2010 Camera of the Year: Sony A55

Sony, confronted with a vexing glitch of DSLR video, dipped into a bag of old and new tricks to come up with a remarkably simple solution. Along the way, it invented essentially a new type of camera, one for which we don’t quite have a name yet. What we can call it is the Alpha 55, and the Camera of the Year for 2010.

Product specifications

Camera Category: Interchangeable-lens Compact 

Sensor Size: APS-H                                            Sensor Type: CMOS 

Megapixels: 16.2                                               Fastest Shutter Speed: 1/4000 second 

Slowest Shutter Speed: 30 seconds                     Bulb Mode: Yes 

Live View: Yes                                                   Image Processor: BIONZ 

Viewfinder Coverage: 100%                                AF Points: 15 

Display Type: LCD                                             Display Size: 3.0 inches 

Display Resolution: 921600 pixels                       Articulating Display: Yes 

Lowest ISO Setting: 100 ISO                              Highest ISO Setting: 1600 ISO 

Burst Rate (JPG): 6.00fps                                  Self-Cleaning Sensor: Yes 

In-Body Image Stablization: Yes                         Pop-Up Flash: Yes 

Storage Media Type: Secure Digital (SD)            Secure Digital High Capacity (SDHC)

Secure Digital Expanded Capacity (SDXC)           Video Capture: Yes 

Maximum Video Resolution: 1080p                    AF in Video Mode: Yes 

HDMI Port: Yes                                                Wireless Flash Trigger: No 

Remote Capture: No                                         Height: 3.6 inches 

Depth: 3.3 inches                                             Width: 4.9 inches 

Weight: 15 ounces                                           Price: $750.00 

Touch Screen: No                                             Model Number:  

The Runners-Up:

Canon T2i

The bang-for-the-buck champ of DSLRs turns the “entry level” tag on its head, notably in image quality: The EOS Rebel T2i achieved an Excellent rating in our tests under the latest, stricter-than-ever criteria. It’s all in there, including 1080p video at 30 fps, but this fabulous little rig, unlike the Alpha 55, breaks no new technological ground. $900, street, with kit lens shown.



Nikon D3s

ISO 102,400. 9-fps bursts with metering and focusing on every frame. Autofocus in dim light that’s as fast as some systems in bright conditions. Weapons-grade construction and weathersealing. How could we not nominate it? But as fab as the D3s is, we decided it was more an evolutionary step up from Nikon’s previous speed demon, the D3, than a major breakthrough. $5,200, street, body only.



Panasonic G2

Panasonic continues to lead the charge in the category it invented, the interchangeable-lens compact (ILC). The Lumix G2 took the honors in 2010’s three-way ILC shootout on the strength of great imaging and a pleasant video experience. Still, the Alpha 55 manages to do everything at least a little better. $650, street, with kit lens shown.