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So is anyone really happy with thier A100?

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Ken_5D said:
I just posted a note that people should go read the Open Forum so
they can include reccomendations for the Sony when people ask about
what new camera to buy.

So far it had been long list of...

Sony is paying me to promote them
Click to expand...
Nobody said that......just that I aint on the payroll....so I give my "honest view"........that means being sensible there is something good about all the current SLR cameras.
Ken_5D said:
Gee I don't know what the new cameras will be like I wish I had bought a K10D
Click to expand...
I saw a few suggest that....its natural for users to be curious of other makes etc...
Ken_5D said:
WOW....

Is this true...
When People see a movie they love.. they tell others and then they
tell others and a movie is a success often more because of this
than money spent on ads
Click to expand...
This aint no movie!
Ken_5D said:
It is human nature to like to share about really good and bad
experiences..
Click to expand...
Um kind of!
Ken_5D said:
Is everyone really neutral to negative on thier A100?
Click to expand...
Not really......most are lukewarm (KM users are luke cold some of us)
Ken_5D said:
Right now the Pentax K10D owners seem really happy even if Best Buy
never carried thier camera in the stores.. they are just giddy and
ready to reccomend it. (odd the things the upset the Sony forum
that were never even an issue for owners of pentax)

I thought there were more happy A100 owners.
Click to expand...
Look point here is most A-100 users "seem" pretty happy..least that is what I detect...

However if someone on the open forum says "what SLR do I get"....that is likely to depend on their needs...etc

The Canon 400 is plastic.......it isnt as good for flash exposures (IMHO), it doesnt feel as well built as the A-100.....smallest VF on the APS front, but its cheap, its got a vast system to build up..bodies and lenses, vertical grip option, good autofocus, decent at high ISO....etc

The Nikon D80 is nice, its got a good VF, more expensive, big system as Canon, good for flash, decent at high ISO, metering is a bit ho hum, no AS/SSS......

Pentax/Samsung has nice VF, vertical grip option, good build and seals, AS, decent metering, poor jpegs, a RAW shooters camera being honest, less lens selection, more expensive...etc etc

A-100 decent build, ok VF, SSS, good range of lenses inc s/h ones, no vert grip option, weaker at high ISO, cooler colours,,,etc etc

That is why people try to give an objective view for potential buyers..which will vary depending upon what they want.

I dont thinks its sensible to just suggest buying a particular camera based on the fact you bought it alone.



Clint is on holiday! Soon to return! ;-)
 
Barry Fitzgerald said:
Ken_5D said:
I just posted a note that people should go read the Open Forum so
they can include reccomendations for the Sony when people ask about
what new camera to buy.

So far it had been long list of...

Sony is paying me to promote them
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
Ment: "Sony is not paying me...."
Member said:
Nobody said that......just that I aint on the payroll....so I give
Click to expand...
I never assumed anything but honest opinions... but your comment implied the Sony is not good enough to reccomend without another motive.
Member said:
my "honest view"........that means being sensible there is
something good about all the current SLR cameras.
Member said:
Gee I don't know what the new cameras will be like I wish I had bought a K10D
Click to expand...
I saw a few suggest that....its natural for users to be curious of
other makes etc...
Member said:
WOW....

Is this true...
When People see a movie they love.. they tell others and then they
tell others and a movie is a success often more because of this
than money spent on ads
Click to expand...
This aint no movie!
Member said:
It is human nature to like to share about really good and bad
experiences..
Click to expand...
Um kind of!
Member said:
Is everyone really neutral to negative on thier A100?
Click to expand...
Not really......most are lukewarm (KM users are luke cold some of us)
Member said:
Right now the Pentax K10D owners seem really happy even if Best Buy
never carried thier camera in the stores.. they are just giddy and
ready to reccomend it. (odd the things the upset the Sony forum
that were never even an issue for owners of pentax)

I thought there were more happy A100 owners.
Click to expand...
Look point here is most A-100 users "seem" pretty happy..least that
is what I detect...

However if someone on the open forum says "what SLR do I
get"....that is likely to depend on their needs...etc

The Canon 400 is plastic.......it isnt as good for flash exposures
(IMHO), it doesnt feel as well built as the A-100.....smallest VF
on the APS front, but its cheap, its got a vast system to build
up..bodies and lenses, vertical grip option, good autofocus, decent
at high ISO....etc

The Nikon D80 is nice, its got a good VF, more expensive, big
system as Canon, good for flash, decent at high ISO, metering is a
bit ho hum, no AS/SSS......

Pentax/Samsung has nice VF, vertical grip option, good build and
seals, AS, decent metering, poor jpegs, a RAW shooters camera being
honest, less lens selection, more expensive...etc etc

A-100 decent build, ok VF, SSS, good range of lenses inc s/h ones,
no vert grip option, weaker at high ISO, cooler colours,,,etc etc

That is why people try to give an objective view for potential
buyers..which will vary depending upon what they want.

