Model Design / Appearance (6.5)
The Sony alpha A100 is a conventional-looking DSLR. That's disappointing because Sony can be innovative – the Sony R1 is a very interesting, high-end, all-in-one camera with a combination of unique features, some useful, some odd, and a few that are both. The A100 isn't like that. It looks a heck of a lot like the Konica-Minolta DSLRs that preceded it. The A100’s design is a little cleaner, but it retains some annoying mistakes that Konica-Minolta made – the power switch is inconveniently on the back left of the camera, and the USB port complicated the media slot. Given that Konica-Minolta went paws-up trying to sell this design, it might have made more sense for Sony to revise it in some useful ways.
Size / Portability (7.5)
At 5.25 x 3.75 x 2.875 inches, the Sony A100 is comparable to other small DSLRs. It falls between the Canon EOS Rebel XTi and the Nikon D80. For users contemplating the switch from a compact digital camera, it will seem big. It shouldn't be carried in a backpack or purse, the way small cameras are toted around. It needs its own case, particularly if the user buys an external flash or an extra lens.
Handling Ability (7.0)
The Sony α (alpha) A100's grip is comfortable and secure. Though the viewfinder is small, the eyepiece is comfortable and it's easy to see the whole frame. The sensor that shuts off the LCD panel when the camera is at eye level is a convenient feature. Access to several basic controls – ISO, focus mode, white balance, metering pattern, and others – is inconvenient, though. The user has to set the left-hand dial on top of the camera, press the button in the middle of the dial, and then use the 4-way controller to adjust the settings, while consulting the LCD.
 Control Button / Dial Positioning / Size (6.0)
The A100 has one control dial for both aperture and shutter speed. That's common on low-priced DSLRs, but it's slower than having two dials. The dial is just in front of the shutter release, poking up from the surface of the top. The mode dial and the left-hand dial on the top of the camera are stiffer than they need to be. As we note in the handling section, the second dial – call it a parameters dial – is not nearly as fast to use as dedicated buttons or multi-purpose arrangements on the 4-way controller. Speaking of the 4-way controller, the A100 has a nice implementation, one that has 8 positions rather than 4. Using the control to change auto focus points is quick as can be – along with the center button, the 8 positions account for all of the auto focus points, so pressing the dial once activates any point. The shutter release is easy to control – the length of travel is short, but the halfway point is easy to feel.
Menu (7.5)
The Sony alpha A100's menus are well-organized and legible, though the font is ugly. The menus are subdivided into Recording, Playback, Custom and Set-up. Each subdivision has two or three pages of options, and each page is accessible separately, so the user doesn't have to scroll much.
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Recording Menu
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Image Size
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Set pixel dimensions of image
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Quality
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Set compression for JPEGs, or set for RAW capture
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Inst. Playback
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Set to review images as they are shot
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Noise Reduction
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Set noise reduction options
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Eye-Start AF
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Activate auto focus when sensor under viewfinder is covered
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Red Eye
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Set preflash for red-eye reduction
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Flash Control
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Set flash exposure measurement method
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Flash Default
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Set flash to auto or fill flash
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Bracket Order
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Set the sequence for exposure bracketing
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Reset
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Return settings to factory defaults
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Playback
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Delete
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Erase images
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Format
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Format memory cards
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Protect
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Prevent images from being deleted
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Index Format
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Set parameters for thumbnail view to 16, 9, 6 or 4 images per screen
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Slide Show
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Display sequence of images on LCD or through analog video
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DPOF Set
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Control direct printing on compatible printers
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Custom
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Priority Setup
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Set to prevent A100 from shooting unless focus is confirmed
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Focus Hold But
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Set focus hold button present on some lenses to lock focus, or act as depth of field preview
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AEL Button
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Set exposure lock button to lock exposure either while it's being pressed or until it is pressed again. Or set it to switch to spot metering pattern before locking the exposure
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Ctrl Dial Set
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Set behavior of control dial in various exposure modes – in Manual, set it to default to either aperture or shutter speed; in Program, set it to shift exposure or for exposure compensation
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Exp. Comp. Set
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Set to control both ambient and flash exposure, or just ambient
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AF Illuminator
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Set to activate focus aid light in dark situations
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Shutter Lock
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Set to lock shutter when memory slot is empty or no lens is on camera
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AF Area Setup
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Show auto focus site indicator display in viewfinder
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Monitor Disp.
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Set LCD to shut off when the camera is at eye level
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Rec. Display
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Set shooting display to rotate when the camera is turned for vertical shots
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Play. Display
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Set to show verticals upright on LCD
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Setup
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LCD Brightness
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Adjust brightness
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Transfer Mode
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Set USB port to connect to computer or printer
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Video Output
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Set to PAL or NTSC
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Audio Signals
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Allow annoying beeps
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Language
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Set language for alerts and menus
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Date/Time Set
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Set date and time
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File # Memory
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Control numbering of images
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Folder Name
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Set to name folders sequentially, or with shooting date
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Select Folder
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Choose folder, if the folders are named sequentially
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New Folder
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Create new folder
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LCD Backlight
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Set how long the LCD display stays active while A100's controls aren't used
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Power Save
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Set delay before goes to sleep
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Menu Sec. Memory
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Set default menu section to display when the Menu button is pressed
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Delete Conf
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Set the default choice in the delete confirmation dialog
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Clean CCD
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Allows manual cleaning of sensor
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Reset default
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Return A100 to factory settings
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Ease of Use (6.75)
The Sony alpha DSLR-A100 is a mixed bag – the menus are logical and easy to use, the 4-way controller is very good, and the grip is fine. On the other hand, the parameters dial is slow, clunky and annoying. Worse, the A100 has only one control dial, and the viewfinder is small and dark. In sum, the A100 is relatively simple to use, but hard to use quickly. For beginners, that adds up to “easy.” For advanced users who want quick response, it's frustrating.
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