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Sony A68

 
Sony SLT-A68 front
 
  • 24MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 2.7" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 610g - 143 x 104 x 81mm
  • Released November 2015
  • Superseded the Sony A65
  • Read full specs
  • Alternatives
  • Lenses
  • Size Comparison
  • FAQ
Portability
64
Imaging
67
Features
70
Overall
68

Sony A68 overview

Sony A68 is Sony's Entry-Level DSLR digital camera originally launched on November of 2015. The camera has a 24MP, CMOS APS-C size sensor with a peak resolution of 6000 x 4000.

Sony launched this model to upgrade the earlier Sony A65 (Read Full Comparison)

The A68 comes in at #20 out of 80 in Entry-Level DSLR cameras and all-around #185 out of 1465 for cameras in our list. You can look at our Smart camera search to find camera listings based on your personal factors.

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Here is a graph of various criteria used in the scoring system.

Sony A68 history

The Sony A68 is part of a family of products. You can view the complete list underneath.

ModelVisualizeResolutionSensor SizeMax fpsReleased
Sony-SLT-A68 front thumbnailSony A6824MPAPS-C8.0 fps2015
Sony-SLT-A58 front thumbnailSony A58
A68 vs A58
20MPAPS-C8.0 fps2013
Jaw-Dropping Space Capture Exposes Earth's Mesmerizing Golden Luminescence
Sony-SLT-A57 front thumbnailSony A57
A68 vs A57
16MPAPS-C12.0 fps2012
Sony-SLT-A37 front thumbnailSony A37
A68 vs A37
16MPAPS-C6.0 fps2012
Sony-SLT-A65 front thumbnailSony A65
A68 vs A65
24MPAPS-C10.0 fps2011
Sony-SLT-A35 front thumbnailSony A35
A68 vs A35
16MPAPS-C6.0 fps2011
Sony Japan Introduces 5G Transmitter for Alpha Cameras
Sony-Alpha-DSLR-A580 front thumbnailSony A580
A68 vs A580
16MPAPS-C7.0 fps2011
Sony-Alpha-DSLR-A560 front thumbnailSony A560
A68 vs A560
14MPAPS-C5.0 fps2010
Sony-SLT-A55 front thumbnailSony A55
A68 vs A55
16MPAPS-C10.0 fps2010
Sony-SLT-A33 front thumbnailSony A33
A68 vs A33
14MPAPS-C7.0 fps2010
Sony-Alpha-DSLR-A390 front thumbnailSony A390
A68 vs A390
14MPAPS-C3.0 fps2010
OM System OM-1 Set to Enhance Autofocus
Sony-Alpha-DSLR-A290 front thumbnailSony A290
A68 vs A290
14MPAPS-C3.0 fps2010
Sony-Alpha-DSLR-A450 front thumbnailSony A450
A68 vs A450
14MPAPS-C7.0 fps2010
Sony-Alpha-DSLR-A550 front thumbnailSony A550
A68 vs A550
14MPAPS-C7.0 fps2009
Sony-Alpha-DSLR-A500 front thumbnailSony A500
A68 vs A500
12MPAPS-C5.0 fps2009
Sony-Alpha-DSLR-A380 front thumbnailSony A380
A68 vs A380
14MPAPS-C3.0 fps2009
Sony-Alpha-DSLR-A330 front thumbnailSony A330
A68 vs A330
10MPAPS-C3.0 fps2009
Sony-Alpha-DSLR-A230 front thumbnailSony A230
A68 vs A230
10MPAPS-C3.0 fps2009
Sony-Alpha-DSLR-A200 front thumbnailSony A200
A68 vs A200
10MPAPS-C3.0 fps2008
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Sony-Alpha-DSLR-A350 front thumbnailSony A350
A68 vs A350
14MPAPS-C3.0 fps2008
Sony-Alpha-DSLR-A300 front thumbnailSony A300
A68 vs A300
10MPAPS-C3.0 fps2008
Sony-Alpha-DSLR-A100 front thumbnailSony A100
A68 vs A100
10MPAPS-C3.0 fps2006

Sony A68 Pros and Cons

Here is a checklist of advantages and drawbacks of the Sony A68 based on criterias which are often seen as essential in a digital camera.

built-in flash
change lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
comes with external mic jack
comes with HDMI support
decent sensor resolution (24MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
does have Top screen
exports RAW files
focusing manually
good high ISO (25,600)
good min ISO (100)
has face detection focus
has tracking autofocus
image stabilization (Sensor based)
supports phase detect auto focus
tilting screen
video res high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
low battery power (510 per charge)
low resolution screen (461 thousand dot)
no headphone jack
no Time Lapse function
screen is somewhat small (2.7")
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Sony A68 Sensor specs

The Sony A68 is powered by the Bionz X processor chip. The sensor size on the Sony A68 is 23.5mm x 15.6mm (APS-C). The 367 mm² sensor can resolve 6000 x 4000 pixels with aspect ratios of 3:2 and 16:9. The camera has got Image Stabilization (Sensor based). Sensor stabilization is better than digital stabilization since the latter can easily produce cropping.