I dont thinks its sensible to just suggest buying a particular
camera based on the fact you bought it alone.
Click to expand...
Mostly agree... I just pointed someone at a 30D after they defined their needs and what they were looking at.

If I had $5000+ to spend I would look at Canon for all the IS lenses etc

But for me the Sony has everyithing (except ISO 3200) that brought me to the KM 5D and them some so if it fits the asker's need. It would be nice to have actual sony users... talking about it as an option.

--
------------
Ken - KM 5D
http://www.cascadephotoworks.com
 
I am happy with Sony, cos I am a Sony fans and use lot of Sony products.

A100 has alot to offer for amateurs, so when I get used to the system and could not improve do more with A100 then I will think of changing it.

Since I use fair abit of stuffs from Sony, I wish they paid me to promote their products

hehee
 
Cork, not sure your meaning.

you don't agree that i's easy to use. Or it's so easy that you need no ambition?
Corkcampbell said:
more demanding during those forty years (no reflection on the A100)
but on the lack of ambition.
Click to expand...
 
It has its highs and lows. I especially like the viewfinder (relative to other DSLRS in its price range, of course), the control layout, and the LCD.

I am not a fan of the noise, the slow autofocus, or the "feel" of the camera.

However, I do not regret my purchasing decision. Why? Lenses. I have a full range of Minolta primes with low resale value, and for the money, the A100 was the right choice for me.

Now, to wait and see what Sony cooks up next.
-----------------------
Francis Bartus
CUIT Network Operations
CCIT Desktop Support

http://www.francisbartus.com
 
I have taken less than 60 shots so far and the first thing I tested were some of those issues brought up here, from reviews, and from other forums.

Issue on noise at higher ISO: The high noise is really a non-issue. When you shoot indoor room ,for example at shutter speeds greater than 1s and any ISO over 100, the lighting is all yellow. I am sure this is the same for other cameras. It was only when I shot a room, 15s ISO 100 that the shot came out beautifully.

Overexposures:

I still need to figure out the metering mode. I have gotten a number of over exposures with the 50mm prime minolta lens. Once I figure it out, i'll be a happy camper.

Kit lens under-rated:

This lens is far better than I expected. I don't expect CZ-type quality, but for my purposes, I am pleased.

Overall brand name:

It is unfortunate that a100 can't please KM owners, and cannot attract anti-sony users. The economics makes the Sony a100 sensible: the alpha has the financial backing of a large company.

I say we band together by not feeling the need to defend the alpha. I certainly will not. I'll correct misconceptions, but i'll let my shots do the talking! You should too. I'll throw in my over-exposure shots though but that will be in the 'help' section of this forum!
 
For some, the A100 is causing horrible photography.
It's not their fault, it's the camera's.

To those people, I say

... I feel your pain! The A100 is a thorn in your side!

I have your solution to eliminate all of the embarrassment the A100 has caused you. Here is your path to eliminate your worries about your A100:

!! Simply send your A100 to me !!

Because the A100 has caused some to become horrible photographers, I am offering this service to any horrible photographer who wants to be free of the burden of their A100.

! Act Now !

And if you send it in before midnight, I'll waive my typical disposition fee! That's right! For only the cost of postage, you can be free of that albatross around your neck.

! Don't Wait !

Offer void in a certain small town near Des Moines, Iowa, USA - The rest of Iowa is okay.

b shaw
 
Neutral for me i guess. Im still not 100% sure i dont have some kind of problem with either lens or camera. I dont like the layout of the controls at all, but i understand that lots of people do. But i have taken some good shots with it, noticeably with it set to manual as much as possible, I seem to take much better pics that way.

I did do research before my purchase, but the one thing i would love is better compatiblity with m42 and other old lenses - obviously not going to happen! :) (I bought a recommended adapter, but its caused the camera to jam up at least once) Hence my preference for the pentax or samsung.
 
cgl88 said:
Overexposures:
I still need to figure out the metering mode. I have gotten a
number of over exposures with the 50mm prime minolta lens. Once I
figure it out, i'll be a happy camper.
Click to expand...
Remember the AF point influences metering a lot.....aka AF on shadow it exposes more for that.......vice versa for highlights.
cgl88 said:
Kit lens under-rated:
This lens is far better than I expected. I don't expect CZ-type
quality, but for my purposes, I am pleased.
Click to expand...
The kittie is good........
cgl88 said:
Overall brand name:
It is unfortunate that a100 can't please KM owners, and cannot
attract anti-sony users. The economics makes the Sony a100
sensible: the alpha has the financial backing of a large company.
Click to expand...
A £600 A-100 didnt grab me....as the price falls..my interest increases.

