5 comments about Sony Alpha DSLRA350K 14.2MP Digital SLR Camera with Super SteadyShot Image Stabilization DT 18-70mm f/3.5-5.6 Zoom Lens.

1. I enjoyed A350 a lot. The image quality is very high. I shot some awesome family pictures, portraits, our vacation photos: everything came out superb. For an amateur as I am it is dream camera! I user DSC-R1 from Sony before and it also was terrific camera. If you aren't satisfied with the pics from this cam you need some real expensive lens and pro level equipment.
   I'm very happy with this DSLR!



2. I waited a long time for the Nikon D80 to come down in price. While I was at the store ready to purchase the D80 the guy behind the counter introduced me to this A350. I have a few Minolta Lenses so it seemed like a great fit. I was a little skeptical at first but let me tell you, this is a great camera. I have taken more than 700 photos including my kids playing, storms, Lightning, and even long exposure night photos of the sky. I have had some KILLER photos come out of this camera. I am highly impressed and I have no regrets in choosing this camera over the D80. The only downside that I saw in the beginning was the 2.5 photos per second vs the d80's 3.? per second. I can handle that. I would highly recommend at least a 4 gig card but get the 8gig.I have the 8 gig and I currently have about 720 photos stored at highest res. about 14mb per photo on the card with plenty of room left.



3. I purchased the Sony A350 primarily to have an up-to-date, medium-high end DSLR that would accept my Minolta lenses: I have seven. Professional photography was my first career, and had other opportunities not presented, I likely would have remained a photographer. I remained an avid amateur photographer throughout two subsequent careers, and now in retirement. I've found the the A350 a competitive DSLR, with most or all of the functions and modes of similar price-range cameras. Couple that with allowing me to use my collection of Minolta lenses, I've made a good choice. One feature I particularly like since I print large format copies of many of my photos is the menu selection "Creative Style" allowing shooting in Adobe Photoshop color space.
   
   Two downers:
   1. The LCD screen is particulary vulnerable protruding rearward to accommodate the LCD tilt function. Moreover, when using the viewfinder, skin oils and sweat--I shoot a lot of equine sports action--soils the LCD continuously. This vulnerability is why I rated the camera 4 stars rather than 5.
   
   2. I find the Camera Shake warning indicator distracting, and essentially useless. Even when I use a tripod the indicator indicates maximum at the slightest touch. I'll rely on controlling shutter speed.
   
   Nonetheless, I am satisfied with the camera, and would recommend it to others.



4. I used 35 mm years ago and then stopped taking pics. Started up because of some of the digital point and shoot cameras. When I decided to get back into SLRs, I did a lot of research. I have never been into snob appeal so I looked into features, picture quality and value as significant factors. Sony, who took over the older Minolta line, certainly had the right idea when they put together the 350. It is pretty easy to use right out of the box. I would consider a field guide if you are not camera savy, so you know how to get the most out of it. I recently used it on a trip to England and took about 800 pictures in 10 days. It worked great. I do not use the kit lens, but found some others that make this camera pretty flexible (but that's another review.) So far, there is nothing that I have wanted to do that this camera can't.
   
   The majority of great pictures come from the photographer's eye, scene and light. IMHO, this camera will not hold you back if you have those.



5. great camera. The one thing I wasn't expecting was that it takes so great pictures that it will make an inexpensive lens look cheap. These Kit lenses were fine for my smaller processor cameras and gave some very good pictures but this one simply shows any and all imperfections in my older, inexpensive lenses........tried one of the newer, more expensive lens, made for this model, and took great pictures.... guess I learned my lesson that if I'm going to use a great camera, don't try to shoot cheap... the pictures will tell the story... new lenses coming to my collection, soon.

2 comments about Nikon D60 10.2MP Digital SLR Camera with 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G AF-S DX "VR" and 55-200mm f/4-5.6G ED IF AF-S DX "VR" Zoom-Nikkor Lens + 4GB Deluxe Accessory Kit.

