Sony Alpha A100 Digital SLR Camera

Price Check:

Sony Alpha A100H 10.2MP Digital SLR Camera Kit with 18-200mm f3.5-6.3 Lens

Sony Alpha A100K 10.2MP Digital SLR Camera Kit with 18-70mm f3.5-5.6 Lens

Sony Alpha A100 10.2MP Digital SLR Camera (Body Only)

Features

• 10-megapixel CCD captures enough detail for photo-quality 18 x 24-inch prints
• 2.5-inch LCD display; in-camera image stabilization and anti-dust vibration systems
• Eye-Start Autofocus system begins focusing as soon as the camera is brought to your eye
• 9-point autofocus system; 40-segment multi-pattern honeycomb metering for accurate exposure
• Powered by lithium-ion battery (rechargeable battery supplied); stores images on CF I/II and Memory Stick Duo cards

From the Manufacturer

Why Sony? Because people want to take better pictures–and the all-new Sony α DSLR-A100 camera makes it easier to explore all the creative possibilities of digital photography. Sony electronic innovations for higher sensitivity, smoother image stabilization, and superior picture quality give the α system spectacular DSLR performance with amazing simplicity. Along with superb Sony and Carl Zeiss lenses and a full range of professional accessories, the Sony α DSLR-A100 camera also builds on 20 years of Minolta camera optics to provide instant compatibility with over 16 million A-mount lenses sold worldwide.

With advanced electronics, superb Sony and Carl Zeiss lenses, and amazing creative capabilities, the Sony α DSLR-A100 camera brings better pictures within easy reach. It introduces Sony imaging innovations like high-sensitivity shooting with Super SteadyShot in-camera image stabilization, Dynamic Range Optimizer to automatically increase detail in bright and dark picture areas, new Anti-Dust technology to keep the CCD imager clean for better pictures, and Eye-Start Autofocus system for faster camera response. It also builds on a two-decade legacy of Minolta photographic leadership, accepting millions of A-mount lenses sold worldwide.

Superior Electronics, Amazing Simplicity
In the revolutionary new Sony α DSLR-A100 camera, Sony digital technology takes you a giant step toward professional performance–with advanced imaging, image stabilization, and creative control functions, plus ease of operation that helps everyone take better digital pictures right from the start.

Advanced Lenses and Accessories
The Sony α DSLR-A100 camera is your gateway to an incredibly sophisticated array of lenses and accessories–including precision Sony standard and zoom lenses, Sony “G” Series lenses with advanced motorized autofocusing, amazingly bright Carl Zeiss T* coated lenses, professional-quality flash units, and compatibility with over 16 million Maxxum, Dynax, and A-mount lenses sold worldwide.

The Sony α DSLR-A100’s CCD system provides SteadyShot image stabilization and anti-dust vibration.

10-Megapixel Super HAD CCD
A large APS-size CCD imager with Sony’s advanced Super HAD (Hole Accumulated Diode) design allows more light to pass to each pixel, increasing sensitivity, reducing noise, and providing greater detail when you make big prints or crop in close on your subject.

Super SteadyShot Optical Image Stabilization
When you shoot with high sensitivity, the shutter remains open longer–so to compensate for shaky hands or fast-moving subjects, the Sony Super SteadyShot system automatically reduces image blur. And because it works in-camera, you’ll get the benefit of Super SteadyShot stabilization with every lens you use.

Sharp, Clear Photos that Preserve the Mood
With high-sensitivity (ISO 1600) shooting, the Sony α DSLR-A100 camera captures great photos without flash even in low light–which makes it an ideal system camera for shooting without a tripod or in locations (like museums and churches) where flash is prohibited.

Static-free anti-dust coating and the A100’s anti-dust vibration system keep the CCD free of the dust that can mar images. (See larger image.)

