Sony Alpha SLT-A68 Review

The Sony Alpha A68 is a step up from the Sony Alpha A58, and features the same focusing system from the Sony Alpha A77-II, with 79 AF points, and 4D focus tracking, along with focus that works down to -2 EV. The camera features a 24 megapixel APS-C CMOS sensor, and a top LCD display screen.

Sony Alpha SLT-A68 Features

At the core of the Sony Alpha A68 is a 24 megapixel APS-C CMOS sensor, with an ISO range from ISO100 to ISO25600, and the camera has a 4D tracking focusing system with 79 phase detection AF points, 15 of these being cross-type.

The camera uses Translucent Mirror Technology, which enables full-time continuous AF, and the camera can shoot at 5fps at full resolution or 8fps at a reduced resolution. Because of the translucent mirror technology, the camera uses an electronic viewfinder (EVF), and this features a 1.44million dot resolution.

Steadyshot INSIDE moves the image sensor to give image stabilisation to any Sony A mount lens attached to the camera, with electronic stabilisation being used for video recording. The camera records fullHD video at 60, 50, 30, 25, and 24fps, and features a microphone socket on the side, as well as built-in stereo microphones.

To give you a better idea how this camera fits into the market, we've compared the camera to other Sony Alpha SLT cameras which includes the Sony Alpha A58, A65, and A77-II:

* both the A58 and A68 offer quicker continuous shooting at 8fps at a reduced resolution of 5mp / 6mp respectively.

The camera features full manual controls, an intelligent Auto mode, scene modes, plus 3 custom shooting modes. There are a number of creative effects, to create different styles of photographs, and with full-time live view through the screen or EVF you can see the effect of changes you make to settings before you take the photo. The 2.7inch screen tilts up and down, and has a resolution of 460K dots. 

Key Features

• 24 megapixel APS-C CMOS sensor
• SteadyShot Inside (sensor based image stabilisation)
• EVF: 1.44million dots, 0.39inch, 0.88x magnification (0.57x 35mm equivalent)
• 2.7inch tilting screen, 460K dots
• 8fps continuous shooting with AF tracking (5fps at full resolution)
• 79 AF points, 15 cross-type, -2EV focus
• ISO100 to ISO25600
• FullHD video recording (50Mbps), stereo sound
• Microphone socket
• HDR / panoramic shooting

Sony Alpha SLT-A68 Handling

The Sony Alpha A68 feels solidly built with a plastic camera body and good rubber grip for your right hand and thumb. With a good sized grip for your hand the camera is comfortable to hold, and gives a secure grip even when holding the camera with one hand, although depending on the lens you use, with larger lenses using two hands is recommended. 

Like the Sony Alpha A58, the camera features a plastic front lens mount, although this doesn't seem to have caused any problems for users of the A58, which has now been on the market for around 3 years. There are a good number of controls and buttons on the camera making it quick and easy to change settings, and there's a control wheel on the back of the camera, which (along with the front control wheel) gives you easier access to aperture and shutter controls in manual mode. 

The focus points cover a wide area of the frame, with 79 focus points, and the camera's focus system is excellent quickly showing you exactly where the camera is focused at all times. Focus was also very reliable with a high success rate. 

Sony Alpha A68 Screen Focus Points

The electronic viewfinder (EVF) is comfortable when held up top your eye, with a good sized rubber eyecup, although the 1.44million dot resolution does not match other cameras with electronic viewfinders. The camera will automatically switch from the screen to the EVF when you hold the camera up to your eye, or you can choose which one you want to use manually with the Finder / Monitor button on top. 

The 2.7inch screen is smaller than every other interchangeable lens camera available (not including the A58), which is particularly disappointing considering that even cheaper mirrorless cameras and DSLRs have larger, higher resolution screens. Whilst the 460K dot resolution is reasonable, the screen doesn't look great and is not a gapless design which means the contrast isn't very good. The screen isn't a touch-screen either, which is becoming more and more common and can make it quicker to change settings or set the focus points.

The top LCD screen is illuminated, making it easier to view settings in low light from above the camera, or you can tilt the screen upwards. The menus are clearly laid out and will be familiar to anyone who has used other recent Sony cameras. 

Battery life - Battery life is rated at 580 shots according to Sony / CIPA test results, which is very good,