1. This product is a great deal. Other places sell this stuff for more. The service was fast and efficient.



2. Great package. Everything you need to start working at a very good price. Delivery in time and very good conditions

5 comments about Olympus Evolt E510 10MP Digital SLR Camera with CCD Shift Image Stabilization and 14-42mm f/3.5-5.6 Zuiko Lens.

1. I purchased this outfit (E-510 plus two kit lenses) not because it's "best in class" (it isn't), but because it seemed the best value in what I was looking for (I concentrate on landscapes, vacations, people; I do not concentrate on sports or formal portraiture). The price for this outfit shrunk from $1,000 to $620 in less than a year and a half. With Olympus introducing the tweaked E-520, the 510 became old hat. An example of excellent (but no longer state of the art) technology deeply discounted.
   As for the camera itself, these are its noteworthy attributes that might not be apparent at first study of the specs:
   A) On body (as opposed to on lens) image stabilization. Take a look at lens prices for Nikon or Canon and compare to Olympus' Zuiko equivalents. Nikon and Canon boast on lens stabilization - at a premium price.
   B) High reviews for the optical quality of these kit lenses - at virtually every aperture setting. They're remarkably lightweight too.
   C) Four-Thirds sensor functionally doubles the 35mm equivalent zoom factor of the lenses. Thus the 150mm kit lens magnifies to 300mm equivalent - about 8x zoom.
   D) Relatively lightweight but ergonomically friendly.
   E) Overall picture quality at various settings - really really good!
   Work Arounds:
   A) Noise reduction and sharpness default settings not so good. I prefer the results with the noise filter on "low" and sharpness on "minus one".
   B) Speed: If freezing sport or fast action is important to you, look elsewhere. ISO is best at 100 - 200. Just fine through 400. Beyond 400 to 800 is just OK - too much granularity for my liking. Above 800 - forget it - noise is obvious.
   C) Only downside of the kit lenses are their maximum apertures of f3.5 and f4.0. (Would really like a f2.8.) However, pretty typical in this class.
   D) Built in flash is what you'd expect for this level camera - adequate at best. Consider springing for the Olympus FL-36 - I wouldn't travel without it!
   All told - I'm very happy with this camera, especially at this price!



2. This camera takes amazing pictures! I was going to buy the 520 and then realized for the same price I could get the 510 plus two lenses! The camera is exactly the same as the newer model except for a few new features. If you're anywhere from a beginner to an avid photographer you can't go wrong with this camera!



3. just use it for a short time. overall is very good and worth the money and it would be much better if the focus system is as fast as cannon's.



4. I guess it was my fault, but I bought this camera with only one lens. The box came showing it was supposed to be a two lens package (both lenses shown on the outside of the package). I was under the assumption that I was getting a new, unwrapped item and not something that had been repackaged and sold with only one lens. I don't believe Olympus meant for it to be repackaged and sold as it was. This disappointed me.



5. Good camera - better than the big two in this category of price and quality, Canon and Nikon. This the most highly rated because of its image stabilization feature, which the other two do not have. Otherwise, they are all the same, at the same price. And all take great quality pictures.

4 comments about Canon Rebel XS 10.1MP Digital SLR Camera with EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS Lens (Black).

1. If you want more bang for your buck, get the Canon EOS Rebel XSi instead of the Rebel XS. The XS is the "little brother" of the XSi which means they are both almost the same camera, but the XSi has more to offer than the XS. At the time of this writing, Amazon.com is currently selling the XSi for the same price as the XS! You would be foolish to buy the XS now instead of the XSi, especially on the fact that the XSi was released not long ago in April 2008. In other words, you have two very similar models that were both released in 2008, just four months apart, but yet the XSi has more capabilities and features than the XS and costs the same. The XS is just a trimmed-down version of the XSi.
   
