DevilFish
newbie
Reged: 17/07/2008
Posts: 7
Loc: Manchester, UK
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Hi all... second time poster! I have asked a question in the Pentax forum, however thought I'd ask something similar to you Sony folk 
I am about to enter the world of SLR, complete newbie. I love photography with my point and shoot kit, and just want to get a bit more serious (intentions are to buy more books, and get myself on a course when they start up again in a couple of months).
Now I'd had my head set on a Pentax K20D... it feels right and seems like a great quality new camera. However, seems like my eye is also getting drawn to the Sony Alpha range....just saw a great video about the 700 and been reading some more magazines.
Question is, would it be good for a newbie? Would I be smarter to go for an A350 instead? I was initially wanting to spend around £700 on kit, but can stretch if it seems like a good deal (have noticed the £150 cashback on the A700....)
Am going to pop to Jessops tomorrow to try and 'handle' the camera anyway, just wanted opinions of you expert types
Thanks in advance for any advice...
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There are no rules for good photographs, there are only good photographs. ~Ansel Adams
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Roger_Provins
Made-it Man
Reged: 22/10/2005
Posts: 2625
Loc: Gloucester, UK
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It's very difficult to recommend one camera over another. All the dSLRs from all the makers are good and frankly at any given price point there's not a lot between them. It comes down to budget, how a camera feels in your hand and any particular feature one model may offer over the others which is important to you.
The Pentax K20D and the Sony a700 are mid range/semi-pro type cameras whereas the Sony a350 is "entry level" - but it does have a lot of pixels and the best "live-view" yet offered from any maker. I have one and am very happy with it, but I do have an a700 also
In many ways the lenses are more important than the body so whatever you get try to budget for at least one good lens - unfortunately this is likely to cost as much as the body 
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Rog
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LargeFormat
old hand
Reged: 24/10/2006
Posts: 976
Loc: Buckinghamshire and Cumbria
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I suggest you don't put yourself off getting a higher grade of camera because you are a newbie. You can always set everything on auto to start and grow into it from there. Upgrading is expensive and if you can avoid a step you'll save the money for that quality lens Roger recommends.
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DevilFish
newbie
Reged: 17/07/2008
Posts: 7
Loc: Manchester, UK
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Thanks for all of your help
I've been in a couple of stores this morning and handled the Sony range. Must say I love the feel of all of them, so its at least settled that they feel 'right' in my clumsy hands!!!
The staff I spoke to were pushing me in the direction of the the A350 was the way to go over the 700, mainly due to the liveview and the ability to buy myself a couple of lenses with the camera seemed to be the main selling points.
I'm still kind of torn with going for the best body I can get with the cash avaiable at the moment though, in case I regret it in the future. Also the £150 cashback on the 700 with a lens seems like a really good offer.
Still confused... need to read more! But want to make a choice over the next couple of days....
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There are no rules for good photographs, there are only good photographs. ~Ansel Adams
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Fen
BAD WOLF
Reged: 12/03/2002
Posts: 19552
Loc: Currently Unknown!
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Liveview...
Unless you're going to do lots of work with close-up stuff on a tripod...
I wouldn't bother. IMHO - I don't really see the point of it. I think it's mainly a 'gimmick' to get people to change over from a compact where you look at the screen to take the photo rather than using a camera properly by looking through the viewfinder.
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Fen.
- Fen's Flickr Fotos -
"One good photograph does not a photographer make."
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Roger_Provins
Made-it Man
Reged: 22/10/2005
Posts: 2625
Loc: Gloucester, UK
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Sorry Fen, have to disagree with you on this one
The live-view on the a350 is much more than a gimmick, it's a very usable mode. It is switched on or off by a simple switch in half a second. It's very fast to use, the screen articulates so it can be used at ground or waist level or over your head. It's easily the best implementation from any maker and certain does NOT need a tripod like other cameras. Obviously the camera has a normal SLR viewfinder as well.
Having said all that I feel the OP would probably be better to get the a700 which is an entirely different league - I enjoy mine immensely
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Rog
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DevilFish
newbie
Reged: 17/07/2008
Posts: 7
Loc: Manchester, UK
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This is what still confuses me... the A700 seems more 'serious'... and probably a smarter buy if I can afford it. I've heard the kit lens you get with it can cover you for general situations, is this the case?
Essentially I'd want to take mostly landscape shots, but I also like taking 'quirky' shots.... like odd features on buildings, reflections in the water, that kind of thing. Wouldnt mind taking pics of the ducks that live in the canals near me too 
Am guessing covering the 3 might be too much to ask from the kit lens though?
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There are no rules for good photographs, there are only good photographs. ~Ansel Adams
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Roger_Provins
Made-it Man
Reged: 22/10/2005
Posts: 2625
Loc: Gloucester, UK
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As kit lenses go it's not bad at all and will be fine for what you want to do. You can get specialised lenses later on when finances allow - by which time you'll have a good idea of just what you need.
They quite like the 18-70mm kit lens here.
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Rog
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Fen
BAD WOLF
Reged: 12/03/2002
Posts: 19552
Loc: Currently Unknown!
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Slightly off topic...
DevilFish... Do you play poker 
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Fen.
- Fen's Flickr Fotos -
"One good photograph does not a photographer make."
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DevilFish
newbie
Reged: 17/07/2008
Posts: 7
Loc: Manchester, UK
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Lol yes I do.... how did you guess
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There are no rules for good photographs, there are only good photographs. ~Ansel Adams
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Steve52
addict
Reged: 08/04/2007
Posts: 669
Loc: Dawlish, Devon, UK
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Whatever you decide (I have the A100, upgrading from a Minolta 500i last year), shop around for the best price.
Good luck with your choice.
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FRIPN. Nostalgia just isn't what it used to be.
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DevilFish
newbie
Reged: 17/07/2008
Posts: 7
Loc: Manchester, UK
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Well havent bought anything yet, but I'm about 90% sure of getting the A700 and kit lens in the next few days. Figured that with that I can practice, learn, then see what lenses I will require once Ive got to grip with things.
Will report back once Ive bought something
Thanks for everyones advice, it is much appreciated.
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There are no rules for good photographs, there are only good photographs. ~Ansel Adams
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Photoclubalpha
newbie
Reged: 29/08/2007
Posts: 6
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I own an A700 and an A350, and a full range of lenses (all the current Sony standard kit lenses - 16-80, 18-70, 18-250, 16-105 - except the 18-200mm which we had once and was poor).
I would buy the A350 plus 18-250mm any day on your budget, unless I specifically wanted to shoot fast sequences of action or do low light work like concerts for more than half my output.
Having said that, I actually use an A700 with 16-80mm most of the time, but I have access to many other lenses and the A350 if neeed. But if I had to part with everything except one body, one lens, it would be the A350 and 18-250mm.
David
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DevilFish
newbie
Reged: 17/07/2008
Posts: 7
Loc: Manchester, UK
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Well I ended up taking the plunge.... and now I'm the proud owner of an A700
I ended up going for the stock 18-70 kit lens, and picked up a Tamron 80-210 f4.5/5.6 quite cheap at the same time, to also me to play with some longer distance shots.
Been playing with some shots from the balcony of my place to get to grips with things, will get out and about with it a bit more over the next few days to see how I do. Got to say initially I love it though, feels to good and sturdy in my hands, and I love the viewfinder quality. Will put some shots up once I've gotten better!
Thanks for everyones advice on here
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There are no rules for good photographs, there are only good photographs. ~Ansel Adams
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