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Sony A33

 
Sony SLT-A33 front
 
  • 14MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 100 - 12800 (Bump to 25600)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 500g - 124 x 92 x 85mm
  • Announced August 2010
  • New Model is Sony A35
  • Read full specs
  • Alternatives
  • Lenses
  • Size Comparison
  • FAQ
Portability
67
Imaging
54
Features
80
Overall
64

Sony A33 summary

Sony A33 is Sony's Entry-Level DSLR digital camera originally introduced on August of 2010. The camera has got a 14MP, CMOS APS-C size sensor with a full resolution of 4592 x 3056.

Sony brought out the updated Sony A35 (Read Full Comparison) in an effort to replace this model.

The A33 comes in at #31 out of 80 in Entry-Level DSLR cameras & overall #254 out of 1465 for digital cameras in our list. Please try our Advanced camera filter to get camera results based on your personalized criteria.

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Below is a graph of different factors used in the rating system.

Sony A33 history

The Sony A33 has a history of related digital cameras. Here, you can find all earlier and new models along with key specs.

ModelVisualizeResolutionSensor SizeMax fpsReleased
Sony-SLT-A68 front thumbnailSony A68
A33 vs A68
24MPAPS-C8.0 fps2015
Sony-SLT-A58 front thumbnailSony A58
A33 vs A58
20MPAPS-C8.0 fps2013
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Sony-SLT-A57 front thumbnailSony A57
A33 vs A57
16MPAPS-C12.0 fps2012
Sony-SLT-A37 front thumbnailSony A37
A33 vs A37
16MPAPS-C6.0 fps2012
Sony-SLT-A65 front thumbnailSony A65
A33 vs A65
24MPAPS-C10.0 fps2011
Sony-SLT-A35 front thumbnailSony A35
A33 vs A35
16MPAPS-C6.0 fps2011
C500 Mark II gets new Cinema RAW Light modes from Canon
Sony-Alpha-DSLR-A580 front thumbnailSony A580
A33 vs A580
16MPAPS-C7.0 fps2011
Sony-SLT-A55 front thumbnailSony A55
A33 vs A55
16MPAPS-C10.0 fps2010
Sony-Alpha-DSLR-A560 front thumbnailSony A560
A33 vs A560
14MPAPS-C5.0 fps2010
Sony-SLT-A33 front thumbnailSony A3314MPAPS-C7.0 fps2010
Sony-Alpha-DSLR-A390 front thumbnailSony A390
A33 vs A390
14MPAPS-C3.0 fps2010
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Sony-Alpha-DSLR-A290 front thumbnailSony A290
A33 vs A290
14MPAPS-C3.0 fps2010
Sony-Alpha-DSLR-A450 front thumbnailSony A450
A33 vs A450
14MPAPS-C7.0 fps2010
Sony-Alpha-DSLR-A550 front thumbnailSony A550
A33 vs A550
14MPAPS-C7.0 fps2009
Sony-Alpha-DSLR-A500 front thumbnailSony A500
A33 vs A500
12MPAPS-C5.0 fps2009
Sony-Alpha-DSLR-A380 front thumbnailSony A380
A33 vs A380
14MPAPS-C3.0 fps2009
Sony-Alpha-DSLR-A330 front thumbnailSony A330
A33 vs A330
10MPAPS-C3.0 fps2009
Sony-Alpha-DSLR-A230 front thumbnailSony A230
A33 vs A230
10MPAPS-C3.0 fps2009
Sony-Alpha-DSLR-A200 front thumbnailSony A200
A33 vs A200
10MPAPS-C3.0 fps2008
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Sony-Alpha-DSLR-A350 front thumbnailSony A350
A33 vs A350
14MPAPS-C3.0 fps2008
Sony-Alpha-DSLR-A300 front thumbnailSony A300
A33 vs A300
10MPAPS-C3.0 fps2008
Sony-Alpha-DSLR-A100 front thumbnailSony A100
A33 vs A100
10MPAPS-C3.0 fps2006

Sony A33 Pros and Cons

Here is a selection of pros and cons of the Sony A33 based on criterias which are generally regarded as useful in a digital camera.

delivers RAW files
flash built-in
has HDMI port
has mic port
has phase detect autofocus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
manual focus
megapixel count decent (14 megapixels)
offers face detect autofocus
screen articulates fully
screen size is decent (3 inch)
selfie friendly display
sensor size is good (APS-C)
swap lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
very good minimum ISO (100)
very good screen resolution (921 thousand dot)
bad battery life (340 shots)
lack of headphone port
lack of Time Lapse mode
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Sony A33 Sensor specs

The Sony A33 features the Bionz processor chip. The size of the sensor in the Sony A33 is 23.5mm x 15.6mm (APS-C). The 367 mm² sensor can capture 4592 x 3056 pixels using aspect ratios of 3:2 and 16:9. The camera comes with Image Stabilization (Sensor based). Optical stabilization is superior than digital stabilization as the latter can produce cropping.

