The Digital Video Camera Guy

Sony Alpha DSLR-A200 Digital SLR Camera Pros and Cons

The Sony Alpha DSLR-A200 Digital SLR Camera is the follow-up model to Sony’s first DSLR model, the A100. This new model is faster, lighter and much easier to use than it’s predecessor. It also provides noise control and AF acquisition times.

FEATURES

The A200 includes a 10.2 mega pixel Super HAD CCD sensor and Sony’s pivotal BIONZ processor. This option produces dynamic range, minimal noise and improved picture detail. It also enhances images with rich tonal reproduction, improved white balance and exposure control. This model utilizes Sony’s Carl Zeiss lens.

This camera features six primary shooting modes:

Scene: With this option, the user can select six different presents with camera setting optimized for each scene
Manual: With this option, the user manually selects shutter speed and aperture
Shutter priority: User selects shutter speed and camera sets aperture
Aperture priority: User selects lens aperture and the camera sets shutter speed
Program: With this popular option, the camera utilizes automatic exposure while retaining custom settings
Auto: With this option the camera uses default settings to easily and effortlessly shoot any subject under any conditions.

Pros:

-Great image and color quality. Awesome range of adjustments
-Dust reduction sensor with stabilizer
-Accepts a variety of mainstream lenses
-Good shutter and AF response

Cons:

-The plastic construction is questionable in terms of durability

The image and color quality are great and there’s plenty of inputs available to customize image parameters if the default shots aren’t to your liking. The shutter is standard DSLR quick and the auto focus performance is great in normal lighting environments. The camera comes with a 2.7 inch LCD monitor and there are a total of five brightness settings available. The monitor works great even if there are smears on the screen.

The  high mega pixel range offer room for professional photographs. The A200 has the D-Range Optimizer feature with standard and advanced digital settings. The D-Range Optimizer preserves detail in both shadow and light in pictures. The advanced setting places the image into small sections and analyses the contrast of light and shadow between the subject and the background, producing an image with optimal brightness and gradation.

The Sony Alpha DSLR-A200 has a variety of different scene presents including portrait, landscape, macro, sports, sunset and night portrait. The A200 is a great camera overall and there are some wonderful entry-level features such as dust reduction, in-camera stabilization and the ability to use Sony and Minolta lenses. The A200 should be even more attractive since Sony has recently dropped it’s MSRP to $500 USD.