Auto Mode
The Auto mode is very easy to find and use. It is the only colored mode on the dial with its green background and text “AUTO” label. The Auto mode provides access to the Function menu, ISO, drive, and everything the Program mode offers. The difference between those modes is the Program mode remembers its settings, and the Auto mode always returns to its automated defaults. If you turn on the camera in Program mode, it will remember the +0.7 EV that you set last time you were shooting. If you turn the camera on in the Auto mode, it will always start with automatic white balance, automatic ISO, etc.
Drive / Burst Mode
The A200’s press release states it is “faster,” but it isn’t referring to the Burst mode; it’s referring to the autofocus system. The 3 fps Burst mode on the A100 is still intact on the A200. The A200’s Burst mode is available by pushing the drive button on top of the camera body. It shows the following: Single, Continuous, Bracketing Single, Bracketing Continuous, White Balance Bracketing, and Self-Timer. The 3 fps Continuous drive snaps JPEG files up to the capacity of the memory card. It snaps up to six RAW files in a row.
The Sony A200 snaps images off at an even clip and only stutters when subjects move erratically; apparently the autofocus system still functions. The Bracketing modes snap three images at 0.3 or 0.7 intervals. The self-timer can be set to 10 or 2 seconds.
Playback Mode
The Playback mode is activated by a playback button to the lower left corner of the LCD screen. Moving through images is done by pushing the left and right sides of the multi-selector. Holding down one side of the selector quickly scrolls through images.
File information can be viewed or hidden, and a host of histograms can be added to check lighting and red, green, and blue color channels. The file information can be changed with a push to the display button, which also brings up a cool Preview mode that has a large image on the bottom of the LCD and a filmstrip of five thumbnails along the top.
You can view nine images on the screen at once if you push the exposure compensation button. You can magnify images up to 12x by pushing the AEL button, then scroll around the close-up image with the multi-selector.
Many of the A200’s playback features are located in the menu.
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Delete
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Marked Images, All Images
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Format
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OK, Cancel
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Protect
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Marked Images, All Images, Cancel All
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DPOF Setup
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Marked Images, All Images, Cancel All
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Date Imprint
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On, Off
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Index Print
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Create Index, Delete Index
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Playback Display
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Auto Rotate, Manual Rotate
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Slide Show
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(starts it)
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Interval
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1, 3, 5, 10, 30 sec
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There is a quick delete function available just above the playback button to the left of the LCD screen. You can also rotate images by pushing the function button. As you can see from the menu and control options, there aren’t fancy editing features in the A200’s Playback mode. It is quite bare.
Custom Image Presets
The Sony α DSLR-A200 has seven Scene modes on its mode dial. The A100 also has seven Scene modes, and they are nearly the same. Both DSLRs have Portrait, Landscape, Macro, Sports Action, Sunset, and Night Portrait modes. The A200 takes out the A100’s Night Scene, though, replacing it with a more general-use No Flash mode. These are tailored for photographers who need great images on the fly. Exposure compensation and ISO are available in many of the modes, along with a few other options. These Scene modes aren’t incredibly extensive; the Olympus EVOLT E-510 comes with 18 of them. The Sony A200 has the basics, though.