Anti-Dust Technology
Changing lenses in a DSLR can allow dust to enter the camera–so to keep the CCD imager clean for better pictures, the Sony α DSLR-A100 camera utilizes both static-free anti-dust coating on the CCD filter and anti-dust vibration that automatically shakes the CCD to dislodge dust each time the camera is shut off.

Dynamic Range Optimizer
To recover details in dark or bright areas of the picture, the Sony α DSLR-A100 camera provides two levels of Dynamic Range Optimization: Normal DRO, to improve shadow detail using standard gamma curves for fast shot-to-shot response time, or Advanced DRO, to adjust dynamic range area-by-area for the greatest precision.

Bionz Image Processor
At the heart of the Sony α DSLR-A100 camera is the advanced Bionz Image Processor, using hardware-based Large Scale Integrated (LSI) circuitry that responds ten times faster than software image processors–improving camera response time, handling Dynamic Range Optimization processing, and extending Stamina battery life.

To reduce blur and increase response time, an Eye-Start Autofocus sensor begins the DSLR-A100’s precision autofocus adjustments the moment you bring your eye to the viewfinder.

Eye-Start Autofocus System
Some DSLR systems don’t start focusing until the shutter button is half-pressed–but that can slow down camera response. The Sony α DSLR-A100 camera begins its precision autofocus adjustments the moment you bring your eye to the viewfinder, to capture fast-action subjects other cameras might blur.

2.5-Inch Clear Photo LCD Plus Screen
The Clear Photo LCD Plus design of the Sony α DSLR-A100 camera’s built-in screen makes it easy to read camera setup menus even in bright sunlight–and gives you a better picture when you use your screen to set up shots and check results.

Continuous Burst Mode at 3 Frames Per Second
To catch fast action more effectively, the Sony α DSLR-A100 camera offers continuous JPEG image capture up to the limit of your flash memory card–plus RAW Burst Mode (up to six shots) with intelligent buffer management to allow more shots to be captured without waiting for the buffer to clear.

Super-Accurate Exposure Control
A 40-segment honeycomb sensing system provides multi-pattern measuring for superior exposure control accuracy.

Flexible Exposure Modes
For greater creative freedom in a wide range of shooting conditions, the Sony α DSLR-A100 camera provides full manual exposure control as well as Program Auto, Aperture Priority, Shutter Priority, and Exposure Compensation modes.

9-Point Autofocus Selection
The Sony α DSLR-A100 camera gives you all the focusing options you need for composing your shot with foreground, background or off-center subjects–including manual focus point selection, Spot AF, Continuous AF, and AF Lock.

Lithium Ion Battery with Stamina Power
A supplied NP-FM55H Lithium Ion rechargeable battery lets you take up to 600 shots on a full charge, recharges quickly with supplied battery charger.

Dual Media Options
The Sony α DSLR-A100 camera accepts both CompactFlash Type I/II media and optional Memory Stick Duo media (with supplied adaptor).

Customer Reviews

Good for an amatuer
I bought this camera becuase I am a life long Minolta fan, however they discontinued their cameras without any notice and I was stuck with alot of Konica Minolta camera equipment. Sony picked up Minolta’s pattons and made their first DSLR and everything I owed with Minolta is interchangeable with it. But I run 2 photo studios and I have not been happy with the controls, etc. of this camera. However a person who just wants a better camera to take better pictures then their snap and shoot–this would be a good camera for you, for a professional however–no. I am now switching everything over to Nikon.

Sony, Alpha 100
Love my Sony Alpha 100, 10.2 mp. For the money, it is an unbeatable buy. User friendly. Great photos.

Great Beginner SLR
I have had a variety of cameras throughout the past 3 years with my new found interest in photography. I started small and worked my way up, from the FujiFilm 2800 to this Sony SLR and though photography is truly about the photograher, this camera definitely makes photos better, and overall makes photography much more enjoyable.

