Disappointed in A100

[Rashkae]

Well, I was looking for an upgrade from H5 to DSLR... Was looking at the rather excellent Canon 350, but really wanted to stick to Sony.

Just really disappointed in the A100. They basically just took the 7D and rebadged it. Even the UI is ripped right from KM. I *like* the Sony UI, and was really hoping they'd have the awesome "time" mode from the R1. I find it better than Bulb, especially with the on-screen timer. Then there's the really bad ISO noise at 800-1600. Sure, many will argue that it's not *that* bad, but it's being beaten by a competing camera that's the same price and over a year older!!

And I really loved the in-camera HDR and SSS.

*sigh*

Looks like I'll need to wait longer for my Sony DSLR fix.

[yokechye]

Originally Posted by Rashkae Well, I was looking for an upgrade from H5 to DSLR... Was looking at the rather excellent Canon 350, but really wanted to stick to Sony. Just really disappointed in the A100. They basically just took the 7D and rebadged it. Even the UI is ripped right from KM. I *like* the Sony UI, and was really hoping they'd have the awesome "time" mode from the R1. I find it better than Bulb, especially with the on-screen timer. Then there's the really bad ISO noise at 800-1600. Sure, many will argue that it's not *that* bad, but it's being beaten by a competing camera that's the same price and over a year older!! And I really loved the in-camera HDR and SSS. *sigh* Looks like I'll need to wait longer for my Sony DSLR fix.

actually its a 5D replacement

[Agetan]

Originally Posted by Rashkae Well, I was looking for an upgrade from H5 to DSLR... Was looking at the rather excellent Canon 350, but really wanted to stick to Sony. Just really disappointed in the A100. They basically just took the 7D and rebadged it. Even the UI is ripped right from KM. I *like* the Sony UI, and was really hoping they'd have the awesome "time" mode from the R1. I find it better than Bulb, especially with the on-screen timer. Then there's the really bad ISO noise at 800-1600. Sure, many will argue that it's not *that* bad, but it's being beaten by a competing camera that's the same price and over a year older!! And I really loved the in-camera HDR and SSS. *sigh* Looks like I'll need to wait longer for my Sony DSLR fix.

well, with 10MP, you win some you lose some... some resolution gain, some noise gain. That's the fact of life.

There are more to evaluate a camera than just a noise issue. Its also about the handling and value.

Regards,

Hart

[tankm]

Your dislikes:
1. UI
2. ISO Noise

Your likes:
1. In camera HDR (not sure what this is ????? )
2. SSS

My questions will be:
1. Do you like the picture taken with the camera ?
2. Is the ISO noise better than your H5 ? Even among same brand, some cheaper model has less ISO noise than it's more expensive brother. eg. Nikon D50 vs D200.
3. What makes you want to switch to DSLR ? and does the A-100 meet your needs for the switch ?

How long have you had your A-100 ? If you want to get rid of it, PM me.

Originally Posted by Rashkae Well, I was looking for an upgrade from H5 to DSLR... Was looking at the rather excellent Canon 350, but really wanted to stick to Sony. Just really disappointed in the A100. They basically just took the 7D and rebadged it. Even the UI is ripped right from KM. I *like* the Sony UI, and was really hoping they'd have the awesome "time" mode from the R1. I find it better than Bulb, especially with the on-screen timer. Then there's the really bad ISO noise at 800-1600. Sure, many will argue that it's not *that* bad, but it's being beaten by a competing camera that's the same price and over a year older!! And I really loved the in-camera HDR and SSS. *sigh* Looks like I'll need to wait longer for my Sony DSLR fix.

[sulhan]

Hiee...

For any camera, I think if the photographer is good, then they shoul dnot worry about these little short falls of a camera. They should be able to take photos that pull people's attention to the picture as a whole not to the grain in the picture...

Too bad...many people just use these measureable "numbers" to say whose better than whoose...

Come on...get what ever you can afford and go shooting...

[eow]

Originally Posted by tankm Your dislikes: 2. Is the ISO noise better than your H5 ? Even among same brand, some cheaper model has

THere is a thread at dpreview a professional photog gave up his D200 in favour of the H5 during the critiCAL MOMENT when taking indoor concert shoot..
the H5 bested the D200 in noise at iso800 in that thread...and yes the guy is an nikon user

[Rashkae]

Originally Posted by eow THere is a thread at dpreview a professional photog gave up his D200 in favour of the H5 during the critiCAL MOMENT when taking indoor concert shoot.. the H5 bested the D200 in noise at iso800 in that thread...and yes the guy is an nikon user

Yup, the H5 is really good. At higher ISO levels there's detail loss due to higher noise reduction, but I was expecting the A100 to be on-par with the Canon 350 at least.

