sony dslrs

hi. i have nikon equipment but am interested in the sony models. are they any good. i have had all the brands but want to setlle on the sony. would i be making a mistake? comments welcome. tia. lisa.

I'm very, very glad with my A100 and A700, but If you have some great Nikon-lenses i'd stay with Nikon if I were you (to be honest...)...

I think the quality is the almost the same...
--
Regards
Dave

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Let's show the world there's more than Canon and Nikon!!

Hi Lisa,

I'm sure you can expect the obvious answers in a group about Sony SLR equipment ;-)

I'm using a Sony A100 and I like it very much, but I'd love to have a A700 sometime, because it seems much better and I can use my store of (second hand) minolta lenses.

That said, my use of the camera is mostly indoors these days, so I miss a low-noise, high ISO feature (the A100 is notorious for (in B/W very nice looking) noise at ISO 800/1600). (Another reason for me to want the A700)

People usually rave about minolta colours, but I have very little experience to compare it with other brands. I find that my A100 has a slight blue cast, which I don't see in the A700 pictures I see posted. But I also don't see it with all A100 pictures ;-), so it could be a subjective thing.

Anyway, I don't see anything wrong in choosing the Alpha system, but I'm curious about your motivation to leave the Nikon system? As Nikon is a very proper and experienced brand of cameras, they even have a full frame one now, while Sony still has to put its bid on the table in that regard.

And please consider the price of Sony Lenses, which a lot of people complain about. They get very good reviews, but at the price, they have trouble getting bought. Sigma and Tamron make some a-mount lenses, but not all of their models, Tokina is waiting for the market-share to come above a certain percentage.

But, those buts aside, go for it!

Simon
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new to SLR, digital or otherwise, always learning.

Simon makes some very balanced points. Jumping systems is always a hassle/risk/relearning experience. You have to ask yourself why you want to leave your current system and what you expect to get in your new system.

Sony has in-body anti-shake as its biggest selling point if (like me) you either shoot at slow shutter speeds or are just lazy in composing steadily.

Used lenses can be found at a discount in many cases from the Minolta days, but new lenses are expensive. New lenses are planned that will expand and enhance the range, but the jury's out on whether or not they'll be an equal or better value than their C&N counterparts.

Greg

You must make your own decisions, but history shows that Minolta glass equaled or exceeded Nikon or Canon lens quality when you compare lenses meant to be of the same class and type.

The Sony lens so far have been equal to the Minolta of the past by class and the Sony Alpha Zeiss lens for image quality has few peers regardless of the camera line.

It's your decision. If you can sell your Nikon as a kit and move on to Sony then there seems to be little and lessening doubt that the Sony shooters future will have all the choices and quality of any other shooter.

Good luck in your decision.

lisa1 said:

hi. i have nikon equipment but am interested in the sony models. are
they any good. i have had all the brands but want to setlle on the
sony. would i be making a mistake? comments welcome. tia. lisa.

Click to expand...

What is it about your Nikon equipment that you think the Sony equipment will do better? Other than SSS I don't really see any advantages that Sony has over Nikon at the moment. Please provide more info so we can give you a more informed answer.

--
fjbyrne

I currently use Canon and Nikon and have an Oly E1; I've never felt married to any system - but that has cost me a lot in switching systems or using multiple systems.

I'm considering Sony for a few reasons:

• I used to use Minolta Maxxum 7 and loved it (controls, feel and fit as well as performance).
• I had a KM 7D and 5D and loved the IQ, feel and controls, but did not like the klunky shutter and the 5600 HSD flash did not work with them at all (totally irratic exposure).
• The A700 seems to have overcome some of my issues but not "for sure" the flash issues have been solved - or developed to the degree of Nikon's iTTL or Canon's E-TTLII. Feedback on this seems mixed.
• The A700's in-body SSS and "dust buster" are excellent features that really open up a large range of glass options - that will all be stabilized. To me - this feature alone is almost worth switching for - but almost all but Nikon & Canon are offering this now.
• But (to me) the A700 does have wonderful handling features, great feel, apparently great IQ, a buttery-smooth and quite shutter, as well as the best Vertical Grip available anywhere today (IMHO).
• There is still a lot of very nice Minolta glass out there at a nice price - and since all is stabilized w/SSS in the body.... a whole new dynamic is opened up.

I've played w/them in a few shops and must admit to being "TOTALLY SOLD" on the feel and controls (this is a very personal element, but to me I prefer the handling features/controls to those of Canon or Nikon).

I'm waiting for the E-3 and D300 to surface in quantities that will allow a good feel for IQ and the ability to walk into a Camera Store and play w/them all. Then I'll make my decision.

Hope this helps, Bob
--
BobMax

lisa1 said:

hi. i have nikon equipment but am interested in the sony models. are
they any good. i have had all the brands but want to setlle on the
sony. would i be making a mistake? comments welcome. tia. lisa.

Click to expand...

--
------------
Ken - KM 5D (A700 Joy)
http://www.cascadephotoworks.com

I would be courious about your reason for changing too...

What do you want to get out of the Sony?

The stablization built in gives you a ton lens choices where the cost of the lense goes into the optics not motors and motion sensors etc.

The A700 in usablity beats anything I have ever used. Just easy to access all the potential.

For me based on the recent releases..

I would put both the Sony and the Nikon ahead of Canon (an I was canon film shooter) but the Canon is a good camera too. Even if we like to nit pic for the debates.

Right now if I were not with the A700 I would saving for a D300 or buying a discounted D30. Just my preferences.

We would love to have you join as a new Sony user.. but the real key is getting the best pictures and both systems can let you do that.

