• APS-C 332.3mm2
  • 18.0 megapixels
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • APS-C 369.7mm2
  • 24.3 megapixels
  • ISO 100 - 16,000

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Differences

Canon 7D advantages over Sony A77

  • Lens selection
    Excellent vs Good
    Better lens selection gives you more options
  • Fast startup
    ~0.40 vs 0.8 sec
    Faster startup lets you catch the moment
  • Longer stills battery life
    More info 800 vs 530 shots
    Capture more photos
  • More telephoto lens reach
    216 mm vs 75 mm
    Capture objects farther away with the kit lens
  • More cross-type AF points
    19 vs 11
    Cross-type AF points improve autofocus performance

Sony A77 advantages over Canon 7D

  • Tilt-swivel screen
    Tilt-swivel vs none
    Tilt and swivel the screen for maximum shooting flexibility
  • Focus peaking
    Peaker vs Non-peaker
    Your camera will highlight what's in focus
  • Larger sensor
    APS-C vs APS-C
    More sensor area. Bigger is (generally) better.
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization
    Yes vs No
    Reduces the effects of camera shake at slower shutter speeds
  • In-camera panoramas
    Yes vs No
    Stitches multiple shots into a panoramic photo
  • More dynamic range
    13.2 vs 11.7 evs
    Retain detail in highlight and shadows
  • Built-in GPS
    GPS vs None
    Geotag your photos
  • More viewfinder magnification
    0.73x vs 0.63x
    Get a bigger view of the scene through the eye-level viewfinder
  • More pixels
    24.3 vs 18.0 megapixels
    Higher resolution photos
  • Wider angle kit lens
    24 mm vs 45 mm
    Capture more of the scene with the included lens
  • Faster JPEG shooting
    11.6 fps vs 8.0 fps
    Faster JPEG shooting (burst mode)
  • Faster RAW shooting
    11.6 fps vs 8.0 fps
    Faster RAW shooting in burst mode

Similarities

Common Strengths

  • Eye-level viewfinder
    Both provide
    You'll be able to frame photos even when the sun is out
  • Internal flash
    Both provide
    Useful in a pinch for fill flash
  • Top deck display
    Both provide
    Check settings with a screen on top of the camera
  • External Mic Jack
    Both provide
    Improved sound fidelity when shooting video
  • HDMI out
    Both provide
    Use HDMI output to monitor or review video
  • Hot shoe
    Both provide
    Off-camera flashes open new possibilities
  • Bulb shutter
    Both provide
    Hold the shutter open manually for long exposures

Common Weaknesses

  • Touchscreen
    Neither provide
    Interact with your camera just like your smartphone
  • Built-in Wi-Fi
    Neither provide
    Share your photos wirelessly
  • NFC
    Neither provide
    Simplifies pairing your camera with supported phones
  • Built-in Bluetooth
    Neither provide
    Always-on wireless connectivity
  • On-sensor phase detect
    Neither provide
    Usually improves live view and video AF performance
  • Dual card slots
    Neither provide
    Gives you more storage flexibility
  • Headphone jack
    Neither provide
    Monitor audio recording while you shoot video
  • Slow-motion videos
    Neither provide
    Shoot slow-motion videos

User reviews

Buy From

Your purchases support this site

Buy the Sony A77

Review Excerpt

  • Excellent 18-megapixel sensor with impressively low noise and superb detail; Very good high ISO performance, especially for 18-megapixel subframe sensor; Rugged construction with magnesium body and weather sealing; Fast autofocus and fast burst rate of 8 fps; Full HD (1920x1080) movies at 30/25/24p, 60/50p at 1280x720.

  • No dedicated AF-assist lamp (flash is used), and AF-assist adjustment is buried in the Flash Settings menu; Kit lens (28-135mm) isn't quite up to the resolving power of the 18-megapixel sensor, odd focal length for subframe DSLR; No continuous autofocus in Movie mode.

  • Very fast top frame rate; full-time phase-detect autofocus; Full 60p HD video; Excellent kit lens; Very good high-resolution sensor.

  • Heavy; EVF appears dim when used in bright light; AF tracking in Movie mode was unreliable in our testing.

The Competition

Compared to Canon 7D Mark II

Canon 7D
Canon 7D Mark II
  • $1499
  • APS-C
  • Less expensive
  • Less shutter lag
  • $1612
  • APS-C
  • Higher effective ISO
  • Built-in GPS
Sony A77
Canon 7D Mark II
  • $1899
  • APS-C
  • Focus peaking
  • Tilt-swivel screen
  • $1612
  • APS-C
  • Lens selection
  • Fast startup

Compared to Nikon D90

Canon 7D
Nikon D90
  • $1499
  • APS-C
  • More telephoto lens reach
  • External Mic Jack
  • $1300
  • APS-C
  • Larger sensor
  • Bigger pixels
Sony A77
Nikon D90
  • $1899
  • APS-C
  • Tilt-swivel screen
  • Focus peaking
  • $1300
  • APS-C
  • Lens selection
  • Less expensive

Compared to Canon 60D

Canon 7D
Canon 60D
  • $1499
  • APS-C
  • More cross-type AF points
  • Less shutter lag
  • $889
  • APS-C
  • Less expensive
  • Tilt-swivel screen
Sony A77
Canon 60D
  • $1899
  • APS-C
  • Focus peaking
  • Larger sensor
  • $889
  • APS-C
  • Lens selection
  • Fast startup

Compared to Nikon D7000

Canon 7D
Nikon D7000
  • $1499
  • APS-C
  • More telephoto lens reach
  • More cross-type AF points
  • $699
  • APS-C
  • Larger sensor
  • Higher effective ISO
Sony A77
Nikon D7000
  • $1899
  • APS-C
  • Focus peaking
  • Tilt-swivel screen
  • $699
  • APS-C
  • Lens selection
  • Less expensive

Compared to Canon 70D

Canon 7D
Canon 70D
  • $1499
  • APS-C
  • Fast startup
  • Faster JPEG shooting
  • $1149
  • APS-C
  • Less expensive
  • Tilt-swivel screen
Sony A77
Canon 70D
  • $1899
  • APS-C
  • Focus peaking
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization
  • $1149
  • APS-C
  • Lens selection
  • Touchscreen
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