HELP! I can't decide what to do

[rossouk]

Hi there all,

I have a Sony A100 from back in 2007. I've also amassed about 8 or 9 lenses including a Beercan. Now I hardly use any of them besides my Sigma 17-70mm.

So I was thinking about getting rid of this lot and buying a Sony A230 and a high end Carl Zeiss 16-80mm.

I'm slightly above a novice and no where near a pro thus I think the above camera would be fitting for me? Thesedays I only take a few outdoor shots here and there around the Yorkshire countryside.

What say ye?

[DonSchap]

A550 ... if you are going to upgrade, get something fun to do it with. I think you will find the A550 will offer you aspects of photography that are simply hard to ignore, these days.





My advice: Forget the A230 ... it's just more of the same compared to the A100. You are beyond introductory ... and the A100 was NOT an introductory camera ... it was more of a prototype for the A700!

A550 (<- click here) ... and have some fun. :thumbsup: Decision made!

[OldClicker]

Tough choice. As Don eluded to, the A100 was Sony's first and very much resembled the Minolta DSLR that it was based on. It is shaped like and has the features that those use to a DSLR (or film SLR) would expect. The A230 (and A330/380) is very much aimed at the point&shoot user and has that shape and feature set. The A550 (or A500) retains the traditional shape, but is still aimed at the P&S shooter with some excellent features. The now discontinued A700 is more in line with an A100 upgrade and currently can be found for about the same price as the A550. All of them will give you excellent images. For the body, you have to decide what your A100 doesn't do and find one that does. The Zeiss glass is, of course, excellent. I would suggest getting the new lens and keeping the A100 until you really find something that it cannot do. - TF

btw - I love my beercan and will probably always find a way to keep it no matter what other lenses I own.

[DonSchap]

'Clicker', my 'old' friend ... please understand that the A700 has not been discontinued in the USA. It is selling just fine ... and can be found on the SONY Style page, just like any of the other DSLR cameras. When they discontinue it, it will be removed.

I suggest you do the membership as disservice by stating this. While it is true, it has been removed from other markets, but is alive and well, here in the good ol' USA. Some things did not change and this fine example of Minolta's magic lives on.

If you feel this is without merit, please consult the follow "official SONY thread" (<-clicker on this) concerning this issue. Thanks.

[OldClicker]

'Clicker', my 'old' friend ... please understand that the A700 has not been discontinued in the USA. It is selling just fine ... and can be found on the SONY Style page, just like any of the other DSLR cameras. When they discontinue it, it will be removed.

I suggest you do the membership as disservice by stating this. While it is true, it has been removed from other markets, but is alive and well, here in the good ol' USA. Some things did not change and this fine example of Minolta's magic lives on.

If you feel this is without merit, please consult the follow "official SONY thread" (<-clicker on this) concerning this issue. Thanks.

Still available, but translations of SonyStyle-Japan I have seen said "production discontinued" when it was still on their site. Ask the marketers on the Sony site forum whether they are still being made. - TF

EDIT: I just read the whole thread that you linked and see that they do talk about the A700 further down. The question was, "Is it correct that the production has been discontinued on the a700. Seems to be what Sony's Japanese website is saying?"

The answer:

"...There may be a discontinuation announcement of the a700 in other locations (such as Japan) but in the US, the a700 continues to be a current product and is currently offered at Sony Style (& continues to be a popular product)...."

Marketing dance. I'll stick with 'retired'.

TF

[DonSchap]

Fair enough!

- with Canon's EOS 7D announcement @ $1699, SONY better dig in its heels and get that A7xx finished and out the door, by Christmas, or it may be nothing more than too little, too late.

Still, despite the manufacturing schedule, the A700 is a terrific DSLR. :thumbsup:

[rossouk]

Hiya fellas, many thanks for the replies.

I now see my mistake. I thought initially that the A230 was an upgrade to the A100 since er it was newer and a higher model number? Do pardon me.

I had a play about with the A230 the other day, it was compact but nice so I thought I'd get me a super duper killer lens (que the Carl Zeiss) and use the A230 to float about the area and take "better than P&S shots".

I imagine I'd be better off with the A500, A550 or the A700. In fact I'm now veering towards the A700 as I type this. My only reservation is that if I purchase it this month and next month Sony announce a A750 I'll be gutted! :idea:

[OldClicker]

An A750 announcement will in no way make the A700 any less than it is - a great camera. - TF

[DonSchap]

Here, here ... the A700 is by no means a mistake in choice. It still is the top of the SONY line APS-C sensor DSLR. It does everything one could reasonably expect when taking photographs ... and is reliable as heck. That's hard to argue against.

Good luck with your new and reasonably priced A700. :thumbsup: