The Sony Alpha DSLR-A300, along with the DSLR-A350 are Sony's latest announced Digital SLR cameras. These models are essentially upgrades to the Alpha DSLR-A200 release in the fall of 2007. Both the 350 and 300 two distinct new features: 1) Live View mode for the LCD viewfinder, and 2) an articulating LCD screen. The A300 features a 10.8 megapixel sensor, whereas the A350 boasts an impressive 14.2 megapixels. The A350 will sells for $700 for the camera and DT 18-70mm f3.5-5.6 standard zoom lens (DSLR-A300K), and $900 for a kit bundled with an additional 55-200mm telephoto lens (DSLR-A300X). Both versions (A300K, A300X) are available for pre-order now from the Sony online store and are expected to ship April 2nd and April 25th, 2008, respectively.
Pros & Cons
Pros:
•More superior LiveView implementation compared to competition (has to be proven yet)
•Articulating screen combined with Live View allows for easier over-the-heads and ground-level shots
•Good balance between resolution (10.2 MP) and low-light performance for APS-C size sensor
•In-camera image stabilization allows for using of non-stabilized lenses, by thus lowering the cost of ownership
•Battery life is better than the competition
•Noise level is better than in A350
•FPS (frames per second) rate and overall performance is better then A350
Cons:
•Startup/shutdown time can be better
•A300X is not available in many parts of the world
•A300K is $100 more expensive in Rest Of the World than in US after currency conversion.
More information
Detailed Specifications
System
Camera type - Digital SLR camera with built-in flash and interchangeable lenses
Lens Compatibility - Sony α lenses, Minolta and Konica Minolta AF lenses
Image Sensor
Sensor type - APS-C type (23.6x15.8mm), with RGB primary color filters
Effective pixels - Approx. 10.2 megapixels
Total pixels - Approx. 10.8 megapixels
Anti-Dust Function - Charge protection coating on low pass filter and image-sensor shift mechanism
ISO sensitivity range - AUTO, 100 to 3200 (in 1-stop increments, Recommended Exposure Index)
A/D conversion - 12 bits
Recording
Recording format - JPEG (DCF2.0 and Exif 2.21 compliant, DPOF supported), RAW (Sony ARW 2.0 format), RAW + JPEG
Image size -
Image quality modes - RAW, RAW + JPEG, Fine, Standard
Media - CompactFlash (Type I, Type II), Microdrive * Separately sold "Memory Stick Duo Adapter for CompactFlash Slot AD-MSCF1" is necessary to use with Memory Stick Duo / Memory Stick PRO Duo / Memory Stick PRO-HG Duo
Noise reduction - Long exposure NR: On/Off selectable, available at shutter speeds longer than 1 sec. High ISO NR: On/Off selectable, available at ISO 1600 or higher
Color space - sRGB, Adobe RGB
Other features -Creative Style, D-Range Optimizer (Off, Standard, Advanced)
White Balance
Modes - Auto, Daylight, Shade, Cloudy, Tungsten, Fluorescent, Flash Color Temperature / Color filter, Custom
Bracketing - 3 exposures, H/L level selectable
Focus Control
Type - TTL phase detection system
Sensor - CCD line sensors
No. of focus point - 9 points
Sensitivity range - EV 0 - 18 (at ISO 100)
Modes - AF/MF selectable. AF modes: Single-shot AF, Automatic AF, Continuous AF
Focus area - Wide, Spot, Local (9 local areas selectable)
Other features - Predictive control, Focus lock, Eye-start AF, AF illuminator (Built-in flash, Range: approx. 1-5m)
Exposure Control
Metering - Type: TTL metering Sensor: 40-segment honeycomb-pattern SPC Sensitivity range: EV 2 - 20 (EV 4 - 20 in spot metering mode), (at ISO 100 with F1.4 lens) Modes: Multi segment, Center weighted, Spot
Exposure - Modes: Program AE (AUTO, AUTO - Flash Off, P), Aperture priority, Shutter priority, Manual, Scene selection (Portrait, Landscape, Macro, Sports, Sunset, Night portrait / view) Exposure compensation: +/-2 EV in 0.3-stop increments Bracketing: 3 continuous or single exposures selectable, in 0.3 or 0.7-stop increments
Viewfinder
Type - Fixed eye-level, penta-Dach-mirror
Coverage - 95%
Magnification - 0.74 x (with 50mm lens at infinity, -1m-1 )
Diopter adjustment - -3.0 to +1.0 m-1
Eye point - Approx. 20.8 mm from the eyepiece lens, Approx. 16.7 mm from the eyepiece frame
Screen - Spherical Acute Matte
LCD Monitor
Type - 2.7-inch type, TFT
Total number of dots - 230,400 dots
Coverage - 100%
Brightness adjustment - Selectable in 5 steps
Live view
Type - Pentamirror tilt system
Image sensor - Dedicated to live view
Metering - 1200-zone evaluative
Sensitivity - EV 2 - 17 (in all metering modes, at ISO 100 with F1.4 lens)
Coverage - 90%
Smart Teleconverter function - 1.4x or 2x selectable
Other functions - Histogram display, real-time image-adjustment display (exposure compensation, white balance, sunset / B&W in Creative Style)
Shutter
Type - Electronically-controlled, vertical-traverse, focal-plane type
Speed range - 1/4000 to 30 sec., Bulb
Flash sync speed - 1/160 sec.
