Hands-On Review: Sony Alpha a230 Digital SLR

PLUS
Surprisingly affordable; includes all essential features
Less complicated than average; intuitive operation
Compact, lightweight especially with new 18-55mm SAM lens

MINUS
Continuous Drive (2.5 fps) is a bit slow for sports photography
The handgrip (of all three models) is too small
No movie mode; Live View only with the a300/a380

One of the most aggressive companies in terms of DSLR development, Sony recently replaced its a200, a300 and a350 Alpha cameras. The new models have been restyled with new ergonomics and more intuitive interfaces, but retain the best features and technology of their predecessors. They also benefit from some improved aspects. The latest models include the budget-priced 10-megapixel a230 ($500 in a kit that includes an 18-55mm standard zoom lens), plus two models with tilting LCDs and Live View: the 10MP a330 and the 14.2MP a380. Only the a230 was available for testing for this issue, but I also checked out a functioning a380 pre-production model.

While the three cameras differ slightly in cosmetic aspects, their specifications (and most controls) are identical, except for size/weight, resolution and Live View. Although I'll discuss the a230 in terms of performance, most of my comments (except as specified) also apply to the others, since they employ the same processor and sensor technology. Like every Alpha DSLR, this trio is equipped with Sony's very effective SteadyShot stabilizer and Dynamic Range Optimizer (for increased shadow detail).

Design and features: Many DSLR buyers, especially those upgrading from a digicam, demand great simplicity and portability; and the new cameras meet these criteria. The budget-friendly a230 is particularly compact/lightweight. Like its siblings, it has an unusually small handgrip, but the substantial thumb grip adds some extra stability. Those with large hands should cradle the lens in the left hand and use the right mostly for manipulating controls. More importantly perhaps, the new cameras certainly do not look complicated and they offer four LCD display colours: black, white, brown and pink.

Some buttons have been eliminated and others have been integrated into the four-way thumb pad. The essential analogue controls were retained, including a mode selector dial and an [Fn] button for quick access to six functions. The new cameras are also quite interactive with a graphical interface (in addition to the conventional data display option). As the aperture and/or shutter speed is changed, the on-screen illustration also changes to illustrate the difference in depth-of-field and/or motion control. A Help guide is available and an info screen provides a plain-text explanation of each mode's purpose; a sample photo is also displayed for any scene mode.

When detecting the eye at the viewfinder, Eye-Start automatically activates autofocus, so you can take a shot instantly. The focus-detection points on the viewing screen are large, distinct dots so they're easy to see. Pressing the Menu button is revealing; in order to minimize complexity, the screens list relatively few items. As the specs indicate, the new Sony models are not packed with custom functions or a myriad of image-modification tools. They do provide all of the essentials, but few of the "bells and whistles" common in other brands.

Live View: All three cameras are equipped with a 2.7-inch LCD monitor, but only the a330 and a380 provide Live View; Sony has not yet released a DSLR with movie mode. Their screens can be tilted up/down, useful when the camera is placed at a very high or a low level. Sony's unique Quick AF technology, employing a secondary sensor in the pentamirror housing, provides remarkably fast AF in Live View. No other brand of DSLR is as fast in this aspect. (Granted, the extra sensor does reduce the size of the two cameras' viewfinders.) Single-shot and continuous AF are available with wide-area AF, central-spot AF or a user-selected focus point.

Speed and image quality: During a trip to New York City, I found the a230 to be very responsive, even in low light. Autofocus was always reliable and had no difficulty in tracking the motion of taxis barreling toward my position. The 2.5fps burst mode was a bit slow, but not everyone expects to shoot 20 frames in five seconds. The upgraded BIONZ processor provided excellent ISO 100 to 400 quality at default settings, with moderately high sharpness and colour saturation; exposure compensation was rarely required.
My best low-ISO shots made 11x16.5-inch prints suitable for framing; for oversized outputs, the 14.2MP resolution of the a380 would be useful. The improved Advanced Dynamic Range Optimizer provided extra shadow detail in harsh lighting. At ISO 800 (and especially at 1,600 that I used for night photography and in St. Patrick's Cathedral), aggressive noise-reduction processing blurred intricate details. At these ISOs, I got better results by turning NR off. The JPEGs are grainier but also exhibit better resolution, so my letter-size prints look great.

Evaluation: All three cameras are sold only with a new, very small 18-55mm Aspherical/ED zoom with a smooth autofocus motor for fast AF. Sony's decision to downsize the three cameras and to make them less "complicated" does make sense, since this trio does not target the serious photographer. The Sony a230, a330 and a380 should certainly attract those upgrading from a digicam, with their relatively moderate prices, great responsiveness, fine image quality and the other aspects that many DSLR newbies appreciate

Article Tags:  Sony, Alpha, a230, DSLR, SLR, digital, camera