A200 Series Digital SLR Camera - First Look! Features at a Glance Minolta A-type bayonet mount (amount) Super SteadyShot moving sensor Image Stabilization 10.2MP APS-C size CCD, Anti-dust cleaning system Eye-level penta-mirror OVF, 0.83x magnification 18-70mm f3.5-4.5 (27-105mm eq)3.9X zoom lens Dynamic Range Optimizer (Std/Advanced Selectable) Eye Start AF speeds shooting 3.0 FPS burst, limited only by media capacity 40 segment honeycomb photometry, 9point AF 2.7-inch 230K pixel Clear Photo LCD Plus display CF Type I/II Slot, Lithium Ion Battery, Stamina 750 shots Sony is advancing the digital SLR category for mainstream photographers with today's introduction of the new a (alpha) DSLR-A200 camera. The DSLR-A200 features upgrades influenced by the recently-introduced, enthusiast-class DSLR-A700 camera and replaces the former Sony DSLR-A100 model, which was Sony's first in the DSLR class. The new DSLR-A200 is designed to be faster, lighter and easier to use. Upgraded features include a wider, 2.7-inch Clear Photo LCD screen for easy playback viewing; a more compact body and an easily-accessible mode dial; an easy-to-use function menu (camera function display); improved noise control for higher quality images; an auto focus speed 1.7x faster than the previous model; improved predictive control performance; quieter shutter sound; automatic pop-up flash; and a battery life indicator that displays the percentage of battery life remaining so you know exactly when to recharge. As seen in all a (alpha) camera bodies, the DSLR-A200 camera incorporates Super SteadyShot image stabilization in the body to allow shooting at shutter speeds of 2.5 to 3.5 steps slower than otherwise possible - a benefit realized with every compatible lens attached to the camera. Compatible lenses encompass all Minolta Maxxum mount lenses, in addition to Sony a (alpha) lens lineup - including Carl Zeiss lenses.

Technical Details

-10-megapixel CCD captures enough detail for photo-quality 18 x 24-inch prints
-Kit includes 18-70mm lens
-Super Steadyshot image stabilization; Bionz image processor
-2.7-inch ClearPhoto LCD; Eye-Start autofocus system
-Powered by lithium-ion battery (supplied); stores images on CF I/II and Memory Stick Pro Duo cards
See more technical details

 "Great starter DSLR" 2010-07-20
By Lmh62109
This is my first DSLR and it makes taking pictures a breeze. The image stability really helps. The macro shots are great on the standard lens. You won't be disappointed for the price of this camera.


 "Love this camera compared to all the others!" 2010-06-10
By mandarobinson (Florida)
I love this camera, I was going to buy a Nikon... then because of my budget I turned to the Canon Rebel - got the Rebel xsi thinking it was going to be great because of the reviews. It was horrible, i don't know if it was because i bought a refurbished one but all the pics i would take would come out very unclear, and trust me i changed the settings for hours. Then i took it to the beach because i love photographing sunsets. The photos that i was getting from the canon rebel xsi where not quality pics i was hoping to take.... my sony cybershot took way better photos and was only $150. I ended up going to a few pawn shops to see if maybe it was my lens from the rebel, as to why nothing was coming out amazing. Where i live there are no camera stores, so that wahy i decided on the pawn shops. After a few visits i found one shop that had the Sony and a Nikon. The sony came with a 70-300mm tele-macro lens, and the kit lens, plus a new camera bag. I played with this one for about an hour and found it being so easy to use, and the manual is like a photography for dummies, that made everything so easy to understand. The moment i touched the Nikon i was couldn't even firgure how to get the live view screen on, so that to me is a minus, same thing with my canon rebel xsi. So from that moment i put the nikon down and knew for sure the Sony was exactly what i was looking for. I absolutely love it and very simple to use... the buttons and short cuts are right where you need them and you can change the coloring while viewing.


 "Brilliant as a first-time-buy DSLR camera" 2010-06-04
By Anthony Plato (Hampshire, UK)
This camera is really easy to use, It's the first camera I have purchased of this type and I have taken some pretty good shots of it. I bought it mainly for my travels to various cities on the East Coast of America and it was all-in-all a good purchase.

On the other hand it could have been packaged a little better from the seller, but it was adequate.


 "It's lightweight makes it a good travel cam" 2010-05-04
By Paul
I'm using the A-200 now for a year and made about 40,000 pics with it.


PROS:

(+) Very light.
Yes, it feels like less quality because Sony used more plastic but it makes the camera way lighter than it's competitors and yet I haven't figured out any signs of wear or damage. If you want to carry more weight to have the perception of more quality, go for another SLR.