   Here are the notable similarities of the Rebel XSi and the Rebel XS:
   * Both have practically the same large single-plate CMOS sensor and the Digic III Image Processor, except the XSi is 12.2MP while the XS is only 10.1MP (megapixels).
   * Both have the Canon EOS Integrated Cleaning System.
   * Both can be purchased with the same EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS Kit Lens. If you buy the XSi camera body only, it's even cheaper than the XS with kit lens.
   * Both have Live View Function with their LCD displays.
   * Both are compatible with Canon EF and EF-S lenses.
   * Both utilize SD and SDHC memory cards.
   * Both use the same battery pack (LP-E5) and the same optional battery grip (BG-E5).
   * The XS is compatible with most of the Canon EOS camera system accessories that can be used with the XSi.
   
   Now here are the differences between the "newer" Rebel XS and the recently released Rebel XSi:
   * The XSi has more megapixels at 12.2MP while the XS is 10.1MP.
   * For JPEG, the XSi can continuously shoot at 3.5 fps while the XS can do 3.0 fps. But for RAW, the XSi is a lot better at 3.5 fps while the XS can only do 1.5 fps.
   * The LCD monitor of the XSi measures 3.0 inches while the XS has a smaller screen at 2.5 inches.
   * The XSi has a 9-point AF system while the XS has only a 7-point.
   * The XSi has Spot metering while the XS does not. Both have Evaluative, Partial, and Center-weighted metering, however.
   * XSi's RAW is 14-bit while the XS RAW is 12-bit.
   * XSi has Highlight Tone Priority while the XS does not.
   * The viewfinder of the XSi provides 0.87x magnification while the XS provides 0.81x.
   * The XSi can utilize the RC-1 or the RC-5 wireless remote shutter release, but the XS is not compatible with either so you won't be able to use a wireless remote release.
   * You cannot buy the XS without the kit lens.
   
   The Canon EOS Rebel XSi clearly is the better choice and if you are buying your very first digital SLR camera, the XSi is a top model for entry-level compared to others currently out on the market. With the XSi and the XS being sold at the same price, why would you go for something that has less to offer?
   
   * August 19, 2008 UPDATE *
   Amazon.com has lowered the price of the XS, which makes it somewhat cheaper than the XSi as of this update, but I still strongly feel that the XSi is a better value. Do know that the price of the XSi has dropped significantly throughout Summer 2008, so I'll bet that the XSi and the XS models will have a price war as time goes on.
   
   NOTE: Canon USA officially released the EOS Rebel XS in August 2008 and was first announced by Canon USA on July 8, 2008.
   "Date first available at Amazon.com: June 17, 2003" is truly an error.



2. We are now seeing a real first...the first Digital EOS that hasn't got people flocking to the stores. Why? Price, and a lack of anything "innovative". However, on the good front, speaking with a Canon Sales Rep, he has told me to expect the gap between the XSi and XS to quickly go to $200, which is a more realistic valuation, and would probably warranty another star, as the XS is really a very nice camera.
   
   You've probably seen many lists comparing the XS to the XSi, and noticed the shortcomings, which are too numerous for $100. However, compared to some of the competition, it's not all bad. Take as an example the Nikon D60. Both are 10mp, but the Canon is a CMOS sensor, that should produce a tad better photos in poor lighting conditions. You also get a 7-point AF system vs. 3-point.
   
   Compared to the Sony Alpha 300, it's hard pay $100 premium, considering the Alpha has in camera stabalization, supports wireless flashes (with built-in flash) and has a 2.7" tiltable live-view. But the Canon kit lens is better optically, and the build quality appears to be slightly better on the XS. When the price drops, they'll be equally good values.
   
   But as most people have said, the XSi is a 5-star camera worth $200 extra; therefore, the price of the XS needs to reflect that reality.



