http://www.engadget.com/2009/05/16/sony-confirms-new-alpha-230-330-and-380-mainstream-dslrs/ Engadget Comments for Sony confirms new Alpha 230, 330 and 380 mainstream DSLRs http://www.engadget.com/media/feedlogo.gif http://www.engadget.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/http://www.engadget.com/2009/05/16/sony-confirms-new-alpha-230-330-and-380-mainstream-dslrs/http://www.engadget.com/2009/05/16/sony-confirms-new-alpha-230-330-and-380-mainstream-dslrs/May 16th 2009 9:30PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/05/16/sony-confirms-new-alpha-230-330-and-380-mainstream-dslrs/http://www.engadget.com/2009/05/16/sony-confirms-new-alpha-230-330-and-380-mainstream-dslrs/I only hope they don't ditch the compact flash alltogether.]]>May 17th 2009 4:31AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/05/16/sony-confirms-new-alpha-230-330-and-380-mainstream-dslrs/http://www.engadget.com/2009/05/16/sony-confirms-new-alpha-230-330-and-380-mainstream-dslrs/
The reason that SD/SDHC is supported now is that sadly, and not surprisingly, the Compact Flash slot is gone. It was inevitable considering that all the other manufacturers don't offer a CF slot in their entry level cameras (if they support it at all) anymore and have switched to SD. At least now whiners can stop making excuses about how Sony cameras don't have SD card support so they won't be able to use their $5 generic 16GB SDHC card.

Of course, that won't stop people complaining about these cameras not having as wide of a range of lenses even though they won't be buying that $2000 L lens...]]>May 17th 2009 5:51AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/05/16/sony-confirms-new-alpha-230-330-and-380-mainstream-dslrs/http://www.engadget.com/2009/05/16/sony-confirms-new-alpha-230-330-and-380-mainstream-dslrs/
There are advantages to both, maybe they should make one with both.]]>May 17th 2009 9:27AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/05/16/sony-confirms-new-alpha-230-330-and-380-mainstream-dslrs/http://www.engadget.com/2009/05/16/sony-confirms-new-alpha-230-330-and-380-mainstream-dslrs/May 17th 2009 2:15PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/05/16/sony-confirms-new-alpha-230-330-and-380-mainstream-dslrs/http://www.engadget.com/2009/05/16/sony-confirms-new-alpha-230-330-and-380-mainstream-dslrs/May 16th 2009 9:30PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/05/16/sony-confirms-new-alpha-230-330-and-380-mainstream-dslrs/http://www.engadget.com/2009/05/16/sony-confirms-new-alpha-230-330-and-380-mainstream-dslrs/May 16th 2009 9:59PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/05/16/sony-confirms-new-alpha-230-330-and-380-mainstream-dslrs/http://www.engadget.com/2009/05/16/sony-confirms-new-alpha-230-330-and-380-mainstream-dslrs/May 16th 2009 10:00PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/05/16/sony-confirms-new-alpha-230-330-and-380-mainstream-dslrs/http://www.engadget.com/2009/05/16/sony-confirms-new-alpha-230-330-and-380-mainstream-dslrs/May 16th 2009 11:28PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/05/16/sony-confirms-new-alpha-230-330-and-380-mainstream-dslrs/http://www.engadget.com/2009/05/16/sony-confirms-new-alpha-230-330-and-380-mainstream-dslrs/May 17th 2009 12:09AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/05/16/sony-confirms-new-alpha-230-330-and-380-mainstream-dslrs/http://www.engadget.com/2009/05/16/sony-confirms-new-alpha-230-330-and-380-mainstream-dslrs/May 17th 2009 3:07AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/05/16/sony-confirms-new-alpha-230-330-and-380-mainstream-dslrs/http://www.engadget.com/2009/05/16/sony-confirms-new-alpha-230-330-and-380-mainstream-dslrs/May 17th 2009 11:09AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/05/16/sony-confirms-new-alpha-230-330-and-380-mainstream-dslrs/http://www.engadget.com/2009/05/16/sony-confirms-new-alpha-230-330-and-380-mainstream-dslrs/
Nikon still develops the sensors, they know alot and have the patents on imager technology to prove it, Sony just does the fabrication process. It's like contracting work out on the cheap because Sony offers the best deal for Nikon.
Nikon could have done what Canon did and kept development and fabrication all in-house, but they chose not to because for them it wasn't a feasible option. They've managed to do pretty good.
To say that they'd be nowhere without Sony is very far reaching.
There are plenty of other companies out there, both new and old who would be able to help Nikon out with fabrication.
If Sony were so dominant over Nikon, with regard to sensor technology then how is it that Sony is still widely considered substandard image quality (especially at high ISO)j when compared to Nikon DSLRs?
Nikon's got the technology and know-how, Sony just does the labor.
]]>May 17th 2009 4:29PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/05/16/sony-confirms-new-alpha-230-330-and-380-mainstream-dslrs/http://www.engadget.com/2009/05/16/sony-confirms-new-alpha-230-330-and-380-mainstream-dslrs/May 17th 2009 5:48PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/05/16/sony-confirms-new-alpha-230-330-and-380-mainstream-dslrs/http://www.engadget.com/2009/05/16/sony-confirms-new-alpha-230-330-and-380-mainstream-dslrs/
Because the sensor isn't everything. Nay, it's not nearly as much compared to the amount of image processing software that is on the camera.

