Sony DSLR-A200

The Sony a (alpha) DSLR-A200 camera is perfectly positioned to carry a new generation of photographers into the creative world of DSLR performance. A DT 18-70mm f3.5-5.6 standard zoom lens is included here, as well as superb 10.2 megapixel imaging, high-sensitivity shooting, and Super SteadyShot® in-camera image stabilization that reduces blur with a brilliant array of Sony, Carl Zeiss® and Minolta a-mount lenses. It's also fast, lightweight and incredibly easy to operate, with a large 2.7" LCD screen, simple Function Guide menu display and Creative Style settings to fine-tune camera performance. The powerful Bionz™ processing engine is also included to increase response time.

10.2 MP Super HAD™ CCD

Superb image quality gives you great DSLR shots right from the start, with a large APS-size CCD imager developed by Sony to expand dynamic range, minimize noise more effectively and provide greater detail for making big prints or cropping in tight on your subject.

Expanded ISO Sensitivity

Broad sensitivity range from ISO 100 to ISO 3200 enables the ± (alpha) DSLR-A200 to capture beautiful color images even in very dim light -- with High ISO Noise Reduction technology that reduces picture noise artifacts at high-sensitivity ISO 1600 and ISO 3200 settings by eliminating noise from RAW data after analog-to-digital conversion.

Super SteadyShot® in-camera Image Stabilization

A high-performance sensor detects vibrations and the image stabilization system automatically compensates. Because image stabilization is built into the ± (alpha) DSLR-A200, every lens benefits -- and with an advantage of from 2.5 to 3.5 stops, you can shoot effectively at higher shutter speeds even in very low light with minimum blur from shaky hands or fast-moving subjects.

Bionz™ Image Processor

The “brain” of the ± (Alpha) DSLR-A200 is the advanced Sony Bionz™ Image Processor, using hardware-based Large Scale Integrated (LSI) circuitry to enhance images with rich tonal reproduction, improved white balance and exposure control, and expanded D-Range Optimizer capabilities. With 2-channel data transfer from CCD to processor, your camera can also respond faster.

Dynamic Range Optimizer

To improve results with backlit subjects and recover details hidden in shadows or lost in glare, the ± (alpha) DSLR-A200 provides Dynamic Range Optimizer at two levels: Normal DRO, to improve detail using standard gamma curves for fast shot-to-shot response time, or Advanced DRO, to adjust dynamic range area-by-area for the greatest precision.

Anti-Dust Technology

Changing lenses in a DSLR can allow dust to enter the camera -- so to keep the CCD imager cleaner for better pictures, the ± (alpha) DSLR-A200 utilizes both static-free anti-dust coating on the CCD filter and anti-dust vibration that automatically shakes the CCD to dislodge dust each time the camera is shut off.

Auto Pop-Up Flash

In Auto or some scene selection modes, the camera flash automatically pops up and fires when needed to help you shoot more effectively. Flash is cancelled in Landscape, Sport or Sunset modes and in “Flash Off” position on the Exposure Mode dial.

Eye-Start Autofocus System

It begins precision autofocus adjustments the moment you raise the camera to your eye -- so unlike some DSLR cameras that don't start focusing until the shutter button is half-pressed, the Sony ± (alpha) DSLR-A200 never slows down your ability to catch fast action.

9-Point Center Cross AF Sensor

A fast focus motor and improved focus control help bring images into sharp definition more quickly, with predictive focus control that automatically calculates the position of a fast-moving subject.

Flexible, Accurate Exposure Control

A 40-segment honeycomb sensing system provides multi-pattern measuring for superior exposure control accuracy -- and you can also select center-weighted or spot metering modes. You'll also have 6 preset White Balance control settings and RGB Histogram display to check color balance.

Scene Selection Modes

Along with auto exposure, the ± (alpha) DSLR-A200 gives you scene selection modes to optimize camera performance for Portrait, Landscape, Macro, Sports, Sunset and Night Portrait/Night View situations.

Creative Style Settings

To express your creativity and personal taste, you can adjust contrast, saturation and sharpness settings for any of 8 finishing styles -- including Standard, Vivid, Portrait, Landscape, Night View, Sunset, B & W and Adobe RGB modes.

2.7” Clear Photo™ LCD Screen

A large built-in screen with anti-reflective coating makes it easy to read camera setup menus even in bright sunlight and improves image quality when you check your shots.

Index and Slide Show Display

To quickly review your photos, the ± (alpha) DSLR-A200 can display 4, 9 or 25-frame index views -- or present automatic slide shows with fade-in/fade-out effect.

High-Resolution Thumbnails for PhotoTV HD Viewing

The ± (alpha) DSLR-A200 can also create high-resolution thumbnail images for viewing on a Sony BRAVIA® HDTV in optimized PhotoTV HD mode, with image format adjustable for standard 3:2 or widescreen 16:9 display.