3. I have owned this camera since 2004, so I find the earlier review, written in 2008, which suggests this camera isn't sending folks flocking to the stores, a little strange. The flocks are probably looking for newer models. Anyway, after four years, I needed a new battery, and found myself checking out the newest options for a moment, and thought I'd review my reliable old friend.
   
   This camera is fast, quiet, and the photos are outstanding. I primarily use the automatic functions, and it is a breeze to get amazing photos. I am an avid amateur photographer with more of an interest in the composition of the picture than in exposure settings and such, and I have found this camera to be wonderful in every way. After four years, the two batteries I have had since the beginning are finally failing, and I have had a few minor problems during battery malfunctions. Other than that, the camera is durable, has traveled the world, taken thousands upon thousands of photos, around the world, and of my precious children at home. A favorite subject of mine is flowers, and this camera does an amazing job on those as well. I couldn't be happier with this camera, and can only hope it will give me another four years, or more!



4. I am definitely a novice who just got tired of using compact pocket type digital cameras and getting bad pictures (usually due to the shutter delay).
   
   I know nothing really about photography but I like the size and weight of this camera. Some reviews suggest it is too expensive for its features but for me the size, weight and supports SD memory were very important. Quality of the images are amazing (well I think they are!) but I may need to tweak it a bit as the images are huge (3MB+).
   
   I am sure as I get better with photography I may start to notice deficiencies but in the meanwhile I am happy with my purchase.

No comments about Nikon D90 Digital SLR Camera with 18-105mm AF-S DX VR Nikkor Lens [Outfit] + 16GB Card with Reader + EN-EL3e Battery + Case + Cameta Bonus Accessory Kit.

5 comments about Canon EOS 5D 12.8 MP Digital SLR Camera (Body Only).

1. The EOS 5D is a terrific digital SLR. Its price point isn't for everyone but if you're a very serious amateur or want to upgrade to a camera that's pretty close to the 1D professional version (several thousand dollars more) - this is the camera. It has far more features than I am familiar with for the time being - but it is not hard to learn. I recommend it if you're really serious about photography. The Amazon price, shipping, and business dealings are excellent.



2. I have researched for one of the best DSLR cameras without breaking the bank and have found it in the 5D model. A very flexible camera, truly a masterpiece for shooting landscapes and portraits as well as anything in between, the 5D fulfills any needs I had prior to owning it. My only wish is that it had a more flexible bracketing system, such as 5 frames bracketing instead of 3 frames. Still, worth its weight in gold, the 5D is the one DSLR I would recommend for any job and for any serious amateur or pro photographer out there.



3. The first time I saw the Canon EOS 5D was back in 2005, shortly after it was released. To me, it represented the logical digital version of a full-frame 35mm SLR at a fraction of the cost of the top-of-the-line offerings from Canon and Nikon. I purchased the kit, which includes the EF 24-105mm zoom lens, for a trip to Japan, with the intent of using this as my primary walk around camera. It performed as expected: the 24mm wide angle was very useful, as was the 105mm. Resolution, color balance, etc. were very good to excellent. Indoor exposures with ISO 400 were excellent, and IS system worked well, since I did not bring a tripod. (I also brought the 100mm macro lens and 100-400mm zoom lens from Canon for the trip).



4. This camera is awesome. It is great in low light and I can still ghost images which I prefer doing. I've gone to the dark side (digital) and I really enjoy it. This is my first DSLR.



5. I gave two stars to get the attention of those wanting to buy big ticket price point goodies from Amazon.
   
   The Canon 5D is - mostly - all that it's cracked up to be.
   
   However, you are well advised not to buy this item through Amazon - let alone any big ticket item.
   
   I received the camera and it was poorly packed. When I opened the camera, it appeared that it may have been a previous return. There were marks on the back of the camera as if someone using lotion or who has handled greasy food had handled the camera.
   
   I checked the camera and, otherwise, all seemed to be working properly and all documentation and accessories were present. So, given the hassle of returning online purchases, I decided to keep the camera.
   
