Sony Alpha DSLR-A100 Digital Camera Review

Sony Alpha DSLR-A100

Digital Camera Review

Nov 29, 2006 - By Patrick Singleton
2.5 With the release of the Sony α (alpha) DSLR-A100, the biggest name in consumer electronics has entered the booming DSLR market. The 10.2-megapixel DSLR has a dust control system and sells with a kit lens for $850, making it very competitive in its category. With built-in Super SteadyShot image stabilization, the A100 has a unique and compelling feature set. But the major features are only part of the story – read on to learn about image quality, usability and detailed performance.
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Sony Alpha A100 Review


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.
 
Recording Menu
 
Image Size
Set pixel dimensions of image
Quality
Set compression for JPEGs, or set for RAW capture
Inst. Playback
Set to review images as they are shot
Noise Reduction
Set noise reduction options
Eye-Start AF
Activate auto focus when sensor under viewfinder is covered
Red Eye
Set preflash for red-eye reduction
Flash Control
Set flash exposure measurement method
Flash Default
Set flash to auto or fill flash
Bracket Order
Set the sequence for exposure bracketing
Reset
Return settings to factory defaults
 
 
Playback
 
Delete
Erase images
Format
Format memory cards
Protect
Prevent images from being deleted
Index Format
Set parameters for thumbnail view to 16, 9, 6 or 4 images per screen
Slide Show
Display sequence of images on LCD or through analog video
DPOF Set
Control direct printing on compatible printers


Custom
 
Priority Setup
Set to prevent A100 from shooting unless focus is confirmed
Focus Hold But
Set focus hold button present on some lenses to lock focus, or act as depth of field preview
AEL Button
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
Ctrl Dial Set
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
Exp. Comp. Set
Set to control both ambient and flash exposure, or just ambient
AF Illuminator
Set to activate focus aid light in dark situations
Shutter Lock
Set to lock shutter when memory slot is empty or no lens is on camera
AF Area Setup
Show auto focus site indicator display in viewfinder
Monitor Disp.
Set LCD to shut off when the camera is at eye level
Rec. Display
Set shooting display to rotate when the camera is turned for vertical shots
Play. Display
Set to show verticals upright on LCD
 
 
Setup
 
LCD Brightness
Adjust brightness
Transfer Mode
Set USB port to connect to computer or printer
Video Output
Set to PAL or NTSC
Audio Signals
Allow annoying beeps
Language
Set language for alerts and menus
Date/Time Set
Set date and time
File # Memory
Control numbering of images
Folder Name
Set to name folders sequentially, or with shooting date
Select Folder
Choose folder, if the folders are named sequentially
New Folder
Create new folder
LCD Backlight
Set how long the LCD display stays active while A100's controls aren't used
Power Save
Set delay before goes to sleep
Menu Sec. Memory
Set default menu section to display when the Menu button is pressed
Delete Conf
Set the default choice in the delete confirmation dialog
Clean CCD
Allows manual cleaning of sensor
Reset default
Return A100 to factory settings

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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