Function Guide Display

On-screen menus are intuitive and easy to use -- and a simple Camera Function Display can be activated and operated with one hand using the Fn (Function) button and controller button to adjust Flash mode, Autofocus mode, White Balance, Metering mode, AF area and D-Range Optimizer.

Continuous Burst Mode at 3 Frames Per Second

To capture action more effectively, the ± (alpha) DSLR-A200 offers continuous JPEG shooting up to the limit of your flash memory card -- plus RAW Burst Mode (up to 6 shots) with intelligent buffer management to allow more shots to be captured without waiting for the buffer to clear.

Stamina® Battery Power

You can take up to 750 shots on a fully charged NP-FM500H InfoLITHIUM® battery -- and you'll be able to see about how much power remains in percentage increments, so you can keep shooting in confidence.

High-Capacity Media Options

For conveniently storing and sharing your images, the ± (alpha) DSLR-A200 accepts CompactFlash™ Type I/II media and Memory Stick PRO Duo™ media via an optional adaptor.

Advanced Lenses and Accessories

The Sony ± (alpha) system gives you everything you need to expand your creativity in DSLR photography: precision Sony DT zoom lenses and specialty lenses, Sony “G” Series lenses with advanced motorized autofocusing, amazingly bright Carl Zeiss® T coated lenses, professional-quality flash units, and over 16 million Minolta a-mount lenses sold worldwide.

More external Sony DSLR-A200 reviews!

Price	• Kit inc. 18-70 mm F3.5 - F5.6 lens (DSLR-A200K): $700 • Kit as DSLR-A200K plus 75-300 mm F4.5 - F5.6 lens (DSLR-A200W): $900
Body material	Plastic
Sensor	• 23.6 x 15.8 mm CCD sensor • RGB Color Filter Array • Interline interlaced CCD • Built-in fixed low-pass filter • 10.8 million total pixels • 10.2 million effective pixels
Image sizes	• 3872 x 2592 (L) • 2896 x 1936 (M) • 1920 x 1280 (S)
File qualities / formats	• RAW (12-bit,.ARW format) • RAW + JPEG Fine • JPEG Fine • JPEG Standard
Dust reduction	• Static-resistant anti-dust coating • CCD-shift dust reduction mechanism
Lenses	• Sony Alpha lenses (also compatible with Minolta A-type bayonet mount lenses)
FOV crop	1.5x
Super SteadyShot	• CCD-Shift 'Super SteadyShot' system • Five level LED shake indicator in viewfinder • Anti-shake effect: Equivalent to 2.5 – 3.5 steps in shutter speed
Auto Focus	• TTL CCD line sensors (9-points, 8 lines with center cross-hair sensor) • EV -1 to 18 (ISO 100) detection range • Predictive focus control for moving subjects • Auto-tracking focus point display
AF area selection	• Wide AF area • Spot AF area (center) • Focus area selection (any of 9)
Focus modes	• Single-shot AF • Direct Manual Focus • Continuous AF • Automatic AF • Manual focus
AF assist illuminator	Via internal flash, must be raised
Eye-start AF	Yes, selectable from menu
Shooting modes	• Auto • Programmed AE (with shift) • Aperture priority AE • Shutter priority AE • Manual • Scene modes (below)
Scene modes	• Portrait • Landscape • Macro • Sports • Sunset • Night portrait
Sensitivity	• Auto • ISO 100 • ISO 200 • ISO 400 • ISO 800 • ISO 1600 • ISO 3200
Metering modes	• Multi-segment (40 segment Honeycomb pattern) • Center-weighted • Spot
Metering range	• EV 1 to 20 (Multi-segment / Center-weighted) • EV 4 to 20 (Spot metering) (at ISO 100 with F1.4 lens)
AE Lock	• AEL button • Half-press shutter release
AE Bracketing	• 3 frames • 0.3 or 0.7 EV steps
Exposure compen.	• -2.0 to +2.0 EV • 0.3 EV steps
Shutter	Electronically-controlled, vertical-traverse, focal-plane Shutter
Shutter Speed	• 30 to 1/4000 sec • Bulb
Flash X-sync	1/160 sec
Aperture values	Depends on lens, 0.3 EV steps
DOF preview	Yes, dedicated button
White balance	• Auto • Daylight • Shade • Cloudy • Tungsten • Fluorescent • Flash • Color temperature (2500 - 9900 K) • Manual (Custom)
White balance fine tuning	• Auto (none) • Preset WB: -3 to +3 • Fluorescent WB: -2 to +4 • Color temperature WB: -9 to +9 (Magenta to Green)
White balance bracketing	• 3 frames • Hi or Lo steps
Dynamic range optimizer	• Off • Standard • Advanced
Color space	• sRGB • Adobe RGB
Color modes	• Standard • Vivid • Portrait • Landscape • Sunset • Night view • B&W • Adobe RGB
Image parameters	• Contrast (-2 to +2) • Saturation (-2 to +2) • Sharpness (-2 to +2)
Noise reduction	• Long exposure for exposures longer than 1 second • User controllable: On / Off
Viewfinder	• Eye-level fixed pentamirror • Spherical Acute Matte focusing screen (not changeable) • Magnification approx. x0.83 • 95% frame coverage • Diotric adjustment (-2.5 to +1.0) • Eye-relief 20 mm from eyepiece, 16 mm from frame • Eyepiece cup removable • Viewfinder info bar
LCD monitor	• 2.7" TFT LCD ('Clear Photo LCD Plus') • 230,000 pixels • Anti-reflective coating • Auto dimmed by viewfinder eye sensor
Flash	• Built-in pop-up flash (auto release) • Metering: ADI, Pre-flash TTL, Manual flash control • Guide number 12 (ISO 100/m) • Angle of coverage 24 mm (35 mm equiv.) • Flash sync 1/160 sec, 1/125 sec (SteadyShot on)
Flash modes	• Auto • Fill Flash • Red-eye Reduction (pre-flash) • Wireless/Remote Off-camera Flash • Rear Flash Sync. • High Speed Sync. • Slow Sync with AE Lock
Flash compensation	-2.0 to +2.0 EV in 0.3 EV steps
External flash (optional)	• Sony HVL-F56M (guide no. 56) • Sony HVL-F36M (guide no. 36) • Macro Twin Flash Kit HVL-MT24AM
Drive modes	• Single-frame • Continuous • Self-timer (10 or 2 sec) • Continuous bracket • Single-frame bracket • White balance bracket
Continuous shooting	• RAW: 3 fps, up to 6 frames • RAW+JPEG: 3 fps, up to 3 frames • JPEG: 3fps, unlimited
Self-timer	• 10 sec • 2 sec
Orientation sensor	Yes, for shooting, playback and control panel display
Connectivity	• USB 2.0 Hi-Speed (mass storage or PTP) • Video out (NTSC or PAL) • DC-IN • Remote terminal
Video out	Selectable NTSC or PAL
Storage	• Compact Flash Type I/II • Supports FAT16 / FAT32
Power	• NP-FM500H Lithium-Ion rechargeable battery • Battery charger included • Optional AC adapter
Vertical grip	VG-B30AM (optional) accepts up to 2x NP-FM500H batteries
Dimensions	131 x 98.5 x 71 mm (5.2 x 3.7 x 2.8 in)
Weight (body)	No battery: 532 g (1.2 lb)