   Then I was doing some high-key (background) editorial work at f22 and noticed some unusual artifact. Upon looping the sensor, it turns out that the sensor had a minor scratch. This was a latent defect that was not readily observable even upon fairly rigid inspection of the camera.
   
   I contacted Amazon and, by this time, the return window was 20 days past. I was just looking to exchange the camera for an identical model.
   
   Amazon's response was not just "too bad," but actually three conflicting responses which would have only compounded the problem if I sent the camera off to the "never never land" of Amazon returns. I would have been without a camera and without a refund.
   
   One customer service agent said that I couldn't exchange the camera as Amazon doesn't sell the Canon 5D any longer. In fact, they do. Another agent said to return the camera for a refund and make sure it was insured for shipping. Upon seeking to clarify the return terms, another agent responded and said that Amazon "stands firm" by it's policy that a return cannot be made after the 30 day window has expired.
   
   My mistake? First, not returning the item immediately. Second, not spending a couple more hundred to have the peace of mind of dealing with a trusted camera shop. The moral of the story is "Do not buy big ticket items from price point online vendors such as Amazon unless you can take the downside of getting burned."
   
   Welcome to the new world of retail.

No comments about Canon Digital Rebel XSi 12.2MP Digital SLR Camera (Black) + Canon 18-55mm IS Lens + Tamron 70-300mm Di LD Macro Lens for Canon EOS + Spare LP-E5 Battery + 8GB Card + Gadget Bag.

5 comments about Sigma DP1 14MP Digital Camera.

1. I wanted to like this camera but didn't.
   
   The lens is too wide for most uses. I suppose if you shoot mostly with a 28mm lens, you may like this camera more but I would have prefered a 35mm equivalent lens. I also found that it was too sluggish in operation and I longed for a faster lens. The out of focus areas are quite smooth and due to the large sensor, you can still get shallow depth of field (the larger the sensor, the shallower DOF is obtainable) however in low light situations, the f4 lens is not fast enough.
   
   The RAW files must be processed through Sigma's own software which is kludgey.
   
   And the video feature on this camera is a joke. Even a $150. Canon ELPh can do higher quality 640x480 DVD quality videos. The Sigma DP1 only does QVGA 320 resolution videos.
   
   The camera looks cool and the images out of it are certainly better than other small point and shoot cameras (it comes close but does not equal the image quality of out a DSLR). But, with all the negatives, the Sigma DP1 is just not worth the money.



2. Here is my contribution to the Sigma DP1 users review in the form of a question to you, potential buyer :-)
   
   What do you prefer?
   
   I. A compact cam from a well known and respected manufacturer with all the latest bells and whistles and designed around a small and crappy bayer matrix sensor producing noisy and lifeless images consistently?
   
   Or
   
   II. A compact cam from a more humble brand with average operational performance, designed around an excellent prime lens and a 7 times larger sensor producing amazing results that will make you love doing photography again?
   
   I answered II.



3. I've had the Sigma Dp1 for about 4 months now and it has helped me create some great images (I've uploaded them to amazon so please check them). The camera does have some serious drawbacks but if you work to its strengths-shooting in good natural light-focusing manually-you can get some superb results. I've also taken some nice shots using long exposures but it can be hit or miss. I like to experiment a lot in my photography and with the Dp1 I know that I may miss some shots. If I'm going to a party I'm much more likely to take my Canon SD870, which is also a great camera. For Macro or sports photography I'll take my Nikon D300 but for an everyday camera for street photography something I can carry around and is very unobtrusive it the Dp1.
   My biggest complaint about the Dp1 is not the camera but the software that comes with it, its not very mac friendly and is clunky. I hope that some day I'll be able to import directly to Adobe lightroom directly.
   So to conclude I'm very happy and satisfied with my purchase. Its not the right camera for everyone. But if you love experimenting and can work with its limitations I think you will like this camera.



