Sony Alpha DSLR-A100

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By Damian Koh, CNET Asia
Jul 12, 2006

While Samsung may have decided to clone Pentax's *ist DS2 for its first digital SLR outing, Sony took a different route by marrying its technologies with Konica Minolta's technical know-how. The result: The company's pioneer dSLR--the 10.2-megapixel Alpha 100. We don't deny that there are similarities between the Alpha and the now-defunct Konica Minolta Dynax series, but Sony has also introduced some new features into this shooter. Find out more in our review.

Design
The Alpha 100 kit is neither the heaviest nor the lightest entry-level dSLR. However, it is shaped and modeled very much after Konica Minolta's Dynax 5D. The unit weighs 635g (body with battery) and, with the DT 18-70mm F3.5-F5.6 kit lens, the overall package adds up to 892g. Still, that's nearly 100g lighter than Canon's EOS 30D, which weighs 987g with the EFS 18-55mm F3.5-F5.6 kit lens.

Size-wise, the Alpha stands between Canon's EOS 30D and 350D, but is slightly thinner and shorter than Nikon's D50. If you find the EOS 350D too cramped for your fingers, the Alpha 100 could be a better fit without the weight of the EOS 30D.

Model	Body with battery (g)	With kit lens (g)	Dimensions (mm)
Sony Alpha 100	635	892	133 x 95 x 71
Canon EOS 30D	788	987	144 x 106 x 74
Canon EOS 350D	485	689	127 x 94 x 64
Nikon D70s	680	1,070	140 x 111 x 78
Nikon D50	620	830	133 x 102 x 76

Konica Minolta users would doubtless agree that the Alpha 100 bears close resemblance in design to the Dynax dSLRs. In fact, both cameras are near identical in the styling and layout of the control buttons. However, there are also subtle differences between the two units, such as a less-cluttered right-hand grip and more options on the left mode dial of the Alpha.

	The right-hand grip on the Alpha is less cluttered and the two mode dials control most of the camera's functions.

Overall, we note a slight improvement on the Sony compared with the Dynax 5D. However, the left mode dial which controls the metering, flash, focusing, ISO, white balance, dynamic range and color settings evokes mixed feelings. On the one hand, we like how we can change all the camera features at one location, but we also prefer to see dedicated buttons for these settings. In our hands, the Alpha 100 feels comfortable, though some may feel the handgrip a tad too narrow.

Unlike Canon's EOS 30D or the 350D, the Alpha 100 does not have an external status panel to display the current settings. Users will have to rely on the 2.5-inch LCD display on the back of the unit or the viewfinder. If you like to tinkle with the ISO, white balance and focus settings, the Alpha 100 can feel slightly cumbersome since you will need to shift your left hand away from supporting the unit to the left mode dial.

We're nitpicking, but we feel the buttons (left and right mode dials and the AF/MF sliding switch on the left) are a mite stiff. The flash, which doubles as a focus assist lamp by firing intermittent strobes of light, has to be lifted manually; the spring mechanism serves only to keep it in position.

The USB connection hides behind the same cover that protects the memory card compartment at the rear corner of the handgrip. At the bottom of the unit is the battery holder which uses a push-and-lift mechanism to open the plastic lid. What we would like to see is a lock to prevent accidental opening. The metal tripod receptacle is also aligned with the center of the lens and the focal plane of the CCD sensor which is good.