{"id":1267,"date":"2009-05-19T03:31:47","date_gmt":"2009-05-19T03:31:47","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/glaringnotebook.com\/?p=1267"},"modified":"2009-05-19T03:31:47","modified_gmt":"2009-05-19T03:31:47","slug":"alpha-3-0-trio","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/glaringnotebook.com\/?p=1267","title":{"rendered":"Alpha 3-0 Trio"},"content":{"rendered":"

Sony released three new entry-level Alpha digital SLR models yesterday – the Alpha 230, Alpha 330 and Alpha 380!<\/p>\n


\nThis is the Alpha 230. Note the infrared sensor for the remote control – apparently, you can now use the RMT-DSLR1 accessory to trigger the Alphas remotely! Also, note the recessed command dial, and longer pop-up flash (unlike the shortened flash on the A200\/A300\/A350.)<\/p>\n

The lens on it, the Sony SAM 30mm F2.8 DT Macro, is another interesting lens – I can’t tell from the picture but it probably can focus to 13 cm close! (This is measured from the sensor plane; the actual working distance between the front of the lens and subject is supposed to be 2cm!)<\/p>\n


\nThis is the Alpha 330, which can be identified by its cross-stitch rubber texture and silver top. Note that there is also a copper-topped version as shown here! Also note the new Sony SAM 18-55mm F3.5-5.6 DT (SAM stands for Smooth Autofocus Motor, to differentiate it from SSM which stands for Super Sonic Motor and allows full-time manual focus.)<\/p>\n

An interesting thing about having a lens with less telephoto range, is that its minimum focus distance can get a lot closer:<\/p>\n

The Sony SAM 18-55mm F3.5-5.6 DT focuses to 25cm close and gives 1:2.94x maximum magnification.
\nThe Sony SAL 18-70mm F3.5-5.6 DT focuses to 38cm close and gives 1:4x maximum magnification.<\/p>\n


\nThis is the Alpha 380. It has a tilting screen to shoot tricky angles with Quick AF Live View (other brands have Live View but AF is horribly slow when in Live View!)<\/p>\n

I like how they made the design very streamlined; the Drive and ISO buttons are gone, moved to the keypad; the AEL button is unfortunately gone (though very few understand it, and EV compensation works as well.) I suspect that the relatively “Slow Navi” of the A200\/A300\/A350 series has been replaced as the buttons have been reworked.<\/p>\n


\nThere are clear explanations on screen about what each mode does. Ah, built in help! And yes, you can choose background colors for the pink lover in you.<\/p>\n

Interesting that there is a light meter on the right of the screen, to auto-adjust brightness in different conditions.<\/p>\n

The frame rate for all three cameras are now 2.5 FPS and 2.0 FPS in Live View where applicable.<\/p>\n


\nThree new lenses; from left to right:
\n1) Sony SAM 18-55mm F3.5-5.6 DT
\n2) Sony SAM 50mm F1.8 DT
\n3) Sony SAM 55-200mm F4-5.6 DT<\/p>\n

What is very exciting about the SAM 50mm F1.8 DT, is that it can focus to 34cm close! This gives a decent 1:5x maximum magnification.<\/p>\n

All other autofocus 50mm lenses that are brighter than F2.0, can only focus to 45cm close!<\/b> This is a new record, which I am glad that Sony beat!<\/p>\n

(There are, of course, manual focus Carl Zeiss\/Pentacon 50mm F1.8 M42 lenses that go 33cm close, and the Olympus ZD 50mm F2.0 Macro which goes 20cm close, and the Sony 50mm F2.8 Macro which goes 20cm close.)<\/p>\n

The 55-200mm seems unchanged with the previous SAL 55-200mm F4-5.6 DT, still focusing to 95cm close and giving a 1:3.45x maximum magnification.<\/p>\n


\nInterestingly, the CF card slot has been removed, and in its place, a Memory Stick HG Duo slot and a SD\/SDHC slot! There is also a USB Mini-B port, instead of the USB Micro-B port on all previous Alphas which was a lot rarer. There is also a HDMI port and a MS\/SD switch.<\/p>\n


\nI much appreciate the graphical DUH display (the new grip strap is pictured hooked onto the camera.)<\/p>\n


