Camera Labs

after much deliberation, i've finally decided to go for the a200, here are the reasons.

1. Price - £269.99

2. I decided against saving up for a 40D as i thought that for my needs i needn't jump in at the sort of deep end, i could save some time and get out there and shoot!

3. Minolta/Maxxum Lens compatibiltity.

4. I love sony cameras and this feels good in my hands

Thanks for listening! (Excited!!! )

P.S I'm back off holiday now so i hope to join in the discussions more soon!, I was reading cameralabs from a blackberry so i couldnt post anything!

EDIT: Does anyone have any suggestions for accessories such as memory cards etc thanks!

Hope you have a good time with it

A reasonably sized card should do for starters, 2 or 4 GB. Larger helps if you intend on saving in raw format much. Don't be too fussed about speed, doesn't have to be fastest.

You might consider a bag to hold it in too. As you get and change lenses more, then a blower to help clean dust will help. If you're intended to do longer exposures, then consider a tripod and remote release...

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Canon DSLRs: 7D, 5D2, 1D, 600D, 450D full spectrum, 300D IR mod
Lenses: EF 35/2, 50/1.8, 85/1.8, 135/2+SF, 28-80 V, 70-300L, 100-400L, TS-E 24/3.5L, MP-E 65, EF-S 15-85 IS
3rd party: Zeiss 2/50 makro, Samyang 8mm fisheye, Sigma 150 macro, 120-300 f/2.8 OS, Celestron 1325/13
Tinies: Sony HX9V.

thanks very much popo,
i'll have a look in the store tomorrow.

congratulations and welcome to the sony alpha world! The a200 is a great camera and im sure you will be very happy with it.

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Tobywuk personal website || My Flickr
Gear: Sony a700! || CZ 16-80mm! || Sony 75-300 || bag: Crumpler PB xxxl / Lowepro slingshot 200

thanks toby

congrats will-mck

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Gear:Sony Alpha a350, Sony H9, Nikon FM-10
Gear:CZ85mm F/1.4 Planar, CZ24-70mm F/2.8 T* ssm, Sony 70-200mm G F/2.8 ssm, Sony 50mm F/2.8 macro, Nikkor 35-70mm

The A200 is a very good camera for a beginner. I don't regret my choice at all.

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PhilipGoh.com

Congrats Will (?, is that your name) with your purchase. I'm sure you'll have a great time using it (especially those first few days, wonderful). Life is beautiful, capture it with Alpha!

Accessories that I'd get, essentials:
- bag
- extra battery
- min. 2 or 4GB CF-card
- rocket blower

Great extras:
- external flash gun
- lenses (telephoto and macro)

Please check out my Alpha compatible Lenses and Accessories guide for links to all official Sony accessories (expect remote shutters and GPS module, still have to add those).

- Bjorn -

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Street and documentary photographer | Google+ | Twitter | Blog | Tumblr

Leica M9-P (my article on Camera Labs) | Leica D-Lux 5 | 50mm Summilux

I think if you own a Sony A200 and a very good lens you'll be more than happy with your results. Congrats on a good choice!

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Sony A200
Sony A700
Tamron 18-250mm f/3.5-6.3 Di II
Minolta AF 50 F1.7
Minolta AF 50 F2.8
FLICKR

Regarding the memory card, I currently use a Sony memory stick pro duo, attached to the Sony CF adapter card that came with my A100. It's a 2gig stick, and it's not bad at all. I prefer CF cards though...

I would highly recommend picking up a 2gig+ CF card. I personally prefer SanDisk, But that's just me.

Other accessories that you might consider are:

-Tripod! (in case you don't already have one)
-Shutter Release
-Circular Polorizer Filter (CPL) (Choose the right diameter!)

Have fun with your camera!

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-Blog- || -My Flickr-

Thanks for the tips,

I went to Currys yesterday, and had a talk with the salesperson, i get a free bag with the a200 and i'm going to pick up a 4gb memory card.
the cameras all paid for but i have to pick it up today.(they had to order it in!)

thanks all,

Will

awsome stuff, happy shooting!

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Tobywuk personal website || My Flickr
Gear: Sony a700! || CZ 16-80mm! || Sony 75-300 || bag: Crumpler PB xxxl / Lowepro slingshot 200

I have had the a200 since March. I absolutely love my camera, and I know you will, too. I'm a hobbyist, although it has been very useful for taking shots of my graphic design work. Let me list some extra bonuses features that you may not know already.

• With the [18-70mm] kit lens, you can take photos at a good range.
• Kit lens offers incredibly beautiful macro shots. I don't know much about cameras still, but I would say it offers nice bokeh.
• There are sensors at the viewfinder so that the autofocus doesn't go nuts when you leave the camera on but you have the camera at your waist. The screen also shuts off temporarily when it senses your eye at the viewfinder.
• Very detailed and well laid out info on the LCD screen.
• Easy lens mount.

I would recommend the 4gb Transcend CF card that I bought from Newegg – 133x speed for very little money. It's inexpensive and fast. I guess you wouldn't be buying it from Newegg, though. I also recently bought a used Tamron 28-200mm lens from Adorama on eBay (with shipping, $80USD!) which I'm very happy to have as well. The quality seems exceptional to me, and the extra range is something I think I'm going to like to be able to have.

You will like it a lot, I know it – so congratulations on your new camera! Oh, and don't forget to get a UV filter.. you never know what could happen without it!

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Sony ɑ200 + kit 18-70mm + Tamron 28-200mm + Minolta 28mm 2.8

YAY! i got it yesterday, i'm loving it.

I got a free Lowepro bag which is a bonus

Thanks for the help

Will

(I agree with woop)

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Nikon D90

Congrats Will! Have fun exploring your camera!

- Bjorn -

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Street and documentary photographer | Google+ | Twitter | Blog | Tumblr

Leica M9-P (my article on Camera Labs) | Leica D-Lux 5 | 50mm Summilux