4. This isn't a camera for everyone. I hike a lot in the mountains and its images are *gorgeous*. The 28mm is o.k.; I'd prefer something a little wider. It's s l o w with raw images; that's all I shoot. The Sigma software is (today) the /only/ way to convert raw images to TIFFs, and it's buggy. The Mac version crashes after 10 -12 images. That's totally unacceptable. Other Intel Mac users have the same problems according to the blogs. We're all waiting for ACR to do what Sigma hasn't yet been able to do.
   I'm surprised that some reviewers bought this camera to take snapshots of kiddies opening Christmas presents under the tree and were disappointed. This isn't a camera for action shots nor does it have smile detection, play slideshows, etc. No camera is good for all uses, just as no automobile is good for all uses. But what this does well, it does /very/ well. Just know what you're buying before you click on the "Buy" button.
   My Canon G9 has a great user interface but suffers from pixel packing. It's great for snapshots, but when I want SLR quality images without the bulk of an SLR, the Sigma is easily the superior camera.



5. Pros:
   + Nice optics
   + Awesome colour fidelity
   + Cool manual modes
   + Manual focus
   
   Cons:
   - LCD freezes between shots
   - AutoFocus is too slow
   - Expensive
   
   I wish Amazon increased the availability of the macro lens adapters.
   This cam is really good for amateur photographers who want to avoid the endless cost loop of collecting DSLR lenses and accessories for each single purpose.

5 comments about Sony Alpha DSLRA300X 10.2MP Digital SLR Camera with Super SteadyShot Image Stabilization with DT 18-70mm f/3.5-5.6 & DT 55-200mm f/4-5.6 Zoom Lenses.

1. i'm not a professional nor a novice, i have researched most of the entry-level DSLRs (going to the nearest bestbuy,is the best bet).Compared oly 510, canon xti,pentax 200d,and believe me this is over-all,one of the best built and most functional DSLRs in the market..altough two of them have in-camera image stabilization..the amazing lcd and the excellent live-view are just few of the features that got me hooked,the kit lens is not that bad either and the image quality is highly commendable..so what if it has a proprietary flash-shoe, it's not like u would buy all the accessories at once.. save up and buy the best(ahem, pardon me for the bias)if you are in the "professional" zone you wont be looking at these cameras anyways.. moreover sigma and tamron are already making excellent quality lenses for sony SLRs, stop fretting about flashes and lenses, if the body feels right, whether it's sony,canon or olympus,go ahead.. get the rest of the accessories slowly..i'm more than happy with this cam.



2. This is my second dSLR. My first dSLR was the Canon D350. It took excellent pictures, but dSLRs were still evolving and I found the 1.8 inch screen too small to view, and when I viewed pics taken on it, I missed defects in photos, like out of focus areas, because of this. Thus I sold it.
   
   As an aside, I still have my film SLR Canon EOS 500 from ages ago. Took lovely photos but obviously not used anymore :)
   
   Come 2008, I felt it was time to get my feet wet again. All dSLR's have huge screens (remember the 1.5 inch ones of yesteryear?) and there are more choices than ever before.
   
   I tried to order the A300 from Amazon but they didnt ship to Singapore. I bought it from a Malaysian website instead for an equivalent price. As the camera comes with no memory card, I bought a 8GB type III compact flash card for SGD$120. I've since found ther camera is cheaper from Hong Kong. Any lucky travellers to HK wanting a Sony Alpha should go tot Mong Kok and ask around. Same for the Lens- 18-200mm was offered at HKD$3100- before any haggling!
   
   Reasons why I chose the Sony Alpha A300:
   
   1. Large LCD screen with tilt- I have loved tilting screens since I first got my Sony DSC 30 back in 2000. In fact, all my dig. cameras can tilt- Kyocera SL300R, Nikon S4, Nikon S10.
   
