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Sony DSLR-A380 reviews
You can find here the most interesting reviews / ratings from the well-known expert sites about the Sony DSLR-A380 Camera. Here are the reviewers:
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- 27 September 2009 - |
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- 4.5 |
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- 17 September 2009 - |
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- 3 |
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- 24 August 2009 - |
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- 4 |
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- 16 August 2009 - |
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- 4 |
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- 29 July 2009 - |
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- 4 |
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- 28 July 2009 - |
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- 3.5 |
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- 09 July 2009 - |
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- 3 |
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- 08 July 2009 - |
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- 4.5 |
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- 14 June 2009 - |
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- 4.5 |
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- 02 June 2009 - |
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- 3 |
WhatDigitalCamera 's conclusion / rating - 27 September 2009 |
“ That the Sony A380 is only a minor upgrade indicates one of two things. Either the entry-level user is already well-catered for, with everything they need to take the kind of images they would require, or a better-specified model which would sit a little higher up is in the pipeline. After all, a replacement for the Sony A700 is long overdue, and the video recording and high-resolution LCD screens tend to be seen as niceties geared towards the mid-range market than necessities to this one.
It's when using live view that the camera shines, and while other manufacturers have made their own advances in this area Sony still remains on top. It's only really the design of the body which may be problematic, though of course, this won't bother everyone. Even so, the usual advice of handling a camera before you buy it is something we'd strongly suggest here... ”
WhatDigitalCamera's rating: |
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- 4.5 |
Complete review here
MacWorld 's conclusion / rating - 17 September 2009 |
“ SLR newcomers who are easily intimidated when trying to use a camera more complicated than a point-and-shoot may find the Alpha A380 a lot easier to use than other SLRs. But with the disappointing plastic build and lack of video capture, you might be tempted to look elsewhere... ”
Complete review here
DPReview 's conclusion / rating - 24 August 2009 |
“ If you shoot mainly at base ISO, in live view and Auto mode the Sony DSLR-A380 is worth a closer look. For everyone else the camera can only become a consideration if its price drops significantly. At the Sony's price point there are currently several better alternatives available... ”
Complete review here
CameraLabs 's conclusion / rating - 16 August 2009 |
“ When Sony announced the Alpha A380 (and its lower-end counterparts the A330 and A230), it wasn’t hard to understand why many enthusiasts were disappointed. Most have become accustomed to new cameras featuring more powerful specifications such as higher resolutions, quicker shooting and bigger, more detailed screens, not to mention the adoption of gadgetry like movie modes.
With the A380 though Sony completely avoided that route, instead opting to keep essentially the same electronics as the earlier A350, and simply house them in a redesigned body with a revamped user interface. Sure, there’s a switch from Compact Flash to SD / Memory Stick Duo and a new HDMI port, but in terms of major specifications, there’s little change.
As such the A380 is certainly not an upgrade for owners of the previous Alpha generation. Anyone with an A200, A300 or A350 looking for an upgrade would be better-served looking at the higher-end A700 or waiting for Sony’s much-rumoured ‘A5xx’ or 'A8xx' ranges. Enthusiasts who value the latest specifications and gadgets will also do better looking elsewhere, and as discussed above, there’s certainly several compelling rivals for the same, or even less money.
But that’s not to say the A380 is a failure. Sony’s done its homework and is squarely targeting its revamped A3xx range at DSLR beginners. In order to appeal to these buyers, it’s gone for a much less intimidating user interface and a distinctive body design, and while we weren’t personally fond of the latter, it certainly stands out among the competition.
The target audience are also unlikely to be overly concerned by the below average performance at high ISOs, relatively slow continuous shooting and technical limitations of the Live View system; indeed they’re much more likely to be bothered by the lack of video recording. But ultimately many will be won over by the easy user interface, fuss-free Live View experience and fairly unique styling. Brand-loyalty is also not to be underestimated, especially where Sony is concerned.
So while the A380 is a disappointment for enthusiasts, it can be recommended as a first DSLR for absolute beginners so long as they get on with the ergonomics and don't need video. Like its predecessor though, you’ll need a decent lens to really exploit its high resolution, such as the Carl Zeiss 16-80mm. If you’re intending to stick with the kit lens, you should seriously consider the cheaper Alpha A330 which is identical other than its lower 10.2 Megapixel resolution – fit both bodies with their kit lenses and you’re unlikely to notice a great deal of difference in real-life... ”
Complete review here
PhotographyBLOG 's conclusion / rating - 29 July 2009 |
“ OK, so while a resolution of 14.2 million effective pixels for a consumer level DSLR aiming for a mass-market family audience looks a bit like overkill, that level of spec in part justifies the Sony A380's £720 price tag. And set against the asking prices for the Canon EOS 500D and Nikon D5000 mentioned at the outset it compares pretty favourably.
