Any Sony A300 users here?

tasman · 15-12-2008, 7:38 PM

Went to Jessops to purchase the A200 (well if they price matched with Amazon, which they don't) and as it turns out they are out of stock until after Xmas. No probs I can always buy from Amazon.

Anyway while I was there I had a play with the A300 which has the Liveview system. It is only £50 more so now I amt hinking about that model. The viewfinder does seem quite a bit smaller so I was after some opinions of anyone who has one about how they have got one with the camera. The only other camera I am looking at is the Nikon D60.

Cheers

ajex · 15-12-2008, 8:13 PM

With fantastic live view and Built in Image Stabilisation on the body I went for A300 over D60/Canon 1000/pentax 200d and have not regretted it...

The kit lens on Sony is 18-70 vis a vis 18-54 for others..

of course Nikon lenses are more widely available but the IS is on the lens

cheers

ajex

bsuttie · 16-12-2008, 3:26 PM

Yes another A300 lover here. I find the combination of liveview plus the tilting screen great for composing high up / low down shots. Have heard a few negative comments about the size of the optical viewfinder but it hasn't bothered me.

regards

Brian

SPRINGERS · 16-12-2008, 5:08 PM

My son was using the A100, I bought an A300 body for £219 from Fleabay. I now have the A100 and am buying some lenses for it, he loves the A300 and after comparing it with the A100 he decided to swap with me. I think the auto flash pop up and live view swayed his decision, although he did say the A100 was better built.....

Pirate!! · 16-12-2008, 8:06 PM

Ahoy!

Does the A300 have DoF preview? A100 does. I wouldn't get hung up over either of them. The A200/300/350 are not major upgrades to the A100, so A100 would be perfectly fine. OK, not great in low-light, so buy a Minolta 50mm f/1.7. Job done.

As for auto pop-up flash. Put the flash down and get an external F42 Sony version from here. Type in: FPANDP for free courier postage. After £30.00 Sony cashback, £97.22 (nett). It will transform your photography, and it's simplicity itself to use (really).

Ask Santa nicely, the investment will be well worth it.

Neiliboy · 16-12-2008, 9:40 PM

ooooh...mine should arrive tomorrow and i'm very excited!!!

Can anyone recommend any other types of lens in addition to the 18-70 that you 'must own' if you know what i mean....I'd like this info quite soon as i'm off to Goa on thursday so i might buy myself a lens at the airport or when we stop over in the middle east :-)

Pirate!! · 16-12-2008, 9:45 PM

Ahoy!

Go to Dyxum.com, lenses section. Type in your parameters. Make a short list. Search EvilBay/Amazon/Dyxum for sale section and AVF classifieds.

If you give a budget, focal range and/or intended use, it would help to give more qualified advice.

Neiliboy · 16-12-2008, 9:53 PM

well i'm complete newbie so for me i just want pin sharp clarity.....th emain use will be of my kids but when i'm on holiday and stuff i will of course be taking shots of all sorts really....

I dont really have a budget either but obviously i want to keep costs as low as possible I saw a Tamron 55-200mm f4.0-5.6 Di II LD Macro for £60 odd mentioned on another thread - would this support my (somewhat vague!) needs?

ps what does 'f4.0.-5.6' mean?

Pirate!! · 16-12-2008, 10:02 PM

As said in a Monty Python sketch . . . 'Say no more'. Bang for buck, a very well rated lens.

F4 will be the widest aperture available at 55mm. F/5.6 will be at 200mm (narrowest aperture) on the lens unless you adjust the camera for greater depth of field (DoF), say F/8.

Basically, at 55mm at f/4, you will have a narrower DoF (more light, faster shutter speed). As you close it down, say f/5.6 or above, a slower shutter speed, but a greater DoF (more in focus). F8 is a mean average. A tripod helps, but if shooting hand-held, f/5.6 works fine. You can compensate by adjusting the exposure value (EV), say by -0.3 to increase shutter speed slightly, though it depends on the available light and the widest aperture of the lens fitted at the time. Many look for the Minolta 50mm f/1.7 prime lens. It's a classic, so you can get a fast shutter speed in low-light conditions, though at f/1.7 the DoF will be VERY narrow (not much in focus).

