Sony Alpha DSLR A350K 14.2MP Digital SLR Camera with Super SteadyShot Image Stabilization DT 18-70mm f/3.5-5.6 Zoom Lens
Sony Alpha DSLR A350K 14.2MP Digital SLR Camera with Super SteadyShot Image Stabilization DT 18-70mm f/3.5-5.6 Zoom Lens
Sony Alpha DSLR A350K 14.2MP Digital SLR Camera the included DT 18-70mm f3.5-5.6 standard zoom lens and start expressing yourself. With incredible 14.2-megapixel detail, Sony’s Alpha DSLR-A350 raises the bar. This model pushes the envelope, setting a new standard of excellence for step-up digital photographers shooting both family memories and fine-art photos. Live Preview in a large 2.7-inch LCD screen links you and your subject-and you’ll have special features like super-quick AF response, continuous shooting at 2 fps while you see your subject in the viewfinder, Creative Style modes for quick recall of custom settings, and in-camera Super SteadyShot image stabilization that reduces blur for every Sony, Carl Zeiss and legacy Minolta a-mount lens.
Alpha DSLR-A350 Highlights
14.2-megapixel Super HAD CCD The highest pixel resolution in its class (as of January 2008), for spectacular image detail for making big prints and tight crops. An advanced APS-size CCD imager developed by Sony expands dynamic range and minimizes noise more effectively for clear, sharp photos even at high sensitivity setting (up to ISO 3200).
Live Preview of your subject The DSLR-A350’s Live Preview mode links you and your subject on a large 2.7-inch LCD screen, for a familiar point-and-shoot style — with super-quick AF response and accurate exposure control to help you catch the perfect moment. In Live Preview mode, the camera bypasses the optical pentaprism mirror to create a live “eye-to-eye” view on the LCD of loved ones, children, pets and fast-changing scenes.
Tiltable, 2.7-inch Clear Photo LCD Plus screen A large built-in screen with 2-way angle tilt provides a sharp, clear view of your subject and tilts up or down for low-angle or high-angle monitoring in situations where you want a child-level or overhead shot.
Continuous shooting while viewing The DSLR-A350 lets you shoot continuously at up to 2 frames per second while you see your subject in the large 2.7-inch LCD viewfinder, so you never lose track of the action. In JPEG mode, you can shoot up to the limit of your flash memory card; in RAW Burst Mode you can capture up to 4 shots, with intelligent buffer management to allow more shots to be captured without waiting for the buffer to clear.
Smart teleconverter 2x zoom At the touch of a button you can zoom in electronically on your subject, reproducing pixels on a 1:1 basis with no degradation in picture quality. One touch zooms in at 1.4X, the second touch advances to 2X zoom — creating the 35mm equivalent of a 200mm telephoto effect with the DSLR-A350’s standard 18-70mm zoom lens.
Expanded ISO sensitivity A broad sensitivity range from ISO 100 to ISO 3200 enables the DSLR-A350 to capture beautiful color images even in very dim light — with High ISO Noise Reduction technology that reduces picture noise artifacts at high-sensitivity ISO 1600 and ISO 3200 settings by eliminating noise from RAW data after analog-to-digital conversion.
Super SteadyShot in-camera image stabilization Because image stabilization is built into the DSLR-A350, every lens benefits by an advantage of from 2.5 to 3.5 exposure steps. This allows you to shoot effectively with minimum blur even in low light without flash — or adjust exposure control for smaller lens aperture to increase depth of field and bring both foreground and background into sharp focus.
Bionz image processor The “brain” of the a (alpha) DSLR-A350 is the advanced Sony Bionz Image Processor, using hardware-based Large Scale Integrated (LSI) circuitry to enhance images with rich tonal reproduction, improved white balance and exposure control, and expanded D-Range Optimizer capabilities. With 2-channel data transfer from CCD to processor, your camera can also respond faster.
1200-zone evaluative metering Information from the image sensor dedicated to Live View is divided into 1200 zones of luminance and RGB color information. In addition D-Range Optimizer technology contributes to judge the scene and then determine the optimum exposure to reproduce images with a more natural look.
Dynamic Range Optimizer To improve results with backlit subjects and recover details hidden in shadows or lost in glare, the DSLR-A350 provides Dynamic Range Optimizer at two levels: Normal DRO, to improve detail using standard gamma curves for fast shot-to-shot response time, or Advanced DRO, to adjust dynamic range area-by-area for the greatest precision.
Anti-dust technology Changing lenses in a DSLR can allow dust to enter the camera — so to keep the CCD imager cleaner for better pictures, the DSLR-A350 utilizes both static-free anti-dust coating on the CCD filter and anti-dust vibration that automatically shakes the CCD to dislodge dust each time the camera is shut off.
