Sony Alpha DSLR-A100K w/ 18-70mm F/3.5-5.6 Lens
Manufacturer: Sony Part number: DSLR-A100K
- More product information:
- Editors' review
- User reviews
- Specifications
- Product series
- Accessories
- Manufacturer info
- Bottom Line:
- Sony's Alpha DSLR-A100 deserves consideration whether you're looking for an alternative to Canon and Nikon, you already own a selection of Maxxum AF lenses, or you're looking for your first digital SLR.
Read more
Where to buy
| store | customer rating | inventory | tax & shipping | price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |  | In stock | Enter zip code to get total price: Price +Tax +Shipping =Total price | as of 05/21/2012 |
CNET editors' review
Sony Alpha DSLR-A100K w/ 18-70mm F/3.5-5.6 Lens price range: $448.00
- Reviewed by: Philip Ryan
- Edited by: Jim Hoffman
- Reviewed on: 07/20/2006
The good: 10.2 megapixels; in-camera image stabilization; eye-start autofocus.
The bad: ISO tops out at ISO 1,600; auto white balance is warm with tungsten light.
The bottom line: Sony's Alpha DSLR-A100 deserves consideration whether you're looking for an alternative to Canon and Nikon, you already own a selection of Maxxum AF lenses, or you're looking for your first digital SLR.
Editor's note: This review has been updated since originally posting on July 20, 2006. The review has been changed to reflect subsequent competition, which led us to raise the Design rating from 7 to 8 and lower the performance rating from 8 to 7 thereby reducing the overall rating from 7.5 to 7.3. Sony definitely benefited from its purchase of Konica Minolta's DSLR know-how. The Sony Alpha DSLR-A100 's body feels very comfortable in our hands, which makes sense since it closely resembles the now-defunct Maxxum 5D. Sure, Sony added a bit of flair with some shiny, black plastic around the shutter and on the edge of the pop-up flash, and also moved some controls around, but it would be easy to mistake the DSLR-A100 for the 5D if the two were sitting next to each other.
Chief among Sony's design tweaks was to put a bunch of often-used controls on a dial to the left of the flash. All you have to do is select a function--such as ISO, white balance, or metering mode--and press the function button in the center of the dial to change that setting. In our field tests, it made choosing functions quick and easy. It's not quite as easy to control as the Konica Minolta 7D, with all of its dedicated dials and buttons, but it is a definite step up from the 5D and other dSLRs that scatter so many dedicated function buttons throughout the camera back and top. Unfortunately, Sony left the drive mode button on the top of the camera and moved it further back, away from the shutter button. We found it awkward to press, and since the 5D had three buttons on its back, it could have easily fit there rather than in its current position.
Other buttons are logically placed, including the usual lineup of menu and playback controls that flank the 2.5-inch, 230,000-pixel LCD screen. The antishake control--now renamed as Super Steady Shot, even though it's a CCD-shift instead of the lens-shifting stabilization that's found in other Sony cameras with an identically named feature--has a dedicated on/off switch on the bottom right of the camera back. If you're new to SLRs, you'd probably count the Sony Alpha DSLR-A100's 10.2-megapixel CCD as its biggest feature. SLR veterans, however, will look past the pixels to the camera's wide array of other features. For example, if you shoot a lot of action, you'll probably like the eye-start autofocus. A sensor below the viewfinder activates the camera's autofocus whenever it's tripped. So, when you look through the finder, your face triggers the sensor, and the camera starts locking the focus right away. While useful for certain situations, it can be annoying and tends to drain your battery more quickly, since it'll also start focusing if any object comes within about an inch of the sensor.
Of course, the Super Steady Shot image stabilization is one of the camera's biggest selling points. According to Sony, they've updated Konica Minolta's CCD shift technology and now claim between 2 and 3.5 stops of leeway in exposure, so you can shoot handheld at slower shutter speeds. In our field tests, we found that, while 3.5 stops is a stretch, they're right about the 2 extra stops. That means you can set your shutter speed 2 stops lower than your slowest comfortable speed and still expect reasonably sharp images--you'll have to make sure your subject stays still though. Since the image stabilization moves the sensor, you don't have to buy premium lenses to get the advantage, as you do with Canon and Nikon's image-stabilized lenses.
