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Sony Alpha A100K Digital SLR Camera (18-70mm Lens Kit) | 
 enlarge | Brand: Sony
Category: CE
Buy New: £299.99
New (2) from £299.99
Rating:  15 reviews
Sales Rank: 40857
Media: Electronics
Shipping Weight (lbs): 4.7
Dimensions (in): 11.2 x 8.4 x 7.9
MPN: DSLRA100KB.CEH
Model: DSLRA100KB.CEH
EAN: 4905524340297
ASIN: B000GSVQNQ
Release Date: September 10, 2006
Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days
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Product Description
Sony, the renowned manufacturer of the high-quality CyberShot series of digital camera, proudly presents the first digital reflex camera for the general public: the Alpha DSLR-A100! Voted ?Best Camera for Beginners 2006-2007? by the EISA (European Imaging and Sound Association), the Alpha DSLR-A100 represents yet another development in the world of digital photography by packing into its small size a wide range of award-winning features. With its 10-megapixel CCD sensor and built-in Super SteadyShot stabliser system, you?re sure to get nothing but stunning photos! Thanks to its D-Range Optimiser, you?ll be able to take magnificent photos at all times, while the anti-static protective layer on the low-pass filter and time-lag CCD mechanism prevent dust from settling on the lens. Plus, it?s compatible with most A-type bayonet-format Sony and Konica Minolta lenses, and has a slot for CompactFlash I&II, Microdrive and MemoryStick Duo memory cards, so you can save your photos safely. To provide you with everything you need to take beautiful photos, the DSLR-A100 has a number of different scene modes and manual settings, ensuring you get perfect results that you can admire on its 2.5-inch screen. What's more, this camera is supplied with an 18-70 mm lens, which is perfect for taking pictures of the most common situations. With the DSLR-A100, Sony has yet again changed the world of digital photography for the better.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 10 more reviews...
 A fine DSLR that's good to use as well as having competitive functionality and excellent technical performance September 19, 2006
P. Kingston (Reading, England)
74 out of 75 found this review helpful
I've used a film SLR for most of my photographic life. Then a few years ago I got into digital, and have had two Nikon Coolpix (including the splendid twisty-bodied 4500) and then an Olympus semi-SLR (the 8080 wide zoom, with bend-out LCD screen). Someone stole the Olympus. What should I do?
I was very tempted by the Sony DSC-R1, with it's live twisty LCD and excellent lens. And there is tremendous competition now amongst SLR suppliers, with new announcments from all the majors. But I chose the Sony, and after five days and many hundreds of pictures I'm very pleased with the camera.
You can read about its technical performance at www.dpreview.com. What I can add is that this excellent performance is easy and inviting to make use of.
The focussing screen is clear, crisp, and bright. I find I often want to use manual focus, and can switch back and forth from manual to auto by simply moving a switch. And there's a depth-of-field preview easy to hand.
These controls are typical- what you want is to hand, and works logically (at least, as I expect). With the Olympus after a year's use I was still going back to the manual to find how to do things. The Sony feels familiar after five days.
The camera feels good to hold- a good grip is a huge help with avoiding camera shake, which this camera helped further by an antishake system that works with all lenses.
And then there are the twiddly bits- for example the fact that the autofocus switches on and the LCD switches off when I bring the camera to my eye (although I find the camera can mistake my chest for my eye when I have it round my neck), and that the LCD image stays upright whether you have the camera horizontal or vertical.
These as well as the advantages you expect from this generation of DSLR- instant start-up, very quick reaction to pressing the button, and if you want it three frames a second until you've run out of space on the card (in .jpg).
I was pleasantly surprised to find that the standard kit zoom gets you pretty close up to a flower or an insect, and does this at maximum zoom so that you don't find your shadow is interfering with the picture. My first "extra" has been a secondhand Minolta AF 1.7 50mm standard lens, which I have found excellent for snapping people indoors by available light (find your way round Minolta lenses for the Sony at www.dyxum.com).
I miss the infra-red remote control supplied with the Olympus (there's a long and a short wired control for the Sony, but at large additional cost). And I'm sure I'll miss the ability to sight a picture down low or up high using a twisty LCD screen. And in some quiet "candid camera" situations the clunk of the mirror which is part of a true SLR can draw attention. But for me the advantages, starting with composing pictures on that fine focussing screen, far outweigh these losses.
99% of all amateur photographers will be delighted with this! March 17, 2007
B. T. Lowe
21 out of 21 found this review helpful
INITIAL REACTION: Have just started using the a100 and, after researching for a couple of months, it certainly lives up to its promise. Being a former Minolta film SLR owner, the Sony seemed to be the obvious choice with the alpha mount meaning that most Minolta lenses are compatible. However, since I only own the one Minolta lens, that wasn't really an issue. A MUCH bigger issue is the built-in image stabilization on the a100. It works amazingly well and combined with the feeling of holding a solid piece of kit in your hands, gives you great confidence. Comparing lens prices with Canon EOS400 and Nikon D40 models, it's clear that the Sony SuperSteady Shot is a long-term money saver.
