Sony Alpha 58 – Review April 2014

Taking the place of both the A37 and A57, is the Sony A58 the ideal entry-level, DSLR-style camera?

Sony Alpha 58 review

Rather than having two models in its line-up vying for attention in the competitive entry-level DSLR sector, Sony has consolidated the A37 and A57 into a single model - the A58.

At its heart sits an all-new 20.1MP Exmor APS HD CMOS sensor, which Sony has married to an 'improved' BIONZ image processing engine. And, being based around Sony's translucent mirror technology, the A58 shuns a moving mirror and pentaprism, with these replaced by a fixed, semi- transparent mirror and an electronic viewfinder (EVF).

The absence of a pentaprism on the Sony A58 sees the optical viewfinder replaced with an electronic equivalent. This isn't always a popular solution because EVFs don't quite have the same clarity or responsiveness as a traditional optical viewfinder. The A58's EVF maintains the same 1.44m-dot resolution as that on the A57, but it now uses OLED Tru-Finder technology as opposed to the LCD seen previously. Interestingly, the rear screen has shrunk in size from that on the A57, with a 2.7in, 460k-dot display now in place.

Battery life is rated at 690-700 shots according to Sony / CIPA test results, with slightly longer battery life available when using the LCD screen

There's a 15-point AF system, with three of those points the more sensitive cross-type variant, while the A58 also benefits from a new Lock-on Autofocus technology for 'speedier, more accurate subject tracking'.

The design of the A58 is pretty much identical to the A57, with a substantial grip with depressions for both middle and ring fingers that provide a comfortable grip and thumb rest. While the exterior construction is predominantly plastic, it is more than satisfactory for the job. One area of disappointment though is the lens mount, which is plastic and not metal like on the majority of DSLRs, with a greater risk of wear over time.

Sony A58 supports Triluminos Colour

AF performance is good for a camera in this class, with speedy AF acquirement most of the time and hunting only in low-contrast situations. The electronic viewfinder is less tunnel-like than its peers, though not as suitable if you're likely to be shooting in high-contrast situations often. The downgrade in the LCD size is disappointing, and while still more than usable, it doesn't offer quite the same level of detail and 'bite' as the competition in the market.

The multi-segment metering exposed well for most scenes, though on occasion in bright situations it did have a slight tendency to underexpose the shot, requiring a touch of exposure compensation. At the base ISO of 100 images appear noise-free, though subtle signs begin to appear at ISO 800, with a gritty texture appearing in Raw files at ISO 1600. JPEG files at these higher sensitivities attempt to reduce this effect, but the result is mushy-looking files with considerable loss of detail. The 20.1MP sensor is very good, though for best results we'd recommend using something other than the bundled 18-55mm lens, which doesn't quite do the sensor justice, but will be adequate for general shooting.

20.1 MP Sony Alpha 58 camera

Verdict

The A58 seems to be a muddied compromise between the two cameras it replaces and it appears that the benefits offered by being SLT-based have been diluted somewhat. With such stiff competition in the shape of the Canon EOS 600D, Nikon D3200 and Pentax K-30, it's an interesting alternative rather than an outright winner.