Sony - Alpha DSLR-A300 (10.2MP)

Everything that I said about the A350 in my review applies to this camera, but the results from the A300 are more pleasing and require less post processing, altogether punchier results in my opinion
Excellent live view implementation, tilt LCD, live histogram, exposure simulation (LCD gains up/down as you adjust the EV)....dont worry about any stories about a poor optical viewfinder...its fine, certainly it is much better than even the best electronic viewfinder, so if you are coming from a digicam, you will love it
This can be seen as a super (if a little bulkier) upgrade from a fixed lens Point and Shoot or a bridge camera, the results with the kit lens are great
I could write more, but I will just say that the A300 is my favourite DSLR to date...and I much prefer it to the A350 (which I was not so keen on)...its considerably cheaper than the A350 too.
Highly recommended

Having been a Nikon D40 owner for a year I was very happy, that is until I bought a Sony A200 for my daughter for Christmas. I was instantly impressed by the ease of use, very easy to find menu settings and the modern, but just a little 'retro' look. Her present was sorted, however having done a bit of further research I found the A300 on Jessops web site at just £339 with a cash back deal worth £40. (making it £299).

The advantages over the A200 being the well executed live view, the tilting fold out screen and the electronic tele-converter. the 300 has the same resolution as the 10mp A200, if you need more pixels pay a little bit more for the A350.

So I ordered one and Jessops excellent partners Unipart logistics had it to me within 48 hours.

As soon as you open the box you can see you have in your hands a well made quality item - actually made in Japan!!! not Thailand like my D40. Even the box it came in was well solid, well put together cardboard packaging.. it's a good start.

So my other (youngest) daughter gets my D40, the other bits (bag etc etc) will do for my Alpha a300

I bought this product from Jessops about a month ago and have taken more than a 1000 photos since! I can't stop!!!! Coming from reasonable point and shoots (digital compacts) and superzooms, I expected an improvement going to a DSLR, and I wasn't disappointed. In fact I still surprise myself even after a month. Detail, colour, texture, hues. It's great!

First of all, the 18-70mm kit lens is great. It'll get you great pictures. I bought the Tamron 70-300mm zoom lens in addition, so I've got a good pair. However you soon realise that at the extreme ends, both lenses go soft. The camera is really good, and the quality limit is set by the lens, not the body. Your pictures are really as good as your glass (and of course the person behind the camera!!). I went to Stonehenge with a friend using a Nikon D200, and even though its a much more expensive and better camera, my pictures made him go green with jealousy. If you can compose your shots well, you'll get excellent results every time.

The battery works as well as described. In fact I'd advise that you get large CF cards, since you'll get into a habit of shooting away, and the limit becomes your memory card size rather than your battery!!!

The live-view feature makes it possible to hand the camera over to any passerby, who just clicks away, so you can also be in the picture sometimes. Really useful.

I'm going to add a Sony VCT-R640 tripod. I've borrowed one and it works great with my A300.

My only quirk with the Sony is that it's a bit more difficult to find lenses. I'd recommend you save and buy better lenses rather than cheap ones, since the glass really makes a difference.

Enjoy.