anandtech takes on the sony a350

[ElFenix]

link to the front

pros: live view works really well, though shows only 90% of the frame; sensor seems ok to 1600 (though there isn't much detail in the noise test shot)

cons: viewfinder blows

 

[jpeyton]

Leave it to Sony to f*** up the one of the KEY components of a DSLR (the viewfinder).

I wonder if this new Live View system is to blame for the poor magnification on the viewfinder.

 

[ElFenix]

Originally posted by: jpeyton
Leave it to Sony to f*** up the one of the KEY components of a DSLR (the viewfinder).

I wonder if this new Live View system is to blame for the poor magnification on the viewfinder.

sure it is. it takes up space on top of the viewfinder chamber, and sony wanted to keep dimensions similar to the a200.


anandtech has a ways to go before their camera reviews make it to my rounds. i was looking for a Q9300 overclocking report.

 

[Zenmervolt]

Originally posted by: jpeyton
Leave it to Sony to f*** up the one of the KEY components of a DSLR (the viewfinder).

I wonder if this new Live View system is to blame for the poor magnification on the viewfinder.

The live view system is indeed to blame.

The counterpoint, of course, is that if you want the better viewfinder, you probably don't care about live view. The fact is that the live view, as implemented by Sony in the A300 and A350, is superior to any other live view implementation available on the market today (though Olympus' solution is very close and quite excellent, arguably equal, but I'm not a fan of 4/3) and the target market is not professionals but rather people who want the responsiveness of an SLR but prefer the style of a point and shoot. You get full auto-focus and the zero-lag shutter of an SLR while still having the large live view of a P&S camera.

The A300 and A350 are aimed at the same people who bought an A100 and immediately posted to photo boards asking why the screen wasn't showing a live view like it did on their point and shoot cameras. The A300 and A350 are more like bridge cameras; they aren't meant to be full-on DSLRs for even hobby photographers.

If you want a nicer viewfinder, there's always the A700.

ZV

 

[andylawcc]

Originally posted by: Zenmervolt
The A300 and A350 are aimed at the same people who bought an A100 and immediately posted to photo boards asking why the screen wasn't showing a live view like it did on their point and shoot cameras.

guess that sums it all up.

 

[soydios]

I've got one issue with the A350's live view implementation: it doesn't use the actual sensor, so you can't check focus at 1:1 magnification, which is extremely useful for macro and astrophotography.

 

[Zenmervolt]

Originally posted by: soydios
I've got one issue with the A350's live view implementation: it doesn't use the actual sensor, so you can't check focus at 1:1 magnification, which is extremely useful for macro and astrophotography.

Wrong target market.

I agree that's a limitation, but it doesn't come into play for the type of buyer Sony's aiming for.

ZV

 

[AmigaMan]

Originally posted by: Zenmervolt
The A300 and A350 are aimed at the same people who bought an A100 and immediately posted to photo boards asking why the screen wasn't showing a live view like it did on their point and shoot cameras.
ZV

<shyly raises hand/>
I wish I had waited 8 more months before getting my A100...oh well, I guess there's always craigslist.

 

[dug777]

That viewfinder makes me cry.

Fack that for joke.

 

[ElFenix]

Originally posted by: soydios
I've got one issue with the A350's live view implementation: it doesn't use the actual sensor, so you can't check focus at 1:1 magnification, which is extremely useful for macro and astrophotography.

with sony's agressive NR i don't know if the camera is all that great for astrophotography even if you could check focus

 

[Zenmervolt]

Originally posted by: ElFenix

Originally posted by: soydios
I've got one issue with the A350's live view implementation: it doesn't use the actual sensor, so you can't check focus at 1:1 magnification, which is extremely useful for macro and astrophotography.

with sony's agressive NR i don't know if the camera is all that great for astrophotography even if you could check focus

Sony's aggressive NR seems to be mostly a result of ACR and not of Sony itself. I've not had problems with watercolor in ISO 6400 shots from my A700 when I convert with Bibble instead.

ZV

 

[Heidfirst]

Originally posted by: ElFenix
with sony's agressive NR i don't know if the camera is all that great for astrophotography even if you could check focus

the A700 supposedly is very good for astro photography.
OK, it's a different sensor but likely a lot of the in-camera processing etc. is very similar.