Speaking of lenses, since the Alpha system uses the same lens mount as Konica Minolta's old Maxxum dSLRs, most Maxxum AF lenses and third-party AF-mount lenses work with the DSLR-A100. Just remember, the camera's APS-C-size sensor gives you an angle of view that's equivalent to that of a lens with a 1.5X greater focal length compared with a full frame of 35mm film. So, the 18mm-to-70mm, f/3.5-to-f/5.6 lens included in the Alpha kits becomes the approximate equivalent of a 27mm-to-105mm lens. Sony makes no guarantees of lens compatibility beyond the Sony Alpha lenses that it is marketing, but a Minolta lens that we tried worked just fine. Plus, as the Maxxums do, the DSLR-A100 shakes the sensor each time you turn the camera on or off to help keep it free of any dust that may enter the camera while switching lenses. Sony also coats the sensor with a special coating to avoid static buildup, which would attract dust particles.
As you'd expect, the Sony Alpha DSLR-A100 has the usual array of metering options, including 40-segment honeycomb pattern MultiSegment, center-weighted, and spot. As for autofocus, you can let the camera choose from nine focus segments, you can choose one of your own, or set it to use only the center-spot segment. At any time, you can switch to center-spot AF by pressing the button in the middle of the four-way rocker on the camera back.
ISO is, perhaps, the biggest surprise in the A100. In addition to normal options for ISO 100 through ISO 1,600, there are Lo80 and Hi200 options. The last two aren't just extensions of the ISO range, as with the boost modes offered by Nikon, Canon, and others. Instead, they're intended for low-key and high-key images, or in regular terms, really dark or really light scenes. Lo80 emphasizes detail in dark portions of a picture, even if it is at the expense of some detail in brighter areas. And Hi200, which is closest to ISO 200 in its sensitivity, is customized to eke out more detail in brighter parts of your images, although it may sacrifice some detail in the darkest areas. Both of these seem useful for photographers interested in becoming more creative, but we wish Sony would've offered an ISO boost to an equivalent of ISO 3,200, since most dSLRs include this.
Other interesting features include D-Range optimizer, which automatically adjusts contrast and color during capture, and white-balance bracketing, which varies the color cast when you shoot three photos in a row, to help make sure that the camera properly compensates for your current lighting condition. It could come in handy, especially in mixed lighting, though your best bet is to shoot in raw format in such situations, so you can vary your white balance during processing.
While you might expect this camera to sport a Memory Stick Duo slot, it doesn't. Instead Sony ships a Duo-to-Compact Flash adapter, in case you already own one of Sony's cards, or in case you just prefer pricey MS Duo media to the more cost-effective CF.
In case you haven't figure this out yet, Sony is basically using the whole Maxxum package and improving on it to create its digital SLRs. That means you can use Minolta hotshoe flashes on the Alpha, and of course, Sony will be marketing the HVL-F36AM and HVL-F56AM flashes, based on the Minolta 3600 HS and 5600 HS flashes, in case you want to buy a brand new one. Sony also plans a full line of other accessories, including wired remote triggers and AC adapters, as well as other lighting add-ons and more lenses. Some of these will launch with the camera, while others will roll out over the course of the year. It may not be the absolute fastest camera out there, but the Sony Alpha DSLR-A100 performed well in our tests. Its wake-up time of 1 second from start-up to capturing its first image isn't as fast as the Canon Rebel XT's 0.2 second or the Nikon D50's 0.6 second, but it's not too slow, especially considering the dust-clearing sensor shake at start-up. After powering up, the camera captured successive images--JPEG or raw--in 0.5 second without flash, though it slowed considerably to 2 seconds with the flash turned on.
Shutter lag in our high-contrast test was a very respectable 0.4 second, while in the low-contrast test, it slowed to 1.6 seconds, slower than both the Nikon D50 (0.9 second) and the Canon Rebel XT (0.2 second). In continuous-drive mode, we were able to capture fine quality 10.2-megapixel JPEGs at a rate of 2.49fps.
The camera's autofocus system was just as solid as the Maxxums', which means it's impressive for a camera of this class. It acts quickly on still subjects and does a nice job of tracking moving objects. The AF system's main drawback is that it is rated to work only down to plus 1EV, which means that it may fail in extremely dark situations, though the AF illuminator should help it focus in those situations. Some more expensive dSLRs can focus down to minus 1EV, though you won't find that at prices less than $1,000. On the plus side, it does have an AF mode called Direct Manual Focus in which the camera focuses for you but lets you tweak the focus manually by simply moving the lens's focusing ring. The Sony Alpha DSLR-A100 turned in impressive, high-quality images in our tests. Images have plenty of detail and well-saturated colors, though, as you'd expect, images converted from raw using Sony's included Image Data Converter software showed slightly more detail than those converted to JPEG in the camera.
