Sony Alpha DSLRA300K Digital SLR Camera

The Sony Alpha a300 is an excellent choice for a modern DSLR at Sony's very attractive price point. The fully functional Live View [with real AF, tilt LCD and automatic viewfinder curtain] adds an exciting and useful facility [especially on tripod with a remote shutter control]. The Super Steady Shot feature [Sony's in body image stabilization] works very well and makes the function available with any lens. The a300 user [even more so the a350] will likely appreciate the full image quality available from the image sensor using Sony's pricier lenses, but the Minolta A-mount allows continued use of the many fine Minolta AF lenses and accessories. The Smart Teleconverter [digital zoom] is useful on all lenses and works very well. The build quality is good, but the camera should be handled with some care. All in all the a300 is a very useful DSLR and very attractive at Sony's pricing point.

This is my very first DSLR Camera. I spend some time reading articles and magazine reviews trying to decide which maker/model to buy. I was already inclined towards either the A-350 or A-300 so I decided to look and try them on a store, which happened some 6 weeks ago at a Sony Style Store. Both models are beatiful and ergonomic, with 200 US$ being the difference in price for and additional 4 MP I finally went for A-300X kit, and bought the vertical grip with the 200 bucks I was saving. I have taken some 600 shots with the camera so far, and I am really glad with the results. All in all this is an excellent kit for the price, and the vertical grip makes handling the camera more confortable for me dur to the additional height it adds to the grip area.

Following one week of using my Sony A300, it was no longer working. Upon Sonys' request, it was sent to one of their repair centers, who advised me that the LCD (an interior piece)was broken and not covered by the warranty. I contacted Sony who stated that it was my fault, that the interior piece was broken and that I had to pay for the repair ($151.00), they called me about four times to restate, that I was responsible, it seems that with Sony the customer is always in the wrong.Sony Alpha DSLRA300K 10.2MP Digital SLR Camera with Super SteadyShot Image Stabilization with DT 18-70mm f/3.5-5.6 Zoom Lens

The A300 sits between the featureless A200 and the A350. It's a good camera, with excellent dynamic range and one of the best Live View implementations out there. However, the kit lens is mediocre to say the least and as a result, the camera's performance is compromised. My camera was defective and even though the problem was not a serious one, I returned it and went for a refund, which I used to buy the new Olympus E520.

Let me be honest, this is my first DSLR...and it is AWESOME!!! Ok, so I've already established that I'm no expert and by all means, take my review as you will. I do have to say that my brother, who is a serious amateur photographer (has his own studio, but it's not his main profession), has a Canon D40 (I think that's the one) which was a bit more expensive than mine. Well at his daughter's second birthday we put our cameras head to head and the Sony a300 consistantly came out ahead. Boy was he mad that in the category of overall picture quality the Sony came out AHEAD of the Canon! Who would have thought that? Sure, sure, he has more options, better positioned buttons and might have a frame (or fraction thereof) per second faster. Either way, what counts most - picture quality, ease of use, reliability and speed - are DEFINITE winners for the Sony a300. I'm sure if you're reading my review you've already read a few others touching on the tilt LCD screen, the OVF eyestart auto-... Read more