A1 in Sitex2003

[ndroo-]

phew ... almost took leave to go Sitex go get my A1. saw in today's computimes, it is priced at $18**. :O don't seem to be any good deal buying it at sitex huh. the diff could easily get me an additional batt!

[frisky]

Originally Posted by ndroo phew ... almost took leave to go Sitex go get my A1. saw in today's computimes, it is priced at $18**. :O don't seem to be any good deal buying it at sitex huh. the diff could easily get me an additional batt!

Go there late on last day maybe price will be different......

[tbteng]

I just got an equote from MS Color @ 1495. But will pop by Sitex to take a look Prehaps on Sunday where the heat is "Heavy".... I suppose Minolta has to list this S$18** price. If not how will the dealers make money. It very much depends. If Minolta does not sell direct and is into pure distribution and has a dealer network, those wearing the Minolta t-shirts may be dealers themselves and not Minolta's staff.

[TME]

Originally Posted by tbteng I just got an equote from MS Color @ 1495. But will pop by Sitex to take a look Prehaps on Sunday where the heat is "Heavy".... I suppose Minolta has to list this S$18** price. If not how will the dealers make money. It very much depends. If Minolta does not sell direct and is into pure distribution and has a dealer network, those wearing the Minolta t-shirts may be dealers themselves and not Minolta's staff.

The difference got so much ar? Almost $400........ phew!

Anyway what time does Sitex 2003 close on Saturday? Pity I can't make it on Sunday evening.....

[deslim27]

Is minolta doing good at Sitex?

[tbteng]

The official closure is 9pm. But as of each year, the exhibitors should start packing around 8.00-8.30pm. A1 has a promotion now in which they throw in a CF reader, 128mb card, bag & tripod. Although I don't care much for the bag and tripod, I think there is value in the reader and 128mb card. This approx. brings the cost down by approx. $100. I think the image stabalising technology plus the good mix of optical zoom and features, make it a good buy. I have also considered 300D @ 1.8k. But I suppose 300D does not end there and the extra costs are seen only when you start buying the lenses.

I don't see myself going there yet, at least for the next 2-3 yrs. So it seems A1 fits my bill. If I can't get a good deal at Sitex, I probably jog down to MS color, AP, CP, etc.....

[TME]

Originally Posted by tbteng The official closure is 9pm. But as of each year, the exhibitors should start packing around 8.00-8.30pm. A1 has a promotion now in which they throw in a CF reader, 128mb card, bag & tripod. Although I don't care much for the bag and tripod, I think there is value in the reader and 128mb card. This approx. brings the cost down by approx. $100. I think the image stabalising technology plus the good mix of optical zoom and features, make it a good buy. I have also considered 300D @ 1.8k. But I suppose 300D does not end there and the extra costs are seen only when you start buying the lenses. I don't see myself going there yet, at least for the next 2-3 yrs. So it seems A1 fits my bill. If I can't get a good deal at Sitex, I probably jog down to MS color, AP, CP, etc.....

But the Canon gives u unparalleled flexibility as all SLRs do and it can expand with your needs..... the A1 can't.....

[frisky]

Originally Posted by TME But the Canon gives u unparalleled flexibility as all SLRs do and it can expand with your needs..... the A1 can't.....

Depends on how you look at it, the A1's control and flexibility allows you to grow with it, as for the Canon 300D, to grow you need to buy a 10D

[TME]

Originally Posted by frisky Depends on how you look at it, the A1's control and flexibility allows you to grow with it, as for the Canon 300D, to grow you need to buy a 10D

No lar...... no need what..... just add to the lens that u have, learn to live without flash compensation and a lower drive speed...... can what! By the time u outgrow it, technology would have leapt far ahead, then the upgrade would be justifiable...... but the A1 would be a fixed package lor..... but I sure dun mind an A1 lar..... cheaper to experiment than a film Dynax 7 and faster to see the effects as well..... sighz....... hoping that they come out with a DSLR soon...... and hoping for a megaopixel res 2" LCD panel behind too..... and hoping the price like 300D as well...... BTW, how much is the 10D, just curious, no intention of jumping ship?

