Sony A350: Full-Time Live View at 14.2MP
by Wesley Fink on April 3, 2008 3:00 AM EST- Posted in
- Digital Camera
Current Sony Lineup
Below is a comparison of current Sony models with the Sony 18-70mm f3.5-5.6 lens. For those who wish to buy the body alone, only the A350 ($799) and A700 ($1399) are available without a kit lens. A two-lens kit is available for the A200, A300, and A350. The two-lens kit adds the 75-300mm f4.5-5.6 to the A200K and the 55-200mm f4-5.6 to the A300/A350 kits. The two-lens kit adds $200 to the single lens kit prices.
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At 14.2MP, the A350 is the highest resolution Sony you can buy until the A900 is introduced later this year. The current top-of-the-line A700 is the only current CMOS model with a lower 12.2MP resolution. Canon will have a similar situation with their announced 12MP XSi entry-level model in their line with the prosumer 10MP 40D. As we have said in many articles, image quality is about more than sensor resolution. The resolution, sensor sensitivity, and sensor noise levels all contribute to the final image quality - all else being equal - and this is often reflected in the fact that top prosumer models often have a lower sensor resolution than less expensive entry-level models.
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dug777 - Monday, March 31, 2008 - link
I would also simply suggest using a time-delay shot if you don't have a wireless or wired shutter release :)dug777 - Monday, March 31, 2008 - link
That or they're out of focus?Heidfirst - Monday, March 31, 2008 - link
Interesting review as usual with a more general consumer orientated view as compared to some of the more "specialist" DSLR sites, thank you.A vies notes, if I may:
"For those who wish to buy the body alone, only the A350 ($799) and A700 ($1399) are available without a kit lens"
I realise that Anandtech is USA-centric but also does get significant traffic from other countries - this varies from country to country according to local Sony marketing decisions e.g. if I want to buy an A200 body only in the UK that's not a problem.
Often the street (as opposed to msrp) prices for the basic kit 18-70mm package are so little more than body only though that you may as well get the 18-70 too.
"The layout and pattern is the same as the A200, A300, and earlier A100 suggesting it is the same AF module. The AF speeds on all models also support the conclusion that this is likely the same venerable AF module used in previous Minolta and Sony digital SLRs. "
Sony claim 1.7x faster focussing (probably largely as a result of using a more powerful motor but also a tweaked system).
Probably little has changed because the basic Minolta metering & AF system going back 20 years or so has been a very good base & only required minimal tweaks/upgrades.
Re. the battery:
If you compare Sony NP-FM500H prices it's similar to those for the official Canon, Nikon, Pentax etc. batteries so the issue isn't really the pricing of the official batteries but the unavailability of generic copies.
When I bought my A700 I also bought a spare battery but I've never actually had to use it as battery life has been very good. Extensive Live View use on an A300/A350 may use more I would imagine though.
At least Sony now have a standard battery throughout their DSLR range whereas on Canon & Nikon as you upgrade bodies you change batteries so you can't carry them over but must buy new.