Sony DSLR-A100 (Body Only) Digital Camera

Sony DSLRs have received some rave reviews of late. It was partly for this reason I bought one. Rather than buy a camera with a "kit lens" I decided to get a camera body and add my own selection of lenses. Whilst Sony may be new to the world of DSLRs their wares are based on Minolta systems and thus will work happily with most Minolta "A" mount lenses. Some of the early "AF" lenses particularly those made by Sigma may have problems when hooked up to Sony's DSLRs...this is worthy of further investigation if one is considering bidding for a lens. A helpful website is:

http://www.dyxum.com/index.asp

This website catalogues and gives user opinions of most of the vast array of lenses that should work with Sony's DSLRs.

Of course a camera is only as good as the glass that is attached to it. I've owned an Olympus 2100UZ for 7 years...its only 2MP but it takes some great photos simply because it has a great lens. The problem with ultra-zoom digital cameras is that not all of them are blessed with such optics...I know...I've tried a few since and after a while moved on. The big advantage of a DSLR is that one is not fixed with a single lens.

The first lens I bought for my new camera was purchased from a very active eBay seller who described the lens as "optically perfect". What he failed to mention is that it was perfect for fungal growth...it was covered in the stuff and is only useful as a paperweight. I've been much more circumspect in lens purchase since. I've bought one using eBay but the other two have been bought from dealers directly...there are some bargains when dealing directly with a camera dealer...I got one lens (old new stock) from a dealer for £40...the official list price of that lens prior to its being deleted from the range was £199!

Having got a lens that worked I found that despite 30+ years of having a camera (I actually own 12 at the moment) I was unable to take many shots with my new camera that were focused correctly. I even had my eyes tested! But after using my trusty 2100UZ and a friend's Panasonic F20 (it has full manual override)alongside my new purchase I realised it wasn't me it was the camera. A little searching on the internet revealed that I wasn't the only one to have problems in this department. Although no-one told me it was...the fix appears to be to ensure that the camera's firmware is updated to the latest version. Having done this the camera now appears to take decent shots most of the time...still some issues with macro photography but this might be me (having had an easy time with a fixed lens digital camera) rather than the camera.

I've taken a few shots that I'm really pleased with. And these are considerably better than anything that I could have hoped for with my 2100UZ or the cameras that I've used in the intrim. I suppose I will have to learn the limits (and where the sweet spots are) for each lens I own. With my pervious cameras this became apparent quite quickly, with a 3 (or in the future more) lens system there is a longer learning curve. But having said that, its a challenge I'm prepared to take on.

If you want something just to take snapshots then perhaps this is not the system for you. I think DSLRs are for people who want to play around a little more with photography. I've already decided that when I go on holiday my DSLR will stay at home...its too big, too bulky and too time consuming. For holidays I just want a point and shoot camera. Hope this all helps.

Outstanding Good-looking

I paid full price £550, but still not upset great kit would highly recommend

Sexy Light and great life Span (durable) a well manufactured peace if technology

A clearly valuable product for any one looking for a simple easy good looking Camera
Thank You for your time

From James @ Listen Loud (eBay shop and at listenloud.co.uk)

I paid full price £550, but still not upset great kit would highly recommend
10.2 MP way enough

Minolta were characterised, much like Sony, with technical innovation and quality. The A100 is a really exciting product at the price - well done Sony for revising the K-Minolta 5/7D. Superb functionality and picture quality - and an anti-shake system that really works! Big screen, easy controls and a load of creative possibilities. Nice feeling camera. Accesses the huge range of Minolta AF lenses - including the FANTASTIC 500mm AF which is a lens that NEEDS anti-shake like no other! - a range of superb lenses widely and inexpensively available on Ebay. Good battery life.
Downsides: like all Minoltas, loud shutter clunk. Would like a PC (off camera flash) socket. Not quite an A700 - but still fab!
AT THE PRICE THIS IS A CRACKER OF A DIGITAL SLR - a vast improvement on my EOS 300D. 11 out of 10.

it was a good price.they had 1500 feedback,i dont think they newer want send to me the camera.they closd the webshop after i payd it,ooops.and now i havent got camera and my money is enywher:(.
georg7897 Zsolt Kiss

I was looking for a fairly high spec. DSLR with a self cleaning sensor and shake reduction system that would not be expensive. I narrowed this down to the Pentax D100 super, Canon D400 and Nikon D40x. However, to get shake reduction on the D400 would have mean spending an awful lot of money on IS lenses. I then priced these on e-bay and was lucky enough to find a Sony A-100 body for £225, which was £100 less than the alternatives at that time. I then purchased several Minolta/Sony lenses from between £10 to £40 each, ending up with a full kit for less than £300. The camera itself is very easy to use, almost intuitive. It takes and records each shot quickly. The two programming dials on the top make for easy setting up and idiot-proof changes to ISO, White balance, metering, flash and focusing.
The screen is easy to use to view shots, magnify them and delete them instantaneously. Image quality will depend on the lens used, but several of mine have been highly rated on Eyefetch. I hope this helps.