• APS-C 332.3mm2
  • 18.0 megapixels
  • ISO 100 - 12,800
  • APS-C 366.6mm2
  • 24.3 megapixels
  • ISO 100 - 25,600

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Differences

Canon SL1 advantages over Sony A77 II

  • Lens selection
    Excellent vs Good
    Better lens selection gives you more options
  • Less expensive
    $549 vs $1798
    Save money for lenses or accessories
  • Touchscreen
    Touch vs No touch
    Interact with your camera just like your smartphone
  • Fast startup
    ~0.60 vs 0.8 sec
    Faster startup lets you catch the moment
  • On-sensor phase detect
    Yes vs No
    Usually improves live view and video AF performance
  • More telephoto lens reach
    88 mm vs 75 mm
    Capture objects farther away with the kit lens
  • Lighter weight
    623g vs 1351g
    Lighter weight
  • Bigger JPEG buffer
    1140 vs 26 shots
    Take more JPEG shots before waiting (burst mode)

Sony A77 II advantages over Canon SL1

  • 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
  • Built-in Wi-Fi
    Wi-Fi vs None
    Share your photos wirelessly
  • NFC
    Yes vs No
    Simplifies pairing your camera with supported phones
  • Longer stills battery life
    More info 480 vs 380 shots
    Capture more photos
  • Top deck display
    Yes vs No
    Check settings with a screen on top of the camera
  • More cross-type AF points
    15 vs 1
    Cross-type AF points improve autofocus performance
  • Less shutter lag
    0.09 vs 0.26 sec
    Focus and take a photo quickly (wide angle)
  • More viewfinder magnification
    0.73x vs 0.54x
    Get a bigger view of the scene through the eye-level viewfinder
  • More pixels
    24.3 vs 18.0 megapixels
    Higher resolution photos
  • More AF points
    79 vs 9
    More AF points improve autofocus
  • Wider angle kit lens
    24 mm vs 29 mm
    Capture more of the scene with the included lens
  • Faster JPEG shooting
    11.5 fps vs 3.9 fps
    Faster JPEG shooting (burst mode)
  • Faster RAW shooting
    12.0 fps vs 4.0 fps
    Faster RAW shooting in burst mode
  • Bigger RAW buffer
    28 vs 8 shots
    Larger buffer for RAW shots (burst mode)
  • Faster shutter
    1/8000 vs 1/4000 sec
    Shoot wide open in bright light
  • Higher extended ISO
    51200 vs 25600 ISO
    Higher extended ISO can give more low-light flexibility

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
  • 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

  • Built-in Bluetooth
    Neither provide
    Always-on wireless connectivity
  • Built-in GPS
    Neither provide
    Geotag your photos
  • 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

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Your purchases support this site

Buy the Canon SL1
Body Only
  • Body Only
  • Kit with 18-55mm Lens
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Your purchases support this site

Buy the Sony A77 II
Body Only
  • Body Only
  • Kit with 16-50mm Lens
All A77 II Deals

Review Excerpt

  • Extremely compact and lightweight for a DSLR; Delivers good image quality that's virtually identical to the Canon T4i/T5i; Accurate and relatively fast autofocus with improved Live View and Movie Hybrid CMOS II AF; Full 1080p HD movie recording; Better-than average kit lens (EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS STM).

  • Still not as compact as most mirrorless cameras; Slightly worse than average dynamic range and high ISO performance; Poor battery life.

  • Read our Canon SL1 Review

  • Excellent image quality, especially lower ISOs; Improved high ISO performance when using RAW; Very good dynamic range; High-resolution images; Very fast single-shot autofocus; 12fps burst mode with C-AF; Good value for its class.

  • Lackluster continuous AF performance; Strong NR processing in high ISO JPEGs; Sluggish buffer clearing; Short battery life compared to most DSLRs; Joystick control easy to press accidentally.

  • Read our Sony A77 II Review

The Competition

Compared to Sony A58

Canon SL1
Sony A58
  • $724
  • APS-C
  • Lens selection
  • Touchscreen
  • $598
  • APS-C
  • Focus peaking
  • Larger sensor

Compare Canon SL1 vs Sony A58

Sony A77 II
Sony A58
  • $1198
  • APS-C
  • Tilt-swivel screen
  • Fast startup
  • $598
  • APS-C
  • Longer stills battery life
  • Lighter weight

Compare Sony A77 II vs Sony A58

Compared to Pentax K-S1

Canon SL1
Pentax K-S1
  • $724
  • APS-C
  • Touchscreen
  • On-sensor phase detect
  • $502
  • APS-C
  • Focus peaking
  • Larger sensor

Compare Canon SL1 vs Pentax K-S1

Sony A77 II
Pentax K-S1
  • $1198
  • APS-C
  • Tilt-swivel screen
  • In-camera panoramas
  • $502
  • APS-C
  • Lens selection
  • Lighter weight

Compare Sony A77 II vs Pentax K-S1

Compared to Canon 7D Mark II

Canon SL1
Canon 7D Mark II
  • $724
  • APS-C
  • Less expensive
  • Touchscreen
  • $1597
  • APS-C
  • Higher effective ISO
  • Built-in GPS

Compare Canon SL1 vs Canon 7D Mark II

Sony A77 II
Canon 7D Mark II
  • $1198
  • APS-C
  • Focus peaking
  • Tilt-swivel screen
  • $1597
  • APS-C
  • Lens selection
  • Fast startup

Compare Sony A77 II vs Canon 7D Mark II

Compared to Nikon D5500

Canon SL1
Nikon D5500
  • $724
  • APS-C
  • Less expensive
  • On-sensor phase detect
  • $697
  • APS-C
  • Larger sensor
  • Tilt-swivel screen

Compare Canon SL1 vs Nikon D5500

Sony A77 II
Nikon D5500
  • $1198
  • APS-C
  • Focus peaking
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization
  • $697
  • APS-C
  • Lens selection
  • Less expensive

Compare Sony A77 II vs Nikon D5500

Compared to Nikon D7200

Canon SL1
Nikon D7200
  • $724
  • APS-C
  • Less expensive
  • Touchscreen
  • $1016
  • APS-C
  • Larger sensor
  • Fast startup

Compare Canon SL1 vs Nikon D7200

Sony A77 II
Nikon D7200
  • $1198
  • APS-C
  • Tilt-swivel screen
  • Focus peaking
  • $1016
  • APS-C
  • Lens selection
  • Less expensive

Compare Sony A77 II vs Nikon D7200

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