Sony’s latest digital SLR models, the and the Alpha DSLR-A350, introduce an innovative, dual-sensor approach to previewing your image in real-time on the LCD screen, just as you can do today with digital point-and-shoot cameras.
Although Sony is not the first company to use two sensors to generate a live preview, the company is the first to offer both live preview and full control of the auto-focus system, including during rapid-fire burst-mode shooting.
Live view remains a relatively new feature on digital SLR models. By definition, with a digital Single Lens Reflex (SLR) camera, you see what the lens sees; but, the actual image is captured when you flip up the mirror and open the shutter. In order to offer a live preview of an SLR model, manufacturers have typically had to preview the image off of the same sensor that handles capturing the image.
The first digital SLR with a live LCD preview–Olympus’ $1000 (with 14-45mm lens) EVolt E-330–came out about a year ago. Now, several other manufacturers–including the $1300 (body only) Canon EOS 40D and the $4500 Canon EOS 1D Mark III, and the $1800 (body only) Nikon D300 and $5000 Nikon D3 and Nikon D3–are offering this feature; and the recently introduced Pentax K20D ($1300 body only) that does so as well. The Sony A300 costs $800 for the body only, or $900 for the body plus an 18-70mm lens.
Sony Alpha DSLR-A350 specifications:
| Sensor | 14.2 megapixel, 23.6×15.8mm CCD |
| Lens/Zoom | Minolta A-type bayonet mount (Alpha mount) |
| LCD/Viewfinder | 2.7″, 230K-pixel tiltable TFT LCD; Penta-mirror optical viewfinder |
| Sensitivity | ISO 100-3200 |
| Shutter Speed | 30-1/4000 seconds |
| Shooting Modes | Not Specified |
| Scene Presets | Not Specified |
| White Balance Settings | Auto, Daylight, Cloudy, Shade, Fluorescent, Tungsten, Flash, Color Temperature/Color Filter, Custom |
| Metering Modes | 40-Segment, Center-Weighted, Spot |
| Focus Modes | 9-point AF system, mode not specified |
| Drive Modes | Normal, Burst |
| Flash Modes | Auto, Fill, Rear Flash Sync, Slow Sync, High-Speed Sync |
| Self Timer Settings |
10 seconds, 2 seconds, Off |
| Memory Formats | Compact Flash |
| Internal Memory |
None |
| File Formats | JPEG, RAW |
| Max. Image Size | Not Specified |
| Max. Video Size |
N/A |
| Zoom During Video | N/A |
| Battery | STAMINA rechargeable lithium-ion battery, 730 shots |
| Connections | USB 2.0 |
| Additional Features | Dynamic Range Optimizer, Super SteadyShot, Live View, Bionz Engine Processor |