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The CMOS sensor has 14 megapixels and provides a standard ISO range of 100 - 12800. The ISO can be expanded digitally to a maximum of 25600. RAW format is saved which means that the user has more room to maneuver in post.

The picture underneath shows the A33's sensor size compared to other popular sizes. The A33 sensor has a crop factor of 1.5 and is showcased in green.

Sony SLT-A33 sensor size OM System OM-1 Set to Enhance Autofocus

To get an understanding of different aspect ratios, you can refer to the graphic below.

Camera sensor aspect ratios

Sony A33 dimensions

Sony A33 weighs in at 1.10 pounds (500 grams / 17.64 ounces) & the physical size of the camera is 124mm x 92mm x 85mm (4.9" x 3.6" x 3.3"). The weight of average Entry-Level DSLR camera is 540 grams so the Sony A33 is similar as compared with other rivals.

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Underneath is a shot of the Sony A33 beside a soft drink to help you to get a sense of its size.

Sony SLT-A33 dimensions scale

The top view underneath will show the button arrangement on the A33.

Sony SLT-A33 topview buttons dials

Sony A33 Lens details

The A33 uses the Sony/Minolta Alpha mount and has 145 lenses that are available. Here is a few of the lenses we have in our collection that will fit the A33.

ModelVisualizeFocal LengthApertureStabilizedWeight
Sony-70-200mm-F2.8-G-SSM-II lensSony 70-200mm F2.8 G SSM II70-200mmf/2.8 1500g
Sigma-18-125mm-F3.8-5.6-DC-HSM-Sony-Alpha lensSigma 18-125mm F3.8-5.6 DC HSM18-125mmf/3.8-5.6 490g
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Sony-DT-35mm-F1.8-SAM lensSony DT 35mm F1.8 SAM35mmf/1.8 170g
Sigma-18-35mm-F1.8-DC-HSM-Sony-Alpha lensSigma 18-35mm F1.8 DC HSM18-35mmf/1.8 810g
Sigma-24-70mm-F2.8-EX-DG-HSM-Sony-Alpha lensSigma 24-70mm F2.8 EX DG HSM24-70mmf/2.8 790g
Tamron-SP-35mm-F1.8-Di-VC-USD-Sony-Alpha lensTamron SP 35mm F1.8 Di VC USD35mmf/1.8 450g
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Tamron-16-300mm-F3.5-6.3-Di-II-VC-PZD-Macro-Sony-Alpha lensTamron 16-300mm F3.5-6.3 Di II VC PZD Macro16-300mmf/3.5-6.3 540g
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Sony A33 Connectivity

The A33 has the following connectivity:

  • USB Yes
  • Wireless Yes
  • HDMI Yes

Digital cameras that have NFC and Bluetooth compatibility can be controlled wirelessly with smartphones. You can copy files and in some cases alter camera settings without the hassle of connecting physically with the camera.

Certain apps also provide a Liveview and release the shutter in case you are not near the camera. If the camera includes a HDMI port, it can be hooked up to an external monitor. Many cameras enable you to recharge the battery pack through the USB port.

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Sony A33 Video details

The highest possible video quality in the Sony A33 is 1920 x 1080 and you can record in MPEG-4, AVCHD and H.264 file format. 1080p quality gives you an excellent balance in video quality and file size but 1080p isn't going to give you any room to crop. Although the body contains a mic port, it is missing a headphone port which means that you won't have the capability to monitor your audio levels.

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Sony A33 Weather Sealing

There is no environment sealing in the Sony A33 so you have to be careful in wet or dusty conditions.

Sony A33 Screen and Viewfinder

The Sony A33 has got a 3 inch fully articulated display having a resolution of 921 thousand dots.

The screen is selfie friendly to take self portraits and group shots when required. Please note that the display screen has no touch support.

Sony SLT-A33 screen and viewfinder Photographer Triumphs in Lawsuit Over Creative Commons Image Rights

The ViewFinder specs for Sony A33 are the following:

  • ViewFinder Electronic
  • ViewFinder Resolution 1,150 thousand dots
  • ViewFinder Coverage 100%
  • ViewFinder Magnification 0.73x

For sunny outdoor conditions that make the camera displays washed out and tricky to see, viewfinders can be very valuable.

Sony A33 Shutter details

Sony A33 can shoot continuously at 7.0 frames/s. The max shutter speed is 1/4000 seconds.

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Sony A33 Flash and Hot shoe details

Sony A33 comes with both built in flash as well as external flash support. The maximum flash sync is 1/160 seconds.