Super SteadyShot® (Image Stabilization)
Type - Image-sensor shift mechanism
Indication - Super SteadyShot scale and Camera-shake warning in the viewfinder
Compensation effect - Equivalent to approx. 2.5 to 3.5 steps in shutter speeds (varies according to shooting conditions and lens used)
Built-in Flash
Pop-up - Auto
Guide number - 12 (in meters at ISO 100)
Flash coverage - 18 mm (focal length printed on the lens body)
Control ADI, Pre-flash TTL
Flash compensation - +/- 2 EV (in 0.3-stop increments)
Modes - Auto (Flash-off), Auto, Fill-flash, Red-eye reduction, Rear sync, Slow sync,
High speed sync, Wireless
Flash bracketing - 3 exposures (in 0.3/0.7-stop increments)
Recycling time -Approx. 4 sec.
Drive
Modes - Single, Continuous, Self-timer (10 sec. / 2 sec. delay selectable)
Continuous shooting speed - Max. 3 fps (approx.) with viewfinder, max. 2 fps (approx.) in live view mode
No. of frames recordable - JPEG (L size, Fine): Until memory card is full, RAW: 6 frames, RAW+JPEG: 3 frames
Playback
Modes - Single (with or without shooting information, with 4 previous / following images, RGB histogram & highlight / shadow warning), 4 / 9 / 25-frame index view, enlarged display mode (max. zoom - L size: 12x, M size: 9.1x, S size: 6.1x), Image orientation, Slideshow
Interface
PC interface - USB2.0 Hi-Speed (mass storage, PTP)
Video output - NTSC / PAL selectable
Supported OS Environments
Windows Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional / XP Home Edition / XP Professional /
Vista Home Basic / Vista Home Premium / Vista Ultimate / Vista Business / Vista Enterprise
Macintosh Mac OS X (v. 10.13 or later)
Print
Compatible standards - Exif Print, Print Image Matching III, PictBridge
Power
Power source - One Rechargeable Battery Pack NP-FM500H * NP-FM55H for DSLR-A100 is not usable.
Battery performance - Approx. 730 shots with viewfinder, approx. 410 shots in live view mode * Both measured using CIPA standard
External power source - AC Adapter / Charger AC-VQ900AM (optional)
Others
Dimension (WxHxD) - Approx. 130.8 x 98.5 x 74.7 mm (5-1/4 x 4 x 3 in.) (excl. protrusions)
Weight - Approx. 582 g (1 lb 4.5 oz) (w/o batteries, memory card, accessories)
Operating temperature - 0 - 40 degrees C (32- 104 degrees F)
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Wednesday, April 2, 2008
Sony Alpha DSLR-A300 - Digital Camera
Casio EX-Z9 - Digital Camera
The EX-Z9 is Casio's newest offering of the ultra-compact camera in the Exilim product line. The camera is simple with 8.1 megapixel resolution and basic functionality. It has a large LCD screen for its size (2.5") and standard 3x optical zoom. Face detection technology is also part of its main offering. The EX-Z9's claim-to-fame is its simple and easy-to-use functionality. It has an Easy Mode option, which sets the menu to 3 options: image size, flash and self-timer. All the rest of the functionality and options are hidden from the user, making it a nice point-and-shoot for older or less tech-savvy users.
Pros & Cons
Pros:
•Stylish
•Great price point
•Easy to use
•Straightforward menus
Cons:
Nothing to think of
More information
Features
Self-timer
Movie recording at 848x480 resolution
Face detection technology
8.1 megapixels
3x optical zoom
Dimensions: width - 3.64” x height - 2.17 x depth - .91”
Weight (without batteries) - 4.48 oz
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