I wouldn't care what it looks like or what it feels like. All these people say the 300D sucks cos it's silver. Well, I take good pictures with it so who gives a flying... erm... fudge?
edit: The Pentax *ist DS has a silly name :P
It was supposed to be the:
"Light"ist and "Fast"ist camera on the market. Using the DOS global replacement character, they just named it "*" ist.
That's my story and I'm sticking to it.
I just wish someone would tell me how to pronounce it.
So much for your job application at Steve's Digicam huh?
Yah.
I just got a call from Sony. They're confiscating my PSP.
Hey Artyste was that a recall or from a class action suit? Sony has so many of those going on...I'm waiting (not that I would get one) for the launch of their next Zepplin (aka Pray Station 3)...
"My final rating? For me it's a fairly comfortable Highly Recommended, the A100 is a very capable camera with a wide feature set, a good range of manual controls and some unique developments. The built-in Super SteadyShot provides you with that little extra comfort level at slower shutter speeds and the ability to use longer lenses with more confidence."
As with all dSLR choices, it's not the body you're buying into, it's the system. In Sony's case this is the Alpha system, including some nice Carl Zeiss glass.
"My final rating? For me it's a fairly comfortable Highly Recommended, the A100 is a very capable camera with a wide feature set, a good range of manual controls and some unique developments. The built-in Super SteadyShot provides you with that little extra comfort level at slower shutter speeds and the ability to use longer lenses with more confidence."
As with all dSLR choices, it's not the body you're buying into, it's the system. In Sony's case this is the Alpha system, including some nice Carl Zeiss glass.
Phil Askey lost my respect a very, very long time ago.
Phil Askey lost my respect a very, very long time ago.
Why is that? - I've always thought his reviews were very thorough. The dpreview tests and rating systems seems fair and well thought out.
My only observation is perhaps a bias towards putting the big brands to the top of the review queue. Some other brands (e.g. Ricoh or Casio) could be out for a year before the review appears.
I'm a bit sceptical to this sony dslr thing sice the system they are selling is fairly limited. The body is fairly expensive, lens prices are a bit high and there's a limited secondhand market(for buying stuff).
I have a Maxxum 7D and it's a tank. I had assumed the 5D was just as solid. Since the Alpha is basically a 5D chassis, I thought it would be just as solid as well. I haven't seen any professional review that has said otherwise either. So I am very surprised by such a negative review.
There's a reason I went with picking up a used Maxxum 7D instead of the Alpha like a lot of people suggested to me. For one thing, I don't want my camera and my video game console sharing a brand. And for another thing, I got the 7D for under $700, and it will probably feel much nicer in my hands than the Alpha ever will. Especially considering I own a Maxxum 5000i, and I like the heavy, solid feel that reassures me that a few bumps here and there won't destroy it.
Thanks for posting your scathing words; really makes me feel a lot better for not caving in to the Alpha.
Everyone is entitled to their point of view and in a democracy, we would all defend that right. At first, this thread really hacked me off as the initial opinion expressed was almost malevolent but - hey - so what? As everyone knows, what is good for one guy is bad for another. So I was feeling cool about this until xantangummi said:
"I'm a bit sceptical to this sony dslr thing sice the system they are selling is fairly limited. The body is fairly expensive, lens prices are a bit high and there's a limited secondhand market(for buying stuff)."
Funnily enough, I think that the body is a pretty good price (£499 over here) and the single kit lens package pretty reasonable too (£549). The second hand KM market is pretty cool, too, so I was a little surprised by this remark. But - hey - I only know the local prices.
Then I thought about a bit more and wondered - in place of generic statements - we really needed to do a price comparison on some kind of function point basis (can you tell I am a consultant? :-). By this I mean looking at the Sony vs. Canon vs. Nikon vs. Pentax branded lenses and not the generics.
At that point I gave up.
