α100 vs EOS 350D! I have them both, gotta ditch one.. Help me choose please!?

[Strandum]

Hi there, I want to tell you my little very short story:

Right now I have both the Alpha α100 and EOS 350D..
I have to get rid of one of them, can you help me?
Here are the cameras "speccs"

a100: brand new, recieved it today!
lens: double kit (18-70 and 75-300)
cost me about: 1400 USD*

350D: 6 weeks old
lens: kit lens (18-55)
cost me about: 900 USD*

USD*: Prices are conversed directly from Norwegian kroner, and the taxes here are 25% about higher than in the US

Theese are the matters I want to discuss:

INTERFACE

350D: I have grown to really like the 350D's user interface, and I think other Canons like 30D will suit me even better.

a100: I have to use the a100 to start enjoying its interface. I have just had it for one day.

LENSES

350D: The kit-lense, I heard iis a no go if you want sharp pictures.
But first I want a tele about similar to the 75-300 that comes with the

a100. Is this going to be more expensive? I paid about 160 USD* extra for the SONY 75-300. What do you recomend?

a100: The kit-lenses are a bit better and zoomier (is that a word?) than 350D's 18-55. And I think I will stick to SONY-kits those longer than the 350D-kit, and this way my really low budget is not going to burst that fast?! Thinking of going Zeiss when they is released. Is the market really that much worse with SONY/Zeiss/Minolta/Sigma/Tamron? Are the lens options always going to be better off with Canon?

FUTURE and BODY UPGRADING

Canon: They already have the 30D that I want. And they already have the possibility to go FF. The future is bulletproof with EF lenses, is it not?

SONY: What are their plans? Hunting down those FF and other very expensive upper class super cameras? Or just keep the Alpha below 2000 USD and make a little bit more expensive, bigger, better and faster Alpha, competing against D200 and 30D? Anyway, the future is not bulletproof with SONY's A-mount, and offer not as stable platform as Canon and Nikon!?

Nikon: If I want to go Nikon, which I am really open for. If it's cheaper than the a100, and the speccs are ok, i probably wait for D80. If more expensive (probably is) I want to read a dpreview of the D80 before I make up my mind.

I know that the a100 has a lot more high ISO noise than Canon, and am aware what consequences it may lead to. The questions I have for you guys is theese:

QUESTIONS

• Is the interface on the Alpha just as good as the 350D?
• Are the lens option that much duller with the A-mount than the EF-mount?
• If I go 350D, which two zooms do you recomend me to cover at least 30-200?
• If I go a100, which two zooms do you recomend me to cover at least 30-200?
• In the future I want to go for a hi quality zoom, which is the better buy:

Canon EF-S 17-55mm F/2.8 IS USM
Canon EF-S 17-85mm F/4-5,6 IS USM
Sony DT 16-80mm F3.5-4.5 Sonnar T*
Sony DT 18-200mm F3.5-6.3 High Magnification
Sigma 18-50mm F2.8 Canon/Nikon
Nikon AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 18-200mm F/3,5-5,6G IF-ED
.. is there any other good all round zooms below preferrably below 500 USD?

• How is the future for SONY? trying harder to beat 30D and D200, or make even more expensive, maybe even FF?
• Is the Canon future just as good as people say it is, is there going to be a 400D, do anyone know when?
• Can Nikon rule with their D80? Kick everyone asses and be just as cheap as the D70 and a100?

Hope anyone can answer and help me? Hope my firstpost is not just a mess

 

[AMomcil]

Hi Strandum,

Jeg vil prøve å hjelpe deg (I will try to help you).

QUESTIONS

• Is the interface on the Alpha just as good as the 350D?

They are different . Both have nice things and annoying tidbits. I was using Canon DSLRs for two years (D30, D60, 10D, 1D) and Minoltas for last 4 months (7D, 5D). I miss some things on 5D (A100 as well) even 350D has - to dissconect AF from the shutter, and to AF only on a separate button. I will miss direct ISO button on A100 too. But you can map Spot metering to AEL button, zooming in review starts from up close, etc. I prefer Minolta way of doing things, but it is subjective. You have both cameras, you tell us .

• Are the lens option that much duller with the A-mount than the

EF-mount?

Yes, you have much less options. Canon has quite a bit more lens choice and more 3rd party options (no Tokina 12-24 for Sony mount), also Sigma models for Sony mount lack HSM. I miss few Canon lenses, like 85/1.8, but I miss more HSM Sigmas. But, Sony will get better, Zeiss will be very nice.

