The Digital Camera Store

Written on the 2009-11-28

rating of 3.0

I have this camera. Only because I had a 35mm Minolta and was able to use the same lenses. I wanted to go digital. The shutter speed on the Sony Alpha is terrible. The range of the flash is horrible. You will need an external flash to compare to the range of an average normal dsl camera, let along you will not have an automatic flash. You will always have to open the flash compartment! <br />
(Source: www.amazon.com)

Written on the 2009-07-31

rating of 5.0

I love the way it feels in my hand. I looked for weeks for a DSLR nd for the price and what I read this was it. Im thinking of upgrading the body I have 5 lenes and I like the a350 but I am also looking into the 700. But for a starter SLR you can't beat the a100.
(Source: www.amazon.com)

Written on the 2009-06-21

rating of 5.0

Have been using for almost 3 years now and it is a great performer, especially for landscape/nature photography. Anti-shake is wonderful and makes up for the not top of the line iso handling. <br />One other plus is the compatibility with all the minolta gear, including both lenses and flashes.
(Source: www.amazon.com)

Written on the 2009-04-16

rating of 3.0

I can't say that the pictures are worth the weight and bulk of the camera, and all the editing I have to do. It does take nice pictures, but they lack that "wow". I find they're kind of flat. So I sold it and bought a Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ28 which I find takes excellent pictures without all the tinkering, but you can tinker if you want. <br />I guess if you're a professional, you can get excellent pictures out of this Sony Alpha A100, but it would take alot of tinkering , and for the price, weight and bulk, and editing, it's just not worth it to me.
(Source: www.amazon.com)

Written on the 2008-12-17

rating of 4.0

this is a great camera. beware that some times when you take a picture it will freeze the camera and you will need to remove the battery. other than that, this is a great camera. i recommend sony, since the anti-shake is in the body, where other companies put it in expensive lenses. if you dont want to deal with the freezing of the camera, then go with a newer model, but i recommend staying with a sony. they have features that some other companies didn't put in there cameras.
(Source: www.amazon.com)

Written on the 2008-10-16

rating of 5.0

I'm sooo happy I managed to get one of these before Sony made all their changes. It acts just like my Minolta Film cameras, the venerable 9000 and the newer 5 Film - easy to use menus, controls where I want them and that wonderful lighting fast autofocus. I'm not a fan of anything Sony proprietary (like the battery) but so far it's been good to me. I bought this to take pictures of my newborn son - cause face it, no P&S will ever react fast enough to catch the boy with his eyes scrunched up and tongue hanging out. <br /> <br />One serious con is the sheer bulk of the thing. My wife LOVED the Maxxum 5 Film, lightweight and thin for her little hands. She needs to use two hands almost exclusively for this beast. It's not a weight issue either, it's the shape of the grip. I find my fingernails grinding into the body from the way I hold the camera one handed. Better grips could be had. <br /> <br />There are certainly fuller featured models out there, even in this manufacturer, but really, how often do you use all those features? I know what I'm doing, I'm a photographer from way back with a Pentax K1000 knock off from Cosina, but about all I ever do is change the flash or exposure compensation settings, and usually I get better results if I use the pre-programmed modes anyway. <br /> <br />Takes a darn pretty picture in plain old automatic, too. Just like the Maxxum 5, if you can teach a 5 year old to frame and compose, the camera will do the rest. <br /> <br />Of course there's the compatibility issue with all my old Minolta glass... eh... some of it plays nice, and some of (and particularly my portrait lens) will not work in anything other than full manual. Which is okay really, better than purchasing an entire new library of Nikkor lenses. <br /> <br />Oh, the image stabilization program in the body? Works like a charm.
(Source: www.amazon.com)

Written on the 2008-07-29

rating of 5.0

Excellent camera and lens. Terrific value and good service from supplier. Disappointed that there was an additional customs bill of £71! Could you warn customers of this charge, in future. <br /> <br />Despite this, at a total cost of £330, it was still a real bargain
(Source: www.amazon.com)

