Sony A100?

[Gytrash]

Anyone had any experience of this camera?

I only ask as I'm wanting to upgrade to my first DSLR and I've seen this 10 mega-pixel model for £350 quid in my local Argos!

I've been using a Sony 7 MP compact for the last year or so, and found it excellent (apart from images looking 'washed out', or maybe that's 'under-saturated'?! Which can be altered in photoshop anyway).



Cheers
Dave

[pressld2]

Hi, I've not had any experience of the Sony but personally I would recommend that you go for either Canon or Nikon as these have the widest range of lenses available both from the manufacturers and also from third parties like Sigma. With any SLR the lenses are the key.

A quick google shows that you can get the 10.2 megapixel Nikon D40X with the 18-135mm kit lens for £378.99, less than £30 more than the Sony. And possibly even cheaper if you shop around. I'm quoting that one as I'm a Nikon user myself but I suspect that Canon's equivalent would also be around that price point.

Dave P.

[glsammy]

It's a good point made by Dave. Check lens availability first, if the lens you think you'll want to use the most isn't available in that fit, it doesn't matter how good the camera is. I'm sure it's a fine camera, no experience of it of course as mine's a Canon, with Sigma lenses.

[Gytrash]

Thanks guys. I was all set to get a Canon D400 or Nikon D40x, once I'd got the readies spare, expecting to pay 400-odd on the high street. I saw the Sony for £350 and remembered that I'd read a decent review or two in previous photo mags, so wondered if any folks here who'd used it would rate it as a contender in the entry level DSLR stakes...

Cheers
Dave

[T Goodlife]

Hello

Just a word on lenses. I made the plunge a while ago to buy the Minolta 7D just as Sony took over minolta. Just after this Sony stopped production of the Minolta range and it took them a while to get the Alpha into the shops. Sigma then stopped producing lenses in the minolta fitting for a while but as Sony use the old minolta fitting they are now producing lenses with the sony fitting. I have got two lenses for mine from Tamron who continued making minolta/sony fittings and am very pleased with both. One is the 180mm macro and the other is the 200-500 telephoto. So don't overlook the sony due to lens availability as there is a selection out there to choose from.

Tim

[ron1863]

I have the Sony Alpha, which I bought as I had several Minolta lenses that I could utilise. I have had no regrets, the camera is easy to use and there are hundreds of lenses to choose from, both new and second hand - check ebay or Ffords.

Good Luck

[GME]

Something I was wondering (and probably the main (or only) reason this camera would appeal to myself over other equivalents) is how is the in-camera image stabilisation on the Sony (Super-Steady Shot I believe)? This would help in not having to buy more expensive in-lens IS equivalents later on I presume. Any thoughts from anyone who has used it? ron1863?

Eeyore - I'm sure I remember in an older thread you saying you used the Sony for review purposes once. Any comment?

There are a few places doing decent prices on this camera Dave - another high street electrical store are doing it for a little more than the price you mentioned but with the 75-300mm Sony lens available for £99 (rrp £179) if you buy it at the same time. Seems pretty good to me but I'm no expert compared to some of the guys (n gals) on here. I think from some reviews I've read it is a little noisier than some of it's competitors but only a little.

I decided on the 400D but it's about £70 dearer after cashback if you want it new and from a shop you can walk away with it in your hand (i.e. not internet order). I don't know what the kit lens is like on the Sony but the Canon's is widely accepted as poor. The 40x you mentioned lens kit is supposed to be better, though I've never used one. It's probably going to cost you about £30 more with cashback taken into account. Not much between them all really in the long run. Choices, choices....

Good luck mate and let us know what you go for in the end

Gareth