Well, I’ll start with the breakdown of features:

1. 10 megapixel sensor: When I found interest in photography several years ago, my first camera had a resolution of merely 2 megapixels, yet the prints were still spectacular. With this camera, there is significant increase of overall quality, but you have to keep in my different factors such as ISO, and white balance, which also play a roll in good prints.

2. ISO: I found that in low light situations, for example during a party, or something, that when I increased the ISO to 800, pictures were slightly noisy, though not significantly. I feel that the noise-reduction system helped in those situations. As far as ISO 1600, it wasn’t that great, but then again not all that bad. I would say 60% of my shots would come out nicely. For regular shooting I used the HI200 setting, which would keep the ISO at <200> (above or below), and pictures turn out really well with this setting, combined with some other modes.

3. White balance: The white balance is okay for the most part. I personally like the “shade” and “sunny” modes, but not so much the tungsten and florescent, I have also at times used the manual white balance, which proved to work well, though, I wouldn’t use it as much as the preset modes.

4. Dynamic Range Booster: Great great setting. About 75% of the time I’ve used this setting, the dynamic range has been slightly if not significantly better. What this basically means is it extends the color capabilities of your picture. So let’s say there is a red shovel in a large field of grass, the green of the grass may get prioritized, however once you press the dynamic range booster button, some settings are adjusted and the red looks a lot better than it traditionally would.

5. Other Color Settings: When you are in either manual mode, A mode, S mode, or P mode (my favorite),you get to choose from a menu what best matches the situation you are shooting in. There is a list of the standard preset modes like Macro and Landscape, but there is also a few color settings I like. They are: B&W, Adobe RGB, Standard, and Vivid. My personal favorite is vivid; I don’t know what it is, but this setting surely does add the extra “umph” in pictures, kind of giving them a film look. I used it to take a picture of a sunset, and it came out slightly better than the pre-programmed sunset mode.

6. Sports Photography: SLR’s are definitely the way to go for action photos. This camera sports a really good 3fps, and I’ve captured numerous shots that simply wouldn’t have been possible had it not been for upgrading to a DSLR. However I must he sports mode on this camera is base-line average, and before I learned the settings to this camera about 70% of my shots would come out of average quality. What I do when taking action shots, is go into P mode and manually select settings, and pictures almost always come out better than the pre-set sports mode. I think that the sports mode fully utilizes the advertised 3 fps, however pictures just aren’t as sharp. However, this really isn’t a problem once you’ve had the camera for a week or two.

7. Ease of Use: Well, this was my first SLR of any sort ever, yet I was up and going, fully unlocking the potential of this camera in about two weeks. I flat-out couldn’t just sit there and read the manual for two hours, so instead I would go around taking candids in my spare time, and switch some settings around, and then take mental note of what looked best.

8. Comparison: I was in a debate with myself for several weeks, wondering if I should get a Nikon D80, Canon Xti/Xt or a Sony, and when I looked at reviews, each one was saying the same about the other, and I finally chose the Sony. When it arrived I used it for a little bit, then went on to Best Buy to get some accessories, and I just happened to see both the Canon Digital Rebel Xti and D80. The Xti felt really cheap, like the plastic would fall apart if you dropped it once, and sensor and kit lens were both significantly smaller than those equipped with the A100. Another thing, both the Canon and the D80 lacked built in image stabilization of any sort, which really DOES come in handy for everyday shooting. As far as the XT/XTi go, the A100 clearly outshines them. Though on the other hand the Nikon D80 is much better than the Sony. It felt really sturdy, and from shooting with one for a full day, it overall produces much better pictures than I’ve been able to with this camera, the only factor which stopped me from buying it was the price of over $200 more. As far as camera releases go as this year goes on, I would highly suggest not getting a Canon XSi but instead a Sony A350, because from what I’ve read, the Sony has much more features and gives you more bang for your buck, especially since it’s about $100 less than the canon. I can’t really talk for Nikon though.

Well, I hope my review has contributed into your decision for a new DSLR, if you have any further questions, don’t hesitate to comment for this review, thanks. -Sam