Sony A350
The new Sony A350 is equipped with a sensor resolution of 14.2 megapixels and has a space of its very own in the digital SLR market alongside the Pentax K20D. It has a price of £449.99 – which is decent when you think that it comes with an 18-70mm zoom lens. The two lens kit is priced at £649.99 and comes with a 55-200mm zoom.
Nikon’s closest competitor is the D80, currently £499 body only or £639.99 with an 18-70mm lens, but the D80 is only 10 megapixels. Olympus offers the E-520 for £499.99 body-only or £549.99 with a Four-Thirds system 14-42mm lens, but again it is only 10 megapixels. Canon has a slightly closer match in the shape of the popular 12.2-megapixel EOS 450D (review coming soon) at £459.99 body only or £499.99 with an 18-55mm lens.
Of course sensor resolution isn’t the only criteria by which a camera should be judged, and the A350 has another important feature that sets it apart from the competition. Sony was a relatively late adopter of live monitor view for its digital SLRs, and both the A700 and A200 lack this feature. However the A350 not only has live view, it also has a two-way tilting 2.7-inch 230k monitor and, more importantly, a fast nine-point TTL phase-detection autofocus system available in live view mode.
Competitor DSLRs that offer live view have either simpler and slower contrast-detection AF systems when in live view mode, or have to temporarily flip the reflex mirror down to use their phase-detection AF systems. Sony’s solution is faster, more effective and much more useful, enabling full autofocus function in live view mode.