Sony A57 vs Sony A77 II: A Hands-On Comparison From Sensor to Shutter

When Sony launched the A57 in 2012, it felt like an ambitious push into the entry-level DSLR realm - packing in features rarely seen at that price point. Fast-forward two years and the A77 II arrives with quite the pedigree, boasting advanced specs and a more refined user experience for enthusiasts ready to leap further into Sony’s SLT lineup. Having extensively tested both cameras side by side - from snowy mountain trails to crowded urban jungles, and well-lit studios to dimly lit stadiums - here is a thorough comparison built on lenses balanced, buttons pressed, and pixels examined. Whether you’re hunting for your first serious DSLR or looking to upgrade within Sony’s ecosystem, this guide dives deep into how these two mid-decade SLTs stack up.

Getting Hands-On: Size, Handling, and Design

Size and ergonomics play a fundamental role in a photographer’s connection with their gear. The Sony A57 is a compact SLR body designed with entry-level users in mind, while the A77 II opts for a slightly larger, more robust build befitting advanced amateurs and prosumers.

I appreciate how the A57’s relatively lighter 618g weight and slightly smaller dimensions (132x98x81mm) make it an inviting option for travel or street shooters who prioritize portability. The grip fits snugly even for medium-sized hands, but the body shows some plastic in key areas - a compromise at this price.

The A77 II, at 647g and 143x104x81mm, is a touch bulkier but this yields a more reassuring feel in the hand. The magnesium alloy chassis and improved weather sealing provide solid durability - something landscape or wildlife photographers outdoors will value. On longer shoots, the thicker grip reduces strain, and the top plate sports better-spaced function buttons that encourage confident one-handed operation.

Moving to the top makeup:

The A77 II adopts a more sophisticated management of dials and buttons. Both cameras retain the beloved Sony “Quick Navi” interface, but the A77 II adds a dedicated AF mode dial and a joystick for rapid AF point selection, which I found invaluable when switching focus areas on the fly - especially for sports and wildlife. The A57’s AF point control is more basic, suitable for its entry-level target but lacking some finesse.

Sensor and Image Quality: The Heart of the Matter

The leap from a 16MP sensor in the A57 to a 24MP sensor in the A77 II is significant on paper - but how much does it matter in real shooting?

Both cameras share an APS-C sized CMOS sensor (23.5x15.6 mm) with a 1.5x crop factor but differ in resolution and sensor tech evolution. The A77 II’s Exmor CMOS sensor combines with the Bionz X processor to offer higher resolution (6000x4000 vs. 4912x3264 pixels) and improved signal processing.

In our color depth and dynamic range tests, the A77 II scored slightly higher with a 24.4-bit color depth versus 23.4-bit on the A57, and a 13.4 EV dynamic range over 13.0 EV. On most landscape shoots, the A77 II's ability to capture subtle shadow gradations and preserve highlight detail proved noticeably better, especially when shooting harsh midday sun or scenes with complex lighting.

High ISO noise performance also tips in the A77 II's favor - its DxOMark low-light ISO score is 1013 compared to the A57’s 785, resulting in cleaner images in low-light environments without aggressive noise reduction artifacts. That’s meaningful for event shooters or astrophotographers shooting at ISO 3200 or above.

Both cameras maintain an anti-aliasing filter, which slightly softens micro-detail but reduces moiré in fabrics or repetitive patterns - a reason why Sony’s user base accepts color fidelity for smooth results.

Composing Your Shot: Screens and Viewfinders

Both models feature a 3-inch fully articulating LCD screen - a real boon for vloggers and macro shooters needing flexible angles.

The A57’s 921k-dot Xtra Fine TFT screen with TruBlack technology offers decent viewing angles and accurate brightness, but the A77 II steps this up with a 1,229k-dot resolution, resulting in crisper previews and easier manual focusing on fine details.

Both lack touchscreen functionality, a nod to traditionalists but slightly inconvenient when compared to more recent competitors offering touch focusing or menus - a minor drawback for photographers used to touch-enabled phones.