The lower the f number, the less in focus, but higher shutter speed. The higher the f number (5.6 and above for example), more in focus, but slower shutter speed.

It's a compromise. Another way to adjust is to increase the ISO (sensor sensitivity), but the Sony is probably best at ISO 400 or below. There are many variations, but foremost (IMHO) is to have a good lens with as bigger aperture as possible . . . and again, this will depend on your shooting requirements.

Neiliboy · 16-12-2008, 10:03 PM

ps what does 'f4.0.-5.6' mean?

springtide · 16-12-2008, 10:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Neiliboy

ps what does 'f4.0.-5.6' mean?

Save my poor fingers typing, it's the aperture range of the lens.....

Aperture - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Neiliboy · 16-12-2008, 10:23 PM

cool thanks :-)

p1tse · 20-12-2008, 1:36 AM

just to carry on the question above, and the reply above:
'f4.0.-5.6' is range of aperature on lens, so when adjusting the f numbers on the camera is this DoF?

jomike · 20-12-2008, 7:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by p1tse

just to carry on the question above, and the reply above:
'f4.0.-5.6' is range of aperature on lens, so when adjusting the f numbers on the camera is this DoF?

Adjusting the Aperture (f numbers) affects the Depth of Field (DoF). See here for a detailed explanation.

p1tse · 20-12-2008, 10:26 PM

picked up mine today with sony 18-200

had initial problems with the flash, hope it's sorted now, as with Auto mode and the pop up light pops up, the light didn't flash. but hope it's ok now.

secondly, i've got a dead pixel on the lcd screen, not sure if this would warrant an exchange? small blue dot, guessing it won't affect pictures, but can see it more when on grey menu

edit:
on Auto, and with a bright room, the flash seems to come on. maybe i will check tomorrow during the day

ajex · 21-12-2008, 7:33 PM

Hi Pirate,

Thanks for the link to flash..

I am really in a dilemna whether to go in for flash...

I usually do portrait,family gatherings,nature and sight seeing ...

I dont go out to shoot at night this weather

of course thats for the time being...

so can you ellaborate what do you mean by it will transform photography...

cheers

Thanks once again in advance

Ajex

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pirate!!

Ahoy!

As for auto pop-up flash. Put the flash down and get an external F42 Sony version from here. Type in: FPANDP for free courier postage. After £30.00 Sony cashback, £97.22 (nett). It will transform your photography, and it's simplicity itself to use (really).

Ask Santa nicely, the investment will be well worth it.

Pirate!! · 21-12-2008, 10:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ajex

Hi Pirate,

Thanks for the link to flash..

I am really in a dilemna whether to go in for flash...

I usually do portrait, family gatherings,nature and sight seeing ...

I dont go out to shoot at night this weather

of course thats for the time being...

so can you ellaborate what do you mean by it will transform photography...

cheers

Thanks once again in advance

Ajex

Ahoy Ajex!

Apologies for the belated reply . . Klingons on the starboard bow, and a mottley crew getting unweildly . . get back you dog!

The long and the short of it is this:

The on-board flash will fire right onto your subject. Worst case is (IMO) eyes . . . causes red-eye, harsh shadows, and depending on lens used, BIG lens shadows too . . . YUK!

The thing about external flash (the F42 is a good example) is that you can have it on-board or wireless. The options are then open to you. Bounce the flash off the ceiling, fire it wirelessly from an angle, with or without diffuser (sto-fen or other), so your creative ability becomes that much more. YOU create the lighting and direction . . . unlike on-board which is IN YOUR FACE all the time.

The results can be priceless. The investment is well worth it. I'm sure others will verify this.