Vertical Grip VG-B30AM

Photographers exploring the possibilities of the a (alpha) DSLR-A200 will enjoy the creative flexibility added by the high-quality VG-B30AM Vertical Grip. It not only helps steady your hand with the camera in both vertical and horizontal positions, it also provides a stable platform for shooting portraits, still-life shots and other subjects requiring vertical format. For added convenience, the shutter button and other important controls are easy to use and located at your fingertips. It also holds two NP-FM500H InfoLITHIUM® batteries (sold separately) for up to 1,500 shots, with automatic power switching to backup battery power for uninterrupted shooting.

Rechargeable Battery Pack

Extend shooting times on your Sony a (alpha) DSLR camera with this long-lasting battery pack. InfoLITHIUM technology sends vital information to your camera, displaying remaining time before a re-charge is needed. Keep a spare battery on hand for long trips or all-day events.

Accessory Kit

Keep your camera and select accessories free from bumps and scratches with this travel-friendly accessory kit. The ACC-AMFM11 lets you store your Sony a (alpha) DSLR-A200 camera, spare battery pack and the HVL-F36AM flash with room to spare. Built to last, this soft case is very sturdy and features a handy strap for easy carrying and a handle for your convenience.

HVL-F36AM Digital Camera Flash

Take great pictures with superb flash coverage with the HVL-F36AM digital camera flash. You will be able to capture a variety of moods with this flash's long list of features. With the ability to synchronize with all shutter speeds, the HVL-F56AM digital camera flash is capable of capturing the moment, no matter what time it is. Whether it's a clear, sunny day or a cloudy dusk, you can be sure this flash will fill your subjects with the right amount of light.

Memory Stick DUO™Adaptor for Compact Flash Slot

Optimize your Sony alpha DSLR-A200 digital camera with the AD-MSCF1 Memory Stick DUO™ adapter for Compact Flash slot. This adapter gives you the flexibility to use either Memory Stick or Compact Flash media.

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