Its not the A-100 isnt good......its that KM users already have a camera that is good.
cgl88 said:
I say we band together by not feeling the need to defend the alpha.
I certainly will not. I'll correct misconceptions, but i'll let my
shots do the talking! You should too. I'll throw in my
over-exposure shots though but that will be in the 'help' section
of this forum!
Click to expand...
Do so........

--



Clint is on holiday! Soon to return! ;-)
 
I think it's important to keep any answer to a question like this in perspective.

Many of the complaints about the A100 are perfectly justified. What people expect for their money is performance which is as good as the alternative products in the same price range. When something falls short of this, I'm thinking specifically the noise issue which I find needs PP in many iso400 shots and virtually everything above, people will be disappointed.

It is easy to lose sight of the good points, like the fact that after a little PP those noisey shots still contain more detail than images produced by the alternatives. The funky image processing and sophisticated metering system options which can produce outstanding detail in difficult lighting. The excellent ergonomics. The dust removal system, which despite the doom merchants I see working succesfully almost daily. And the killer feature, SSS. All for the price of Nikon/Canons' Fisher-Price models.

So, in perspective....Am I happy that I have now purchased this feature rich product, with 2 very commendable kit lenses, legendary 50mm 1.7, 90mm Macro, 135 2.8, 70-210 f4, a very good 170-500 all of which can be used with IS. All for the cost of a D200 and one Nikon IS lens?

Of course I'm happy. ;-)
--
http://www.photoboxgallery.com/Motorwind
http://www.istockphoto.com/file_search.php?action=file&userID=1321100
 
The Nikon, Canon, Olympus, and certainly Pentax all had their own faults and their own advantage. The problem with the Sony A100 is the balance between the 2 would almost surely put it in a situation that simply evoke negativeness towards the product.

Especially when Sony hype it so much without delivering ..

--
  • Franka -
 
I'm happy with my Alpha100 as well as with my Dynax 4, 5 and 5D and with my wife, my dog, my cat, my house, my everything ... .

I'm just one happy person ;-))))
 
Spannerdude wrote:
...deleted...
Spannerdude said:
So, in perspective....Am I happy that I have now purchased this
feature rich product, with 2 very commendable kit lenses, legendary
50mm 1.7, 90mm Macro, 135 2.8, 70-210 f4, a very good 170-500 all
of which can be used with IS. All for the cost of a D200 and one
Nikon IS lens?
Click to expand...
Depends on the lens. I shoot a lot of sports so I want a fast zoom with fast autofocus. 2 popular lenses are 70-200/2.8 and 300/2.8 (there are others but these are 2 that Sony currently offers).

How about the A100/D200 with 70-200/2.8?

D200 + 70-200/VR = $1350 + $1615 = $2965
A100 + 70-200/SSM = $630 + $2300 = $2930

That would mean $35 extra for a D200? THAT is a good deal.

or

A100/D200 with a 300/2.8

D200 + 300/2.8 = $1350 + $4500 = $5850
A100 + 300/2.8 = $630 + $5700 = $6330

That would mean I would save $480 and get a more capable camera. THAT is an even better deal.

My point is you are correct that the A100 is attractive at the entry level. But the Alpha SYSTEM falls apart when you get into the Pro/Proam market. So until Sony fixes these ridiculous prices for its lenses I think they will have an uphill battle with the new up-market bodies.
Spannerdude said:
Of course I'm happy. ;-)
--
http://www.photoboxgallery.com/Motorwind
http://www.istockphoto.com/file_search.php?action=file&userID=1321100
Click to expand...
--
fjbyrne
 
I am a Minolta user from way back but I bought the A100 as a backup to my beloved 7D. I was not sure what I would think and will confess to being a bit sceptical. But I was wrong. I took both bodies overseas and used them, rather than keeping the A100 in the bag. I really liked it! I am waiting for the new models and will upgrade to the 7D equivalent or maybe even the better one ....

Anyway, we should use this forum to support each other's choices and to share photos and ideas. I am processing some from a week in the Dordogne in France and hope to put them up soon. Many were taken with the A100 and I am happy with them.

Fiona

PS This is my first post in the Sony forum!
 
I also loved my Konica Minolta 5D that I have since sold. The Sony suits my needs rather well. Just about any current DSLR would work for me, but I love my Zeiss 16-80 and couldn't be without it.
 
The short answer: yes, I'm happy with it. (now the lengthy part!)

There are some KM people who came over and expected something different, then left. There are KM people who don't own the camera, yet are full of opinions (common human behavior, of course). The truth is that until you work with it, you don't know what it is. But this isn't just about KM people - there are those new to dSLR's who want them to be like P&S cameras; there's nothing wrong with that (nothing any more unrealistic than some of my desires for a camera!), and I think that in the future, manufacturers will make their entry-level dSLR's more like that.

