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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JarredWalton - Monday, October 20, 2008 - link
I think particularly in the entry level DSLR arena, using the included lenses for images is important. The pictures of even a moderate DSLR with kit lens should easily surpass what most P&S cameras can manage, which is one of the big attractions. As soon as you get into lenses, however, you open up a huge can of worms.As for the subject material... well, I'll leave it to the photography buffs to debate what should be used. I believe Wes is working on some photos showing what the A200 can do out of a static test environment, but in order to provide any semblance of apples-to-apples shooting comparisons I think you need to do something like the shots Wes uses. I know I for one wish the white balance on my XTi did better under Tungsten lighting.
nowayout99 - Monday, October 20, 2008 - link
"...it is easy to forget that many buyers are looking for the absolute best "bang-for-the-buck" in a camera."Really...? Therein lies a divide between AT and readers. Articles for high-end products really aren't appealing to that many people, yet that's almost all we've gotten for cameras.
Even this $500 cam is pretty high-end priced for the vast majority of people that just want something they can take around with them for fun. How about some comparisons of joe schmoe cameras?
strikeback03 - Tuesday, October 21, 2008 - link
On Sunday a friend and I went to a local state park to get some pictures of the leaves. He owns a Canon SD600, a relatively decent couple year old P&S. At one point he was asking me to get some close-ups of a rock face, so instead I tossed my Sigma 18-200 OS on my Rebel XT body (wasn't using either) and let him play with those. I think he is now in the market for an SLR, as some comparison shots he did with his SD600 just blew him away, and that was just in basic JPEG mode.GTVic - Monday, October 20, 2008 - link
This is what epinions and CNET is for. I don't think you will find too many serious reviewers who want to spend their time keeping updated on the sub $200 camera market. It is not interesting, there are too many cameras to keep track of and not many people do serious research on that level of purchase.adder - Monday, October 20, 2008 - link
well i hope u guys do some lens reviews,and for people who are going in for a entry level dslr may not know much about lenses other then the kits lenses.strikeback03 - Monday, October 20, 2008 - link
Is the grip the same as the A100? Between the length and positioning of the shutter release/dial, I found the A100 quite uncomfortable to use. For me either the shorter bodies like the Canon Rebels or the taller ones like Nikon D80/Canon 40D are far more comfortable.FATCamaro - Monday, October 20, 2008 - link
It is a great point and shoot camera. I use mine a LOT and couldn't be happier. I use it as a point and shoot except for ISO and flash control. The ISO control is incredible simple and useful. I would reccomend this to to anyone switching up to a DSLR from a shitty point and shoot.DanD85 - Monday, October 20, 2008 - link
It seems you forget the still available D40/D40x and I think they perfectly fit in the budget DSLRs you have here.Wesley Fink - Monday, October 20, 2008 - link
Ken Rockwell notwithstanding, the D40 is 6 megapixels and the D40x is the previous model to the D60. Both are capable entry DSLRs that have been updated in the D60, which we did test in our comparison.The D40/D40x are 3-point AF, have no sensor cleaning, and come with non-IS kit lenses. Their features have been upgraded on the D60, which is the entry model we tested.
xsilver - Monday, October 20, 2008 - link
also forgotten is the pentax line. The k200d doesnt have live view either but using old lenses on them is a joy.