PENTAX 200D
£500 with 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 AL II lens

Handling & ease of use:
Pentax's K100D won many plaudits for its excellent handling and so it's little surprise that this update hasn't seen many changes. At 630g, the K200D isn't heavy, but it has a very reassuring feel, thanks to the large, rubberised handgrip and the generally solid feel of the camera body. Aimed at the novice, Pentax has ensured that the control layout won't intimidate the beginner by keeping buttons and dials to a minimum. The result is a very user-friendly DSLR, with a traditional top-plate housing an exposure mode dial and LCD panel, with the shutter button and two small control buttons on the top of the handgrip. The rear of the camera is dominated by the 2.7in LCD monitor, surrounded by a relatively small number of control buttons. It's a control system that doesn't take long to get used to, and thanks to the Fn (Function) button and four-way control, it doesn't take long to access the main functions. All this makes it a very good choice for the beginner. My only slight reservation is with the design of the on-screen menu, but this is a very personal thing, so I may be in a minority in thinking it could be a little better. All told, I think that this is a very accessible DSLR for newcomers.
The viewfinder of the K200D is on a par with most entry-level DSLRs, proving a sharp, reasonably bright screen and good level of exposure info along the bottom. Wearing spectacles though, I found some glare passing by the hood, forcing me to cup my hand over the camera to get a clear view in strong sunlight. Overall, the negative points are minor (and, 
common to most sub-£1,000 DSLRs) in comparison to the many positives of the K200D's handling

Features:
As mentioned earlier, the K200D is an update of the K100D, and it's notable that some of its features have been passed down from the new flasghip model, the K20D. In particular, the weatherproofing seals that protect it from dust and moisture. The K200D sports a decent range of features that will appeal to more experienced photographers as well as beginners. At its heart is the 10.2-megapixel APS-C sized CCD sensor, which has a high enough resolution to produce A3+ prints. The exposure system is similar to most consumer-level DSLRs, boasting a full set of modes ranging from several subject-biased programs through to semi-automatic and manual modes. The metering system has three options: 16-zone, spot and centre-weighted average, with the usual compliment of overrides at hand. The autofocus system uses 11 AF points (two more than the Sony) and these cover a very wide area of the frame. There's the choice of using all 11 or individual points and while you can select either Single-shot AF or Continuous AF, an Auto AF mode isn't included. Images can be captured in Raw, JPEG or Raw+JPEG and it's possible to capture Raw files as .PEF (Pentax Raw) or in Adobe's DNG format. And as with the Pentax K20D, a raw button on the lens throat allows you to quickly select Raw shooting without accessing menus. The built-in flash needs to be raised manually rather than it pop up automatically and while modes like  flash compensation is available, it lacks rear-curtain sync.
The body-integral Shake Reduction system is selected via a switch on the rear and the K200D also boasts a sensor dust-removal system. The ISO range of 100-1600 (and Auto) and continuous shooting at 2.8 frames-per-second both fall a little short of what's on offer from the Sony. Finally, it's worth noting that the Pentax uses four AA batteries, as opposed to a lithium-ion cell, and accepts SD/SDHC cards.

Performance:
The general performance of the K200D is very good, especially when you take into account that it's an entry-level model. The autofocus isn't as quiet or as quick as the Canon USM or Nikon AF-S lenses, but it's no slouch and isn't loud either. The high-pitch whir usually lasts only a fraction of a second before the autofocus locks positively on the subject. The AF works reasonably well in low light too, but warn any potential subjects about the high-speed strobe emitted by the AF assist beam! The multi-zone metering was in truth a little inconsistent by today's standards when shooting general scenes, occasionally underexposing when you wouldn't expect it to. Bright areas of sky, even when quite small in the frame, caused the Pentax to produce slightly dark results. I also noted that images on the LCD monitor were darker than the actual files, so use the histogram to check exposure. The integral flash system works well and exposures tended to be accurate and fall off at the edges minimal. One area that reveals the low price point of this camera is the general speed of processing. Shoot in Raw & JPEG and the continuous frame rate is slow, the buffer memory fills up after only a few frames and it's some seconds before the red light on the rear disappears. That said, it's unlikely that most users will ever push it to these limits. Noise isn't an up to ISO 800 but then becomes quite obvious. 
General image quality is very good, with the 18-55mm delivering decent results, but colours have warm rather than natural tonal reproduction. As with most DSLRs, JPEGs are a little soft and in need of sharpening to bring out detail. Overall, the Pentax produced good quality results.


SUPPLIED ACCESSORIES
The Pentax K200D is supplied with: Four AA lithium batteries; viewfinder cap; Video cable (I-VC28); USB cable (I-USB17); strap (O-ST53); instruction manual and software CD-ROM

