Canon XSi vs Sony A77

Sony A77 advantages over Canon XSi

• 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
• Higher effective ISO

  Higher effective ISO

  Maximum effective ISO is an estimate of the highest sensitivity at which a camera can capture excellent quality photos.

  Cameras with higher effective ISO will be better choices for indoor photography, night shooting, and indoor sports photography, especially if you intend to make large prints.

  You can learn more at our glossary entry.

  Maximum effective ISO test data courtesy of DxO Mark.

  A77 test data on DxO Mark XSi test data on DxO Mark
  801 vs 692 iso
  Take photos in low light with less noise
• More dynamic range

  More dynamic range

  Cameras with more dynamic range allow you to take photos with dramatic differences in highlight and shadow areas while retaining detail in both.

  Think of a brilliant sunset on a rocky beach: Bright sunset in the background, with dark rocks in the foreground. High dynamic range means more of the extremes will be faithfully reproduced.

  Dynamic range test data courtesy of DxO Mark.

  A77 test data on DxO Mark XSi test data on DxO Mark
  13.2 vs 10.8 evs
  Retain detail in highlight and shadows
• Built-in GPS
  GPS vs None
  Geotag your photos
• Top deck display
  Yes vs No
  Check settings with a screen on top of the camera
• External Mic Jack
  Jack vs No jack
  Improved sound fidelity when shooting video
• More cross-type AF points
  11 vs 1
  Cross-type AF points improve autofocus performance
• HDMI out
  HDMI out vs None
  Use HDMI output to monitor or review video
• Shoots 24p video
  Yes vs No
  Gives your movies a big-screen feel
• More dots on screen
  922k vs 230k dots
  Can mean greater resolution or a brighter screen
• Shoots 1080p video
  Yes vs No
  You'll want this if you shoot video
• 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 12.2 megapixels
  Higher resolution photos
• Shoots 60p video
  Yes vs No
  A faster framerate can give you more editing options
• More AF points
  19 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
  11.6 fps vs 3.5 fps
  Faster JPEG shooting (burst mode)
• Faster shutter
  1/8000 vs 1/4000 sec
  Shoot wide open in bright light
• Higher extended ISO
  16000 vs 1600 ISO
  Higher extended ISO can give more low-light flexibility