Sony Alpha 200

Photo answers review

Photo answers rating

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 also bigger at 2.7in and it offers slightly better resolution.
The camera also has Sony’s Super Steady Shot (SSS) – a sensor-shift form of image stabilisation (IS) – so you don’t need to invest in a set of expensive IS lenses.
One small downside of the Alpha system is that the hotshoe is uniquely different from other D-SLRs, which makes it difficult to use standard accessories such as flash triggers. The problem is heightened by the fact the camera doesn’t have a PC-sync terminal – less than ideal if you’re hoping to work with studio flash.
On the whole, the shape is the same but slightly more rounded, with an attractive matt finish. The body is relatively clutter-free: the two mode dials from the Alpha 100 have been replaced by a single one on the Alpha 200, while the function dial with Fn button has been swapped for a simple shortcut button that takes you direct to a menu for the most key shooting options. The ISO control has been allocated its own button on the top plate. 

Performance
The camera compares extremely well with other D-SLRs at the budget end of the market, and tends to pump a fair amount of saturation into its results. Image quality is excellent, though you’ll still notice noise at the lower ISO settings. The camera’s metering facility is perhaps more accurate than the Alpha 100 and the colours are marginally better, too. It’s certainly an improvement over the Minolta Dynax 5D and 7D models and users of these cameras will notice an immediate difference when compared to the Alpha 200. On the Alpha 100, if you shot with flash and the SSS activated, flash X-sync speed dropped from 1/160sec to 1/125sec; on the Alpha 200 the flash X-sync speed stays at 1/160sec. Write speeds are reasonably fast too.

Verdict
At around £50 cheaper than Nikon’s D60, the Alpha 200 offers a fairly good proposition. It’s bigger and feels more substantial in your hand, and will accept any lens in the Sony mount, not just expensive third party lenses. The standard Sony kit zoom is the 18-70mm f/3.5-5.6, so you also get a slightly longer lens but it will cost you a little more on average than most kit lenses.

Video Verdict

Specification
Weight/size: 532g/131x99x71mm
Effective resolution: 10.2MP
Lens mount: Sony Alpha (Minolta A)
Focal length conversion: 1.5x
Aspect ratio: 3:2 (optional 16:9)
LCD monitor size: 2.7in (230k dot)
File formats: JPEG, RAW 
Card type: CF
Exposure modes: Auto, program, shutter-priority, aperture-priority, manual and six subject modes
Metering modes: Multi-segment, centre-weighted and spot
Autofocus: 9-point
ISO range: 100-3200
Battery type: NP-FM500H
Software supplied: Image Data Lightbox and Converter
Write times: 1.6 seconds JPEG, 2.5 seconds RAW
Shutter speed range: 30 seconds to 1/4000sec + Bulb
Flash sync: 1/160sec
Continuous shooting mode: 3fps