Sony Alpha DSLR-A200 review:

Sony's entry-level DSLR, the Alpha DSLR-A200, offers a fact-based shooting experience. For the most part, it offers an average design, basic feature set, modest performance, and better-than-snapshot photo quality that characterizes this market segment: not bad, but not notable either.< /p >

The 10.2 megapixel A200 is available in two kits: one with the lens

SAL-1870

18-70mm f3.5-5.6, which we tested, and a dual-lens kit that adds the

SAL-75300

75-300mm f4.5-5.6 model. These two objectives, together with the new

SAL-55200

, currently make up Sony's full range of entry-level lenses. For other inexpensive alternatives, you'll need to look to a compatible A-mount

Konica Minolta

, Sigma or Tamron.

At 22.4 ounces with battery and CF card, the A200 weighs more than most of its competitors, despite its plastic casing. It feels solid, though, and the rubberized grip has a deep indentation for your finger that makes the camera comfortable to hold. If you plan to connect the camera directly to your computer rather than using a card reader (which we don't recommend), steer clear of the A200. For one, the USB connector is located inside the CF card compartment, which means you have to leave the door open while downloading, potentially allowing all manner of schmutz to enter the contacts of the card slot (and, if you're as accident-prone as I am, providing a protrusion to kick and knock the camera to the ground). More importantly, Sony uses a proprietary USB/AV combo connector on all of their DSLRs, for no reason I can see other than to force you to buy a cable from them if you lose the supplied one. It makes me angry.

The A200 uses a clean, simple layout for its controls and menu system. Like the A700, the A200 has Eye-Start AF sensors under the viewfinder.

Operation of the A200 is simple. There are direct-access controls for ISO sensitivity, exposure compensation and drive/bracketing/self-timer modes, while flash, AF, white balance, AF area and D-RangeOptimizer settings are grouped under one screen pulled up by Fn button.

Unlike the A700, you cannot change settings directly via the information display (Quick Navi). Instead, you have to bring up this screen via the Fn button and dive in to change the settings. I slightly prefer the Quick Navi approach.