Sony A200: Entry DSLR Roundup
by Wesley Fink on October 20, 2008 1:00 AM EST- Posted in
- Digital Camera
Sony A200 vs. Sony A350 vs. Sony A700 v.4
The Sony A200, A350, and A700 models represent the three sensors currently in use in Sony crop-sensor cameras. The A200 is a 10.2MP CCD also used in the Nikon D60 and Pentax K200D cameras. The A350 features an A350 exclusive Sony 14.2MP CCD sensor, and the A700 uses the 12.2MP CMOS sensor also employed in the Nikon D300 and Nikon D90. This group of sensors represents how current Sony crop-sensors compare in JPG noise at various ISO settings. The A700 series uses the latest Version 4 of the Sony firmware that contains many of the improved image quality features of the A900.
Sony also manufactures the largest digital full-frame sensor available in the 24.6MP Sony A900 that has just recently started shipping. Since that sensor is for a different class of camera (some six times the cost of the A200), it was not included for comparison. We do have both a Sony A900 and a Canon D700 in the lab and we are working on reviews and comparisons of both these full-frame cameras.
| ISO Comparison - Sony A200 vs. Sony A350 vs. Sony A700v4 | |||
| ISO | Sony A200 | Sony A350 | Sony A700v4 |
| 100 |  |
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| 200 |  |
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| 400 |  |
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| 800 |  |
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| 1600 |  |
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| 3200 |  |
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| 6400 | |
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Click on any of the above image crops for the full image. Note: Full size images are between 3.2MB and 11.8MB! |
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The comparisons of the three Sony crop-sensors are arguably the most interesting of all. This is mostly because results show a greater variation among the three sensors than you might expect, since they are all from the same manufacturer. Much praise has been made of the A700 version 4 firmware, which was designed to bring the A700 more closely into competition with the D300. Sony claims they incorporated in version 4 what they learned in developing the pro-targeted A900. Looking at these crops the praise for the v4 Sony A700 certainly appears justified.
At ISO 1600 the A700 is clearly the lowest noise of these three sensors, which is a surprise when you realize we are comparing a 10MP A200 to a 12MP A700. In fact, the A700 ISO 1600 noise is more comparable to the ISO 800 crop from the A200. The A700 ISO 3200 crop is quite like the A200 ISO 1600, which should make images from the A700 v4 quite useful through ISO 3200. Even the ISO 6400 on the A700 v4 is more comparable to 3200 on the 10MP sensor.
The 14.2MP A350 is not similarly blessed in this comparison. It appears to be just as good as the others through about ISO 800, but the ISO 1600 performance is higher in noise than either the A200 or the A700. The A350 ISO 3200 crops shows noise is just too high in that camera at this speed and performance at ISO 3200 will be of very limited usefulness.
Keep in mind that the A700 is the current Sony prosumer model and that it costs more than twice as much as the A200 - and that's just for the body. The A200 performs well compared to other entry models, and Sony A700 fans will be pleased to see that Sony seems to have finally solved their JPG processing issues in version 4 of the A700 firmware. The results here show the A700 v4 is definitely worth the higher price if you are an advanced amateur looking for better image quality and lower noise. If you are looking for an entry-level DSLR, on the other hand, the A200 will do a fine job in both image quality and low-noise in an entry-level camera with more features than most of the competition.
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Wesley Fink - Tuesday, October 21, 2008 - link
Those coming from P&S who insist on Live View would probably be happiest with the Sony A300 ($599 kit) or A350 ($799). If they want a fast-focusing capable traditional DSLR the A200 has a fast 9-point module that works well with off-center targets, tracks moving subjects well in sports and kid shooting, and is one of the fastest AF and largest brightest viewfinders in its class.When the new Panasonic G1 micro 4/3 hits the shelves it features a sensor with truly fast contrast-detect AF that many users will find very satisfying in Live View mode. It is the first contrast Live View we have seen that is likely to satisfy DSLR fans. It is likely the first of a new generation of fast Live View sensors that will be used in future competing DSLR cameras.
Heidfirst - Tuesday, October 21, 2008 - link
the wireless flash controller will also work with Sigma, Vivitar etc. flash guns too so you can certainly get down to at least 1/2 the price of a 42AM. I agree that it's probably a function not used y the majority of A200 users but some people who may might use the A200 as a 2nd/backup body to e.g. an A700.The A200 doesn't have live view & other than the A300/A350 with their particular & unusual implementation autofocus in live view is pretty poor (slow) on DSLRs. At any rate A200 autofocus is as good as (or better than) any other DSLR in it's price bracket.
remember that most p+s use contrast detect AF whereas DSLRs use phase detect (other than in live view except A300/A350).
computerfarmer - Monday, October 20, 2008 - link
I have noticed the Sony a200 review on dpreview dated July 2008 with an announcement date of January 2008. you can view it here.http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/specs/Sony/">http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/specs/Sony/
Perhaps there are changes I am unaware of.
