prism, there’s no possibility of using
What’s missing in the A200-300-350 basics?
the same 10X (A200) or 14X (A350)
zoom you can activate for review * Depth of field preview button, or any menu dedicated alternative.
images after they have been shot. * The AE Lock button no longer functions as a Spot metering button. If you
Instead, there is a SmartConverter want Spot metering, it must be set using the Fn button and screen interface first,
mode. This is a digital crop – a otherwise the AE Lock just holds the reading from whatever metering mode you
zoom, without interpolation, just as are using.
if you were cropping in on a JPEG. It * There are fewer ‘effective’ buttons because of the change from one assign-
only works in JPEG mode (not even able Fn button in the middle of a dial with seven function choices. The most
JPEG+RAW) because raw files can not noticeable effect is no direct WB button. A good range of WB settings including
be cropped in camera, and you can Kelvins and Magenta/Green CC correction is retained, along with a rapid custom
just do that later when processing. white balance method. You access this through the Fn button menus. The Alpha
Both LV models have 1.4X and 100 had one PASM plus scene mode dial, and one Function dial for setting White
2X SmartConverter settings, which Balance, Dynamic Range Optimisation, ISO, Metering, Digital Effect, Flash
you get by pressing a new button Settings and AF behaviour.
on the right hand top end of the * There is no menu item to disable shutter lock when ‘no lens’ is detected
camera near your thumb tip. or enable it when ‘no card’ is inserted. Manual exposure permits use of ‘dumb’
The resulting JPEGs are equal lenses.
to the camera’s M size (Medium) at * There is no Direct Manual Focus mode at all, and no quick AF/MF toggle
1.4X or S (Small) at 2X. These are, button. On the A200-350 you must use the AF/MF switch on the lens mount if
with the Alpha 300, 5 megapixels you want to make any manual adjustment to focusing.
and 2.7 megapixels; with the A350, * There is no mirror pre-lift when using the 2-second self timer.
7.7 megapixels and 3.8 megapixels. * You can not decide bracketing order.
When tested, we found that * You can not link or unlink flash and ambient over-ride by default (the
composing a Live View shot with a main over-ride always affects both).
lens at a focal length like 300mm – * The special high key and low key settings pioneered by Konica Minolta
the time you might want to use the (Lo80, Hi200) are omitted.
1.4X or 2X crop for shots of garden * Custom buttons on certain lenses can not be assigned different functions
birds or similar small targets – was (they only operate as Focus Hold).
next to impossible. LV does not * No MemoryStick Duo Pro to CF slot adaptor is provided; this £30 Sony
reflect image stabilisation, which accessory came free with every Alpha 100 sold.
happens only during exposure. * Colour rendering appears to be slightly less vivid than the A100.
The LV CCD has no stabilisation. * The A300 and A350 optical viewfinders are much smaller at 0.74X magnifi-
I suspect most of our readers cation instead of the 0.83X of the Alpha 100, or the 200.
will realise it is better and safer to * No flash shoe cover is provided with any of the new cameras.
shoot a normal size JPEG than use
SmartConverter. There’s less risk
What’s added compared to the Alpha 100?
of moving subjects being cut off!
Live View takes space in the prism * There is a dedicated ISO adjustment button.
housing. To leave room, the A300 * Noise levels are improved at all ISO settings without any loss of fine detail
and A350 use smaller mirror-prisms recording ability, amounting to about a one stop gain.
and have a 0.74X view in place of * The ISO range now extends to a usable 3200.
the 0.83X view of the A200. They * AF motor speed is improved by 1.7X and offers faster focus with most lenses.
do have a slightly more distant * The mirror/shutter action is faster and sweeter in sound.
eyepoint meaning that spectacle * Auto pop-up flash is added along with button-press manual pop-up, and
wearers will be better able to see autoflash operation in most modes (with ‘no flash’ option)
this view. The space taken also * DRO and DRO+ work when shooting RAW+JPEG and will also tag plain
dictated the design of the new flash. RAW shooting so that Sony IDC uses its own software version of DRO.
* Anti-shake SSS is improve by around half a step to 2.5-3.5 stops.
Alpha 350 quality
* High ISO Noise Reduction at 1600 and 3200 ISO can be turned ON or OFF
and is not mandatory (but the results are much better with it on).
As for 14.2 megapixels, if you think * 16:9 ratio JPEG shooting is added and the focusing screen marked to
this will be a noisy image pushing the indicate this – the marks are also very useful for aligning horizons.
limits of design, try one. The image * The LCD screen is larger at 2.7 inches but still the same standard 230,000
is just as good as the 10.2 megapixel (960 x 240 vertical pixels) resolution as the A100, so slightly coarser in pitch.
up to ISO 800, fractionally more * Separate R, G, B and overall luminance histograms are provided for review
noisy at 1600 but more detailed as and playback modes instead of luminance only.
well, and more useful at 3200 than * The lens mount is improved, weather-sealing appears to be a step up from
the same setting on a Dynax 7D. the A100, and overall build quality is tangibly better as well as looking rather
This camera does demand neater (there are no metallic-plastic bluish components any more).
the best lenses, and loves our CZ * Buttons are separated, made larger and simplified in uses.
16-80mm. The extra image size * Magnification scale can be displayed during zoomed-in reviewing.
means you can crop and still make * Battery Percentage Life is indicated and the InfoLithium cell performs
large prints (see right hand photo). better when recharged after partial discharge, especially with the optional twin All photographs by David Kilpatrick.
There is a slightly flat look to charger ACVQ-900AM. For more reports on the new Alpha
the images, because the A350 has a * Flash exposure is improved, and slightly faster operation reduces the risk cameras, visit our website – plenty of
surprisingly good dynamic range. It’s of shut-eye. photo examples and much more detail
very much worth shooting raw with * White Balance appears to be improved. can be found on-line!
this camera. Treat it like medium * The 300 and 350 have, of course, all the new functions associated with Live www.photoclubalpha.com
format and you can’t go wrong! View. Search for Alpha 200, Alpha 350 or any
Á * The Alpha 350 has a new 14.2 megapixel ultra high resolution sensor. topic of interest to find articles.
photoworld 8
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