Not because it cannot be done (it can and relatively easily) but because the comparison becomes a little invalid when (love it or hate it) image stabilisation is on the body for the Sony (and the new Pentax) and on the lens for the other manufacturers. No need then for IS and VR - or is there?
So, we are back to where we started with nothing but opinions and very little real and substantiated evidence to back the opinions with. And as that wise man Voltaire once said:
Opinion has caused more trouble on this little earth than plagues or earthquakes.
The Sony Alpha feels very similar to the KM 5d. Not surprising since they are basically the same camera body.
Build quality is always a factor in cameras. Hand feel is critical, and for many photographers the "cheap" feel of the Alpha is a turnoff. With that said, the in camera Super Steady Shot, and a good solid 10mp image sensor make this a good solid camera investment. The same lenses that worked on the 5D and 7D will work on this camera, so as of now you have a solid group of lenses to select from. The promise of Carl Zeiss lenses in the future also can't be knocked too hard.
It's got a different feel to be sure, but if the camera is comfortable for you I think it's an excellent buy.
some years ago in my first job we used to make teak instrument cases, these were rapidly being phased out for very robust moulded plastic cases.
Feed back from some of our clients was that because the new moulded cases were indistructable people tended to through the instruments about a lot more. Result damaged internals and short life for the delicate instrument.
Maybe a less robust feel to a camera will ensure it gets treated with care.
By this I mean looking at the Sony vs. Canon vs. Nikon vs. Pentax branded lenses and not the generics.
At that point I gave up.
Not because it cannot be done (it can and relatively easily) but because the comparison becomes a little invalid when (love it or hate it) image stabilisation is on the body for the Sony (and the new Pentax) and on the lens for the other manufacturers. No need then for IS and VR - or is there?
All I know is that the Sony/KM 70-200 f/2.8 is so expensive that I can buy a Nikon or Canon 70-200 f/2.8 VR/IS and have money left for a D70 body. Many people will say:"Hey, you don't have to buy a Sony/KM, a third party lens like the Sigma 70-200 f/2.8 is good too." Could be, but the Sigma is not as good as the Canon/Nikon one, stopped down maybe it comes close but so do many lenses, wide-open it is a different story and so is the bokeh and micro contrast (it depends if you think that these things are important).
Many of the other lenses are quite close in price.
In-body VR has the advantage that it stabilizes all lenses, but it does not stabilize the viewfinder view and the optical path to the AF sensors. Something that could make a bit of difference when you do low exposure continous AF stuff with fast moving subjects.
I've never been close to the Sony, so I am not going to comment on how it feels or what it does. It looks good on paper, but if I were to buy from scratch I'd never ever buy the Sony because of my recent history with them (all the last items I bought failed within the warranty period, camera, telephone, playstation, battery and tv).
I'd never ever buy the Sony because of my recent history with them (all the last items I bought failed within the warranty period, camera, telephone, playstation, battery and tv).
Hmmm, I have had nothing but good luck with Sony. I haven't had any problems with my Playstation, Playstation 2, Digital Handycam or my Vaio notebook. :-)
some years ago in my first job we used to make teak instrument cases, these were rapidly being phased out for very robust moulded plastic cases.
Feed back from some of our clients was that because the new moulded cases were indistructable people tended to through the instruments about a lot more. Result damaged internals and short life for the delicate instrument.
An interesting story Peter, I shall remember that one.
I'd never ever buy the Sony because of my recent history with them (all the last items I bought failed within the warranty period, camera, telephone, playstation, battery and tv).
Hmmm, I have had nothing but good luck with Sony. I haven't had any problems with my Playstation, Playstation 2, Digital Handycam or my Vaio notebook. :-)
You say that very well: "good luck with Sony". :)
BTW that's 5 returns for the camera, 3 (or 4) battery replacements, 2 new playstations, 1 tv and 1 telephone. When I look at my family it is also 2 telephones for my father and 1 for my brother. Their service is very good, replacement policy great, it's just the products that suck.
