Sony Alpha DSLR-A300

Sony Alpha DSLR-A300K Digital SLR Camera

Alpha DSLR-A300 Review, by Kathleen Cullen, PC World June 17, 2008

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• Reviewed by: xdr4gon

  Strengths: Very user friendlyDecent amount of advanced user functionsGreat as a first cameraBuilt in image stabilization into the body

  Weaknesses: Kit lens not so greatNoise at higher ISOs, but works well for smaller prints/pictures.

  Overall: This was my first dSLR and I love it. It has all the features I wanted. It's everything you expect out of a dSLR. It's built off of the a200 but it's got the addition of live view and a tiltable screen. The liveview comes in handy sometimes, but I find myself using the viewfinder the most. The screen is nice and big and shows pictures nicely. You won't find liveview on many other cameras (nikon and only the newer canons). I've taken a bunch of pictures with this and am very proud of the camera. The built in SSS stabilizer saves a ton of money on lenses, let's see canikon do that!Just a great camera overall.Oh yeah, and don't bother with the a350, there's no improvements and a larger 14.2 MP sensor will not help. It's the same image processor and has the same amount of noise (if not more at the higher res). Get the a700 for that price range.

• Reviewed by: davelin

  Strengths: Unbeatable value for your money; Live View w/ no AF lag; 700+ shot battery; built-in image stabilization; fast 9-point auto focus

  Weaknesses: Included kit lenses are above average performers, but not as good as some competitor kit lenses; shutter click is noticeable in quiet settings; accessories can be expensive; no SDHC support

  Overall: This is a great camera value. While Sony is traditionally associated with design, technology and performance (not value), the consumer electronics conglomerate is making a hard push into the digital SLR market. As a result, their pricing these cameras below competitors, while adding premium features to swing the undecided. If you can get over not having a Canon or Nikon branded camera, you'll find yourself with a very capable camera deeply rooted in the rich photographic legacy of Konica-Minolta. **Caveat: This is my first digital SLR and I've only owned the camera for about a month, but I wanted to provide readers some insight into the thought process and early reflections of a person like me: a novice dSLR-user, who relied on online and magazine research. More details: Unbeatable value for your money (closest comparables Nikon D60 and Canon XSi) are hundreds more, except Olympus E510 Live View allows for point-and-shoot convenience with only slight AF lag, due to unique Sony live view technology 700+ shot battery w/ capacity gauge is an industry best Second-generation image stabilization is built-in to camera and produces great results with any lens 9-point autofocus is really fast and very accurate Large 2.7" LCD is bright, but not as clear as on other cameras Great accessory support, including battery grip, memory stick adapter for CompactFlash, wide assortment of Sony and legacy Minolta lenses.

• Reviewed by: heatsink

  Strengths: Price; 10.2MP; Live View; 18-70mm Kit Lens; Tiltable LCD; In-camera image stabilization.

  Weaknesses: CF, button place and function; LCD view angle

  Overall: Strengths:Best Price: Compare to Canon EOS 450D (Digtial Rebal XSi), Nikon D60 and Pentax K200D.Longest kit lens: 18-70mm while other brands only offer 18-55mm.Unique and fastest Live View: Operation just like a traditional DC. Other Brands? live view function uses the main imaging sensor and requires flipping the reflex mirror to AF. Sony adds a small sensor in the viewfinder to generate live view and AF with the reflex mirror down. Tiltable LCD: The LCD can tilt up (135 degree) or down (45 degree). This is very useful for a child-level or overhead shot.In-camera image stabilization: No need to buy expensive IS or VR lenses. With in-camera image stabilization, every lens is IS/VR.CF storage: If you care the Read/Write speed, you can choose CF cards supporting UDMA, much faster than SD.Weaknesses:CF storage: SD is very cheap now days and has smaller size. Button place and function: The place of the 8-way arrow keys is too close to my palm. Very easy to mis-press it and change the focus point. The digital teleconverter key only works in Live View mode. It should have some other functions in shooting/replay modes. Right now it just shows an ugly white screen says ?Invalid operation?.Orientation Sensor: It rotates the info screen automatically. However, for picture taken in portrait position, it doesn?t rotate. LCD view angle: Limited. Only about +/- 45 degrees up and down. Overall:A nice and affordable entry-level DSLR with plenty of functions.

• Reviewed by: spark770228

  Strengths: dedicated "no-flash" mode on the dial, liveview with tilting LCD (just like using a small digital camera except larger), easy to use functions,

  Weaknesses: expensive sony lenses, lcd is a bit exposed to scratches and damage

  Overall: I have had the Sony A300K for 2 weeks. This is my first DSLR. I wanted a camera to take pictures of my 1 year old son. Wanted the Sony 50F14 lens but $350 is too much! Got a Minolta 50mm f/1.7 lens at ebay for $100 and very happy with it. Takes such wonderful portrait pictures I was in love with my camera from day one! One of the things I really love about the camera is that on the different mode dial, there is a "no-flash" mode which is so useful because on other cameras everytime you turn on the camera you have to set the flash to "off" in indoors. It just makes it much more convenient and feel secured that the flash wont go off. Although new lenses are expensive, for people like me, used minolta AF(auto focus) lenses cost much less and works great. Very happy with my purchase.

• Reviewed by: PeteEGMiller

  Strengths: View finder is great, matched w 70-300 mm lens is great for far away portratits

  Weaknesses: None yet I need to figure how to get less red eye on flash pictures. The noise is a little loud when shooting. Could be problem if phot animals in wild.

  Overall: Extremely happy with this purchase. First new camera for me since Canon AE1. I love the view finder to see pictures immediately. Dont like it, delete it. The ability to adjust to individual eye vision is great. Ability to change picture after taken is too cool!