So while Sony is still DEVELOPING and fabricating the sensors (you can tell because some of the sensors used in Nikons are exactly the same as in other cameras), they haven't put the work in to the SOFTWARE used in the camera. It's a shame too, because if the A350 had just 1/50th of the firmware updates that the Playstation 3 has had, the image quality could be a LOT better.

]]>May 17th 2009 7:17PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/05/16/sony-confirms-new-alpha-230-330-and-380-mainstream-dslrs/http://www.engadget.com/2009/05/16/sony-confirms-new-alpha-230-330-and-380-mainstream-dslrs/May 16th 2009 10:01PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/05/16/sony-confirms-new-alpha-230-330-and-380-mainstream-dslrs/http://www.engadget.com/2009/05/16/sony-confirms-new-alpha-230-330-and-380-mainstream-dslrs/
If I want to use a Memory Stick in my a200 I'd have to use an adapter... a CF to MemStick adapter that is.

Sony is pretty evil in general... but these are pretty much Minolta's with a Sony nametag on it.]]>May 16th 2009 10:49PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/05/16/sony-confirms-new-alpha-230-330-and-380-mainstream-dslrs/http://www.engadget.com/2009/05/16/sony-confirms-new-alpha-230-330-and-380-mainstream-dslrs/May 16th 2009 11:09PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/05/16/sony-confirms-new-alpha-230-330-and-380-mainstream-dslrs/http://www.engadget.com/2009/05/16/sony-confirms-new-alpha-230-330-and-380-mainstream-dslrs/May 16th 2009 11:10PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/05/16/sony-confirms-new-alpha-230-330-and-380-mainstream-dslrs/http://www.engadget.com/2009/05/16/sony-confirms-new-alpha-230-330-and-380-mainstream-dslrs/May 16th 2009 10:55PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/05/16/sony-confirms-new-alpha-230-330-and-380-mainstream-dslrs/http://www.engadget.com/2009/05/16/sony-confirms-new-alpha-230-330-and-380-mainstream-dslrs/May 16th 2009 11:18PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/05/16/sony-confirms-new-alpha-230-330-and-380-mainstream-dslrs/http://www.engadget.com/2009/05/16/sony-confirms-new-alpha-230-330-and-380-mainstream-dslrs/May 16th 2009 11:53PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/05/16/sony-confirms-new-alpha-230-330-and-380-mainstream-dslrs/http://www.engadget.com/2009/05/16/sony-confirms-new-alpha-230-330-and-380-mainstream-dslrs/May 17th 2009 7:14PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/05/16/sony-confirms-new-alpha-230-330-and-380-mainstream-dslrs/http://www.engadget.com/2009/05/16/sony-confirms-new-alpha-230-330-and-380-mainstream-dslrs/
Their game consoles and TVs are first rate in everything except price. Their point-n-shoot cameras, laptops, and camcorders are definitely the top-3 in their categories, but in terms of features for the price, they are probably the best. Their DSLRs aren't quite top-3, but they are excellent values. Their desktops and MP3 players, on the other hand, are easily forgetable.

