Posted May 7, 2015 by The Editor in Tech Articles

Sony A77 vs Sony A77 II

This face-off is between Sony’s Alpha A77 DSLT camera that was released in August 2011 and its successor – the Alpha A77 II DSLT camera that was released in June 2014. The α77 Mark II introduces a number of improvements over the α77 including a BIONZ X image processor, Wi-Fi and NFC in place of GPS, continuous AF Full HD video and more. The question is: is it worth the upgrade? Here we look at the specs and prices of each camera, as well as the good and bad points so that you can make a more informed decision which camera may be best for you, or whether the A77 II is worth the upgrade.

	Sony A77	Sony A77 II
Build	Durable magnesium alloy chassis with durable plastic outer shell and dust and moisture seals. Dimensions: 143 x 104 x 81 mm. Weight: 732g with battery. Score: 8.5/10	Durable magnesium alloy chassis with durable plastic outer shell and dust and moisture seals. Dimensions: 143 × 104 × 81 mm. Weight: 725g with battery. Score: 8.5/10
Resolution	24.3 MP APS-C CMOS sensor. Score: 8/10	24.3 MP Exmor APS HD CMOS sensor. Score: 8.5/10
Screen Size	3″ 920k dot RGB LCD swivelling screen. Score: 8/10	3″ 1.23m dot RGBW LCD swivelling screen. Score: 8.5/10
Zoom Ratio	1.4x / 2x digital zoom, optical zoom available with additional lenses. Score: 8/10	1.4x / 2x digital smart zoom, 2x Clear Image Zoom, optical zoom available with additional lenses. Score: 8.5/10
Image Stabilisation	SteadyShot INSIDE™ in-body image stabilization. Score: 8.5/10	SteadyShot INSIDE™ in-body image stabilization. Score: 8.5/10
Video Recording	H.264 1080p @ genuine 60fps. Score: 8/10	H.264 1080p @ genuine 60fps. Score: 8/10
Manual Focus	Yes, with 19-point, 11 cross-type autofocus (AF) system. Score: 7.5/10	Yes, with an improved, wider 79-point, 15 cross-type autofocus (AF) system. Score: 9/10
Media Formats	JPEG, RAW, MP4. Score: 9/10	JPEG, RAW, MP4. Score: 9/10
Storage	MS Duo / MS PRO Duo / SD / SDHC / SDXC. Score: 9/10	MS Duo / MS PRO Duo / SD / SDHC / SDXC. Score: 9/10
Battery & Extras	Li-ion rechargeable battery that lasts approx. 470 shots. Also includes Lens cap, Lens rear cap, Power cord, Battery Charger, Shoulder strap, Body cap, Accessory shoe cap, Eyepiece cup, USB cable, CD-ROM. Score: 7.5/10	Li-ion rechargeable battery that lasts approx. 440 shots. Also includes Accessory shoe cap, Battery charger, Body cap, Eyepiece cup, Micro USB cable, Power cord, Shoulder strap. Score: 7/10
MSRP price:	$549 / €699 / £599 (body only) Score: 8.5/10	$899 / €949 / £799 (body only) Score: 8/10

Sony A77 Score: 90.5
Sony A77 II Score: 92.5

The Sony Alpha A77 II edges out in the overall score and that’s due to the incremental but important upgrades the camera has had since the A77 was released three years earlier. The incorporation of the latest BIONZ X image-processing engine has enabled Sony to bring the feature set up to parity with its other current cameras. Other significant improvements are the much improved 79-point autofocus system, better light sensitivity and ISO range and noise performance. That said, the improvements are expected given the fact that the A77 II was released nearly three years after its predecessor and is quite a bit more expensive.

To conclude, here’s what we particularly liked and disliked about each camera:

What We Liked About The Sony Alpha A77 Camera

High resolution electronic viewfinder (EVF) that has virtually no lag
Solid, ergonomic design
3D photo capability
12fps burst mode
Built-in GPS
Built-in image stabilisation

What We Disliked About The Sony Alpha A77 Camera

Quite poor battery life
Slow startup
Quite a bit of noise at higher ISO settings
Lack of built-in Wi-Fi or NFC
Not a touch-screen

What We Liked About The Sony Alpha A77 II Camera

Even higher resolution electronic viewfinder that has virtually no lag
Solid, ergonomic, slighter lighter build
Improved overall image quality
Audio level monitoring during video shooting
More sospisticated and wider ranging focus points, including lock-on and eye-AF
Better continuous autofocus during video recording that its predecessor
Improved low-light performance
Built-in image stabilisation

What We Disliked About The Sony Alpha A77 II Camera

Battery life not improved
Still not a touch-screen
Still some noise issues at higher ISO settings
Built-in GPS removed

Find the Best Prices for the Sony Alpha A77 II

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Bear in mind that this review was done with the standard kit – both manufacturs offer a variery of lenses for these cameras.