Sony Alpha A330L 10.2 MP Digital SLR Camera with Super SteadyShot INSIDE Image Stabilization and 18-55mm Lens

Sony have been in the DSLR game for about 4 years now, this stems back to the purchase of Minolta and the subsequent adoption of Minoltas "A" mount lens system, any suspicions that Sony were not in the business for the long haul should now be dead and burried as Sony have consistently improved and added to the Alpha DSLR system ever since, the Alpha system is now starting to look really formidable with many nice lenses now available and some super DSLR bodies...which brings me on to this great camera

There are basically two versions of this camera, one with live view (A330) and one without (A230), my opinion is that it is well worth paying the extra for the really excellent live view version (this camera)...no other manufacturer has sorted out how to incorporate live view on a DSLR any where near as well as Sony, its brilliant, basically, there is a slide switch on the top of the camera, if you are using the viewfinder, you have the switch in the OVF (optical view finder) position, as you put your eye to the viewfinder, a clever sensor blanks the LCD display and pre focuses the camera ready to go (this is called eye start and can be turned off in the menus)

If you wish to use Live view (ie the ability to see what you are shooting on the display like on a compact), you swith to live view which then enables you to use the camera just like a compact, which is great if that is what you are used to, added to that, the LCD display is articulated and can be tilted at many angles which allows you to shoot overhead and at alkward angles, other DSLRs have similar features, but none work as well as the Sony system, in this regard, Sony really are ahead

In other respects, the choice of this camera over a Canon or a Nikon etc is not as clear cut, but it is worth mentioning that Sony supply the sensors for many Nikon cameras and to be honest, there is pretty well nothing to choose with respect to image quality between this camera and a Canon/Nikon/Pentax etc
Sony have obviously targeted the compact camera upgrader here, as the camera is so easy to use and compact camera users will be snapping away in no time, menus are easy to use....loads of features, the camera is fast and the results are really really good, a definate step up in image quality from any compact camera, even with the supplied kit lens (which seems very good by the way)

Check around on price because this camera is priced by Sony to match an entry level Canon/Nikon, but with a featureset that is above entry level

Build quality seems fine, its pointless paying loads extra for a magnesium alloy body and weather seals as it wont make the camera take better photos...and trust me, the image quality from this Sony is great..up there with the best

I have read some criticism of the grip...well I think its fine, and I have big hands...its great, I have watched the Sony range evolve and I really think they are a force to be reckoned with now, this is a great little camera so I am giving it a "highly recommended"

Thanks to the large tilting LCD screen, this has allowed me to easily take vibrant pictures in positions which would be either very difficult or virtually impossible.
Taking pictures of kids can easily be done from their height level while I stand straight optimizing the fantastic live view facility. The auto focus with the kit lens is fast and picture quality supreme. Another fantastic camera from Sony.
You will not be disappointed.

I love taking photos and the quality, trueness and clarity is everything to me. I'm not very versed or yet wildly interested in ISO things and white balance and all that stuff (although this Sony Alpha may inspire me to learn...) BUT I do take my photography seriously enough that I've sold some photos and had a few published in magazines. I'm just not technical in any way...

For years I owned and loved a Konika Minolta digital camera. I couldn't buy another one because Minolta were bought out by Sony, so I upgraded it to a Sony T500, which I didn't love as much. I wanted to get a digital SLR, but was overwhelmed and overawed by the cameras I looked at, and yearned for a DSLR version of my lovely Konika.

When I found this camera I was thrilled, because it really is a grown up version of the digital Konika.

It is completely intuitive to use, and takes superb, crisp photographs. It has a live display (the same as digital cameras) which is perfect for someone like me who doesn't always want to squint through an eyepiece.
It can be fully automatic, so you just aim, press and fire. There is the teeniest of lag times (the time before you can press the shutter again and take another photo) which is perfect for wildlife photography.
You can also choose various settings such as 'Sunset', 'Portrait', 'Sport' - and the best bit is that even though the pictures on the settings dial are quite small, as you choose a setting an explanation pops up on the live view to tell you what setting you've chosen and what it does (you can turn this off if you wish).

The camera can also be fully manual, and there are plenty of lenses available.

I like the look and feel of it, and it's lightweight and comfortable to hold.

There is nothing about tbis I don't like. It's great and I'm thrilled with it. I have been surprised by the variation in prices, so do a bit of research before you buy... But buy it - you won't regret it.