Written on the 2008-07-16

rating of 5.0

This was my first introduction to DSLR - but not my first experience with an SLR - i had shared a Minolta Maxxum 3000 with my brother (that was the model # as i recall) but never really bothered to learn its functions and because it was a film camera quite an expensive hobby - with film and development. So essentially the Sony Alpha was my first real experience with SLRs (Single Lens Reflex). Digital photography has given me and a whole bunch of people a hobby that is very affordable after the first initial investment - but i digress... <br /> <br />This was not my first digital camera. My first digital camera was another Sony - the DSC-V1 (i have written a review here at epinions about that as well) - that little camera had an excellent clear Carl Zeiss lens and great color along with functions of a SLR - you can fiddle with aperture and shutter speed - but with it's small fixed lens you'll always that great depth of field unless it is ultra close. <br /> <br />I wanted to "graduate" from these so-called point and shoot cameras - although i know a bit more about photography from reading books since getting the Alpah but i would not call myself an expert. So really this review is from a novice's standpoint even after owning this for about 2.5 - 3 years. I'm more about composition and letting the camera take over the technical aspects - however i have played with aperture settings, shutter speeds, and exposure settings. <br /> <br />There are so many options in DSLR these days - the iconic NIKON followed by ubiquitous Canon (my brother owns the XTi), Fuji, Pentax, Olympus -- then (at the time) there's the new Sony entry into the DSLR market - the Alpha 100 - there are now different models of the Alpha 200, 300, 350, and the top of the line 700 which boasts a live lcd preview. <br /> <br />Just a bit of history about Sony entry into the DSLR market - they had a partnership with Konica-Minolta (KM would use Sony's expertise in digital electronics) and Konica-Minolta decided to tuck tail and leave the DSLR market sold their existing technologies to Sony so Sony using KM's foundation re-engineered the KM DSLR into their own and entered the market with the A100. <br /> <br />The Sony A100 DSLR major features/benefits include (IMHO): <br /> <br />*The Sony BIONZ engine - the brains behind the camera (like the DIGIC II for the Canon) - <br /> <br />*10.2 megapixels <br /> <br />*Super Steady Shot Image Stabilization - built right into the camera - some have it built into the lens - so every lens you use will have this super steady shot - but nothing beats a steady hand or a great tripod! I think this was a hold over from the K/M days. <br /> <br />*Anti-Dust Technology - dust repellent coating and an active shake of the CCD for those stubbornest of specs. This works OK - i can see specs of dust - i haven't used the "shake" - although it gives a little nudge when you turn it on. <br /> <br />*fairly large 2.5 color lcd screen - great color and clarity on the LCD screen <br /> <br />*Eye-start autofocus system - if you turn this feature on - as soon as you put it close to your eye it starts trying to focus - i found this feature to be useless - it is light sensitive so if you put this close to your body it will start focusing - i turned off this feature - this was another holdover technology from K/M. <br /> <br />*With the Alpha Mount you can use "old" lenses from K/M with the Sony A100 so if you had a K/M DSLR and multiples lenses you can also use it with the Sony Alpha. You are able to use the myriad of K/M alpha mount lenses but not all of the accessories - Sony changed the hot shoe for the flash so that won't work and you need to buy a new flash - BUT i had an old wired remote from my first original Minolta Maxxum and that worked. <br /> <br />*New Carl Zeiss lens - exciting but it would probably cost more than the camera itself. <br /> <br />ACTUAL USE / FEEL of the camera (from a novice standpoint): <br /> <br />with anything new you'd have a learning curve but this camera is pretty intuitive however i would suggest reading the manual once over. Once you start using it and learning the control it will be like second nature. <br /> <br />The feel of it is somewhat heavy - it is certainly a bit heavier than the Canon xTi but it has a very comfortable grip. <br /> <br />The autofocus is a bit loud with the whirring of the motor - the mirror is louder than most- i would not take pictures clandestinely because you just can't it will give you away every time. <br /> <br />I am currently using the 18mm - 200mm max aperature (open) is f3.5 - f6.3 - not quite quick to focus in low light situations, but the lens is so versatile with the wide 18mm and the nice zoom of 200mm it's hard not to like this lens. Please keep in mind that the DSLR mirror is larger than a regular film SLR so you have to multiply the "mm" by 1.5 to get the true "mm" size. At 18mm with the DSLR it is really 27mm and the 200mm is really 300mm. <br /> <br />I find this camera to be very comfortable and fun to use. The strap that came with it is not length adjustable however and i like to strap the camera across my body - i have a small frame - people with a larger body should get an adjustable strap. <br /> <br />PICTURES: <br /> <br />a picture speaks a thousand words - here's is a link just some of my photos from flickr.com i've taken over the years with my Sony Alpha 100: <br /> <br /> <br />http://www.flickr.com/photos/62904109@N00/sets/72157594360924382/ <br /> <br />only a very few of the pictures had post process done - some where cropped - mostly it is as is. <br /> <br />one note - i have adjusted the camera to hard sharpness and high saturation - i love color and i thought the images from the sony was just slightly soft so i shifted it to hard sharpness on the camera itself. <br /> <br />Also keep in mind the pics also depend on how your computer monitor is calibrated but it is a good presentation of what the Sony A100 can do. <br /> <br />I find the pictures to reproduce excellent colors and the lens are quite clear. <br /> <br />all were taken with the 18mm - 200mm Sony Lens. <br /> <br />I bought this camera when it first came out and the kit was about $1000 dollars AND the 18mm - 200mm lens (as i recall) was $600 dollars. This camera could be had BRAND NEW for under $700 with this lens! What a great deal for a under-rated and all around Great Camera! <br /> <br />Pros love their Nikon or perhaps their Canon - but I thought the Sony was a great camera and currently at a great price! <br />
(Source: www.amazon.com)

