Sony Expands DSLR Range

Sony Offers the DSLR Market New Digital Cameras and Zoom Lenses

Feb 19, 2008 Philip Northeast

Sony continues to build on the old Minolta range with a number of new models for its Alpha range of DSLR cameras and two new zoom lenses.

The first model is the A200, Sony‘s new entry level DSLR, with 10.2-megapixel APS CCD image sensor. This replaces A100, the first DSLR from Sony, with a host of detail improvements making the new model faster, lighter and easier to use.

The A200 continues the industry wide trend towards larger easier to view LCD screens and includes software designed to smooth the transition for photographer new to DSLRs.

“With the DSLR-A200, we are helping consumers capture high-quality images with advanced technology that’s practical and easy to use,” said Phil Lubell, director of marketing for digital cameras at Sony Electronics. “This model is an ideal step-up for point-and-shoot users who are looking for a camera that can capture virtually all of the photographs they want.”

Unusually, the new Sony does not use Secure Digital memory cards that are now becoming common in this class of camera. Instead has a slot for CompactFlash™ Type I/II media cards and an adaptor for Memory Stick Duo™ media cards is sold separately.

As with all Sony DSLRs, the A200 features in body Super SteadyShot® image stabilization for all lenses, including the Minolta Minolta Maxxum® mount lenses, in addition to Sony a (alpha) lenses – including Carl Zeiss® lenses.

Live View Shooting

There are two new mid range model DSLRs that slot in between the entry level A200 and the current top of the range A700. The A300 has a 10.2 megapixel, while the A350 offers a whopping 14 megapixels in APS size sensor digital body.

The main distinguishing feature of these new models is their introduction of Sony’s Live View technology to their DSLRs. The Sony system has a Pentamirror Tilt mechanism directing light to a dedicated live view image sensor, enabling fast and responsive TTL phase-detection auto-focusing, during live view operation. “Live View gives these new models a familiar shooting style without compromising speed – ideal for the growing market of first-time SLR users,” said Sony’s Phil Lubell.

Photographers can tilt the LCD screen on these two new models so they can vary how they view the screen. Combining the live view system and the movable screen allows photographers to compose their shots with the camera in positions difficult to reach when using an eye-level viewfinder.

Zoom Lenses

The new 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 G is a compact and flexible telephoto zoom lens ideal for sports and portrait photography. The lens uses Sony’s Super Sonic wave Motor (SSM) for autofocus operation and Sony say this is ideal for providing larger lenses with the speed and precision focusing. Shallow depth of field is inherent in telephoto lenses, making accurate focusing critical. Sometimes photographers will spend considerable time pre-focusing on a distant spot so they are ready when the action starts. Sony has included a focus lock button on this lens so the lens does not accidently go out of focus during the wait.

The best bit has been saved for last: a new collaborative lens from Carl Zeiss and Sony. The Zeiss optics provides a Vario Sonnar, or zoom lens in a handy 24-70mm focal length range, although this is affected by the Sony 1.5 crop factor. One indicator of the quality of the optical design is the large maximum aperture, f2.8, and this remains constant over the while zoom range. This lens has the Carl Zeiss T* (T star) coating technology found on lenses used on many Hasselblad cameras. Sony contributed their Super Sonic wave Motor (SSM) for quick and precise focusing.

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