[Zenten]

Just PM me if you want to sell your A100 body .........

[Rashkae]

Originally Posted by Zenten Just PM me if you want to sell your A100 body .........

Nothing to sell lah... Used my officemate's A100 on a 3-day walkaround. Also brought along my H5.

[tankm]

Originally Posted by Rashkae Yup, the H5 is really good. At higher ISO levels there's detail loss due to higher noise reduction, but I was expecting the A100 to be on-par with the Canon 350 at least.

That is the usual tradeoff to get less ISO noise. You can do noise reduction in a control manner during post processing if you wanted to. Detail loss will not be able to recover. If I got to choose between less ISO noise or more detail I will go for more detail IMHO.

Originally Posted by Rashkae Nothing to sell lah... Used my officemate's A100 on a 3-day walkaround. Also brought along my H5.

Tell your friend how bad the A-100 and ask him/her to sell it off and get the H5.

[Takki]

Originally Posted by tankm Your dislikes: 1. UI 2. ISO Noise Your likes: 1. In camera HDR (not sure what this is ????? ) 2. SSS My questions will be: 1. Do you like the picture taken with the camera ? 2. Is the ISO noise better than your H5 ? Even among same brand, some cheaper model has less ISO noise than it's more expensive brother. eg. Nikon D50 vs D200. 3. What makes you want to switch to DSLR ? and does the A-100 meet your needs for the switch ? How long have you had your A-100 ? If you want to get rid of it, PM me.

HDR is the high dynamic range optimizer in the Alpha.
While it could be quite good if it really worked, so far the implementation has been half hearted. It only work if you are shooting JPG in full auto mode only.

[Zenten]

Still the same word of advice ....... just PM me if you want to get rid of the A100 .......

[satay16]

hmmm...........with the new D80 and 400D, i really find sony losing the battle though. they are still not as innovatively aggressive as what minolta used to be. the crucial point will come when they come out with the 7D replacement. if they screw up on that, i think they will suffer a great drop in minolta users. on the other hand, if we see super fast AF, funky useful technology, lazer hologram AF, infared shooting mode, woah...........happy we will be.

[yokechye]

Originally Posted by satay16 hmmm...........with the new D80 and 400D, i really find sony losing the battle though. they are still not as innovatively aggressive as what minolta used to be. the crucial point will come when they come out with the 7D replacement. if they screw up on that, i think they will suffer a great drop in minolta users. on the other hand, if we see super fast AF, funky useful technology, lazer hologram AF, infared shooting mode, woah...........happy we will be.

wah... if 7D replacement comes out with those new features, i will go chiong for it

[dr34mc4st3r]

Originally Posted by satay16 hmmm...........with the new D80 and 400D, i really find sony losing the battle though. they are still not as innovatively aggressive as what minolta used to be. the crucial point will come when they come out with the 7D replacement. if they screw up on that, i think they will suffer a great drop in minolta users. on the other hand, if we see super fast AF, funky useful technology, lazer hologram AF, infared shooting mode, woah...........happy we will be.

D80 - rather more exp than A100.
400D - more of the same. no spot metering!

a100 still got its own niche. dun ring the doom bell yet.

[zcf]

But Sony probably need to drop the price of Alpha 100 and lenses to be more competitive

[dr34mc4st3r]

Originally Posted by zcf But Sony probably need to drop the price of Alpha 100 and lenses to be more competitive

yup..first of all how abt dropping 70-200 ssm price to more earthly level

[satay16]

Originally Posted by dr34mc4st3r yup..first of all how abt dropping 70-200 ssm price to more earthly level

till now, i still dun quite understand minolta's high cost on their lens. when i just started my research into which DSLR to buy 2 years ago, i had in mind that the in-body focusing system would make it not needed to put individual motors to all the lenses, and therefore would be cheaper. why is it somehow not the case? rarity of minolta lenses? more expensive glass? minoltians are richer people?

[ratboy]

Originally Posted by satay16 till now, i still dun quite understand minolta's high cost on their lens. when i just started my research into which DSLR to buy 2 years ago, i had in mind that the in-body focusing system would make it not needed to put individual motors to all the lenses, and therefore would be cheaper. why is it somehow not the case? rarity of minolta lenses? more expensive glass? minoltians are richer people?

Minolta high end glass is on par / better then any comparable brand ( my opinion : )
and they have the nice circular apeture that gives you the nice round bokehs
no reason it should be cheaper then other brand ones.

I was playing with the A100 in sony showroom
the AF is fast !!!
wonder is it because of the new kit lens or is it the body ?

[Luval]

Originally Posted by yokechye actually its a 5D replacement

it damn far from any replacement at all,,,