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Sony A500 moderately tested “good” by German C-Net magazine
July 28th, 2010 | 
Author: The german c-net site has tested the Sony Alpha 500 (finally) and awared it with a moderate 3,5/5 stars or 7,3/10 point – please do the math yourself 
. Anyway to sum up the points of the experts below. Feel free to leave your comment
PRO
- good image quality in high ISO ranges
- large movable display
- quick phase detection auto focus (also during live view)
- wireless Flash capable
- high shooting rate
CON
- no video
- strange design and usability
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Sony A290 – Entry class face- or “griplift” of Sony A230?
After Sony was forced to really get into the negative price spiral due to the unacceptably small an strangely shaped grip offering a double zoom kit in Germany for crazy €333, Sony is now making up the mistake with the newly introduced A290. But the better shaped grip is not the only update – perfectly tuned for the price concious DSLR entry without unnecessary gimmicks but useful ones Sony’s A290 seems to be the perfect choice.
Pricing (at launch):
- DSLR-A290L (18-55 mm): €450,00
- DSLR-A290Y (18-55 & 55-200 mm) €650,00
- DSLR-A390L (18-55 mm): €500,00
- DSLR-A390Y (18-55 & 55-200 mm): €700,00
Key features |
DSLR-A390 (α390) |
DSLR-A290 (α290) |
| Image sensor | 14.2 megapixels | 14.2 megapixels |
| Autofocus system | TTL phase detection system; (Centre-cross 9 points) | TTL phase detection system; (Centre-cross 9 points) |
| Auto Exposure system | 40-segment honeycomb-pattern SPC | 40-segment honeycomb-pattern SPC |
| Viewfinder | penta-Dach-mirror | penta-Dach-mirror |
| LCD monitor | 6.7cm (2.7-inch) TFT | 6.7cm (2.7-inch) TFT |
| Line view | Quick AF Live View (Pentamirror tilt system) | No |
| Shutter | Electronically-controlled, vertical-traverse, focal-plane type | Electronically-controlled, vertical-traverse, focal-plane type |
| SteadyShot | Image-sensor shift mechanism | Image-sensor shift mechanism |
| Built-in flash | Auto pop-up – GN 10 at ISO 100 coverage up to 18mm | Auto pop-up – GN 10 at ISO 100 coverage up to 18mm |
| Drive | Single, Continuous, Self-timer (10/2 sec. delay selectable), Self-timer (Cont.), Remote Commander | Single, Continuous, Self-timer (10/2 sec. delay selectable), Self-timer (Cont.), Remote Commander |
| Interface | USB2.0 Hi-speed (mass-storage, PTP), HDMI mini connector (Type C) | USB2.0 Hi-speed (mass-storage, PTP), HDMI mini connector (Type C) |
| Power | Approx. 500 images with viewfinder, approx. 230 images in live view mode (CIPA standard) | Approx. 500 images with viewfinder (CIPA standard) |
| Weight | 549g (including battery and Memory Stick Pro Duo) | 508g (including battery and Memory Stick Pro Duo) |
| Dimensions | Approx. 128.1 x 97.1 x 83.5mm (W/H/D, excluding protrusions) | Approx. 128.1 x 97.1 x 79.6mm (W/H/D, excluding protrusions) |
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SONY SAL 70-200G SSM winning dpreview GOLD – award
The testers of dpreview have taken on the challenge to take a closer look at Sony’s SAL 70-200 G lens. It’s a rather old lens that has been carried over from Minolta times making it design-wise a rather “established” lens but let see what the folks from DP-Review have to say.
On the positive side – it seemed to be obvious that the lens’ metal casing created a superb impression on build quality which next to the outstanding image quality makes it an excellent Lens for Full Frame Cameras such as Sony Alpha 900 and Sony Alpha 850 without sacraficing too much of its power when used on APC-C Cameras. Sony/Minolta’s SSM motorization was impessive enough in terms of speed and noise as well as manual overriding options and well placed AF-stop buttons.
But also from the downsides it’s woth reading the article which states the SAL70200G to be a bit soft when wide open on the tele-side – unfortunately this is exactly the usage scenario what most photographes are buying this lens for. Furthermore it seems a bit unconsistent cratign a perfect match of SAL 70 200 G with eg. A900 a well made SEALED body mounted on an UNSEALED Lens – a bit of a half pregnant approach asking for a MKII version of such lens especially considering the very high price compared to both competition Canikon and third party lenses.