best entry level dslr (Sony a (alpha) DSLR-A200K)

Member Name: falcon1959

Product:	Sony a (alpha) DSLR-A200K
Date:	01/07/09 (68 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: cheap price and ease of use

Disadvantages: Camera body does look cheap

This is the first digital slr camera i ever purchased and i was not disappointed.

The camera *************
This camera offers an affordable move up from the compact to a digital slr. It incorporates a huge range of creative options plus brilliant picture quality.
Here are some of the features that the camera offers

10.2 effective megapixel CCD sensor plus optimised BIONZ processor for enhanced picture quality, reduced image noise and responsive operation

High sensitivity up to ISO3200 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-mount lenses*

Large 2.7-inch Clear Photo LCD with easy-to-use function display and percentage battery life indicator

Improved 9-point centre cross AF with EyeStart activation for fast, accurate focusing

Continuous shooting at 3fps (JPEG Fine mode, limited by memory card capacity)

High-capacity InfoLITHIUM battery allows up to 750 shots between charges (CIPA measurement)

Dual anti-dust system protects sensor during lens exchange

SteadyShot INSIDE was previously known as Super SteadySho

Review ************
Ok so what does all this babble actually mean and how does the camera handle i hear you ask. First off it fits nicely into your hand and it feels sturdy to the touch. The weight of the camera is only 532 grams which is what some compact camera weigh.
The lenses for the camera are what is known as a sony A-mount so its compatible with A-Mount bayonet lenses from Minolta and Konica Minolta. This means that there are lots of lenses easily available and you do not have to go out and spends £100's of pounds on special lenses to fit it.
It has inbuilt anti shake so it helps to keep your photos crisp and sharp even when shooting handheld with slower shutter speeds.
It comes with double anti dust which means every time you switch the camera off it gently shakes the sensors to dislodge any dust.
You can set the camera to full automatic, semi automatic or manual depending on your needs. It also has its own inbuilt pop up flash and also has a hot shoe for detachable flash guns to be fitted too.

The pictures i get with this camera are exceptional. You really do notice the difference in the sharpness of the photos. This is a great camera for learning how to use and master a DSLR.

Even at a high ISA setting the noise or speckles on the photos was not too bad. The controls on the camera are well placed and easy to to use and reach. The on screen menu has been made simple and easy to use enabling you to concentrate on getting that great shot.

It does not have live view on the back panel but i prefer to view through the view finder anyway so it was not something that concerned me. The main reason i brought this camera is the unbeatable price as well as the features included in the camera itself.

Unlike some low end slr cameras, sony have included a fairly high quality lens and this helps to provide you with exceptional pictures even in auto mode. There are lots of settings to experiment with and take your photography to a much higher level.
The only down side i could find with the camera is that the actual casing does make it look like a cheap camera, but this does not bother me as i would rather substitute flashy looks for the high technical features that sony have put in the camera.
I think i have said this before but its worth saying again, this is a very affordable camera that gives great results and will suite any kind of photography at amateur level you want to experiment with.

Summary: far cheaper than it should be

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