So, the wife wants a DSLR mainly because she enjoys taking pictures and also wants one for our delayed honeymoon trip to Japan coming up in December. Anyhow, long story short, I have a rewards credit card that accumulates Sony points which I can redeem towards any product off of the Sony website.

And so, this is really not a question on what make (i.e. Nikon, Canon, Olympus, etc.) to get as to more on what model since I have enough points to pretty much get a $900 camera mostly for free.

So, here's my question to the pundits and experts! Should I get the A500 (http://www.sonystyle.ca/commerce/ser...n100549n100591) or pay a little bit more on top of the points and get the A550 (http://www.sonystyle.ca/commerce/ser...n100549n100591)...?

Opinions much appreciated! Thanks!

 

Damn I missed your wedding? Congrats dude, belated of course!

 

Thanks, bud! There's a thread in D&R where I proclaim my doom and share a couple of pics...

 

I would stay away from Sony, the main reason, because they are just getting into the dSLR market after buying Minolta. The are just too many MORE choices with Canon and Nikon, with used and aftermarket items.


With that said, between your choice, it would have to be the 550.

 

Thanks, J...I know the dSLR market is dominated by Canon and Nikon. However, this is about a virtually free camera (or where I pay $150 at most if I get the A550)...

Is Sony that bad...?

 

Sony isn't bad, it's just there is SO MUCH MORE with Canon and Nikon.

 

Pay for a Canon or Nikon and then get a nearly free LCD from Sony.

 

I was thinking same thing, I just see hands being too tied with Sony at this time.

 

Thanks for the input guys...Also, keep in mind neither Tina or I have much photography experience.

Hmm...two votes against for Sony even at nearly free...

 

BUT, if he's just looking for high quality pics with a walk-around lens, and doesn't care about huge lens line-ups, battery grips, etc. The Sony is a perfectly decent camera.

Add a vote for the 550 if you go that route. And congrats!

 

Yummy, do you have a choice for a smaller camera, maybe what's called a super zoom? I can't see using this camera on a trip to Japan, with say maybe it's kit lens. You'll want/need something longer than 18-55mm. And something bigger would be about $600-700. Just a thought.

I'm thinking about their H series p&s http://www.sonystyle.ca/commerce/ser...h=32090n100454

 

Wait...aren't all dSLR's super big? And actually, I was thinking of just surviving with the lens that the camera comes stock with. Is that bad...?

And certainly, the reason why I never did get into photographer was indeed my gripe about the darn size of dSLRs in general...However, Tina has no qualms of buying a backpack to carry around the battleship and so, it's really more her toy than anything...

 

Try posting here or over at POTN? Maybe someone would be willing to do a trade of a Canon/Nikon for perhaps a Sony HD camcorder or something, assuming the trader wouldn't mind a wait in transit?

It would kind of be made to order... or ordered to order.. something like that.

 

No, it's not bad, but it's not very versatile. The zoom range is limited - you can get pretty wide angles, but can't zoom in very close. For walking around cities that's not bad, but you wouldn't be able to zoom in on, say, a cool bird, or an architectural detail on the second story of a building. If you find yourself zooming in a lot with your point & shoot, you might be disappointed.

My suggestion would be to go pick one up in a Best Buy or something with the kit lens mounted and look through the viewfinder while you zoom all the way in and out to see what your range will be before you "buy" one.

The super-zoom that Jup mentioned is a really good idea.

 

Since you are relatively new to photography, definitely go with Canon or Nikon. Much more choices, as mentioned; but, because you are new, you are more likely to get some help (when needed) from the group here (clearly dominated by Nikon and Canon).

 

SONY

, kinda. I like the superzoom idea. It's like a camera with a robot lens.

 

FINALLY...someone who can speak Yumchah...




Get the Sony if it's free (or have to pay a small amount for one) but I agree with others that if Tina wants to expand on it at all later on, she should go the Canon or Nikon route.

 

Only the cool people can have robot camera's

 

 

 

DSLRs are different sizes, and no, not necessarily super big. They are super big in the sense that these days, anything that doesn't fit in your front jeans pocket is considered 'bulky'. And you can easily, once you get into it, start carrying around a bag full of accessories.