The Sony will server you very well, am usning by choice, not because of brand or some other reason.. This is my first choice for a camera in this range.

bobmax said:

• But (to me) the A700 does have wonderful handling features, great

feel, apparently great IQ, a buttery-smooth and quite shutter, as
well as the best Vertical Grip available anywhere today (IMHO).

Click to expand...

I can verify that the A700 feels very, very nice! I tried it in London
Drugs tonight.... I saw it there a week or two ago and just got up the
guts to try the danged thing.

I was kinda sure I would like some things about it more than the A100,
but it was even more of an experience than I expected. They only had
the kit lens... the little plastic one.... but it focused danged fast, and shot
off some great looking pics. Really well exposed and the LCD on the back
was almost as good as a photo. It was set on continuous shot and fired
off half a dozen shots before I could catch my breath.

It felt so comfortable, except for one thing.... I felt the DRIVE button was
too far of a stretch for my right index finger. I would have been happier if
it were between and slightly ahead of the other two buttons... in a triangle...
but that was a very quick decision and I may feel different if I had one for a
while. Regardless, it was very comfortable in my hand. ...and they had a
Sony slow-memory card in the thing. It still felt fast, and the shutter was
so quiet compared to the A100.

You will only know if it will work for you if you try it. Every camera feels
"different", and this one is no exception. I am comfortable handling the
A100... most features are very intuitive to me... but the A700 felt so much
better. I don't know HOW I will get one, but I will be getting one....
eventually.

bobmax said:

• There is still a lot of very nice Minolta glass out there at a

nice price - and since all is stabilized w/SSS in the body.... a
whole new dynamic is opened up.

Click to expand...

To me, that is a big draw for the Minolta... and the Pentax system as
well. I love old Pentax glass, and have seen some excellent results over
on the Pentax forum to show the system off. I have seen some
exceptional images here on the Sony/Minolta forum using some of the
old Minolta lenses as well. New "old" lenses crop up on eBay and in
second hand stores all the time. It is amazing what you will find there
at times. Second Hand stores, Garage Sales and Estate Sales can
provide you with some unbelievable deals... you just have to be patient
and know what you want. To give you an idea of what you can purchase
IF you really, really want it and can hang in there, you should look at this
guys collection of Pentax lenses..... he wanted the stuff, and set out to
find what he wanted. He got his wish. )) YOU don't have to be so
obsessed, but it is possible to be! The sky is the limit!!!!

http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/postersprofile.asp?poster=hjiyixiwhv

As you can see, there IS a lot of stuff available out there, even in the
Minolta arena.

bobmax said:

I've played w/them in a few shops and must admit to being "TOTALLY
SOLD" on the feel and controls (this is a very personal element, but
to me I prefer the handling features/controls to those of Canon or
Nikon).

Click to expand...

Yes, I felt that way with the A700 tonight. It was "almost" an epiphany ...



So, my point is, if you do go the Minolta route, you really can almost get
anything you want... if you are willing to wait. Only the oddball things
that Nikon or Canon has, may not be unavailable.

--
Gil
Sardis, BC
Canada

Glad you liked the A700, Gil. Now I have to give you the thumbs lecture The DRIVE, ISO, and WB button on the top of the camera are meant to be pressed with your right thumb, not index finger (only EV comp is for that.) That is why the area around them is recessed. Give it a try next time you test it out.

The buttons are also designed to be used with gloved hands. That's why the separation.

Walt

headofdestiny said:

Glad you liked the A700, Gil. Now I have to give you the thumbs
lecture The DRIVE, ISO, and WB button on the top of the camera
are meant to be pressed with your right thumb, not index finger (only
EV comp is for that.) That is why the area around them is recessed.
Give it a try next time you test it out.
--

Click to expand...

I agree! Once you are used to it, its great!

--
Regards
Dave

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Let's show the world there's more than Canon and Nikon!!

lisa1 wrote (excerpt):

lisa1 said:

hi. i have nikon equipment but am interested in the sony models. are
they any good.

Click to expand...

What do you feel Sony will do for your photography that Nikon doesn't do?

Me? I have Canon digital SLR's and a boat load of good Canon lenses but I'm really getting into the new a700 Sony... I'll confess I had the "older" a100 for 6 months before the a700 and I still bought the a700...

Canon? I got weary of buying an image stabilizer with every good lens. I mostly shoot long telephoto and 180mm macro... Big, husky modern Canon telephotos have IS (IS is their in-lens image stabilizer gizmo)... But, I couldn't buy a 150-200mm stabilized real macro lens for Canon... Not at any price... Unobtanium... If you get me?

Every single lens I use on my a100 or a700 is image stabilized by the in-camera wiggle-wobbled sensor... It has changed my whole game plan...

Honestly? I'm not ready to cut the strings to Canon just yet 'cause I just haven't got equivalent super-telephoto glass for my Sony... If I had that big glass (without getting killed buying it) I'd probably go for 100% Sony... I believe in their commitment and I love the product!

Have you handled the a700? Try to use it foir a while to get some sense of it's layout and the organization of it's controls,... Also note the easy of a logical menu system... I think it is near perfect... Near perfect for me that is...

Lisa, you won't be wrong with any current offers from Nikon, Canon or the latest Sony, the a700... They are all supershooters...

When I started with Sony, I wanted image stabilizers for every lens and now after nearly a year I feel I get a whole lot more than that... A quality product...

--
OK, I admit it... I capture souls with my camera!
from the Oregon Coast,
Roy NN7DX
Now the pixels are really hitting the fan...