Sony A230

Leading SLR camera producing company Sony released three camera models DSLR-A380, DSLR-A330 and DSLR-A230 under the alpha category. These have special features that help beginners and first time buyers to increase their level form point-and-shoot digital still cameras.

Uniquely Matched to Customers’ Needs

With the release of these cameras company hopes that they will certainly help to overcome the common challenges faced by beginners who start up with DLSR photography. These models have the same features as the normal ones keeping the same performance characteristics. They also inherit properties like compactness, lighter in weight, easy operation.

“The new cameras have inbuilt features that help users greatly in learning the technologies of DLSR cameras without going deep into the steep learning curve of the traditional cameras.” said Kristen Elder, senior manager for the alpha business at Sony Electronics Inc.”By decreasing the difficulties we have made these cameras very easy to use and configure without compromising of the photo quality.”

Light and Compact

α230 camera is one of the lightest and one of the most compactable bodies at just 15.9 ounces, seen for the first time in DSLR technology. Rest two are α330 and α380 having resolutions of 10.2 megapixel and 14.2 megapixel respectively. All of these are lighter and more compact then the older models DSLR-A300 and DSLR-A350 respectively. Apart from these features, they have a very friendly user interference and a great control layout that makes it possible for users for single hand operation. Also they have a characteristic feature of image stabilization termed as SteadyShot INSIDE™ in which makes it possible for users to minimize the blurs in the images that occur due to random shaking of the camera lens.

Quick AF Live View System

These both cameras also have the Sony’s Quick Autofocus (AF) Live View technology which allows users to use frames that can be placed on the camera’s LCD screen and can also be viewed in the optical viewfinder. Also image sensors makes the DSLR to have a rapid response times that helps to ignore the focus delay that are common feature of other systems. This sensor is called as Quick AF Live View. Continuing with their features, next we found that they have Clear Photo LCD™ screen technology which makes the user to use the camera easily in sunlight also. You can also shift the LCD’s up or down depending on your use and make it possible to frame subjects from high to low positions which are generally difficult to comprehend by using a eye-level viewfinder.

Also you are not necessarily required to keep the camera in front of your face while taking photos because by combining Quick AF Live View and an adjustable LCD, it is possible to frame a scene and taking a screenshot later. This helps parents to a large extend as they can get natural expressions for their children. If you want to play back your photos on a High definition equipment, there is also an HDMI™ terminal which makes it possible. You just need to get the HDMI cable which is sold separately and be ready to enjoy your images on a HDTV. Also if you wish to control camera playback using a TV remote it is possible. You just need to get the HDMI cable and BRAVIA Sync capable HDTV which are available separately. They also have specific dedicates slots for connecting data cards and memory sticks like PRO Duo™, Memory Stick PRO-HG Duo™ and SD/SDHC media which can be acquired separately.

Built-in Help Guide

If you are facing and problems with these cameras help is easy to find out because these cameras also feature the graphical user interface (GUI) with built-in on-screen Help Guide. This has been first time added in the DLSR series. With the help guide you will get all the basic information of the various features and start up guides and also explains the various modes that you can use. With the Graphic Display you can get a clear understanding of the aperture and shutter speeds and also get a brief idea of what effect these functions have on image quality.

Systems, Lenses and Flash

The Sony new cameras have a camera-and-lens packages which makes new users to get started to operate them with ease and also without seeking any external help. Continuing with the new standard zoom and telephoto lenses that were the features of the pervious bodies, the new cameras also contains new portrait and macro lenses, which helps the newbie to take professionally looking images and also helps to incorporate creativity in the end results.

Another great characteristic of these lens are that they have the capability of Smooth Autofocus Motor (SAM). By enabling this feature it is possible to focus on the image automatically giving good optical performance despite of the compactness in size. This is accomplished by using APS-C sized image sensors. To get a very high image quality the company has introduced DT 18-55mm F/3.5-5.6 standard zoom lens in model SAL-1855 that has elements like Extra-low Dispersion (ED) which can give explicit images with a very high quality without any compromises. The user can also take images of distinct far objects like during sports or any other common things by using the DT 55-200mm F/4-5.6 telephoto zoom lens (model SAL-55200/2). Both these lens can be acquired from the company separately.

With the company launching new macro lenses DT 50mm F/1.8 portrait lens (model SAL-50F18) and DT 30mm F/2.8 (model SAL-30M28) making portrait photography enabled to normal users, it helps to get explicitly good and bright portrait images by the use of SAL-50F18 lens. SAL-30M28 macro lens can be used to get extreme close ups which are otherwise not possible to be captured by normal lens.

If a user needs to take good shots and needs flash for the same, cameras with compact external flash unit can be looked into. HVL-F20AM camera features this characteristic and is really simple to operate. also this new technology helps user to get more illumination when clicking imager indoors as it contains an external flash which can be very easily used to focus light on the object you intend to capture.

Pricing and Availability

If you are really interested in these cameras, pre- orders will commence form May 18, 2009 at www.sonystyle.com/retail. Also they will be available at selected retailers. After the full launch, they will be available at Sony Style® retail stores at military base exchanges and also at all the authorized dealers in whole of the country by July. Costs of these cameras are as follows-

• α380L will be costing at $850
• α330L will be costing at $650
• α230L will be costing at $550
• α380Y will be costing at $1050
• α330Y will be costing at $850
• α230Y will be costing at $750

Lenses L series have a characteristic of SAL-1855 standard zoom lens while the Y series comes with SAL-1855 standard zoom and SAL-55200 telephoto zoom lenses. The estimated costs are given below

• The SAL-1855 standard zoom lens will be costing at $200.
• The SAL-55200 telephoto zoom lens will be costing at $230.
• The SAL-50F18 portrait lens will be costing at $150.
• The HVL-F20AM flash will be costing at $130.