The electronic viewfinders (EVF) reflect more substantial improvements:

• A57: 1,440k-dot EVF with 0.7x magnification and 100% coverage
• A77 II: 2,359k-dot EVF with 0.73x magnification and 100% coverage

The A77 II's OLED EVF offers a sharper and more lifelike preview with reduced motion lag, a real advantage for fast-moving subjects or critical manual focusing in tricky light conditions. I found its eye-level clarity far superior during long sessions, helping my eye quickly track subjects without strain.

Autofocus and Speed: Chasing the Moment

Sony has never shied away from impressive burst rates and autofocus technology in their SLT line, and both cameras impress here.

The A57 sports a 15-point phase detection AF system with 3 cross-type sensors, while the A77 II elevates this drastically with 79 AF points including 15 cross-type.

The presence of a dedicated autofocus processor plus advancements in the Bionz X processing pipeline make the A77 II notably faster and more reliable in tracking moving subjects. I tested continuous AF on both under various sports and wildlife conditions; the A57 sometimes struggled to maintain focus lock during rapid unpredictable movements whereas the A77 II showcased remarkable consistency and smooth focus transitions.

Both cameras reach a solid 12fps burst speed using the electronic shutter, but the A77 II's buffer depth is significantly larger, allowing longer shooting bursts (~60 RAW frames) without slowing down compared to the A57 (~10-12 frames).

Additionally, the A77 II supports face detection with real-time Eye AF, which the A57 lacks, helping portrait and wedding photographers nail focus on eyes even when subjects are in motion or partially obscured.

Face Off: Portrait, Street, and Macro Use

Portrait shooters will appreciate the A77 II’s extra resolution and improved color accuracy - skin tones remain natural, and bokeh rendition is pleasantly smooth owing to the sensor and lens combo. Eye AF support enhances sharpness on subjects' eyes, where the A57’s single contrast-detection face recognition works passably but can falter in dim or cluttered backgrounds.

For street photography, the A57’s smaller size and lighter body make it less intrusive, and its fully articulated screen aids composing shots from unusual angles. Yet the A77 II, while larger, is still reasonably compact for mid-sized DSLRs. Its superior AF and EVF quality can benefit street shooters who often face challenging lighting and rapidly changing scenarios, although it might betray you slightly by drawing more attention.

Macro work on either camera should rely heavily on lens choice, but the A77 II's enhanced focusing points and more exact AF system paired with sensor stabilization make one-handed close-up shooting easier and less prone to error, especially crucial in nature macro photography.

Landscape, Night, and Astro Photography

Landscape lovers will find the A77 II’s higher resolution advantageous for producing large prints or cropping without serious degradation. The strengthened weather sealing also ensures better protection against the elements - think misty mountain mornings or beach shoots.

Night and astro photography put sensors, noise control, and exposure options to the test. The A77 II's cleaner high-ISO performance combined with better dynamic range supports longer, darker exposures and starry skies with less shadow noise.

Both can shoot long exposures down to 30 seconds, but the A77 II’s max shutter speed doubling to 1/8000s versus 1/4000s allows greater flexibility in bright daylight long-exposure or motion-freezing scenarios.

Video Capabilities: A Closer Look

Video has become crucial even for still-focused cameras. Both models offer Full HD 1080p recording but with some nuanced differences.

• A57 records 1920x1080 at 60p and 24p (plus lower resolutions), employing MPEG-4, AVCHD, and H.264 formats.
• A77 II adds 60i and XAVC S support, giving slightly richer codec options and potentially better color depth in footage.

Neither offers 4K, unsurprisingly given their age, but the A77 II's video autofocus is smoother and more continuous during filming, benefiting documentary or event shooters.

Both have built-in microphones and external microphone ports (a definite plus), yet lack headphone jacks for monitored sound - still a limitation for professional videographers.

Image stabilization is sensor-based on both, assisting handheld video shooting, though the A77 II’s processing makes stabilization increments feel a touch more effective.

Battery Life and Storage: Shooting Longer and Smarter

Battery endurance is an essential real-world consideration. Surprisingly, the A57’s rated 550 shots per charge slightly outpaces the A77 II’s 480 shots, likely due to the latter’s more demanding electronics and brighter viewfinder.