   2. Price (of course!)
   
   3. Longer zoom than the competitors. I've always found lens which stop at 80mm (35mm equiv) quite useless. It's just too little zoom for most people. Thus this lens was much better. In fact, combined with the 1.4x and 2.0x zoom ability (it's a button on the top right of the back of the camera) makes it even better. Doing this does reduce resolution from 10 to 5 megapixels, but it's there if you need it.
   
   4. Good reviews from many people, including the 23 reviews on this site.
   
   5. Relatively lightweight (see below)
   
   How have I found it since?
   
   I've only taken about 50 photos, but they have been quite good. As I am not a professional photographer who views photos under an electron microscope at the subatomic level, I have no problems with the photos at all. Ones taken in the day at great. Ones taken indoors are obviously not quite as perfect, but certainly quite useable. Face detection is good, and I always have vibration reduction on too.
   
   In terms of user friendliness, It's not too bad. I can take most genral photos on auto, but I still need to consult the manual for some things, like how to zoom in when viewing taken photos.
   
   The price of the camera means that I did compare it with prosumer cameras too. Many of them were had incredible zooms, but were correspondingly heavier eg Fujifilm s100fs is almost 1kg. I used to have a Sony f828, which was also almost 1kg, and it was a hassle to carry around for lengths of time. The weight difference between the A300 with kit lens and the prosumers is very noticeable and carrying the A300 is very easy.
   
   I had intended considering the 18-200mm or 18-250mm lens, but at this stage, I dont think the weight addition offsets the benefits, especially since I can use the nifty 2.0x button I mentioned above. Obviously, using the 2.0x on a 18-200/250mm lens would be heaven itself, but for now, I'll make do :)
   
   Woah, that's a lot of writing- if you made it to the end, thanks for your patience!
   
   For the above 23 prior reviewers- thanks for your time in penning your thoughts. Every review helped!



3. For the money you cannot get the features this camera from any other competitor. Make sure you read all of teh features and what this camera can do, for one it has 2x Teleconverter built in! that means my 300mm lens is now a 600mm lens. Wow! Even with the standard lens you have good telephoto! Plus it has live view! and an adjustable LCD? for $599? out of this world for an extra $100 over the A200, i bought that at Wal-Mart and took it back and orderd the A300 with overnight shipping!



4. I just bought the A300 about a month ago, and it is everything a serious amateur wants in photography. I've compared it with other DSLRs of the same level from all sorts of big brands (Nikon, Canon, Olympus, etc.), and I decided to get the A300. Minolta has a lot of history and prestige when it comes to making camera body and lenses, and Sony just seems to make improvements on every product they get their hands on.
   
   My girlfriend complains a lot about how I tend to move towards more bulky and heavy cameras, and so she stays clear of being the photographer when I bring the camera. But with the A300, she loves to use it because of its design/compact design, weight (pretty light compared to other DSLRs of the same level), and overall simplicity on operating the darn thing.
   
   Sorry if this review doesn't provide the Pro's and Con's on specifications and other technical aspects of the camera; I'll leave the Specs page of the product description for that.



5. Let me be honest, this is my first DSLR...and it is AWESOME!!! Ok, so I've already established that I'm no expert and by all means, take my review as you will. I do have to say that my brother, who is a serious amateur photographer (has his own studio, but it's not his main profession), has a Canon D40 (I think that's the one) which was a bit more expensive than mine. Well at his daughter's second birthday we put our cameras head to head and the Sony a300 consistantly came out ahead. Boy was he mad that in the category of overall picture quality the Sony came out AHEAD of the Canon! Who would have thought that? Sure, sure, he has more options, better positioned buttons and might have a frame (or fraction thereof) per second faster. Either way, what counts most - picture quality, ease of use, reliability and speed - are DEFINITE winners for the Sony a300. I'm sure if you're reading my review you've already read a few others touching on the tilt LCD screen, the OVF eyestart auto-focus, the in camera stabilization, and much much more. I can say for the money, you won't find a better DSLR out there. I've only had the camera for about a month and a half and taken almost a thousand pictures and have yet to find a drawback. I'll update this once I do, but don't hold your breath....

