• Could be better built
• A quick shooter
• Good image quality
• Features

Photo: Sony

If you’re currently in the market for a quality digital SLR market, but find that you don’t quite have the budget to buy yourself a mid-range or high-end DSLR camera, then don’t despair.

The Sony A330 is the perfect entry-level DSLR camera which offers a reliable and speedy performance in addition to quality images.

Could be better built

The A330 looks like your typical Sony Alpha DSLR camera, just a little smaller. On the whole the controls are well laid out, though it takes some time getting used to the camera if you have slightly larger hands. The grip on the camera also isn’t that large which is rather disappointing, and the body also feels like cheap plastic in some parts.

A quick shooter

The Sony A330 is no slouch when it comes to shooting and will go from turned off to shooting in 0.4 seconds. With equally fast shutter speeds and a fast aperture the A330 will continue to build its reputation as a lightning shooter when in your hand.

Good image quality

Thanks to a 10.2-megapixel camera sensor the image quality is a few steps short of excellent. Still, the camera is capable of warm colour and good sharpness. The only disappointing thing is that it takes quite some tinkering with the Sony Alpha DSLR camera to really get the best out of it. The DSLR camera could also handle noise a bit better than it currently does with images showing some softening at ISO 800.

Features

In terms of other features, the Sony A330 comes with a 2.7-inch tilting LCD screen which increases the user’s viewing angle as well as a viewfinder. The Sony Alpha DSLR camera also comes with a Live View mode which works really well in addition to an anti-shake system to keep images shake free. The A330 also has an anti-dust system to keep the camera sensor clean. Keeping shooting easy, the camera also comes with an eye-start AF system and other manual shooting modes. Sadly, the camera doesn’t come with any video recording mode.

The Sony A330 is a solid DSLR camera. Build quality could’ve been a little better but the general performance and image quality is good. Going for about £380, the A330 definitely makes for a good purchase.