This does appear to be a nice camera for the money. It has a good size sensor along with a decent kit lens.
Is it true the future is in cmos sensors?
What is the expected life span of CCD/CMOS sensors?
Wesley Fink - Monday, October 20, 2008 - link
CMOS sensors are cheaper to manufacture and it is much easier to integrate associated electronics into a CMOS sensor.It is worth mentioning, however, that the newest highest-res mid-size Kodak sensor, used in the new Leica Medium Format camera, is a CCD sensor, and some still claim the CCD to be superior in image quality.
For a more in-depth discussion of CCD vs. CMOS you may want to look back at our Digital Sensor Articles with Part 1 at http://www.anandtech.com/digitalcameras/showdoc.as...">http://www.anandtech.com/digitalcameras/showdoc.as... and part 2 at http://www.anandtech.com/digitalcameras/showdoc.as...">http://www.anandtech.com/digitalcameras/showdoc.as....
computerfarmer - Tuesday, October 21, 2008 - link
Thank you for your prompt reply.I took the time to read both the articles. They help in understanding the differences between CMOS/CCD sensors. Yet everything electronic has an expected lifespan. Does anyone have an expected lifespan for these sensors?
Hulk - Monday, October 20, 2008 - link
Looks to me like the lenses you are using are scratching the limits of the sensors, thus the results are all pretty much the same. Using a prime at f/8 will pretty much take the glass out of the comparison as most any prime is quite sharp at f/8 unless there is something wrong with it.Also please test using a subject with more colors so we can see how each camera handles demosiacing under increasing ISO.
Thanks for you hard work.
- Mark
Wesley Fink - Monday, October 20, 2008 - link
As stated on the test pages all the test shots used a 50mm f1.4 prime stopped down to f/4.0. We are down 3 stops from the rated speed and in all cases the glass is in its highest resolution range.The only exception to this is the Olympus tests, where we use a 35mm prime macro lens stopped down to f4, which has been tested to be in the highest resolution area of that lens.
This is because of the 2x factor on Olympus which gives us a 70mm equivalent. That is much closer to the 75- 80mm equivalent of the 50mm on the 1.5X-1.6X sensors. The 50mm macro on the Olympus would be equivalent to 100mm.
Test results are closer because other manufacturers have made dramatic improvements in their sensors in the last couple of years. Canon no longer enjoys the massive lead in sensor resolution and low noise they enjoyed with their CMOS sensors in the early years of DSLR technology. As pointed out in the test comments, many of today's competing cameras in the entry category use the Sony 10.2 megapixel sensor so results would be similar.
The biggest differences are detailed on page 9 in the comparisons of the 3 Sony sensors used in the A200, A350, and A700. The new 24.6 megapixel A900 could have been included as we have one in house, but it seemed a stretch to include a $3000 camera with resolution more than twice the entry-level DSLRs.
As Jarred has pointed out we always use the kit lens for sample images that are normally included in our reviews, so photos will be representative of what a normal buyer might expect. We similarly always use primes stopped down to the same f/4 for our noise and resolution tests to remove glass variations from the equation.
Hulk - Thursday, October 23, 2008 - link
The reasoning to use primes is NOT to test lenses but to try to eliminate lenses as a variable during testing and atually see how the bodies perform. By using less than very good lenses it's hard to tell what is limiting performance, the lens or the body.Since you are not testing scenes with any depth of field just use the sharpest setting, which is f/8 for just about any lens. f/4 would be applicable to test bokeh for a depth of field shot.
Again I know it's easy to complain. But really I'll I'm saying is use primes and stop down to f/8 so we can isolate the camera body performance.
Thanks,
- Mark
strikeback03 - Thursday, October 23, 2008 - link
According to photozone.de, the center resolution of the 50 1.4 is essentially constant from f/2.8-f/5.6, and down a bit at f/8 (corners top out at f/5.6).http://www.photozone.de/canon-eos/159-canon-ef-50m...">http://www.photozone.de/canon-eos/159-c...mm-f14-u...
slrgear calls f/4 and f/5.6 essentially tied, with f/8 a little worse.
http://www.slrgear.com/reviews/showproduct.php/pro...">http://www.slrgear.com/reviews/showproduct.php/pro...
Both of these tests are on an 8MP sensor, and the center resolution numbers are pushing the boundary of that sensor, so larger differences might be revealed in tests with a higher resolution sensor. For the 10MP sensors though f/4 would seem to be a very valid choice.
melgross - Thursday, October 23, 2008 - link
You know that 50 1.4's are not very good, even stopped down a couple of stops.I would choose the Olympus 35mm macro for quality over the 50's. Try a 50 or 60mm macro instead. It's about as close as you're going to get to the 35mm macro in quality to even out the lens issue.