[frisky]

Originally Posted by TME No lar...... no need what..... just add to the lens that u have, learn to live without flash compensation and a lower drive speed...... can what! By the time u outgrow it, technology would have leapt far ahead, then the upgrade would be justifiable...... but the A1 would be a fixed package lor..... but I sure dun mind an A1 lar..... cheaper to experiment than a film Dynax 7 and faster to see the effects as well..... sighz....... hoping that they come out with a DSLR soon...... and hoping for a megaopixel res 2" LCD panel behind too..... and hoping the price like 300D as well...... BTW, how much is the 10D, just curious, no intention of jumping ship?

10D about $2600+ I think, and getting stocks is not easy as it is always out of stock. Actually for the A1, you can use it for most situation, with teleconverter you can reach about 340mm, and the flash hotshoe and remote cord allows many ways of using it. The tons of control allow you to grow far. The only time you'll need to change lens is when you need very long lens > 400mm (which from cost point of view, more than enough for you to get a FZ10) or very wide, (teleconverters can probably bring you down to 20mm)

Personally for the size and quality, I find it hard to justify lugging a SLR with a few lens around, unless for special needs. And I had lugged 2 9xi with 4 lens, a flash and a tripod on overseas trips before. And last year I use a 7hi instead. That was so much easier.......

[ndroo-]

anyone wif pricing of A1 in sitex? is it really as advertised here ...

http://sg.yahoo.com/promotions/minol...tex/index.html

??

[chengsing]

Fresh from Sitex.
DIMAGE A1 S$1799 Free bundle worth $430

Card reader, tripod, UV Fliter, Dry Cabinet, Lens cleaning kit + Screen Protector, Case, 256mb CF

On the bottom of the leaflet:
Proudly brought to you by: M S Color Service

[tbteng]

Seems there are additional freebies. by the price now seems a bit steep. My estimates:

Original off Sitex package: S$1555 w/GST comes with Card Reader, Tripod, Case, 128mb CF.

Is it worth to buy at Sitex?

[chriszzz]

Originally Posted by TME But the Canon gives u unparalleled flexibility as all SLRs do and it can expand with your needs..... the A1 can't.....

Define "unparalleled flexibility".
If you mean that you have a whole range of lenses, then yes, the DSLR wins.

But the A1 gives you on-body flash compensation, allows you to shoot movies ( which is handy sometimes ), allows you to preview your shots on a flippable LCD, which is great for low angle or overhead shots, has image stablelizer for those dim light moments, has a 28-200mm lens that fulfills about 95% of the needs of an average user, and is a great do-it-all body in a 650gram body, for a price that is less than the 300D body alone. In this sense, the A1 also gives you unparalled flexibility AND convenience. And it's pretty fast too.

[TME]

Originally Posted by chriszzz Define "unparalleled flexibility". If you mean that you have a whole range of lenses, then yes, the DSLR wins. But the A1 gives you on-body flash compensation, allows you to shoot movies ( which is handy sometimes ), allows you to preview your shots on a flippable LCD, which is great for low angle or overhead shots, has image stablelizer for those dim light moments, has a 28-200mm lens that fulfills about 95% of the needs of an average user, and is a great do-it-all body in a 650gram body, for a price that is less than the 300D body alone. In this sense, the A1 also gives you unparalled flexibility AND convenience. And it's pretty fast too.

Unparalleled flexibility in that it offers u the ability to change lens for different situations.... u can't deny that having a full complement of lens for a DSLR would give u much more flexibility than that of the A1 (notwithstanding that it is very capable in itself).

Actually I wouldn't mind both actually..... kekeke...... A1 for convenience when u dun really need the flexibility like on a short inexpensive trip, but the DSLR for important occasions and for long expensive holiday trips..... u want to get the best shots in....... just my sentiments......

[ndroo-]

psst ... u guys r turnin this into a 'dslr vs a1' argument chill out ...

[frisky]

Originally Posted by TME Unparalleled flexibility in that it offers u the ability to change lens for different situations.... u can't deny that having a full complement of lens for a DSLR would give u much more flexibility than that of the A1 (notwithstanding that it is very capable in itself). Actually I wouldn't mind both actually..... kekeke...... A1 for convenience when u dun really need the flexibility like on a short inexpensive trip, but the DSLR for important occasions and for long expensive holiday trips..... u want to get the best shots in....... just my sentiments......