My two cents: Sony makes pretty decent cameras, and so far the people I know who have had them are happy with them. Considering your low price of entry, there's little harm in getting it, and then if you decide canon/nikon is your gig, then you can go to one of those. It might even help make you decide which system, Nikon or Canon suits you better later, should you go in that direction. Even if you buy a cheap lens initially, it's not, in the long run, going to cost you much more than if you got a cheap canon/nikon and upgraded later.

You aren't really locked into a system until you start buying $$$ worth of accessories that you would need to rebuy.

18-55, with the 1.5x focal point multiplier, works out to 24-82mm, or in point and shoot terms, .7x to 2.3x zoom.
Zoom is a little small, but it's decent. 24mm is quite nice, and you can always crop for zoom. 1x-3x zooms were the standard for a long long time.

I have always plugged the joys of a superzoom. Zoom is just fun. But I could never go back to one. I stare through the viewfinder a lot, watching and waiting. I'd go through batteries like crazy on a P&S. But that's my style.

- Frank

 

Thanks for the feedback, Frank!

So, A550...?

 

I know you don't buy items knowing/thinking you're going to sell them. But that has to be a factor in it. When you buy Canon or Nikon, you're buying Toyota or Honda, it's going to resale at a pretty good speed at a pretty good price. When you're buying Sony, you're buying Chevy, it's a pretty good item, but you're not going to get much when/if you try and it's going to take longer.

It's happen with 3rd party lenses I've bought.

 

^ Why are you still awake!!

 

Unless you are going heavily into photography, I don't think there's anything wrong with using one of the alternative brands. Realistically, even an advanced amateur isn't going to top out on the Sony line. They inherited all of Minolta's lenses and added a few more.

Their lenses tend to be expensive but good quality. The 3rd party lens makers support Sony mount in addition to Nikon and Canon so you're not missing out there either.

Don't let theoretical advantages mislead you. Sure you could rent high-end Canon lenses from places all around the world, but would you?

 

I'm not sure how much you need to pay for the A550 over the A500, but the advantages of the A550 are:

2 more MP (not that you need more than 12)
4x higher resolution on the LCD (this is nice)
2 more frames/second (this is more nice)
twice the buffer space ( for burst, that means 2 seconds of RAW burst vs 1 second. 1 is a little lacking, imho)
Camera is 2 grams heavier (so it hurts more when you smack someone for saying you didn't buy canon/nikon)

7 FPS starts pushing you into 'one burst HDR' area, so I'd recommend the A550.

Oh, and while I'm making another post, I'd say that 'real' photographic questions are brand generic.

Jupitersolo: Your point is valid, but it's a bit different considering how cheap he's getting the camera. Full price sony would be a different story altogether. (Unless, of course, there is a different sony thing you could better spend your points on)

- Frank

 

Terrific...thanks, Frank! @ smackability of camera factor...

The extra difference is about $150ish...I mean, I could use the $$$ for something else but at the moment, we need a camera since we really don't have one other than a crummy point-and-shoot or the 3.2 megapixel one off of my smartphone...

 

going back to the mother land huh?

where in japan are you going to?

for me when i went 1 year ago, i pretty much had on my 17-55mm (the 'zoom' is pretty much the same as the kit lens on the sony you're thinking of)

there were times that i needed more 'zoom' (i did have an extra lens for it thou), but i think you should be ok.

 

Tokyo, Miz.

 

Keep that around for emergency video clips.....

- Frank

 

Yes, I'm quoting myself. I'm going to reiterate this suggestion. It's good to know what you're getting. If you handle it, and find that you love it, even better. You can feel secure and happy when you cash in your points.

 

So, go try out the A500 or A550 first before spending all my points for it...? Yeah, good idea.

 

I'm not sure if you're going to find them in the stores yet.

 

Yumchah, do you want/need video? Some SLR's do video now. The 550 doesn't.

 

Not sure...I don't imagine I'll need to. Is it useful to film vids...?

 

The idea of shooting video at higher ISOs is appealing, if you shoot in a dark room or something. (happened recently at KTV). And/or if you want higher resolution than your pocket cam allows.

How much $ you want to drop for such a feature is the real question.

- Frank

 

Thanks, Frank...Yeah, again not sure if that feature trumps a free camera.


But, I have until November...so, please do keep the insight/recommendations coming, everyone. Thanks!

 

FWIW, I've been totally happy with my a350