2010 Camera of the Year: Sony A55

The decision of our editors was unanimous: It could only be Sony’s unique take on the single-lens reflex.

By Dan Richards on December 7, 2010

Why the Sony A55 Won:

Unique approach to DSLR tech design.
Furiously fast autofocus—in video, too.
Fastest burst rate in its class.
Extremely High image quality.
Fully articulating LCD monitor.
Sharp, fine-grained electronic viewfinder.

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.