Sony really are serious after all

[fjbyrne]

Originally Posted by pantherburr

I think we as "amateurs" really sell ourselves short. If we're out there getting paid to take pictures then I think we should think of ourselves a little farther along the continuum, don't you think? My plan was in fact as you mention, but I wanted to make sure that, before I make the leap and spend the money, that the camera is going to do what I want it to. So thank you very much for that, and I will keep you in mind for any further questions as I get closer to purchase! Brent

Just a note - it looks like some Best Buy stores are realigning their inventories and switching over to mostly the Sony A300/A350. There are some great deals out there to be had if you catch a store that is closing out the A700. I read some people got a new A700 for $920 or so USD. You may want to check it out before they are all gone.

Good Luck.

[Inked Photography]

I haven't been in the SLR game for to long. For years, since I was 15, have been shooting with film. As a matter of fact. Most of the images here with the exception of the weddings and my kids have all been film. Anyway, one of the main reason why I bought sony was because my film camera is a Minolta. So all the components I had would work with the sony.
But I am very happy with it thus far. It is smooth, lot's of options, good megapixel count. I still have a lot to learn about srl. I don't want to say it's a good beginers srl camera. I'm sure each brand has its own. All I can say is that I very happy with it.

[fjbyrne]

Originally Posted by Inked Photography

I haven't been in the SLR game for to long. For years, since I was 15, have been shooting with film. As a matter of fact. Most of the images here with the exception of the weddings and my kids have all been film. Anyway, one of the main reason why I bought sony was because my film camera is a Minolta. So all the components I had would work with the sony.
But I am very happy with it thus far. It is smooth, lot's of options, good megapixel count. I still have a lot to learn about srl. I don't want to say it's a good beginers srl camera. I'm sure each brand has its own. All I can say is that I very happy with it.

I have an A100 and it is an excellent camera. By most accounts the A200 is an improvement on the A100. There are a few things missing on the A200 vs the A100 but overall it looks like a nice improvement. It should be an excellent camera that will serve you well for a long time.

Regarding the competition I would have to say you probably can't buy a bad DSLR from anyone. One brand might appeal to someone more than another but you can take great pictures with any of them.

Happy shooting.

[pantherburr]

Originally Posted by Inked Photography

I haven't been in the SLR game for to long. For years, since I was 15, have been shooting with film. As a matter of fact. Most of the images here with the exception of the weddings and my kids have all been film. Anyway, one of the main reason why I bought sony was because my film camera is a Minolta. So all the components I had would work with the sony.
But I am very happy with it thus far. It is smooth, lot's of options, good megapixel count. I still have a lot to learn about srl. I don't want to say it's a good beginers srl camera. I'm sure each brand has its own. All I can say is that I very happy with it.

Thanks for that, Inked. I appreciate the feedback. I cut my teeth on film, but the techy in me just HAD to have digital. Now that I'm doing it "semi-pro', I find that being able to see what I've done and can chimp what I don't like. Do you find that there are any issues with the 200 that make it not reverse-compatible with the 100? I understand that the battery isn't the same as the 100. My thought is to have the 700 as my main camera and my 100 as back up for more light situations.

[quote=ront;414048]I hope that you don't mind me putting in my 2 cents worth. I recently made the jump from the A100 to the A700 and what a difference. I am not even sure I would be considered an amateur photographer yet. I will not say much here. I just wanted to post a couple of pictures taken with my A700 and the KN28-75 f2.8 lens in not the best lighting conditions. I still have much to learn and I know these could have been better, but I am so very happy with this set up! Ron

Ron - thanks for sharing. Those are great pictures. The low light situations are what I'm concerned about. I want to make sure that the improvements that were made to the 700 as far as low light and noise is concerned were correct. Have you tried to go wide open and then post process to see how long before the grain shows up? Any one else out there that has had experience, I would certainly appreciate any and all opinions!

fjbyrne - will keep an eye on the stores, but I'm not in a really big metropolis where I am. Also, I've heard rumour that Sony isn't going to be lowering any prices - have you heard the same?

[Inked Photography]

Originally Posted by pantherburr

Thanks for that, Inked. I appreciate the feedback. I cut my teeth on film, but the techy in me just HAD to have digital. Now that I'm doing it "semi-pro', I find that being able to see what I've done and can chimp what I don't like. Do you find that there are any issues with the 200 that make it not reverse-compatible with the 100? I understand that the battery isn't the same as the 100. My thought is to have the 700 as my main camera and my 100 as back up for more light situations.

