Well lenses will be your biggest investment there. Can't comment on other marques - there's enough out there to pass views. Sony, well, A200/300 have 10mp, the 300 has liveview which comes in useful for the macro and landscapes. A350 with 14mp is a killer for landscape, but requires some seriously good glass (think Carl Zeiss 16-80mm) to get the best of the sensor. 2.5fps may be too slow though for action shots, the 3fps of the A200/300 better suited, and the AF speed is good and sharp.
First step Clive, would be to head in Jessops, with temporary deafness (never let the salesman convince you of their "best" deal) and handle all the options, see what feels best in your hands.
Carl, it seems your'e right about the lenses being the bigger part of the investment. Scanning through the prices of lenses it's obvious that almost whatever amount I choose to spend on the camera body, I'll eventually be spending three or four times more on lenses. This suggests I could go higher up the ladder than the A300/A350 and overcome the shortfalls of both.
I could even consider the Nikon D90 and save the hastle of going through all this again when it comes to a camcorder, for when the baby starts walking!
Good stuff anyway guys, thank you for your time and good advice, it's much appreciated.
Mind you Clive, the converse is true for your choice. For example, team the A300/350 with the CZ 16-80mm and you've a set up that starts great, and allows a fine lens to travel up with you on the aps-c ladder. Or you could get an A700, add a medium priced lens and have a body that's good for a few years too.
Not easy, is it?
We don't do video much, but just got a DV camcorder, Panasonic, return stock at Jessops, £89 with 12 months warranty! Can't be bad.
Well it is confusing Carl, I bow to your superior knowledge, but the A700 lacks the Live View and although it boasts 12.2 megapixels and I guess very useful "one touch" features, I thought the Nikon D90 fared well on the spec. for the price.
Anyway, you had a good deal at £89 for the camcorder, but it's another bag for the wife to carry and all those fiddly tapes??
Seriously though, this "what camera" decision is getting harder the more I get into it, not easier as I'd hoped!!
Thanks for your comments anyway, I guess you're Sony through and through, which is no bad thing I suppose. You seem to have good knowledge of lenses, and as most of the money will go on them, I especially appreciate your advice there.
I love this site, logged on this evening for 5 minutes and now it's 02:05 here in Romania, past my bedtime!
Small enough to slip in my camera bags and hardly any weight, Clive.
I've a long history (2 decades) with Minolta, who sold everything to Sony. But I've still a lot to learn.
Liveview is very subjective. Sony's approach is one-touch, but Canon/Nikon liveview is a contortionist act to activate from what I've read. If that's important, you really need to try it out in the shop.
Lens choice is fun, and almost impossible until you've an idea where your photography is going to go. I never do wide - landscapes and architecture - so my lens choice is towards the long end. I've a Tamron 200-500mm for wildlife, Sigma 105mm for insects, and Sigma 70-300mm for insects and tamer wildlife. But them's my needs!
Glad to see you're not rushing in on the decision!
Carl, this is useful stuff indeed, if you're wrong about "the Canon/Nikon liveview is a contortionist act to activate from what I've read" I rely on some kind soul to advise !
I had a Canon 50 compact and as compacts go it was ok, since then I've had the Sony W100 & W200 until we lost it! The W100 has its limitations but it's ok and maybe I'll stay with Sony into DSLR land. All very complicated, how could I rush into this
The lense info is good for me though Carl, with reading I even think I know how the numbers relate...., maybe.... !
Clive, maybe someone can point you to an equivalent guide for canon/nikon. But a quick visit to www.dyxum.com, click on lenses, and there are hundreds of reviews and user reviews for a-mount lenses - all of which will work on all the Sonys out there!
Carl, thanks again, another site added to favourites!
You've been a great help to me. Still not decided though. Actually, I'm learning so much doing the research that I should hold off longer and learn even more!
1) Don't buy a Sony on my say-so. It's my camera, suits my needs, fits my (and my partner's) hands and is the only camera out of many I've handled that I feel completely comfortable with. But you're not me, and whatever camera fits that criteria for you, is gonna be your choice!
2) As you're aware, it is an investment, possibly a lifetime one. Let your passion lead you too. I love wildlife, especially insects, and although committed to the A-mount long before the A300, the way liveview has been implemented, means it is the best one for me. If however, your passion is motor-racing, then Canon or Nikon may be a better choice to some degree.
3) Do not disregard any brand based on third party commentary. Most of us have a manufacturer agenda, myself included, and will generally have experience of one brand. See point 1!
My own decision to move to the A-mount of Minolta, then Sony, digitally, came from Anti-shake, or Super Steady Shot as it's known by Sony. No other camera at that time had it, only lens based shake control existed. I didn't want to limit my lens choice, had a history with Minolta, and the ability to use every lens with some form of stabilisation is extremely liberating. I couldn't get as many keepers with my Tamron 200-500mm without it!
Points well made Carl and well understood, thanks for the honesty. It will be an investment (and a big one) I've got too many interests really, but I like to live lifeto the full.
At 55 folks just look at me stupid, my biggest passion is downhill mountain biking, something you're more likely to see 18 - 25 year olds doing. I don't care about that, but the bikes run to 2,000-3,000 euro a piece and I have 4 now including the cross country bike.
Still, photography was an early passion of mine and has, for convenience, run all the way through my life in compact form, now I feel is the time for some real equipment to try to capture some of the scenery here in Romania and some of the old villages and buildings before the place gets too developed. Some sport as well when organised events give me the chance to spectate.
Problem is I love 4x4 as well, on the mountains and forest roads here. The old '95 lancruiser 80 series has just had a bit of a make-over which has soaked up some cash.
Now we have a new baby daughter, another cash sponge! It's all go, but just how I like it!!
Life's good and it would only get better with some useable photo kit.....
Really, thanks for your advice, it's all been good for me. PS I just love this website!
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