Consumer Reports Sony SLR ratings

Consumer Reports has a different objective than your average photography reviewer. It is aimed at identifying value for money. That includes assigning a not insignificant weight to the reliability of the product - something almost completely ignored by other camera reviewers (and pixel peepers). I'd say that those four cameras do provide better bang for the buck than the A77. That doesn't mean that they're "better" cameras than the A77.

I use Consumer Reports when I'm buying an appliance or a car. I don't use it when I'm buying a motorcycle or a DSLR. (I would look at it when I'm interested in buying a P&S however - primarily for the purposes of assessing reliability.)

Regards,
Keith