(+) Better kit-lens.
The 18-70mm is versatile enough to use it as your one and only lens, compared to the common 18-55mm kit-lenses. And it's incredible lightweight too. Spice it up with a Sigma 70-300mm for about $150 and you're all set (btw, that is one of the best tele- and macro-lenses you can get for the money!). Quality of the lens is okay, keeping in mind that all zoom lenses can't mess with prime lenses in terms of picture quality. An 18-200mm Tamron would be an alternative, but it makes a lot of distortion in wide-angel - had that one.

(+) Compatible with Minolta System.
You can use the old Minolta lenses. Bought a Minolta prime lens 28mm f2.8 with AutoFocus for $110 used. Works like a current Sony lens with full automode support, no difference (and it really makes sharp, crisp pics!). While the use of old film-era lenses is not a Sony/Minolta-only phenomenon, I have the feeling, people are less fighting for this stuff as Sony is not extremely common in the SLR sector, compared to Canon or Nikon. So you are more likely to get a good deal with the old Minolta stuff.

(+) Extra ISO Button.
Easy to reach, this is not absolutely common in the entry-level segment.


CONS:

(-) The stupid eye-start.
Well, what Sony sells as a feature is the most annoying, stupid thing ever. Imagine, a camera hanging at your neck will never ever shut off because your belly keeps the eye-sensor active all the time. And you can not deactivate this feature. Technically you can turn it off in the menu, but that has no consequences: The camera will stay alive forever if you wear it. I'm so annoyed that I have to keep a safety distance to the damn sensor for about a minute to let the cam shut off by itself.

(-) On/Off Switch.
Most cameras have their on/off switch on the right side where you can operate it with your index finger = shutter finger is able to turn the cam off without using your other hand. Not so this one which is on the left side. Combined with the eye-start issue it's the result of stupid product design.

(-) JPEG Compression.
The camera is compressing the JPEG-Quality images even in finest quality setting slightly too much. It's not really bad, though. As I'm shooting in RAW most of the time, this is not a problem for me and I think most of the people buying an entry-level SLR wouldn't even notice that. Picture quality of this one is nice anyway!

(-) Bracket limit of 0,7.
Bracket shooting mode enables you to shoot 3 pics with different exposure in a row while keeping the shutter button pressed. In other words, it will produce e.g. 1 underexposed pic, 1 normal pic, 1 overexposed pic. Great for post-producing HDR pictures. You can set the range of how strong the under-/overexposure is. Unfortunately unlike other D-SLRs, the Sony A-200 is limited to 0,7. "Why?" I would like to scream at a Sony designer. My old Pentax was able to make a bracket with up to -2/0/+2. A range of 0,7 is so ridiculous that you totally can forget about this feature.
I have to admit though, that most of the people buying this cam will never use this special feature.

(-) High ISO.
Okay, this is not only a problem with Sony. I read the manufacturers and consumers highlighting the awesome ability to shoot with ISO 3200. Forget about anything beyond ISO 800, pics will look terribly noisy. To make great pictures with ISO 3200 or even 1600, you need to spend $1600 or more for a prosumer or pro SLR. No matter what, those entry level SLR produce a lot of noise even at ISO 800 (though this is still acceptable). Maybe in a few years.
In ISO Auto mode the cam will not go beyond ISO 400 anyway - I guess that's because Sony know that the pics aren't looking that smooth anymore beyond ISO 400...


The Sony A-200 is a good choice, but I don't know if I would rather go with a Nikon D40 instead. I got a great deal one year ago and I don't regret buying it. But again, I think the D40 makes better pics, though it is more heavy and the kit lens needs more desperately to be replaced than the Sony kit lens.


 "Sony Alpha camera" 2010-03-20
By Diana
Excellent camera. Why spend more money on other brands when this has all the features of the more expensive cameras. I love this camera, takes awesome photos and has so many creative aspects to photo taking. You can change the lenses for other types of photography; macro, etc...but the lens that comes with this camera does it all. You can zoom in when you need to. There is a pop up flash that senses low light. You can put it on all automatic; focusing, light metering or you can go creative and make your own settings. This is a very versitile camera that is great for the beginner or for the advanced photographer because there are so many possibilities. This takes creative photography to the max! I love this camera, my camera, and would recommend it to anyone!


Read more Sony Alpha A200K 10.2MP Digital SLR Camera Kit with Super SteadyShot Image Stabilization with 18-70mm f/3.5-5.6 Lens

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