Recommended Sony body, or don't bother?

I have two lenses from my Maxxum 9000, the kit 50 mm / 1.7 and a Sigma 75-200 2.8 - 3.5 along with the AF 4000 flash. I am thinking about getting an inexpensive Sony Alpha body to use with these lenses, for use as a backup camera or more likely for my kids to use if they show an interest. Are there any bodies from the Sony Alpha DSLR line-up that you would recommend or definitely not recommend? The reviews on this site make it hard to get enthused about a lot of the older CCD based bodies.

I'll probably end up with a second non-Sony camera for my own use, so if there isn't a simple way to exploit these lenses, I won't worry about it too much.

Thanks all,

Marc

A500, A550, A560, A580, A55, A35. The flash will not work with digital
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Sarge

A77, A700 8mm Bower, 50mm 1.7, 35-70 F4, 90mm Tamron, 18-250 Sigma & 50-500 Bigma
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The 50mm 1.7 will work fine, but the Sigma 75-200 likely won't AF on the digital bodies. There are some copies of that lens that will work, but the majority don't. Unfortunate, since it's a very nice lens.

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Keith
http://keithinsp.smugmug.com/
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If you're just looking to get a body that will use these lenses - and that seems your intent - I would look for a Konica-Minolta 5D or 7D. You should be able to find one of those for cheap. For the kids either would be great but if you can find a cheap 5D for them that's what I'd recommend - it's really a great and easy to use camera and both those lenses would produce fine images, especially the 50/1.7.
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Gary

http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1037&message=40369309

There is a nasty rumour going around planted by a Sony expert with a total of two posts in this forum.

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Simplify_balancE_eXclude = photo SEX

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Thanks for the replies:

A) I'm not trying to start a rumor about Sony. But just look at the wikipedia entry on the Sony line of cameras and you'll see that all the DSLR cameras are listed as discontinued. I'm really just hunting for information.

B) I'm aware of the issues with the sigma. It definitely isn't compatible with the a33 and newer models of that line of cameras. Based on what I've seen elsewhere, the serial number is high enough that it should work with many of the alpha cameras.

The A560 and A580 never made it to Canada, so I'm unlikely to find used ones up here (one of the reasons I'm trying to understand Sony's viewpoint on its line of DSLR cameras).

C) Thanks for the tip on the 5D or 7D. I hadn't thought to look that far back.

MSL said:

Thanks for the replies:

A) I'm not trying to start a rumor about Sony. But just look at the wikipedia entry on the Sony line of cameras and you'll see that all the DSLR cameras are listed as discontinued. I'm really just hunting for information.

Click to expand...

Sony themselves list cand call their SLT's (A33, A55, A35, A65 and A77) still as DSLR's. And all those cameras still carry the same Alpha mount with support for the lenses discussed in this topic.

Thank you for the clarification. I can see how my comments might have been misconstrued. I was not including the SLT line of cameras in my comment.

MSL said:

I'll probably end up with a second non-Sony camera for my own use, so if there isn't a simple way to exploit these lenses, I won't worry about it too much.

Click to expand...

It's simple enough, but I wouldn't spend money on a camera to use with a $100 50mm lens, a Sigma zoom that may or may not be compatible, and a incompatible flash unit, especially as a backup to a non-Sony camera.

• Dennis

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A really inexpensive Sony camera that you could get would be the a230. I've seen very low prices for that camera on ebay. Yes, it has shortcomings with poor high ISO performance and not-so-great controls (I personally hate how they map functions into the four way controller. What's the use of multi-point AF if you cant't select points quickly?). But it is inexpensive, and can produce very nice photos as long as you keep the ISO low.

For kids, it'd be a great way to get them started and would allow them to learn more about photography. Shortcomings like more ISO noise, slower speed, and fewer direct access controls can actually be a blessing in disguise for someone learning photography - it forces them to try harder and move faster to get the same results, building skill.

If you want to spend more for better high ISO performance, more resolution, and a better control layout, you could look for a used 5-series body, like the a500 or a550. The price of those should be pretty low by now.

And finally, I find it sad that others on this forum tend to accuse people of having hidden agendas, bashing Sony, or otherwise throwing the conversation off topic to conduct personal attacks. I hope that in the future, people can post their opinions or ask for suggestions on this forum without having to waste time sorting through those offensive, off-topic, and unproductive posts.

MSL said:

I have two lenses from my Maxxum 9000, the kit 50 mm / 1.7 and a Sigma 75-200 2.8 - 3.5 along with the AF 4000 flash. I am thinking about getting an inexpensive Sony Alpha body to use with these lenses, for use as a backup camera or more likely for my kids to use if they show an interest. Are there any bodies from the Sony Alpha DSLR line-up that you would recommend or definitely not recommend? The reviews on this site make it hard to get enthused about a lot of the older CCD based bodies.

I'll probably end up with a second non-Sony camera for my own use, so if there isn't a simple way to exploit these lenses, I won't worry about it too much.

Thanks all,

Marc

Click to expand...

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Chester

I'd recommend the A-100. But, as mentioned the Sigma will not autofocus on the Sony bodies. Serial numbers aside, most that did work had been rechipped. I've got one lying in the closet for that very reason. But it does autofocus with a teleconverter.
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Glenn

I'm kinda partial to video, but I'm hangin!

My first Sony DSLR was A350, I took lots of good pictures with it. It has live view and tilt-able LCD, so a beginner will likely not feeling intimidated by all the controls and options. Nowadays you can find A350 (or A300) with 18-70 kit lens for less than $300. That's a pretty good low ISO CCD camera which does great job for landscape I think.