Written on the 2008-06-01

rating of 5.0

I bought the camera in Feb. and just charged twice since then. I charged the battery before my 10 days vacation in Europe, and took over 1,000 pictures (very beautiful) and the battery now is still 3/4 full! <br />Another advantage of this camera is the anti-shake function. I could take pictures with very low shutter speed (1-2 seconds) and the pictures are still sharp.
(Source: www.amazon.com)

Written on the 2008-05-21

rating of 4.0

1. I purchased this camera (Sony a100) about a year and a half ago and it's lived up to my expectations. Photos are crisp and clear, controls are conviently located and the large LCD is handy although I wish it was the swivel type, battery life is good. I have three, one Sony and two much cheaper non-Sony. I wish the lens selection was a little better but this is just a hobby for me and SIGMA lenses are just as good and cheaper. There is some noise at low light levels but that's not a problem for me. My problem is dust bunnies inherent in all digital slrs in this class. But I have solve that too with a small bottle of ECLIPSE 2 and a few SENSOR PADS that fit the low pass filter to be cleaned. Sometimes it only takes a good whiff of dry air with the camera turned upside down. But sending it back to them until the warranty runs out consumes too much time and they don't do a very good job. My job was better. Last of all Sony has the gall to sell the A.C. adapter at well over $125.00 and then recommends that any type of cleaning (dust blower only) not be done without the A.C. adapter. This is of course so the mirror stays up while blowing off the dust. My advice is use a freshly charged battery; it only takes a few minutes to do a good cleaning with the blower or the more adventurous low pass filter. Be advised Sony will void the warranty if you screw up the CCD aka low pass filter while using the SENSOR PADS. But trust me, it's very easy to clean and the low pass filter is tougher than one suspects. Still, extreme caution and patience is needed with a light but firm stroke. By the way, the A.C. adapter can charge two batteries at once but still not worth the price and there are no substitutes because of the proprietary connection on the camera body, again Sony Only! Oh, there is also inaccessible dust inside the viewfinder, again inherent in all slrs in this class. My camera goes almost everywhere I go so there will be dust. <br /> <br />SHELLBACK <br />SEMPER FI
(Source: www.amazon.com)

Written on the 2008-04-02

rating of 4.0

I bought this camera becuase I am a life long Minolta fan, however they discontinued their cameras without any notice and I was stuck with alot of Konica Minolta camera equipment. Sony picked up Minolta's pattons and made their first DSLR and everything I owed with Minolta is interchangeable with it. But I run 2 photo studios and I have not been happy with the controls, etc. of this camera. However a person who just wants a better camera to take better pictures then their snap and shoot--this would be a good camera for you, for a professional however--no. I am now switching everything over to Nikon.
(Source: www.amazon.com)

Written on the 2008-03-30

rating of 5.0

Love my Sony Alpha 100, 10.2 mp. For the money, it is an unbeatable buy. User friendly. Great photos.
(Source: www.amazon.com)