Anyone reading these reviews will also undoubtedly be checking out other sources such as the excellent dpreview and yes, there will be those who have specific requirements - such as high ISO shooting - who may be better served by the Canon or Nikon. Personally, by checking out the models in-store, I found holding the Canon to be a little too cramped and a little on the light side - more in-line with my old Minolta - and I wanted something comfortable and substantial in my hand. The Nikon, on the other hand, just didn't justify me investing so much initially and over the long haul. With some Carl Zeiss lenses on the horizon, I'm fairly confident the a100 can compete in most situations. To sum up:
Pros: Great value (inbuilt image stabilization); Eye-start focus is great under the right conditions (and can be deactivated); Fantastic images (which can be sharpened if you find the default settings too soft) - at least up to ISO400; Confidence-building look and feel - makes you FEEL like a photographer!; Easy to use menu system (a little drab, but a first-class LCD with innovative features) and the same ease of use overall as previous Minolta SLRs.
Cons: Bundled lenses could be better - they do the job but the look and feel of them lets you know there is more potential lurking in the body; Outperformed by Canon and Nikon at very high ISO settings; Don't like the Compact Flash slot very much - on an otherwise great body, it's a little flimsy;
Highly Recommended August 10, 2006
Mr. J. P. Lester (Leeds, UK)
67 out of 71 found this review helpful
I did a lot of research on this camera on dpreview.com which I would certainly recommend anyone to do before taking the plunge. Upon comparing the Alpha to other rival DSLRs from Canon and Nikon - notable the 350D and D50 respectively - I decided on this one as, although a higher pricetag, you still get more than you would expect.
Most notably, the best bits are the in-camera image stabliser, which ordinarily you pay for in every single lens you buy, but with it built into the camera you can opt out with future lenses so it saves you money. The eye-start focus is good, it saves battery as well. Plenty of functions, and although I needed to read the instructions, once I had done it was a breeze to use. It has a large CCD so expect excellent quality. It also has the option of using Compact Flash or Memory Stick Duo. It comes with an adapter as well which is nice.
The bad sides to it (there are very few) are the kit lens is not the most fantastic, but does the job. I imagine most people buying this camera would buy another lens or two anyway, so you'll get to mix and match. The oonly other thing is, I imagine that although it has a 10.2MP sensor, with in camera image stablisation, the resolution is smaller as it will constantly be on the move so you never get to use the whole chip. Unsure of this however, and cant prove it myself.
On the whole, it is a fantastic, simple yet complex enough for most enthusiastic amateurs, offers great resolution and size. There will also be a whole range of lenses coming from Sony but you can also use Miolta lenses as well which there is a fantastic range already available. I would highly recommend this camera.
Great Camera For the Money January 25, 2007
M. G. Chisholm (UK)
11 out of 11 found this review helpful
I have to first say that I was rather amused by the semi-literate rant from some chap called Oleg. As he does not actually own this camera I'm somewhate bemused by his overly protective attitude towards his Canon, which is I'm sure excellent. I have had this camera for a week now and find it hard to fault. I'm happy to admit that I'm no expert and this was bought as a means to learn DSLR photography having had a Nikon F60 film camera before, however having looked at most of the cameras in this price range it clearly gives one the most "Bang for your buck." 10.2 Mp means photo standard prints at A3, the auto eye focus is a neat idea and very fast. I've compared photos that a work collegue has taken with his Nikon D200 and artistic merit aside the results at our level are hard to differentiate. I will of course accept that a pro will want more but this camera provides every possible mode of operation and a healthy range of lenses given that it's an upgraded Minolta. Sony have a good range of accessories too (mind you don't they all) and of course there are many other third party providers. Definately the best camera for your money. Mind you I bought mine in the US and it cost me three hundred and seventy five quid all in. Isn't it nice to live in the UK.......
Incredible Sony Alpha and Lenses May 11, 2007
Sam Goddies (UK)
22 out of 24 found this review helpful
The Sony Alpha is definitely an outstanding camera for the new DSLR users.
There is no doubt that more professional grade machines will come out (see PMA reviews). This machine is not a weathersealed powerhorse and so it makes sense for it not to have a powergrip (especially since you can shoot 700+ pics on one charge).
People also forget that Nikon etc uses Sony CCDs, so to say that the Sony machine is not outstanding or somehow made by a novice in the market is a mistake (DSLR bodies are more CCD than anything else).
What is more, the idea that there is more noise in the pics at iso800 and iso1600 is a falacy. It is true when you shoot JPGS, but not when you shoot raw, since you do the postprocessing yourself. If you want to shoot in low light you should use RAW and if not you should use a flash to use normal ISO values (any "pro" would accept this).
The ease of use is outstanding, you don't need to read the manual, because all ISO, flash settings, DR/DR+, white balance etc are accessible from one rotating bezel (this is how it should be for a consumer DSLR, the pro versions are yet to come, "with more buttons").
To say that there are not enough lenses for the Sony Alpha is also ridiculous. There are many many lenses on the market made by Minolta (bought by Sony), so there is a lot of very good and cheap glass for this machine. Who would say that the 80-200 APO HS and 70-200 APO SSM lenses are somehow inferior to the Canon and Nikon versions? Same with the 300 F2.8 SSM. There are also many many lenses by Sigma, Tamron and Carl Zeiss lenses.
This machine is also perfect for the DLSR newbie, because of the Anti-Shake (AS) system. This is wonderful at reducing the price of lenses for the normal user and at being able to use lower F-stops in low light.
This machine is very complete, it does not suffer from missing options that a new DSLR user would need. If you are a pro then wait a little bit. You cannot expect Sony to launch everything at once. New pro glass is on the way and it is reasonable not to release this glass for a DSLR aimed at the amateur.
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