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General => General discussion => Topic started by: bobbarley on 14 April 2012, 22:20
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I can't decide whether to hold onto my Sony camera or sell up and move to Canon instead. At the moment I've got:
Sony A200
Kit 18-70mm lens
Minolta 35-70mm lens
Minolta 50mm prime lens
Corded shutter release
4GB CF card
All the cables etc
A book on how to use the A200
What would you guys do? It's an alright camera, but often it feels like the quality of the photos is no better than you'd get from a good compact camera. Not sure if it's the camera or me though :grin:
Guessing I could make about £250 selling it all, which might just get me a Cannon 400D and a few accessories?
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unless your going to chuck in a bit more money then i wouldnt bother. :undecided:
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A 400D is hardly an upgrade from an A200.
The A100 and A200 were the first DSLRs that Sony made, they were very similar but models after that got a lot better. When I upgraded from A100 to A350 there was a massive improvement in specs, low light handling in particular was better, 14.2mp sensor, live view (with pull out screen).
To make it worthwhile you moving from a Sony A200 to a Canon model, you'll have to move to at least a 450D, otherwise it's not worth it. And to do that you need to add some more money.
Is it really your Sony camera that's the problem? Do you need to spend more time getting the most out of it?
The only way to really know if it's the camera that's the problem is to try another camera.
Try to borrow a Canon from someone and give it a go for a weekend.
I borrowed a Nikon D60 a while ago, and just didn't get on with it, hated the menu system and the fact that most of the functions I wanted were burried. Really liked my Sony after trying that.
I would say there are 2 choices,
1) sell everything, add some extra cash and go for a Canon 450D kit with at least a 50mm prime as well
2) sell your Sony A200 body and kit lens, use that money to upgrade to a better Sony body (A350 or better)
As most decent photographers will tell you, it's not about having one brand of camera or another, it's about knowing what to do with what you've got whether it's a £100 point and shoot or a £1000 DSLR and about composing the shot properly.
If you can compose the shot, then you can get a good photo no matter what camera is in your hand.
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As most decent photographers will tell you, it's not about having one brand of camera or another, it's about knowing what to do with what you've got whether it's a £100 point and shoot or a £1000 DSLR and about composing the shot properly.
If you can compose the shot, then you can get a good photo no matter what camera is in your hand.
this!
Unless there is something the Canon can do over the Sony it's a pointless upgrade for example if you were shooting sports and needed a faster frame rate or you needed better low light handling.
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However if you think you'll shoot moer with a Canon then maybe it's worth the change....
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Well the cameras are fairly like for like, however I think there's more accessory choices for the Canon cameras? There seem to be a lot more lens available than for the Sony.
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Well the cameras are fairly like for like, however I think there's more accessory choices for the Canon cameras? There seem to be a lot more lens available than for the Sony.
If you think that the availability of accessories and lenses is going to make a difference to you, then it's a consideration. Personally I've not had problems getting Sony fit lenses and remember you'll pay more for Canon fit lenses because a) more people want them and b) Image Stabilisation is built into the lenses (IS models) not into the camera like Sony.
On a Sony Alpha, because image stabilisation is built into the camera body (Steady Shot), you can buy lenses without stabilisation.
For example the Minolta 70-210mm constant f4 "beercan", great glass, no stabilisation, around £70-130 on ebay. Find a Canon fit 70-210 with constant F4 for that money.
I got my Sigma EX 28-70mm f2.8 on ebay for £138, no chance of finding a Canon fit IS version for that money.
It's possible you may get on better with a Canon for example with the controls and menu system, but the only way to find that out is to try one properly (ie more than just 5mins in a shop). I've not tried a Canon properly myself, so can't comment on that, but I did try a Nikon and found my Sony much better to control.
If the user-interface of your Sony is causing you a problem meaning you don't take as many/as good photos, then yeah that might also be worth testing out. Again try to borrow a Canon DSLR from someone.
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I wonder if trying some Sigma lens on the Sony would help...
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I wonder if trying some Sigma lens on the Sony would help...
Why don't you hire a nice lens to try with your current camera then and see if makes a difference?
This company hire out Sony fit lenses:
http://www.hireanalphalens.co.uk/ (http://www.hireanalphalens.co.uk/)
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Nice, cheers mate.
Reckon this would be a good edition to the camera bag? Might try out something like this.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Sigma-70-300mm-f4-5-6-Digital-Cameras/dp/B000B8T6DI/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC?ie=UTF8&coliid=I1MM2QZGA4NTYB&colid=1XFID1K5I5KX9
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Nick has the Canon version of that.
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Nice, cheers mate.
Reckon this would be a good edition to the camera bag? Might try out something like this.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Sigma-70-300mm-f4-5-6-Digital-Cameras/dp/B000B8T6DI/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC?ie=UTF8&coliid=I1MM2QZGA4NTYB&colid=1XFID1K5I5KX9
You don't have anything longer than 70mm at the moment do you, so that could help you out in situations where you come back with less than satisfactory pictures because you don't have enough reach.
Decent price on Amazon too.
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Yeah, I've nothing further than 70mm and even then it's from the stock lens that came with the camera.
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I wouldn't buy that.
I've been disappointed with the shots out of my 70-300mm lens.
It's nice having the range, but the lack of speed in the glass is incredibly frustrating. If I was to do it again I'd step up to an L-Series F2.8 out of the box - you'll get WAY more keepers.
Upgrade the body, at least you should know how the Sony units operate pretty well.
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It's nice having the range, but the lack of speed in the glass is incredibly frustrating. If I was to do it again I'd step up to an L-Series F2.8 out of the box - you'll get WAY more keepers.
That a bit of a step up from a £130 lense....
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So don't do it - ultimately you'll be frustrated.
What is there you can find of similar range that is faster for not much more? Take some time to look around, but try and buy the fastest glass you can.
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So don't do it - ultimately you'll be frustrated.
What is there you can find of similar range that is faster for not much more? Take some time to look around, but try and buy the fastest glass you can.
It's the balance between £££ and speed, a 70-200 F2.8 would be awesome but you're probably looking at over £1k, my 70-200 is F4 constant and I guess I get by. At the end of the day if you can get one second hand (Sigma 70-300) you can punt it on for more or less what you paid.
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DH, what body do you use, and what are your favourite lens in your collection?
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If you want a faster zoom lens for your Sony, as I mentioned before, the best value lens is the Minolta 70-210 f4 "beercan". Constant F4 is enough for good bokeh and the glass is good quality. You can get them on ebay for £130 buy it now, which is around the same price as that Sigma, but better quality.
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So you favour the Minolta over Sigma?
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So you favour the Minolta over Sigma?
Yeah. Minolta made very fine lenses and that 70-210 f4 lens was a pro lens, so it's very good glass and metal body/parts.
That Sigma isn't even an EX series lens, so it's not going to be as good quality.
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This one?
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/KONICA-MINOLTA-AF-MACRO-70-210mm-F4-BEER-CAN-LENS-SONY-A700-A350-A55-A380-A-/320889130140?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item4ab67b8c9c#ht_5198wt_1165
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This one?
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/KONICA-MINOLTA-AF-MACRO-70-210mm-F4-BEER-CAN-LENS-SONY-A700-A350-A55-A380-A-/320889130140?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item4ab67b8c9c#ht_5198wt_1165
That's the one.
I'm selling my Tamron 28-200 zoom to fund buying one myself.
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DH, what body do you use, and what are your favourite lens in your collection?
500D and probably the 10-20mm for all round goodness.