Auto Pop-up flash The camera flash automatically pops up and fires when needed, to help first-time DSLR photographers shoot more effectively. Auto Pop-up works in Auto mode and some scene selection modes; Flash is cancelled in Landscape, Sport or Sunset modes and in “Flash Off” position on the Exposure Mode dial.
Eye-Start Autofocus System It begins precision autofocus adjustments the moment you raise the camera to your eye — so unlike some DSLR cameras that don’t start focusing until the shutter button is half-pressed, the Sony DSLR-A350 never slows down your ability to catch fast action.
9-Point Center Cross AF Sensor A fast focus motor and improved focus control help bring images into sharp definition more quickly, with predictive focus control that automatically calculates the position of a fast-moving subject.
Scene Selection Modes Along with auto exposure, the DSLR-A350 gives you scene selection modes to optimize camera performance for Portrait, Landscape, Macro, Sports, Sunset and Night Portrait/Night View situations.
Creative Style Settings To express your creativity and personal taste, you can adjust contrast, saturation and sharpness settings for any of 8 finishing styles — including Standard, Vivid, Portrait, Landscape, Night View, Sunset, B&W and Adobe RGB modes.
Index and Slide Show Display To quickly review your photos, the DSLR-A350 can display 4, 9 or 25-frame index views — or present automatic slide shows with fade-in/fade-out effect.
High-resolution thumbnails for PhotoTV HD viewing The DSLR-A350 automatically creates high-resolution thumbnail images for viewing on Sony’s BRAVIA HDTV in optimized PhotoTV HD mode, with image format adjustable for standard 3:2 or widescreen 16:9 display.
Function Guide Display On-screen menus are intuitive and easy to use — and a simple Camera Function Display can be activated and operated with one hand using the “Fn” (Function) button and controller button to adjust Flash mode, Autofocus mode, White Balance, Metering mode, AF area and D-Range Optimizer.
Stamina Battery Power In optical viewfinder mode, you can take up to 730 shots3 on a fully-charged NP-FM500H InfoLithium battery — and you’ll be able to see about how much power remains in percentage increments, so you can keep shooting in confidence.
High-Capacity Media Options For conveniently storing and sharing your images, the DSLR-A350 accepts CompactFlash Type I/II media and optional Memory Stick Pro Duo media.
Optional advanced lenses and accessories Sony’s Alpha system gives you everything you need to expand your creativity in DSLR photography: precision Sony DT zoom lenses and specialty lenses, Sony “G” Series lenses with advanced motorized autofocusing, amazingly bright Carl Zeiss lens designs, professional-quality flash units, and over 16 million Minolta a-mount lenses sold worldwide.
Sony Alpha DSLRA350K 14.2MP Digital SLR Camera review
I am a semiprofessional photographer who, as a former Minolta user, has been trying to patiently wait on Sony to come out with a suitable pro model so as to continue to use lenses and accessories dedicated to my system. A year ago I bought this camera along with Sony’s 18-250mm zoom lens, used it for some work, including a wedding. My first impression of the camera, upon immediately opening the box was a bit negative; it is small and has a very plastic feel. But after using the camera only a few minutes I was impressed with the responsiveness of the auto focus and very impressed with the 14MP detail. (I had been using a 6MP Konica-Minolta Maxxum 7D) The a350 made some great pictures. With that said I decided to have this camera body converted to use as an infrared camera (paying a lab to remove the infrared sensor) and have been using it for infrared photography for a year now, with good results. Since then I have been waiting for Sony to come out with a true pro model, which it has: the Sony a700 and a900. But in the time I have had using the a350, I have come to really enjoy two features which the higher end Sony models still do not offer: live view, and a tilting sensor. These are really great features and I will wait until Sony has a pro model with these. With that said I have recently made a purchase of a second a350 body, taking advantage of some great closeout deals as the a380 is destined to replace this camera. Most of my work is landscapes and environmental portraiture. I hike with my cameras, I go on float trips with my cameras, I wade in streams with my cameras, I expose my cameras to a lot of risk. The idea of dunking a $3000 camera is nauseating. I can now have two small camera bodies to hike with and have a relatively small chance of such a disaster. This camera can produce great results with good exposures and technic. Professional reviews of the a350 camera tend to be negative regarding its performance in low light and high ISOs. How I would respond is that you just can’t put 14MP on an APS size sensor and have great performance in low light, regardless of the camera brand. With that said, 99 percent of the people interested in this camera would likely never notice this ‘low light’ performance issue. A camera is a tool, the camera body is only a component. The skill of the photographer is still much more important than miscellaneous technical details that tech people like to argue about. I would strongly recommend this as and entry level or backup professional camera.
