Sony A200: Entry DSLR Roundup
by Wesley Fink on October 20, 2008 1:00 AM EST- Posted in
- Digital Camera
Sony A200 Competition
With the recent street price declines in the Canon XS, the $500 entry segment has grown by one. Three DSLR cameras in the market now sell for around $500 with a kit lens. How does the A200 compare to the Olympus E-420 and the Canon XS?
All three cameras are based on a 10MP sensor. The Olympus E420 is the smallest DSLR you can buy but it does not feature any kind of IS. The A200 features in-body stabilization that works with any lens to improve hand-held shooting 1-4 stops in low light. The Canon XS kit lens has Optical Stabilization, but you must buy additional IS lenses if you want that feature.
The Sony A200 has the widest ISO range of the group, as it is the only entry in its class that extends to ISO 3200. However, if Live View is important to you, you will not find it on the Sony A200 as you will need to step up to the $599 Sony A300 for Live View. The Canon XS and Olympus E420 both feature Live View, but it is the slow "grafted on" variety, where the Sony A300/A350 actually have a useful Live View with a tilt-screen and fast AF.
| Camera Comparison - Sony A200 vs. Competition | |||
| Sony A200 | Canon XS EOS 1000D |
Olympus E420 | |
| LCD Screen | 2.7" Fixed | 2.5" Fixed | 2.7" Fixed |
| Sensor | 10.2 MP CCD | 10.1 MP CMOS | 10.0 MP NMOS |
| AF Points | 9 | 7 | 3 (11 in Live View) |
| Sensor Size | 23.6x15.8mm | 22.2x14.8mm | 18.0x13.5mm |
| Sensor Multiplier | 1.5x | 1.6x | 2X (Four-Thirds) |
| Image Processor | BIONZ | DIGIC III | TRUEPIC III |
| Image Stabilization | Body Integral (All lenses) |
IS Lens Only | None |
| Auto Sensor Clean | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Live View | None | Contrast & Phase Detect | Contrast with Face Detection & Phase Detect |
| Metering Modes | Multi-Segment, CWt, Spot | Evaluative, CWt, Partial | ESP Multi, CWt, Spot, Highlight Spot, Shadow Spot |
| ISO Range | 100-3200 | 100-1600 | 100-1600 |
| Auto ISO Adjust | Yes | Yes (Auto Fixed ISO 100-800) | Yes |
| Continuous Speed | 3 fps | 3 fps | 3.5 fps |
| Wireless Flash Control with Built-in Flash | Yes | No | Yes |
| Remote Release | Wireless Remote, Cable | Cable | Wireless Remote, Cable |
| Storage | CF | SD/SDHC | CF |
| Viewfinder | .83x, 95% | .81x, 95% | .92x, 95% |
| Battery | NP-FM500H (1600mAh) | LP-E5 (1080mAh) | BLS-1 (1150mAh) |
| Battery Life (50% Flash) | 750 | 500 (190 Live View) | 500 (Less in Live View) |
| Battery Grip | VG-B30AM, Optional | BG-E5, Optional | No |
| Size | 131x98.5x71mm | 126x98x65mm | 130x91x53mm |
| Weight (with Battery) | 1.39 lb. (626g) | 1.16 lb. (502g) | 15.5 ounces (440g) |
| Kit Lens | 18-70mm f3.5-5.6 (27-105mm) |
18-55mm f3.5-5.6 IS (29-88mm) |
14-42mm f3.5-5.6 (28-84mm) |
| Price with Kit Lens | $499 | $525 | $530 |
| Camera Comparison - Sony A200 vs. Competition (Cont'd) | ||||
| Olympus E520 | Nikon D60 | Sony A300 | Pentax K200D | |
| LCD Screen | 2.7" Fixed | 2.5" Fixed | 2.7" Tilt | 2.7" Fixed |
| Sensor | 10.1 MP Live MOS | 10.2 MP CCD | 10.2 MP CCD | 10.2 MP CCD |
| AF Points | 3 (11 in Live View) | 3 | 9 | 11 |
| Sensor Size | 17.3x13.0mm | 23.6x15.8mm | 23.6x15.8mm | 23.5x15.7mm |
| Sensor Multiplier | 2X (Four-Thirds) | 1.5x | 1.5x | 1.5x |
| Image Processor | TRUEPIC III | EXSPEED | BIONZ | PRIME |
| Image Stabilization | Body Integral (All lenses) |
VR Lens Only | Body Integral (All lenses) |
Body Integral (All lenses) |
| Auto Sensor Clean | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Live View | Contrast with Face Detection & Phase Detect | no | Full-Time by Mirror Selection | no |
| Metering Modes | ESP Multi, CWt, Spot, Highlight Spot, Shadow Spot | 3D Matrix, CWt, Spot | Multi-Segment, CWt, Spot | Multi-Segment, CWt, Spot |
| ISO Range | 100-1600 | 100-3200 | 100-3200 | 100-1600 |
| Auto ISO Adjust | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Continuous Speed | 3.5 fps | 3 fps | 3 fps | 3 fps |
| Wireless Flash Control with Built-in Flash | Yes | No | Yes | Yes |