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The CMOS sensor boasts 24MP and has a standard ISO range of 100 to 25600. RAW files are supported therefore you have more margin for error.

The graphic underneath shows the A68's sensor size in comparison to other popular sizes. The A68 sensor comes with a crop factor of 1.5 and is showcased in green.

Sony SLT-A68 sensor size Leica to Release Innovative Hybrid Medium Format Camera in 2 Years

To get a sense of specific aspect ratios, you should refer to the graphic below.

Camera sensor aspect ratios

Sony A68 dimensions

Sony A68 weighs in at 1.34 lb (610 gr / 21.52 ounces) and features external proportions of 143mm x 104mm x 81mm (5.6" x 4.1" x 3.2"). The weight of general Entry-Level DSLR camera is 540 gr and the Sony A68 is heavier than its competitors.

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Here is a picture of the Sony A68 besides a soft drink to help you to have a feel for its size.

Sony SLT-A68 dimensions scale

The top view just below will show the button arrangement on the A68.

Sony SLT-A68 topview buttons dials

Sony A68 Lens details

The A68 works with the Sony/Minolta Alpha mount and has 145 lenses available for purchase. Here is a few of the lenses we have in our database that will work with the A68.

ModelVisualizeFocal LengthApertureStabilizedWeight
Samyang-24mm-f1.4-ED-AS-UMC-Sony-Alpha lensSamyang 24mm f1.4 ED AS UMC24mmf/1.4 580g
Sony-85mm-F1.4-ZA-Carl-Zeiss-Planar-T lensSony 85mm F1.4 ZA Carl Zeiss Planar T85mmf/1.4 560g
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Sigma-50mm-F1.4-EX-DG-HSM-Sony-Alpha lensSigma 50mm F1.4 EX DG HSM50mmf/1.4 505g
Sigma-70-300mm-F4-5.6-APO-DG-Macro-Sony-Alpha lensSigma 70-300mm F4-5.6 APO DG Macro70-300mmf/4.0-5.6 550g
Tamron-SP-150-600mm-F5-6.3-Di-VC-USD-Sony-Alpha lensTamron SP 150-600mm F5-6.3 Di VC USD150-600mmf/5.0-6.3 1951g
Schneider-PC-TS-Macro-Symmar-4.5-90-HM-Sony-Alpha lensSchneider PC-TS Macro-Symmar 4.590 HM90mmf/4.5 1110g
C500 Mark II gets new Cinema RAW Light modes from Canon
Sigma-50mm-F2.8-EX-DG-Macro-Sony-Alpha lensSigma 50mm F2.8 EX DG Macro50mmf/2.8 320g
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Sony A68 Connectivity

The A68 has the following connectivity:

  • USB Yes
  • Wireless Yes
  • HDMI Yes

Cameras that contain NFC and / or Bluetooth compatibility are able to be controlled wirelessly by smartphones. You are able to transfer images and usually adjust settings without the hassle of connecting directly with the camera.

Some apps also enable a Liveview and press the shutter if you aren't close to the camera. If the camera has a HDMI out, it can easily be attached to an external screen. A good number of cameras enable you to charge the battery using the USB port.

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Sony A68 Video details

The highest video quality on the Sony A68 is 1920 x 1080 and it can save in MPEG-4, AVCHD and XAVC S file format. 1080p quality gives a great balance for video quality vs file size but FULL HD won't give you much room to crop. While the body comes with a mic socket, it is unfortunately lacking a headphone socket which means you won't have the ability to keep an eye on your audio levels.

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Sony A68 Weather Sealing

Sony A68 doesn't have weather proofing so wet conditions might affect the camera.

Sony A68 Screen and Viewfinder

The Sony A68 has a 2.7 inch tilting display with a resolution of 461 thousand dots.

Unfortunately the display isn't a touch screen. The A68 also has a builtin Top screen so that you can quickly view the camera's settings.

Sony SLT-A68 screen and viewfinder OM System OM-1 Set to Enhance Autofocus

The ViewFinder details regarding Sony A68 are the following:

  • ViewFinder Electronic
  • Resolution 1,440 thousand dots
  • Coverage 100%
  • Magnification 0.57x

Viewfinders can be quite beneficial for sunny outdoor conditions which might make the camera screen washed out and hard to view.

Sony A68 Shutter details

Sony A68 can shoot continuously at 8.0 frames/s. The highest shutter speed is 1/4000 sec.

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Sony A68 Flash and Hot shoe details

Sony A68 has got both integrated flash and also external flash ability. The highest flash sync is 1/160 sec.

Sony A68 Autofocusing details

Sony A68 has got both Phase Detect AF along with Contrast Detect AF. Phase Detection autofocusing is a lot quicker & accurate than Contrast Detect autofocusing. The camera has Face detection which can be helpful for portrait photography.