Written on the 2008-03-23

rating of 4.0

I have had a variety of cameras throughout the past 3 years with my new found interest in photography. I started small and worked my way up, from the FujiFilm 2800 to this Sony SLR and though photography is truly about the photograher, this camera definitely makes photos better, and overall makes photography much more enjoyable. <br /> <br />Well, I'll start with the breakdown of features: <br /> <br />1. 10 megapixel sensor: When I found interest in photography several years ago, my first camera had a resolution of merely 2 megapixels, yet the prints were still spectacular. With this camera, there is significant increase of overall quality, but you have to keep in my different factors such as ISO, and white balance, which also play a roll in good prints. <br /> <br />2. ISO: I found that in low light situations, for example during a party, or something, that when I increased the ISO to 800, pictures were slightly noisy, though not significantly. I feel that the noise-reduction system helped in those situations. As far as ISO 1600, it wasn't that great, but then again not all that bad. I would say 60% of my shots would come out nicely. For regular shooting I used the HI200 setting, which would keep the ISO at <200> (above or below), and pictures turn out really well with this setting, combined with some other modes. <br /> <br />3. White balance: The white balance is okay for the most part. I personally like the "shade" and "sunny" modes, but not so much the tungsten and florescent, I have also at times used the manual white balance, which proved to work well, though, I wouldn't use it as much as the preset modes. <br /> <br />4. Dynamic Range Booster: Great great setting. About 75% of the time I've used this setting, the dynamic range has been slightly if not significantly better. What this basically means is it extends the color capabilities of your picture. So let's say there is a red shovel in a large field of grass, the green of the grass may get prioritized, however once you press the dynamic range booster button, some settings are adjusted and the red looks a lot better than it traditionally would. <br /> <br />5. Other Color Settings: When you are in either manual mode, A mode, S mode, or P mode (my favorite),you get to choose from a menu what best matches the situation you are shooting in. There is a list of the standard preset modes like Macro and Landscape, but there is also a few color settings I like. They are: B&W, Adobe RGB, Standard, and Vivid. My personal favorite is vivid; I don't know what it is, but this setting surely does add the extra "umph" in pictures, kind of giving them a film look. I used it to take a picture of a sunset, and it came out slightly better than the pre-programmed sunset mode. <br /> <br />6. Sports Photography: SLR's are definitely the way to go for action photos. This camera sports a really good 3fps, and I've captured numerous shots that simply wouldn't have been possible had it not been for upgrading to a DSLR. However I must he sports mode on this camera is base-line average, and before I learned the settings to this camera about 70% of my shots would come out of average quality. What I do when taking action shots, is go into P mode and manually select settings, and pictures almost always come out better than the pre-set sports mode. I think that the sports mode fully utilizes the advertised 3 fps, however pictures just aren't as sharp. However, this really isn't a problem once you've had the camera for a week or two. <br /> <br />7. Ease of Use: Well, this was my first SLR of any sort ever, yet I was up and going, fully unlocking the potential of this camera in about two weeks. I flat-out couldn't just sit there and read the manual for two hours, so instead I would go around taking candids in my spare time, and switch some settings around, and then take mental note of what looked best. <br /> <br />8. Comparison: I was in a debate with myself for several weeks, wondering if I should get a Nikon D80, Canon Xti/Xt or a Sony, and when I looked at reviews, each one was saying the same about the other, and I finally chose the Sony. When it arrived I used it for a little bit, then went on to Best Buy to get some accessories, and I just happened to see both the Canon Digital Rebel Xti and D80. The Xti felt really cheap, like the plastic would fall apart if you dropped it once, and sensor and kit lens were both significantly smaller than those equipped with the A100. Another thing, both the Canon and the D80 lacked built in image stabilization of any sort, which really DOES come in handy for everyday shooting. As far as the XT/XTi go, the A100 clearly outshines them. Though on the other hand the Nikon D80 is much better than the Sony. It felt really sturdy, and from shooting with one for a full day, it overall produces much better pictures than I've been able to with this camera, the only factor which stopped me from buying it was the price of over $200 more. As far as camera releases go as this year goes on, I would highly suggest not getting a Canon XSi but instead a Sony A350, because from what I've read, the Sony has much more features and gives you more bang for your buck, especially since it's about $100 less than the canon. I can't really talk for Nikon though. <br /> <br />Well, I hope my review has contributed into your decision for a new DSLR, if you have any further questions, don't hesitate to comment for this review, thanks. -Sam</200>
(Source: www.amazon.com)