SONY ALPHA 200
£399 with DT 18-70mm f/3.5-5.6 lens

Handling & ease of use:
With the Sony Alpha 200 priced significantly cheaper than the Pentax, you'd expect to see corners cut in certain areas, particularly build quality, but while the Pentax feels slightly more substantial, the Sony itself feels very well made. The body is actually very similar to that of the more expensive A300/350 models – it's fairly compact and lightweight and with a solid grip. The control layout is pretty minimalistic and fairly similar to that of the Pentax. The top-plate houses the exposure mode dial and a couple of control buttons, while the remaining buttons, along with the LCD monitor and four-way control, are located on the rear. All buttons are well marked so it takes little time to find your way around the camera. Next to the LCD monitor is a Fn (Function) button and four-way control, which when used together allow fast access to key metering and AF functions. It's a very simple system that works well and helps speed up setting functions. The viewfinder is similar in size to that of the Pentax and below it is a sensor that automatically activates the AF and switches off the LCD monitor when you raise your eye to the viewfinder. It provides a sharp image with a decent amount of exposure info along its base, but the screen is slightly darker than the K200D's. The 2.7in LCD monitor is good, providing a sharp and colourful display when reviewing images. The grey, orange and black on-screen menu system has a far more 'business-like' look compared to the bright and colourful Pentax menu and in general is easier to navigate. As with the Pentax, the Sony Alpha 200 has clearly been designed with the beginner in mind and proves to be a very easy camera to use.

Features:
The Alpha 200 is the official replacement for Sony's original DSLR, the Alpha 100 and its range of features is clearly influenced by more recent models like the Alpha 350 and 700. The Alpha 200 sports an APS-C CCD sensor with a resolution of 10.2-megapixels, which gives images with a maximum resolution of 3872x2592 pixels. Its exposure system is very comprehensive – there is a full range of modes to suit all levels of photographer and metering options are well catered for with 40-segment Honeycomb, spot and centre-weighted average patterns, as well as all the main overrides, including AE-lock and autoexposure bracketing. The autofocus system uses nine AF points and you can choose whether to use individual points or have all active, as well as setting single-shot AF, continuous or Auto AF modes. The integral flashgun can be raised if required in semi-automatic modes but pops up automatically in some of the fully automatic programs. The flash system is pretty sophisticated and offers a range of modes including high-speed sync, rear-curtain sync and slow-sync.
The Alpha 200 also has an impressive sensitivity range, offering ISO 100-3200 as well as Auto. In terms of image capture, the Alpha accepts CompactFlash and can shoot in Raw, JPEG or Raw+JPEG. The Drive system fires continuously at three frames-per-second and the self-timer has options for setting a two or ten second delay. As with the Pentax, the Alpha 200 has a body-integral image stabilisation system, as well as an anti-dust system. Unlike the K200D, the Sony is powered by a rechargeable lithium-ion battery, with Sony claiming you can get up to around 750 shots from one charge! Other features worth noting are the remote release terminal and D-Range Optimizer. However the Alpha lacks Live View, and there is no mirror lock-up facility either. For a DSLR with such a low price, the specification is very impressive indeed.

Performance: 
It's getting increasingly easy to forget the price of the DSLR being tested as they're getting better and beter. The Sony, while lacking some of the refinement of more expensive mid-range models, turned in a tidy performance. The speed and noise level of the autofocus system is very similar to that of the Pentax and in general shooting conditions is very responsive. It did struggle in dim light conditions a bit more than the Pentax, but again, the built-in flash can be raised to fire off a strobe-effect lamp to aid AF. The 40-segment Honeycomb meter proved to be a little inconsistent – sometimes results were accurate while other times it would underexpose, even though the conditions weren't that different. Using the integral flash didn't reveal any problems with exposures. The D-Range Optimizer is worth using in high-contrast conditions as it retains around a stop of extra information at the extremes of the tonal range. As with the Pentax, the Sony's processing is limited in terms of the frame rate, especially when shooting in Raw & JPEG, but this is unlikely to pose a problem for many.   The extra range offered at the telephoto end of the 18-70mm proved useful at times and optical quality is good with the lens closed down, but there are no doubt sharper optics in the range. Image quality is good and noise up to ISO 800 is well controlled. As with the Pentax, sharpening JPEGs in Photoshop is recommended. A difference in quality from Raw converted to JPEG is noticeable, so try to shoot in Raw and convert later when possible. The Sony generally delivers decent results with more natural colours than the Pentax.Other than that, there is little difference between results from both SLRs.

SUPPLIED ACCESSORIES: The Sony Alpha 200 is supplied with: body cap; Li-on battery (NP-FM500H); Battery Charger (BC-VM10); Wide Strap; USB cable; Video cable; eyepiece cover; Software CD-ROM; Instructions

TEST VERDICT
The range of features and quality standard produced by DSLRs at all price ranges continues to rise and in no sector is this more apparent than in entry-level models. The Pentax and the Sony are both well made, stacked with features and deliver very good quality results, once your images are sharpened a little in post-production. They offer excellent value for money and an ideal entry point for digital SLR novices looking for their first DSLR. The specification of both cameras is very similar, with each offering very useful features like body-integral stabilisation and dust removal. The Pentax multi-zone metering system is less consistent than the Sony, while the Alpha's AF struggles in low light a little more than the K200D. The biggest difference between these two outfits is the price and while the Pentax is very good value, the Sony represents extraordinary value for money. Both enter a highly competitive area of the market but each has enough in its arsenal to offer a strong alternative to their main rivals.

PENTAX K200D
Handling & Ease of use: 22/25
Features: 21/25
Performance: 21/25
Value for money: 22/25
FINAL SCORE: 86/100

SONY ALPHA 200
Handling & Ease of use: 21/25
Features: 21/25
Performance: 21/25
Value for money: 24/25
FINAL SCORE: 87/100