Created: 01/06/2008
Video description: From CES 2008, Lori Grunin takes a first look at the Sony Alpha A200k, a 10-megapixel SLR camera.
Sony Alpha A200K Video Transcript
[ music ]
^M00:00:03
[ background music ]
>> Hi, I'm Lori Grunan [assumed spelling], senior editor with CNET.com here at the Sony booth at CES 2008, to show you Sony's new entrant in the consumer digital SLR market. This is the Alpha A200K. It's one of the kits that replaces the A100. What's notable is the A100 wasn't really a consumer entry level model. It was a mid-range model that got sucked down with price reductions into the seven hundred dollar price point, but it's not really a camera designed for users going for their first digital SLR. This one is. It's a much more simplified design. It's got the ten megapixel sensor APS size, which is the standard size for CCDs. Always notable of course is the fact that Sony's using compact flash in their digital SLRs instead of a memory stick. It has a similar design to the A700, it's mid-range big brother, with the same onscreen navigation that I really liked in that camera. The camera has the same nice grooved grip that makes holding the A700, and several other vendor's models such a real pleasure. Like the A700, the A200 has the sensor that detects when you bring it up to your eye. So, and it automatically turns the menus off so they don't interrupt your vision through the view finder. It's coming into the market at the same price point as the D40X and the Eos Rebel XTI kits, which is heady competition to go against. But one thing that Sony adds that the Cannon and Nikon don't is in-body sensor shift image stabilization, and that is really important when you're stepping up from a point and shoot. Everybody wants IS, and Nikon and Cannon still have it in the lenses. To be fair, their models are a bit older, and we expect to see revs of them some time maybe later spring, early fall. So like the Nikon D40X and the Cannon Eos Rebel XTI, this comes in at a seven hundred dollar price point with the kit lens.
[ background music ]
There's also a nine hundred dollar version with a longer zoom lens. You should keep a look out for this in February of this year. I'm Lori Grunan, CES 2008.
^M00:02:04
[ music ]
Sony Alpha DSLR-A200 (with 18-70mm lens) Review
The good: In-body image stabilization; supports wireless flash.
The bad: Loud; Sony doesn't have a stable of inexpensive lenses for consumers; oddly located, proprietary USB connector.
The bottom line: The Sony Alpha DSLR-A200 is a solid entry-level dSLR that doesn't really stand out in its very competitive field.
Read full review
Sony Alpha DSLR-A200 (with 18-70mm lens) User Opinions
9 out of 10
Excellent
Having owned 3 sony P&S cameras prior, making the adjustment to a Sony SLR was...
Read more
28 out of
28 users found this opinion helpful
9 out of 10
Excellent
I'm sorry for you here in CNET, because the Nikon D40x is not where near to the A200....
Read more
6 out of
6 users found this opinion helpful
9 out of 10
Excellent
I started to look into dSLR's a while back and wanted a solid entry level camera...
Read more
5 out of
5 users found this opinion helpful
Read all user opinions
Sony Alpha DSLR-A200 (with 18-70mm lens) Specs
Manufacturer: Sony
Part number: DSLR-A200K
Product Specifications
- Product Description
- Sony a (alpha) DSLR-A200K - Digital camera
- Product Type
- Digital camera - SLR
- Dimensions (WxDxH)
- 5.2 in x 2.8 in x 3.7 in
- Supported Flash Memory
- Microdrive
- Sensor Dust Reduction
- Yes
- Sensor Resolution
- 10.2 megapixels
- Focus Adjustment
- Automatic
- Focal Length
- 18 mm - 70 mm
- Image Stabilizer
- Optical (Super Steady Shot, CCD-shift mechanism)