Upgrading

[bmcguirk]

I'm finally upgrading from my trusty Sony a100 to what I hope will be just as trusty a700. The local camera store didn't have any in stock so I have to wait for it to arrive. They say hopefully this week end. I can't wait to get it!

[DonSchap]

You have chosen wisely ... the α700 is everything the α100 should be. Once you master the convenience of the Quik-Navi panel, over the function knob ... it'll be a very nice improvement in your work flow for image creation.

You will also enjoy having a solid looking ISO-1600 option, where the α100 left a little to be desired in the noise department.

Another aspect is the nice, ergonomically designed vertical grip for the α700, which duplicates the entire right side of the camera, orientated to the vertical shot. Very nice for portrait work.

Great call ... it does it all.

[bmcguirk]

Thank, Don!

[DonSchap]

Bob,

While you are moving up to the A700, you just might want to consider dropping a few extra dollars to improve the glass you are currently using to get the most out of the A700 body.

Now, I realize that this is unsolicited ... so just bear with me, here. I also know that people are not made of money and I am also not suggesting Carl Zeiss-glass (which is great stuff, but most folks can do quite well without having to make that leap). What I am suggesting is a couple of lenses that will give you snap in your images (focus-wise and image-quality).

Number one improvement plan -> Quit using the "kit" lens. It just does nothing useful for most images and you can do so much better with almost anything else. When you buy the replacement, just kind of lose this one.

My personal favorite, which is reasonably priced, is the TAMRON SP AF 17-50mm f/2.8 XR Di-II LD Aspherical (IF). This lens will literally change the way you see things. It will come back, on the A700, with some of the sharpest images you will have shot. It also give you a "fighting" chance with indoor shots, while not using a flash.

An alternative, if having the wider aspect is not important to you, is the TAMRON SP AF 28-75mm f/2.8 XR Di LD Aspherical (IF), which is the "Full Frame" equivalent on the A900 camera. It is priced slightly cheaper than the 17-50, but gives you a little more telephoto range.

The last last is a real budget saver and provides superior Image Quality for the price, and that is the TAMRON SP AF 70-200mm f/2.8 Di LD MACRO (IF). With either one of the first two and this last one in your bag ... you should not have to worry about sharpness, again ... like forever!

I have a feeling you are not quite happy with what you have been getting out of the A100 and are figuring the A700 is the logical solution. To be honest ... its probably your current glass. You are working with the roughest edge of digital optics ... and they just aren't quite up to the task. In fact, I would say you need to try and locate the lenses I listed, above, first, and mount them on your A100.

Do a "trial" or evaluation shoot. Take the dog with. Shoot your subject (the dog, perhaps) with your current lenses and, using the same settings (write them down), then switch immediately to the f/2.8 TAMRONs and shoot again. Examine the results on your PC monitor.

If I'm wrong about this, I will be amazed. Before you sink the cash into the new camera body, why not see what kind of mileage is left in ol' Betsy (A100) with a pair of really nice lenses. Remember: No matter how good a camera body is ... it cannot improve your glass.

Good luck.

[bmcguirk]

Hello, Don. Thanks very much for the suggestions. The new body was already purchsed and I was just waiting for it to arrive. It did today and I have it sitting before me now!!
I will certainly look into the lenses that you recomend and I thank you so much for the recomendations. I'm off to follow your links now. Thansk again!

Bob

[DonSchap]

Bob,

several years ago, when I first got in Digital SLR photography, I joined up with a really nice forum. Everybody was in a big discussion about how best to impact your photography with all the different DSLR bodies that were being introduced, from introductory, pro-consumer thru professional level bodies ... but the one constant in the entire equation was GLASS.

It was generally accepted and take confidence in knowing that having decent glass to shoot through is the BEST and most profound thing you can do in your photography to improve it. New lenses that are under the two hundred dollar ($200) mark are extremely dubious and probably should be ignored The TAMRONs are closely related to Minolta/SONY through business over the past two decades and probably will provide you with substantive and decidedly reliable operation. Their zooms are proving to be very capable and a cost-effective alternative to purchasing the rather higher priced SONY optics.

So, buy with confidence, Bob. This is nothing new, but should be a substantial improvement in focusing and use of light.

Best of luck and drop in on and maybe join the DCRP SONY DSLR Fourm (<- click here)

[spookie5150]

Thanks for that post Don. It's probably one of the most helpful ones (for me anyway) that I've read in a while. I have two of the cheaper Tamron lenses that I use with my A100 and they do quite well, but I know I could do better. I've been thinking about that upgrade and this post sets out my course quite clearly.

[bmcguirk]

Agreed, Spookie! Don is certainly a wealth of information and I appreciate it! I'm pretty sure my next purchase will be the TAMRON SP AF 17-50mm f/2.8 XR Di-II LD Aspherical (IF).