10 out of 11 people found this review helpful.
Live view functions on your Sony camera
Date of Review: Feb 10, 2009
The Bottom Line: Reasonably priced SLR provides features for both beginners and experienced photographers. Very good quality images.
One item that sets this 10.2-megapixel Sony Alpha DSLR-A300K is its live-view functions. One nifty feature is that it provides flexible live-view LCD works in real time. The list price is $550 (with a 18mm-to-70mm lens, you can easily find better prices). The camera offers tilt-screen tricks that may make it attractive to stealth shooters and to people who want to capture unique images. When I do my photography, subjects know they are being photographed, but this is definitely a cool feature when obtaining candid photos.
The 2.7-inch live-view screen is a more than decent size. Many cameras take pride in providing larger screens which is great for previewing. This screen is big enough to permit the photographer to compose your images before shooting.
Some photographers prefer viewfinders (my preference), some prefer the LCD. To satisfy each preference, Sony provides a mechanical switch to toggle back and forth between using the LCD and viewfinder. The Alpha DSLR-A300K's live view uses a separate mirror and sensor to transmit what it sees. This method does not slow down the senor’s management. The eyecup and diopter are comfortable.
The LCD folds out and extends only vertically. This is a bit of a disappointment. I've worked with other cameras with similar features and find them to be aggravating. This is something that can easily snap off at the wrong moment. This design allows you to use the camera like a periscope, but one way. To construct a fully swiveling screen sounds challenging, but we were able to land a man on the moon.
The burst mode is 3 frames per second (2 if you are using live view). The burst mode is best used for sporting events. It's also good when photographing fast moving kids or any type of action, even on a dance floor.
Sony provides in-camera image stabilization. For cameras of this type, this should be a standard feature.
If you are inexperienced with setting exposures, Sony provides exposure shift setting. First try setting a proper exposure and then the function helps make similar exposures. It uses different combinations of shutter speeds and apertures.
Even though I'm proficient with digital cameras, I found this feature to be enjoyable and practical. This works nicely with backlit scenes and you don't have time to really think things out. Yes, you can preview on the LCD, but that does not compare with a full sized image on the PC monitor or on a printout.
It’s great when there is a perfect shot out there and you are a bit unsure of how it will come out. Sony provides image enhancement features which include saturation, nighttime, and black-and-white settings if you wish to get artistic or improve the exposure.
Too often photographers think they can fix images on the PC. This is true. However, by spending a few seconds to analyze the scene before photography saves minutes if not more when retouching on the computer.
The weight is a bit over a pound, 16.3 oz. Some of you may find that heavy but for those who used to lug 35mm film cameras around, it is reasonably comfortable. It feels solid and balanced when using it. Some lightweight cameras are very awkward to handle and use. Menu controls are on the back. You can view all settings on the screen.
Noise-reduction and dynamic range expansion settings will make a significant difference during long exposures at high ISOs (which range from 100 to 3200). You may notice noise in shots that do not employ noise reduction. You may also notice some distortion that you may find slightly objectionable. Flash exposures are good.
Manual settings are easy to dial up, as are the aperture- and shutter-priority modes. This camera is great for anyone who wishes to upgrade from a point-and-shoot camera. It is reasonably uncomplicated so you can actually enjoy photography.