Sony did a nice job of keeping noise under control all the way out to ISO 800. While noise creeps in very slightly at ISO 400, and a little more so at ISO 800, images retained plenty of detail. At ISO 1,600, noise was much more noticeable and obscured some details, but images were still printable, especially at letter size or smaller, and might even be acceptable for prints as large as 11x17 inches.
The automatic white balance served up overly warm images with our lab's tungsten lights, and the tungsten preset overcompensated, creating images with a too-cool, bluish cast. Manual white balance fared best, turning in perfectly neutral images. In natural daylight, the auto white balance did a decent job of serving up neutral colors. Exposures were accurate, and the camera's many controls let you tweak it to suit your taste. Our only complaint was some minor purple fringing when using the 18mm-to-70mm kit lens. A higher-quality lens would probably alleviate this, though it wasn't much of a problem to begin with, and showed up only in high-contrast, backlit situations.
Overall, Sony's first foray into digital SLRs is very successful. Solid performance, plenty of features, impressive image quality, and 10.2 megapixels make for a convincing argument. Add to that a large installed base of lenses and accessories, thanks to the Konica Minolta legacy, as well as an attractive price point, and it looks as if Sony's off to a good start. Since neither Canon's nor Nikon's lineup lets you get 10 megapixels for less than $1,000--at least not yet--Sony may be jumping into this market at just the right time.
User reviews
-
-
Strong 9, but not a perfect 10 for Sony... yet
by JonHsiung on August 23, 2006
Pros: image stabilized (super steadyshot), 2.5" LCD, fast AF speeds, easily usable up to ISO800, great menu system and features
Cons: ISO1600 pictures are noisy (fixable with noise removal programs), no wireless remote control available, minolta G-glass and Zeiss lenses are very expensive
Summary: I am a photographic enthusiast. Although I can confidently say I know more about photography than most, I'm not a seasoned or contracted professional. Stepping up from a line ...
Summary: I am a photographic enthusiast. Although I can confidently say I know more about photography than most, I'm not a seasoned or contracted professional. Stepping up from a line of prosumer cameras, the Sony took the next step very well. Or should I say Konica-Minolta, since the Sony A100 is based off a slightly improved design of the KM5D?
Handling/Build:
For one thing, the build is a strong plastic and handles much more confidently than the Rebel XT, which is highly regarded as the benchmark for low-end dSLR cameras. That extra groove in the handgrip feels great. The shutter button is a little further back than preferred, as I tended to put my finger on the jog dial, but it took less than a day to get used to it. It’s not too heavy and inspires confidence in the build.
Image Quality/Speeds:
Anything up to ISO400 is shot without worry. Most all ISO800 pictures come out just fine, but expect to post-edit about 15% of them for noise. This may also be due to not-so-optimal shooting settings (user fault). Anyway, they're all usable and definitely recoverable. The noise at ISO1600 isn't unusable, but just be wary that you will be postediting around 50-60% of the pictures for noise before using them. In this arena, Canon's CMOS will win. But how often do you shoot in dark attics?
The autofocus is precise, but I still long for the more covert orange/red light metering for metering dark areas, found on other cameras. One great thing that is seldom mentioned about the Sony is its processing speeds (writing AND accessing). It is ridiculously-blazingly-super fast. A 10mp RAW file comes up instantly and zooming in on your picture for details comes without hesitation. You are seldom waiting for the Sony, but also look into getting a 120x or above card (SanDisk Extreme III). I’d use as low as an Ultra II at minimum.
Image quality on the whole is great. The colors are quite accurate and I think most people will be content leaving the camera on the "Vivid" color setting with a +1 sharpening. The kit lens, a highly regarded and now rebadged Konica Minolta lens, works VERY well with the camera in “stock” form. Unlike what Canon and Nikon give you in their kit lens, you might actually keep the Sony 18-70mm f/4.5-5.6 for longer than a year. Save those ebay fees for your previous camera.
Lenses/Image Stabilization:
With Sony's Super Steadyshot stabilization sensor (alliteration galore), you can be confident to get about 2-stops out of it and up to what they claim a 3.5 stops. For reference, 1/60 shutter speed is the minimum recommended for handheld shots for most situations. You can take sharp photos with the Sony from 1/30 seconds with confidence against blurriness. At 1/15, you'll notice that 85% of shots will come out clear. I've taken up to a 1" handheld shot which came out clear (usually a take three consecutive shots, delete two rule works quite well). For this reason, you can venture into realms you wouldn't for the price you pay. Since IS (image stabilization) is built into the camera, ALL your lenses are IS. Check online for lenses and you'll notice most KM lenses are under $300, whereas prices vary greatly with Nikon/Canon averaging a little higher. With old lenses on the market and newer third party Tokina, Sigma, and Tamron lenses available, MOST of the KM world is a great deal.
