Sony A200 Review - [dcresource]

The Sony Alpha DSLR-A200 is a very capable entry-level D-SLR that needs improvement in one important area: JPEG photo quality. The A200 offers a lot of bang for the buck, with its 10 Megapixel CCD, built-in image stabilization, snappy performance, and great battery life. If you keep the ISO sensitivity low, the photo quality is very good. However, increasing the sensitivity (especially in low light) kicks the camera's noise reduction system in high gear, giving photos a soft appearance, with smudged details. Sure, you can get much better results by shooting in RAW mode, but my belief is that JPEGs should look just as good. If you're into post-processing your photos, then I can highly recommend the DSLR-A200. If you don't want to fuss with your computer to get the most out of the camera, then you might want to consider something else.

The DSLR-A200 is a midsize digital SLR with a sturdy plastic shell over a metal frame. While its price may be entry-level, the A200's construction is not. The right hand grip is just the right size, with other controls within easy reach of your fingers. Like all of Sony's digital SLRs, the A200 uses the Alpha lens mount that was created by Minolta many years ago. That gives the A200 backward compatibility with scores of lenses, plus all the new ones being developed by Sony. And, with built-in sensor-shift image stabilization, almost every one of those lenses will have shake reduction as soon as you attach it. The sensor-shift system does double duty on the A200, also acting as a dust reduction system when the camera is turned off. On the back of the camera you'll find a 2.7" LCD display, up from 2.5" on the DSLR-A100. The screen is used only for menus and reviewing photos you've taken -- there's no live view here. The optical viewfinder is on the small side (0.83X magnification) and is pretty hard to see through in low light. One old Minolta feature that I wish would go away is the proprietary hot shoe found on the A200 and its cousins. While Sony offers several flashes, you won't be able to use a "standard" external flash with the A200.

Jeff Keller

more : dcresource