Where Sony's argument falls down perhaps is that it doesn't offer HD video like those rivals - quickly it seems, becoming something of a must at this price. And it's an omission that feels odd given its manufacturer's expertise elsewhere with the moving image. Particularly off putting is the fact that the build of the A380 looks and feels a lot more plastic than its Canon or Nikon rivals.
Perhaps Sony hasn't brought a great deal that's new to the party between the A350 and A380, but at the very least here is a DSLR that you'll be quite happy to take out with you for a day's sightseeing when you might have otherwise plumped for a less satisfactory compact for the sake of its perceived lightness and convenience. With kit lens and strap attached its portability is such that your shoulders and neck won't be aching at the day's end.
If you like the look and sound of the Sony A380 but don't need such a high resolution and would rather spend a little less, then check out the A330 sitting just below it in the range. The cameras are so otherwise identical that they share the same manual... ”
PhotographyBLOG's rating: |
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- 4 |
Complete review here
Pocket-lint 's conclusion / rating - 28 July 2009 |
“ Image wise, Sony’s A380 delivers evenly exposed pictures with naturalistic colours when left on its default settings. There are further pre-optimised Creative Style settings accessible for those who prefer the more vivid look. We weren’t convinced however that the supplied standard zoom made the best of the sensor’s high pixel count, since overall detail was softer than we expected.
However, lightweight enough at 460g, body only, to carry around all day with the aid of the provided shoulder strap, the A380 is a DSLR that won’t put you through pain for your photography – either physically or mentally.
The compromise is ignoring a more plastic feel construction than rivals in Canon’s 500D or Nikon’s D5000, and some quirky as well as innovative features. But, for now, Sony has price in its favour, being some £80 cheaper than its closest competitor at the time of writing – and that includes the lens we had for our test shots.
Though not an outright bargain, for those who are prepared to ignore the obvious lure of the "big two", Sony’s A380 tethers a high resolution, creative features, and innovative technologies to ease of use. The result is a reliable performer delivering richly detailed and colourful images, though you might want to trade up from the kit lens fairly quickly... ”
Pocket-lint's rating: |
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- 3.5 |
Complete review here
CNET UK 's conclusion / rating - 09 July 2009 |
“ The Sony Alpha DSLR-A380 is meant to replace the old A350, but it's more like a relaunch than a replacement. Technically, it appears to be pretty much the same camera, albeit with a new lens and a fancy redesign. This makes the price hard to swallow, especially since the A350 is still available in many stores for around £200 less... ”
Complete review here
PhotoReview 's conclusion / rating - 08 July 2009 |
“ Sony's DSLR A380 is the top model in a suite of three Alpha DSLR cameras that were announced in late May. Ninety-two grams lighter than its predecessor, the 14.2-megapixel A380 replaces the DSLR-A350 in Sony's line-up. The new camera has been designed for newcomers to SLR photography and boasts a 2.7-inch Clear Photo LCD screen, SteadyShot INSIDE in-camera image stabilisation and dual slots that accommodate Memory Stick PRO Duo and SD/SDHC memory cards (Full functionality is not guaranteed with Memory Stick Duo cards)... ”
PhotoReview's rating: |
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- 4.5 |
Complete review here
LetsGoDigital 's conclusion / rating - 14 June 2009 |
“ To be fair; the Sony DSLR-A380 is a digital SLR camera you'd expect to find in the current DSLR market. The aim was clearly to create a genuine Sony Look&Feel and a user-friendly graphical user interface. And in doing so, Sony has proven successful. The only thing is that it came at the cost of a few details; of which the main disadvantage is the battery capacity. From a technical viewpoint and for image quality, there is a slight overall improvement compared to its predecessor. As a buyer, we would not go for the Sony Alpha 380 kit 2. But for body and kit version 1, the Sony DSLR-A380 is an appealing DSLR camera for the beginner and the enthusiast amateur alike... ”
LetsGoDigital's rating: |
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- 4.5 |
Complete review here
TechRadar 's conclusion / rating - 02 June 2009 |
“ It is important to note, however, that if Sony's past pricing strategy is anything to go by, the A380 will drop in price fairly quickly and get cheaper and cheaper the longer it has been on the market.
If and when its price drops below £600, the A380 will be a great bargain... ”
Complete review here
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