Sony α (alpha) A200 10.2 MP Digital SLR Camera - Black (Kit w/ 18-70mm Lens)

Product Information
Enter the exciting world of DSLR photography with the α (alpha) DSLR-A200 camera and the included zoom lens. With total creative control over your shots, you'll have frame-worthy results in no time.

Product Identifiers
Brand Sony
Model Alpha DSLR-A200K with 18-70mm Lens
MPN DSLR-A200K
UPC 4905524415247

Key Features
Camera Type SLR/Professional
Optical Zoom 10.7x
Digital Zoom 6.4x
Resolution 10.2 Megapixel
LCD Screen Size 2.7 inch
Weight 0.14 Kg

Lens
Interchangeable Lens Interchangeable Lenses
Optical Zoom 10.7x
35mm Zoom Lens 27 - 105 mm
Focal Length 18 - 70 mm

Image Quality
Image Sensor Type CCD
Camera Resolution 10.2 Megapixel
Image Resolutions 1920 x 1280, 3872 x 2592

Exposure Control
Aperture Range f3.5/f5.6(w/t)
Shutter Speed 1/4000 - 1/30Sec.
White Balance Auto, Cloudy (Preset), Colour Temperature Adjust, Daylight / Sunny (Preset), Flash (Preset), Fluorescent (Preset), Manual, Shade (Preset), Tungsten (Preset)
Frames Per Second 6 Frames

Storage
Memory Type CompactFlash Card Type I, CompactFlash Card Type II, Memory Stick DUO PRO, Memory Stick Duo, Memory Stick Pro
Compression Modes Uncompressed
Compression Type DPOF, EXIF 2.21, JPEG, Raw Image

Flash
ISO Speeds 100, 1600, 200, 3200, 400, 800, Auto
Flash Type Built-In
Flash Functions Auto Flash, Fill-in Flash, Rear Sync Flash, Red-eye Reduction Flash, Slow Sync

Viewfinder / Display
Viewfinder Optical (Through-the-lens)
LCD Screen With LCD Screen
LCD Screen Resolution 230000 pixels
LCD Protected Position Without LCD Protected Position

Interfaces
Interface Type USB 2.0
Video Interface Video Out

Power Supply
Battery Life 750 Images

Included Features
Self Timer 10 Sec., 2 Sec.
Built-in Microphone With Built-in Microphone

System Requirements
Operating System Apple Mac OS X, Microsoft Windows 2000, Microsoft Windows ME, Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition, Microsoft Windows XP Professional

Dimensions
Height 9.52 cm
Width 13.34 cm
Depth 7,3 cm
Weight 0.14 Kg

Miscellaneous
Color Black
Included Accessories Battery Charger, Driver, Lithium Battery, Shoulder Strap, Software, USB Cable, Video Cable
Release Date 2008

I own one of these SONY Alpha 200 D-SLR Camera's and I use it to take photos of all the product I sell on www.trademe.co.nz

I also use it to take photo's at Car Show's; Street Parades; Model Train Shows, Church lunch get-togethers, etc...

The one let down, is I need to buy a 50mm Macro lens for Close-Up work. They cost a lot of money and I can't afford to buy one yet.

You need a Macro Lens with this camera to get really close-up detail, as if you get too close to the subject (of something you want to sell online), the camera goes blurry.

In retrospect I wouldn't have gone down the line of buying SONY. I would've bought a Canon camera. But I've got a lot of accessories now, so it would be a big swap over to Canon.

This D-SLR Camera DOESN'T have a Video camera feature, so you can't take movies with the Alpha 200.

Other than those above complaints, I am quite happ with my camera, it's easy to use. I didn't have to read the Instruction Manual.

It does semi-automatic focus. You have to adjust the lens to near enough that you want it, i.e. Telescope the lens in or out, then lightly press the button and it automatically brings the subject into focus.

The in-built flash is very bright, and you probably won't need to buy an External Flash.

Responds quickly, don't have to wait for battery to recharge to take next photo.

In the 2 years I've had it, I've had no need to use the 5 year extended Warranty.

Overall:
A good purchase and worth the money.

