Sony has yet to release a true entry-level dSLR in the market. That changed with the showing of the Alpha DSLR-A200 (the Alpha DSLR-A100 was not entry-level). A late arrival in this market might have cost the company, but the A200 will get Sony into the fray immediately. The $700 camera has plenty to offer new photographers, and the competition should take notice.

What It Is

The Alpha DSLR-A200 is the first true entry-level digital SLR camera that Sony has released.

Amongst typical things you would expect in a dSLR, the camera has the capability to shoot at 10-megapixels, built-in image stabilization, a 2.7-inch 230,000-pixel LCD screen, an ISO range of 100 to 3200, and can burst for 3fps (unlimited JPEG, 6 frames max Raw).

What It Does

The A200 brings more competition into the entry-level camera market. Cameras used to be extremely expensive only a few years ago; however, in such a short amount of time, things have changed drastically. It is impossible to predict how the A200 will perform in the market, but it is likely that Sony will steal away a number of potential customers from Nikon and Canon .

What It's Worth

The Alpha DSLR-A200 will cost $700, and will be coming to a store near you in February. It will be on-par with the features and price offered from both the Canon Digital Rebel XTi and Nikon D40x. Surely an impressive attempt to enter the entry-level market by Sony.

My Thoughts

After comparing the specs from the competition--Digital Rebel XTi and Nikon D40x--the differences between all the cameras are minimal at best. It no longer really matters what you are looking for in performance because all the entry-level cameras are very similar in that regard.

What it will come down to primarily is how the camera feels in-hand, and the price willing to be payed. All that aside, I believe the A200 is a welcome addition, and worthy of consideration by future digital SLR customers.