Review Alpha 380

[REAlpha]

The Dutch photomagazine Focus (in business over 96 years) tested the new alpha 280 in its July/August edition. Summarising the results of this article, we find on the plus side:
- superior live view system (as fast as normal focussing)
- LCD screen (also much better readable in the sun compared to the alpha 350)
- easier to use

On the downside:
- no improvements on the higher ISO colour noise (they specifically mention that they were disappointed Sony did not enhance this and Sony is lagging the competition from ISO 800 onwards, although noise reduction is not too agressive)
- no film function (the article does mention that at first it looked that Sony was also lagging the Live View implementation and then showed a superior version; it seems to suggest that Sony may do the same in future cameras.)
- grip on the body may be too small for anyone with (slightly) bigger hands (you need to buy the battery grip)

Their conclusion: very good (super is the highest award). Average of 8,2. Measured on a 1-10 scale.

More details can be read in the article itself.

It seems that Sony missed an opportunity to really improve the image quality.

[bfitzgerald]

Hmm how can you "buy the battery grip"??

As far as I am aware there are no grips for these new models.

[alphaomega]

I cannot remember where I read it but I have an idea that David Kilpatrick suggested somewhere that the A380 might be supplied with Silkypix raw conversion software. I wonder if anyone can confirm if this is actually the case. It would be an improvement on Sony's own IDC as at least it would then be possible to remove CA in the raw file without having to purchase a separate raw converter.

It would also bring them into line with such companies as Panasonic and Pentax, both of which rely on a SE edition of Silkypix. As I can work out from my own Silkypix version supplied with my LX2 and latterly LX3 it is a full version limited to the camera in the case.

[David Kilpatrick]

I just reported something I found - I am pretty sure it was an error, and the A380 comes with the same software as before (IDC). Warehouse Express were saying it came with Silkypix, but I reckon they just got a Panasonic entry cut and pasted in error - or altered a template incorrectly.

David