A380..review, well ish..

[bfitzgerald]

Some info here, and some samples at the end, though I have never liked this site much. Not really a review, but better than nothing I guess.

http://www.letsgodigital.org/en/camera/ ... age_2.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Couple of points, they mention the lack of flash raise button, so how does one raise it up???

Also they seem to say the new 18-55 looks ok, but the 55-200mm was poor. Maybe the design is no longer based on the tamron one.

[stroberaver]

What an.... unstructured review. Thanks for the link though.

I still dislike the new cameras. Am I right in thinking that these are replacements, not alternatives to the A200/300/350, so if I decided to start doing photography commercially in a few months (which I'm not, by the way!) and wanted a small backup body that shares memory and power with an A700 or 900, I can't get one? I'd feel more comfortable with having these cameras in the range if they partnered the "traditional" black ones with compact flash and NP-FM500s and a big, chunky, supremely comfortable handgrip, but I don't like the thought of these as a replacement.

Mind you I don't suppose I can blame Sony for targetting beginner photogs and women (I think it's fair to say that the smaller size and lighter weight of these cameras makes them much more appealing to most women), it's surely a massive market. I've seen lots of tv adverts lately, think it's for the Panasonic micro 4/3rds system, naturally featuring a tanned, slim model flouncing around on holiday somewhere, easily holding a tiny DSLR and popping it in and out her bag for a quick snapshot.

Quite why anyone would want a DSLR to take mere snapshots instead of a P&S is not discussed in the advert...

[Birma]

Thanks for posting the link Barry. No surprises, and the pluses and minuses seem to be as expected. I am still not sure I understand the market Sony are going for. As others have said, if it needs to be this simple then why not a P&S/Bridge camera (with video)?

[KevinBarrett]

I went into Wolf Camera today and saw the a230 on the shelf. I asked to handle it and the saleslady said that she was thinking about getting the a350 but wants to see the a380 first. After handling the a230 beside the a200, I told her to go for the a350, and pointed to the missing AEL button on the newer bodies.

[bfitzgerald]

Almost nobody seems to like the handling of the camera or the feel in the hand.
Reports of the new SAM lenses being noisy as well (aka not near silent like they are meant to be)
Yet more cameras being released with video and other bits, only a matter of time before a budget Canon hits the floor with this, and Nikon needs to fill the D60 retirement.

In this kind of environment aka ultra competitive, surely it's going to take more than a re-style, and ripping stuff out..for these to do well in the market.
I just don't see how Sony are going to sell loads of them, I hope this is the last newbie type camera sony attempt to do, and the new low end series after this should be a return to "normal" cameras..

Makers are stuffing more in (video), not taking things out. I will repeat again, I think Sony are heading in the completely wrong direction, and I don't think it will work. I expect to see these new cameras getting mediocre reviews, only a very heavy price cut could save them.

I bet the D5000 murders the A380 sales wise

[aster]

Hi,

I'm a little puzzled with the latest 'upgrade' serviced to the market myself. Although, I am a highly positive and optimistic person and welcome these new cameras if Sony wishes to make them aiming at a crowd we may not be perceiving but I think there's something wrong with the model numbers. These cameras provide even less features than their predecessor models even if there are some improvements to some aspects of them; new body design and all.

I think they should be named more like A190, A290, or something like that. They certainly are more entry-level than the existing models people bought into. I always think that an upgrade should also embody more quality and an improved technology accompanied by healthy ergonomics and weight control to ease handling.

I hope the A700 successor does not in fact come in the shape of an A690 if these new releases are to set any example to Sony's understanding of an 'upgrade'.

Well, just my thoughts at this time of the year... I hope Sony breaks out of its shell with mature cameras for future needs because nobody can stay an entry-level camera operator or photographer forever. At some point, everyone will acquire the skills and will look for higher achievements with a camera be it a P&S or an DSLR.

The A900 firmware update is an urgent requirement also. Such an annoucement would set some minds at rest and hint a positive direction in Sony's destination for productivity.

Yildiz

[stevecim]

The cameras don't seem that bad compared to other cameras on the market at the same price range (looking at Australian prices). The only real feature missing is a AEL button, yes there is room for the AEL button and they should have added one and they should have dropped the zoom button.
other buttons like iso, drive, flash have just moved to the 4 way control. has far has Sony see it, (just guessing) the cameras do have new features over the old ones it's just not the features we (current a200, a3xx owners) wanted.

Yes I think they have made some big mistakes, 1. the a230 should be much cheaper sub US$400.00 the A230 US50 more, fine having 2 entry level camera but not 3
2. the a380 should have been designed has a upgrade for a100, a200, a300 and a350 larger body then the a330 with all the current a350 buttons/features plus some software changes like adding DOV preview, min/max auto iso settings, much improved jpeg and high ISO higher frame rate say 5fps, styling wise I would have gone a with the a900 style, and this way they could have included a larger viewfinder, better live view sensor and added a flash 2 to 3 times more powerfull then any other camera popup on the market in the space taken up by the a900 OVF. Having a few stand out use able features they may have even gotten away with not having video, and save video for the a5xx models.

just my thoughts