Sony Alpha DSLR-A100 Reviews

Rating
Reviewed by: Bill Dobbs
(Professional)

Review Date
July 3, 2010

Overall Rating
4 of 5

Value Rating
4 of 5

Used product for
More than 1 year

Review 1 of 23

Price Paid: $795.00 from London Drugs

Summary:

Although first out of the gate for Sony DSLR's the A100 gets high praise. As a Konica-Minolta camera rebadged and improved by Sony the A100 performs well throughout the range of features. It is a good, solid, camera that delivers on everything; AF is sharp and quick, in-body image stabilization, metering, etc.
I have used the A100 for almost 3 years now and I can't see why I would change, except to buy a camera with higher pixel count and better low light capability. If the a900 is as good as I have read, that might be my next purchase, but the A100 will still have a place in my camera bag.
I use the camera for personal and professional purposes. Not a complaint yet from myself or my clients.

Strengths:

In body image stabilization
Auto Focus in several modes
solid build
reliable
awesome set of features.

Weaknesses:

low light conditions bring out colour noise at higher ISO settings
not sealed to fine dust, moisture
doesn't have an auxiliary battery capability
doesn't have a vertical shooting set of controls (not much of a negative though)
a bit hard on battery power

Similar Products Used:

Minolta 35mm cameras and lenses

Customer Service:

have not had to use CS yet.

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Rating
Reviewed by:

nikonian
( Intermediate)

Review Date
June 16, 2010

Overall Rating
4 of 5

Value Rating
4 of 5

Used product for
Less than 1 month

Review 2 of 23

Price Paid: $225.00 from private party

Summary:

The Sony Alpha 100 is a unique piece of electronics. I have bought it in like mint condition for a reasonable price.

I like the tilting screen , the super steady shot and inbuild dust removal. it is only the second day i'll have it , so i cannot say that i really know it all, but teh menu's are real easy to use , read some reviews and decided that i wanted it

first results are not bad at all , given the fact that i really didn't focus on making a good picture but nevertheless the image was good .

It is not yet going to replace one of mine nikons or the canon just a add in the gear list ..

Strengths:

Super steady shot
In build anti dust
easy to use
easy to setup
good results
nice colours

Weaknesses:

noise (although i have to test it because mine has the latest firmware )
the sound it makes is louder than my other dslrs
non auto pop up flash

Similar Products Used:

Nikon D80
Nikon D50
Canon eos 300D

Customer Service:

not used so far

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Rating
Reviewed by:

pisco
( Casual)

Review Date
March 16, 2010

Overall Rating
5 of 5

Value Rating
5 of 5

Used product for
More than 1 year

Review 3 of 23

Price Paid: $850.00 from BH Photo

Summary:

The A100 was my first DSLR, I've been using it since the Dec 2006 and the only reason why I upgraded is because my wife is taking it on a long vacation.

I like to photograph landscapes, so I don't mind the noise at high ISO. BTW, even Canon's Mark I use a tripod and ISO 100 when they can instead of ISO 400...

It's been a great camera all these 3 years had suffer some abuse (fallen down a couple of times), but had no problems.

Strengths:

Color/contrast
Resolution
Compact/ light
Mirror lock up
DOF preview
AEL
Ergonomics
Easy to navigate menus

Weaknesses:

High ISO: worse that others (all of them have noise above 400)

Similar Products Used:

Sony A700

Customer Service:

Great. I sent it once because camera was not re mapping hotpixels when the month changed. Sony covered all, and did more than just deal with the pixel remap.

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Rating
Reviewed by: Jeffrey Nash
(Intermediate)

Review Date
July 7, 2009

Overall Rating
5 of 5

Value Rating
5 of 5

Used product for
More than 1 year

Review 4 of 23

Price Paid: $418.00 from Best Buy

Summary:

The sony A-100 camera is a fully functional dslr with a great potential to become one of the most sought after cameras for astrophotography. It's function controls which are mounted on the top and back make it the ideal camera for piggy back photography. Then I started thinking It would make a great camera for prime focus and projection photography. As it turned out I was right. With the compact flash card slot on the side and the battery on the bottom I can exchange both on the fly between exposures It was lightweight enough to connect to my telescope via an t-adaptor and is very stable while photographing distance star clusters. That is a challenge.in its self with any other camera. This camera is destine to become the 57 chevy of cameras.

Strengths:

A Light weight camera with long battery life. And good stablity while photographing.

Weaknesses:

I cannot think of any weaknesses for any application or use.

Similar Products Used:

Sony DSC-W-100

Customer Service:

I have never had to use them..

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Rating
Reviewed by:

mitigusu2004
( Intermediate)

Review Date
April 29, 2009

Overall Rating
5 of 5

Value Rating
5 of 5

Used product for
More than 1 year

Visitors rate this review
4.50 of 5,
2 votes

Review 5 of 23

Price Paid: $1000.00 from The mall shop

Summary:

extraordinary camera both for experts and for beginners. it is idiot proof. simple and plain menus. medium level camera, get best results

Strengths:

excellent image quality, fast, reliable, solid, strong, idiot proof, extraordinary resolution, sharpness, colours, vivid, for me is one of the best. rich range of accessories.

Weaknesses:

noise (audible) focusing system, not ultrasonic lenses, shutter button sometimes difficult to understand operation,
some times underexpose in low light and dull conditions

Similar Products Used:

nikon D 80
canon 40D

Customer Service:

not required

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