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Sony NEX-7 vs Sony A37

Portability
84
Imaging
63
Features
71
Overall
66
Sony Alpha NEX-7 front
 
Sony SLT-A37 front
Portability
67
Imaging
57
Features
65
Overall
60

Sony NEX-7 vs Sony A37 Key Specs

Sony NEX-7
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 16000
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 400g - 120 x 67 x 43mm
  • Revealed December 2011
Sony A37
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 2.6" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 506g - 124 x 92 x 85mm
  • Announced May 2012
  • Replaced the Sony A35
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Sony NEX-7 vs Sony A37 Overview

On this page, we are analyzing the Sony NEX-7 vs Sony A37, former being a Advanced Mirrorless while the other is a Entry-Level DSLR and they are both built by Sony. There exists a large gap among the image resolutions of the NEX-7 (24MP) and A37 (16MP) but both cameras provide the same sensor sizes (APS-C).

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The NEX-7 was manufactured 5 months earlier than the A37 and they are both of a similar age. Each of the cameras have different body design with the Sony NEX-7 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Sony A37 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before diving straight to a step-by-step comparison, here is a short overview of how the NEX-7 grades vs the A37 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Sony NEX-7 over the Sony A37

 NEX-7 A37 
Display dimensions3"2.6"Larger display (+0.4")
Display resolution921k230kClearer display (+691k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony A37 over the Sony NEX-7

 A37 NEX-7 

Common features in the Sony NEX-7 and Sony A37

 NEX-7 A37 
AnnouncedDecember 2011May 2012Same age
Focus manually Very exact focusing
Display typeTiltingTiltingTilting display
Selfie screen Neither contains selfie screen
Touch friendly display Neither contains Touch friendly display

Sony NEX-7 vs Sony A37 Physical Comparison

In case you're going to lug around your camera regularly, you have to think about its weight and proportions. The Sony NEX-7 has got exterior measurements of 120mm x 67mm x 43mm (4.7" x 2.6" x 1.7") having a weight of 400 grams (0.88 lbs) and the Sony A37 has measurements of 124mm x 92mm x 85mm (4.9" x 3.6" x 3.3") along with a weight of 506 grams (1.12 lbs).

Check the Sony NEX-7 vs Sony A37 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will differ depending on the lens you are employing at that time. Here is a front view dimension comparison of the NEX-7 compared to the A37.

Sony NEX-7 vs Sony A37 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the NEX-7 and A37 is 84 and 67 respectively.

Sony NEX-7 vs Sony A37 top view buttons comparison

Sony NEX-7 vs Sony A37 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it is difficult to picture the contrast in sensor measurements simply by seeing specs. The graphic here should provide you a much better sense of the sensor sizing in the NEX-7 and A37.

All in all, both the cameras provide the same sensor dimensions but different MP. You can expect to see the Sony NEX-7 to provide greater detail due to its extra 8MP. Greater resolution can also allow you to crop photos more aggressively.

Sony NEX-7 vs Sony A37 sensor size comparison

Sony NEX-7 vs Sony A37 Screen and ViewFinder

Sony NEX-7 vs Sony A37 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Sony NEX-7 Portrait photography information
Sony A37 Portrait photography information
77
you can focus manually
good megapixels (24MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
has face detection focus
exports RAW formats
74
manual focus
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
includes face detection autofocus
delivers RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Sony NEX-7 Street photography info
Sony A37 Street photography info
76
has a tilting screen
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
no image stabilization
77
screen tilts up and down
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
good ISO range (25,600)
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Sony NEX-7
Sports photography with Sony A37
61
good megapixels (24 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
good battery power (430 CIPA)
no image stabilization
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
61
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
supports phase detect autofocus
slow frames per second (6.0 fps)
terrible battery life (500 CIPA)
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Sony NEX-7
Travel photography with Sony A37
70
good battery power (430 CIPA)
good megapixels (24 megapixels)
has built in flash
missing Timelapse recording
doesn't contain selfie friendly display
54
resolution is good (16MP)
flash built-in
lack of Time Lapse function
terrible battery life (500 CIPA)
display is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Sony NEX-7 Landscape photography factors
Sony A37 Landscape photography factors
72
you can focus manually
interchangeable lenses (Sony E mount)
nice screen size (3")
good megapixels (24 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
good battery power (430 shots)
no image stabilization
missing Timelapse recording
64
manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
good ISO range (25,600)
delivers RAW formats
tiny screen (2.6")
terrible battery life (500 per charge)
lack of Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Sony NEX-7
Vlogging with Sony A37
35
has face detection focus
high res video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
comes with external microphone jack
doesn't contain selfie friendly display
no image stabilization
35
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
includes face detection autofocus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
comes with external mic jack
display is not selfie friendly
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Sony NEX-7 vs Sony A37 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony NEX-7 and Sony A37
 Sony Alpha NEX-7Sony SLT-A37
General Information
Brand Sony Sony
Model type Sony Alpha NEX-7 Sony SLT-A37
Category Advanced Mirrorless Entry-Level DSLR
Revealed 2011-12-13 2012-05-16
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Powered by Bionz -
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size APS-C APS-C
Sensor dimensions 23.5 x 15.6mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor surface area 366.6mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 24MP 16MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 6000 x 4000 4912 x 3264
Highest native ISO 16000 25600
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW support
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
AF continuous
AF single
AF tracking
AF selectice
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Total focus points 25 15
Cross type focus points - 3
Lens
Lens mount type Sony E Sony/Minolta Alpha
Number of lenses 121 143
Focal length multiplier 1.5 1.5
Screen
Display type Tilting Tilting
Display size 3 inch 2.6 inch
Resolution of display 921k dot 230k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 1,440k dot
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification 0.73x 0.73x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 30 secs 30 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shutter speed 10.0 frames/s 6.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 6.00 m 12.00 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Fastest flash sync 1/160 secs 1/160 secs
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60, 24 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60, 29.97 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30fps), 640 x 424 (29.97 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video data format MPEG-4, AVCHD MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264
Mic input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 400g (0.88 lb) 506g (1.12 lb)
Physical dimensions 120 x 67 x 43mm (4.7" x 2.6" x 1.7") 124 x 92 x 85mm (4.9" x 3.6" x 3.3")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 81 75
DXO Color Depth rating 24.1 23.3
DXO Dynamic range rating 13.4 12.9
DXO Low light rating 1016 799
Other
Battery life 430 shots 500 shots
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID NPFW50 NP-FW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10sec (3 or 5 images)) Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10 sec 3 or 5 images)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots 1 1
Retail pricing $699 $522