Camera Labs

Hi folks,

From this press release:

More style and value by Sony for first-time DSLR users Easy-to-use DSLR-A390 and DSLR-A290 with 14.2 megapixels
09 June 2010


• DSLR-A390 with 14.2 megapixels, Quick AF Live View and 6.7cm (2.7-inch) tilt LCD; DSLR-A290 with 14.2 megapixels
  
• Compact, stylish body with new grip design and revised button layout for comfortable handling
• Quick AF Live View with tilt LCD (α390) for live image preview with fast, accurate autofocus
• Friendly on-screen Help Guide and Graphic Display
• HDMI output and BRAVIA Sync

The α (Alpha) digital SLR range from Sony grows further with two stylish, affordable new entry-level cameras.

Ideal for first-time DSLR users, the DSLR-A390 (α390) and DSLR-A290 (α290) offer a dramatic step up in picture quality and creative options from point-and-shoot compact cameras. Just as importantly, they’re beautifully easy to use, even if you’ve never handled a DSLR before.

With a resolution of 14.2 effective megapixels for flawless, low-noise images, both cameras offer the speedy shooting responses that are prized by DSLR users. The α390 adds the extra benefit of Quick AF Live View. This unique system teams the convenience of live image preview on the tilt-angle Clear Photo LCD with speedy, accurate phase-detection autofocus.

The most affordable new DSLR from Sony, the α290 offers the same 14.2 effective megapixel resolution as the α390 in a compact body that weighs just 456g (excluding battery and media).

Both cameras feature an attractive new grip design that allows even more comfortable handling. Upper control areas of both models have also been revised with a clear, uncluttered new button layout.

Even DSLR novices will find it brilliantly simple to explore the generous creative features of both new cameras. The intuitive Graphic Display makes it easy to understand the relation between shutter speed and aperture, plus the effects of your chosen exposure settings on the final picture. The Help Guide offers clear, concise explanations of camera functions, illustrated by a sample image to show the results you’ll achieve. Quick access to shooting and playback function menus is streamlined by colourful on-screen icons.

The α390 and α290 include a mini-HDMI terminal for direct connection to any HD Ready TV (requires optional cable). Support for PhotoTV HD ensures even better-looking still image reproduction on compatible BRAVIA™ models. BRAVIA™ Sync allows control of slideshow and other camera playback functions in comfort using your TV remote.

The stylish, easy to use new α390 and α290 digital SLR cameras by Sony are available from summer 2010.

Bob.

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OM-D E-M5 + ED 12-50mm, H-PS14042E, H-F007014E, L-RS014150E, M.ZUIKO DIGITAL 45mm 1:1.8.
Gitzo GT1541T, Arca-Swiss Z1 DP ball-head.
Astrophotography: TEC 140 'scope, FLI ML16803 camera, ASA DDM60 Pro mount.

Looks like they should sell LOTS of A290’s, especially once the prices settle in the low to mid $400's.

I hope itll have less noise than the other entry level Alphas.

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Ruben

Panasonic DMC-FZ18, Panasonic DMC-FZ28, Canon G5, Canon 350D, Canon 50D + BG-E2N
Tamron 17-50 2.8, Canon EF 70-200mm f/4L USM,
Canon 18-55 II plus lots of Minolta MD/M42 lenses and bodies

If A290 would be cheaper than $400 - this would be my choice)

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Samsung M3510 2-megapixel camera)

How many DSLR's does Sony want in the market? It just makes it harder for people to choose whats right for them.

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Nikon D5000 and D300 with 12-24mm, 35mm f1.8, 50mm f1.4, 60mm f2.8 Macro, 18-200mm, 17-55mm f2.8 (all Nikon)

“How many DSLR's does Sony want in the market? It just makes it harder for people to choose whats right for them”

I believe these 2 have replaced the current 3 in that product segment (2xx - 3xx), so in fact less cameras, more Mega-pixels and larger grips at a lower price.

Still waiting on the 6xx and 7xx though.

Ah fair enough, I thought they may be added to the current selection

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Nikon D5000 and D300 with 12-24mm, 35mm f1.8, 50mm f1.4, 60mm f2.8 Macro, 18-200mm, 17-55mm f2.8 (all Nikon)

This will compete with the Rebel XS and the Nikon D3000. Business wise this is great, because a chunk of DSLR users are within this target market.

So Sony realized they screwed up with the small grip alphas and now they are trying to fix that instead of moving forward with quality dslrs. If this continues I rather go with another company when I upgrade instead of waiting for quality that might never come.

I think Sonys strategy is to replace 230, 330 and 380 with these two models. Entry level models are important to get more NEW alpha user, to compete with Canon and Nikon. Previous models wasn't that attractive to new customers.

People should remember PMA from this year. There was two dslrs that had video recording capability and I think that the bigger one was the replacement of a700. Remember there is photokina in september and I bet that Sony is going to reveal their new dslrs there. And hopefully those new lenses as well.

