£200 - Can I really get started with this?

I really think that the A200 fits for me. I don't mind losing some money buying and selling 2nd hand lenses and don't really mind the slightly higher cost of lenses. and I feel peace of mind buying a practically new piece of kit (not noticably THAT much higher on most of the ones I'm looking at anyway)... so I think I might go for this deal and if I get on with it, we'll see where it goes basically!

Lots of old minolta lenses available... adaptors for the non AF ones too, which is interesting, I've shot in full manual mode before on my sisters camera and I understand the fundamentals, although I'm slightly concerned about using manual diaphram. Perhaps something to try when I'm a bit more experienced, eh! :p
 
I got one matey, just back in June. So impressed with the shots even from the standard lens. Thats why I'm now looking at a 50mm Prime and something like an 28mm too. Also going for the Sigma APO 70-300 :)
 
Seriously, at the top end Canon or Nikon may be a more sensible choice, but at this end the A200 is TOTALLY worth considering. The bullets listed in Raymonds post were a complete non-issue.

a. Limited choice of lenses and accessories

You have the entire Minolta AF back catologue, about 16 SOny lenses, G series and Carl Zeiss lenses, and all the Sigma/Tamron lenses you have for the Canons and Nikons (may need remounting)

b. more expensive lenses and accessories

Simply false. At this end of the market, as you do not require image stabilisation (its in the body) you can actually save on money, or at the worst break even. If there is an increase its marginal, and if you're not buying 10 lenses, irrelevant. Memory cards, filters, tripods are all universal.

c. harder to sell secondhand if you choose to upgrade

Bit of a contradiction here. There limited in supply, so they'll be harder to sell second hand? Have you tried to buy a "beercan" lens on the bay - they get 20-30 bidders on them, and go for well over their market value as they are a fashionable/popular f4 70- 200mm lens. Even then they're cheaper than Nikon/Canon equivalents.


I own a A200 (so may be biased) but spent £500 over 6 months and now have:
A200
18-70mm Kit lens
75-300mm Minolta telephoto
50mm f1.7 Prime lens
2 x 4GB CF cards
Crumpler camera bag
GorillaPod SLR Zoom
UV filter
Hoya HD CP filter

Genuinely, i see no need to spend more at this end of the spectrum. If you do take it seriously, you can sell up and switch - there are people like the OP who always want to buy a starter DSLR. The Canon/Nikon snobbery needs to die at the entrylevel end of the market (though £200 is tight)
 
Pug said:
Genuinely, i see no need to spend more at this end of the spectrum. If you do take it seriously, you can sell up and switch - there are people like the OP who always want to buy a starter DSLR. The Canon/Nikon snobbery needs to die at the entrylevel end of the market (though £200 is tight)
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See this is where I've got to myself conclusion wise, which is why I'm going ahead with buying a barely used A200 with lens kit for £200. If I don't get on with it, I lose next to nothing. If I do, I can get some nice lenses (like the minolta above) and have a play for a few years. If I get the itch, I sell it off. I make a loss of money, but hell, I've had fun.
 
Lucero said:
Like this one??

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Minolta-AF-28...s_RL?hash=item19b5e2dd09&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14

Those shots are great! MUST OWN! :p
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Yep that's the exact lens!

Hxc said:
See this is where I've got to myself conclusion wise, which is why I'm going ahead with buying a barely used A200 with lens kit for £200. If I don't get on with it, I lose next to nothing. If I do, I can get some nice lenses (like the minolta above) and have a play for a few years. If I get the itch, I sell it off. I make a loss of money, but hell, I've had fun.
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I guarantee you'll LOVE it!
 
I'd really consider Nikon/Canon, but whatever you go for you'll be happy no doubt :)

Someone is selling a D40 kit for £220 on TalkPhotography, and another selling a D40x.
 
I've seen so so many times people slagging off Sony entry level DSLR's for the reasons that lenses are not widely available etc etc etc and thus a Canon or a Nikon would be better.

For one the whole thing is a contradiction.
If the OP is looking for an entry level DSLR for casual stuff - not "ultra ultra serious with photography" as the OP as suggested then what's wrong with the Sony A200? It has more features than any of its competitors and lenses are available fairly cheaply - just look at all the posts on AVF of 2nd hand Minolta lenses....I bagged a Sigma 10/20mm and a Minolta 50mm f1.4 (nifty fifty) 2nd hand at descent prices.

It even comes with a kit lens which is OK for a casual user. Yes its not great but it is a lens which non of the competition include. Plus having Auto Focus and image stabilisation are plus points.

If your not going heavy into photography and are just a casual photographer who only does it as a hobby then Sony DSLR's are more than adequate.

