Sony α

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Sony α 100
Type	Digital single-lens reflex camera
Sensor	23.6 × 15.8 mm 10.2 effective megapixels CCD
Maximum resolution	3872 × 2592 pixels
Lens type	interchangeable, Sony α / Konica Minolta A mount
Shutter	electronically-controlled, vertical-traverse, focal-plane Shutter
Shutter speed range	30 ~ 1/4000 sec, with Bulb, 1/160 sec X-sync
Exposure Metering	40-segment honeycomb sensing system provides multi-pattern measuring
Exposure Modes	full manual, Program Auto, Aperture Priority, Shutter Priority, ±2.0 EV, 1/3 EV Steps Exposure Compensation, 3 frames brcketting
Metering modes	Multi-segment, Center-weighted, Spot
Focus areas	9-points, 8 lines with center cross-hair sensor, TTL CCD line sensors
Focus modes	manual focus point selection, Spot AF, Continuous AF and AF Lock
Continuous Shooting	3 Frames Per Second, unlimited JPEG, up to 6 RAW
Viewfinder	optical, spherical Acute Matte screen, 20mm eye relief, 0.83x magnification, dioptre adjustment, 95% frame coverage, pentamirror
ASA/ISO range	Auto, 100, 200, 400, 800, 1600, Lo 80, Hi 200
Flash	Manual Pop-up: Auto, Fill-flash, Rear flash sync, Wireless off camera flash (with Flash HVL-F56AM, F36AM), GN12 at ISO 100 (39 feet/ 12 meters)
Custom WB	Auto, daylight, shade, cloudy, tungsten, fluorescent, flash, color temperature, custom
WB bracketing	3 frames
Rear LCD monitor	230k pixel, 2.5-inch TFT LCD
Storage	CompactFlash I/II, Memory Stick PRO (with adapter), Memory Stick PRO Duo (with included adapter)
Battery	7.2V, 1600 mAh
Weight	545 g

Sony α (Greek letter alpha) is a digital SLR camera system introduced on June 5, 2006^[1]. It utilizes and expands upon Konica Minolta camera technologies, including the Minolta AF SLR lens mount, which were acquired by Sony after the end of Minolta's camera operations in early 2006. Sony also has an 11.08% ownership stake in Japanese lens manufacturer Tamron,^[2] which seems to produce the new DT lenses.

Prior to the acquisition by Sony, the α branding had already been used on the Japanese market by Minolta for their AF camera system (marketed as "Dynax" in Europe, and "Maxxum" in North America.)^[3] Sony adopted the name "α mount system" for the Minolta AF lens mount which has been retained in their new SLR range.^[4]

Contents 1 Sony α 100 2 Future Camera Bodies 3 Lenses and Tele-converters 3.1 Designations 3.2 Rebranded Konica Minolta Lenses 3.3 Rebranded Tele-converters 3.4 New Carl Zeiss lenses 4 Other accessories 4.1 External flash units 5 References 6 External Links 6.1 Reviews 6.2 User Sites

[edit] Sony α 100

The first model marketed by Sony is the A100. It is influenced by previous Konica Minolta models (primarily the Maxxum/Dynax 5D and 7D), retaining a similar body design and claimed improvements on Konica Minolta's Anti-Shake sensor shifting image stabilization feature, renamed Super SteadyShot. It uses a 10.2 megapixels APS-C size CCD sensor. Another notable feature inherited from Konica Minolta is Eyestart, which provides for automatic autofocus activation by detecting the presence of the photographer's eye on the viewfinder, thus quickening camera response.

Another notable feature is an automatically vibrating CCD to remove dust each time the camera is shut off. The A100 shipped from Sony and resellers by the end of July 2006 with MSRP prices of US$1000 with the 18-70mm/3.5-5.6 kit lens and US$900 body only.

[edit] Future Camera Bodies

On March 8, 2007, at the PMA Trade Show, Sony announced two new α cameras, both positioned to be "above" the α 100 in the Alpha line-up. Without stating official model designations, one model was referred to as a "high amateur" model, while the other was referred to being the "flagship" model, with professional-level specifications. Sony stated that one of these camera bodies would be released in 2007, but did not specify which one.^[5]

[edit] Lenses and Tele-converters

The α lens mount, originally known as the A-type Bayonet mount was introduced by Minolta in 1985 as the world's first autofocus system. As a result, virtually all Minolta AF lenses are supported on Sony DSLRs, and many Sony lenses should work on Minolta's film and digital SLRs.

During the initial introduction of the α system in 2006, Sony announced 19 lenses and 2 tele-converters, of which the majority are rebranded Konica Minolta lenses. MSRP and month of introduction are included for these lenses, below.

At the 2007 PMA Trade Show, Sony unveiled several new lenses, but has referred to them only in qualitative terms, not providing specific specifications. As a result, these newly announced lenses are not included in this list.

[edit] Designations

• DT - "Digital Technology", lenses for APS-C size sensors
• G - G Series, professional lenses
• SSM - "SuperSonic Motor", in-lens ultrasonic motor used on some long telephoto G Series lenses.
• ZA - "Zeiss Alpha", new lenses manufactured under license from Carl Zeiss

[edit] Rebranded Konica Minolta Lenses

Zoom Lenses:

• DT 11-18mm f/4.5-5.6 (US$650, Aug 06)
• DT 18-70mm f/3.5-5.6 (US$200, Jul 06) Standard α100 Kit Lens
• DT 18-200mm f/3.5-6.3 (US$500, Jul 06)
• 24-105mm f/3.5-4.5 (US$470, Nov 06)
• 70-200mm f/2.8 G SSM (US$2400, Aug 06)
• 75-300mm f/4.5-5.6 (US$230, Jul 06)

Prime lenses:

• 16mm f/2.8 Fisheye (US$1000, Oct 06)
• 20mm f/2.8 (US$680, Oct 06)
• 28mm f/2.8 (US$250, Oct 06)
• 35mm f/1.4 G (US$1400, Oct 06)
• 50mm f/1.4 (US$350, Jul 06)
• 50mm f/2.8 Macro (US$480, Jul 06)
• 100mm f/2.8 Macro (US$680, Jul 06)
• 135mm f/2.8 Smooth Transition Focus (STF) (US$1200, Oct 06)
• 300mm f/2.8 G SSM (US$6000, Sep 06)
• 500mm f/8 Reflex (US$700, Oct 06)

[edit] Rebranded Tele-converters

• 1.4× Tele-converter (US$600, Sep 06)
• 2× Tele-converter (US$650, Sep 06)

[edit] New Carl Zeiss lenses

• Carl Zeiss Vario-Sonnar T* DT 16-80mm f/3.5-4.5 ZA (US$700, 20 Apr 07, delayed from original Nov 06 release date)
• Carl Zeiss Planar T* 85mm f/1.4 ZA (US$1300, Oct 06)
• Carl Zeiss Sonnar T* 135mm f/1.8 ZA (US$1400, Oct 06)

[edit] Other accessories

[edit] External flash units

Model	Guide number	ISO
HVL-F36AM	36	100
HVL-F56AM	56	100

[edit] References

[edit] External Links

[edit] Reviews

• Sony Alpha A100 Full-Review, March 2007, Neocamera, Cybernium
• Sony Alpha DSLR-A100 Review, July 2006, Phil Askey, Digital Photography Review

[edit] User Sites

• Sony Alpha DSLR-A100 User Support forum, Dedicated a100 resource.
• Dyxum.com, forums and user reviews for Sony Alpha and Konica Minolta dSLRs.