Modern power users may want to stock up on extra NP-FM500H packs or consider aftermarket high-capacity batteries, especially if shooting video or bursts heavily.

Each supports a single card slot, compatible with SD, SDHC, SDXC, and Sony’s Memory Stick Pro formats, catering well to most workflows. For tethering or offloading, both have USB 2.0 ports and HDMI outputs, with the A77 II including built-in Wi-Fi and NFC wireless connectivity - a convenience the A57 lacks.

Lens Ecosystem and Compatibility

Both cameras share Sony/Minolta Alpha lens mounts, granting access to an extensive lens library exceeding 140+ options - ranging from legacy Minolta glass to modern G-series optics and third-party selections.

This compatibility is a boon: photographers upgrading from A57 to A77 II keep their existing lenses, while those new to Sony gain flexibility.

Note that both bodies have a 1.5x crop factor, so focal lengths translate accordingly. Telephoto lenses serve wildlife and sports shooters well, especially benefits realized by the A77 II’s more sophisticated autofocus tracking.

How Do They Measure Up in Real-World Genres?

Our experience shooting in diverse genres shows meaningful distinctions:

Sony A57 front Sony A57 screen back Sony A77 II front Sony A77 II screen back

Portraits

A77 II offers richer detail, better eye detection, and refined skin tone rendering. A57 produces solid results but less finesse in focus and color subtlety.

Landscape

A77 II’s wider dynamic range and weather sealing make it a better companion for demanding outdoor conditions and large prints.

Wildlife

A77 II’s extensive focus points and tracking capabilities excel. A57 works well but can struggle with fast-moving subjects.

Sports

Both support 12fps burst, but A77 II’s sustained buffer and AF system handle prolonged action shooting better.

Street

A57’s lighter body aids discretion; A77 II trades some portability for improved performance.

Macro

A77 II facilitates more precise focusing and sensor stabilization.

Night & Astro

A77 II delivers cleaner high ISO and better highlight retention.

Video

A77 II edges out with smoother AF and richer codec support, though neither offers 4K.

Travel

A57’s lighter weight and simpler interface appeal to casual travel photographers, but A77 II offers professional versatility if size is manageable.

Professional Work

A77 II’s durability, file flexibility, and connectivity align with pro workflow demands.

Quantifying the Scores: Performance Ratings and Genre Analysis

DxOMark scores highlight the A77 II's overall edge - higher mark in low-light shooting, dynamic range, and color depth resonates directly with observed improvements.

Genre-specific breaks from testing reinforce the A77 II’s stature as an all-around superior performer, while the A57 remains a strong contender for budget-conscious enthusiasts not requiring every advanced feature.

Wrapping Up: Which Sony SLT Suits You Best?

After extensive side-by-side use across months and continents, here’s how I’d summarize:

• Sony A57 - The Affordable Workhorse
  Ideal for enthusiasts and semi-serious photographers prioritizing budget, portability, and solid image quality. Great first serious DSLR for portraits, casual landscapes, and travel. Its limitations are mainly in autofocus sophistication and video codec versatility.

• Sony A77 II - The Advanced All-Rounder
  The clear step-up with improved sensor resolution, superior autofocus system, durability, and video features. Perfect for wildlife, sports, event photography, and hobbyists aspiring to semi-pro workloads. Well-worth the extra investment if those improvements align with your shooting style.

Both cameras benefit from the extensive alpha lens ecosystem and enjoy unique SLT benefits like constant phase-detection AF in live view.

If you want a capable, relatively lightweight entry-level DSLR and don’t shoot fast action or video heavily, the A57 remains a trustworthy tool. But if you prioritize speed, precision, better image quality, and weather resilience without jumping to full-frame bodies, the A77 II deserves its place on your shortlist.

This comparison reflects hands-on experience with thousands of shots under varying conditions, carefully factoring ergonomic feel, real output quality, and functional day-to-day ease of use. I hope these insights help you pinpoint the Sony SLT that will best serve your unique photographic journey.

Happy shooting!