Sony DSLR-A100

Résumé : When Sony announced its intentions to throw its brand-weight into the already competitive DSLR market, professional shooters and general consumers alike were curious how the electronics giant would fare. In summer 2006, Sony revealed its first DSLR: a ...

Conclusion : We compared the Sony to Canon's Digital Rebel XTi and Nikon's D80 - two formidable alternatives within the $800 to $1,100 DSLR price bracket - and the A100 held its own. While the A100 lacked the color accuracy of the Canon XTi, its slightly ...

Points forts : Excellent image quality up to 400 ISO, particularly when with RAW format.Good 40-segment metering.Colour modes.Effecitve Super Steady Shot stabilizer.Function Dial quick and efficient.Dynamic range optimization.Anti-dust system.Unlimited JPEG Fine ...

Points faibles : Control Dial placed too close and in front of the shutter release.Somewhat slow and noisy autofocus.Depth of Field Preview button placed too far down to be practical.Manually opened flash.Light-duty construction.

Résumé : Sony has shied away from the DSLR market thus far

Points forts : Longer lens length than with rivals, Powerful anti-shake

Points faibles : Too much image noise, Rivals offer better pictures for less

Conclusion : An SLR with cutting-edge extras, but we'd still shop around

Résumé : Rejuvenated Konica-Minolta Maxxum 5D SLR Camera

Points forts : Great ergonomics. Easy to learn. Fine images. Built-in antishake preserves image sharpness at slow shutter speeds ; Flash must be raised manually. Mechanically noisier than others in its class. No Mac image browser included

Points faibles : Flash must be raised manually. Mechanically noisier than others in its class. No Mac image browser included

Conclusion : . When Konica-Minolta decided to ditch its camera business, you could just hear its Maxxum 5D echoing a Brando-esque, "I coulda been a contenda!" With Sony now at ringside, the rejuvenated A100 definitely has a shot at the title.

Résumé : The Alpha is Sony's first budget SLR

Points forts : Longer lens length than with rivals, Powerful anti-shake

Points faibles : Too much image noise, Rivals offer better pictures for less

Conclusion : The D50 has fewer megapixels and a shorter lens, but these aren't deal breakers - the D50 takes fantastic shots out of the box. The Alpha also suffers from more noise than we would like, too, particularly when taking indoor shots. While it's not a ...