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7.8 out of 10

Sony DSLR-A200

10.2 megapixels, first seen: 7 January 2008

Information found in: from 123 sources in 30 countries.

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  • User Score (719)
    9.3 9.3 from 719 reviewers
  • Expert Score (39)
    7.8 7.8 from 39 reviewers
  • Design (15)
    7.0 7.0 from 15 reviewers
  • Value for money (43)
    7.8 7.8 from 43 reviewers
  • Features (30)
    6.8 6.8 from 30 reviewers
  • Ease of use (32)
    7.2 7.2 from 32 reviewers
  • Performance (5)
    7.1 7.1 from 5 reviewers
  • Picture quality (20)
    6.8 6.8 from 20 reviewers
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Pros & Cons

  • minolta lenses fit, good photo, comfortable controls, adobe rgb, uses his old lenses
  • manual not terribly detailed, high iso noise, grainy shots, zoom feature is basic, 18 70 kit lens
  • 10.2 effective megapixel CCD sensor plus optimised BIONZ processor for enhanced picture quality, reduced image noise and responsive operation
  • High sensitivity up to ISO 3200 with high- ISO noise reduction for successful handheld shooting in low light without flash
  • D-Range Optimiser adjusts brightness and contrast for beautifully-exposed backlit scenes
  • Enhanced SteadyShot INSIDE image stabilisation offers 2.5-3.5 steps anti-shake performance with all α-mo…

DSLR-A200 /K /W

Sony’s Alpha A200 is a relatively minor revamp to the electronics giant’s first digital SLR, the A100, which itself was a more significant step up from the Konica Minolta 5D. The Sony A200 is lighter and smaller than the A100. Sony claims improvements to the Sony A200’s AF system that will make focus acquisition 1.7 times faster, thanks to the high-torque AF motor and improved AF sequence borrowed from the A700. Sony’s Alpha-mount lens system is the oldest SLR autofocus system in the…

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DSLR-A200 /K /W

Sony’s Alpha A200 is a relatively minor revamp to the electronics giant’s first digital SLR, the A100, which itself was a more significant step up from the Konica Minolta 5D. The Sony A200 is lighter and smaller than the A100. Sony claims improvements to the Sony A200’s AF system that will make focus acquisition 1.7 times faster, thanks to the high-torque AF motor and improved AF sequence borrowed from the A700. Sony’s Alpha-mount lens system is the oldest SLR autofocus system in the business, going back 28 years, so there’s a broad and growing selection of lenses to choose from.

Features

The Sony A200’s 10.2-megapixel sensor is the same resolution as its predecessor, but it’s said to let more light reach each pixel for lower noise and more detail. To match the sensor’s 3:2 aspect ratio, the Sony A200’s 2.7-inch "Clear Photo" LCD has an anti-reflective coating and 230,000 pixels. A new LCD-based function menu replaces the old dial-based function menu on the A100, and many of the menu functions and systems from the Sony A700 are alike. New to the Sony A200 is a pop-up flash. Like most other digital SLRs, the user deploys the flash with a button on the left side of the lens mount housing, by the Sony A200’s big orange Alpha logo. The old battery icon has been augmented with a "percent remaining" indicator on the Sony A200. Sony has created a new vertical battery grip (VG-B30AM) for the Sony A200 that duplicates many of the controls necessary for vertical shooting, and holds two InfoLITHIUM batteries, making the camera capable of shooting up to 1,500 shots. Eye-start Autofocus, also from the A100, starts up the autofocus system so the Sony A200 is ready before you even match your eye up to the frame in most cases. Super SteadyShot sensor-based stabilization reduces blurry images with any lens mounted. Sony claims up to 3.5 stops of extra exposure with their body-based image stabilization system. Anti-dust is also built in, with a static-free coating on the CCD’s filter that is shaken each time the camera is powered off. The Sony A200 kit (DSLR-A200K) comes with a DT 18-70mm (3.9x) f/3.5-5.6 zoom lens. A separate Sony A200 kit (DSLR-A200W) includes two lenses: the DT 18-70mm mentioned above and a 75-300mm f/4.6-5.6 telephoto zoom.

