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Sony Alpha 350 Review

The Sony Alpha 350 is a great digital SLR camera for you if you are after a stripped-down, lighter, more compact DSLR. Despite it not having all the features you get in the more expensive models, it still does a great job and offers a great price vs the quality offered, especially if you are new to digital SLRs.



Sony has been a tough contender in the digital SLR camera market especially in the high-end category with all of the alpha models having powerful features.

Now they are bringing the power to the lighter and more affordable models like the Sony Alpha 350.

When comparing the size of the 350 with the other alpha models, Sony has outdone itself in stripping features to create a compact DSLR that still works nicely.

Sony Alpha 350 Highlights

sony alpha 350
The Sony Alpha 350 is one of the smallest DSLR cameras being sold today even when pitched against other manufacturers.

Although the price tag clearly makes the 350 cheap, the handling is surprisingly good with a nice solid feel and great grip.

The long battery life also adds significant value to this 14.2 megapixel shooter thanks to the Stamina Battery power technology.

Like other Alpha models, the BIONZ image processor is housed inside the model to enhance all images automatically by reducing noise and enhancing white balance to preserve detail even when the highest and lowest sensitivities are used.

It also has some technologies like the SteadyShot INSIDE in-camera image stabilization to help reduce camera shake no matter what lens is used.





sony alpha 350
Another unique feature is the Smart Teleconverter 2X Digital Zoom which allows 1.4x and 2x zooms to be used without degrading the picture quality thanks to algorithms that reproduce the pixels.

It basically adds telephoto features to SAL1855 18-55mm standard zoom lens that it comes with.

Not only is the Sony Alpha 350 light for entry-level users to enjoy, but it is also one of the friendliest cameras available allowing the different parts of the menu to be accessed very quickly on the 2.7-inch LCD display.

It has an integrated help guide to guide people that are not very familiar with DSLR photography.

Although the viewfinder is disappointingly small, the Live View feature makes it possible for anyone to take nice shots especially since the LCD display can tilt up or down for better shooting angles.

This mode can be activated without any fear of degrading autofocus performance. In fact, the Eye-Start Autofocus and 9-Point Center Cross AF Sensor make it useful to catch moments even if the subject is in fast-motion.

Other Features of the Sony Alpha 350

sony alpha 350
The Sony Alpha 350 is also a nice creative camera to use as it has several finishing styles to complement different landscapes including an Adobe RGB setting for designers to take advantage of.

The Dynamic Range Optimizer also helps balance the shadows or overcomes the glare effects making certain images look better by adjusting the dynamic range area-by-area.

Lastly, the Anti-Dust technology is a welcome feature that keeps the CCD imager clean.

Like other entry-level DSLR cameras, the JPEG quality isn't great as the details are often low-contrast and the quality of the image degrades when using the settings above ISO 400.

However, the ergonomics are above-average and it also includes some useful software. The Live View mode is excellent for the price making this a good choice for a first DSLR camera.

Click here to learn more about Sony Alpha 350




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