I have to agree that Sony should've revealed replacement for a700 already and some news about replacement of a900. Or totally new highend model.

But talks about there wouldn't be new semipro dslrs from Sony is just general gossip (IMO).

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dslr: Sony a300 with VG-B30AM grip, Tamron 17-50mm F2.8, Sony 50mm. F1.8, Sony 70-400mm F4.0-5.6 SSM. Sony HVL-F58AM flashgun, Sony HVL-F56AM flashgun, Manfrotto 190XB with 486RC2 and 804RC2 heads. Lowepro Flipside 400 AW.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/40884356@N06/

I find it extremely disappointing. These two cameras, like the previous generation, can only shoot 2.5 fps. I know they want to emphasize the "user-friendliness" and keep price low, as they tried to last time, but it wouldn't hurt to make it 3 fps. The same could be said with Canon and its T2i's 3.7 fps. Why not make that 4 fps?

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My Gear:
Canon EOS Rebel XSi
Sigma 18-200mm OS
Sigma 150-500mm OS HSM
HD Camcorder: Panasonic HDC-HS60



Flickr, latest 200 photos: http://flickr.com/photos/frankyboy5/

YouTube: http://ca.youtube.com/user/PahangDragonbird (Piano, Singing, Slideshows and more!) I went to the New Year's Countdown at Times Square!

Why so obsessed about fractional differences in fps rating?

I guess for the majority of people here these "new" cameras are of no interest. To me, they're not really different in underlying terms compared to the original generation some 2 years ago. What Sony gets by the refresh is a short term jack up in prices.

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Canon DSLRs: 7D, 5D2, 1D, 600D, 450D full spectrum, 300D IR mod
Lenses: EF 35/2, 50/1.8, 85/1.8, 135/2+SF, 28-80 V, 70-300L, 100-400L, TS-E 24/3.5L, MP-E 65, EF-S 15-85 IS
3rd party: Zeiss 2/50 makro, Samyang 8mm fisheye, Sigma 150 macro, 120-300 f/2.8 OS, Celestron 1325/13
Tinies: Sony HX9V.

You have to know that for speed, the A5x0 series are made.
Normally, beginners would not use the continuous shooting at most, and even dont need 4fps.
2,5fps is really up from the 1fps from Canon's P&Ss

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Ruben

Panasonic DMC-FZ18, Panasonic DMC-FZ28, Canon G5, Canon 350D, Canon 50D + BG-E2N
Tamron 17-50 2.8, Canon EF 70-200mm f/4L USM,
Canon 18-55 II plus lots of Minolta MD/M42 lenses and bodies

If you want speed the A450/A500/A550 are indeed the Alphas to look for. Haven't had any chance to get real hands-on experience with them yet but I heard from a number of people that for that level of camera they are really fast in use.

By the way, that fps number is just a bit of marketing on the Canon 500/550D (or Rebel T1i and T2i, whichever you prefer).

- 500D: 3.4 fps, RAW buffer: 9 images.
- 550D: 3.7 fps, RAW buffer: 6 images.

Conclusion: if you shoot RAW, you'll run out of buffer space very, very fast. Less than two seconds of continuous shooting for the 550D and less than three seconds for the 500D. The A550 for instance offers 5 fps and has a RAW buffer of 14 or 15 images. I think the official specification is 14 images, but in practice it's 15. Shooting at high speeds in RAW at high resolutions is still a problem for most cameras, it seems. Even Canon's 1DIV (10 fps, 16.1 MP) has a buffer of just 28 RAW images, which is at full speed less than three seconds. Nikon's D3S has a buffer of 40 (12-bit) RAW images and 36 (14-bit) RAWs, yet shoots a very little bit slower (9 fps vs 10) and has a much lower resolution (12.3 MP vs 16.1)

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Sony α77V/VG-C77AM/α350/18-70/70-400 G SSM/NEX-5/18-55 OSS/Lowepro Pro Trekker 600 AW/CompuTrekker AW/Nova 140 AW/Street & Field gear/Toploader Pro 75 AW. And a huge wishlist...

My photos on Flickr...

I can't remember what the official spec was, but when I had the A350 I seem to remember could manage about 3 or 4 raws before slowing down badly, and that was with a fast CF card. If you want longer bursts, you use jpeg. If you must use raw, you need to time the burst accordingly.

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Canon DSLRs: 7D, 5D2, 1D, 600D, 450D full spectrum, 300D IR mod
Lenses: EF 35/2, 50/1.8, 85/1.8, 135/2+SF, 28-80 V, 70-300L, 100-400L, TS-E 24/3.5L, MP-E 65, EF-S 15-85 IS
3rd party: Zeiss 2/50 makro, Samyang 8mm fisheye, Sigma 150 macro, 120-300 f/2.8 OS, Celestron 1325/13
Tinies: Sony HX9V.