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  • Reviews of Sony DSLR-A200

  1. Sony Alpha A200 Digital SLR

    Reviewer: TrustedReviews
    15 February 2008
    Overall 9
    9.0
    Value for money 10
    10
    Features 8
    8.0
    Picture quality 10
    10
     

    Watching the strategies of the top players in the digital SLR market is like watching a game of chess with three sides, and the recent spate of product launches has shown some very interesting moves. Canon, the global market leader, has a comprehensive range covering the market with the entry-level 10-megapixel EOS 400D , the newly-announced 12.2MP EOS 450D and the semi-pro 10.1MP EOS 40D, as well as three full-frame professional cameras, the aging 12.8MP EOS 5D and the... Read more

  2. Sony A200

    Reviewer: PhotographyBLOG
    9 April 2008
    Overall 9
    9.0
    Design 9
    9.0
    Value for money 9
    9.0
    Features 9
    9.0
    Ease of use 9
    9.0
    Picture quality 9
    9.0
     

    Viewed in isolation, the A200 is an unremarkable re-working of the A100, with slightly improved auto-focusing, a more Sony-like, refined control layout with less dials and more menu screens, and the same great image quality up to ISO 800. Current A100 owners won't want to upgrade to the A200 - if they do, they'll actually lose the mirror-lockup and depth-of-field preview features that the A100 offers. Viewed as part of Sony's grand master-plan, however, the A200 makes... Read more

  3. DSLR-A200

    Reviewer: Stuff.tv
    20 November 2008
    Overall 6
    6.0
     

    Cheap, but not really well rounded enough to offer good value for money Read more

  4. Sony DSLR-A200

    Reviewer: DigitalVersus
    26 January 2008
    Overall 6
    6.0
     

    While the Alpha 200 finally doesn’t add too many evolutions compared to its predecessor, this camera is still attractive for its price, ease of use, and good image quality in lower sensitivities. Read more

  5. Reviewer: Photo answers
    24 July 2009
    Overall 10
    10
     

    Features & handling At first glance, not much has changed on the Alpha 200 from its predecessor, the Alpha 100. Resolution is still 10.2MP, shooting speed remains at 3fps (frames per second) and the design isn’t very different either. But actually there are a couple of tweaks that make a difference – sensitivity has increased slightly, from ISO 100 up to 3200 (rather than the 1600 of the Alpha 100) and the Lo80 setting has disappeared, too. The rear LCD screen is... Read more

  1. Great Camera ... not so good kit lens.

    Reviewer: rickjh, Ottawa, Canada, Digital Camera Magazine
    23 April 2008
    Overall 10
    10
     

    At the Toronto Photo Show, SONY introduced the A-200 at the incredibly low price of $499 with the 18-70mm kit lens (about £255). That price was honoured throughout Canada. So, after reading several reviews - all agreeing that the A-200's picture quality is at least equal to its competitors at Canon and Nikon - I bought one. I have not been disappointed one little bit ever since. The camera fits excellently in the hand and performs beautifully; the image quality across... Read more

  2. Amazing

    Reviewer: mark ponton, Photo answers
    24 July 2009
    Overall 10
    10
     

    This is my first D-SLR and what an amazing piece of kit it is. Was a little worried that i would find it complicated to use as i was going from a compact camera. There was no need to be worried it is so easy to use, nice to handle the software that comes with it is also very good the battery lasts for ages.I could go on all day saying how good this camera is , i know i have not used any others to compare it with but as my first SLR i can only say it's AMAZING. Read more

  3. Reviewer: Review Centre
    21 April 2009
    Overall 10
    10
    Value for money 5
    5.0
    Features 4
    4.0
    Ease of use 5
    5.0
    Picture quality 3
    3.0
     

    The Sony A200 is an excellent starter DSLR, 3 frame per second particualrly useful for sport photos, had mine for about 9 months and has totally changed how i take photos, very easy to use with good software Read more

  4. The Perfect Budget DSLR

    Reviewer: DealTime UK
    20 August 2009

    Bought primarily as a business accessory- to enhance and record construction and landscapes portfolios- it has performed admirably and produced very high quality images in an extremely wide variety of light and weather conditions.  The body is compact and, whilst it is not the lightest camera I've used, feels robust and well built; it has withstood exposure to dust, dirt, wind, rain and cold.  The camera's memory compatibility is fantastic- allowing you to buy cards... Read more

  5. Sony A200K DSLR (18-70mm lens kit)

    Reviewer: Dooyoo
    9 October 2009
    Overall 7
    6.7
     

    The Sony Alpha 200k is a nice piece of kit for the first time DSLR buyer. When compared to the Canon and Nikon DSLR market theres no comparison on price and quality as nothing in this price range can beat it (the olympus entry level DSLR with pancake lens to me isnt a true entry level DSLR) and unless you want to spend £100 more for the Canon EOS 450D nothing can touch it. If you have never used a DSLR or an SLR then the first thing to note is its not simple by any... Read more

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