• If I go 350D, which two zooms do you recomend me to cover at

least 30-200?

The best bang for your money is this: (Sigma 17-70 or Tamron 17-50/2.8) and (Sigma 70-300 APO or Tamron 55-200).

• If I go a100, which two zooms do you recomend me to cover at

least 30-200?

Same as above. Sony kit lens is better than Canons, so if it is OK for you (test and see), you can just add Sigma 70-300 APO.

• In the future I want to go for a hi quality zoom, which is the

better buy:
Canon EF-S 17-55mm F/2.8 IS USM
Canon EF-S 17-85mm F/4-5,6 IS USM
Sony DT 16-80mm F3.5-4.5 Sonnar T*
Sony DT 18-200mm F3.5-6.3 High Magnification
Sigma 18-50mm F2.8 Canon/Nikon
Nikon AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 18-200mm F/3,5-5,6G IF-ED
.. is there any other good all round zooms below preferrably below
500 USD?

You mixed apples and oranges here. This is a mix of lenses with very different goals and characteristics. My take:
Canon: I would avoid 17-85 IS, I like 17-55 IS.

Sony: Zeiss 16-80 should be great all-rounder, but nobody knows yet for sure. I don't like those 18-200 models, I prefer two lenses solution for not much more money.

Sigma: I would wait for Tamron 17-50/2.8 which seems better. Sigma has a few excellent picks, though: 17-70, 18-125, 70-300 APO & 70-200/2.8 are great purchases.

Nikon: 18-200 is a great lens. But it costs more than nice two lens solution for A100, also stabilised. Nikon lenses tend to be more expensive than equivalent Canon models.

• How is the future for SONY? trying harder to beat 30D and D200,

or make even more expensive, maybe even FF?

30D & D200 are amazing cameras. Sony can answer, if they want. I am sure they have something in that class deep into development. It will depend on A100 success a lot. Sony invested a LOT of money here, and they will not leave job half-done. I think it is almost certain we'l see something in this class next year.

• Is the Canon future just as good as people say it is, is there

going to be a 400D, do anyone know when?

Yes, it is. It is rock solid.

• Can Nikon rule with their D80? Kick everyone asses and be just as

cheap as the D70 and a100?

It will be good, for sure. I expect similar relation like D70/KM 5D. I went for 5D, many more for D70. Both good cameras, but 5D gave more for the price (AS). D80 will be excellent camera and will sell good, but I am much more interested in the upcomming Pentax K10D.

Hope anyone can answer and help me? Hope my firstpost is not just a
mess

Hope my answer was not a mess .

In short - I like 350D sensor a bit more, it has more AF speed with right lenses, better upgrade path, more lenses to throw your money at. I like A100 body & handling more, wireless flashes and I simply love SSS/AS.

--
Greetings, Aleksandar

 

[Izu]

This kind of question make me wonder why Phil didn't include a single entry-level camera in A100 Review... A100 Vs 30D and D200...

Sorry, I can't help you.
--
Andrea

 

[KEITH-C]

If it's between the Canon 350D & the Sony A100 then I would choose the Sony. If I were going the Canon route at the moment I would try to get a 20 or 30 D at discount rather than a cheaper 350D.

If you are talking about future upgrades then then it is an open question - no one for sure knows what Sony intends although they have definitely stated that they want a good share of the DSLR market .

I would avoid Nikon as their future is less certain although they are doing OK at the moment. On the question of lenses there isn't a lot in it. You can still get bargain Minolta lenses on the secondhand market that are very good. If you are not an avid lens collector then both manufacturers have good choices in new lenses.

Keith-C

 

[carljervis]

Would agree with keith on the mount - the Sony Alpha mount is not a new mount, having been around for 20 years as the Minolta A mount. A cursory search on ebay for minolta a mount will garner many hundred hits.

And sony still sell mini disc players - even though they were strictly speaking a failure - so support should be around for a while to come.

 

[Strandum]

Thank you very much for you opinion Amomcil and the others..

I think as I am getting to know the Alpha, I begin to like it more and more.. Still think that the 30D or D80 is a better choice for mel, but cannot say that for sure.. About the 350D, I like it alot aswell. My mind is still not settled on one of the two. Getting more and more curious about the D80, I think I will have to try it as well and see for my self.

--

I have both Alpha α100 and EOS 350D right now, have to ditch one of them! Help me?