As Sony's replacement for its SLT-A33, the current entry-level model in its line of interchangeable-lens cameras with a fixed translucent-mirror design, the A35 looks like only a modest update, but it is also merely marginally different than the currently shipping A55. That's probably one reason why the A35 won't be shipping until August, at which point I expect that Sony will be ready to announce the replacement for the A55, which will be a year old in September. The other Sony camera announced today, the Alpha NEX-C3, is also slated to ship in August.
The most notable difference is that the A35 retains the fixed LCD of the A33, while the A55's is articulated. I have to say, I'm partial to the articulated LCDs. Even though I'm a viewfinder shooter, the LCD occasionally lets me get shots I wouldn't otherwise have tried. The A55V also has GPS.
Otherwise, the design remains pretty similar to the other SLT models: SLR-like but with an electronic viewfinder. It's relatively lightweight for its size, with the same functional--if somewhat uninspiring--design as the rest of Sony's SLRs. The feature set has a few additions, including the same Picture Effect menu that debuts in the C3, with the usual options we're used to seeing from other cameras, including selective-color R, Y, G or B; toy camera (vignetting); posterizing; pop art (vivid color); and retro (faded). Unlike the C3, though, you can't layer the effects together before shooting, and you can't adjust the quality or intensity of the effects like you can with Olympus' models. Plus, I found the selection of effects and their rendering to be just OK.
I was also disappointed that the A35 doesn't pick up the interface convention of the new NEX, wherein it will tell you why a particular option is grayed out. And the video options haven't been updated, either, with the A35 limited to 1080/60i AVCHD.
Here's how it compares with some of its Sony brethren and a couple of competitors:
| Canon EOS Rebel T2i | Sony Alpha SLT-A33 | Sony Alpha SLT-A35 | Sony Alpha SLT-A55 | Sony Alpha DSLR-A580 | ||
| Sensor (effective resolution) | 18- megapixel CMOS | 16-megapixel Live MOS | 14.2-megapixel Exmor HD CMOS | 16.2-megapixel Exmor HD CMOS | 16.2-megapixel Exmor HD CMOS | 16.2-megapixel Exmor HD CMOS |
| 22.3 x 14.9mm | 17.3 x 13.0mm | 23.4 mm x 15.6mm | 23.5mm x 15.6mm | 23.5 mm x 15.6mm | 23.5 mm x 15.6mm | |
| Focal-length multiplier | 1.6x | 2.0x | 1.5x | 1.5x | 1.5x | 1.5x |
| Sensitivity range | ISO 100 - ISO 6400/ 12,800 (expanded) | ISO 100 - ISO 6400 | ISO 100 - ISO 1600/ 12,800 (expanded) | ISO 100 - ISO 12,800 | ISO 100 - ISO 1600/ 12,800 (expanded) | ISO 100 - ISO 12,800 /25,600 (expanded) |
| Continuous shooting | 3.7 fps 34 JPEG/ 6 raw | 4fps unlimited JPEG/7 raw | 6 fps (7fps with auto exposure) 16 raw/7 JPEG | 5.5 fps 18 JPEG/6 raw | 6 fps (10fps with auto exposure) 20 raw/35 JPEG | 5 fps (7fps with auto exposure) 22 raw/45 JPEG |
| Viewfinder magnification/ effective magnification | Optical n/a 95% coverage 0.87x/0.54x | Electronic 1.4 million dots 100% coverage 1.4x/0.7x | Electronic 0.46 inches/1.4 million dots 100% coverage 1.1x/0.73x | Electronic 0.46 inches/1.4 million dots 100% coverage 1.1x/0.73x | Electronic 0.46 inches/1.4 million dots 100% coverage 1.1x/0.73x | Optical n/a 95% coverage 0.80x/0.53x |
| Autofocus | 9-point phase-detection center cross-type | 23-area contrast | 15-pt phase-detection 3 cross-type | 15-pt phase-detection 3 cross-type | 15-pt phase-detection 3 cross-type | 15-pt phase-detection 3 cross-type |