For Professionals:
With the Minolta G lenses and upcoming Zeiss lenses, you may be inclined to buy the Sony thinking, “There are some awesome lenses out there for future upgrades,” but Sony's trend of overcharging isn't an exception to the Alpha series. For the price of a Zeiss or G lens, you can buy a Canon Image Stabilized (IS) L-series lens or a Nikon VR (vibration reduction) G-series lens AND STILL KEEP SOME HEFTY CHANGE. For professionals, I would leave it up to Nikon/Canon... for now. You'd be paying too much for lenses and praying that Sony fixes ISO1600 and offers 3200 in their next camera (hopefully shooting at 5fps).
The Bottomline:
I had to compare this camera with the Nikon D80, Canon Rebel XT (350D), and Canon 30D. The Rebel is a great toy for fast shooting in dark situations, but the small screen and lack of options hold it back. The D80 has better editing menus and probably will have better low-light shooting than the Sony, despite using the same/similar sensor. The Sony already has had similar ISO performance and shoots slightly better image quality than the highly reveled Nikon D200 during testing on other sites. But the Sony offers IS built-in, whereas with Canon and Nikon you'd have to pay a high premium to get it (though lens mounted IS systems are probably slightly better).
Let's say you want a comparable range of lenses for your purchase. You'll spend under $1600 for the Sony body and about three good lenses. You'll spend probably $2500 for the Canon/Nikon body with an IS-featured lens for long range and a sub par kit lens. Up to around $2400, you'll be generally better off with the Sony. But if you want an L-series short-range, IS long range lens, then Canon/Nikon is for you, because you'll be spending that same amount on just one G-lens or Zeiss from Sony. And that's when it isn't worth it (spending over $2400 total in the long run). If you own a KM5D or 7D, don’t bother thinking twice – this camera is good, but it isn’t worth the $900 “upgrade.” You already have nearly all the features and 6-megapixels is plenty enough for the following year.
When you add it all up, the A100 is for the masses, but not the elite. You'll be happier with a clear picture on your computer than most blur-shooting competing models, despite spending a wise $100-300 more. You can better check for quality on its fat screen. It’s a great, fun camera to use and you’ll get amazing results out of the box. But if you plan to go pro in the near future, Sony doesn't offer the speed you'll need to do it at a good price -- yet.33 out of 33 users found this user opinion helpful.
-
Amazing camera
by Sneezy1956 on September 8, 2006
Pros: Uses all old Minolta af lens, feels comfortable in your hand
Cons: heavier then the XT and lens are expensive
Summary: I'm in love with my new camera. The pictures are amazing. If you are used to the Minolta 7D you are going to feel like you have picked up ...
Summary: I'm in love with my new camera. The pictures are amazing. If you are used to the Minolta 7D you are going to feel like you have picked up an old friend.
The pictures I have printed are clear and the colors are magnificant. I have yet to find a problem with this camera and I've had it for 3 weeks.Updated
I've had this camera for a while now and I'm as much in love with it now as I was when it was new. Very intuitive controls, the colors are very nice! I shoot in Raw 95% of the time. I do keep mine set on vivid and +1 which seems to bring out the best pictures.
The lens is a little clunky sometimes when auto focusing but that doesn't bother me. I'm getting very clear sharp pictures with the kit lens which totally surprised me. With a minolta 50 f1.7 prime the pictures are not just amazing they are fantastic.
This is an ok camera for a beginner but for someone that is comfortable with manual setting it's the cream of the crop in the low end prosummer market.
There is no comparison in my opinion between it and the the D Rebel. But, that's my personal opinion.8 out of 8 users found this user opinion helpful.
-
Sony reliable, Minolta beautiful
by Heymull on July 28, 2006
Pros: Fast startup, 3 fps, older lens compatibility
Cons: no "live preview" like all other SLRs (film and digital)
Summary: I bought this (from B&H) because I have owned several Sony digital cameras and camcorders and know they are not just reliable, they are "robust", built to withstand ...
Summary: I bought this (from B&H) because I have owned several Sony digital cameras and camcorders and know they are not just reliable, they are "robust", built to withstand lots of use over years. And I've owned a Minolta SLR and liked the mechanics and the optics. This is a good value for the money. Image Stabilization works well, and the menus and controls seem intuitive. It is comfortable to hold and easy to navigate the menus. Great photos, too.
8 out of 9 users found this user opinion helpful.
