Sony’s hold over the camera market extends to the DSLR side of things. Sony cameras are finding a home in the Indian market and already the A200 has been a hit among those who always wanted a cheaper DSLR. Sony brings a mid-ranged camera for those who want to take it a step ahead. The body isn’t as robust as some of Canon and Nikon’s costlier offerings but it’s still a big step up from the Sony Alpha 200. It feels pretty light even though it’s a slightly larger camera than the Alpha 200. The lens still has a somewhat loose feel like the A200. Other makes prefer to use a heavier-feel zoom ring. The handgrip isn’t particularly great either. The little finger slips under the handgrip and you’ll find it getting sore after spending some time with it. The user interface looks similar to the ones in other DSLRs from Sony. It looks a bit more professional than the Cyber-Shot range of point-and-shoot cameras. Still, it doesn’t feel like it’s geared towards serious photographers but just photography enthusiasts. The live view feature means you can focus using the 2.7-inch screen instead of having to use the optical viewfinder. There’s one jogdial which means you’re left to depend on the buttons to navigate and access some of the functions. Image quality is very good with little grain in well-lit scenes.. There’s a visible difference in image quality when you go from an Alpha 200 to something like this. The detail is crisp and colours a tiny bit emphasised are good for the most part. There is fine noticeable noise with ISO sensitivity set to 800 and above especially against dark surfaces. The stock lens kit can be used for decent macro photography with a little bit of zoom. The stock lens is an 18-55mm which is more or less 3x of optical zoom in layman terms. Sony products and many of their DSLRs use the Memory Stick format but fortunately, this one can use both MS and also SD memory cards. There’s a small toggle switch which one you want to use in the bay. Some things haven’t changed. Sony still uses the traditional Minolta mount for flash so you can’t purchase any flash unit and fix it to the camera. The flash on this camera raises well above the camera so you won’t ever have the problem of the shadow of the lens barrel falling on your photos. Until now, we’ve recommended the Nikon D60 as a solid DSLR for a budget over Rs. 30,000. Those who willing to push that budget close to Rs. 40,000 can be given an easy recommendation. The Sony Alpha 330 can be bought for Rs. 39,990.

Sony’s hold over the camera market extends to the DSLR side of things. Sony cameras are finding a home in the Indian market and already the A200 has been a hit...