Sony Alpha 100 June 2006 launch report

Flash compatibility

Older genuine Minolta Alpha mount lenses back to 1985 should all be fully compatible with the Alpha 100; third party makes may not be.

The new flash HVL-F56AM and HVL-F36AM units are essentially the 5600 and 3600 with new branding, and the flash shoe remains unchanged. However, you should not assume total compatibility. We expect the new models will be set up to function perfectly with the Alpha digital bodies, while the older Minolta and Konica Minolta models were a compromise designed to work with film or digital, often needing a calibration adjustment for good results on the 7D and 5D. This should not be the case with the new Sony models; we will have to find out whether they are also, as a result, improved performers on the Dynax digital bodies.

Sony has opted to continue not only the wireless system compatibility but also the cable system with off-camera shoe, cables, triple connector and so on. Again, until we have tested new models together with 5600 and 3600 HS (D) guns, full wireless interoperation can’t be confirmed but it looks as is cabled set-ups will be functional right back to the earliest similarly equipped flashguns. That, amazingly, goes back 25 years to include MD system items like the Auto Electroflash 360PX.

Sony’s own contribution to the range, their Ring Light HVL-RLAM, is not a flashgun at all but an LED continuous source ringlight, and as such is compatible with all cameras.

Battery and grip

There is no suggestion that we can expect a battery grip for the Alpha, since it is based on a 5D size body and no grip was ever made for the 5D. The handgrip of the Alpha 100 is an improvement over the 5D, with a little more forward heft and better finger space. The positioning of the shutter release button aids vertical holding, which tends to push your trigger finger inwards a touch.

A second reason given for wanting a grip – the first is usually ergonomics plain and simple, if not a love of big impressive camera kit – is battery power. The Sony Stamina NP-FM55H 1600 mAh battery is something between 50 and 100 per cent higher in shot capacity than the earlier Konica Minolta NP400 used in the 7D, 5D, A1 and A2. It is pretty much as good as having two batteries, from the start, offering about 750 shots with flash and many more without.

The Alpha 100 is not charged in normal Sony fashion using a mains adaptor which plugs into the camera, but in Minolta fashion with a separate battery charger. An optional twin-battery charger and mains adaptor can provide constant power for studio shooting, connection to a computer, PictBridge printing or sensor cleaning should that ever be needed.

The external AC-VQ900AM, which charges two cells in sequence (not simultaneously) also outputs AC to the camera, which the supplied single battery charger can not do. However, you had to add the cost of an AC mains adaptor with the 7D or 5D if you wanted to connect to printers or clean the sensor. I will probably fork out for an extra couple of cells and a twin charger, and for those who do not need such a massive shooting capacity, the battery life is such that no mains adaptor should be needed.

Memory Stick

There have been grumblings about MemoryStick storage cards – diehard CF users afraid Sony would make the camera MemoryStick and nowt else! Well, fear not, because it appears to be very fast CF card compatible and comes with a CF adaptor for MemoryStick Duo, not the old big sticks. The Duo or Pro Duo card is precisely the same size as the 1988 Creative Expansion Card format used by Minolta so you can dig out your old CE Card wallets and strap holder – they fit MS Duo cards perfectly. It is about the same size as an SD/MM card.

I decided to buy a card before going to Morocco, in case the camera did have only MemoryStick compatibility. To my surprise, a genuine Sony MemoryStick PRODuo 2 gigabyte card cost me £25 cheaper than the equivalent CF card by mail order, and when tested it proved to be about the same speed as an 80X CF card on our computer. However in the camera it appeared to be much faster – this also applied in a Sony DSC R-1 camera I was testing, leading me to think that Sony have optimised communications between camera and their own card format. High street prices can be higher, as I noticed at in the airport photo store. With Sony MemoryStick capacities, speeds and prices probably matching or beating the CF card format, getting the adaptor free is a welcome bonus. There is certainly no cause for grumbling, you can even use it in your 5D/7D.