Sony Alpha A200 Review | NeoCamera.com

Sony Alpha A200

Review

Introduction

The Sony Alpha A200 is largely based on the Alpha A100, Sony's first DSLR, which was largely based on Konica-Minolta's Maxxum 5D. Each step produced a DSLR increasingly Sony-styled. The A200 gives off an even more Sony-like appearance while retaining features pioneered by Minolta, like the Anti-Shake and the Eye-Start sensor. Plus, like all Sony digital SLR cameras, the A200 uses the original Minolta A-mount and is compatible with most Minolta auto-focus lenses.

Now that 10 megapixels is the norm among DSLRs, we counted 15 such models, which means that the A200 has many more competitors than the A100 did at the time of its launch. As such, the Sony Alpha A200 features a new image sensor and auto-focus system for improved performance. At the same time, Sony reduced the price of the A200 compared to its predecessor by removing features and customization options. The result is a lower cost DSLR aimed at more novice users. Advanced users, will definitely prefer the higher-end Sony Alpha A700 instead.

As expected from a modern DSLR, the Sony Alpha A200 is a full-featured digital camera with full-manual controls, custom white-balance, high-ISO, a wide range of shutter-speeds including a bulb mode, exposure-compensation, interchangeable lenses, continuous drive, an optical viewfinder and a large LCD. Here, Neocamera takes an in-depth look at how the Sony Alpha A200 fares among entry-level DSLR cameras.

The most important feature of this DSLR is its built-in stabilization. Among DSLRs, only Pentax and Olympus also implement this feature on select models. Built-in stabilization can bring both unequaled flexibility and cost savings. There are many types of lenses which do not have any stabilized counterparts, in particular, prime lenses and most bright zooms. This means that photography is possible in darker conditions than without built-in stabilization. The cost saving aspect can also be very important as it economizes up to $500 USD per lens. It can also make a standard zoom usable when a bright and more expensive zoom would normally be required.

The Alpha A200 also features an extremely convenient eye-start sensor, a dynamic-range-optimizer (DRO), a dust-reduction system and all features found on most entry-level DSLRs. The 2.7" LCD serves as a status display in shooting mode and rotates automatically when shooting in portrait orientation.

This Sony DSLR uses Compact Flash memory and a Sony Info-Lithium battery. The advantage of Info-Lithium batteries is that they give a precise measurement of the remaining charge. The natural disadvantages of such batteries are that they are expensive and hard to find. Nevertheless, Sony claims 750 shots per charge using the CIPA standard.

The A200's standard feature set includes:

10 Megapixels image sensor, 1.5X crop-factor.
Minolta A-mount, supports nearly all AF Konica-Minolta lenses.
ISO 100 to 3200, plus Auto ISO (100-400). Up from 1600, on the A100.
1/4000s to 30s shutter-speeds, plus bulb mode.
Multi-segment, center-weighed and spot metering.
Exposure compensation: -2..+2, 1/3 EV inc.
Flash compensation: -2..+2, 1/3 EV inc.
Exposure bracketing, 3 images, 0.3 or 0.7 EV inc.
White-balance bracketing, high and low increments.
Automatic white-balance.
Preset and Kelvin white-balance, both fine-tunable along green-to-magenta scale.
Custom white-balance.
9-point auto-focus system.
Automatic, manual or center focus-point selection
Single-shot, continuous, auto-detect and manual focus modes. Gone is DMF from the A100.
Standard P, S, A and M exposure modes.
Unlimited 2.8 FPS continuous drive. Down from 3 FPS on the A100.
10-second and 2-second self-timers. No longer with automatic mirror-lockup.
Dedicated Auto-Exposure-Lock (AEL) and Auto-Focus-Lock (AFL) buttons.
Customizable saturation, sharpness and contrast, 7 steps.
2.7" LCD 230K Pixels with automatic rotation of status screen. Up from 2.5" on the A100.
Eye-start sensor automatically controls LCD and optionally starts auto focus.
0.83X Magnification viewfinder, 95% coverage.
Image review with magnification and histogram.
JPEG and RAW modes.
Built-in flash.
Flash off, auto, fill, slow-sync, rear-sync and wireless modes.
Lithium-ion battery.
Compact flash memory.
Gone is depth-of-field preview from the A100.
Many customization options gone too.

