14 DAY TRIAL // Since it's CES time, Sony thought it would be a good idea to throw in some more photography and video oriented products; not too many though. Apart from a new Handycam model, the inheritor of the Konica Minolta has also announced the A200, an upgrade to the company's first DSLR, the A100. The DSLR lineup also includes the A700 model, released in September and loaded with new features.
However, while the A700 is an entirely new camera, the affordable entry-level A200 only offers minor improvements. The new digital single lens camera features the same 1.5x crop factor CCD with a similar resolution, 10.2 megapixels, but now users can push ISO sensitivities up to 3200, instead of the A100's 1600 limit. Although the press materials don't say it, it's likely that the ISO 3200 makes use of some heavy noise reduction algorithms that smother sharpness and destroy details.
A more important upgrade is the enhanced Super SteadyShot system that allows for slower than normal shutter times to be used. The press release mentions 2.5-3.5 steps of anti-shake performance with all ? lenses, compared with the 2.0-3.5 step range of the ?100.
The autofocus system has also been improved to ensure improved predictive control. According to the press release, "the centre-cross 9-point AF sensor module now features a new AF motor plus improved control logic, accelerating overall AF speed."
There's also an enhanced D-Range Optimiser (DRO) that adjusts exposure and contrast for natural, balanced results, even with tricky backlit subjects. In DRO Advanced mode, auto detection and correction with backlit scenes has now been significantly improved for beautifully exposed images, Sony also mentions.
The DSLR-A200 model supports JPEG and RAW file format support. It has a slot for CompactFlash Type I/II media cards. An adapter for Memory Stick Duo media cards is sold separately as an accessory.
An interesting addition is the VG-B30AM ergonomic vertical grip equipped with controls for portrait orientation shooting. It also allows for the use of two InfoLITHIUM batteries (sold separately) for up to 1,500 shots on a single, full charge.
All in all, the new model doesn't seem to have what it takes to go against the corresponding models from Canon or Nikon, the only strong selling point of the A200 being the in-body stabilization system.
The DSLR-A200K kit includes the camera body and a DT 18-70mm f3.5-5.6 3.9x zoom lens for about $700. The DSLR-A200W kit includes the camera body, the DT 18-70mm lens and a 75-300mm f4.5-5.6 lens for about $900. Both of them will be available in February 2008.
