Sony · Alpha

Alpha SLT-A65

Released September 2011

A 24.3 MP APS-C A-mount camera with a translucent mirror, OLED viewfinder and full-resolution 10 fps continuous shooting.

Type: Translucent mirror
Sensor: APS-C
Megapixels: 24.3
Lens: Sony A-mount
Video: 1920 × 1080 at 60 fps
Body weight: 543 g

What reviewers say

Both reviews praised image quality, fast autofocus and useful video recording. PhotographyBlog particularly liked the OLED viewfinder but criticised following subjects during bursts and video focus jumps. PhotoReview found the lighter body appealing for travel but the single control dial required extra toggling; its resolution comparison used the cheaper kit lens.

From photographyblog.com and photoreview.com.au

Specifications

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Image and sensor

Camera type: Translucent mirror
Sensor format: APS-C
Sensor type: Exmor APS HD CMOS
Sensor dimensions: 23.5 × 15.6 mm
Effective resolution: 24.3 MP
Largest image: 6000 × 4000
RAW recording: Yes
Standard ISO range: 100–16000
Sensor detail: 24.7 million total photosites; fixed translucent mirror feeds a dedicated phase-detection AF sensor while the main sensor supplies live view
Image formats: JPEG, RAW (Sony ARW 2.3), RAW+JPEG and 3D MPO panoramas; 3:2 or 16:9 stills
ISO detail: Auto ISO 100–1600; multi-frame noise reduction ISO 100–25600
Image processor: BIONZ

Lens and shooting

Lens mount: Sony A-mount
Stabilisation: Sensor shift
Maximum continuous burst: 10 fps
Lens detail: Compatible Sony, Minolta and Konica Minolta A-mount AF lenses; kit lenses are separate from body specifications
Autofocus: 15-point phase-detection AF with three cross sensors; EV −1–18 at ISO 100 with an F2.8 lens; AF-S, AF-A, AF-C and manual focus; zone and local selection, tracking AF and Eye-Start
Shutter: 1/4000–30 seconds and Bulb; flash sync 1/160 second
Burst detail: Up to 10 fps at full resolution in Continuous Advance Priority AE with continuous phase-detection AF; ordinary drive 8 fps Hi or 3 fps Lo. Maker buffer claim at 10 fps: 17 Fine JPEG, 18 Standard JPEG, 13 RAW or 11 RAW+JPEG frames. Continuous drive buffer: 18 Fine/Standard JPEG, 13 RAW or 11 RAW+JPEG frames.
Stabilisation detail: SteadyShot INSIDE sensor shift for stills, maker claim approximately 2.5–4.5 stops; electronic stabilisation for movies
Flash: Automatic pop-up flash, guide number 10 in metres at ISO 100; ADI and pre-flash TTL control; compatible external flash required for wireless flash and high-speed sync
Exposure controls: PASM, Auto, Auto+, scene and panorama modes; 1200-zone metering; ±3 EV compensation in 1/3 steps; three-frame Auto HDR, D-Range Optimizer and Picture Effects

Video

Highest video resolution: 1920 × 1080 at 60 fps
Video detail: Japan/NTSC model: 1920 × 1080 AVCHD 2.0 at 60p/28 Mbps, 60i/24 or 17 Mbps, and 24p/24 or 17 Mbps; PAL models use 50p, 50i and 25p. MP4 supports 1440 × 1080 or VGA. P/A/S/M movie exposure modes require manual focus; continuous phase-detection AF is available with automatic movie exposure.
Audio: Built-in stereo microphone with wind-noise reduction, external stereo microphone input and mono playback speaker

Screen and viewfinder

Viewfinder: Electronic
Screen size: 3″
Screen dots: 921,600
Touchscreen: No
Tilting screen: Yes
Display detail: Xtra Fine LCD with 180° tilt and 270° rotation on a bottom hinge; focus peaking and magnification; dots count colour subpixels
Viewfinder detail: 0.5-type XGA OLED Tru-Finder with 2,359,296 dots, 100% coverage and approximately 1.09× magnification with a 50 mm lens; focus magnification and electronic level

Connections and design

Battery life (maker's claim): 510 photographs
Body weight: 543 g
Release detail: Sony China announced staggered availability from mid-September 2011; UK announcement specifies October 2011, while Sony Japan’s revised release gives 27 January 2012. September is the earliest maker-stated retail precision read.
Recording media: Single slot accepting SD, SDHC, SDXC, Memory Stick PRO Duo and PRO-HG Duo
Ports: USB 2.0 Hi-Speed, mini HDMI Type C, 3.5 mm stereo microphone input, wired remote and DC input; optional infrared remote; Auto-lock accessory shoe
Wireless connections: GPS geotagging is built into the SLT-A65V regional model represented by the Japanese specification and photograph.
Battery life detail: NP-FM500H; CIPA maker claim approximately 510 photographs using the viewfinder or 560 using the LCD
Charging: Supplied BC-VM10A external charger
Dimensions: Approximately 132.1 × 97.5 × 80.7 mm (width × height × depth), excluding protrusions
Weight detail: Approximately 543 g body only; 622 g including battery and Memory Stick PRO Duo
Materials: Polycarbonate outer body (PhotographyBlog and PhotoReview)
Colours: Black
In the box: NP-FM500H battery, BC-VM10A charger, shoulder strap, eyepiece cup, USB cable and software CD; lenses depend on kit

Pros and cons

Pros

Continuous phase-detection autofocus for stills and movies
Sensor-shift still-image stabilisation and RAW recording
Articulating screen and electronic viewfinder

Cons

One control dial and no AF microadjustment
Fast burst display makes following subjects difficult

Closest rivals

Model	Type	Sensor	Megapixels	Lens	Video	Body weight	Released
SonyAlpha SLT-A35	Translucent mirror	APS-C	16.2	Sony A-mount	1920 × 1080 at 25 fps	415 g	Jul 2011
SonyAlpha SLT-A77	Translucent mirror	APS-C	24.3	Sony A-mount	1920 × 1080 at 60 fps	653 g	Sept 2011
SonyAlpha SLT-A33	Translucent mirror	APS-C	14.2	Sony A-mount	1920 × 1080 at 29.97 fps	433 g	Sept 2010

Sources

Photo: sony.jp

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