Not strictly a DSLR but a nice small and light alternative. Was this price for the single lens kit not so long ago.
Top comments
brilly
4 Aug 166#13
why do people insist on this kind of nonsense? 282 for a used body so you have 58 quid to buy the 2 lenses and its still used? utterly irrelevant!
it may be a better camera but pay more and get more? SHOCKER!
mozbud
3 Aug 165#4
I think it does have a mirror but it's translucent so doesn't, have to move when the shutter is released
FatalSaviour to sergy2k
3 Aug 165#2
As the OP correctly states, it's not *strictly* an SLR - i.e. there isn't a mirror involved. It's an SLT, but for all intents and purposes, and for those that would equate an SLR with interchangeable lenses, I wouldn't get too hung up on this!
All comments (26)
sergy2k
3 Aug 161#1
Err, this is a DSLR?
FatalSaviour to sergy2k
3 Aug 165#2
As the OP correctly states, it's not *strictly* an SLR - i.e. there isn't a mirror involved. It's an SLT, but for all intents and purposes, and for those that would equate an SLR with interchangeable lenses, I wouldn't get too hung up on this!
crazylegs to sergy2k
4 Aug 16#18
You'll always get the yes it is, no it isn't, clan here just to argue a point, basically one and the same!
sparklehedgehog
3 Aug 161#3
Absolute bargain!
mozbud
3 Aug 165#4
I think it does have a mirror but it's translucent so doesn't, have to move when the shutter is released
MusicmanJP
3 Aug 161#5
Dead system. Avoid
j4ayk to MusicmanJP
4 Aug 16#22
Hahaa.... That was funny!!
mikeyfive
3 Aug 162#6
It's pretty much a DSLR, just faster. Good camera, good price.
Large & reasonably priced lens selection available. Not a dead system.
somersetpaul
4 Aug 16#7
It has an electronic viewfinder rather than an optical "actual image" viewfinder which a true DSLR has.
Carlos Sultana
4 Aug 16#8
I have an older A35, and it's a great piece of kit. With the cheap 50mm f1.8 prime lens, it makes for some really nice images, and opens up a range of older "film" Minolta AF lenses too.
Good find, OP.
afroylnt
4 Aug 16#9
Great price. This camera does lose some light due to the translucent mirror but has image stabilisation so a slower shutter can be used to make up for this.If you do allot of indoor photography in low light then a traditional DSLR might be better.
CyDoNiA to afroylnt
4 Aug 162#12
That's not strictly true. Yes the mirror transmits 30% of the light to the AF system and EVF but that is all accounted for by the sensor design etc. You will get the exact same shutter speeds etc with this as you will with a conventional DSLR.
I wasn't a fan of the EVFs and then I bought the a77 which has the same translucent mirror/EVF (albeit better quality than this). The EVF is extremely handy as you can see the exposure before you take the photo and tweak it. It is basically Live View in the viewfinder. Also in very low light the EVF can be set to amplify the image and so allow you to see things you wouldn't even see through an optical viewfinder.
Regarding the other comment of it being a dead system, the A-mount is far from dead although Sony has been concentrating more and more on the mirrorless E-mount Alphas. At the end of the day the E-mount Alphas have adapters to use A-Mount lenses (and other mounts from Canon etc) available and so if they do get rid of these A-mounts the lenses are usable on the other E-mount Alphas anyway. Yes you would need to buy the adapter (the AF capable one isn't cheap) but it's still an option.
Opening post
Top comments
it may be a better camera but pay more and get more? SHOCKER!
All comments (26)
Large & reasonably priced lens selection available. Not a dead system.
Good find, OP.
I wasn't a fan of the EVFs and then I bought the a77 which has the same translucent mirror/EVF (albeit better quality than this). The EVF is extremely handy as you can see the exposure before you take the photo and tweak it. It is basically Live View in the viewfinder. Also in very low light the EVF can be set to amplify the image and so allow you to see things you wouldn't even see through an optical viewfinder.
Regarding the other comment of it being a dead system, the A-mount is far from dead although Sony has been concentrating more and more on the mirrorless E-mount Alphas. At the end of the day the E-mount Alphas have adapters to use A-Mount lenses (and other mounts from Canon etc) available and so if they do get rid of these A-mounts the lenses are usable on the other E-mount Alphas anyway. Yes you would need to buy the adapter (the AF capable one isn't cheap) but it's still an option.