Sony · Alpha

Alpha SLT-A58

Released April 2013

A 20.1 MP APS-C A-mount camera with a fixed translucent mirror, OLED viewfinder and Lock-on Autofocus.

Type: Translucent mirror
Sensor: APS-C
Megapixels: 20.1
Lens: Sony A-mount
Video: 1920 × 1080 at 30 fps
Body weight: 492 g

What reviewers say

Both reviews praised image quality, straightforward controls and value, but criticised the smaller screen and reduced burst performance. PhotographyBlog liked the OLED viewfinder yet disliked the plastic lens mount. Expert Reviews found subject tracking limited by sparse AF coverage and noted that high-ISO noise reduction suppressed subtle detail.

From photographyblog.com and expertreviews.co.uk

Specifications

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Image and sensor

Camera type: Translucent mirror
Sensor format: APS-C
Sensor type: Exmor APS HD CMOS
Sensor dimensions: 23.2 × 15.4 mm
Effective resolution: 20.1 MP
Largest image: 5456 × 3632
RAW recording: Yes
Standard ISO range: 100–16000
Sensor detail: 20.4 million total photosites; fixed translucent mirror feeds the dedicated phase-detection AF module while the main sensor supplies live view
Image formats: JPEG, RAW (Sony ARW 2.3) and RAW+JPEG; 3:2 or 16:9 stills; no 3D panorama
ISO detail: Auto ISO 100–3200; standard ISO 100–16000; multi-frame noise reduction extends to ISO 25600; movies ISO 100–3200
Image processor: BIONZ

Lens and shooting

Lens mount: Sony A-mount
Stabilisation: Sensor shift
Maximum continuous burst: 5 fps
Lens detail: Sony, Minolta and Konica Minolta A-mount AF lenses; kit lenses are separate from body specifications
Autofocus: 15 phase-detection points including three cross sensors; AF-S, AF-A, AF-C and manual focus; EV −1–18 at ISO 100 with an F2.8 lens; Lock-on AF, zone/local selection and flash assist
Shutter: 1/4000–30 seconds and Bulb; flash sync 1/160 second; electronic first curtain selectable
Burst detail: Full-resolution continuous shooting up to 5 fps Hi or 2.5 fps Lo; Tele-zoom Continuous Advance Priority AE reaches 8 fps with central crop to approximately 5 MP JPEG (PhotographyBlog and Expert Reviews). Maker ordinary Hi buffer: seven Fine or eight Standard JPEG, six RAW or five RAW+JPEG; cropped mode 16 Fine or 19 Standard JPEG. Performance depends on card and shooting conditions
Stabilisation detail: SteadyShot INSIDE sensor shift for stills; electronic stabilisation for movies
Flash: Automatic pop-up flash, guide number 10 metres at ISO 100; ADI/pre-flash TTL; Multi Interface Shoe; compatible external flash required for wireless and high-speed sync
Exposure controls: PASM, Intelligent Auto, Superior Auto, scene, panorama and Picture Effect modes; 1200-zone metering; ±3 EV still or ±2 EV movie compensation in 1/3 steps; D-Range Optimizer, Auto HDR and Auto Object Framing

Video

Highest video resolution: 1920 × 1080 at 30 fps
Video detail: Japan/NTSC configuration: Full HD AVCHD 2.0 at 60 interlaced fields per second with 30 fps sensor output, or 24p, at approximately 24 or 17 Mbps. PAL models use 50i or 25p. No 50p/60p Full HD. MP4 up to 1440 × 1080 at 30 fps; main rate is sensor output, not interlaced field rate. Maker continuous limit approximately 29 minutes or 2 GB. Manual movie exposure and autofocus cannot operate together (Expert Reviews)
Audio: Built-in stereo microphone and mono playback speaker; 3.5 mm external microphone input

Screen and viewfinder

Viewfinder: Electronic
Screen size: 2.7″
Screen dots: 460,800
Touchscreen: No
Tilting screen: Yes
Display detail: Maker Japanese table specifies approximately 135° upward/55° downward tilt; PhotographyBlog and Expert Reviews describe 90°/45°. Dots count colour subpixels; focus peaking and magnification
Viewfinder detail: 0.39-type OLED Tru-Finder with 1,440,000 dots, 100% coverage and approximately 0.88× magnification with a 50 mm lens

Connections and design

Wi-Fi: No
Battery life (maker's claim): 690 photographs
Body weight: 492 g
Release detail: Sony Asia Pacific and Hong Kong specify April 2013 retail availability
Recording media: Single slot accepting SD/SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick PRO Duo, PRO-HG Duo and XC-HG Duo
Ports: USB 2.0 Multi/Micro USB terminal supporting PC remote, micro HDMI Type D, 3.5 mm microphone and DC input; Multi Interface Shoe; no headphone output
Battery life detail: NP-FM500H; maker CIPA claim approximately 690 photographs with viewfinder or 700 with LCD
Charging: Supplied BC-VM10A external charger; no in-body charging
Dimensions: Approximately 128.6 × 95.5 × 77.7 mm (width × height × depth), excluding protrusions
Weight detail: Approximately 492 g body only, 573 g including battery and Memory Stick PRO Duo
Colours: Black
In the box: NP-FM500H battery, BC-VM10A charger, shoulder strap, Micro USB cable, body cap and eyepiece cup; lenses depend on kit

Pros and cons

Pros

Phase-detection autofocus during stills and movies
Sensor-shift still-image stabilisation and RAW recording
OLED viewfinder and tilting screen

Cons

Fastest 8 fps mode crops to about 5 MP
Small full-resolution burst buffer

Closest rivals

Model	Type	Sensor	Megapixels	Lens	Video	Body weight	Released
SonyAlpha 77 II	Translucent mirror	APS-C	24.3	Sony A-mount	1920 × 1080 at 60 fps	647 g	May 2014
SonyAlpha SLT-A37	Translucent mirror	APS-C	16.1	Sony A-mount	1920 × 1080 at 30 fps	448 g	May 2012
SonyAlpha SLT-A57	Translucent mirror	APS-C	16.1	Sony A-mount	1920 × 1080 at 60 fps	539 g	Apr 2012

Sources

Photo: sony.jp

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