| Shutter speed | 1/4000 to 30 secs; bulb; 1/200 x-sync | 60-1/4000 sec; bulb to 2 minutes | 1/4000 to 30 secs; bulb; 1/160 x-sync | 1/4000 to 30 secs; bulb; 1/160 x-sync | 1/4000 to 30 secs; bulb; 1/160 x-sync | 1/4000 to 30 secs; bulb; 1/160 x-sync |
| Metering | 63 zone | 144 zone | 1200 zone | 49 zone | 1200 zone | 1200 zone |
| Image stabilization | Optical | Optical | Sensor shift | Sensor shift | Sensor shift | Sensor shift |
| Video | H.264 QuickTime MOV 1080/30p/ 25p/24p @ n/a; 720/60p/ 50p @ n/a Mbps | AVCHD 1080/ 60i/50i @ 17 Mbps | AVCHD 1080/60i @ 17Mbps; H.264 MPEG-4 1440x1080 /30p @ 12Mbps | AVCHD 1080/60i @ 17Mbps; H.264 MPEG-4 1440x1080 /30p @ 12Mbps | AVCHD 1080/60i @ 17Mbps; H.264 MPEG-4 1440x1080 /30p @ 12Mbps | AVCHD 1080/60i @ 17Mbps; H.264 MPEG-4 1440x1080 /30p @ 12Mbps |
| Audio | Mono; mic input | Stereo | Stereo; mic input | Stereo; mic input | Stereo; mic input | Stereo; mic input |
| LCD size | 3 inches fixed 1.04 million dots | 3 inches articulated 460,000 dots | 3 inches articulated 921,600 dots | 3 inches fixed 921,600 dots | 3 inches articulated 921,600 dots | 3 inches articulated 921,600 dots |
| Wireless flash | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Battery life (CIPA rating) | 470 shots | 250 shots | 270 shots | 420 shots | 330 shots | 1050 shots |
| Dimensions (inches, WHD) | 5.1 x 3.8 x 3.0 | 4.5 x 3.3 x 1.8 | 4.9 x 3.6 x 3.3 | 4.9 x 3.6 x 3.3 | 4.9 x 3.6 x 3.3 | 5.4 x 4.1 x 3.3 |
| Body operating weight (ounces) | 18.6 | 11.8 (est) | 17.5 (est) | 16.1 | 17.8 | 24 (est) |
| Mfr. Price | n/a | n/a | $599.99 (body only) | n/a | $749.99 (body only) | $799.99 (body only) |
| $899.99 (with 18-55mm f3.5-5.6 lens) | $699.99 (with 14-42mm f3.5-5.6 lens) | $699.99 (with 18-55mm lens) | $699.99 (with 18-55mm lens) | $849.99 (with 18-55mm lens) | $899.99 (with 18-55mm lens) | |
| n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | |
| Ship date | March 2010 | June 2011 | August 2010 | August 2011 | September 2010 | November 2010 |
Sony has tweaked a few of its multishot modes, though. The Handheld Twilight now combines six shots, for example, though it doesn't seem any slower, which is good. It still has all the standard Sony features, like Auto HDR and Dynamic Range Optimization, 3D, and Sweep panoramas. A new Tele-Zoom high-speed shooting mode is just a digitally zoomed 8-megapixel 7fps burst mode; the standard burst is 5.5fps, which is quite respectable for its class. In fact, the A35's overall performance is quite good, on par with the A55, though still lags behind sub-$1,000 dSLRs in some ways. The battery life has been incrementally improved over both the A33 and A55.
It's got the same new 16-megapixel sensor and updated image processing as the NEX-C3, which Sony claims delivers better noise reduction. And while we didn't test the A33, the image quality of the A35 does look better than the A55's at midrange ISOs like ISO 1600. They're a hair crunchier than I like, but overall the A35's photos are quite pleasing, with decent color accuracy and dynamic range. Final judgments on the photo quality will have to wait until I can process the raw files, but JPEG shooters should be pretty happy.
As far as I can tell, the A35 isn't really worth putting off your buying decision for, though I'm curious what the update to the A55 will look like and it might be worth waiting for that. I should have a full review up within the next few weeks, so check back.
In addition, Sony will be releasing a firmware updated for current A33 and A55 models, which will add Picture Effect, high-speed sync for wireless flash on the A55, tweaked menus and display, and the ability to program the D-Range button with a custom assignment. You'll be able to download the firmware from www.esupport.sony.com.