The AF system has 79 focus points to select from. It also features Tracking AF for moving objects. Sony A68 comes with manual focus in case it is needed for low light or you require more exact focus control.

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Sony A68 Battery life

The battery power (NP-FM500H) in the Sony A68 is fashioned to last for 510 clicks based on the CIPA measurements making it lower than its competitors. The typical Entry-Level DSLR camera battery life is 589. Pentax K-x offers the highest (1900) battery life for this class of cameras.

Listed below is a collection of Entry-Level DSLR cameras having the highest battery life:

ModelVisualizeBattery LifeRAWNFCBluetooth
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Canon-EOS-Rebel-SL3 front thumbnailCanon SL3
A68 vs SL3
1070 yesnoyes

Sony A68 for various types of photography

The following diagram presents a overview of the Sony A68 for various types of photography. To see more, scroll to the specific paragraph underneath.

Portrait photography with Sony A68

The Sony A68 gets a points total of 80 which is terrific, meaning that it is a fantastic choice for portrait images. Photographing portrait images favors heavily to sensor size, RAW support plus the capability to work with external lighting.

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has manual focus
MP count decent (24 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
provides face detection focus
saves RAW files

Sony A68 Street photography highlights

With a brilliant points total of 77, the Sony A68 is a brilliant pick for street photography. A good street photography camera provides a good balance of image quality and portability.

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tilting screen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
very good high ISO (25,600)

Sports photography with Sony A68

A nice sports photography points tally of 75 suggests the Sony A68 is a good fit for shooting sports. A camera really should have excellent autofocus and continuous shooting for sports photography.

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has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good resolution (24 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
offers tracking focus
supports phase detect AF
bad battery (510 CIPA)

Sony A68 Travel photography factors

Weight is super crucial when picking a travel camera. All things considered, the Sony A68 gets a modest 55 as a travel camera which is somewhat suitable for your travels.

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good megapixels (24MP)
built-in flash
does not have Time Lapse function
not so great battery (510 per charge)
doesn't contain selfie friendly display

Landscape photography with Sony A68

For anyone who is looking to purchase a camera for landscape photographs, the most vital aspect is going to be image quality. The Sony A68 at it's very good grade of 68 as a landscape camera is a very decent option amongst it's rivals.

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focusing manually
interchangeable lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count good (24 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
great ISO range (25,600)
delivers RAW formats
tiny screen (2.7 inch)
terrible battery life (510 per charge)
does not have Timelapse function

Sony A68 Vlogging information

A camera for vlogging preferably should come with a moving display screen, mic port and if possible IBIS. Taking everything into account, the Sony A68 is not really good as a vlog camera as it comes to a horrible rating of 35.

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built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
provides face detection focus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
comes with external mic jack
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen

Sony A68 Alternatives

If you are searching for replacements to the A68, here is a range of the highest ranked cameras that fall under the family of Entry-Level DSLR.

The graph followed below provides you a bird's eye view of the A68 vs it's highest ranking rivals shown previously.

Here are a few more cameras you may consider as alternatives. To see a full comparison, visit the "compare" link.

OM System OM-1 Set to Enhance Autofocus

Specifications

General Information
Make
Sony
Model
Sony SLT-A68
Class
Entry-Level DSLR
Released
2015-11-06
Body design
Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Sensor type
CMOS
Chip
Bionz X
Sensor size
APS-C
Sensor dimensions
23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor area
366.6mm²
Sensor resolution
24 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio
3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution
6000 x 4000
RAW files
Maximum native ISO
25600
Min native ISO
100
Autofocusing
Manual focus
AF touch
Continuous AF
AF single
AF tracking
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Number of focus points
79
Cross focus points
15
Lens
Lens mounting type
Sony/Minolta Alpha
Amount of lenses
143
Focal length multiplier
1.5
Screen
Range of screen
Tilting
Screen size
2.7"
Screen resolution
461 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder
Electronic
Viewfinder resolution
1,440 thousand dot
Viewfinder coverage
100%
Viewfinder magnification
0.57x
DXO scores
DXO All around score
79
DXO Color Depth score
24.1
DXO Dynamic range score
13.5
DXO Low light score
701
Features
Lowest shutter speed
30s
Highest shutter speed
1/4000s
Continuous shooting speed
8.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation
Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range
12.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash modes
Flash off, Auto, Fill-flash, Slow sync, Red-eye reduction, Rear sync, Wireless, High Speed sync
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Highest flash sync
1/160s
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions
1920 x 1080 (60i, 30p, 24p), 1440 x 1080, 640 x 480
Maximum video resolution
1920x1080
Video file format
MPEG-4, AVCHD, XAVC S
Mic input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless
Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB
USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS
None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight
610 grams (1.34 lbs)
Dimensions
143 x 104 x 81mm (5.6" x 4.1" x 3.2")
Other
Battery life
510 images
Battery format
Battery Pack
Battery model
NP-FM500H
Self timer
Yes (Yes (2 or 12 sec))
Time lapse shooting
Storage media
SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo
Storage slots
Single
Launch cost
$581