Sony Alpha A300 and A350 Preview

Aren't these "new" features also available in the Olympus E-330 of some time ago? The Olympus E-3 has the tilt out LCD and Live View, but without the second sensor. The Olympus E-330 and the Panasonic L1 had a second sensor as far as I know. The extreme degree of tilting maybe an improvement and the positioning of the second sensor maybe different but in my opinion these are not completely new features.

Pedro Aphalo.

OK - new features for an APS-C DSLR. I think that covers it!

I think the new Sonys are the first DSLRs with both a fold out LCD and a secondary digital sensor, though if I'm wrong, please let me know.

The 330 also has a fold-out display. It even has two live-view modes: you can use either the secondary sensor (like the Sony) or the primary sensor (like all the other live-view cameras now).

OK, I guess we have the record straight now. 4/3 did it first! Now it's time for APS-C. Perhaps next comes full frame?

The A350 has 2.5 fps according to the Sony data sheet. Both have 2 fps when shooting with Live View active.

Can this new live view show real time levels like my DiMage 7i does?

The availability of a non 4/3 camera with Live view will maybe tempt m5 away from my E-330.

The DSC-R1 is a cmos APS-C live view the dsc-R1 is a 3mm from lens sensor cam (so perfect in daily use) at iso 160 (till iso400) very usefull fast shutter (i use also nikon and canon and feel that differance) no P-fringing - very low cromatic fault - almost no vigneting it seems everybody forgot a very good thing if it comes to photo quality And sony - try to forgot too - Why? (was it too cheap for the quality pics it produce?) its SLOW SLOW if it has to compeet the same picture-quality cams why aren't they working on the SPEED of the same idea as R1? no mirror, sensor to the front (3mm from lens), topdisplay, ... together with antishake, duoprocessor, SLR lens,... info: look at the old test - dpreview a fixedlens350D - against zoomR1 the same quality (and in real life it is true) why can't we push the engineers of sony?

I see Sony is on the way to releasing the full line of cameras that Minolta used to market with their Minolta Alpha/Dynax/Maxxum 1/2/3/4/5/6/7/8/9-series. Good for everyone.

The Sony DSC-R1 is still $800US at Sony Style Retail Stores. If they'd only make an updated model II with Anti-Shake, it would sell like gang busters. It's still in the Sony stores, and with high optical accuracy accessory wide and telephoto adapters at ~$400US each, plus close-up lens, plus flash, and spare battery, and charger, and maybe a case and cables, make it ~$2,000 complete new kit camera system. Or just the body anywhere from ~$400US lowest used.

By the way, why does Sony charge SO MUCH for their stuff?

http://servicesales.sel.sony.com/ecom/accessories/web/index.jsp

Sadly, digital camera gear ages just as quickly as any other digital computer gear, and also sadly, there is often NOT an newer model with equal or better improvements at equal or better prices.

How about that new Casio EX-F1, 6 mp anti-shake stabilized CMOS 7.18 x 5.32 mm sensor, 12x 36-432mm (eq) f/2.7-4.6 zoom lens, with 60 frames per second capture? Dang, JPG only, so that counts me out. How many can they sell for ~$1,000US?

It seems the only "modern" integrated EVF camera with manual controls and RAW capture and active anti shake is the Fuji S100fs, 11mp, 14.3x 28-400mm (eq) f/2.8-5.3 (3 frames per second!) ~$750US new or used.

But the Sony DSC-R1 doesn't have active anti-shake and I can alternatively get a Sony Alpha DSLR WITH sensor-based anti-shake for all lenses, used or refurbished for ~$500US, with or without a lens included, and can also use my existing or many other old and future lenses ... hard to beat. The DSC-R1 is for brighter light or tripod use, but not hand-held low light, comparatively.

Finally, Sony appears to have a back door to the profession market, selling an adapter to use the Sony/Minolta Alpha/Dynax/Maxxum lenses on Sony Professional Digicams! Sneaky!

A very exciting market, even without Minolta directly playing it's ol' hand anymore.

I just bought the A350X and i was surprised for two things. first, i found out that the standard wireless receiver and transmitter unit the triggers a studio flash does not fit on the sony's accessory shoe. does any one know if sony makes it's own wireless transmitter and receiver? the A350X has an embedded flash mode called "wireless mode" that triggers studio flash head but unfortunately it only works when the camera flash goes off. second, the default resolution of the pictures taken by the camera is 72 ppi versus 300 ppi in the nikon!!! so much for high resolution

Here are my short experiences about Sony A350
The features are great. The camera is lightweight--which is good for some, not so good for others. For me, it's excellent--especially considering that I had added the vertical grip which adds an additional battery. It feels good and the shutter is much quieter than the Konica Minolta it replaced. It sounds exactly like the a700. Live view is nice if you use it ( Sony A350 live view example ). I hear that the viewfinder is supposed to be dimmer--but I haven't noticed it. The articulating screen is great for low-angle shots.

Problems:
The build quality, while not bad--is just not feeling as good as the Konica Minolta it replaced. The feel of the grip just does not feel as secure. That's it, though. It feels better than the Canon/Nikon in its class. The flash compensation is now hidden in the menu rather than the function screen.

I have had the A100 for a year or two now and found it an easy and comfortable fit in my large hands. I recently bought the A350 body and immediately noticed that the grip is considerably smaller. By adding a vertical grip I have restored the comfort zone and the A350 is giving me a lot of pleasure.

I have recently purchased (what I would call the definitive book) the Sony DSLR A300 series Digital field guide by Tom Bonner. This descriptive book is in two part.... the first section discusses the camera functions and the second section goes through numerous mini workshops on how to do what, when. Highly informative and well illustrated..... a Godsend on any field trip.
Well worth the money.
Regards