-
Great DSLR!
by martina96 on December 22, 2006
Pros: Light weight
Cons: Don't really have any!
Summary: I'm a professional photographer and have a Minolta 7D, Minolta Maxxum 400si (film) and 4 minolta lenses. I was very disappointed my Konica Minolta when they decided to stop ...
Summary: I'm a professional photographer and have a Minolta 7D, Minolta Maxxum 400si (film) and 4 minolta lenses. I was very disappointed my Konica Minolta when they decided to stop making cameras. I was a very loyal cusomter of theirs. I htought I would be stuck with only one DSLR body and 4 lenses with no other body that would be compatible. I was so happy to hear Sony picked up alot of the minolta features and that all my lenses work on the Alpha. When I first got the Aplha I was a little bit leary becuase of its light wieight and lack of multiple controls on the back. I was used to my Minolta DSLR 7D, which weighs about 5lbs and has multiple controls on it. But that soon went away as soon as I took my first picture.
The lense that it came with is great. Its just wide enough for large groups and zooms in just the right amount for those candid shots you don't want to disturb. I am incredibly happy with it, and it is now my main camera that I use in my studio, and my Minolta is my secondary back up.
Thank you Sony for not leaving us Minolta fans! I am now a loyal customer to Sony.
Great camera--you should buy it!4 out of 4 users found this user opinion helpful.
-
Probably the best camera at this price $699-$799
by MIChowdhury on June 19, 2007
Pros: Has everything other big name brands offer, and more
Cons: High ISO will give noisy pictures, but it is true for most DSLRs
Summary: I am a photo enthusiast, and have used Single Lens Reflex (SLR) cameras for many years. Recently, I gave away my Nikon N50 (film SLR), and decided to get a ...
Summary: I am a photo enthusiast, and have used Single Lens Reflex (SLR) cameras for many years. Recently, I gave away my Nikon N50 (film SLR), and decided to get a digital SLR. I did a lot of research (on-line), and have spent some time in local camera stores holding and checking mostly the Canon, Nikon, and Sony DSLRs. Even though Nikon and Canon are well established and well known in this field, Sony decided to enter the market, and offered this product, which has some better features. For example, in-camera image stabilization, which in my opinion is a huge advantage. Whereas for other makers, you need to buy special lenses to get this feature. Also, Sony has a technology to help reduce dust collection in its sensor, which is also very important. There are differences in the hardware and firmware of these: Sony and Nikon using CCD versus Canon using CMOS technology, etc, and the program (firmware) that each camera uses to transfer electronic sensors to pictures, which might interest some very high end professional and technical users, but for most of us photo enthusiasts, it is probably not that big of a deal. Another great advantage is that Sony offers more mega-pixels than Canon for the same price range. The camera is very user friendly, and I have been using this camera for over a month and would very highly recommend, unless you have a lot of Canon or Nikon lenses that you can re-use, in which case, you probably want to buy either Nikon or Canon. Another suggestion would be to check these cameras in person at a local camera store, and not worry about the technical details, because all these are great cameras. And, sometimes there are specials when you buy two lenses package (which is what I got) – those are also great deals. Good luck!
3 out of 3 users found this user opinion helpful.
-
Editors rating too low at 7.7
by kevin_fiji_boy on September 3, 2006
Pros: Priced relativelycheap, Lens kit superior to that of other D-SLRs, Large sensor(allows for more freedom to cropimages etc), fast, Comfortable and solid, excellent images
Cons: Time will tell
Summary: Dissappointed to see such a low rating given to the A100, I think its undeserved maybe it should be reviewed again against Canons(XTi), Nikons(D80) and Sigmas(?) new 10megapixel ...
Summary: Dissappointed to see such a low rating given to the A100, I think its undeserved maybe it should be reviewed again against Canons(XTi), Nikons(D80) and Sigmas(?) new 10megapixel DSLR.
3 out of 3 users found this user opinion helpful.
-
Best in class
by budman101 on December 30, 2006
Pros: Super Steady Shot, catalog of Minolta Alpha lenses
Cons: Kit lens has plastic mount, 1.5x lens correction factor
Summary: My son's wife and I are photographers. She is a pro I am a hobbyist. Just for the heck of it both of us went on a shoot yesterday. ...
