Approximately one and a half years after the release of the Alpha 100, Sony brings the successor model Alpha 200 at a moderate price of about 600 euros for the case. For the set with 18-70 mm standard zoom the usual small surcharge of around 100 euros is to be paid. This manufacturer’s deliberately low price threshold for the first interchangeable lens is likely to have entangled many people from the compact camera family in the past few years and thus contributed substantially to the success of digital SLR cameras.
The pronounced similarity in the frontal view between alpha 100 and 200 is relativized on closer inspection. At the same time, the camera still removes a piece of the former model Dynax 5D. Example: In the case of the Alpha 100, in addition to the operating mode dial on the right side of the housing, the second mode dial, taken from the Dynax, was found to the left of the viewfinder prism. With this one had access to exposure measurement method, autofocus mode, sensor sensitivity (ISO value), automatic contrast correction and color mode. In addition, the function key (Fn) was integrated into the dial dial. This was moved to the rear of the Alpha 200, the left mode dial was painted without replacement. In its place is now the mode dial with 12 detent positions for standard and motif programs; on the right side of the housing, there are only two buttons for ISO setting and image sequence mode (single and series, self-timer, exposure series).
In the so-called creative mode (shooting menu), the camera allows various presets for color and contrast adjustment. In addition to a black-and-white and AdobeRGB mode, there are six sRGB-based presets (Standard, Vivid, Portrait, Landscape, Night, and Sunset). All RGB presets can be adjusted in the parameters Contrast, Color and Sharpness. The Alpha 200 has been discontinued with functions for the subsequent processing of images, as competition models increasingly offer it.
A feature taken from Dynax times is the image stabilizer built into the housing, which can be switched on via a sliding switch on the back. It is to expand the freehand limit according to manufacturer by 2.5 to 3.5 light values. The Dynax models also feature the characteristic flash shoe and the ADI measuring flash controller. Even the built-in pop-up flash works with this technique, but has the disadvantage, as with the Alpha 100, that it folds up little over the optical axis in the folded out, and red eyes are a frequent companionship in portraits. Konica Minolta has done better with the Dynax 5D. The flash can be corrected in its intensity, but only via the camera name.
A new addition to the accessory range is the VG-B30 AM handheld, which is equipped with two NP-500H lithium-ion batteries, one of which is used in the camera. The handle facilitates camera operation in portrait format and improves the balance in combination with larger interchangeable lenses. The case is quite light with 532 g and does not give the thumb on the back of the case a lot of support. On the other hand, the large rubber eyelid, which surrounds the viewfinder, was well liked. The effective search magnification is 0.53 - the Nikon D40x (0.51) and better than the Canon EOS 400D (0.48).
The TFT monitor, which is enlarged from 2.5 to 2.7 inches, also displays all the recording-relevant data. In this case, pressing the display key activates a display with particularly large letters, while the second press calls a display with smaller (but still readable) fonts and higher information density. In the first case, exposure corrections are indicated numerically with a comma point (eg -0.7), in the second case a bar scale. In the display window itself you can not correct corrective, as one knows about the Olympus or Panasonic.
Further settings can be achieved via the already mentioned Fn button: flash mode (including long-time sync), exposure metering method, AF mode, AF field configuration, white balance and improved dynamic range (D-R) compared to its predecessor. It can be set to "Standard" and "Advanced", but can also be switched off. The Alpha 700 has been discontinued. If you change the camera mode from portrait to portrait (or vice versa), the display is adjusted accordingly. When the camera is set to the eye, the display on the monitor goes off automatically, and the autofocus is activated even before you press the shutter button. This function, called "Eye-Start-AF", can also be disabled.
The autofocus still operates with nine measuring fields, the middle one of which is a cross sensor. Sony wants to have improved AF speed by improvements in drive motor and control by a factor of 1.7. The triggering delay, which is determined in the test laboratory, including the AF time, is clearly shorter than the alpha 100 (0.42 s) at 0.24 s - a good development.
A little more than half a second after switching on the camera is ready for operation. The possible image sequence time is not high with 2.6 images per second, but is OK for this camera class. The usable ISO range compared to the Alpha 100 has been extended from ISO 1600 to 3200 - the stated ISO maximum is not defined as a "push level", but as a normal setting value. This should not, however, obscure the fact that it rains at higher sensitivities.
Already at ISO 400, the camera has a VN 1.8 in a region that is generally known for cameras with a four-thirds sensor and ISO 800/1600 (VN 2,9 / 4,8) Continue The noise can be significantly improved by the switchable noise reduction (High ISO-RM), which according to the manufacturers at ISO 1600 and 3200 intervenes. Then the noise at ISO 1600 decreases from VN 4.8 to 2.6 and at ISO 3200 from VN 11.5 to 5.0, with the resolution decreasing by negligible 43/10 LP / BH at ISO 1600/3200. The object contrast is 9 screens at ISO 100, but decreases with ISO 400 to 8 screens, with ISO 800 to 7.5 and with ISO 1600 to 6.5 screens. Switching on the noise reduction increases the object contrast by a half-aperture for ISO 1600 and 3200.
The high scores for the picture quality are the result of the resolution of the Alpha 200: 1282/1310 LP / BH is a result which is clearly above that of other cameras with a 10 megapixel sensor. Only the Sony Alpha 700 is even better under the cameras with APS-C format sensor (1335/1358 LP / BH at ISO 100/400). The bottom line is 60.5 points for the image quality at ISO 100 and 57.5 points at ISO 400.
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Evaluation according to new test criteria
Sony Alpha 200
The Sony Alpha 200 scores with a built-in image stabilizer. It offers the highest resolution in its price category up to 500 euros, which concerns the setting of ISO 100 and gets the evaluation well. With higher sensitivity from ISO 400, the image quality, the image noise and the kurtosis values (loss of texture) are reduced. In the case of ISO 1600, the lower range of the test field, which is difficult to evaluate, is reduced. After all, the unit has a low shutter release delay, which provides a direct photographer experience.
Sony Alpha 200
