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My personal view of Sony Alpha DSLR A-100
by Lilian ·
I finally got my hands on the Sony Alpha DSLR A-100 today after two trips to the camerashop. My verdict? It is exactly like my Konica-Minolta Dynax 5D. And my baby is much more solid, has a better grip, slightly bigger and overall, more ‘manly’ for a DSLR.
Sony Alpha owners, don’t flame me but seriously, I am quite disappointed that the exterior of the camera feels flimsy. The zoom lense plastic looks cheap and doesn’t have the rubber grip like my Konica Minolta DT18-70mm lense.
However, for that price and 10MP, it is worth buying. I bought my Konica-Minolta with the 18-70mm lense plus another 70-200mm lense (original Konica lenses) for almost the same price +/- a few hundred ringgit only.
Eventhough I read that the Sony Alpha was designed like the Maxxum 7D, the camerashop guy told me that it is just like my Dynax 5D. Hmmm..whom should I believe?
As for the yet-to-launched Nikon D80 with 10MP, the shop told me Nikon will be much more expensive than Sony Alpha, in the range of RM4K plus. Sony Alpha with two lenses costs less than that.
Anyway, the purpose I went to the shop was to hunt for a macro lense for my DSLR. I tested out a RM2,950 (OMG!, I can’t afford it) macro lense :
Sony’s SAL100M28 100mm F2.8 Macro Lens for DSLRA100 α™ (alpha) Digital SLR Camera
SAL100M28 (selling for USD919 online)
The chap asked me to wait for the arrival of another macro lense which he hopes is cheaper:
Sony’s SAL50M28 50mm F2.8 Macro Lens for DSLRA100 α™ (alpha) Digital SLR Camera
SAL50M28 (selling for USD639)(price indicated on Sonyca website)
My birthday is coming in September so that will be my indulgence. 
*keeping fingers crossed*
August 14th, 2006 at 2:27 am
You will find the 50mm focal length too short on a macro lens without a 2x teleconverter.
You should check out how much the Tamron Di 90mm Macro lens is, and if they have it with your mount as that’s the most capable and affordable macro lens around.
August 15th, 2006 at 2:05 am
Ooooh… Drool…
Do post photos taken using the Sony Alpha. I hope you love your camera. Perhaps you do a personal review (sort of) of the camera after a few months using it.
August 16th, 2006 at 1:14 am
ST - We have only a handful of shops here specialising in lenses and usually, they don’t carry stocks until we enquire. Maybe this weekend, we try shopping and see. Tks for the tips.
iamyuanwu - I did not get Sony Alpha beause my DSLR is only less than a year old. It is the Konica and Sony just re-branded it.
August 18th, 2006 at 12:24 am
Wah, the lenses are so expensive!