I think the ability to change lens in a DSLR is just a LITTLE more flexibilty, considering the capability of the lens on the A1. (I won't say the same with most other prosumer digicam.).

As mentioned, I used a 7hi for New Zealand, it fared very well, except in P&S situation, when we used a P&S instead. Would a DSLR fare better? I seriously doubt so.

But when I went to africa, I used a FZ1 with a TCON-17, and a 9xi + 100-300 f/4 with 2x Tcon. And frankly I think the FZ1 turn up more good shots. Of course, to be fair, the FZ1 shoot 10 times the figure of the 9xi, due to it being digital.

Would the A1 do in this case? Yes, but not very well, as I need focal length in the range of 600+mm. Would I need a DSLR? Not really, a FZ-1/2/10 with a TCON would have done as well, at a fraction of the price. Would I want to use a DSLR? Well, considering that I already have long lens, yes provided I don't have to pay too much for the body. If not I just stick to cameras like FZ-1/2/10.

[TME]

Originally Posted by ndroo psst ... u guys r turnin this into a 'dslr vs a1' argument chill out ...

Sorry......

[TME]

Originally Posted by frisky I think the ability to change lens in a DSLR is just a LITTLE more flexibilty, considering the capability of the lens on the A1. (I won't say the same with most other prosumer digicam.). As mentioned, I used a 7hi for New Zealand, it fared very well, except in P&S situation, when we used a P&S instead. Would a DSLR fare better? I seriously doubt so. But when I went to africa, I used a FZ1 with a TCON-17, and a 9xi + 100-300 f/4 with 2x Tcon. And frankly I think the FZ1 turn up more good shots. Of course, to be fair, the FZ1 shoot 10 times the figure of the 9xi, due to it being digital. Would the A1 do in this case? Yes, but not very well, as I need focal length in the range of 600+mm. Would I need a DSLR? Not really, a FZ-1/2/10 with a TCON would have done as well, at a fraction of the price. Would I want to use a DSLR? Well, considering that I already have long lens, yes provided I don't have to pay too much for the body. If not I just stick to cameras like FZ-1/2/10.

I suppose u already have a prosumer digicam so that's alright.... but for me I dun have one and I'm looking to go digital and so a DSLR that can use my existing lens system would be excellent. I can go from ultra wide to super telephoto. 17mm to >400mm(with TC)... so I guess that is the flexibility for me.......

But I suspect that perhaps the A1 is more the exception (in a good sense) than the usual case with other prosumer digicams? I haven't looked into this so I'm basing my ideas on the little I have read... I should really go read more about the A1..... it seems to be really hot in the Minolta forum..

[frisky]

Originally Posted by TME I suppose u already have a prosumer digicam so that's alright.... but for me I dun have one and I'm looking to go digital and so a DSLR that can use my existing lens system would be excellent. I can go from ultra wide to super telephoto. 17mm to >400mm(with TC)... so I guess that is the flexibility for me....... But I suspect that perhaps the A1 is more the exception (in a good sense) than the usual case with other prosumer digicams? I haven't looked into this so I'm basing my ideas on the little I have read... I should really go read more about the A1..... it seems to be really hot in the Minolta forum..

Actually I just picked up the 7i about 2 weeks back. So I was in a similar situation at that point of time.

I think going wide angle is an expensive proposition with DSLR, since we are not talking full frame here. To get anything better than A1's '28mm', you need a lens wider than 17mm, which you don't already have and afaik are quite costly.

Of course the tele side is a big plus, but that is assuming you can use your current lens on the DSLR, (and that DSLR has yet to be announced)

How does the situation looks like if you don't have any lens/flash that you can use on the DSLR that you are looking at? Does the cost compared to an A1 still make sense?

About the A1 is an exception, yes it is, the only cameras in its league now would be the F828 from Sony. What I am trying to say that don't discount the A1 just because you can't change lens. In most circumstances the A1's lens will be able to do the job sufficiently well. There are certainly drawbacks on the camera and it would boil down to whether those limitation are critical for you.