since a550 body is around 2.5k...

expect a500 would be around 300 cheaper... while a450 MORE cheaper that a450 since it discard the fast focus what the live view function <-- this part I still dont understand.. doesnt it still has live view but cannot focus like a3xx a5xx?

AI? what do you mean by that? Sorry If I don't know it
if you are talking about it has user friendly interface.. maybe it`ll help you a little bit..
(I still has some of my friends here who still got problem understanding the function of the a550 though)

But if you want to upgrade for better ISO... then better go for a500/a550
since Probably if you like to use Live view function... a450 might (PROBABLY) not able to perform as what you want. since lack of some function and no tilt LCD screen.

man, I love the pose of taking picture with a550 with the lcd facing upwards (hold the body at stomach level)... Its like you're taking picture using TLR or hassleblad camera LOL 

The shot taken for HK Night View is cool. Try taking one more next time in Kowloon Harbour facing IFC Centre at night.

very nice view, a little bit noisy, maybe should use iso100. i prefer to increase the exposure a bit. my humble opinion 

oo thanx..
but mine bought from Sg can claim warranty from My??

what should i get after this??
planning to get 50mm lens . saw many ppl using it...

yup 50mm is naaaaaaaaaaaisss..
but better get flash first..
depending on how u shoot.. flash will be very helpful (weddings, portrait, foods, macro, etc)

well..kitlens can give u bokeh..but of coz..the quality of the bokeh..or the bokehness cant really compare to those big aperture prime...

if 50mm might as well get sony 50mm f1.8...

yup...unless la u jumping to ff in very near future,go ahead buy 50mm f1.7....

hi guys...new user here...i just bought a550 with SAL18250.so any pro can suggest me good quality and budget portrait lens?

TQ

i sense someone is upgrading soon..lol

get 550 lo...if u don have time to travel back to msia to buy...MS color is selling around 1170sgd for body only..

How often do you really use high ISO? Go back and view ALL your shots taken on the A300 and see how many percent of your shots is taken using ISO 800 and above.

The colors and sharpness of the image on ISO 100/200 for the A300 is hard to beat. Do you guys realize that the A100 ISO 100 shots can easily trounce ISO 100 shots on the A700 in terms of sharpness? The a300 has the same CCD sensor and CCD is the reason why the sharpness is there on low ISO settings. CMOS sensors need to have sharpening dialled it to match. I know coz on my A850 the sharpness setting is +3 all the time while on my A100, I never dial in any sharpness setting.

If you do not normally shoot low light, I would suggest that you hold onto the A300 a bit more and see if Sony will release a replacement for the A700 later in the year or not. That will be a more suitable upgrade for you I would think. Unless of course you're dying to have 7 fps and the auto HDR feature.

well, back to photography..
yup i got mine w/out warranty...
but it looks brand new..
its Minolta... minolta bagus bah.. 

because it's FF lens?

deadangel: welcome to the club.
dont have to think so much, 50 F1.8 is Very good enough, even u have 50 F1.4, u will hardly use it at 1.4... other lens are kinda expensive, after 3-6 month using 50mm, learn to understand how aperture affect the photo, then only re-study again what lens u going to upgrade again
lancent: choice is urs, just do more research of what u really wan instead of asking people what is good. there are people who loves noise in the photo (i am learning to like them) they portray emotion too.

like shootkk mention, prehaps hold on to the A7xx out, coz i am waiting for it since my A300 still can do marvelous photos.

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Added on January 12, 2010, 6:33 pm

i tot he mentioned, KM is old lens, old tech, old coating. sony, new coating, new tech etc. new is good.

hmm..7xx?850??900??9xx?? 

need to pay r?

Have you guys seen the new Sony Time 2010 promotion? I'm interested in this ad:

[attachmentid=1395615]

Does anybody know whether the 550 comes with lens or body only?

The 380 looks attractive at RM2599 with twin lens kit.

What do you guys think regarding this offer? Good?

I'm having a hard time deciding on whether to get the 380/550 or Canon 500D........ 

so far all sony DSLRs have no vid recording function...albnok already listed out the advantages of 550 over 3xx..

big/better grip(not sure its advantage for u)
very solid ISO performance *main advantage
7fps - main advantage
auto HDR
its been awhile since i last do any toy shots... =)