Camera Labs

1 month of deliberation
2 review magazines bought
endless on-line reviews
muchest time spent right here on cameralabs - once i found you
a couple of 'hands-on' sessions at the local currys
a bit more deliberation between the canon 450d and the sony a350
and in the end i chose the a200
amazon had it for £265 and i figure the money i save in not going for canon i can get another lens / bag / uv filter / polarising filter or whatever while i learn along the way
live view would be nice i guess but i really just want to start from absolute basics, viewfinder and all, so in for a penny in for a pound (or 265)
thanks to all of you on this forum for open, honest advice
robbo

That's a really good deal. I too did something similar back in May (started thinking about a camera in March, so I took 2 months deciding). Made my choice and I'm very happy with my Sony.

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PhilipGoh.com

Robbo, looking forward to your photos!
Take card of your A200 viewfinder, if dust stick on it. Just use a blower to blow it out. Try not to touch it or wipe with cloth.

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Canon EOS 7D | BG-E7 | EOS 40D | BG-E2N | EF 17-40mm f/4.0 L USM | EF 24-105mm f/4.0 L IS USM | EF 35mm f/1.4 L USM
EF 85mm f/1.2 L II USM | EF 135mm f/2.0 L USM | EF 200mm f/2.0 L IS USM | Speedlite 580EX II X 3 | OC-E3
Speedlite Transmitter ST-E2

Congrats, even though you probably don't have the camera yet. Good choice and I'm sure you'll have fun with it!
Same goes for the frontlens/filter as the viewfinder, try a blower to remove dust. My frontlens is all dirty because I used a specialised (for photography) cloth to wipe it.

- 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

cheers everyone
it arrives tomorrow although i won't get to it till thursday - can't wait
i found some really useful short instruction videos on youtube and just learned a little about depth of field - just need to try things out.
i notice there are instructional things on this site too - great stuff all round
thanks again for the advice re: blower...
i'll get on line and find something
robbo

Welcome to the forums!
You'll be so happy with it, good luck

Bjorn, isn't it better to use Optic cloth for the front lens? I've always had that thinking. And which kinda blower do you recommend? The little manual ball, or the cans with air?

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Sonyian?

My Flickr - Comments very welcome
Gear: a200, Sony 18-70 3.5-5.6 DT, Minolta 50 1.7 AF, Lowepro TLZ Mini, GorillaPod SLR Zoom
Saving for Sigma 70-200mm f/2.8 EX HSM Macro II (50%)

I'd like to note first I'm not using a super-expensive cloth to clean my front element, but when I wiped it, it left behind smudges that don't seem to come of. That's why I recommend using a blower to get dust particles of, because it won't leave anything. It might work with a more advanced cloth, even though mine is specially made for photographers.
I'd recommend the rocket-shaped blowers. The cans can not be used to clean the sensor (the air is too cold and comes out to fast, causing damage possibly). When you buy a blower, make sure the brand is well-known, because then you can be pretty sure the blower's got a filter in the back. This filter stops dust from being sucked into the blower when it's filling itself with air. If you would suck in dust, that would be blown into your camera or onto your front element, which makes the whole thing pretty much useles...

- 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

oh yes - i am so pleased with my alpha200 - it's way more than i expected and i have to say i was a bit overwhelmed by the sheer number of adjustments you can do (note: that was a definite you, not me, as i'm clueless right now)...

i'm so glad i opted for the non-live-view model so i'm forced to learn with the viewfinder. it's what i think of as 'proper' photography, or hopefully will be in a while..

this was my first attempt at experimenting with depth of field. i know there's no 'wow' factor in this shot but just to be learning what this camera can do is geat for me..



so anyway, i'm all flickr-ed up and ready to dive in.. i may even post something on this month's urbanism assignment - in for a penny eh?

gotta get a bag...
gotta get a cover for my lovely LCD screen...
gotta get a tripod..
gotta get out there..

rob

The screen protector is impossible to get to denmark. Everyone of them even can't be shipped to here, or the shipping is like 40 bucks.

But please tell me where you'll buy yours (;

And when you buy a bag - I Bought the smallest one possible (and thereby cheapest). Well, now i kinda regret it. I should've gotten a bigger bag, that can carry other accesories. Because mine can have my camera with a small lens, and the CF, card holder. And that's pretty much it (;

And you're gonna (If you don't got it already) a high capacity, decent speed CF-card.
And a rocket-blower, as Bjorn suggested.

And the tripod - try looking at the Gorillapod SLR Zoom. It's Awsome. (; But if you get it, then remember to get a ballhead for it too. They can be bought in bundles with both things all over the internet.
Good luck, 0eyvind

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Sonyian?

My Flickr - Comments very welcome
Gear: a200, Sony 18-70 3.5-5.6 DT, Minolta 50 1.7 AF, Lowepro TLZ Mini, GorillaPod SLR Zoom
Saving for Sigma 70-200mm f/2.8 EX HSM Macro II (50%)

cheers 0eyvind - i'll let you know about the screen protector.. i'm not looking for anything too flash, just a simple stick-on thingy like i got for my ipod..
and as regards the bag, i just ordered the lowepro rezo 160 from amazon - it had some good reviews and was reduced to 15 UK pounds so hard to resist..
next stop gorillapod..
rob

Allright (;
Actually i finally found a place with a cheap plastic cover, but thanks
Well that bag looks good, and amazing prize, hope you'll enjoy it

I found a site with a reasonable gorillapod, with a ballhead.
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/4 ... ripod.html

0eyvind

_________________
Sonyian?

My Flickr - Comments very welcome
Gear: a200, Sony 18-70 3.5-5.6 DT, Minolta 50 1.7 AF, Lowepro TLZ Mini, GorillaPod SLR Zoom
Saving for Sigma 70-200mm f/2.8 EX HSM Macro II (50%)