Summary: My son's wife and I are photographers. She is a pro I am a hobbyist. Just for the heck of it both of us went on a shoot yesterday. She took her Canon 5D. My daily use lens has not come in yet so to make things even we both took our 28-200 zooms along. Since the 5D uses a full size sensor her my lens' focal length was as marked mine was 1.5x longer. We both shot the same scenes somewhere around sunset. After downloading the photos onto my computer using PSE5 we could tell NO difference between the shots taken with the available light. When the sun went down and we examined the nights shots, this is were the Alpha 100 shined. With the anti-shake reduction on my photos were acceptable hers were blurry due to camera shake at 0.5 seconds with a wide open aperture. Not bad considering the $1800 price difference!
Obviously the 5D will last longer heavy duty pro use but for hobbyists like me the A100 is a good choice.2 out of 2 users found this user opinion helpful.
-
Great Camera
by rsan21 on December 24, 2006
Pros: Stabilization inside
Cons: Other then Battery life have not found any yet
Summary: Traded my NIKON D 70 in, for the price of a NIKON VR lens I bought almost a new camera with image stabilization build in plus the 10 megpixal what ...
Summary: Traded my NIKON D 70 in, for the price of a NIKON VR lens I bought almost a new camera with image stabilization build in plus the 10 megpixal what a buy. I bought the camera in Japan with the 18-200 mm lens, I see no difference in the quality of photos taken between the two cameras. Also you can buy some Minolta lenses online at a great price, just make sure they are the AF models. Great camera, great price and takes great photo's.
2 out of 2 users found this user opinion helpful.
-
Just like old times (almost)
by DavidWM on July 29, 2006
Pros: Minolta friendly, lenses and flashes work. It uses built-in flash to illuminate low light situations.
Cons: Sony lense a little clunky, cheap. You HAVE to get the exact battery,NPFM50 does not work.
Summary: I have been using Minolta starting from their first autofocus Maxxum. I have been waiting for a long time for this one ever since my Dimage 7i went on the ...
Summary: I have been using Minolta starting from their first autofocus Maxxum. I have been waiting for a long time for this one ever since my Dimage 7i went on the fritz. So when I started using the Alpha it felt like an old friend.
This camera is a little slow by today's standards but plenty faster than my 7i.I got the K kit with the 17-80 but also bought the 17-200 lense. These new lenses however have the "cheap" clunky feel (granted lighter too). They get the job done but the zooming is not smooth at all. I like the generous manual focus ring on the 17-200 (not that I plan to use it much since autofocus is quite good). The 17-200 however takes a while to obtain focus if you are going from extreme closeup to infinity. I don't think these lense have anything to do with Carl Zeiss otherwise Sony would have pasted all kinds of Zeiss label allover.
All in all, more than what I expected especially for the price.
Now if only I can find an old 5600HS-D flash! My 5400 has no TTL metering with digital Minoltas. At least my 3600HS-D works, even the wirless works well.
I am glad that even Sony realize when trying to play in the major league you have to use CF memory cards. They included a memory stick to CF adapter to keep the Cybershot guys happy but my Toshiba microdive fits and works very well.2 out of 2 users found this user opinion helpful.
-
An Alpha and Omega
by thinkinginpictures on August 4, 2007
Pros: Beautiful display, solid build, user friendly
Cons: No secondary display, less fully developed editing capabilities
Summary: My last professional camera was a 35mm film Pentax. Since then I've been shooting with a hp 315 2.5mp. Moving beyond that of point and shoot cameras back ...
Summary: My last professional camera was a 35mm film Pentax. Since then I've been shooting with a hp 315 2.5mp. Moving beyond that of point and shoot cameras back to one with more professional features was a big step. I couldn't be more happier then I am with the Alpha a100k.
First off, the first thing I noticed was the excellent feel it gave me in my hands. I've tried out the Nikon D80 and Canon Rebel XTI. The sony offers the smallest package and I enjoyed the grip the best. Although, the Nikon has the best placement of the shutter button. The a100k places the control dial right infront of it, which doesn't make the most sense to me. You have to back up your finger a bit if you're not use to that.
The secondary display the D80 and XTI have are convienent, but in this reviewers opinion unnecessary. Many reviews say that in high daylight you may find certain information much easier to read since both the D80 and XTI have a flat, non-backlit display located on top. It doesn't matter, as I've found out. In fact, what I didn't read but noticed is that the LCD on the Sony's main function display has a preset color and illumination for easy reading of critical information outside in the light. Maybe those reviewers should have taken it outside instead of guessing at what may or may not be a problem. Seriously, flat dot matrix screens are cheap and I can see why Sony decide it was unneccisary. IT also frees up space atop the cameria where the mode dial is located.