Regarding their new DSLRs, I have been hoping for good reviews on the DSLR a230 or a330 so that I can go get one. I have always like the bang-for-the-buck factor on their low end DSLRs, but I keep hearing that their kit lenses were not up to par with canon or nikon kit lenses, hence the new lenses.

But that grip looks a bit troublesome... seriously, wtf?]]>May 17th 2009 12:29AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/05/16/sony-confirms-new-alpha-230-330-and-380-mainstream-dslrs/http://www.engadget.com/2009/05/16/sony-confirms-new-alpha-230-330-and-380-mainstream-dslrs/
Any future stuff purchased would be some replacements for the kit lens (I'm thinking the 18-70 f/2.8 from Sigma), and a replacement for the 55-300 (more f/2.8 glass for sure).

And with all of that... it'll still come out slightly under a 2 kit lens Nikon or Canon pack in the mid range.

My a200 does great work in RAW mode (the Sony in body jpg is really pretty nasty), and gets me good quality work.

You don't have to go the Canon/Nikon route... I really do like having built-in stabilization. Means I can pick up older Minolta AF lenses and still get stabilization (maybe I can find a great deal on a near-mint 'beercan'). ;)
I like Olympus and Pentax's latest models too... some good lookers (and again... TONS of glass out there... no matter what the Canon/Nikon people say).

Get a decent camera in your range... and snap pictures. Along the way... you might find a comfort spot to getting good pictures (that is the trick... and very camera independant).

snap snap! :)]]>May 17th 2009 2:50AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/05/16/sony-confirms-new-alpha-230-330-and-380-mainstream-dslrs/http://www.engadget.com/2009/05/16/sony-confirms-new-alpha-230-330-and-380-mainstream-dslrs/
...and now I'd like something from 18 that zooms all the way to 2-300mm... but that'll be really expensive and heavy :P gotta weigh up the pros and cons. (pun not intended).]]>May 17th 2009 5:28AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/05/16/sony-confirms-new-alpha-230-330-and-380-mainstream-dslrs/http://www.engadget.com/2009/05/16/sony-confirms-new-alpha-230-330-and-380-mainstream-dslrs/
There are 18-200 (11x) and 18-250 (14x) lenses out there (not too heavy, not too expensive), but just remember, the more zoom range you get, the less overall quality the lens is (in general). This is why pros never get lenses with more than 3x zoom, because that's about the limit before you start compromising on optical quality.]]>May 17th 2009 11:14AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/05/16/sony-confirms-new-alpha-230-330-and-380-mainstream-dslrs/http://www.engadget.com/2009/05/16/sony-confirms-new-alpha-230-330-and-380-mainstream-dslrs/May 17th 2009 2:51PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/05/16/sony-confirms-new-alpha-230-330-and-380-mainstream-dslrs/http://www.engadget.com/2009/05/16/sony-confirms-new-alpha-230-330-and-380-mainstream-dslrs/May 18th 2009 1:18AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/05/16/sony-confirms-new-alpha-230-330-and-380-mainstream-dslrs/http://www.engadget.com/2009/05/16/sony-confirms-new-alpha-230-330-and-380-mainstream-dslrs/
]]>May 17th 2009 7:24PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/05/16/sony-confirms-new-alpha-230-330-and-380-mainstream-dslrs/http://www.engadget.com/2009/05/16/sony-confirms-new-alpha-230-330-and-380-mainstream-dslrs/May 17th 2009 11:06PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/05/16/sony-confirms-new-alpha-230-330-and-380-mainstream-dslrs/http://www.engadget.com/2009/05/16/sony-confirms-new-alpha-230-330-and-380-mainstream-dslrs/May 18th 2009 11:48AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/05/16/sony-confirms-new-alpha-230-330-and-380-mainstream-dslrs/http://www.engadget.com/2009/05/16/sony-confirms-new-alpha-230-330-and-380-mainstream-dslrs/]]>May 18th 2009 2:30PM