Forget about the Canon/Nikon nonsense if your not thinking of taking up photography seriously. And don't worry about the availability of Lenses for Sony DSLR's as there are always plenty going 2nd hand on AVF at very good prices.

The money you save could go towards a tripod, filters etc etc

If you find that in 6 months you want to upgrade then move on up to the Sony A700 which is brilliant!

I use to have a A200. It was my first DSLR and I loved it. Learnt a lot from it and then moved up to its bigger brother. I managed to sell the A200 for what i paid for it so i lost nothing on it even though I had it for 6 months.

I know over here Sony DSLR's are not favoured but over at AVF they are highly sought.


D40 vs A200: http://www.talkphotography.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=76788EDIT:

SONY A200
10.2 mp
18-70mm lens lit
SuperSteady Shot feature
DOP preview (with dedicated button)
Dust reduction mechanism

NIKON D40
6.1 mp
18-55mm lens kit
no DOP preview
no dust reduction mechanism
lack of focus motor in the D40X body - You need to buy a lens with the focus motor in the lens, so Nikon SWM (I think!!) Sigma HSM, and as far as I know, there's nothing by Tamron.
The D40X only has 3 focus area points, unlike the Sony's 9.


All shot with the kit lens on my A200:

dsc00227f.jpg


dsc00389qh.jpg


dsc01328.jpg


dsc021734567.jpg
 
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But if you catch the bug, you're going to have to sell the whole lot and start again. I think that is the point trying to be made by a few here.

I still use my old 400D, and the two main lenses I've bought for it cost a fair bit more than the body. But they'll be good for the day when my skills finally mean I can take advantage of a better body.
 
Those shots are ace! Really looking forward to all this!

Picking the camera up tommorrow :D
 
The_Abyss said:
But if you catch the bug, you're going to have to sell the whole lot and start again. I think that is the point trying to be made by a few here.

I still use my old 400D, and the two main lenses I've bought for it cost a fair bit more than the body. But they'll be good for the day when my skills finally mean I can take advantage of a better body.
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What exactly do you mean when you say "you'll have to sell the whole lot and start again" if you catch the photography bug. Why is this?
 
ghop said:
What exactly do you mean when you say "you'll have to sell the whole lot and start again" if you catch the photography bug. Why is this?
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The problem is that, at the moment Sony do not have such an extensive range of compatible photography equipment, when compared to the big two, Nikon and Canon. I don't think anyone is saying that Sony cameras are worse, at least I certainly wouldn't suggest that.

If you invest in the big two today, and then decide to get serious with photography and upgrade, you will likely end up switching manufacturers, and hence selling all the Sony kit. Whereas if you say buy into Canon/Nikon today, you can slowly upgrade lenses/bodies as cash permits and keep using the old stuff as a second body/backup.

In my opinion, the critical failure which Sony has to overcome is their lens choice. Sure they might be as good (or better) than Canon/Nikon, but show me the Sony compatible 400mm F2.8, or the 600mm F4. As far as I am aware, they just don't exist at the moment, and until that changes personally I would think very carefully about investing in a such system. Of course if such lenses/top end flash guns do exist, then I take it all back :)
 
These were taken on a D40x:

Married_to_nature_by_MessiahKhan.jpg


My_old_man_by_MessiahKhan.jpg


Defend_against_the_incoming_by_MessiahKhan.jpg


Selenium_sea_by_MessiahKhan.jpg


Be_proud_of_your_heritage_by_MessiahKhan.jpg


Hope you don't mind, MK!

If you want to do portraits, couple on the D40:

3805211306_b51be91391.jpg


3274612755_f2acf298a0.jpg
 
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Bluelion said:
In my opinion, the critical failure which Sony has to overcome is their lens choice. Sure they might be as good (or better) than Canon/Nikon, but show me the Sony compatible 400mm F2.8, or the 600mm F4. As far as I am aware, they just don't exist at the moment, and until that changes personally I would think very carefully about investing in a such system. Of course if such lenses/top end flash guns do exist, then I take it all back :)
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2 mins on a non-specialist site found 2 different 300mm f2.8 lenses. One Sony one sigma. A few mins more I found a 600mm f4 prime minolta AF
 
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.one. said:
After seeing them shots guys no disrespect but the sony does nothing for me but just my op
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What tosh. The shots above are so processed and so far from the original image it's not even funny! Simply nothing you couldn't achieve with the Sony, the right lens and sometime in Photoshop
 
Lucero said:
What tosh. The shots above are so processed and so far from the original image it's not even funny! Simply nothing you couldn't achieve with the Sony, the right lens and sometime in Photoshop
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Pull ya neck back in m8 i was talking about the sony shots do nothing for me.

"After seeing them shots guys" < Sony shots
 
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