As far as quality build goes, the alpha has surpassed my expectations with a convienent two layered material layout in the front. The rubber grip feels good, is rugged and the plastic looks better than the Nikon. In essence, it looks really sharp ergonomically. The display will have you gazing at pictures all day. Its truly amazing to see the detail. I took some pictures of angel trumpets, these flowers only bloom for 24hrs a year and with the automatic macro setting they looked gorgeous. The camera really knows what your aiming for and makes the proper adjustments.
In closing, I wondered about the shutter noise which has been noted to be louder than the other two competitors. While it's not as soft, it's sound nevertheless has yet to distract me and can't imagine anyone having a real issue with this. I mean, I just got done rolling around in the grass outside for over 2 hrs taking dozens of shots and it never bothered me. Its just different sounding, but non the less super effective. It sounds exactly like my original 35mm Pentax and that never bothered me. The only thing I wish this has was some of the editing features found right on the Nikon D80. The Nikon does have the best user layout, and you can even add preset background music of one of 5 tracks. Who cares!!!! I mean really, it's all going to go on my computer where I'll end up editing it with far superior software adobe lightroom. The cost just doesn't justify it. I mean 799 compared to 1299 for the Nikon. Seriously, this camera is so worth it and you'll be sorry you wasted your money on anything else. It does it all, and scratches the junk you don't need for half the price. Plus, in my opinion, I think it takes the best pictures right out of the box taking into account the kit lens provided. And yes, I've played around with the others for very long extended periods of time before choosing. I was really close to buying the Nikon. But, feel and function one my heart on this smaller, cheaper and yet just as superb buy. With 20 years of Minolta lenses and history you'll be suprised it took sony this long to get in the game. Did I mention built in Stabilization. I'm already feeling the savings now that I'm looking at other lenses. I have yet to notice any noise at higher ISO levels, but haven't shot above 800. These pictures REALLY look great. I'm not joking. Goodbye Pentax, Nikon and Canon. (Well, I still have a soft spot for Pentax.) But eh, you'll forget all about that when your rolling around in the grass gazing at these rediculous pictures this camera takes. Great product, super content photographer here.1 out of 1 users found this user opinion helpful.
Specifications
- Manufacturer: Sony
- Part number: DSLR-A100K
- Description: In Digital Photos, Sony Takes You Farther. The advanced Sony ?; (alpha) DSLR-A100K camera combines big-print 10 MP power and high sensitivity shooting with Super SteadyShot in-camera image stabilization for low-light shots that preserve the mood without flash or tripod. Sony’s Dynamic Range Optimizer automatically recaptures detail in bright and dark picture areas, Anti-Dust technology keeps the CCD imager clean for better pictures, and Eye-Start Autofocus system increases camera response. Sony and Carl Zeiss lens systems plus Minolta A-mount lens compatibility expand your creative horizons -- and a supplied Lithium Ion battery provides Stamina power for up to 750 shots .
General
- Product Type Digital camera - SLR
- Resolution 10.2 megapixels
- Optical Sensor Type CCD
- Total Pixels 10,800,000 pixels
- Effective Sensor Resolution 10,200,000 pixels
- Optical Sensor Size 15.8 x 23.6mm
- Field of View Crop Factor 1.5
- Sensor Dust Reduction Yes
- Sensor Features Anti-Dust technology
- Image Stabilizer Optical (Super Steady Shot, CCD-shift mechanism)
- Auto Focus TTL phase detection
- Auto Focus Points (Zones) Qty 9
- Image Recording Format JPEG,
RAW,
RAW + JPEG - AV Interfaces Composite video/audio
Exposure & White Balance
- Light Sensitivity ISO 400,
ISO 1600,
ISO 800,
ISO 100,
ISO 200,
ISO auto - Exposure Metering Multi-segment,
Center-weighted,
Spot - Exposure Metering Zones 40
- Exposure Modes Bulb,
Program,
Automatic,
Shutter-priority,
Manual,