Suitability - What is it good for?

Since DSLR cameras represent the high-end of digital cameras, they are generally suitable for most types of photography. The versatility of interchangeable lenses gives SLR cameras their greatest potential. The Sony Alpha A200 is no exception, it is suitable for every type of photographic subject.

Sony Alpha A200

Much of a DSLR's versatility depends on available lenses. Among Sony lenses are several highly desirable - and expensive - ones by Carl-Zeiss. Sony sells the A200 alone, with a 18-70mm F3.5-5.6 or with a 18-70mm F3.5-5.6 and a 75-300 F4.5-5.6. These are all medium quality lenses with typical narrow apertures. One of the most unique lens among Sony's lineup is the 16-105mm F3.5-5.6 which is equivalent to 24-157mm in 35mm terms. What is special about it is that there are very little zooms which start this wide and none with a 6X or more zoom range. Another impressive lens from Sony is the ultra-wide 11-18mm F4.5-5.6 which shows excellent sharpness and very little distortion for such focal-length. Numerous lenses are also available from third-party companies such as Sigma. Most out-of-production Konica-Minolta auto focus lenses are also compatible with the A200.

Feature-wise, a few DSLR cameras are better suited for action-photography. Even though the Alpha A200 can shoot at 2.8 FPS indefinitely, many cameras can shoot faster. Specifically, the 12 megapixels Sony Alpha A700, the 10 megapixels Nikon D200 both shoot continuously at 5 FPS. Some recent DSLRs shoot even faster. Like all forms of stabilization, Sony's built-in stabilization only compensates for the photographer's movements, never the subject's. In other words, it is not effective for action photography.

The Alpha A200 is nor the largest nor the smallest 10 megapixels DSLR. In terms of weight, it is also near the middle of its class. Given its size and weight, the Sony A200 has a solid feel without being tiresome to carry. It is certainly no more noticeable than most consumer-oriented DSLR cameras.

Capability – What can it do?

As noted in the introduction, the Sony Alpha A200 has everything expected from a DSLR plus a few unique features. Headline features include built-in stabilization, renamed Super-Steady-Shot from Konica-Minolta's Anti-Shake, an eye-start sensor, also inherited from Konica-Minolta, a dust-reduction mechanism, an unlimited 2.8 FPS continuous drive and a dynamic-range-optimizer, called DRO.

The camera's only LCD has multiple duties: playing back images, changing camera settings and displaying status information. In shooting mode, the LCD displays the camera status until it is cleverly deactivated by the eye-start sensor situated under the optical viewfinder. As soon as your eye, or any other object, gets near the viewfinder, the LCD is immediately turned off. This no-user-intervention approach is great because it does exactly what needs to be done smoothly. This saves power and prevents the LCD from interfering with the viewfinder's normal use. Using the LCD as a status display makes it easier to check the camera's status between hand-held shots than with a top mounted LCD. However, when using a tripod below eye-level, a top-mounted LCD would be preferable. Another neat trick with the status display is that it automatically rotates with the camera for improved readability.

Sony Alpha A200

The eye-start sensor also optionally serves to start the focusing system. This is designed to shorten the time to lock focus by letting the camera start focusing before the shutter-release is half-pressed. How useful this is depends on your shooting style: If you keep your eye to the viewfinder for a while before taking a shot, focus lag can be greatly reduced; If you hang the camera from your neck between shots, you may be annoyed at hearing the camera continuously focus. Either way, this feature can be deactivated in the setup menu.