I have never used the 100. I started with the 200 by recommendation from a friend. She works at the camera store I go and I trust her 100%. Like I said. So far I am completely happy. I know there are some uprgrades between the two. But that the 100 is still a great camera. If I were to have a back-up. I would choose that.

[mickey88]

Originally Posted by fjbyrne

Just a note - it looks like some Best Buy stores are realigning their inventories and switching over to mostly the Sony A300/A350. There are some great deals out there to be had if you catch a store that is closing out the A700. I read some people got a new A700 for $920 or so USD. You may want to check it out before they are all gone.

Good Luck.

if you catch the right store it's even better, I just bought an A700 today for $ 560

a fellow photographer on another message board posted last night that she bought one and the store had one left, I emailed and asked if she'd pick one up and ship it to me, she said she will, so I bought the camera by phone, she's shipping it and I'm giving her a 75-300 lens as a thank you

my local store still wants 900 for the one they have left..

[Inked Photography]

Originally Posted by mickey88

if you catch the right store it's even better, I just bought an A700 today for $ 560

a fellow photographer on another message board posted last night that she bought one and the store had one left, I emailed and asked if she'd pick one up and ship it to me, she said she will, so I bought the camera by phone, she's shipping it and I'm giving her a 75-300 lens as a thank you

my local store still wants 900 for the one they have left..

Awesome! What a dell you got. I am happy for you!!!

[pantherburr]

Originally Posted by mickey88

if you catch the right store it's even better, I just bought an A700 today for $ 560

a fellow photographer on another message board posted last night that she bought one and the store had one left, I emailed and asked if she'd pick one up and ship it to me, she said she will, so I bought the camera by phone, she's shipping it and I'm giving her a 75-300 lens as a thank you

my local store still wants 900 for the one they have left..

You mind me asking - was it a chain store? Are you in the states?

[Alfred D.]

66 €uro cents for 1 greenback is an excellent deal for €uropeans!
US$ 1.54 for 1 €uro doesn't sound quite as hot for Americans...

[00silvergt]

#2? who are they planning to unseat? LOL

[mickey88]

Originally Posted by pantherburr

You mind me asking - was it a chain store? Are you in the states?

it was best buy.


I checked with the local store in PA and they wanted 900 for their display model,

the one I bought was in Nevada, so I gambled and trusted a relative stranger to pick it up at the store and ship it to me.., it's in the hands of UPS and will be delivered..

once I have it and the receipt I'm going to press my local store to price match it, I'd like to have 2 bodies and retire my 7D

[pantherburr]

None of the stores here in my area are willing to let it go for less than $1000-1500. I'm a bit concerned about buying out of the US for warrantee purposes, so I guess I'm just going to have to wait. As we get closer to the 900 release, perhaps the prices will go down in Canada. And I'm not in a hurry...yet.

[mickey88]

Originally Posted by pantherburr

None of the stores here in my area are willing to let it go for less than $1000-1500. I'm a bit concerned about buying out of the US for warrantee purposes, so I guess I'm just going to have to wait. As we get closer to the 900 release, perhaps the prices will go down in Canada. And I'm not in a hurry...yet.

from what I've heard best buy is clearing out the A700 to make room for the A300 And A350,

I'm guessing more serious photographers would rather deal with a camera store than a general electronics store, so the 300 and 350 are better fits for best buy..

[00silvergt]

Sony has always been serious, they have always been a serious player in photography, why else would they have bought out Minolta's SLR technology. Having made the CCDs and CMOS sensors for Nikon and others and being in bed with Carl Zeiss would make Sony formidable indeed. Canon goofed with the 1D3 and 1Ds3, and Sony may have seen this as their "in" to the professional market which has been dominated by the two giants. Competition is always good in a free market environment. Here's hoping that this would make the two seating giants step-up their game a bit and not resting on their laurels as Canon seems to have been in the past 5 years or so. Nikon's already have it's squad set and ready to play with the D300 and the D3...so let's see what the 5D's predecessor will look like and see how this game plays out. Exciting!

[mickey88]

moree info on the A700 clearance at bestbuy,,

for anyone thatwants one, goto your local bestbuy, they should be clearancing them for 800 something, if you don't mind a display model ask then to check other stores to see if anyone has a display for 560, I did that last night after work and found a store 30 minutes away that had one, so I had them put it on hold, went to the store and bought it, so since Tuesday I've bought 2 A700s for $1200