SONY DSLR user ... reveal thyself!

[millz]

a350 and why sony. ive always owned sony stuff and have been happy. liked the steadyshot built in the camera. only regret when i was on here early asking what to buy i wish someone would have said just start with the a700.

[SONYNUT]

First minolta srt 101 from shaffer camera hollywood 1973
then an x-gm
then a x-700
stuck with the x-700 for a long time..auto focus was not a big deal for me

then when digital opened up..started with a minolta d5
weeks later sony came out with the a100 so i sold my 5d for what i paid,and got the a100.
Then the a700
and now the a900.

This will/should be my last...lol

[Tom F]

I got a Minolta DiMAGE A1 when they first came out. It has the built in anti shake that I loved. When sensor went bad and it was being repaired under warranty I picked up a Konica Minolta 5D mainly for the built in anti shake. After having the 5D for a few years I decided to upgrade. The logical choice to me has a Sony Alpha so I bought an a350. After a few months I was feeling like the 350 wasn't that much of an upgrade over the 5D. Then I got an a700 and gave the a350 to my wife for her to use.

[dbatapbr]

I looked long and hard at all the options. First for most of my photos I only need one thing. My glasses, so I can see the focus because I do mostly manual focusing. I want accurate auto focus but they are perfect. Especially on the flowers, you can't count on the camera to know exactly what you are looking at.The Mandrill shot in the PotD was manual focus.

[DonSchap]

I looked long and hard at all the options. First for most of my photos I only need one thing. My glasses, so I can see the focus because I do mostly manual focusing. I want accurate auto focus but they are perfect. Especially on the flowers, you can't count on the camera to know exactly what you are looking at.The Mandrill shot in the PotD was manual focus.

You need to buy a eyepiece corrector (<- click here for link) with added diopter, if the camera cannot adjust adequately (+2 or -2) with it's own adjustment (see red arrow below).



These correctors snap right into the viewfinder, to alleviate the need for your glasses. The only other issue with that is that any OTHER user (than the owner) will not be able to make regular use of the camera in manual focus, unless they remove it (easy enough, but also easy to misplace (keep it safe). I know I had a second one around here, someplace ... arrgh). It truly becomes YOUR camera.

[DonSchap]

a350 and why sony. ive always owned sony stuff and have been happy. liked the steadyshot built in the camera. only regret when i was on here early asking what to buy i wish someone would have said just start with the a700.

'Millz' ... I seem to remember a "budget" ... but, I could be wrong. Lord knows, it would not be the first time. In my own defense, though, more often than not, I have tried to steer people away from the introductory cameras when I could. In fact, as my ol' buddy 'Rooz' will attest, I took a lot of heat when I stepped up and suggested that all SERIOUS photographers START with the the A700. No matter what camera system they were contemplating!

In fact ... here's "the beating" I took for just being frank, honest and to the point ... from a terrific bunch of ...


THE THREAD OF THREADS (<- click here for some more from)

Gotta love it!

Once again (it's in there) ... go get your α700 and be happy!

[Burnside]

* Why you are using a SONY versus another brand,
At the point where I could not hold back from jumping from point & shoot to DSLR, the a100 was affordable and I liked the in-camera image stabilization feature.

* Add what you are planning to add to your camera (in the near future)
Tripod & remote shutter release
A nice wide angle - a 10-20mm would give me a total range of 10-200 across two lenses.

* What you would like to get from your participation in the forum

Informed opinions. I've lurked for a few days and I've found them, so it's time to give back, if I can. I've been taking photos for over 40 years using everything from a Minox to a Zone VI 4x5. But, oh man - ain't digital wonderful?!?!?

* Maybe provide the best reason you plan on continuing with your SONY.

Satisfied user for about 3 years.

* Where you are located

Beautiful Harveys Lake, PA - usually about 6" from something on the ground - gotta live that tilting live view!

[DonSchap]

Mike - I'm not certain how well that Quantaray 18-200mm f/3.5-6.3 is workin' for you, but if you like using that wide of a focal range and enjoy the convenience, you just might want to do a comparison series against a TAMRON or SONY 18-250mm f/3.5-6.3, just to see if that new piece of glass could improve your overall results. From what I have found, it is a terrific improvement over the older 18-200s ... and many others will agree.

Many will say, the progressive thing to do is bust up the range, and tackle it in several pieces, but it is hard to argue against a lens you do not have to constantly change.

Again, a good side-by-side series will reveal all you need to know about that minor upgrade and improvement in image quality.

How about posting some of your efforts on the SONY POTD thread. People are turning in all sorts of wonderful things they've enjoyed imaging.

Again, welcome to the SONY DSLR forum ... it's a fun bunch and seems to be growing nicely.

[Tom F]

As far as the where wouldn't be nice if everyone would add it to their profile so it would show in the upper right hand corner of their posts.

[seanhoxx]

Welcome new people, post away and jump in! Good idea Tom, depending where in Indiana Don and I could sneek in on ya from both sides LOL.