Sony alpha A350 Product Tour

by Allan Weitz

If you're on the prowl for an affordable, quality DSLR, there are more than a few worthy candidates on the market to choose from. Which one is best for you? Well, that depends on what you're looking for.

For some, size is a factor. Some folks like their cameras compact, while others prefer something 'beefier' in their hands. For others it's a matter of burst-rate, the size of the LCD screen (and does it pivot?) or file size. If resolution is at the top of your list, Sony's alpha A350, at 14.2 megapixels is one of the front-runners among APSC-format DSLRs currently selling for under a grand.

Available as a 'body only' or with a 18-70 mm kit lens, the Sony A350 is not necessarily the smallest, nor largest, or fastest of the lot, but high-res sensor aside, the A350 is well worth consideration if you're snooping around for a new DSLR, or perhaps a new life for your Minolta Maxxum lenses.

The Nuts, Bolts, & Specs

The Sony alpha A350's 14-plus megapixel CCD sensor produces image files a wee bit over 40Mb. Out of the box image files open up to 13x19" @ 240 dpi and can be easily coaxed beyond poster-size.

The camera's native ISO is 100, and it can be dialed up to ISO 3200 as light levels start to fade. As for noise, the image files we shot were quite clean at ISO 100, just a tad noisy at ISO 200, noticeably - but acceptably - noisier at 400, and so on through ISO 3200, at which point the image quality was on par with the level of noise and artifacting you'd expect from the average pocket-size point-and-shoot pushed to ISO 400. And still quite usable... thank you.

Setting up the camera should prove to be a fairly straight-forward process for anyone who's ever turned on a digicam. As a photographer who relies on reading glasses, the A350's 2.7" hinged LCD display was much appreciated.

Each time you power up the camera, the LCD lights up with large white letters and numerals against a two-tone blue background that clearly spell out exposure data, drive mode, battery status, image file size and format, flash info, as well as the remaining number of exposures left before you choke your CompactFlash card.

While the camera's viewfinder is somewhat smallish by SLR standards, the A350's Live View feature enables you to clearly compose and review your images on 'the big screen', which is quite usable under all but the brightest of lighting conditions.

Being able to shoot at extreme viewing angles from the subject and still be able to see what the lens is seeing is terrific from both a creative and logistical point-of-view. If you've ever come close to falling off a ladder while trying to peer through a viewfinder from a 90-degree angle you know what I mean.

JPEGs, RAW, or a Combination of the Two

Photographs can be recorded as JPEGs, RAW, or a combination of the two. Included with each camera is a copy of Image Data Converter SR- Sony's proprietary RAW file processor. If you prefer you can also process Sony RAW (ARW) files In Photoshop by downloading (free) Adobe's Camera Raw 4.4 plug-in from Adobe's website.

Image adjustments for processing Sony RAW using Image Data Converter SR are broken into three individual menus, or palates. Adjustment Palate 1 is for adjusting the images White Balance, Hue, and Saturation points.

The second palate, Adjustment Palate 2, is for correcting Exposure (EV), Contrast, D-Range, and Display Control (Highlight & Shadow Clipping, Out-of Gamma Color).

The Third Adjustment Palate allows you to adjust the Creative Style (Standard Color, Vivid, Adobe RGB, Landscape, Portrait, Nighttime), Highlight Color Distortion Control, Noise Reduction, and Picture Effect (B&W, Sepia, Solarize, Negative).

Camera Controls

How a camera's controls are laid out often makes a difference between a camera that's comfortable to use or a camera that spends it's days in the closet. The Sony A350 is in the former group. Menu-wise, what's not obvious at first glance is pretty simple to figure out without having to poke around in the manual (yes, the A350 comes with an honest-to-gosh printed manual as well as a handy cheat sheet).

The various controls are split between buttons on the top, rear, and sides of the body, as well as a selection of more extensive menus that can be brought up on the camera's LCD as needed. To maneuver around you simply press the circular toggle button left, right, up, or down. Aperture and shutter speeds can be set, depending on your shooting mode, by spinning the Command Wheel located just forward of the shutter button.

The A350's Mode Control dial contains all of the usual suspects, i.e. Program, Aperture Priority, Shutter Priority, and Program, as well as scene modes including Night, Overcast, Sports, Close-up, Landscape, Portrait, and a kill-switch for the flash.

The pop-up flash can be brought into action with the push of a button, or pops up brainlessly as needed when shooting in the green 'Auto' mode.

One feature I recommend turning off unless you really can't live without it is the pre-focusing sensor located below the viewfinder. While it's a good idea on paper, in practice it causes the AF system to 'come alive' whenever something passes in front of the lens, which if you're out-and-about happens often.

The Sony alpha A350 can capture up to 2 frames-per-second, which is not what you'd describe as 'smokin', but for most folks seeking a camera in this price range should prove to be adequate. One issue that might prove a hindrance to some users is the camera's limited burst-rate of 2 frames-per-second in Continuous mode with a cap of only 6 frames before you hit the buffer when shooting RAW, and only 3 frames when shooting RAW and JPEG image simultaneously. The good news is if you only plan on shooting JPEGs you can shoot flat-out until you choke your memory card.

Other features worth noting on the Sony alpha A350 is Super SteadyShot, which enables hand-holding the a350 at shutter speeds 2.5 to 3.5 stops slower than normal, and anti-dust technology in the form of sonic sensor vibration whenever you power up along with an anti-static coating on the surface of the imaging sensor.

On the power front, you can expect up to 730 exposures per battery charge, or about 400 when using Live View as your primary viewing screen.

Captured mages can be stored onto CompactFlash or Memory Stick Duo cards with the appropriate adapter.