Written on the 2008-03-13

rating of 5.0

I've owned this camera for 5 months and highly recommend it. It's being discontinued but if you can buy it cheap get it. The camera replacing it (A200) seems to have sightly better performance at iso1600 but gives up some advanced features like mirror lockup, and the control wheel button method access to several important settings. I've seen it available quite cheap. Grab one if you can.
(Source: www.amazon.com)

Written on the 2008-03-11

rating of 5.0

I owned this camera and liked it a lot. The convenience of properly located controls, easy of use, traditional Sony's menus... If you own one of Sony's little cameras and think about stepping into DSLR it is the camera to get as you will find very familiar interface and it will facilitate the transition. You can get this camera with lenses very inexpensively and 10m is more than enough for all my needs. In fact I rarely shoot on 10 as it makes big files and as they accumulate they eat storage of PC. <br />I used this cam any time of the year and never run into any problems. The battery timing is exceptional.
(Source: www.amazon.com)

Written on the 2008-03-01

rating of 5.0

I love the camera. It has a little of everything. The camera is loaded with all the manual controls you could desire. The picture quality is great. I really enjoy using this camera, especially since I don't feel like I have to protect it with my life. At the price I paid, it just can't be beat. That's all folks!
(Source: www.amazon.com)

Written on the 2008-02-29

rating of 5.0

I have this camera and I really like it. It is my first DSLR and I am impressed by the functionality along with its value. It has many controls right at your fingertips so that you can adjust to your surroundings immediately. The anti-shake is good. It has a full sized CCD so that you can use any Sony or Konico-Minolta lens. The only downside that I see is that it has a Sony specific hot shoe for the flash and sony specific remote trigger. You can only use sony flashes or triggers. Other than that, this is a great value DSLR.
(Source: www.amazon.com)

Written on the 2008-01-30

rating of 4.0

Delivery was quick and easy. Camera takes great pictures. Very happy with this camera and I'm still learning to use the other functions. All in all a worthwhile purchase.
(Source: www.amazon.com)

Written on the 2008-01-25

rating of 5.0

I've been very happy with this camera. It is a pleasure to use. It really gives you great performance/results compared to the last generation of 10 mp entry level dslrs from Cannon/Nikon/Pentax. You also have excellent access to and control over the functions, allowing you to take great pictures and exercise your creativity. There are plenty of guides written specifically for this model if you want to jump from point & shoot into the dslr world as well. <br /> <br />With the introduction of the 2nd generation alpha cameras (a700 and a200 models), it is apparent that Sony is committed to this line...which means the Minolta compatible lenses you may have or may purchase will not become obsolete. And now the a100 can be had at a significant discount so it really is a great camera for those we are looking for more performance and control than the point & shoot digital cameras can offer.
(Source: www.amazon.com)

Written on the 2008-01-18

rating of 5.0

I brought this Sony Alpha A100 because of the reviews that it got and I own a Minolta Maxxium 5 SLR which would enable me to reclaim the use of two very good lenses that I own. I tried the lenses on the Alpha body at local stores to see if it work and as advertised it work perfectly. Ive taken many pictures mostly in RAW and was completely satisfied with the results. The camera also had many of the same features and menu set up as my Konica Minolta A200 SLR-like digital camera, so I only needed a short time to become comfortable with the set up and controls on the Sony. I particularly like the anti shake feature in the camera as opposed to adding cost to the lenses as with Canon and Nikon camera For those who have Minolta lenses this camera is a very good way of being able to get back to the photography you were use to in your Slr but now in a DSLR.
(Source: www.amazon.com)

Written on the 2008-01-18

rating of 5.0

The Sony Alpha was exactly what I was looking for in a camera. The local geek shops like Best Buy and Circut City do not carry it anymore so the only way I found this camera was online. Easy to use 10.2MP is perfect for what I use it for. The one nice feature I enjoy is that once you put the camera to your eye it is already in focus for shooting so there in no waiting. The lens that comes with this unit 18-200mm is better then the standard lense I found at other retailers. It is easy to use and a perfect fit for what I need.
(Source: www.amazon.com)