I don't expect the A100 to be my 7D (I'm going on a trip, soon, and just recently picked up my 7D and fired off a few shots --- (comparative) VF heaven!). Having been used to film and the 7D, I could be disappointed if I only compared it to those - but that would be true for many aspects of any camera I'd choose.

I bought the A100 because I wanted more resolution in my nature/landscape shooting, and it satisfies completely. I'm aware of the noise issue, but I'm also aware that a great deal of the resulting images is up to me; for each camera, you try to learn how to make it into a good vehicle for what you want to do.

Strengths of the A100:
  • great detail
  • great battery life
  • great LCD - better than that on the 7D
  • better metering than the 7D
  • SSS works as expected
  • (recent articles not withstanding) after thousands of shots I still haven't had to clean the sensor
  • DRO+ comes in very handy, at times (difficult, 1-chance-only lighting situations)
  • retains some of the smart KM functions
  • although it doesn't have the "KM colors," the color is still, I feel, better than that of its competitors, and if I want the KM colors from this camera, I switch to DxO and it's right there (they did a beautiful job, in this aspect)
  • in comparison to the KM cameras, I get a more "contrasty" image; sometimes I want the finer lines of a KM image and have to work for it, and at other times I'm glad it's there
What I'd like changed:
  • grip option from Sony (not a third party)
  • DRO available for a wider range of camera options (e.g. RAW+JPEG)
  • better bracketing options (something that Nikon seems best at, right now)
  • an expansion on DRO - a wild dream would be to shoot only RAW, yet have the DRO processing info stored within extra header space in the RAW file, then use Sony's image processing software to bring it out ... or just put the DRO functionality into the software without having to go through the changes to the RAW file!
  • I'd like Sony to make RAW info available to third-party developers, either directly or as some form of software kit. Right now it's unpublished, and developers have to figure things out for themselves.
  • I'd like to be sure that Sony is offering (for a price, of course) information for third-party lens manufacturers who would want to provide SSM in their lenses (once the potential customer base is large enough, of course)
I don't think that any of these items would bump the A100 out of its price class, and I don't want the A100 to have a better VF, memories, or any of the much more desirable elements of the 7D class; it's not trying to be that kind of camera.

Of course, I have big issues with Sony's lens pricing and the availability of fast, quiet lenses that facilitate focus and silence. If anything, this is the thing that will move me to another brand (also seeing as how there's a price/availability advantage, in other brands, even with image-stabilized lenses). If I moved, I'd keep a core of A-mount lenses, but my A100 would go and my KM 7D would stay.

Rich
 
Yes
--
Al

http://www.flickr.com/photos/al_1571/

'I met a girl who sang the blues and I asked her for some happy news, she just smiled and turned away...'

Minolta Maxxum 50 1:1.7(22) & 35-80 1:4(22)-5.6
Sony 18-70 3.5-5.6 (KIT)
Sigma 70-300 1:4-5.6 DL Super Macro
 
fjbyrne said:
fjbyrne said:
So, in perspective....Am I happy that I have now purchased this
feature rich product, with 2 very commendable kit lenses, legendary
50mm 1.7, 90mm Macro, 135 2.8, 70-210 f4, a very good 170-500 all
of which can be used with IS. All for the cost of a D200 and one
Nikon IS lens?
Click to expand...
Depends on the lens. I shoot a lot of sports so I want a fast zoom
with fast autofocus. 2 popular lenses are 70-200/2.8 and 300/2.8
(there are others but these are 2 that Sony currently offers).

How about the A100/D200 with 70-200/2.8?

D200 + 70-200/VR = $1350 + $1615 = $2965
A100 + 70-200/SSM = $630 + $2300 = $2930

That would mean $35 extra for a D200? THAT is a good deal.

or

A100/D200 with a 300/2.8

D200 + 300/2.8 = $1350 + $4500 = $5850
A100 + 300/2.8 = $630 + $5700 = $6330

That would mean I would save $480 and get a more capable camera.
THAT is an even better deal.

My point is you are correct that the A100 is attractive at the
entry level. But the Alpha SYSTEM falls apart when you get into
the Pro/Proam market. So until Sony fixes these ridiculous prices
for its lenses I think they will have an uphill battle with the new
up-market bodies.
Click to expand...
Its not a Pro - Am camera.. and yet you can take a couple of lenses and pull that kind of math to make a point. If I reverse your math and start buying lenses prices say under $100 and choose from more than the brand source... almost all the other systems sold as entry level fall about.. when you try to create a nice set of stablized lenses and a body for under$1500

--
------------
Ken - KM 5D
http://www.cascadephotoworks.com
 
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