Sony Alpha DSLR-A350 Review

The Alpha A200 was a solid performer, but at the end of the day what it really had going for it was one key spec: a fantastic price point for its level of specification. With street prices for the A350 all in the $800 range, the value equation changes somewhat. Sure, the A350 adds an excellent live view system – undoubtedly the most highly functional and uncompromised one on the market. I can't emphasize this enough: even considering Olympus's well thought-out live view system, the A350 is the first DSLR to offer a clean-sheet design approach to the live view problem, and thus not surprisingly, it's the first DSLR I've spent time with where live view feels well integrated with the rest of the device.

But if live view – even good, well implemented live view – just isn't your thing, the A350 has to work a lot harder to sell itself. If you can live without on-screen shooting in your DSLR, then what you're paying for with the A350 is essentially a $300 resolution bump. And if, in turn, you don't need 14.2 megapixels for the kinds of all-around shooting you have in mind, the A200 provides a better viewfinder, snappier continuous shooting performance, and a level of specification otherwise that meets the more expensive model point for point.

If you're looking for a camera to ease the transition from a point-and-shoot, something with a live view system that you can use every day for every shot without compromising AF performance, the A350 is your camera. Those willing to settle for a "purer" DSLR experience, however, can get most of the rest of the A350's performance for less money. Ultimately, then, whether you'll find the Alpha A350 to be the pinnacle of consumer DSLR development to this point or an abomination to its reflex-camera heritage really comes down to a question of personal preference.

Pros:

* Most integrated, best performing live view system on the market
* Superior flash metering means better flash shots
* Articulating LCD a nice touch
* Long list of picture styles, processing controls

Cons:

* Noise performance is middle of the pack
* White balance a bit of a mess
* Build quality feels unremarkable
* Tiny, dark optical viewfinder


David Rasnake

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