Sony A33 Autofocus details

Sony A33 comes with both Phase Detect Auto Focus as well as Contrast Detect Auto Focus. Phase Detection focusing is a lot more quicker & accurate as compared with Contrast Detect focusing. The camera has got Face detection which is helpful for portraits.

The Sensor has got 15 focus points to choose from. Sony A33 comes with manual focus in case it is needed in low light scenarios or you want to have more precise control on focus.

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Sony A33 Battery life

The battery life (NP-FW50) in the Sony A33 is made to last for 340 photographs as per the CIPA requirements which is lesser when compared with it's rivals. The average Entry-Level DSLR camera battery life is 589. Pentax K-x features the best (1900) battery life in this type of cameras.

Underneath is a list of Entry-Level DSLR cameras having the strongest battery life:

ModelVisualizeBattery LifeRAWNFCBluetooth
OM System OM-1 Set to Enhance Autofocus
Canon-EOS-Rebel-SL3 front thumbnailCanon SL3
A33 vs SL3
1070 yesnoyes

Sony A33 for different forms of photography

The following graph presents a outline of the Sony A33 for different forms of photography. To view more, check out the specific section underneath.

Sony A33 as a Portrait photography camera

The Sony A33 gets a score of 72 which is nice, meaning that it is a fine pick for portrait images. Shooting portraits favors heavily to sensor dimension, support for RAW files & capability to use external flash.

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focusing manually
MP count decent (14MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
includes face detect focus
saves RAW files

Street photography with Sony A33

Getting a outstanding points tally of 76, the Sony A33 is a excellent fit to use in street photography. A good street photography camera features a good balance of picture quality and portability.

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screen articulates fully
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW formats

Sony A33 Sports photography information

A nice sports photography points tally of 67 suggests the Sony A33 is a very decent option for photographing sports. A camera really should have good tracking plus shutter speeds for sports photography.

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has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good MP (14 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
has phase detect autofocus
not so great battery power (340 CIPA)

Sony A33 Travel photography factors

Size is super critical in buying a camera for travel. All things considered, the Sony A33 gets a above average 61 for a travel camera which makes it a fine fit to take on your journeys.

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good resolution (14MP)
built-in flash
selfie friendly display
missing Time Lapse mode
low battery (340 shots)

Sony A33 Landscape photography info

When you are looking to purchase a camera for landscape photos, the most significant aspect is going to be image quality. The Sony A33 with it's nice rating of 67 as a landscape camera is a fine fit within the current market.

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manual focus
switch lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
screen size is good (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
resolution is good (14MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
low battery life (340 CIPA)
lack of Time Lapse mode

Sony A33 Vlogging details

A camera for vlogging should really posses a moving display, microphone input and if possible image stabilization. Taking all things in to account, the Sony A33 is a awesome choice as a vlog camera as it delivers a impressive rating of 77.

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selfie friendly screen
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
comes with face detect focus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
does have microphone support

Sony A33 Alternatives

If you are shopping for replacements to the A33, below is a collection of the top rated cameras which fall within the category of Entry-Level DSLR.

The diagram down below offers you a bird's eye view of the A33 versus it's top rated rivals listed above.

Following are several cameras you might see as alternative options. To read a thorough comparison, simply click the "compare" link.

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Specifications

General Information
Manufacturer
Sony
Model
Sony SLT-A33
Class
Entry-Level DSLR
Announced
2010-08-24
Body design
Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Sensor type
CMOS
Processor
Bionz
Sensor size
APS-C
Sensor dimensions
23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor area
366.6mm²
Sensor resolution
14 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio
3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution
4592 x 3056
RAW pictures
Highest native ISO
12800
Highest enhanced ISO
25600
Lowest native ISO
100
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch to focus
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Number of focus points
15
Cross focus points
3
Lens
Lens mounting type
Sony/Minolta Alpha
Available lenses
143
Crop factor
1.5
Screen
Screen type
Fully Articulated
Screen size
3 inch
Screen resolution
921 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type
Electronic
Viewfinder resolution
1,150 thousand dot
Viewfinder coverage
100%
Viewfinder magnification
0.73x
DXO scores
DXO Overall score
70
DXO Color Depth score
22.8
DXO Dynamic range score
12.6
DXO Low light score
591
Features
Minimum shutter speed
30 seconds
Fastest shutter speed
1/4000 seconds
Continuous shutter speed
7.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation
Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range
10.00 m (@ ISO 100)
Flash settings
Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash sync
1/160 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions
1920 x 1080 (60, 29.97 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30fps), 640 x 424 (29.97 fps)
Highest video resolution
1920x1080
Video file format
MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless
Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB
USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS
None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight
500 gr (1.10 pounds)
Physical dimensions
124 x 92 x 85mm (4.9" x 3.6" x 3.3")
Other
Battery life
340 photographs
Type of battery
Battery Pack
Battery model
NP-FW50
Self timer
Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage
SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots
Single
Launch price
$230