5 comments about Sony Alpha DSLRA350X 14.2MP Digital SLR Camera with Super SteadyShot Image Stabilization with DT 18-70mm f/3.5-5.6 & DT 55-200mm f/4-5.6 Zoom Lenses.

1. I enjoyed A350 a lot. The image quality is very high. I shot some awesome family pictures, portraits, our vacation photos: everything came out superb. For an amateur as I am it is dream camera! I user DSC-R1 from Sony before and it also was terrific camera. If you aren't satisfied with the pics from this cam you need some real expensive lens and pro level equipment.
   I'm very happy with this DSLR!



2. I waited a long time for the Nikon D80 to come down in price. While I was at the store ready to purchase the D80 the guy behind the counter introduced me to this A350. I have a few Minolta Lenses so it seemed like a great fit. I was a little skeptical at first but let me tell you, this is a great camera. I have taken more than 700 photos including my kids playing, storms, Lightning, and even long exposure night photos of the sky. I have had some KILLER photos come out of this camera. I am highly impressed and I have no regrets in choosing this camera over the D80. The only downside that I saw in the beginning was the 2.5 photos per second vs the d80's 3.? per second. I can handle that. I would highly recommend at least a 4 gig card but get the 8gig.I have the 8 gig and I currently have about 720 photos stored at highest res. about 14mb per photo on the card with plenty of room left.



3. I purchased the Sony A350 primarily to have an up-to-date, medium-high end DSLR that would accept my Minolta lenses: I have seven. Professional photography was my first career, and had other opportunities not presented, I likely would have remained a photographer. I remained an avid amateur photographer throughout two subsequent careers, and now in retirement. I've found the the A350 a competitive DSLR, with most or all of the functions and modes of similar price-range cameras. Couple that with allowing me to use my collection of Minolta lenses, I've made a good choice. One feature I particularly like since I print large format copies of many of my photos is the menu selection "Creative Style" allowing shooting in Adobe Photoshop color space.
   
   Two downers:
   1. The LCD screen is particulary vulnerable protruding rearward to accommodate the LCD tilt function. Moreover, when using the viewfinder, skin oils and sweat--I shoot a lot of equine sports action--soils the LCD continuously. This vulnerability is why I rated the camera 4 stars rather than 5.
   
   2. I find the Camera Shake warning indicator distracting, and essentially useless. Even when I use a tripod the indicator indicates maximum at the slightest touch. I'll rely on controlling shutter speed.
   
   Nonetheless, I am satisfied with the camera, and would recommend it to others.



4. I used 35 mm years ago and then stopped taking pics. Started up because of some of the digital point and shoot cameras. When I decided to get back into SLRs, I did a lot of research. I have never been into snob appeal so I looked into features, picture quality and value as significant factors. Sony, who took over the older Minolta line, certainly had the right idea when they put together the 350. It is pretty easy to use right out of the box. I would consider a field guide if you are not camera savy, so you know how to get the most out of it. I recently used it on a trip to England and took about 800 pictures in 10 days. It worked great. I do not use the kit lens, but found some others that make this camera pretty flexible (but that's another review.) So far, there is nothing that I have wanted to do that this camera can't.
   
   The majority of great pictures come from the photographer's eye, scene and light. IMHO, this camera will not hold you back if you have those.



5. great camera. The one thing I wasn't expecting was that it takes so great pictures that it will make an inexpensive lens look cheap. These Kit lenses were fine for my smaller processor cameras and gave some very good pictures but this one simply shows any and all imperfections in my older, inexpensive lenses........tried one of the newer, more expensive lens, made for this model, and took great pictures.... guess I learned my lesson that if I'm going to use a great camera, don't try to shoot cheap... the pictures will tell the story... new lenses coming to my collection, soon.