A Different View - The Pioneering Sony Alpha A350
Reviewed on 25 March 2008

Sony has worked hard to be noted in the DSLR world in recent months. While big players like Nikon and Canon seemed satisfied with announcing just one new toy for their fans this year, Sony is going all out with several new releases. The Alpha A200 barely had time to stretch its legs when Sony announced the Sony Alpha A350.

Another entry level camera, the Sony Alpha A350 is in some ways identical to its A200 sibling, with the same controls, 2.7- inch LCD screen and basically the same functions. The A350 shares the same Bionz image processing engine and D-Range Optimser as well as an ISO range that peaks at 3200. The in body Super SteadyShot is identical which means the Sony A350 has access to the same range of lenses as the A200 did and the sensor comes with the same sensor-shift and anti-static coating to prevent dust bunnies in the picture.

However they are most certainly not identical. The Sony Alpha A350 boasts what could be described as a host of new and exciting features, such as an increase to 14.2 megapixels and a bigger more solid body. The most obvious change is the tilting LCD screen. It swivels out and tilts down then up so you can hold the camera above your head or at waist level to take a picture.

Of course on most DSLRs, the tilting LCD is a novelty more than an essential function and that’s mainly because live-view on DSLRs are slow and slightly clumsy. They will autofocus but there’s that lag and a blackout as the camera focuses. But the Alpha A350 has a unique mechanism that does away with that lag and blackout. It has a mirror that will shift slightly to point the light further up from the viewfinder to a second smaller sensor. It’s the second sensor that is linked to the LCD and shows the action happening as it happens. It quite literally works like a digital camera only when you press the shutter the curtain rises to expose the primary 14.2 megapixels CCD sensor. A formidable resolution that can capture an amazing amount of detail.

The menu on the Sony Alpha A350 is pretty much the same with the A200 and the buttons are all placed in the same place so anyone wanting to upgrade from the A200 to its more sophisticated sibling will have no problems at all. The only new button is the Smart Teleconverter button which is active only in the Live View mode. It zooms into the image by 1.4x then to 2x. It’s basically a digital zoom feature which crops the picture down though with 14.2 megapixels to work with you could crop and still make good prints.

The battery icon has changed slightly from the old symbol that showed a very rough estimate of how much was remaining to a percentage icon that will more accurately tell you how much power you have left. The eye start focus has been inherited from the A200 so the autofocus is ready just as you match your eye to the viewfinder. For the most part the body is easy to handle even if it weighs a tad more than the A200. It’s still a lightweight DSLR by anyone’s standards, with the buttons placed in easy to reach spots.

Sony Alpha A350 ISO Test

The Sony Alpha A350 takes beautiful photographs with the Bionz image processing engine promising lower noise levels at even higher ISO settings. A quick ISO test seems to show that this holds true. Even at ISO 1600, the colours are bright clear and only the slightest hint of grain appears in the shadows. At 3200 the picture is somewhat grainy, but nothing severe that detracts from the quality of the image.

Sony has worked hard to rise above the ranks with their many new DSLRs, but their best effort so far is the A350 with the second sensor and tilting mirror mechanism to make its Live View as useful as those on digital cameras. The improvements on the Sony Alpha A350 are more than the mere cursory upgrades usually found on revamped cameras, but real steps forward to make this DSLR not only more exciting than its A200 predecessor but truly comparable to other entry level DSLRs on the market. Sony has put in a great deal of effort and deserves recognition with the A350.