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$499.99
0.0% pricedrop
Avg. Price: $499.99
45 customer reviews
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- 10.2-megapixel effective recording * 18-70mm f/3.5-5.6 lens (35mm equivalent focal length: 27-105mm) * compatible with Sony Alpha and Minolta A-type bayonet mount autofocus lenses * Super SteadyShot® image stabilization * anti-dust technology to keep image sensor clean *
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- First hands on...very nice entry level DSLR!
- I've been able to handle one of these off and on for several weeks now, and I'm very pleased with the handling and features for such a value price.
Compared to the older Alpha 100, this camera is a bit smaller, but not so much that a person would find it "too small" for their hands. It uses the same, full sized battery as the other current Alphas, including the now top-of-the-line Alpha 700. Additionally, it can be made bigger by adding the vertical grip (although this might make it a bit too large for some).
Typical of the Alpha series, the LCD is very good quality, and, when set to the larger type size, easily readable by older eyes.
Autofocus speed has definately been improved over the A100, and all performance levels seem to be at least as good, most improved to various degrees (but you'll notice the AF most).
Features that are lacking are a wireless remote option; depth-of-field preview; and a quick AF/MF (autofocus/manual focus) button or setting. Then again, there aren't any other cameras this inexpensive with a 9-point AF system, built-in anti-shake, and 10 megapixels! You should value the anti-shake as at least $100 bucks for every lens you plan on purchasing!
A decision to make might not be which camera brand to buy, but which model. The Alpha 300 will have the same features as the 200, but will add the articulated LCD with Live View, for an extra $100. Personally, my experience with this feature on the Alpha 350 says, to me, it is worth $100. You get the same 2.7" LCD, but now it articulates. The Live View works great (no autofocusing lag like other brands), and allows a live, digital crop of 1.4x or 2x. [The Live View feature does have one drawback the way Sony uses it. It only shows 90% of the entire image].
All-in-all, this is a fine camera at a GREAT price!
Here's some accessories you might find useful:
Sony PCK-LH2AM LCD Protector Cover Type for Sony A200 DSLR
Sony VG-B30AM Vertical Grip for Sony Alpha A200 DSLR
- I got this camera for my birthday and I absolutly love it. I found it very easy to use and the pictures come out wonderful. I use the larger lens the most, because of birds, deer, wildlife. It's a great camera for beginners also. I really love it and would highly reccommend it. amazon had the best price.
- I simply cannot BELIEVE this kit is priced so cheap!
- Prequel: I am coming from a strict Nikon background and due to having my $4000 kit(D80, 3 VR, 3 2.8 pro lenses, etc) stolen out of my car, am starting all over again.
That being said, I don't have $4000 to plop down at once, so I decided to get an "entry to mid-level" system and after many internal battles, decided to try something different and go with the Alpha system. My thoughts were if things didn't work out with this setup, I haven't spent that much and could use it for a carry-around camera. So far I see absolutely NO reason to go back to Nikon. Yes, this system is THAT good.
First off, the built-in Image Stabilization(Super Steady Shot) works wonders. I was able to hand hold the camera at a shutter speed of 1/5th of a second with an ISO of 400 and still get usable output.
Second, the kit lens is actually pretty darn good! There are some signs of CA(purple fringing) and softness wide open, but they are kept to a minimum. This lens is CERTAINLY better than the kit lens offered with the XT and Xti (I haven't had a chance to try out the XSi kit yet) and equivalent to the excellent 18-55mm Nikon kit lens(The De facto of kit lenses). Not to mention the image quality the body brings to the table! I have printed out and framed a picture taken at (ASA) ISO 1600! Now don't get me wrong, theres noise at that level, but its nothing like the 1st gen, a100. Of course, it goes without saying, lower ISO shots are very vivid and sharp.
Lastly, the menu structure and usability are second to none. Everything is laid out in a fashion that just makes sense.
All-In-All, this is a system I have NO problems recommending to ANYONE!
- All the features I need an more
- This camera takes great pictures as expected but has quite a few user friendly available adjustments. Being able to adjust exposure is critical to me and there are several simple to use features in the camera allowing you to do that. Shake reduction built into camera works well and allows for use of any lens to take advantage of it.
- I recently bought the Alpha 200 and took it to Alaska cruise trip and I am happy with it so far. Before to purchase this camera, I was waiting for the Canon 40D to drop price but I could not wait further more so I got my Sony the day before my trip.
I also bought Sony HVL-F36AM for USD100 and Sony camera bag + battery for USD30. I don't think you can get a better deal than this from other brand like Canon or Nikon.
