What do you think about the Sony Alpha A200K 10.2MP Digital SLR Camera?

by Koonisutra

http://www.amazon.com/Sony-Digital-SteadyShot-Stabilization-18-70mm/dp/B00125MHVM/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1225477258&sr=8-1

Does this camera have RAW support

Answer by Mere_Mortal
That is a great camera.

Sell the kit zoom as soon as you can and get a Minolta AF 50mm F/1.7 lens. Probably one of the sharpest lenses I have every used.

Yes the A200K supports these formats:

• RAW (.ARW)
• RAW + JPEG Fine
• JPEG Fine
• JPEG Standard

http://www.mhohner.de/sony-minolta/onelens/af50f17new

Answer by Edwin
Excellent choice. However, for about $ 200.00 more you can buy the A300 which has Live View that actually works with the auto focus. If you go to http://www.shutterbug.com and type ‘a trio of sony d-slrs’
you’ll pull up a test report of the A200, A300 and A350 by Peter K. Burian in the Aug. 2008 issue.

What do you think? Answer below!

Georgia


Image by Will_D
The newest family member!

Answer by chad3225698
Here’s a BIASED OPINION by a Nikonian..

NO!
Although the legendary Minolta makes Sony’s cameras, It doesn’t mean that Sony is Minolta.

For sports photography, I’d go with Nikon DSLR’s especially with Nikkor backing them.

my second choice would be Canon, but I won’t sacrifice Nikon’s build and picture quality for a few extra mega pixels and uselessly high ISO of Canon.

Answer by N tiger
You should consider Nikon or Canon.
Personal opinion, I prefer Nikon
Fusing 12.3-megapixel image quality inherited from the award-winning D300 with groundbreaking features, the D90's breathtaking, low-noise image quality is further advanced with EXPEED image processing. Split-second shutter response and continuous shooting at up to 4.5 frames-per-second provide the power to capture fast action and precise moments perfectly, while Nikon's exclusive Scene Recognition System contributes to faster 11-area autofocus performance, finer white balance detection and more. The D90 delivers the control passionate photographers demand, utilizing comprehensive exposure functions and the intelligence of 3D Color Matrix Metering II. Stunning results come to life on a 3-inch 920,000-dot color LCD monitor, providing accurate image review, Live View composition and brilliant playback of the D90's cinematic-quality 24-fps HD D-Movie mode.

Answer by fhotoace
Sports photographers need a couple of things equipment wise.

1) great long, fast lenses. The most used by sports photographers are the 70-200 mm f/2.8, 200-400 mm f/4, 400 mm f/2.8 and 600 mm f/4
2) full frame cameras with a very low noise ratio at a thigh ISO.

At present only two camera companies supply number 2 (Nikon and Canon) and only one that supply all four of the above lenses (Nikon)

Look at the lenses available for Nikon, Canon and Sony and you will see the restrictions a Sony shooter will experience when shooting sports.

Nikon lens availability:

http://www.nikonusa.com/Find-Your-Nikon/Camera-Lenses/index.page

Canon lens availability:

http://www.usa.canon.com/consumer/controller?act=ProductCatIndexAct&fcategoryid=140

Sony lens availability:

http://www.sony.net/Products/dslr/lenses.html

Answer by Sound Labs
If you are asking this question, you are not a hard-core money making photographer.

The truth is any digital SLR could shoot sports just fine.

You will see the Canon and Nikon shooters telling you to go one way or the other because they can’t get out of their ‘it must be coke or pepsi” mindset.

A Sony Alpha or Pentax or Olympus would be just fine. Chances are you if you are asking this, you won’t be looking for a 5 thousand dollar lens that a pro might use for sports.

Most likely you’d be looking for a more budget zoom lens. And if you did choose to go Sony you would look for a lens that’s something like a 80-200mm, 70-300 or 100-400mm. All would be fine for a budding photographer with a Sony dSLR. You could find all those lenses from Minolta on the secondary market.

Then it’s all about your skill. Sports is action, and your ability to shoot at 1/2000th of a second or 1/4000th isn’t dependent on the brand of your camera. Yes Canon and Nikon are fine, but if there is something you like about Sony like the features or price go for it.

This all coming from a Sony A700 shooter that doesn’t feel the need to tell you that Canon and Nikon suck.

If you want true pro lenses, your options are the pro lenses from Minolta on the secondary market, some of the finest glass ever made and you’ll pay for it. Also, Zeiss, Sony, Tamron, Sigma and some Tokina.

Know better? Leave your own answer in the comments!
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