Aperture-priority - Shooting Programs Sunset,
Night portrait,
Portrait mode,
Landscape - Special Effects Black & White,
Neutral,
Vivid - White Balance Automatic,
Presets,
Custom - White Balance Presets Fluorescent,
Cloudy,
Daylight,
Tungsten light,
Flash,
Shade - Max Shutter Speed 1/4000 sec
- Min Shutter Speed 30 sec
- Exposure Compensation ±2 EV range, in 1/3 EV steps
- Auto Exposure Bracketing 3 steps in 1/3 EV step
- X-sync Speed 1/160 sec
- Exposure Range EV 1-20 ( ISO 100 )
Lens System
- Type 3.9 x x Zoom lens - 18 mm - 70 mm - F/3.5-5.6 DT
- Focal Length Equivalent to 35mm Camera 27 - 105 mm
- Focus Adjustment Manual,
Automatic - Min Focus Range 15 in
- Zoom Adjustment Manual
- Lens Construction 9 groups / 11 elements
- Filter Size 55 mm
- Lens System Mounting Minolta A-type
- Features Aspherical lens,
ED glass Camera Flash
- Camera Flash Pop-up flash
- Guide Number (m / ISO 100) 12
- Flash Modes Rear curtain sync,
Fill-in mode,
Auto mode,
Flash OFF mode,
Red-eye reduction - Features AF illuminator,
Wireless off-camera control,
Flash +/- compensation Additional Features
- Continuous Shooting Speed 3 frames per second
- Self Timer Delay 2 sec,
10 sec - Flash Terminal Hot shoe
- Additional Features AF lock,
DPOF support,
RGB primary color filter,
Depth-of-field preview button,
PRINT Image Matching,
AE lock,
Digital noise reduction,
Histogram display,
Dynamic Range Optimizer,
PictBridge support,
Sharpness control,
Contrast control,
USB 2.0 compatibility,
Direct print Display
- Type 2.5 in LCD display
- Display Features Built-in
Connections
- Connector Type 1 x USB,
1 x Composite video output,
1 x DC power input,
1 x Remote control - Memory Card Slot CompactFlash Card
Viewfinder
- Viewfinder Type Optical - Eye-level roof prism
- Field Coverage 95%
- Magnification 0.83x
- Dioptric Correction Range -2.5 to +1
- Viewfinder Frames Autofocus frame
- LCD Display Information Flash charge completion,
AE lock,
AF-in-focus,
Exposure compensation,
Shutter speed,
Shake warning,
Aperture,
Anti-shake scale System Requirements for PC Connection
- Operating System Support MS Windows ME,
MS Windows XP,
MS Windows 2000,
Apple Mac OS X 10.3 or later
Miscellaneous
- Included Accessories Lens cap,
Shoulder strap,
Battery charger,
Dust cap,
Body cap,
Video cable,
USB cable,
Lens hood,
Shoe cap Software
- Software Drivers & Utilities,
Sony Image Data Converter SR,
Sony Picture Motion Browser Battery
- Supported Battery Sony NP-FM55
- Supported Battery 1 x Li-ion rechargeable battery - 1600 mAh ( Included )
Memory / Storage
- Supported Memory Cards CompactFlash,
Microdrive - Image Storage 3872 x 2592,
2896 x 1936,
1920 x 1280 Dimensions & Weight
- Width 5.2 in
- Depth 2.8 in
- Height 3.7 in
- Weight 19.2 oz
Environmental Parameters
- Min Operating Temperature 32 °F
- Max Operating Temperature 104 °F
Manufacturer Warranty
- Service & Support 1 year warranty
- Service & Support Details Limited warranty - 1 year
Main Features
- Image stabilizer feature Optical stabilization helps prevent blurry pictures, especially for handheld cameras at slow shutter speeds or when using high optical zoom.
CNET Labs' Benchmarks
- Labs information All values are expressed in seconds. Please visit our <ref type="link" url="http://reviews.cnet.com/Labs/4520-6603 7-1014358-1.html">labs information page</ref> for information on how digital cameras are tested.
- CNET Labs Flash shot to shot time 2.0
- CNET Labs Raw shot to shot time 0.5
- CNET Labs Shot to shot time typical 0.5
- CNET Labs Shutter lag bright 0.4
- CNET Labs Shutter lag dim 1.6
- CNET Labs Typical burst speed 2.5
- CNET Labs Wake up time 1.0
Product series
-
Manufacturer: Sony
Specs: SLR,
10.2 megapixels,
15.8 x 23.6mm,
CCD,
Optical (Super Steady Shot,
CCD-shift mechanism) -
Sony Alpha DSLR-A100K w/ 18-70mm F/3.5-5.6 Lens
Manufacturer: Sony
Specs: SLR,
10.2 megapixels,
27 - 105mm F/3.5,
3.9 x x Zoom lens - 18 mm - 70 mm - F/3.5-5.6 DT,
15.8 x 23.6mm,
CCD,
Optical (Super Steady Shot,
CCD-shift mechanism)
Accessories
Manufacturer info
- Manufacturer profile
- Browse Sony products on Shopper.com
-
- Manufacturer:Sony
- Address:
16765 W. Bernardo Dr., San Diego, CA 92127 - Phone: 1-877-865-SONY
- Email: contact@sel.sony.com
- Fax: 941-768-7790