I took the camera and Tamron 17-50 2.8, Minolta 50 1.7 to the trip and took beautiful portrait pictures of friends on the stairs of the ship Princess Saphire with 50 1.7 iso @800 no flash.
My friend with Canon 5D, Canon 28-300 5.6 IS + Canon 430EX got ugly pictures.
I got so many cameras and lens, maybe more than some pro photographers. But I consider myself an Amateur because I am not making any money from Photography.
My camera collection varies from Contax with CZ lens. Varieties of Nikon film bodies and Fuji S2 with a lot of Nikkor lens. Canon 20D with several Canon lens and one of them is 70-200 2.8IS.
To my personal preference Sony CCD sensor is better than Canon Cmos sensor. Colors are more saturate and brillant similar to Fuji sensor but faster because of newer technology.
My next purchase will be Sigma 70-200 2.8 DG macro when it's available and I will sell my Canon 70-200 2.8 IS.
- Great Value with Great Results
- Love this camera. A super value and you don't all you have to do is point and shoot to take great pictures. Of course there are excellent DSLR features to take advantage of, but you don't have to learn it all right away to get excellent results.
I chose this over the Nikon D60 and Canon Rebel Xti because of the antishake technology and longer battery life and have not regretted it. The only advantage that I see with the Nikon and the Canon is that they are the top sellers and there are a few more accessories available.
Minolta AF lenses fit this camera. (check for specific details) but I got one and works great.
Would definetly recommend this camera.
- Hi,
This is my first DSLR. I can't really compare it to the Nikon d40 or Canon XTi as I haven't used them, but I did read lots of reviews. What I can say if you are buying this in order to shoot photos of your small kids, you won't be disappointed.
The outside shots are professional quality.
Inside are very good - I would probably need a fill flash, but I don't wish to spend any more money.
I have always bought Canon, but the price differential btw this and the Canon was significant and in my opinion the Sony was the best buy.
Consumer reports rated it just behind the Canon that cost over $1000.
I am thrilled with the close up pics of my sons - now I feel like a pro.
This is the first review I have ever written.
I wrote it in case anyone finds themselves in the same quandry and can't make a decision.
You can't go wrong with this camera - I got it for $499.
Bargain!!
- After much research I chose this camera over upgrading to a Canon 40D. I am so glad that I did. The pictures are really amazing. The auto focus so much faster than the Xti which is what I had. I totally am in love with the results. The camera really is great. The kit lens is even really great.
- Incredibly capable--and, such a deal!
- I have used a wide variety of film SLRs and digital point-and-shoot cameras before. The Sony A-200K is by far the finest I've used.
I simply haven't found anything this camera can't do--and that's a surprise, given its teeny-tiny flash. Indoors or out, pictures are invariably sharp and well-lit. (Letting the camera make the decisions has worked well to date; I haven't needed to get into the manual settings.) The 18-70 mm lens is lightweight, amazingly sharp, and, at a 35 mm equivalent of 27 mm to 105 mm, is an almost ideal range for around-town and travel use. Built in image stabilization (Super Steady Shot) and sensor self-cleaning are features you don't get in comparable Nikon or Canon models.
One of the major selling points of this camera is its backward compatibility with Minolta Maxxum film lenses and flashes. This means that lenses can be acquired inexpensively, on Craigslist or elsewhere--to evaluate a lens for your needs, just multiply its focal length by 1.5. I haven't yet tried my very complicated Maxxum 5400xi flash with this camera, but Sony says it will work.
Dollar for dollar, there's no better entry-level SLR on the market today. I'm thrilled with this camera.
- I bought this camera for my wife after looking and studying for about a month. We've owned quite a few sony point and shoots and after the birth of our son, my wife wanted the ability to take multiple pics quickly to not miss those quick grins. I love the fact the sony has built in anti-shake and that the zoom is built in the camera. The lenses for the Nikon and Canon has the zoom built in them which increases the price for the lenses. I also like the fact that the old Minolta lenses work with this camera so our old 35mm set up is not collecting as much dust. The battery life is great. Right out of the box my wife was taking awsome pics that can be developed in at least 11x14 and look like a pro. My only complaint is that if you own Sony Memory sticks you have to buy an adapter to use them in this camera. You would not beleive the money this has saved by not having to go to a pro for baby pics!!Overall my wife says this is the best gift I have ever bought her and that is good enough for me.
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- Very difficult to use, did not take good pics
- I considered myself a semi-professional with my other digital camera. This camera only lasted two days with me because it was WAY too hard to use! I read the book really quickly - and had a college reunion that weekend and just figured the AUTO would work. However, the pics were blurry, showed streaks through images, and overall were extremely disappointing. This camera is also huge, much larger than I ever expected. Large and heavy - and it is certainly not a take with you to a reuinon camera. I returned it and ordered a CannonG9 and I couldnt be happier with the image quality, speed, small size, 12 Mgpixels....I suggest looking at the G9.