| Remote Release | Wireless Remote, Cable | Wireless Remote, Cable | Wireless Remote, Cable | Wireless Remote, Cable |
| Storage | CF | SD/SDHC | CF | SD/SDHC |
| Viewfinder | .92x, 95% | .80x, 95% | .74x, 95% | .85x, 96% |
| Battery | BLM-1 (1500mAh) | EN-EL9 (1000mAh) | NP-FM500H (1600mAh) | Four AA Batteries |
| Battery Life (50% Flash) | 650 | 730 | 730 | 500 |
| Battery Grip | No | No | VG-B30AM, Optional | BG3, Optional |
| Size | 136x91.5x68mm | 126x94x64mm | 131x99x75mm | 134x95x74mm |
| Weight (with Battery and Card) | 1.05 lb. (476g) | 1.22 lb. (553g) | 1.49 lb. (676g) | 1.52 lb. (689g) |
| Kit Lens | 14-42mm f3.5-5.6 (28-84mm) |
18-55mm f3.5-5.6 VR (27-83mm) |
18-70mm f3.5-5.6 (27-105mm) |
18-55mm f3.5-5.6 (27-83mm) |
| Street Price with Kit Lens | $599 | $599 | $599 | $599 |
The balance of the entry class sells for a street price about 20% higher than the A200, and adds the Olympus E-520 (E420 with body IS), Nikon D60, Pentax K200D, and Sony's own A300. The Sony models, Canon XS, and Pentax all have more advanced AF modules, as the Nikon and Olympus models have just 3 AF points. The Nikon, like the Canon XS, ships with an Optical Stabilized kit lens featuring Nikon VR, but IS is only available if the lens features it. All the other competitors have body-integral IS that works with almost any lens you can mount.
The Nikon D60 and Pentax K200D, like the Sony A200, do not feature Live View. The Olympus E520 and Sony A300 do feature Live View, but the $599 Sony A300 features the most useful Live View we have used in a tilt 2.7" screen - none of the other competitors has a tilt screen. The A200 has a brighter, larger, and easier to use viewfinder than the A300 - so you get truly useful real-time Live View on the A300, but with compromised frame coverage and a tunnel-like viewfinder.
The Sony 18-70mm kit lens also covers a wider zoom range at a 27-105mm equivalent than any of its competitors, which generally feature an 18-55mm kit zoom. This will be important to some potential buyers. The Nikon D60, which also features a Sony CCD sensor similar to the A200/A300/A350, is the only model to offer ISO choices to 3200 like the Sony entry models.
A pop-up flash is something most buyers expect in an entry DSLR and take for granted. However, not all entry flash is equal as you will see in the comparison charts above. Nikon and Sony both support a very good wireless flash system that can normally be controlled by the pop-up flash. As you can see, Canon does not have such a wireless flash system. However, many potential buyers do not realize that Nikon does not support their Creative Lighting System with the pop-up flash on the D60. This makes the Sony A200 a better choice than Canon or Nikon if wireless flash is a feature that matters to you. Wireless flash is also supported, in slightly different capabilities, by the Pentax and Olympus entry models.
Sony and Olympus are the only ones to offer two models in this entry DSLR class. The only real difference in the Olympus E420 to the E520 is the addition of in-body IS and a larger hand grip to the E520. For the Sony A200 and A350 the differences are huge and reflect solutions aimed at very different market segments. While they are based on the same 10.2MP sensor, the A200 is an updated half-price A100. It is a very capable camera that will appeal to serious amateurs looking for as many shooting options as possible at the lowest cost.
The Sony A300 is the ultimate Live View camera that makes no apologies for compromising the viewfinder and LCD frame coverage to provide what is arguably the best and easiest to use Live View in the market. If you want an even higher-res sensor with tilt-screen Live View you can move up from the 10.2MP A300 to the 14.2MP A350 for $200 more, which is a street price of $799 with a kit lens. This, however, is 60% more than the Sony A200, which is a different price class that includes several other midrange models.
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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.