Picked up one of these cameras in a store today, and all I have to say is..
What... a piece.. of CRAP.
It is, hands down, the most pathetically cheap feeling camera I've ever had the misfortune of putting my hands on. I thought the XT was cheap feeling. No..
The Sony makes the XT look like a Tank.
The pop-up flash is something you flip up yourself, and is made of plastic that would make fisher-price laugh.
The grip is tiny, hard, and feels hollow.
The buttons feel like they'll fall out of the sockets they're in if you look at them wrong.. and the kit lens.. oh my.. the kit lens.. Who took a 12 oz soft drink bottle and painted it black? Ouch.
About the only redeeming feature is the size of the LCD.. but it's surrounded by barbie accessory plastic, so whoopie doo.
Oh Sony.. you've destroyed the DSLR. I hope that it's an anomoly and not a new benchmark for entry level cameras.. because at $1100 canadian, it's a rip-off, pure and simple.
i gotta say i agree with Artyste, the camera feels very cheap. But that wasn't all. i really didn't like the way the screen on the back never goes out, and all the switches for fucus adn exposure are set in a really uncomfortable way. I was just really unimpressed from the getgo.
sounds consistant with most products Sony is producing these days. that's coming from a former very loyal Sony customer, by the way. they've lost their way.
Picked up one of these cameras in a store today, and all I have to say is..
What... a piece.. of CRAP.
Well, everyone is entitled to their point of view and I guess the fact that you are a member of Club MALicious would give us all a hint as to your obvious ability to sit on the fence and not truly declare what you feel.
Having picked up all of the major camera brands and played with all of the leading camera types in the last few weeks I have to say I could find fault with all of them. Nothing in this world is perfect and everything is manufactured to a price point and for some strategic market intent.
So, for me, the Alpha is fine and does exactly what it sets out to do - no more and no less. I personally find it more comfortable than the Pentax *ist DS and less comfortable than a Nikon D200. It is heavier than my Panasonic FZ-20 but the picture detail is significantly better. And so on.
And here is the deal: for the price it is more than an OK camera.
So thank you for sharing such an erudite and expressive opinion of the camera - which you are more than entitled to - and, in the spirit of your statements let me make mine in the same vein:
The Sony Alpha 100 is a better than OK camera for its price.
I guess the camera has one main purpose:
To take pictures
How are the pictures with respect to the price paid for that camera is very important, when deciding whether the camera is crap or not.
There are many things which could feel far better in hands than A100
(for example: (.)(.) hehe), but could they take pictures. So just based on feel saying that camera is crap, is useless at the most.
and if one feels that there is another camera that could take pictures and feel better, he/she can always buy it. Because i do not think SONY made camera for any one person. So some will be disappoined, some would be happy.
Thanks for sharing your views. I guess I feel a bit stupid since I bought one of these, but I don't know about how it feels as to other cameras. I have held an Olympus E-Volt, and a Nikon D-50, and maybe my fingers are not sensitive enough, but I guess they all seemed about the same. I like the weight of the Sony. So, I guess my first slr has taken me away from the elite of dp, because it is now considered a mistake to buy it. Sorry that I still can't become part of a group of slr owners, because my camera is a "fisher-price" model.
Thanks for sharing your views. I guess I feel a bit stupid since I bought one of these, but I don't know about how it feels as to other cameras. I have held an Olympus E-Volt, and a Nikon D-50, and maybe my fingers are not sensitive enough, but I guess they all seemed about the same. I like the weight of the Sony. So, I guess my first slr has taken me away from the elite of dp, because it is now considered a mistake to buy it. Sorry that I still can't become part of a group of slr owners, because my camera is a "fisher-price" model.
I believe you have made a great choice for a first dSLR, and there are no doubt many others on here that would agree. The bottom line is all about pictures and the vision of the photographer in the composition and capturing: the camera helps and the Sony will help you a lot.
Thanks for sharing your views. I guess I feel a bit stupid since I bought one of these, but I don't know about how it feels as to other cameras. I have held an Olympus E-Volt, and a Nikon D-50, and maybe my fingers are not sensitive enough, but I guess they all seemed about the same. I like the weight of the Sony.
A lot of it comes down to personal preference. Artyste's assessment of the camera and yours can both be valid, even though they in stark contrast to each other. If you are happy with your equipment, then it is a suitable choice for you.
Besides my Dynax 5D, I also have a couple of Dynax 5 (film) SLRs, that I've quite enjoyed using - their size, weight (or lack thereof) and control layout appealed to me. One of my friends was thinking of buying one of the 5s from me (I really don't need three SLRs) as a lighter alternative to his heavier Dynax 700 (I think, could be wrong) - but after borrowing my 5 for a day or two, came to the conclusion that it was too small and awkward and plasticy for his tastes. His dislike of it doesn't invalidate my enjoyment of it, or vice versa.
There is no single "right" camera, just the camera that is right for you.
Thanks for sharing your views. I guess I feel a bit stupid since I bought one of these, but I don't know about how it feels as to other cameras. I have held an Olympus E-Volt, and a Nikon D-50, and maybe my fingers are not sensitive enough, but I guess they all seemed about the same. I like the weight of the Sony. So, I guess my first slr has taken me away from the elite of dp, because it is now considered a mistake to buy it. Sorry that I still can't become part of a group of slr owners, because my camera is a "fisher-price" model.
That's just according to ONE member of DPC so far :-) I wouldn't worry overmuch about it; it's taking sweet pics isn't it?
Thanks for sharing your views. I guess I feel a bit stupid since I bought one of these, but I don't know about how it feels as to other cameras. I have held an Olympus E-Volt, and a Nikon D-50, and maybe my fingers are not sensitive enough, but I guess they all seemed about the same. I like the weight of the Sony. So, I guess my first slr has taken me away from the elite of dp, because it is now considered a mistake to buy it. Sorry that I still can't become part of a group of slr owners, because my camera is a "fisher-price" model.
Bah, opinions are like assholes, everyone has got one. I frankly agree with Artyste about the quality but that doesn´t mean you have to agree with us, don´t let something you read on the internet spoil your experience and enjoy your brand new DSLR, and before I forget, congratulations :)
I wouldn't care what it looks like or what it feels like. All these people say the 300D sucks cos it's silver. Well, I take good pictures with it so who gives a flying... erm... fudge?
I wouldn't care what it looks like or what it feels like. All these people say the 300D sucks cos it's silver. Well, I take good pictures with it so who gives a flying... erm... fudge?
edit: The Pentax *ist DS has a silly name :P
Ha ha ha, no - your 'Plastic Fantastic' makes the Sony look like the Titanic.
And yes, my God what was Pentax thinking with the absurd names?!?