- The Sony A200 camer, I did not get a clear picture out of it yet, the reason that I gave it a 2 stars, because it will not take AA battery, and it will not take standard flash,( like my Vivitar, 283, 285.) The reason that I bought it, beacuse, I have all other camers already, and I like to try out for a sony, and turn out this is the worse camer that I have, because it will not take standar flash.
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- Great Camera! Great Package! Great Value!
- This is truly a wonderfull camera for anybody who wants to get into the SLR Digital Camera world. Photographs are excellent, the level of detail that one gets in the pics is amazing, and it is so easy to use. Little by little one gets more use to all its features, but right out of the box, after charging the batteries, it's just point-a-shoot, with all the professional look of it. If it's worht mentioning, the only thing that I do not understand why this model does not support it, is the "live view". But taking pics the old fashioned way, looking thru the viewfinder, it's even more realistic down the road. I, as a beginner, recommend this product 100%!
- Can't be more happier with my purchase
- Great camera at an amazing price compared to those in the same price range. My first DSLR and had no problem operating it without reading the manual.[...]
- Great camera for a great price!
- I am a beginning DSLR user and bought this camera at the beginning of September, 2008. Since then, I have literally taken thousands of photos. Some are great, most are not, but I'm learning as I go. Before this, I used an older point and shoot. While I have no basis for comparison, I believe this to be a very fine camera. It's user-friendly, takes great photos, has a very fast start up, and is relatively easy to find accessories for. I would recommend this camera to any DSLR user of any experience.
- After being a Minolta film photographer for 30 years, I finally went digital.(OK....Some of us men are set in our ways!!) After reading the owner's manual, one of the first of several things that I liked about this camera, was the fact that I can adjust the diopter. Being a near-sighted photographer, this meant that I can shoot pictures, without my glasses. What sold me on the Sony DSLR, was the fact that when Sony bought Minolta, they wanted to make the Minolta photographer happy, by making the Sony body fit the Minolta AF lens system. Also depending on which Minolta AF flash unit that you have, it will work with the A200.
In shooting weddings, with the 2GB compact flash card that I have, it will feel kind of nice not worrying about how long, before I have to change the film. As for the results.....I'M IMPRESSED!! For you Minolta fim SLR photographers, who want to go fully digital, this is the camera for you.
- I ordered this camera off amazon so i could get 1500 reward points on my amazon card; otherwise it is pretty much the same price everywhere.
This is my first SLR type camera and i am very pleased with it. keep in mind that although i did a ton of research, i am writing this review with nothing to compare this camera to because i have never actually used another brand.
I wanted an SLR camera for the shutter speed, quality of the pictures and zoom capabilities. so far i have been pleased with all of these options. there are still many things i need to learn about the camera to really be able to use it to its full potential but i was able to take it out of the box and start taking nice pictures with the automatic settings.
for the money, the sony seems to be the best entry level camera. it is cheap enough to feel like you can upgrade if you decided photography is your thing, and good enough to keep if you are just an amateur like myself.
- I love this camera. Taking pictures of this quality, with this speed is a blast. You can be an amateur and turn out professional photos. It allows me to photograph my children in all sports in action.
- This camera is one of the best I have had ever!!! I bought it just before having my baby girl and she looks BEAUTIFUL in every single picture!!! well, she IS the most beautiful thing.
The only bad thing is that is not coming with any storage card... It should have at least one very small.
- This camera far exceeds my expectations. The in-body IS (image stabilization) works like a charm, and i love the fact that i will not have to spend an arm and a leg for a lens kit. My next camera will definitely have this feature. The two lenses that came with this package are great starter lenses, 1 wide angle and 1 telephoto....what more do you need as an amateur photographer? The build quality is pretty good and i do not think it is heavy at all like i heard before purchasing. Thank you Sony!
- Very difficult to use, did not take good pics
- I considered myself a semi-professional with my other digital camera. This camera only lasted two days with me because it was WAY too hard to use! I read the book really quickly - and had a college reunion that weekend and just figured the AUTO would work. However, the pics were blurry, showed streaks through images, and overall were extremely disappointing. This camera is also huge, much larger than I ever expected. Large and heavy - and it is certainly not a take with you to a reuinon camera. I returned it and ordered a CannonG9 and I couldnt be happier with the image quality, speed, small size, 12 Mgpixels....I suggest looking at the G9.
- Sony Alpha A200W Digital Camera
- I love this camera. It takes crist, beautiful shots. The pictures pop out at you. Easy to use. Perfect!!!
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45 customer reviews
