Sony Alpha DSLR-A100

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Design Features Performance		Image Quality Conclusion

Features
What's different on the Alpha 100 compared with most digital SLRs is the use of a CCD (Charge-Coupled Device) sensor instead of a less power-hungry CMOS (Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor). This sensor measures 23.6 x 15.8mm (APS-C size), similar to the one used on Nikon's D200 and which, according to Sony, should produce pictures with a wider tonal range and less noise.

	The Cyber-shot DSC-T9 is Sony's first compact snapshooter to feature the company's Super Steadyshot system.

Working together with its Bionz imaging processor is the D-Range Optimizer (DRO) which adjusts exposure values when shooting under high-contrast lighting and color conditions. There are two modes available in this setting: Standard and Advanced. The Standard mode improves dark reproductions of the entire image, while Advanced mode optimizes each image area by enhancing dark reproductions without changing the light tones in the photos. Unless you are really picky, there isn't a significant time difference (in Advanced mode, the camera takes 0.7 seconds) for the Alpha to calculate the adjustments it needs to make. There's a downside to this: As all these calculations are done in-camera, there is no option for the user to make further changes once the picture is taken. Of course, more precise modifications can be carried out using a post-processing software.

Unlike the compact Cyber-shot T9 and T30 (the first Sony cameras to sport optical image stabilization), the Super SteadyShot on the Alpha 100 works in a slightly different manner. Instead of moving the shift lens to adjust the light angle, the CCD maneuvers to compensate for hand movements. Konica Minolta's Dynax dSLRs use the same system, which probably accounts for why Sony adopted the same mechanism. One of the main advantages of having image stabilization built into the camera body is that any lens fitted onto the unit will also enjoy the same anti-vibration benefits. According to Sony, this allows you to shoot up to 3.5 stops slower than the shutter speed required.

The Alpha 100 adopts a two-pronged approach to tackle the problem of dust settling on the CCD, especially during lens changes. An anti-dust coating on the sensor minimizes static charge so it's less prone to attracting alien bodies, while the CCD vibrates rapidly--whenever the unit is turned off--to shake loose dust particles. The difference between Olympus' Supersonic Wave Filter and Sony's anti-dust feature is the former's sensor activates each time the camera is turned on while the latter's works whenever the unit is turned off.

	The Eye-Start AF kicks in when a user gets within a 2cm radius.

Other than being aesthetically similar to the Dynax 5D, the Alpha 100 also inherits other features including the Eye-Start Autofocus (AF) system and LCD orientation. Two sensors are placed right beneath the viewfinder and, when a user gets within 2cm of these sensors, the system will automatically autofocus without manual intervention. You can choose to turn off this feature in the menu.

The camera's LCD will also align the orientation of the screen whether the unit is held in a horizontal or vertical position--another feature which has been brought over from Konica Minolta. A vertical battery grip, which unfortunately was unavailable at the time of testing will be icing on the cake. The 230k-pixel 2.5-inch monitor comes with an anti-reflection coating similar to the one being used on the compact Cyber-shot T9.

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