Home > Consumer Reviews > Sony Alpha A100 DSLR Digital Camera Lens Kit - Silver (10.2MP) 2.5" LCD Screen With 18-70 Lens

I have a Minolta Dynax 5 and wanted a Digital SLR that wouldn't cost me a fortune, wouldn't change it's assessories every year at the cost of the consumer, would be a world class contender and most importantly help me take great pictures. I visited a camera shop and handled the D80 and Canon, Olympus and various others but really liked the Alpha. It's so easy to use, you can pick up high speed quality Sigma a-mount lens for next to nothing and whilst my Dynax light unit doesn't work with it, there is a part I can get to fit to it.. why bother? Just get a better light unit!

I use my camera professionally for weddings, events and I am very impressed with the image quality. I had one journalist photographer slag my camera off as a mikey mouse one... until I pointed out that i had the same number of pixels, optical zoom and as his £1500 Canon AND the Karl Weiss lens were the best in the world and fit as standard AND in a recent review in Digital Photographer magazine, Sony lens were proved better than Canon, Sigma and Tameron - SO NAH Canon/Nikon snobs! Anyway, when it came to seeing his pictures in the press, mine were actually better. Sharper, cleaner and better colour coz he blasted his shots with too much flash.

Canon and Nikon are great cameras (I do like the D80) but don't be swayed to chose one of them because someone says 'if you want to take pro shots... you have to have one' that's total rubbish! You won't be disappointed - I have not been, nor have my customers.

with regard to r bakers review this camera uses the minolta hot shoe and all the range of a mount lenses of which there are many bargains to be had in the second hand market and on ebay take a look

This is the first DSLR I have owned and I have to say that value for money it's amazing on the plus side battery life is good I have taken over 200 pictures some with flash and used the LCD screen for previews and still have 3/4 left. I did consider buying either the Nikon or Cannon equivilants but found the accessories like lens, batteries etc expensive I have owned several Sony cameras before and they never disapointed so this was the main reason I opted for the Alpha. The Alpha takes stuuning pictures especially in low light thanks to the "steady shot" and has a quick start up time, for me the best feature has to be the instant focus as soon as you look through the view finder ready to take a shot in an instant. The only downsides I have found was the menu system which took a while to get used to and didn't feel natural also a plastic feel to the case and I didn't like the silver finish but I guess that's a personal preference.

Having had other makes of cameras i have to say that Sony A100 tops them all with picture quality ease of use and handling, the steady shot being on the camera and not on the lens as on other makes helps keeps the price of new lenses down.Add to fact of all the extres on he camera at this price range and you have winner.

Do not buy this camera if you want to use your existing flash unit, or if you wish to use Studio Flash. This is because the hot shoe only fits Sony own brand flash units, there is no PC connector on the camera, and Sony do not sell a compatible hot shoe adapter. There is also no way to turn off the pre-flash.

Otherwise good.