[Pixalo]

Just posted! Our mammoth in-depth review of the Sony Alpha DSLR-A100, Sony's first digital SLR and first of their newly created Alpha line. The A100 represents the coupling of Konica Minolta SLR and photographic know-how with Sony's electronics and engineering experience. The A100 is fitted out with a ten megapixel CCD sensor mounted on a CCD-shift 'Super SteadyShot' platform which provides in-camera Anti-Shake capability, it also has other unique features such as in-hardware Dynamic Range Optimization and Eye-Start AF. So dive into one of our longest reviews to date and see how the A100 shaped up.

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[MickB]

I keep seeing this camera being mentioned in same breath as the newly awaited Nikon D80. Do they have something in common or just main competitors to each other

[ayu]

Some say both sport the same CCD - however, in the tests and comparisons done at dpreview there are some slight differences, I guess due to other factors (lens, firmware etc).

I bought an A100 2 months ago, and I can say it's a great camera, but lacks some important (for some) features; Computer control and vertical grip. I personally don't find this issues important... and liked the battery life, standard kit lens quality is over what I expected. I'd like it to be a bit more luminous, as even with fairly good lighting conditions the camera complains about movement if you don't use a tripod (Edit: at low80 or 100 ISO). As with everything, it's all about learning how to use your camera in your hands and take the most of it. Not bad to be the first DSLR Sony delivered, thanks to KM. It'll be a serious competitor to Canon and Nikon for sure.

[Dave]

Hi Ayu & welcome to Pixalo. Thanks for above....would be great if you could add something similar to review section here :- http://www.pixalo.com/reviews/showpr...uct/217/cat/11 to help other members decide which camera is best for them

Glad to see you're enjoying the camera

[ayu]

Posted...

Sorry for my crappy english - I'm spanish!

Edit: Why is it that the Alpha 100 doesn't have as much buzzing as the other Nikon and Canon in this forum? I can't believe I'm the second person posting an oppinion on this model for several months since it begun being sold...

[Dave]

Fair point . Anyone else out there with the Sony ? By the way your English is excellent !!!

[Rob Barron]

Your English is a heck of a lot better than my Spanish Ayu so don't worry!

I think the main reason why few have gone for the Sony is simply that you can get the Canon 400D for the same money. That is not to say the Sony camera is not good, by all accounts it is very good. However, as someone who has been doing photography for 37 years now, I know I would always choose to buy a highly technical digital camera from a company that makes cameras and other optical equipment much more than I would a company that has absolutely no track record for cameras at all. Sure they have been doing their digital compacts for a while (not keen!) and most of the work done for this camera was done by Konica-Minolta but they are a company that specialises in nothing and makes everything. I buy Sony quite a lot: I have a Sony car stereo, a Sony hi-fi, a Sony camcorder and a Sony DAB radio. I could have a Sony CD, DVD recorder, Video recorder (remember those!), Television.... etc, etc.

I think the majority of people looking to spend close on £500 for their first digital SLR will be far more inclined to go for a trusted name like Canon and Nikon more than a catch-all brand like Sony. Therefore Sony would have to produce an absolute belter of a camera, one that out-classes every DSLR in its price range by quite some distance before they will steal a major slice of the market.

Like I say though, nothing to do with how good the A100 is. The Canon 400D is excellent, has the things the A100 has (10.2 MP, 2.5" screen, etc) and has the most important thing of all: the brand name!

That's my opinion anyway. Others may see it differently. In the meantime, you just go ahead and enjoy your A100 and let's see some of the shots it can produce

Cheers,
Rob

[ayu]

Thanks for your kind comments Rob.

I am also a Sony fan, I guess, as I'm typing this on a Vaio and also play with a PSP, use a Cliè as a PDA and so on; My compact camera (a DSC-V1) is by far one of the best point and shoot cameras I ever had - specially when you master the manual controls. When I drove to the shop to buy a DSLR I actually had in my mind the 400D, and actually even ordered it. In the check previous to the payment, I could also try an A100 and I really liked how it felt in my hands, much better build quality than the Canon... etc. Of course I already read all the reviews about the 400D, the A100 and the D80. As my previous film Reflex is a Pentax I didn't have any preference regarding using again old lenses... and I have plenty of mstick duo memory cards I can use on the A100. So I changed my mind and finally purchased this model, despite there are things in Sony I don't like at all - not so happy with my Vaio as a laptop - and use a Mac as desktop.

I completely agree with your point of view though - sharply describes the most common case. In my situation after studying photography at the University (that's what my major is about) I know most of the pro or sub-pro cameras are very good and it's more about how much power can you unleash from them as a photographer what helps producing good shots, and also after all the favorable reviews and knowing its weak points... thought, why not?

Edit: The quick reply function doesn't seem to be working...