I chose the A200 for several reasons; Price being a major factor but not at the expense of quality. I've looked at reviews, handled several in store and whittled my choice down to a select few. The Canon 1000D, Nikon D3100 / D5000, the Sony A290 and the A200. The Nikon was the best for quality and feel etc but it was over twice the price of the Sony, even used. If I were a professional or a very active amateur then I may well have worn that additional £300 but as a keen amateur I have other expenses in my life!!
The Canon just felt...cheap in comparison. Strangely, even though the A290 is a replacement for the A200, the A200 is simply far superior. The construction and quality of picture is much better. Ok, the A290 has 'live view' and other additional features but I know that I simply wouldn't use them. If you are, like me, someone who used to use film, then you'll want the hands on, 'organic' (I hate that term but it does describe it best) way of picture taking, then you'll know what I mean. I want to be the one taking the pic, not the computer in the camera! I want feel and control, and the A200 was, at the price, the best choice.
I would have like a depth of field preview but it's not a huge complaint.
It sits nicely in the hand and most things are fairly ergonomic. One thing to note though...if you are a left eye user, you can easily knock the AV button with your nose when looking through the viewfinder. I would have liked a slightly larger and chunkier adjustment wheel by the shutter release as the one on here is a little small but, again, not a huge issue.
For the price you can get an A200 for now, you really are unlikely to find a better entry level DSLR at such a great price. Obviously the Minolta / Sony lenses aren't at the same level as the Nikkor or Zeiss but they are decent enough and certainly at the 10.2 megapixel level it wont be an issue. There's plenty of choice and I picked up a 80-210mm zoom lens for under £50.

In conclusion, if you absolutely must have the latest gadgets to impress the Jones' (and most of which you'll never use or understand!) and are happy to pay 2-3 times the cost of the A200 or truly want the quality to cost then go for the Nikons, if you're brand conscious, go for the Canon. But if you are interested in a good DSLR which will mean YOU have to be a decent photographer. If you, like me, dont understand what half the stuff they talk about in the magazine reviews means but just want to enjoy taking pics...go for the A200. There's some bargains to be had and you can spend what you save, getting to the exotic locations you want to take pics of!
I had a Zenith E as my first camera, I desperately wanted the Canon A1 or Nikon F1 but I learned how to take a pic by trial and (mostly) error. If you are from the same school, the A200 will make you quite nostalgic!!!!

Wanted one of these cameras for some time after seeing the quality of photographs that a friend of mine took with the same camera. This is my first digital SLR and it gives me more versatility than my previous camera. Have only had the camera a matter of weeks but am really getting the hang of it. The quality of the photographs are good and it really has a fast shutter speed which is ideal for my hobby of railway photography it really does stop the image at very high speeds everything is in focus and very sharp even with my extra 75-300 lens when fully opened up. I bought this camera off ebay because of the price and I really feel that I have got value for money, this camera rates very highly with me, another good product from sony, its replacement the sony A230 with the 18-55 lens will have to go some way to beat the A200K and after only a few weeks of use I am sure tha it will be some time before I think repacing it

If, like me, you are a total novice in photography, particularly involving DSLR's, then this is the camera for you. The Sony Alpha 200K is simply superb. I am sure any photographic officianado would tell me otherwise, or list numerous other cameras that are better at one thing or another. But, for a beginner, simplicity, ease of use, and reliability are paramount, and this camera ticks all those boxes.
I am constantly impressed by the quality and range of photo's I can take with this camera. Some say it is a little heavy, but for me, that translates into build quality. I have to admit I am something of a Sony lover, having never yet been let down by any of their products. However, I could also say that about some other manufacturers, but they dont make a DSLR like this!
I decided to buy it because of the reviews I had seen in the media, and on camera web sites. Ultimately price was a major factor, and I didnt know how well I would take to my first DSLR. I had been contented with a Canon sure shot, and this was a neat little camera, but from the first picture I took with the A200K, I was hooked.
If I knew then what I knew now, I would have plummed for the A350K or even better, but I am no professional. However, the best testiment I can give for this camera is that because of its excellence, I now intend to take up a photography course in my spare time. Then I think I will look at an A700 or even 900!
So, if you are new to DSLR's, buy this.