Written on the 2008-01-16

rating of 4.0

I purchased the Sony Alpha A00 as an upgrade from a Canon Digital Rebel (300D). Overall it's a great camera, but there are a few minor features missing. <br /> <br />Highlights: <br />The 10MP sensor is very sharp and seems to reproduce colors very nicely, and the anti-shake mechanism works incredibly well - I've managed to take .6sec exposures without any camera shake in the image. <br /> <br />The AF is about the same as I was used to on the 300D. It does the job reasonably well in bright light, but struggles in the dark. If the flash is up, it will use the AF assist light, but only sometimes. <br /> <br />The controls are all fairly well laid out, and the function dial is a good way to easily get to commonly used functions. <br /> <br />The screen is bright and I have had no trouble seeing all the information even in bright daylight. <br /> <br />Both the battery and memory card covers seem very well built and much more sturdy than the 300D. <br /> <br />Missing Features: <br />Unfortunately, there are a few minor features that were present on the 300D that sony has left out of the A100. <br /> <br />There is no wireless remote available. <br /> <br />The automatic bracketing only works to two-thirds of a stop (as opposed to 2 stops for the 300D) which is probably a bigger problem for me than for most people, since I frequently shoot HDR images. <br /> <br />The Sony alpha cameras use Minolta AF lenses which, though somewhat rarer than Canon lenses, seem to be significantly less expensive for similar quality. <br /> <br />All in all, I'd say the Sony A100 is a solid contender in the 3rd generation of consumer-level DSLR cameras. With only the 300D to compare it to, I would say the A100 has exceeded almost all of my expectations, though a few minor issues would need to be corrected for a full 5-star rating.
(Source: www.amazon.com)

Written on the 2007-12-28

rating of 5.0

I purchased this camera for my husband for Christmas 2007. He had had his eye on this camera for a long time after doing a lot of research on what would be best for him. The main reason for his choice is....not only is it a Sony brand but all the lenses used for his film camera would fit this body....he was very happy! My husband carries his camera with him EVERYWHERE...I also used the camera during the holidays and it is very easy to use and took GREAT pictures of our newborn baby girl and our son at this specail time of the year. I would reccomend this camera and feel for the price paid was worth every penny!
(Source: www.amazon.com)

Written on the 2007-12-23

rating of 5.0

There was a lot of good information about the camera which told me i could take pictures of things that other camera could not.If one does not look good , delete it change some setting and take it again.Or just take a few shots and chage setting to get it set up for in invierment you are taking pictures in..
(Source: www.amazon.com)

Written on the 2007-12-13

rating of 5.0

The Sony Alpha A100K is a fantastic camera. The included lens is extremely versatile. Battery life is superb (hundreds of shots before a recharge, at least 400 in my experience, possibly many more as I'm still on the first charge). <br /> <br />The Alpha Mount system allows me to use all my old lenses from my Minolta Maxxum 5 35mm camera. Also, Sony kept the standard Minolta hotshoe (the flash-mount-point that resides above the lens), and simply rebranded the Minolta flashes, so my old flash works too. <br /> <br />If you are a fan of Minolta cameras, and have been looking for a new DSLR, this camera is a great choice. If you need a bit more professional a setup, and can afford $1500, consider the A700 instead. <br /> <br />I have absolutely no complaints. Normally, I hate Sony products, but this camera doesn't feel like a Sony. It feels like a Minolta. The camera doesn't take Memory Stick, it takes Compact Flash. This is a move Sony has almost never done before. They love their proprietary formats. This time, they went with the industry standard, however. <br /> <br />You'll want to pick up a 55mm UV Filter (multicoated if possible) to protect the lens coating. The added effect of this is that cleaning or replacing a filter is much easier than cleaning or replacing a lens. The UV filter I've described can be had for between $3 and $20 depending upon brand and store. <br /> <br />Also, a 2GB card will give you 460 JPEG images at full quality, or around 100 RAW images. If you're going to shoot JPEG, 2GB should be all you'll need for a while. If RAW, look into a 16GB card (can be had for $120). <br /> <br />One last tip: this camera has a very fast write speed, so using older slower flash memory devices will only impede performance. Get at least a 133x (20 Megabytes per second) CF card.
(Source: www.amazon.com)