provides flexibility and portability for travel photographers; however, Canon’s robust battery life and wider lens ecosystem make it a more versatile travel companion overall.

Professional Use

Neither camera targets professional workflows. However, Canon’s vast lens selection, slightly better handling, and superior color science might appeal more to entry-level pros or serious hobbyists.

Technical Specifications Summarized and Final Thoughts

*Estimated market prices at launch.

Who Should Choose Which?

If I were giving personalized advice, it would go like this:

• Beginners prioritizing straightforward handling, broad lens options, and warm color output: Canon EOS T6 is the safer bet. Its extensive ecosystem and intuitive controls help ease newcomers into DSLR photography.

• Entry-level action, wildlife, or video enthusiasts seeking speed, better AF tracking, and improved low-light performance: Sony A37’s faster burst rate, superior sensor, and video features give it the edge. The electronic viewfinder and mic input also support creative shooting workflows.

• Travel photographers balancing portability with versatility: Sony’s smaller body is attractive, but Canon’s battery longevity and lens choices may better suit extended trips where charging is tricky.

• Budget-conscious buyers wanting wireless connectivity: Canon’s built-in Wi-Fi and NFC trump Sony’s more limited Eye-Fi compatibility.

Final Verdict

The Canon T6 and Sony A37, despite targeting the same market segment, cater to subtly distinct user needs. My extensive field test confirms Sony’s technological edge in sensor performance and autofocus speed, albeit with a steeper learning curve and more limited lens line. Canon’s user-friendly ergonomics, color science, and lens variety remain unmatched within this budget range.

Neither is a perfect camera: both lack weatherproofing, advanced video features, and cutting-edge AF technologies found on newer models. But as legacy entry-level DSLRs, they remain valid contenders depending on your photographic priorities and brand preference.

Above all, choosing between the Canon EOS T6 and Sony SLT-A37 comes down to your shooting style, genre emphasis, and ecosystem loyalty. With this informed breakdown, pick the dog that’s a good boy for your photographic journey.

Happy shooting!