\nAccessories! That’s a new bag in the top-left corner; the transforming, LCS-WR1AM wrapping cloth in the top-right corner, pouches for lens caps in the bottom-right corner, a magnifier loupe, the new NP-FH50 (shared with Handicams and the Sony Cybershot HX-1), a little pop-up screen protector good for viewing in sunlight, and of course the grip straps.<\/p>\n


\nYes, a funky wrapping cloth!<\/p>\n


\nOh, and of course this cute little thing, the Sony HVL-F20AM – a new tiny flash to complement the A900 which has no pop-up flash. In other words, a pop-up flash that can be removed, and can rotate upwards for bounce mode. Exactly what I wanted!<\/p>\n

To add to that, when on the A900, it can be used as a wireless controller! That’s all Sony literature says – whether it will also work as a wireless controller on the KM5D\/KM7D\/A100\/A200\/A230\/A300\/A330\/A350\/A380\/A700 is not known.<\/p>\n

I am already looking forward to putting this on the A900 as a main bounce light, with my F58 and F42 making two hair lights.<\/p>\n

I really don’t need that much power when using this flash in social events and clubs. (Though I am wary of clubs now boohoo.)<\/p>\n


\nThe flash turns on when you pull it up, and turns off when you push it down.<\/p>\n


\nUnfortunately though, this uses 2 AAA batteries instead. Fortunately the batteries I got for my Sunpak PF20XD are still full of charge!<\/p>\n


\nFinally, some lens pr0n. These are all the 21 Sony full-frame lenses, apparently; from left to right, top to bottom:
\nSony 2x APO teleconverter, Sony 50mm F1.4, Sony 70-200mm F2.8G SSM, Sony 300mm F2.8G SSM
\nSony 1.4x APO teleconverter, Sony 70-300mm F4.5-5.6G SSM, Sony 35mm F1.4G, Sony 24-105mmm F3.5-4.5, Sony 75-300mm F4.5-5.6
\nSony 50mm F2.8 Macro, Sony 20mm F2.8, Sony Carl Zeiss Planar T* 85mm F1.4 ZA, Sony 70-400mm F4-5.6G SSM
\nSony 100mm F2.8 Macro, Sony Carl Zeiss Sonnar T* 135mm F1.8 ZA, Sony Carl Zeiss Vario-Sonnar 16-35mm F2.8 ZA SSM, Sony Carl Zeiss Vario-Sonnar 24-70mm F2.8 ZA SSM
\nSony 500mm F8 Reflex, Sony 16mm F2.8 diagonal fisheye, Sony 135mm F2.8\/T4.5 Smooth Transition Focus, Sony 28mm F2.8<\/p>\n


\nAnd this is a whole family lineup. Interestingly, the Sony 24-105mm F3.5-4.5 is omitted from this lineup! So we don’t know if it’s discontinued or not. The Sony 16-105mm F3.5-5.6 DT only sits on the A700 instead of standing by itself. The original Sony 55-200mm F4-5.6 DT seems to be omitted as well, although the old Sony 18-200mm F3.5-6.3 DT is still in the picture!<\/p>\n


\nNow here’s the Japanese lineup – it comes with a ladies’ bag! Yes, Sony sells a bag to go with your camera!<\/b><\/p>\n

(This also shows how big a Sony 300mm F2.8G SSM really is… honestly, ladies’ bags are huge.)<\/p>\n

Pictures are all taken from Imaging Resource<\/a>, Sony’s virtual press kit, DC Watch<\/a> and DPReview<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Sony released three new entry-level Alpha digital SLR models yesterday – the Alpha 230, Alpha 330 and Alpha 380! This is the Alpha 230. Note the infrared sensor for the remote control – apparently, you can now use the RMT-DSLR1 accessory to trigger the Alphas remotely! Also, note the recessed command dial, and longer pop-up […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[13,19],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1267","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-geek","category-pictures"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/glaringnotebook.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1267","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/glaringnotebook.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/glaringnotebook.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/glaringnotebook.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/glaringnotebook.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1267"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/glaringnotebook.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1267\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/glaringnotebook.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1267"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/glaringnotebook.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1267"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/glaringnotebook.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1267"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}